Transcript Highlights:

• , which also accounts for data center growth, shows that North Dakota maintains a reliable energy surplus
• allow us to continue providing stable, low-cost power to North Dakota communities while exporting surplus

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

Transcript Highlights:

• balance in the May Revise, the $9.7 billion proposed to be deposited temporarily to the projected surplus
• never-before-seen levels, billions and billions and billions of dollars of unexpected forecasted revenue surplus

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What happened with being able to draw down because of one-time surplus dollars, we were able to get funding
• What happened with being able to draw down because of one-time surplus dollars, we were able to get funding

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're at a record surplus for their budget, and it's very well received in the community.
• And Jacobs has designed a long-term plan that runs through 2080 on how we get from a deficit to a surplus

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We always have run a surplus at the Board of Nursing from the nursing fees, so whatever it takes to get
• we're supportive of that those come out of nurses fees there is funding for that we always have run a surplus

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2308, which would prohibit a dental insurer or its holding company from owning interests in dental practices regulated by the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners. The sponsor and Arizona Dental Association argued the bill is meant to prevent vertical integration and insurer control over provider care, while Delta Dental opposed it, saying the measure would block nonprofit insurers from investing in clinics for indigent care and create divestment burdens. After discussion of possible exemptions and market-share caps, the committee passed HB 2308 on a 7-0 vote. The committee then considered House Bill 4001, as amended, which creates a licensing and enforcement framework for alternative nicotine products beginning in 2028, increases penalties for sales to minors, restricts youth-oriented marketing, and licenses manufacturers and distributors. Supporters, including the sponsor, Border Security Alliance, Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, and Vapor Technology Association, said the bill would improve supply-chain transparency and help curb illegal products and youth vaping. Opponents, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, argued it should instead use a full tobacco retail licensing model and that the bill’s enforcement structure lacks sufficient resources. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 6-1. House Bill 2873, as amended, was also approved unanimously. The strike-everything amendment allows a person or organization that filed a city or town referendum petition to withdraw it before ballot qualification, applies the rule retroactively to withdrawals filed on or after January 1, 2026, and bars tallying or canvassing votes for referenda with a withdrawal notice. The sponsor described it as a common-sense governance fix, and the committee gave it a 7-0 do-pass recommendation. The committee next heard House Bill 2408, which revises Arizona Board of Nursing complaint procedures, confidentiality, investigation timelines, expungement authority, and related disciplinary processes. Nursing board officials opposed parts of the bill, warning that changes to nursing education oversight and tighter deadlines could weaken patient safety and increase costs and liability, while the Arizona Nurses Association and several nurses supported the bill as a way to prioritize serious complaints, improve timeliness, and allow expungement in appropriate cases. After adopting the amendment, the committee passed HB 2408 on a 5-2 vote. The committee also passed House Bill 2342, which limits HOA restrictions on backyard shade structures, and House Bill 2323, which extends Arizona’s motor vehicle lemon law protections to lessees, both by unanimous votes. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 4010 on creating a Board of Genetic Counselors, with the sponsor and supporters describing it as a licensure and patient-safety measure; the transcript ends during testimony on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• temporary local option exemption from adult taxation by a taxing unit of the total appraised value of the surplus
• Olkara-Linnan relates to the definition and assistance regarding the organization and disposal of surplus

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chancellor's Office did not fully inform legislators and students about CSU's $1.5 billion surplus
• The Chancellor's Office did not fully inform legislators and students about CSU's $1.5 billion surplus

Summary: The committee first adopted its 2025-26 rules on a 7-0 roll call, then approved three consent items—AB 88, AB 240, and AB 313—on a due-pass motion to Appropriations. The hearing then moved to AB 648, which would give community college districts the same zoning authority as the UC and CSU systems to build student and staff housing on property they own or lease. The author and supporters argued the bill would help address severe housing insecurity and homelessness among community college students, while opponents and some members raised concerns about local control, zoning exemptions, and the impact on nearby communities. AB 648 passed the committee on a 5-2 vote and was sent to the Local Government Committee. The committee next heard AB 466, which would require California Community Colleges and CSU campuses to provide organ and tissue donor registry information during student orientation, and request UC campuses to do the same. Supporters shared personal stories about transplants and donation, saying college orientation is a good opportunity to increase registrations. Some members worried about information overload during orientation and suggested campuses have flexibility in how they present the material, but the bill advanced on a unanimous 7-0 vote to Appropriations. AB 326 followed, proposing campus-by-campus external audits of the CSU every three years and public release of the audits. The author, faculty supporters, and a student argued that systemwide audits do not provide enough transparency about how money is spent at individual campuses, citing examples of financial mismanagement and fee increases. CSU opposed the bill, saying it already conducts annual consolidated external audits and that campus-level audits would add cost without added benefit. After extensive discussion about transparency, audit scope, and implementation, the bill passed 6-1 to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 335, which would create a California Black-Serving Institution Grant Program to support Black student success and broader underserved student services; supporters emphasized persistent equity gaps and low completion rates, while an opponent argued the bill needed to be carefully amended to comply with Proposition 209 and equal protection requirements. The transcript ends during that item’s discussion, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• :30:23.480><c> structural</c> went from a5.1 billion structural went from a5.1 billion structural Surplus
• 30:26.840><c> deficit</c><00:30:27.279><c> again</c><00:30:27.519><c> I</c><00:30:27.640><c> I</c> Surplus

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This would cost about $250 million, which is a small fraction of the surplus, but it would make a meaningful
• This would cost about $250 million, which is a small fraction of the surplus, but it would make a meaningful

Bills: SB 1

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

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken. The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information. The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><01:37:22.639><c> an</c><01:37:22.800><c> $18</c><01:37:23.199><c> billion</c><01:37:23.679><c> surplus
• ,</c><01:37:24.159><c> but</c><01:37:24.320><c> it</c> what was an $18 billion surplus, but it what was
• an $18 billion surplus, but it is<01:37:24.639><c> what</c><01:37:24.800><c> it</c><01:37:24.960><c>

Bills: HF3793, HF3699, HF793, HF3322, HF3426

Keywords: groundwater, water use permit, data centers, public health, environmental regulations, municipalities, state park license plate, specialty license plate, Minnesota DNR, Department of Natural Resources, license plate design contest, North Shore, Lake Superior Agate, AI-generated art, artificial intelligence, Minnesota resident, state parks, specialty plates, vehicle registration, contest requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• spending too much money, much like the state of Minnesota, which, by the way, had an $18 billion surplus
• And that’s why we need to be accountable for that. a $18 billion surplus and then as the a $18 billion
• surplus and then as the trifecta<01:02:07.839><c> came</c><01:02:08.000><c> in</c><01:02:08.240><c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All those costs—those grants in there are meant to come out of the surplus, the money we save from doing
• All those costs—those grants in there are meant to come out of the surplus, the money we save from doing
• Out of the surplus, the money we save from doing this.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• over8 people's money um you look at the over8 billion<01:36:41.080><c> dollar</c><01:36:41.360><c> Surplus
• that</c><01:36:41.960><c> we</c><01:36:42.159><c> had</c><01:36:43.000><c> and</c> billion dollar Surplus
• that we had and billion dollar Surplus that we had and we<01:36:43.280><c> increased</c><01:36:43.960

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They manage fleet services, surplus property.
• They manage fleet services, surplus property.
• They manage fleet services, surplus property.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The education fund had a surplus of over $4 million with their universal program in place.
• The education fund had a surplus of over $4 million with their universal program in place.
• Um the education fund had a surplus<03:25:03.840><c> of</c><03:25:04.080><c> over</c><03:25:04.399><c
• > $4</c><03:25:05.080><c> million</c><03:25:06.080><c> with</c><03:25:06.399><c> their</c> surplus of
• over $4 million with their surplus of over $4 million with their universal<03:25:07.279><c> program<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also strategically held back on spending all of the surplus, which leaves us with another sizable
• Following its establishment, the remaining funds, $2.4 million, were deemed surplus.
• Following its establishment, the remaining funds, $2.4 million, were deemed surplus.
• There is the legislature increased juror pay last session and really leading up to this point, those surplus
• It's crucial that we address this funding gap. surplus budgets did not exist anymore.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Otherwise, my understanding was that we can't put the surplus that we had in the education trust fund
• understanding was that we can't put I my understanding was that we can't put the<00:06:28.120><c> Surplus
• </c><00:06:28.880><c> that</c><00:06:29.039><c> we</c><00:06:29.199><c> had</c> the Surplus that we had
• the Surplus that we had bu<00:06:30.400><c> in</c><00:06:30.639><c> the</c><00:06:30.919><c> education
• Otherwise, my understanding was that we can't put the surplus that we had in the education trust fund

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 295, which would make school building aid funds non-lapsing/non-APS. Representative Cahill said the bill was intended to keep any unused building aid money available for future projects, potentially helping move projects up the priority list or provide a little more funding for school construction. Members asked about how much money has lapsed in past years, whether the education trust fund and building aid are separate, and whether any lapsing dollars could be used to pay down debt. Department of Education official Jim Carney said about $29.1 million would be available if building aid is funded to the $50 million maximum in FY26, confirmed that the fund currently lapses, and said the department would gather historical lapse data. Committee members also discussed whether a dedicated fund structure could achieve the same goal, and the chair noted that the education trust fund statute includes school building aid as one of its uses. No vote was taken; the hearing was closed and the committee said it would later hold a work session after receiving more information. The committee then took up HB 237, introduced by Representative Dan McGuire, which would prohibit the use of special education state funds and differentiated aid for students not receiving special education services. The New Hampshire School Boards Association, through Becky Wilson, opposed the bill as written, saying it was unclear, potentially unnecessary, and difficult to implement because adequacy and differentiated aid are distributed as part of a districtwide lump sum rather than as student-specific dollars. She explained that special education costs are embedded across district budgets, including staffing, training, transportation, and instruction, and that some staff and services benefit both special education and general education students. Wilson also said differentiated aid is not tied to a specific pupil and is used at the district’s discretion, though it is intended to support students with greater needs. Committee members pressed on whether the bill would require districts to track money by individual student, whether it could conflict with federal special education law, and whether it would affect least restrictive environment requirements. Wilson said making the funds student-specific could create privacy and accounting problems and could make it difficult to staff inclusive classrooms, though she did not give a definitive legal opinion on federal compliance. She agreed that students who are not eligible for special education would not be included in the separate catastrophic/special education aid reimbursement program. The discussion continued into the second section of the bill, with members exploring how adequacy aid and differentiated aid are used in practice, but no action was taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• From an economic perspective, the cost of edtech will only continue to rise, not just in updating hardware
• From an economic perspective, the cost of edtech will only continue to rise, not just in updating hardware

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will have to change our hardware systems and divert state resources.
• We will have to change our hardware systems and divert state resources.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so what they're having to do is go see coverage in the surplus lines market, which is very, very
• having to do is go see coverage<00:15:33.720><c> in</c><00:15:33.959><c> the</c><00:15:34.240><c> Surplus
• </c><00:15:34.759><c> lines</c><00:15:35.160><c> Market</c> coverage in the Surplus lines Market coverage
• in the Surplus lines Market which<00:15:35.720><c> is</c><00:15:35.959><c> very</c><00:15:36.279><c>
• comes to underwriting, getting renewed, getting quoted for a premium, not getting tossed into the surplus

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a non-germane amendment to HB 297 that would create the Granite State Home Mitigation and Resiliency Program. Insurance Commissioner DJ Beton, joined by department staff, explained that the proposal is intended to help homeowners afford insurance by funding proactive home improvements that reduce risk and improve insurability. He said the program would be funded by the first $1 million collected annually from the insurance premium tax, with grants of up to $10,000 available on a first-come, first-served basis. Beton described the problem as rising homeowners insurance premiums, hard-market underwriting, nonrenewals, and the resulting shift to more expensive surplus lines coverage. He said eligible projects could include roof fortification, exterior improvements, flood-related foundation work, and removal of hazardous trees or limbs. He cited similar programs in other states, especially Alabama, Louisiana, and North Carolina, as evidence the model can work and noted that industry representatives were present in support. He also said the program would use means testing aligned with the Department of Energy’s weatherization program to target lower-income applicants. Members asked about the non-germane process, who would administer the program, and how the bill would prevent misuse of grant funds. The commissioner said the department would administer the program using one repurposed existing position, with Treasury handling fund flow through an MOU. Staff explained that applicants would have to show completed work through a signed contract, itemized work, and a sworn contractor affidavit, with some upfront payment allowed for materials and the remainder paid after completion. The chair and members discussed that the amendment is being attached to a different bill only to move the proposal through committee and on to House Finance for further consideration.