Transcript Highlights:

• Well, that's fine, Representative. And it's silly.
• Well, that's fine, Representative. And it's silly.
• 00:08:16.639> Well,<00:08:17.199> that's<00:08:17.520> that's<00:08:17.840> fine
• Well, that's that's fine, Thank you.
• Uh 2019, uh the state was hit with $225 million in fines flagged to the state for basically the same

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:24:50.919> members<00:24:51.240> any<00:24:51.399> other though that's fine
• members any other though that's fine members any other questions<00:24:53.600> sure<00:24:54.000
• <01:24:08.800> with that that would be completely fine with that that would be completely
• Is there a monetary fine or anything like that associated with it, or is it just to shut them down?
• Because I don't think the bill right now, Act 205, provides for a monetary fine.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 48 SD2 HD1 relating to combat sports. The Attorney General offered a technical comment on the bill’s effective date, and several testifiers from the combat sports community strongly supported the measure with amendments. They argued that boxing and MMA should be treated separately, that the current regulatory structure has made events too costly and reduced opportunities, and that more local oversight would help revive the sport and give youth a constructive outlet. Committee members questioned whether the bill’s medical staffing requirements would apply to boxing, MMA, or both, and whether the added requirements would increase costs and reduce access. The witness from the combat sports community said amateur boxing is already regulated through USA Boxing, that the DCCA should focus on professional boxing, and that for safety he would support two physicians and one ambulance for boxing and MMA events. The committee then took up SB 117 SD2 HD1 relating to transportation. The Department of Transportation and the Ulon Initiative testified in support, and the bicycling community was listed as supporting as well. Members focused on the bill’s rebate program for electric transportation devices, asking how successful it had been and whether removing the rebate would affect use. DOT said the program began in February 2023 and had issued about 500 rebates totaling roughly $166,000, aimed at helping people without vehicles access transportation options. The department explained that the bill would broaden access and increase the rebate amount, including additional assistance for low-income applicants. Finally, the committee heard SB 897 SD3 HD1 relating to energy and wildfire liability. The Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Public Utilities Commission, the Attorney General, Clearway Energy Group, Ulon Initiative, Kawai K, IBEW Local 1260, and Hawaiian Electric all testified in support, while the Hawaii Association for Justice was listed as opposed but not present. Supporters said the bill would help finance wildfire mitigation and infrastructure improvements through securitization, reduce wildfire risk, and address utility cost and credit concerns. Hawaiian Electric emphasized that the bill is forward-looking, would help protect customers from future wildfire-related cost increases, and requested amendments including a study on a future wildfire recovery fund. In questioning, members pressed Hawaiian Electric on the liability cap, asking whether it would have applied to the Maui wildfires and whether it would cover personal injury or wrongful death; the witness and company counsel clarified that the aggregate cap applies only to qualifying property damage, not personal injury or wrongful death, and said they would follow up on how the cap would calculate in a Maui-type event. Hawaiian Electric also said it would seek financing under the bill if enacted and updated members on settlement funding efforts, including raising the first $550 million in equity and divesting assets to help meet its obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe the Judiciary Committee would be able to go over the fine-tooth comb of what the state Supreme
• Um, if there was a desire to fine-tune the information, but the HR department is aware of, you know,
• If there are improvements with amendments and clarifications, I'm fine with that.
• If there are improvements with amendments and clarifications, I'm fine with that.
• If there are improvements with amendments and clarifications, I'm fine with that.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, so no, that’s fine. So Representative Tur—do you—what do you want to do?
• All right, so no, that’s fine. So Representative Tur—do you—what do you want to do?
• That's yeah, that's fine. All right.
• That's fine. talking about on the last vote we just talking about on the last vote we just yes<01:22:
• under a prior uh in she was doing fine under a prior uh in in<01:31:36.480> uh<01:31:36.679><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 313 and, on motion by Representative Perez, voted to retain the bill because members felt it needed further work and was not ready for final action. The motion passed 18-0, and no further action was taken on the bill. House Bill 391, an anti-SLAPP measure, was then discussed; supporters said it addressed a real problem and should move forward, while opponents raised concerns that it was too broad, could affect criminal cases, and might create procedural complications. The committee voted 18-0 to retain HB 391 as well, and it was placed on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 462, establishing a cause of action for unwarranted video imaging of residential properties. Representative McFarland moved OTP, saying the bill raised First Amendment and property-rights concerns. The motion passed 18-0, and the bill was also placed on consent. The committee then turned to House Bill 509, which would require reporting on forfeitures. Supporters argued the information was useful for future legislation, while opponents said the reporting would be costly, duplicative, and potentially split data across fiscal years. The committee voted 11-7 to recommend OTP, with a minority of members opposed. House Bill 520, authorizing Department of Education hearing officers to issue subpoenas, drew the most extended debate. Supporters argued DOE needed the same tools other agencies have, while opponents said DOE already had access to needed information, the Attorney General could handle subpoenas, and the bill would create an unbalanced process and raise due process and student-record concerns. Representative Tur offered Amendment 0842H to shift subpoena power from DOE hearing officers to the Attorney General; after debate, the amendment failed 10-8. The transcript cuts off as the committee begins the roll call on the underlying bill after rejecting the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things that we saw, and it was related to a couple of those fines, is working with taxidermists
• there over the last few years and if that's something we have to talk about offline later, that's fine
• :49:31.640> offline<00:49:32.079> later<00:49:32.640> that's<00:49:32.880> fine
• <00:49:33.160> just<00:49:33.280> was about offline later that's fine just was about
• offline later that's fine just was curious<00:49:34.040> thank<00:49:34.200> you<00:49

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• will send, or it's going to prepare my remarks to yell at the planning commission about all of that's fine
• will send, or it's going to prepare my remarks to yell at the planning commission about all of that's fine
• Like the use of AI to, in, to enhance, and, to Yell at the Planning Commission about all of that is fine
• The use of AI to enhance and amplify your own voice, your own actions, in some form, is absolutely fine
• autonomous operation through an AI system, whether it's spoofing an actual human being or not, that is not fine

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The numbers for Cal/OSHA fines aren't much different. I had an audit. We've had hearings.
• And of the total fines Cal/OSHA issues, only 23% are paid.
• But while we keep passing laws, some of my colleagues included, to raise fines and shorten wait times
• Just seven years ago, Cal/OSHA collected 50% of fines. Today, it collects less than half of that.
• So my question is for the DIR: If you need more money, why are we collecting the fines?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's funds from fines and fees. And it's been depleting over the course of the last decade.
• Everything's fine. Um, you know, joking with them.
• Everything's fine. fine. fine. um<00:14:12.720> you<00:14:12.880> know,<00:14:13.040>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 1082, a public safety finance bill extending the time to use certain appropriations, was taken up on the House floor and described by the author as a package of funding and policy changes. The bill’s major components included $12 million for victim services such as domestic violence shelters, sexual assault advocates, child abuse programs, and general crime victim services; creation of a domestic violence task force; additional funding for Philando Castile training; increased penalties and other criminal law changes; a process for decommissioning law enforcement vehicles; a task force on uniform IDs for first responders; a non-fatal shooting clearance grant program; corrections employment program changes; and line-of-duty death benefit updates for first responders. Members speaking in support emphasized the need to stabilize victim services, improve responses to domestic violence, and address public safety gaps identified after recent events. The House adopted Amendment A21, which requires the Department of Public Safety to convene a task force to study transitioning the ARMOR emergency communications system to a statewide funded model. Supporters said the system needs major upgrades and that the task force could examine funding options, including ideas previously discussed for a modest cell phone fee. The House then adopted Amendment A18, as amended by technical Amendment A22, to add protections for police and other public safety officers against doxxing and release of certain personal information, modeled in part on protections previously enacted for judges. Debate on A18 focused on whether the bill should protect only law enforcement or be part of a broader approach to data privacy; supporters argued officers and their families face real threats, while some members said the issue should be addressed more broadly. The amendment passed on a roll call vote, 119-11. During third reading discussion, members highlighted the first-responder provisions, especially the task force on standard IDs and the line-of-duty death changes. Supporters said the ID task force was prompted by the June 14 events and could help quickly verify responders and improve coordination at large incidents. The line-of-duty death update was described as expanding eligibility for part-time and paid-on-call firefighters and including occupational illnesses, especially job-related cancer, in response to long-standing concerns from firefighters and their families. No final vote on the bill itself was shown in the transcript excerpt, but the bill advanced after the amendments were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• So these special-fund positions are paid for with fines and fees that come from enforcement activities
• These special-fund positions are paid for with fines and fees that come from enforcement activity.
• They're not just fines and fees; they're because of violations and they're part of addressing violations
• more workforce violations occurring out there, mean we're taking away positions to enforce where the fines
• I'm sure she'll be fine. Who else? I'm just here to answer questions. Okay, great. LAO?

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of budget and trailer bill presentations focused on labor and public employment programs. The first item covered EDD Next modernization, where EDD described progress on customer service improvements, fraud prevention, language access, and the Integrated Claims Management System. The LAO urged stronger legislative oversight as the project enters its most difficult phase, and members questioned the revised schedule, total cost, change orders, stress testing, SB 1090 implementation, and how race and ethnicity data will be protected. EDD said the overall project cost remains about $1.2 billion, that the work is being phased with disability insurance and paid family leave first, and that fraud has been greatly reduced since pandemic-era programs ended. Members also asked for follow-up information on SB 590 outreach and equity impacts. The committee then reviewed the California Workforce Development Board’s request to reduce staffing as one-time grant workloads wind down, along with trailer bill language to streamline reporting requirements. The board and Department of Finance said the staffing reductions reflect the end of surge funding and that the proposal would consolidate roughly 10 to 12 reports into one annual report, with additional reporting only if new funds are appropriated for certain programs. Senator Durazo questioned the policy direction of reducing workforce staffing, while the administration said the positions were tied to temporary grant programs and that current staffing is sufficient for ongoing duties. Members also asked about the board’s role in AI-related workforce planning and the rationale for using state funds for the High Road Construction Careers Program. A major portion of the hearing focused on the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund reforms and related staffing request at DIR. The administration and LAO described rapid growth in applications, backlog, and liabilities, saying the program’s eligibility has expanded beyond its original intent and that liabilities could reach about $30 billion by 2030 without reform. The trailer bill would tighten eligibility, apply the changes to open cases, and use the QME process and contemporaneous evidence to document preexisting disabilities. Members raised concerns about fairness to pending claimants, evaluator capacity, and the relationship to other SIBTF legislation, while the LAO said the proposal largely aligns with its prior recommendations. DIR also presented a request to eliminate vacant positions under a statewide vacancy sweep, which drew criticism from members who argued the cuts could weaken enforcement and backlog reduction efforts; the committee asked DIR to return with more detail on impacts and on its use of temporary-help authority. The final items addressed a request for additional Cal/OSHA investigative staff and a trailer bill to make permanent the revised Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board petition timeline. DIR said the BOI staffing would help investigate fatalities and serious injuries more quickly, while members emphasized the importance of family contact and timely investigations. For the WCAB item, the chair explained that the 2024 change to Labor Code section 5909, which starts the 60-day decision clock when a case is transmitted rather than when a petition is filed, has reduced pending cases and should be made permanent; the remaining backlog was reported at 460 cases, down from 637 before the change.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we are fine with the bill as printed.
• We are fine with the bill as printed. We have no opinion on the Winnipesaukee River Basin piece.
• We<00:05:24.440> are<00:05:24.560> fine<00:05:24.919> with<00:05:25.080> the<
• <00:05:26.040> We We are fine with the bill as printed.
• We We are fine with the bill as printed.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on House Bill 592, which concerns regional conservation and energy resources planning for habitat strongholds and wildlife corridors, and a commission to study transferring ownership of the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program to another authority. Jason Stock of the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association said his group was fine with the bill as printed, especially after Senate language clarified that habitat stronghold designations are for information gathering and not regulatory purposes. Ted Diers of the Department of Environmental Services strongly supported the bill’s Winnipesaukee River Basin provisions, saying the state’s role in operating the wastewater system is outdated and that the communities are now capable of taking more control; he also supported creating a higher-level engineering/director position to oversee aging infrastructure and help manage a possible transition. Committee members asked about the facility’s location, capacity, costs, staffing, the possibility of private operation, the commission’s membership, and whether the six-month study timeline was realistic. Diers said there would be no state savings beyond administrative time, that the communities already pay the costs, and that a report in six months should provide useful next steps even if it would not resolve everything. The chair closed the work session on HB 592 and announced a brief recess before later action, while a member indicated interest in proposing an amendment to change the commission’s membership.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, do you want to give a brief testimony, or if you want to stand on your nomination, that's fine as
• >> Say whatever you want, or if you'd like to just stand on your nomination, then that's fine as well
• just stand on your nomination, then to just stand on your nomination, then that's<00:03:20.240> fine
• that's fine as well. that's fine as well.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard a series of gubernatorial nominations to boards and commissions under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. The chair explained the 90-minute agenda, the 2-minute testimony limit, and that written testimony had been reviewed in advance. Testimony was generally supportive for each nominee, with agency boards, professional associations, and individuals submitting written or oral support. For the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Michael Basta Jr. described his 40 years in the industry, ownership of two salons, and experience training educators. For the Board of Dentistry, Christopher Woo said he had served as an interim board member since July 1 of the prior year, and Jerry Young said she was a retired pediatrician and former Hawaii Medical Board member; in response to questions, she identified a potential conflict through her role with Pu'ulu Lapa'au and said she would recuse herself when appropriate. For the Board of Psychology, Sean Scanlon and Sherry Takuishi Sara both emphasized long careers in the field and service to the community. Several members questioned psychology and medical nominees about interstate licensing compacts and access to care. Scanlon said he supported expanding the profession but would need to recuse himself on compact issues because of his role at Chaminade University, and he noted growth in local training programs. Sara said her main concern with compacts was cultural sensitivity and Hawaii’s unique cultural milieu, though she acknowledged the need for more psychologists. Pediatrician Robert Watring, nominated to the Hawaii Medical Board, said he supported local providers and was cautious about compacts, emphasizing the need to ensure qualified care in Hawaii; he said he had not seen much change from temporary licensing measures on Kauai. For the Contractors License Board, Jerry Nishik said backlog problems were driven by staff shortages and board vacancies, noting the board lacked quorum for upcoming meetings and needed more members and staff. Other nominees included Albert Dennis and Nolan Miyahara for the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board, both of whom said they wanted to continue public service and help ensure legitimate, certified repair shops; Miyahara described his career path from apprentice to automotive technology professor. The committee also heard support for Robert Woltering’s nomination to the Hawaii Medical Board, with Woltering saying he wanted to help ensure quality health care providers, especially for children on Kauai. The transcript does not show any final votes or confirmations during the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they want to pay off of that just that Prescott jurisdiction, fine; we don't have an issue with that
• That's fine. Craig McFarland? No. All right. Robert Scott. Good morning, Chairman and Committee.
• That's fine. And, Mr. Chair, if I may, the previous testimony and some dialogue... And, Mr.
• , I think that the current I think that the current origin-based Arizona business location rule is fine
• It's just these fine people sitting at the table here in front of us.

Bills: HB2143, HB2273, HB2290, HB2373, HB2784, HB2794, HB4037

Keywords: public safety, retirement system, investments, trust fund, board of trustees, financial report, income tax rebate, Pinal County, taxpayer eligibility, state revenue, financial assistance, transaction privilege tax, business location, tangible personal property, shared vehicle, sourcing, income tax, veterans, donations, tax refunds

Transcript Highlights:

• If there are six, that’s fine. Well, we’re not going to start negotiating, so six.
• There are six, that’s fine. I appreciate it. Let’s, there are six, that’s fine. I appreciate it.
• And, Madam Chair, I'm representing an expert, that's probably fine.
• So if you've got it covered financially, I'm fine with it. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you.

Bills: HB99, HJR5, HM39, HB206, HB213, SB41, SB153, SB165, SB261, SB264

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• That's fine. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• And maybe you all want to come talk to me about that too, which would be fine.
• So we're sort of using the money from those fines to try to help find more workers and increase the workforce
• And if you need to get some of this to me offline, that's fine. I appreciate that.
• That's fine. I appreciate that.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I want to thank Representative Tipton for that fine work that he did to help me with that.
• So I want to thank Representative Tipton for that fine work that he did to help me with that.
• Which, that's fine, but you know, somebody could make a mistake.
• Which, that's fine, but you know, somebody could make a mistake.
• Which, that's fine, but you know, somebody could make a mistake.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:07 Attendance Roll Call: 00:13 Approval of Minutes: 02:28 2025 RS SB 9: TRS Leave Audit Requirements & Process: 03:05 2025 RS SB 10: Overview of Enacted Legislation & Discussion: 28:38 Adjournment: 42:13, 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call, a quorum was confirmed, and the minutes were approved. The committee then heard testimony on Senate Bill 9, which concerns TRS sick leave audit requirements and process. Auditor Allison Ball’s staff said the audit is an information-gathering review of how teacher sick leave is accumulated, current balances, how many employers use the sick leave function, and the policies and procedures governing sick leave. Members discussed how unused sick leave affects retirement calculations, the distinction between the state’s financial responsibility and school districts’ responsibility, and whether the audit would also examine related leave categories such as personal leave, annual leave, and leave of absence. Committee members emphasized that Senate Bill 9 was intended to add accountability and standardize reporting, including preventing annual leave from being rolled into sick leave. Several members asked for clarification on how sick leave is factored into retirement benefits. Witnesses and members explained that, under the system described, accumulated sick leave can be converted into retirement credit based on a teacher’s daily rate and then multiplied by a percentage, with the school district often bearing the cost. Members also noted nuances in the law, including different accumulation limits by hire date and tier, and that the audit may help the public better understand why some educators retire relatively young. The auditor’s office said it is still early in the process, has met with TRS leadership, and will report back once the audit progresses. The committee also asked whether maternity leave would be included; the auditor’s office said it was not specifically mandated but could be examined if the body requests it. The committee then received an overview of Senate Bill 10 from KPA representatives Ryan Barrow and Rebecca Atkins. They explained that the bill enhances retiree health insurance benefits for certain CRS members who are non-Medicare participants and meet specified career thresholds, with different rules for hazardous and non-hazardous service. They described the benefit as $40 per month per year of service for non-hazardous service and $50 per month per year for hazardous service, both inflated annually, and clarified that these amounts are not cumulative with prior benefit formulas. Members asked about the interaction between the new amounts and existing benefits, and the presenters explained that the bill also changes current employee health insurance contribution rates effective July 1, 2026, with different impacts by tier and hazardous status. The committee discussed the need for clear communication to affected employees and reviewed example calculations showing how the new contribution structure would work.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee substitute is really just a fine-tuning and minor change, and it was based on a compromise
• the committee sub is really just a just the committee sub is really just a just a<00:20:43.440> fine-tuning
• 44.679> change<00:20:45.039> a<00:20:45.159> minor<00:20:45.480> change a fine-tuning
• and change a minor change a fine-tuning and change a minor change and<00:20:45.919> it's<00:20
• He said he is perfectly fine to do that, and that was the intention of this bill. committee sub I think

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:12 SB 4 (Sen. Mays Bledsoe): 01:34 SB 58 (Sen. Webb): 04:53 SB 117 (Sen. Madon): 07:40 SB 121 (Sen. Wheeler): 10:52 SB 237 (Sen. Howell): 13:09 SB 71 (Sen. Boswell): 18:54 SB 174 (Sen. Nunn): 38:18 SB 176 (Sen. Nunn): 40:54 SB 183 (Sen. Nunn): 42:31 Adjournment: 49:51, 958, all

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first considered Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Sen. Bledsoe, which would create a risk-based AI governance framework for state government and address AI-generated misinformation in campaigns and elections. The sponsor said the bill came from the AI task force and is intended to promote transparency, accountability, and responsible use of AI while distinguishing between internal and external systems. The committee took a roll call vote and reported the bill out 7-0. The committee then heard Senate Bill 58, sponsored by Sen. Webb, which would allow Kentucky Retirement System benefits to be designated to a Special Needs Trust for a beneficiary. Webb said the bill would help families of special-needs children preserve benefits for supplemental needs such as adaptive equipment, technology, and medical or dental care not covered by government programs. He said retirement systems had provided no-impact letters, and the bill passed 7-0. Members also approved Senate Bill 117, which would let cities adjust incentive payments for training by appointed and elected city officials and remove the statutory minimum from ordinance requirements, and Senate Bill 121, which would authorize county judges to contract with rescue groups to deal with wild horse herds in rural areas. SB 117 passed 10-0 and SB 121 passed 10-0. The committee then took up Senate Bill 71, as amended by a committee substitute, dealing with local library board appointments. Sen. Boswell said the bill was a compromise but that he preferred removing KDLA from the process entirely; library representatives opposed the committee substitute and said they wanted KDLA out of the selection process. Several senators expressed conditional support but said they wanted further changes, and the committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill out after a roll call vote with 10 yeas and 1 pass, with members noting they expected further floor amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• just not to pass a $100 we would be fine just not to pass a $100 bill<00:25:52.520> to<00:25:
• >> Yes, that's fine. >> Pha.
• >> Yes,<00:43:32.880> that's<00:43:33.080> fine. >> Yes, that's fine.
• >> Yes, that's fine. >> Pha. >> Pha. >> Pha.
• Uh, fine, finally, um, I will say this.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><01:47:47.920> as<01:47:48.120> being<01:47:48.400> paying<01:47:48.680> fines
• could be looked at as being paying fines could be looked at as being paying fines or<01:47:49.400
• <01:47:58.160> The would probably be a $50 fine. The would probably be a $50 fine.
• to<01:48:01.920> RSA Uh, the attorney I spoke with said no, it would probably be a $50 fine
• It's fine. Two minutes is great. Thank you.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This fine individual, Michael Mark, will be doing that. Okay, Michael. Good afternoon.
• We know we had sand in our system, but we didn't realize how fine that sand was.
• That's fine. Okay, well, that's a... That's fine.
• In that, you know, they added that fine sand filter to their project. Is that part of...
• That fine sand filter to their project?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• s fine for sure, I guess. Because you state your name and... Yes.
• No, it's fine. ...a little bit. Once you finish that, and then I'll ask.
• No, it's fine.
• That's perfectly fine. It's probably not a unanimous idea one way or the other.
• If it's proven out that this was irregular in a procedure for this committee, fine.

Summary: The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts. The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects. Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.