Transcript Highlights:

• Passenger rail service would boost our local economies, reduce traffic, connect our universities and
• This language was brought to me by some local leaders in Broward County.
• Want to get between the local Congressman and the local government?
• The locality itself may have to turn down funding.
• What we don't want to do is to have a lot of local governments and other governmental entities adopting

Transcript Highlights:

• First, I want to emphasize that these entities are public entities.
• Their governing boards consist of local elected officials.
• First and foremost, we are not a public entity.
• If the local standard is strict, you meet the local standard.
• Um, So you're adding, you're adding two, The local building codes.

Bills: HB 2510, HB 3589, HB 4611, HB 4655, HB 4665, HB 4666, HB 4670, HB 4700, HB 4730, HB 4798, HB 4838, HB 5136, HB 5243, HB 5302, HB 5539

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• At the local level, Sabrina Adams from the Department of Fire has something to add.
• Our tribal entities are a bit of an exception since they're sovereign entities, but for other applicants
• Represented entity.
• But our tribal entities are funded differently since they're sovereign nations.
• Once again, though, for our tribal entities, they are not required.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If the ballot language comes out from that local entity, it makes sense.
• In this process, going back, it was said that they wouldn't tell the local entity.
• Obviously, they're going to tell the local entity what their issue is, and the local entity will rewrite
• So the local entity is always going to be writing that bill. There's an elected official.
• You're going to be able to say the local entity, as well as individuals, to get that done.

Bills: HB376, HB817, HB 1297, HB1478, HB1661, HB1783

Keywords: HB 817, Texas Election Code, majority vote, majority threshold, ranked-choice voting, preferential voting, instant runoff voting, vote reassignment, ballot ranking, election administration, public office election, Election Code Section 2.0215, runoff elections, plurality vs majority, voting systems, education reform, budget allocation, teacher retention, student performance, accountability measures

Transcript Highlights:

• But to me, it should be handled locally. Mr.
• approximately 95% of eligible entities.
• But local economic development, communities, local government, local schools, all of that for the community
• We have the authority in law right now to provide cybersecurity assessments for local government entities
• Well, we work with local government... ...services to help implement those at local government levels

Summary: The committee convened, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received a memo summarizing major audit items. The State Auditor’s office and outside auditors then presented a series of audits, many of which were clean with unmodified opinions and no findings, including the Bank of North Dakota, the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Quality, Lake Region State College, and the Office of the Governor. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association audit was also clean overall, but it repeated findings about limited segregation of duties and auditor assistance in preparing financial statements, which the auditor said were expected to continue because of the organization’s small size. Committee members asked about out-of-state board addresses, and the association explained those members were North Dakota residents using South Dakota mailing addresses. Several audits did include findings. The Council on the Arts audit identified two issues: payroll charged to federal awards without supporting time records, and $12,825 in Cultural Endowment Fund spending that was not allowable under state law, including staff training, retreats, and executive director candidate travel. The Department of Public Instruction audit found unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, but additional testing confirmed the funds were credited properly and students completed required school district work, so no improper payments were identified. The University of North Dakota audit found a lack of documentation and transparency in School of Law admissions decisions; the auditor said the law school used a holistic process but did not keep notes or evaluation tools to show why applicants were admitted, waitlisted, or denied. UND leadership said the school is in good standing with the American Bar Association and agreed better documentation is needed, and the auditor said the issue was the missing documentation, not ABA accreditation itself. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which found four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating cap, grant conditions not being met, improper breeder fund awards, and improper procurement. The auditor said promotion fund spending exceeded the cap by $327,447 and the fund balance dropped sharply over the audit period. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson said the agency had become complacent, that grant requests were treated as routine, and that controls and documentation need to be tightened. He also explained that the breeder fund overpayments involved two horses whose ownership transfers were not properly documented before racing, and that the procurement issue stemmed from an advertising contract that proceeded without proper written procurement procedures after a misunderstanding with the State Procurement Office. The auditor said the Racing Commission will now be audited every two years because of the findings. The committee also received updates on Dakota College at Bottineau’s bank reconciliations, which Minot State University said had been brought current after an 18-month backlog, with only one account still needing cleanup; members asked for a written report on the corrective actions. The North Dakota Fair Foundation was reported to have dissolved, with remaining funds transferred to another nonprofit account for continued support of the state fair. Finally, the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, revising the earlier estimate to about $1.1 million based on incomplete district survey responses, and said the Anti-Lunch Shaming law likely increased meal debt because schools must feed students regardless of account balance. Members discussed the need for a more accurate year-end debt figure and possible future reporting at a later committee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those taxing entities that you speak of, or many of them, are important to me.
• About $900 of that comes from the state, and the rest of it comes from local.
• It's not a state requirement to have local police.
• But when we start getting into cutting the local revenues that's...
• But when we start getting into cutting the local revenues that's going to local school districts, we

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Local law was a person of color.
• This bill prevents state and local government entities from actively prohibiting, restricting, or interfering
• local government entities<01:04:27.200> from<01:04:27.520> actively<01:04:27.920> prohibiting
• blame local law enforcement for this. blame local law enforcement for this.
• pastor entities. pastor entities.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Just depending on the nature of a transaction, ...around GRT, work with tribal entities.
• And local governments, same... Majority, but not all, tribal entities. And local governments, same.
• We currently don't have clear language in statute in that regard for tribal entities.
• So the proposed amendment wouldn't change... ...statute in that regard for tribal entities.
• Instead, I'd like to pay the lower gross receipts tax in my local area.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Local government, but actually a drag from federal.
• , sorry—could work around the state and local tax cap.
• For locals, the deduction to them is $29 million.
• And that's split between locals and the state, about 50-50 maybe.
• Many of whom are out-of-state, very large corporate entities.

Transcript Highlights:

• And all of those entities that you identified, Mr. Chairman, are public entities. Thank you.
• In other local... Almost 24-7, right? And other local... other local cars or vehicles.
• It does not favor the local fabrication industry.
• It does not favor the local fabrication industry.
• From a local standpoint, there's many opportunities for towns and cities, From a local standpoint, there's

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight heard testimony on several procurement-related bills. Senator Lovely and steel industry witnesses supported S. 2167/H. 3411, which would require preference for U.S. manufacturers on public construction projects using steel and other materials. They argued that Canadian and other foreign fabricators underbid Massachusetts firms because of exchange rates, subsidies, and different labor-cost structures, causing local job losses and economic leakage. Committee members asked about tariffs, market share, and whether the bill should be folded into broader municipal legislation; the witnesses said public work should stay in Massachusetts and that the bill would help preserve local industry and jobs. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2107, a bill to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities in state and municipal contracting. Work Inc. testified that a preference for contractors employing people with disabilities would expand competitive employment, reduce reliance on public assistance, and generate net savings for taxpayers. Members asked about the estimated savings and whether recent federal changes to benefits would affect the numbers; the witness said the figures may need updating but that the underlying employment opportunity remains important. Another bill, H. 3339/S. 2187, would prohibit state and municipal contracts for new artificial turf fields containing zinc, plastic, or intentionally added PFAS. Sponsors and supporters cited health risks, heat retention, injuries, and PFAS contamination, while committee members discussed local bans, disposal problems, and whether indoor facilities or alternative materials could be used. Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro testified in favor of H. 12 and H. 13, which would update Chapter 30B procurement thresholds and allow municipalities to bundle snow hauling and removal with plowing contracts. He said the changes would give local governments more flexibility, reduce confusion between school and municipal procurement rules, and make snow contracts more attractive to vendors. Members questioned whether quasi-public agencies and state entities should also be subject to 30B, and Shapiro said many public entities have their own procedures but that transparency and fairness should apply across the board. The committee also heard support for S. 2150, a software licensing bill aimed at preventing vendor lock-in by ensuring state agencies can run purchased software in the infrastructure that best fits their needs; the witness said restrictive licensing can drive up costs and create cybersecurity and modernization problems, and that similar laws have already passed in several other states.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you were a higher assessment, that required local effort goes down.
• If you were at the bottom end, 90%, that required local effort goes up.
• governments and other entities.
• that exist, along with a number of associated entities such as TPAs. ...like entities that exist, along
• with a number of associated entities such as TPAs, third-party administrators, and other entities like

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The local entities that perform public health activities can be organized as a community health board
• The local entities that perform public health activities can be organized as a community health board
• The local entities that perform public health activities can be organized as a community health board
• The local entities that perform public health activities can be organized as a community health board
• The local entities that perform public health activities can be organized as a community health board

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The meeting was an informational walkthrough for the Health Finance and Policy Working Group, focused on committee structure, budget basics, and major health-related accounts and programs. Staff explained the roles of House Research and House Fiscal, then reviewed key funds used by the committee, including the general fund, government special revenue fund, federal funds, the health care access fund, remediation account, and drinking water revolving fund. They also outlined the committee’s main budget areas, noting that medical assistance is the largest general fund item and that the Department of Health is a substantial agency funded by a mix of federal, general fund, and special revenue dollars. A major portion of the presentation covered subsidized health coverage programs. Staff described Medical Assistance (Minnesota’s Medicaid program) as an entitlement for eligible Minnesotans, with no premiums or cost sharing, and explained its managed care and fee-for-service delivery systems. MinnesotaCare was presented as a separate federal-state basic health program for people who are not eligible for MA, with income limits, premiums for adults age 21 and older, and cost-sharing requirements; staff noted that federal premium tax credit changes affect MinnesotaCare premium ranges. The presentation also summarized MNsure’s role in the individual market and in determining eligibility for premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, MinnesotaCare, and MA. The committee also received an overview of health-related licensing boards and occupational regulation. Staff said Minnesota has 16 health-related licensing boards, funded mainly through the state government special revenue fund and subject to legislative appropriation, and explained that health occupations may be regulated by the Department of Health, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, or the boards under chapter 214. Interstate licensure compacts were briefly noted as a way to ease practice across states. No bills were debated and no votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• system that uh really relies on local system that uh really relies on local public<00:57:46.400>
• —0.5% of the entities we oversee.
• uh 05% of stop payment to 750 entities uh 05% of the<01:38:24.920> entities<01:38:25.360>
• —0.5% of the entities we oversee.
• being pushed onto our local counties our local<01:52:36.599> governments<01:52:37.599> um

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on January 28, 2025, to review Governor’s budget proposals for several health-related licensing boards. The chair said no formal action would be taken and noted that final budget language was not yet available. The committee began with an overview from Bridget Anderson of the health-related licensing boards, who explained that the boards are fee-funded, operate as independent executive agencies, and handle licensing, complaints, rulemaking, and disciplinary matters. She also noted that the Board of Dentistry’s budget includes the Administrative Services Unit and criminal background check program, which can make the budget graphs appear larger than the dentistry board’s own operations. The Board of Dentistry requested funding for a new administrative staff position, estimating about $100,000 in salary, insurance, and fringe costs, to replace support lost when an administrative position was reclassified. Anderson said the board handled more than 300 complaints last year, with cases becoming more complex, especially involving surgical and implant procedures and imaging. Members asked about dental Medicaid access, but Anderson said that issue would be better directed to DHS’s Medicaid oral health division. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy requested a full-time position due to rapid growth in the number of regulated professionals, from about 4,000 in 2014 to nearly 10,000 now, and also sought authority to set a fee for out-of-state applicants under the Counseling Compact, with a cap of up to $100 though the board expects to charge much less. The Board of Podiatric Medicine asked to raise its fee ceiling, saying fees had not been increased since 1999 and that the board now faces a structural deficit of about $40,000 per year and declining reserves. Several senators expressed concern about “not-to-exceed” fee authority, calling it too open-ended and suggesting the legislature should scrutinize specific fee needs rather than approve broad ceilings. Similar concerns were raised during the Board of Chiropractic Examiners presentation, where the board sought $100,000 in additional spending authority and a fee increase after 32 years without an adjustment; members questioned the proposed ceiling approach and asked for more historical information before deciding. The Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice also discussed fee-setting authority, with the executive director explaining that the board had previously lowered fees without clear authority and later faced audit questions; she requested funding for a vacant administrative position, saying applications and revenues have increased sharply and no fee increase would be needed. The final presentation began with the Board of Pharmacy, which said it serves more than 26,000 licensees and oversees the Prescription Monitoring Program and opioid product registration. The board requested an extension of previously appropriated general fund dollars through fiscal year 2027 to continue paying legal costs tied to the insulin safety net lawsuit, emphasizing that this was not a new funding request but an extension of existing authority. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The lion's share of that debt is local.
• Secondly, we do the curation of local government debt, so every issuance that happens at the local level
• The definition of local is yes, it includes, in fact, if we do a local report and we get into all the
• , local governmental entity, that issues debt.
• Well, agency, institute, separate entity. Separate entity outside.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee first heard the Legislative Budget Board and Secretary of State Jane Nelson on the Secretary of State budget. LBB said the recommendation would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million overall, with major changes including removing federal HAVA funding and one-time business system replacement money, adjusting the agency’s base request, deleting an outdated Interstate Crosscheck rider, and directing HAVA funds to be drawn down first. Secretary Nelson and staff defended the agency’s needs, emphasizing election security, business filings, international protocol, and the Texas Register, and requested additional staff, a new website, digitization of records, IT and cybersecurity upgrades, and renovation of the Rudder Building. Senators discussed voter-roll maintenance, cross-checking data, call-center response times, and the need for online voter registration and more efficient election administration. No votes were taken. The committee then took up the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB outlined a $2.4 million decrease for the office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs, driven by unexpended balances and the removal of one-time federal and border-security items, while noting continued funding for disaster response, victim assistance, and $2.9 billion for border security at roughly the prior level. Governor’s staff said Texas remains focused on border security, economic development, and public safety, and discussed efforts to seek federal reimbursement for prior border spending. Members asked about the National Guard’s status, possible federal assumption of border costs, the music incubator program, the Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, defense economic adjustment grants, and a new $5 million nonprofit security grant proposal. Staff said the semiconductor program has 12 approved projects totaling about 948 jobs and $17 billion in capital investment, and that the nonprofit security request was added late to address threats to houses of worship and other nonprofits. No formal action was taken. Finally, the committee heard the Texas Facilities Commission and lease-payment recommendations. LBB said the Facilities Commission recommendation would reduce appropriations by about $2.0 billion, mainly by removing border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, while adding money for higher utility costs, Rudder Building refurbishment, and additional staff. The lease-payment recommendation would decrease general revenue by $9.3 million. LBB also noted new riders related to completing the State Library and Archives building, tenant communication during disruptions, and a space-utilization report. In agency testimony, members asked about border wall maintenance responsibility, total facilities-related debt, and the status of capital complex construction. The Rudder Building renovation and related security needs were repeatedly discussed as important one-time infrastructure investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to cause additional confusion about where these notices can be found by affected entities
• In closing, Florida's community newspapers have long sought to keep notices in the local newspapers,
• government entities such as the clerk of court and the tax collector.
• It allows governmental entities such as the clerk of court and the tax collector.
• This bill states that it aims to modernize how local governments communicate important public States

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and considered three bills. Senate Bill 292, by Senator Ruson, created a public records exemption for the personal information of appellate court clerks and their families. Senator Gaetz opposed the measure, arguing against public records exemptions and favoring prosecution of threats instead, while the State Court System appeared in support. The bill passed 8-1 and was reported favorably. The committee then heard CS for Senate Bill 62, by Senator Arrington, presented by Leader Berman. The bill would create an enforceable requirement related to candidate party affiliation qualifications and allow a qualified candidate or political party in the same race to challenge noncompliance. There was no opposition or debate, and the committee approved the bill unanimously, 10-0. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 380, by Senator Trumbull, which would expand options for posting legal notices online by clerks, tax collectors, municipalities, and certain constitutional officers, and the committee adopted an amendment clarifying special governmental agencies and setting a two-week online posting standard. The Florida Press Association, local newspaper representatives, and others opposed the bill, warning it would fragment public notice and reduce transparency, while Senator Trumbull and Senator Gaetz emphasized cost savings and the ability of constitutional officers to use their own websites. The amended bill passed 10-0 and was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• producing ammonia fertilizer locally producing ammonia fertilizer locally using<00:08:08.720>
• <00:10:47.839> Local affordability and stability. Local affordability and stability.
• :43.040> only local ammonia production isn't only local ammonia production isn't only solving<
• production and local ownership. production and local ownership.
• And you know, I I have entities.

Bills: HF2103, HF4508

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, elk, cervidae, cervid importation, chronic wasting disease, CWD, animal health, livestock, wildlife disease, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, state veterinarian, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA

Transcript Highlights:

• There are new provisions for tax-exempt entities—state and local governments, nonprofits, school districts
• There are new provisions for tax-exempt entities—state and local governments, nonprofits, school districts
• There are new provisions for tax-exempt entities—state and local governments, nonprofits, school districts
• <00:42:48.000> in available to support entities in available to support entities in pursuing
• we're also working with National local we're also working with National local Partners<00:42:59.119

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It could expand local businesses here. It could be sent to charities.
• that use the pass-through entity tax. that use the pass-through entity tax. 66,000. 66,000. 66,000
• That's the number that they're paying at these past two entities paid $2 billion.
• <00:17:58.840> tax entity tax entity tax that's<00:18:00.080> sending<00:18:00.440>
• these past two entities paid 2 billion. these past two entities paid 2 billion.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill prohibits state and local The bill prohibits state and local governments<00:30:58.320><
• I'm also a local um attorney choose.
• And that covered entities by HIPPA.
• So, on page six, specific entities.
• in our nation government entities in our nation government entities specifically<01:15:51.760>

Bills: HB0003, HB0004

Keywords: pregnancy centers, abortion, pro-life, healthcare, women's rights, state regulation, civil rights, freedom of speech, medical assistance, birthing centers, Medicaid, Wyoming, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• entity is uh it's thick, isn't it? entity is uh it's thick, isn't it?
• the type of local government entity that may be eligible for the funds under this program.
• local government entity that the type of local government entity that may<01:51:00.159> be<01
• ,<02:30:08.800> local But this is local control, local But this is local control, local governance
• It's a local the local government.

Keywords: 916, all