Transcript Highlights:

• What I'm saying is we have a lot of work What I'm saying is we have a lot of work to<00:01:25.480
• :18.440> which temporary sanctions imposed, which temporary sanctions imposed, which helped<01
• doing that work.
• between 0.1 and 0.2 FTE doing that work. between 0.1 and 0.2 FTE doing that work.
• <01:36:06.920> I working on this. I working on this.

Bills: HF3489, HF3393, HF3785, SF856, HF4006, HF4615, HF3919, HF4591, HF3682, HF4240

Keywords: grooming, child protection, student safety, sexual exploitation, educator licensing, teacher discipline, mandatory reporting, mandated reporter training, school misconduct, predatory offender, child abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, position of authority, school employee, school administrator, license revocation, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• data infrastructure data systems work data infrastructure data systems work that<00:12:45.240>
• in addition to telling them stop work in addition to stop<00:17:20.079> work<00:17:20.319>
• , worked in our water lab.
• augment that work as the water lab work augment that work as the water lab work has<00:21:40.320
• work the work was contract to do this work the work was approved<00:27:25.440> and<00:27:25.559

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 28 for a Health and Human Services Oversight Committee meeting, approved the draft minutes from February 21, and then received updates from DHHS on the sudden termination of about $80 million in federal COVID-era funding. Commissioner Lori Weaver and Trisha Tilly said the funding had been expected to continue through September 2026, but an email ending it immediately created a 15-month budget gap. They explained that most of the money supported public health work, especially epidemiology, laboratory capacity, data systems, community health workers, outbreak response, and some behavioral health supports. DHHS said it had notified contractors, was reassessing which activities could continue, and had managed to avoid layoffs for its 20 affected staff by shifting funding sources, though some contract lab staff had to leave and some work would stop or be put on hold. Senators and representatives asked about impacts on labs, staffing, and the state budget lapse, and DHHS said the water lab and testing supplies would be affected and that the department was trying to backfill where possible with other federal funds. The committee then heard a maternal mortality report from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Alison Power and Caroline Naami explained that the MMRC reviews maternal deaths to identify contributing factors and make recommendations, and that it had completed one CDC grant and received another five years of funding. For 2023, the state recorded five pregnancy-associated deaths, including three from overdose, two from cardiovascular causes, and one homicide; the share of deaths related to substance use fell from 62.5% in 2022 to 40% in 2023. Over the 2019–2023 period, half of pregnancy-related deaths were due to overdose, most occurred postpartum, and many involved Medicaid recipients, transportation or financial barriers, and deaths at home. The committee said mental health and substance use remained the main drivers of maternal mortality, but that 79% of pregnancy-related deaths in the five-year aggregate were considered preventable. Presenters highlighted recommendations and ongoing interventions, including expanding Medicaid coverage through one year postpartum, strengthening behavioral health access, partnering with the Department of Corrections on care for pregnant and postpartum women, and continuing clinical education through the Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network. Members asked why the maternal mortality rate had declined in recent years; staff said the 2021 spike was tied to the pandemic and that recent declines likely reflected both that spike and the impact of interventions, though the small number of cases makes trends hard to interpret. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's work to be done, and you know what work doesn't need to be done today?
• Work on the budget. Do your job. Work on your budget.
• We can get our work done on time.
• We can get our work done on time.
• We have to work together.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the purpose is to help assist those bumps in the labor market. work a temporary partial wage work
• They work over time.
• We have always looked at this request as a temporary bridge sort of funding as we work to make changes
• <01:31:41.960> work repowered combines highquality work repowered combines highquality work
• Repowered's program works, and the reason I know it works is it works for participants and employers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is a work in progress.
• And we'll see if it works. And two years from now, people say... And we'll see if it works.
• But how does the process work?
• It's a work in progress. Along those lines, Mr.
• So Senator Axtman, let's work on that number four.

Bills: HB1220

Keywords: accelerated degree, high-demand occupations, education reform, North Dakota, licensing, 908, all

Summary: The Workforce Development Committee reconvened to discuss House Bill 1119, which would create a child care advisory committee and authorize a Legislative Council program evaluation of child care services. Senator Hogan explained that the bill is intended to review child care licensing rules, child care assistance, and related laws and policies, while also giving child care providers a stronger voice in the rulemaking process. He described the proposal as a new model for legislative program evaluation and noted that leadership had been briefed and was supportive. Committee members raised concerns about the bill’s wording, scope, and structure. Senator Larson questioned the title and several sections, and multiple members suggested making the response language less directive and more collaborative, including changing “shall” to “may” in the section requiring a written response from the Department of Health and Human Services. Members also discussed limiting the advisory committee to the interim, clarifying that the evaluation would focus on child care services rather than broader early childhood programs, and adjusting language about enacted legislation to sound more neutral. The committee also discussed fiscal impact, with Hogan saying the evaluation would be done by Legislative Council staff and that any costs would likely be limited to meetings and existing DHS rulemaking activities. Members compared the proposal to other oversight models, including audit-style reviews and a possible DOGE process, and Hogan emphasized that the bill is meant to evaluate why child care issues keep recurring and why some laws are not fully implemented. No vote was taken; the committee agreed to continue refining the bill and planned to meet again the following Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would assume that they're not working during the daytime when they should be working for a District
• Well, then we need to block police officers working part time. Yeah, right.
• Like if they're going to go work, they're gonna, they're going to have these consulting companies work
• to work for District B, they weren't profit.
• If I'm working for a school district and I want to go to work for District B provide consultation services

Transcript Highlights:

• I was happy to work with Co-Chair Moeller, as well as Co-Chair Liebling and Scott.
• We work together. Valerie did a lot of good work.
• and the overtime that they are required to work to make that place tick.
• I'm very proud of our work together.
• We worked together very well on a lot of the language.

Transcript Highlights:

• this reflects how we work as a division. this reflects how we work as a division.
• is that we instead, the way that we work is that we work<00:15:33.120> small<00:15:33.519>
• hasn't worked and hopefully try to take what works and leave behind what hasn't.
• hasn't worked and hopefully try to take what works and leave behind what hasn't.
• for the opportunity to work on it. for the opportunity to work on it.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a lot of well monitoring and and working a lot of well monitoring and and working particularly<00
• Um, and I think we'd work out there.
• Chairman, we the work? Mr. Mr.
• their standing is the is the the work their standing is the is the the work that's<01:22:24.960>
• bill is really getting at a temporary bill is really getting at a temporary framework<01:53:27.679

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's not a tax cut where working families can keep more of what they earn.
• And the focus has always been on working families.
• Under this bill, income above 27%. working families.
• We do our work because we believe that good state government—the work being done in this building by
• I'm a hard-working mom who is doing okay for now.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1001, sponsored by Representative Les Eaves, which would lower Arkansas’s personal income tax rate to 3.7% retroactive to the current year and reduce the corporate income tax rate to 4.1% beginning in 2027. Eaves argued the bill continued a decade-long strategy of broad-based tax relief, would help working families, and would keep Arkansas competitive with other states. He said the measure would reduce future surpluses rather than cut current services, and noted the average taxpayer could see roughly $800 to $1,000 in annual savings from recent tax changes. Several witnesses testified against the bill. Arkansas Appleseed’s Anna Morchetti, Missy Wyatt Joyce, Pastor Preston Clegg, Michelle Pedro of the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families’ Pete Guest all argued the state should prioritize funding for public schools, health care, supported living services, food assistance, rural hospitals, and early childhood education instead of further tax cuts. They said Arkansas faces significant unmet needs, including underfunded schools, food insecurity, and shortages in disability and community-based services, and warned the tax cut would mainly benefit higher earners while reducing resources for essential programs. After testimony, the committee limited debate time for witnesses to five minutes. Representative Eaves closed by saying the state had been responsible in prior tax cuts and that the bill would return money to taxpayers without reducing services. Representative Bray also spoke in support, saying the legislature has continued to fund major priorities while still providing tax relief to working families. The committee then voted to pass the bill, and HB 1001 was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know about you, but that's not how I thought it worked here.
• Not how I thought it worked here.
• Now, I literally work with money and spreadsheets for a living.
• every day, work overtime, or work in jobs that are tipped.
• I wouldn't have had to work another job or two in order to make ends meet.

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it working? Do we still need the $99,500? All of that.
• I don't need additional work. We don't need additional work. Let it go. Let's sleep in dollars lie.
• And we put in some temporary money to, as we have other staff work on it, at least they can charge off
• This kind of works in conjunction with the bill that we're still doing a little bit of work on with 2276
• Okay, committee, the last one we can work on today is 2325. 23. Oh, there it is. 23, 25.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills, beginning with Senate Bill 2267 on on-site wastewater systems. DEQ testified that the bill would make DEQ the sole agency responsible for developing statewide wastewater code and licensing installers, replace local public health unit codes, create enforcement authority and civil penalties, and provide a $99,500 general fund appropriation for implementation. Members discussed whether the bill and proposed amendments adequately protected existing functioning or nonconforming septic systems, and DEQ said it would compare the Senate amendment with the committee’s draft and return the next day with feedback. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2339, a wildfire mitigation plan bill, and adopted amendment 02001 with a change from “Shell” to “May” on one line. After amendment, the bill passed 9-3 on a do pass as amended vote, despite opposition from members who argued it created a utility carve-out, reduced liability exposure for utilities, and incentivized safety without requiring compliance. The companion study bill, Senate Bill 2340, on fire service operational response needs also received a do pass recommendation, and the committee later agreed it should be handled on the floor before the mitigation bill so the two measures could be explained together. The committee also approved Senate Bill 2210, a study bill on watershed boundaries, with members noting it would help inform ongoing work on related water legislation. Finally, Senate Bill 2325, dealing with ordinary high watermark determination, received a unanimous do not pass recommendation after members expressed concern that high-water-mark language is difficult to define and may be better addressed in a separate study or resolution. The committee adjourned after noting that DEQ would return the next day with proposed amendments and that work on Senate Bill 2276 would continue with interested parties.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got 20 in work release. We have 38 on county holds.
• Been too busy down here working on the budget, right?
• So the ones I've been involved in, they work pretty well. Further.
• Otherwise, I mean, I think that language works.
• So I really, really appreciate your work on the floor. It was great today.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee reconvened in the afternoon and took up only Senate Bill 2015, the Department of Corrections budget. Representative Steeman explained that the budget reflected major changes from the Senate version because bed contracts with Grand Forks and Burleigh-Morton were still unresolved when the Senate acted. He described rising inmate populations, added county/regional jail payments, deferred maintenance and repair funding, planning money for a new Missouri River Correctional Center, software and equipment upgrades, victims of crime grants, and a one-time diversion/deflection center grant for Fargo funded through the Community Health Trust Fund. He also outlined funding for body cameras, tasers, and protective vests, and a Native American reentry program/report provision, along with a legislative management study on sentencing, corrections, and parole oversight. Members asked about the possibility of private or design-build alternatives for the new Missouri River Correctional Center. After discussion, the committee adopted language directing the steering committee to oversee design and construction and to explore other options. There was also discussion of the importance of maintaining North Dakota’s correctional rehabilitation culture, the cost and availability of out-of-state placements, and the current number of inmates housed in regional, county, and interstate facilities. The committee adopted the amendment to engrossed Senate Bill 2015 and then approved the bill as amended on a 21-0 vote, with two members absent and not voting. Representative Steeman was designated as the carrier. The chair then thanked members for their work and announced the committee would reconvene the next morning to continue with remaining bills and budget work before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1577 by Parker relaying the temporary sale of alcoholic beverages at certain Racing Facilities

Bills: SJR60, SJR62, SJR65, SJR66, SJR67, SJR68, SCR27, SCR28, SCR29, SB1576, SB1577, SB1578, SB1579, SB1580, SB1581, SB1582, SB1583, SB1584, SB1585, SB1586, SB1587, SB1588, SB1589, SB1590, SB1591, SB1592, SB1593, SB1594, SB1595, SB1596, SB1597, SB1598, SB1599, SB1600, SB1601, SB1602, SB1603, SB1604, SB1605, SB1606, SB1607, SB1608, SB1609, SB1610, SB1611, SB1612, SB1613, SB1614, SB1615, SB1616, SB1618, SB1619, SB1620, SB1622, SB1623, SB1624, SB1625, SJR60, SJR62, SJR65, SJR66, SJR67, SJR68, SCR27, SCR28, SCR29, SB1576, SB1577, SB1578, SB1579, SB1580, SB1581, SB1582, SB1583, SB1584, SB1585, SB1586, SB1587, SB1588, SB1589, SB1590, SB1591, SB1592, SB1593, SB1594, SB1595, SB1596, SB1597, SB1598, SB1599, SB1600, SB1601, SB1602, SB1603, SB1604, SB1605, SB1606, SB1607, SB1608, SB1609, SB1610, SB1611, SB1612, SB1613, SB1614, SB1615, SB1616, SB1618, SB1619, SB1620, SB1622, SB1623, SB1624, SB1625

Keywords: SJR 60, Texas constitutional amendment, property tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, rainwater harvesting, graywater system, water conservation, water reuse, residential tax incentive, local government finance, county commissioners court, appraisal value, environmental incentive, November 2025 ballot, Article VIII, tax relief, healthcare workforce, education funding, higher education, economic growth

Transcript Highlights:

• uh move forward and make this thing work uh move forward and make this thing work cuz<00:04:07.240
• <00:59:01.200> financial able to act as a temporary financial able to act as a temporary financial
• So, members, we've got more work to do.
• We members, we've got more work to do.
• to work out. Uh, Representative Robbins. to work out. Uh, Representative Robbins.

Bills: HF4343

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, advertising tax, taxable services, digital advertising, online marketing, marketing services, search engine marketing, lead generation, internet advertising, ad agency, media buying, campaign planning, Minnesota tax law, service tax, broadening tax base, web advertising, promotional services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Pursuant to temporary rule 44A, the following bill, having failed to meet crossover and being released
• honoring this tremendous work with writing haikus and limericks to salute the inspired and tenacious
• work which has gone into this annual exercise.
• <00:13:08.240> with honoring this tremendous work with honoring this tremendous work with
• <00:13:13.800> which the inspired and tenacious work which the inspired and tenacious work

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what I'd like to do is give the member time to work with the author of the bill to see if they can
• work it out.
• Uh, I'm testing on behalf of the organization I work with, um, which is Unchained At Lasts.
• Uh, my name is Dre Fields, and I work on the advocacy team at Unchained At Last, the only organization
• And many of the survivors that we look that that we work with who are older, like you mentioned, Vice

Bills: HB168

Keywords: certificates of obligation, local government debt, municipal finance, county finance, public works, bond election, voter petition, registered voters, refinancing certificates, Texas Local Government Code, municipality, county, hospital district, infrastructure financing, public improvement, debt issuance, general obligation alternative, public oversight, local bonds, historic preservation

Transcript Highlights:

• Fiola for legislation to authorize municipalities to opt in to a temporary pilot to extend hours of liquor

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed several guest groups, including a fourth grade class from Howard Manning School and the 2026 Hopedale Junior and Senior High School girls basketball team, recognized as Division 5 state champions. The House then adopted several congratulatory resolutions, including honors for Girl Scouts Gold Award recipients and the Worcester Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club on its 150th anniversary. Members also approved a House order extending the Education Committee’s reporting deadline on House No. 5454, concurred with a Senate petition on wake-surfing fines for motorboat operators, and suspended Joint Rule 12 on a Fiola petition to allow municipalities to opt into a temporary pilot extending liquor license hours and permitting public consumption in designated districts. That Fiola matter was referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. The Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee reported several local bills for consideration, including measures for Berkeley and Bolton liquor licenses, Newton municipal charge liens, and a Marion land transfer; the House ordered these bills to a third reading. On final action, the House adopted the emergency preamble for House Bill 5375, financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges, and passed House Bill 3929 on third reading, which changes the minimum age requirement for original appointment as a police officer in Worcester. The House also adopted an order to adjourn to Thursday at 11 a.m., observed a moment of silent tribute for Charles “Charlie” Van Dini of Plymouth, and then adjourned to meet Thursday next at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee director will read the title: An act establishing a temporary task force on variable supplements

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Civil Service and Pensions met on May 5, 2026, with a quorum present and eight bills on the agenda. The committee considered measures on a temporary task force on the Variable Supplements Fund (S1181), cost-of-living adjustments for certain retirees (S3414A), an optional 25-year retirement plan for Suffolk County fire marshals (S5754B), a heart disease presumption for certain NYC Police Department traffic enforcement agents (S8147B), a Civil Service Commission study of state agency job vacancies (S8209), employment of persons with autism spectrum disorder (S8640), an optional 25-year retirement plan for certain New York Power Authority employees (S9068A), and the effective date of a reclassification for accidental disability retirement benefits (S9909).

Transcript Highlights:

• I've done all of the work. I've worked with the community my whole life.
• Work that’s impactful.
• and my senator work and I ...keep a space between my advocate work and my senator work, and I don't
• I started my career working without in nonprofit and doing defense work.
• , jury work.

Keywords: House Committee Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all