Transcript Highlights:

• They're looking at those monetary incentives that are actually in place, but they're also looking at

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to hear a series of presentations on the economics, financing, workforce, and community impacts of advanced nuclear deployment in North Dakota. William Bridge of Nucleon Energy presented the committee’s economic impacts and private-sector financing report, estimating construction and operating job impacts, local spending, and state/local tax effects for hypothetical SMR projects. He said the report assumes first-of-a-kind costs are still high, used a $6 million per megawatt nth-of-a-kind proxy, and estimated peak construction workforces of about 500 for a 200-MW plant and 1,000 for a larger facility, with roughly 100 operating jobs for a 200-MW plant. Committee members questioned security costs, capital cost assumptions, water and transmission siting constraints, and whether the model included fuel and waste; Bridge said the report included initial fuel in capital cost and that waste disposal is funded through existing federal mechanisms. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning efforts. She described declining labor-force participation, retirements, and the need for a much larger future workforce, and said NEI has organized recommendations around career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and nontraditional recruitment. She highlighted tools such as the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, timing for training relative to plant development, and whether advanced manufacturing would reduce staffing needs; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. The committee also heard from Gary Yaco, mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota, who described Prairie Island’s role in his community. He said the plant provides a large share of local property tax revenue, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to emergency preparedness funding and training, and is broadly supported by the city despite periodic protests and public concerns. He emphasized the plant’s security, regular drills with local and federal responders, and the absence of problems with dry cask storage. Later, Benton Arnett of NEI discussed the current financing landscape for advanced nuclear, explaining how tax credits, federal loan support, off-take agreements, and new business models are helping projects move forward. He said early projects face high upfront costs and long lead-time procurement, but that investor confidence is improving as federal policy and regulatory streamlining continue. The committee asked about waste funding, comparisons with natural gas, the effect of political shifts on investor confidence, and whether the market will narrow to a few winning technologies; Arnett said the industry is still sorting that out, but expects clearer winners in the late 2020s and early 2030s. The meeting concluded with an introductory presentation from Julie Kazeraki of DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, who said the office is focused on accelerating nuclear deployment through financing support.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Amber Alert system is, I believe, that and I believe there was no monetary fiscal note with them

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, when I look at our full-time employees, built into that compensation package are all the benefits
• Um, when I look at our full-time employees, built into that compensation package are all the benefits
• Um, when I look at our full-time employees, built into that compensation package are all the benefits
• Um, when I look at our full-time employees, built into that compensation package are all the benefits
• Um, when I look at our full-time employees, built into that compensation package are all the benefits

Bills: HB0086

Keywords: county officials, election code, misconduct, removal, government accountability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• general funds for nursing compensation general funds for nursing compensation pilot<02:05:34.880
• <02:12:13.280> essentially compensation there. essentially compensation there. essentially
• Chairman, we got a million8 for a pilot program for nursing compensation.
• pilot program for nursing compensation. pilot program for nursing compensation.
• So I hope that's compensate for that.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• compensation under NIL? compensation under NIL?
• I vote yes, and not because of the compensation under NIL.
• I vote I because compensation under NIL.
• The problem is I don't know if this is fair compensation.
• The problem is I don't know if this is fair compensation.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the April 13 minutes and then turned to a large agenda of contracts. Chairman Douglas said there were 52 contracts totaling about $369.3 million, and noted that most vendors were registered with the Secretary of State except for item 118 on the routine personal services green list and item 19 involving Morehead State University and Kentucky State University. The committee voted to defer item 118 to the June 26 meeting and later also deferred the Kentucky State University contract on the deferred list to the June 26 meeting. The main discussion centered on a deferred personal services contract for the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, involving outside legal counsel. Senator Meredith raised concerns about KRS 320 and whether the board had authority to hire outside counsel when the statute says the Attorney General shall provide legal services to the board. Dr. Mary Beth Morris, the board president, and Christopher Thacker of the Attorney General’s office testified after being sworn in. Thacker explained that the statute and related law allow both Attorney General assistance and independent counsel, and argued that outside counsel is appropriate for day-to-day legal work because it avoids conflicts, especially on open records issues, regulatory advice, and disciplinary hearings. Senator Meredith said he agreed with approving the contract but questioned how the board had reached this point and whether the current statutes reflect modern practice. He raised concerns about transparency and accountability, referencing a prior advisory opinion involving the board’s handling of exam requirements during COVID and saying the board should have consulted the Attorney General before acting. Thacker responded that the Attorney General’s office serves the Commonwealth as a whole, not as counsel to one board, and that the board’s use of outside counsel is a reasonable and economical arrangement. The exchange ended with Meredith suggesting that broader legislative action may be needed to clarify reporting relationships and oversight for the board.

Transcript Highlights:

• You go back to just a couple years ago, Senate Bill 24-149, which deals with workers' compensation.
• You go back to just a couple years ago, Senate Bill 24-149, which deals with workers' compensation.
• You go back to just a couple years ago, Senate Bill 24-149, which deals with workers' compensation.
• worker's compensation. worker's compensation.
• <03:43:40.840> losses Velasco concerning compensable losses Velasco concerning compensable

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wage and hour laws that impact people who are misclassified, as well as the Workers' Compensation Division
• Employers are obligated to provide workers' compensation coverage to all employees that they have.
• Employers are obligated to provide workers' compensation coverage to all employees that they have.
• <00:04:41.759> Division<00:04:42.560> um Workers Compensation Division um Workers Compensation
• coverage to all workers compensation coverage to all employees<00:04:47.880> that<00:04:48.080

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then on slide 23, just goes over compensation, so FTE costs as a percent of our total programmatic
• so FTE costs goes over um compensation so FTE costs as<00:24:18.000> a<00:24:18.200> percent
• Increased compensation and stipends as compensation to reimburse workers who have taken certain training
• Increased compensation and stipends as compensation to reimburse workers who have taken certain training
• and compensation related costs the<01:03:46.839> costs<01:03:47.279> of<01:03:47.760><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:30.799> process<00:03:31.319> while<00:03:31.680> preserving compensation
• process while preserving compensation process while preserving individuals<00:03:33.360> rights
• <00:17:07.839> so still Sue first to get compensated so still Sue first to get compensated
• <00:30:59.799> that compensation that compensation that was<00:31:01.760> due<00:31:02.080
• <00:31:06.720> for of what were required to compensate for of what were required to compensate

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate hearing focused primarily on SB 1201, a wildfire measure that would create a wildfire recovery fund and allow securitization for electric utilities. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill, saying it would help protect customers, property owners, insurers, and the broader economy from future catastrophic wildfire liability while improving the utility’s credit profile and lowering financing costs. Support also came from DCCA Consumer Advocacy, the Attorney General’s office on written comments, Ulupono Initiative, Clearway Energy Group, IBEW Local 1260, Par Hawaii, KIUC, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, Plus Power, and numerous organizations and individuals. Opponents or commenters raised concerns about the liability cap, victim compensation process, and fund structure, including the Hawaiʻi Association for Justice, the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters, and the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land supported the concept of a fund but questioned the catastrophe threshold and whether the fund would be empty without a prudency finding. Much of the discussion centered on whether the proposed fund would actually help restore Hawaiian Electric to investment grade, with senators comparing the proposal to California’s wildfire fund. Hawaiian Electric said the bill was only one part of a broader process, alongside physical risk reduction and settlement finalization, and argued that without the bill the utility would not regain investment grade. Senators also questioned the proposed $1 billion fund size, the fairness of ratepayer contributions versus shareholder contributions, and whether customers should pay for consulting and administrative costs; Hawaiian Electric said its proposed amendment would remove those consulting-related charges. The company also said the fund would accrue interest and, if unused, could be returned to customers, and that there would be replenishment and supplemental contribution mechanisms if the fund were exhausted. The Attorney General’s office said it still had further amendments to discuss, and the departments had not yet resolved where the fund should reside administratively, though Hawaiian Electric said it believed DCCA was the appropriate place but was open to alternatives. KIUC requested two amendments. No vote or final committee action was taken during the hearing, and the measure remained under discussion with questions and proposed amendments still outstanding.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:34:57.119> and employees, employee compensation and employees, employee compensation and
• of categories of things that would be included in the members' base compensation.
• <03:17:54.800> and compensation and compensation and um um um added<03:17:59.760> a<03:
• <03:18:04.080> And<03:18:04.239> then<03:18:04.479> it's base compensation.
• And then it's base compensation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But if the problem that we are solving is that the compensation is too low and they cannot hire, wouldn't
• Thank you for coming, Miss Burns. compensation or even pass on hiring compensation or even pass on hiring
• <00:30:46.960> is<00:30:47.120> too solving is that the compensation is too solving
• is that the compensation is too low<00:30:47.519> and<00:30:47.679> they<00:30:47.799>
• They couldn't get unemployment compensation because they'd get fired from jobs.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee held a hearing on several bills and announced at the outset that no votes would be taken because the measures would go to divisions later. The first major bill, HB 197, would require the state to pay 7.5% of political subdivision employer pension contributions for teachers, police officers, and firefighters. Representative Mike Edgar, the prime sponsor, argued the state had repeatedly reduced and then eliminated its promised share of retirement costs, shifting the burden to municipalities and property taxpayers. He said the bill would partially restore that commitment and provide relief to local governments, businesses, and taxpayers. Several witnesses testified in support of HB 197, including Representative John Cluder, Bradford selectman Marlene Fryer, the New Hampshire Municipal Association’s Margaret Burns, and Epping representative Mark Fone. Supporters said the bill would help with property tax pressure, school budgets, and municipal hiring, and they emphasized that much of the retirement cost reflects unfunded liability decisions made at the state level rather than by local governments. Committee members questioned whether the bill would change local incentives to control costs and how it would affect hiring and compensation. Burns said the state contribution would function as property tax relief because it offsets existing municipal expenses, and she noted the state is already on a long-term schedule to pay down the retirement system’s unfunded liability. After closing the hearing on HB 197, the committee opened a hearing on HB 97, introduced by Representative Tom Buco. He said the bill would continue funding for delayed and deferred wastewater projects and help municipalities finance expensive wastewater infrastructure, which he tied to housing development and local debt planning. No action or votes were taken on either bill during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• To be clear, this does not offer workers' compensation or personal lines of insurance, such as automobile
• not offer they do not<00:11:52.000> offer<00:11:52.320> workers<00:11:52.720> compensation
• <00:11:53.200> or not offer workers compensation or not offer workers compensation or personal

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3745 addresses a gap in the crime victims compensation program by ensuring timely support for the
• HB 35 3745 removed specific restrictions on emergency compensation.
• This bill does not expand eligibility for the Crime Victims Compensation Program.
• It does not increase the overall amount of compensation availability.

Bills: HB104

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Transcript Highlights:

• Next measure is HB480 HD1 SD1, relating to workers compensation.
• measure is HB480 HD1 SD1 relating to measure is HB480 HD1 SD1 relating to workers<00:25:35.840> compensation
• workers compensation. workers compensation.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up a long decision-making agenda and repeatedly recommended passage of measures, most either unamended or with technical or date-deferral amendments. Early items included HB 496, which was passed with amendments deferring the effective date to 2050, and HB 700, which was passed with amendments incorporating Alzheimer’s Association language on dementia data collection, standardized cognitive assessments, Medicare Part C, and related definitions. Other bills addressed insurance, health care preceptors, workers’ compensation, labeling, rural emergency hospitals, and numerous budget or policy measures later in the agenda. Several bills received substantive amendment packages. HB 250 was amended to add an objective on treatments for common chronic or long-term conditions and to clarify that automating determinations is intended to reduce delays in patient care. HB 303 adopted Hawaii Pharmacist Association language clarifying the definition of a nationally accredited pharmacy residency program. HB 1179 was amended to adopt Department of Human Services language relating to Med-QUEST. Later, HB 1293 added a $250,000 cap, a $20 million general-fund appropriation for Department of Education food services, and procurement-reporting language; HB 1153 authorized transfers of various non-general-fund accounts to the general fund and added a blank appropriation for the governor’s office; and HB 1168 added a proviso to a revenue bond appropriation to help in-state residents with demonstrated financial need offset room-and-board increases. The most notable debate was on HB 1308, a sports wagering bill. Members discussed regulatory structure, youth sports restrictions, tax and fee provisions, and gambling-prevention funding. Several members opposed the bill, citing family impacts, gambling addiction concerns, and the possibility that regulatory and social costs would outweigh revenues; others supported it with reservations. The motion to pass with amendments was adopted, with recorded no votes and reservations. Across the agenda, most remaining bills were adopted with little or no discussion, including many measures passed unamended and several with deferred effective dates or committee-report notes reflecting testimony or appropriation requests.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the amendment language adopted into the bill, this grant program is now narrowly focused on compensation
• With the amendment language adopted into the bill, this grant program is now narrowly focused on compensation
• that this grant would help to improve our workforce within home health care, and it would help to compensate
• that this grant would help to improve our workforce within home health care, and it would help to compensate

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and dependency and indemnity compensation under the laws administered by the Secretary.
• Over 500,000 survivors like Sherry received dependency and indemnity compensation from VA.
• RDIC is a monthly compensation for VA.
• And I hope to appeal to my colleagues' morality when I say that increasing compensation to survivors
• And I hope to appeal to my colleagues' morality when I say that increasing compensation to survivors

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, May 21, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But here's the thing: I sat on the Victim's Compensation Board when I was working for Governor Brown.
• , at a minimum, compensated something for what's been done to them through no fault of their own.
• Because if you were involved in the crime yourself, you're not entitled to victims' compensation services
• And we felt very strongly they should be compensated for ...through no fault of their own.
• And we felt very strongly they should be compensated for some of their injuries.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And there was no compensation for us in taking that.
• But to get good people to represent the people, you have to somewhat compensate them.
• So I think, again, to reiterate, they don't have to take it, but they can get compensated for doing it
• All we're asking is to get compensated for what we work.
• And look, we're not getting compensated for that.

Summary: The committee first approved the May 20 minutes and then advanced HCR 95, which would create a more uniform tax base for future state and local tax exemptions and credits, requiring a two-thirds vote of both chambers to deviate from that uniformity. HB 648 was deferred by the author. HB 1049, dealing with public meeting procedures and notice requirements, was amended after discussion with the Police Jury Association, school boards, and local government groups; the amendments removed a requirement for a lawyer at every meeting and clarified notice and posting language, and the bill was reported with amendments despite opposition from local government associations and the City of Baker. The committee then heard HB 615, which would expand livestreaming and two-year archiving requirements to more public bodies, including non-elected boards and commissions with taxing or rulemaking authority. Supporters framed it as a transparency measure, while local government and association witnesses argued it would impose an unfunded mandate, especially on small volunteer boards, and raised concerns about costs, staffing, record retention, and reliance on social media platforms. The bill was not advanced. HB 1201, as amended, would provide legislators reimbursement for travel and limited out-of-session expenses, including housing and mileage, beginning with the next term; members discussed the need to make public service more financially feasible and to broaden who can afford to serve. The committee reported HB 1201 with amendments. The committee also considered two constitutional convention-related bills. HB 244 would set guardrails for any future convention by capping delegates at 144, specifying delegate selection, requiring a two-thirds delegate vote to send proposals to voters, and requiring both a majority of voters and approval by three-fourths of the parishes for ratification; after debate over whether the parish threshold was too high, the bill was reported favorably on a roll call vote. HB 4, as amended, was narrowed to require the Senate and House Governmental Affairs committees to meet in the off-season to discuss the mechanics of a possible convention, but members viewed it as more of a study resolution than binding legislation, and the committee voted to keep it in committee. The meeting then moved to confirmation hearings. Courtney Myers, nominated for Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, and Ernest Jacob Reade Jr., nominated as Assistant Secretary, testified about their backgrounds and priorities, emphasizing juvenile rehabilitation, education and vocational programming, mental health services, credible messengers, family contact, and better communication with legislators and families. Nathan McBride, nominated as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, testified about his engineering and government affairs background and said he would focus on legislative work, waste tire management, permitting modernization, and constituent service.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the bill removes local authority over one of the largest components of employee compensation
• He said the bill removes local authority over one of the largest components of employee compensation
• He said the bill removes local authority over one of the largest components of employee compensation
• compensation while leaving school<00:17:42.559> boards<00:17:43.039> responsible<00:17
• You know why this health care is so part of compensation is beyond me.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of compensation, we are asking for an increase equivalent to state agencies.
• My second question is about compensation for higher education. I know I wanted to work at CNM.
• We allow our higher education institutions to make the determination of compensation levels.
• Are they compensated, or how does that work with the Office of Cybersecurity as.
• Chairman, the Office of Cybersecurity, are they compensated at all?

Keywords: 996, all