Transcript Highlights:

• IF SOMEONE WERE TO PRINT OUT SOMETHING ON 11 BY 17 PIECE OF PAPER AND STICK IT ON THE WALL THAT WOULD
• IN THE IMAGE PUT ON THE WALL ON THE SCHOOL IS NOT A POLITICAL MESSAGE THIS BILL DEALS WITH FLAGS. >>

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• when the Affordable Care Act was passed, and I always said, "Boy, I want to be able to fly in the wall
• I'm right on the border of Vermont. How far away is it?
• people in New Hampshire should drink in New Hampshire and then jump in their cars and drive across the border

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up an insurance-related chronic pain bill and an amendment modeled on language from Massachusetts and Maine. The sponsor explained the amendment was developed after stakeholder meetings because the original bill would have created an unaffordable insurance mandate in New Hampshire. The amendment was intended to improve access to non-opioid therapies by limiting prior authorization and step-therapy barriers so they are not more restrictive than for other treatments, including opioid therapies. After questions, the committee took a straw vote and advanced the amendment. The next item was a department-sponsored bill involving the state’s all-payer claims database. Insurance Department officials explained that the bill would encourage self-funded employer plans to opt in voluntarily by giving them aggregated, deidentified claims information in return. They said self-funded plans cannot be required to report data because of federal law, but the bill would provide an incentive while protecting employee privacy. Members asked detailed questions about who would see the data, whether individual employees could be identified, and how privacy would be enforced; the department said access would be aggregated and deidentified, and employer privacy issues would be governed by ERISA and the U.S. Department of Labor. The committee also discussed a glucose-monitoring bill. Members debated whether the bill was aimed at type 1 diabetes coverage or broader access to continuous glucose monitors, and whether it would amount to an unnecessary insurance mandate that could raise premiums. Department testimony estimated the equipment cost and said the annual impact per member would be modest, but also noted that non-insulin therapies have not consistently shown clinically significant A1C reductions. The chair and some members emphasized that the bill should be considered on its own terms as a CGM coverage issue, not as a general diabetes mandate. The committee discussed the bill’s cost implications and asked the department for any prior cost analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Committee on Border Security will now come to order. Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with the expectation that the final two years will need to be at site locales that may be beyond the borders
• faculty to kind of help in the, you know, like you're starting to kind of see the handwriting on the wall

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• thinking about it every time I'm in one of these committee hearings. elementary school located along the border
• of the lesson plan or they stayed and continue to work towards proficiency. the scaffolding on the walls

Bills: SB451, SB762, SB1490, SB1262, SB1459, SB1750, SB1962, SB2252, SB2253, SB2365

Keywords: instructional materials, public schools, Education Code, adoption, rejected materials, local funds, open educational resources, Texas Education Code, school districts, open enrollment charter schools, funding restrictions, environmental regulation, business compliance, local authority, economic development, state preemption, local control, open education resources, SB 762, Texas public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• He helped us see our history not as something finished and framed on a wall, but as something alive.
• He helped us see our history not as something finished and framed on a wall, but as something alive.
• and<00:20:28.280> framed<00:20:28.720> on<00:20:28.840> a<00:20:28.920> wall
• , something finished and framed on a wall, something finished and framed on a wall, but<00:20:29.440

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee held a joint hearing recognizing the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and focusing on civic education, free speech, voting, and Minnesota’s America 250 commemorations. Opening remarks emphasized the importance of education, Indigenous land acknowledgement, and the idea that democracy depends on informed and engaged citizens. The chair then invited student debaters from the Minnesota High School League to testify about how debate, free speech, and evidence-based reasoning have shaped their education and civic participation. The students argued that debate teaches critical thinking, helps young people engage with difficult issues, and should be protected as part of a healthy democracy; one also urged lawmakers to move beyond empty promises and take action on issues such as eviction moratoriums, ICE collaboration, and protest protections. Commissioner Willie Jett of the Minnesota Department of Education testified that public education is where citizenship first becomes real, and that schools, libraries, and educators help students learn to listen, question, debate respectfully, and understand both the ideals and failures of American history. He said democracy is something each generation must learn and strengthen, and thanked the committee for convening the hearing. Former students Sarah Griffin and Charlie Crocker then offered tributes to Senator Swedzinski, describing how his teaching encouraged civic engagement, disagreement, and action, and how his classroom shaped their lives and public service. Their remarks emphasized that democracy is not a spectator sport and that ordinary people build it through small, courageous acts. Secretary of State Steve Simon followed with testimony on Minnesota’s civic culture and voter participation. He said Minnesota has long ranked near the top nationally in voter turnout, including youth turnout, and attributed that to a combination of good election laws and a strong pro-voting culture. He highlighted school-based civic education efforts such as pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds and the Students Vote mock election program, and noted that Minnesota’s congressional delegation was unanimous in supporting the Voting Rights Act in 1965 as an example of the state coming together on major moral questions. The Minnesota Historical Society then began its presentation on America 250, with Kent Whitworth describing the organization’s role, the new edition of the Northern Lights curriculum, and broader commemorative activities; Dr. Bill Convery introduced historical context about how Americans have celebrated independence and how the semiquincentennial can leave a legacy for future generations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representatives Bacon, Barron, Baisley, Bottoms, Bradfield, Bradley is on the wall.
• Bradley<00:26:36.640> is<00:26:36.799> on<00:26:36.960> the<00:26:37.120> wall
• <00:26:38.000> Brooks, Bradley is on the wall. Brooks, Bradley is on the wall.
• We won't ignore the havoc outside these walls or the gloom or bury our heads in the sand to avoid discomfort

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bill, as it comes at quite honestly a crucial moment since railroads are succumbing to the demands of Wall
• bill, as it comes at quite honestly a crucial moment since railroads are succumbing to the demands of Wall
• railroads are succumbing to the<00:02:57.680> demands<00:02:58.519> of<00:02:58.680> Wall
• <00:02:58.879> Street<00:02:59.159> to<00:02:59.280> boost the demands of Wall
• Street to boost the demands of Wall Street to boost profit<00:03:00.040> and<00:03:00.200>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I looked into the institution that borders the country to the south of us, and they have a team with
• Um, I looked into the institution that borders the country to the south of us, and they have a team with
• I looked into the institution that borders the country to the south of us, and they have a team with
• We're just throwing a number at the wall and see what happens.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> One use case for this is remittances across borders, right? So if you let's say you're a...
• One use case is remittances across borders.
• So if you let's across borders, right?
• 00:52:03.320> across One use case is remittances across One use case is remittances across borders
• So let's say you have family in borders.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have much larger populations in general than our bordering states, and so a lot of our students, as
• states and so a um than our bordering states and so a lot<00:14:42.160> of<00:14:42.279> our
• So you want to pay attention to your border states because that's typically where your students will
• 00:18:13.320> attention<00:18:13.600> to<00:18:13.720> your<00:18:13.840> border
• you want to pay attention to your border you want to pay attention to your border states<00:18:14.520

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our goal for over 10 years has been to work with the state on true border-to-border broadband.
• 00:24:39.399> true been to work with the state on true been to work with the state on true border-to-border
• border-to-border border-to-border Broadband<00:24:41.559> this<00:24:41.760> issue<00:

Bills: HF47, HF434, HF1503, HF1702

Keywords: telecommunications, installation, certification, safety, underground utilities, HF434, cervidae, deer, elk, moose, chronic wasting disease, CWD, wildlife importation, animal health, biosecurity, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA, USDA exhibitor, species survival plan

Transcript Highlights:

• The House, sorry, the body on the other side of the wall tried to change that.
• We put it wall tried to change that.
• It started with the former governor who was tearing some bookcases off the wall.
• It started with the former governor who was tearing some bookcases off the wall.
• It started with the former governor who was tearing some bookcases off the wall.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this bill was deal with these situations where offenders travel across county lines or across state borders
• this bill was deal with these situations where offenders travel across county lines or across state borders

Bills: SF0007, SF0008

Keywords: theft, penalties, larceny, criminal offense, felony, Wyoming, absconding, law enforcement, criminal justice, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yvonne's work knew no borders.
• mentally incompetent and institutionalize them, the state needs to provide those facilities within the borders

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, Chairman Dever, and this helps with the problem of, like, border towns where a child care worker
• might This helps with the problem of, like, border towns where a child care worker might be working

Bills: SB2015

Keywords: corrections, rehabilitation, prison budget, department of corrections, adult services, youth services, correctional facilities, Heart River correctional center, Missouri River correctional center, James River correctional center, minimum security facility, county jails, regional jails, deferred maintenance, capital construction, strategic investment and improvements fund, Bank of North Dakota, line of credit, tasers, body cameras

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division met with all members present and took up several bills, focusing most of the discussion on SB 1577 and SB 1619, along with a detailed review of the HHS budget bill draft. On SB 1577, Senator Magrum explained that the bill was being revised to focus on wastewater rather than raw water, possibly shifting the Washburn project to the Department of Water Resources so it could access matching funds, and potentially converting the bill into a line of credit if federal money is restored later. Members discussed whether to keep an emergency clause or instead use a date-based approach, and agreed the bill would likely be handled through the full committee and possibly reconsidered later. On SB 1619, Senator Davison said amendments were still being worked on, including changes requested by the Bank of North Dakota, and the committee planned to hold it for possible amendment before full committee consideration. The bulk of the meeting was a section-by-section review of the HHS appropriations bill draft. Members discussed one-time funding items such as technology projects, child care programs, housing programs, behavioral health facility grants, infant and toddler care provider support, juvenile justice diversion, medical housing, and other public health and human services projects. Several adjustments were noted, including reductions or changes to IMD-related funding, incarcerated-person treatment funding, the child welfare technology project, and the provider rate increase. The committee also discussed the FTE block grant structure at length, with staff explaining that the apparent increase in positions reflected budgeting mechanics, zero-dollar “phantom” positions, and positions approved previously but not counted in the FTE total. Members raised concerns about transparency and whether the bill should list FTE numbers, but staff said the block grant was intended to give the department flexibility while quarterly reporting would provide oversight. Other topics included Medicaid expansion funding and provider reimbursement rules, the move toward certifying human service centers as certified community behavioral health clinics, a moratorium on new ICF beds, and studies or reports on Medicaid, obesity, disability services, truancy, and behavioral health facility grants. The committee also discussed removing or revising broad intent language in Section 31 so the department would report findings rather than implement changes without further legislative action. No final votes were taken in the transcript; instead, members agreed to make a few technical adjustments, continue reviewing the bill, and likely revisit it the next day before moving it to conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recreation and Tourism, HCR 40 by Gerties, urging Congress to reimburse the state of Texas for border
• For the costs incurred in securing the southern border, I refer to the Committee on Homeland Security

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• especially at DOC have access to programs and that can cause problems when they're wearing a product for wall
• folks get home, but they have a hard time getting access, especially the DOC, to getting behind the walls
• But they have a hard time getting access, especially the DOC, to getting behind the walls before folks
• Finding more ways to make those folks get behind the walls ahead of time.
• Finding more ways to make those folks get behind the walls ahead of time, not duplicating efforts.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission on correctional consolidation and collaboration heard testimony focused on how Massachusetts uses custody levels, staffing, programming, and medical release tools, with Prisoners’ Legal Services arguing that the system is overusing expensive high-security settings and underusing step-down options. Dave Rainey said the incarcerated population has dropped substantially over the last several years, but spending and staffing have not fallen in proportion. He argued that DOC overclassifies people into medium and maximum security, relies too heavily on behavioral assessment units that function like segregation, and keeps people in restrictive settings such as Souza-Baranowski and Shattuck Hospital longer than necessary. He also said medical parole is underused and that many people with serious chronic illness or advanced age pose little public-safety risk and should be released through existing legal pathways. Sheriffs and other commission members pushed back on some of those points, emphasizing that staffing needs are driven by the acuity of the current population, that corrections is not overstaffed, and that classification decisions involve serious public-safety judgments. They also stressed that some high-cost medical placements are necessary because people remain under sentence and require care, and that furloughs and other release tools can create security risks if contraband or substance use is involved. The discussion also covered the role of county sheriffs versus DOC in reentry, with several members saying county systems tend to do more day-to-day step-down and release planning, while DOC has more difficulty moving people through lower-security settings before release. Ben Foreman of MassINC offered a more systemwide, data-focused perspective, praising the state’s transparency and arguing that Massachusetts has made major progress in reducing incarceration and increasing public safety. He said the state still has an opportunity to improve by right-sizing facilities, investing in community-based mental health treatment, and using the commission to better understand the capital and operating costs of the current system. In response to questions, he said he was aware of DOC studies on programs like furlough but had not reviewed recent ones, and he noted that total-control facilities like Souza-Baranowski have long been criticized in the research literature for poor outcomes. Nora Wassel of the Women and Incarceration Project then testified that the commission should issue an interim report and scrutinize the planned new women’s prison, which she said is not justified by current population trends or available data. She argued that women are overclassified under DOC’s own tools, that reentry beds and minimum-security placements are underused, and that the system may be failing to account for women’s distinct medical and reentry needs. The meeting ended with continued discussion of reentry, furloughs, day reporting, and whether consolidation should mean fewer facilities, better step-down pathways, or both.

Transcript Highlights:

• currently available for the sex offense treatment is a double-wide trailer with temporary movable walls
• double wide trailer with temporary is a double wide trailer with temporary movable<00:15:23.680> walls
• 24.600> the<00:15:24.759> use<00:15:24.959> of<00:15:25.199> sound movable walls
• and the use of sound movable walls and the use of sound machines<00:15:26.120> outside<00:15:
• work and corrections that it is often out of sight and therefore out of mind behind the large brick walls

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, right now basically the line is just our eastern border.
• >> Representative Wall-E. >> Representative Wall-E.

Bills: SF0102, SF0123, SF0021, SF0099

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, energy, funding, grants, loans, coal, natural gas, mineral processing, economic development, stable token, liquidity, trust account, Wyoming, fund distribution, financial regulation