Transcript Highlights:

• Go up to the border and see the rail cars that come over, get inspected; you'll see the poor pallets
• about having all the equipment you need on the site to receive the material, scale it into the site, security
• Her small social security check was her only income, but she had no partner benefits because they never

Transcript Highlights:

• But I feel fairly secure in telling some of my constituents that work for state government that the chances
• So if we're talking about cutting services like Medicaid or Social Security or whatever else, if that's
• Because bordering Leon County, we have Gadsden, Liberty, Wakulla, and Jefferson.

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee heard several measures focused on government structure, oversight, and public policy designations. The most debated bill was HJR 1325, which proposed a constitutional amendment to create a statewide Commissioner of Government Efficiency, abolish the lieutenant governor office and the Government Efficiency Task Force, and eliminate the constitutional requirement for an Auditor General appointment. Sponsors said the new commissioner would be a watchdog over waste, fraud, and abuse across state and local government, while opponents raised concerns about cost, single-subject issues, lack of implementation details, and whether existing oversight structures were sufficient. After extensive debate, the resolution was reported favorably by a recorded vote. The committee also approved HB 575, which redesignates the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in Florida statute, and HB 1445, which requires certain state officials and agency heads to have stronger ties to Florida and, for some positions, to live in the county where their agency headquarters is located. HB 1445 drew questions about practicality and whether a proximity standard would be better than a strict county requirement, but the sponsor said he would continue working on that issue. Both bills were reported favorably, with HB 1445 passing unanimously. In addition, the committee unanimously approved HB 259, designating August 21 as Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day, with supporters emphasizing the need for public education about fentanyl overdoses. The committee also passed CS/HB 29, the public records and meetings bill linked to the social work licensure compact, which creates confidentiality and meeting exemptions needed for the compact to operate. Public testimony on that measure was supportive, and it too was reported favorably without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• would take him from White Bear Lake all the way to Stillwater and I, where the interstate and the border
• Um, and um it uh removes a reference to the Piney Pine Creek Border Airport, which does not exist any
• /c><00:36:42.400> Airport,<00:36:43.040> which<00:36:43.359> does Pine Creek Border
• Airport, which does Pine Creek Border Airport, which does not<00:36:43.760> exist<00:36:44.079
• Um, everybody had their half the border.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's a historic survey that will go literally from a call day all the way to the border.
• The second thing was obviously security cameras; we had that.
• The statewide security operations center is working to proactively identify and remediate security threats
• And second, are you already adhering to the state's minimum standards for cyber security? Mr.
• Thank you, because we are very concerned about cyber security and very concerned about hacks.

Transcript Highlights:

• Security so we're not duplicating efforts?
• thank you uh whereas Employment Security thank you uh whereas Employment Security does<01:18:29.880
• <01:18:38.040> so<01:18:38.199> we're<01:18:38.360> not Employment Security
• so we're not Employment Security so we're not duplicating<01:18:39.520> efforts<01:18:40.520><
• <01:44:43.400> or<01:44:43.639> veterans Security or veterans Security or veterans benefits

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a Division 3 budget work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Economic Stability. Karen Hebert, the division director, and Nathan White, DHHS chief financial officer, walked members through the governor’s operating budget pages and a briefing book, explaining that the division was consolidated in 2018 and serves programs aimed at financial stability, poverty reduction, child care access, and related supports. Members repeatedly asked for clearer breakdowns of general fund spending, historical growth since consolidation, and how the division’s broad mission areas map onto specific budget lines. A major portion of the discussion centered on the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start collaboration and the child care subsidy program. Hebert said the child care scholarship/subsidy helps low- and moderate-income families access daycare so parents can work, attend school, or receive treatment, and that eligibility is based on state median income up to 85%. She reported a 45% increase in utilization, 4,032 children receiving daycare support as of the end of January, and about 15% of eligible children being served. She also described the quality improvement system “Granite Steps for Quality,” with 160 providers enrolled out of 717 licensed programs, and noted that 1,200 child care professionals added credentials in the last year. Members pressed for cost-benefit information, asking for data on how much the state pays, how many providers and children are served, and whether the department could quantify unmet need. The witnesses said some projects were funded with short-term ARPA child care dollars and that detailed cost data for specific examples, such as the Gorm Community Learning Center expansion, would need to be looked up. They also explained that the child care fund is a federal block grant with required spending set-asides of 9% for quality, 3% for infants and toddlers, and up to 5% for administration, and that unused funds remain available. The committee also reviewed slide 10’s accounting units, including that the Child Care Workforce Fund is 100% general funds and was created as a priority item under HB 2 from the 2024 session, while some other child care-related units are 100% federal funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Canadian border, but in so doing have actually sat in on classes and their treatment.
• <01:27:12.080> uh expression um the assigned security uh expression um the assigned security
• What about security threat groups or gangs?
• What about security threat groups or gangs?
• What about security threat groups or gangs?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• now present in at least 36 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces, this has effectively closed the border
• :55.560> effectively<00:01:56.160> closed<00:01:56.600> the<00:01:56.680> border
• <00:01:57.160> to has effectively closed the border to has effectively closed the border to

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Heintzeman presented House File 4508, which would allow the importation of elk from other states into Minnesota to help address challenges facing the state’s elk breeding industry and improve herd genetics. The Minnesota Elk Breeders Association supported the bill, arguing that recent CWD-related import restrictions have effectively cut off access to outside breeding stock, hurt breeder numbers, and limited options for maintaining healthy, profitable herds. The group said elk are relatively resistant to CWD and that importation could be allowed under Board of Animal Health oversight. The Minnesota DNR opposed the bill, saying there is no validated live test for CWD that can ensure incoming animals are disease-free and pointing to recent cases in other states where imported elk later tested positive. The DNR also said federal herd certification programs have not prevented spread of the disease and warned that responding to a new captive cervid detection can cost more than $500,000. Members then discussed broader issues around CWD testing, including frustration that a live test developed at the University of Minnesota has not been federally validated and whether Minnesota should pursue state or third-party validation. Representative Heintzeman said the bill was intended to start a broader conversation and noted that the current proposal does not address the testing issue directly. After testimony and discussion, no vote was taken and House File 4508 was laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• Into the country from along the I-35 corridor as well as along the I-37 corridor from the border of Corpus
• And Chair, as you know, the border communities face so many challenges.
• Improving wait times at the border has such an economic impact.
• So anything we can do, whether it's at the border or even up the road, can help with that.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:06:39.720> one<01:06:39.839> of<01:06:40.039> the I think one of the borders
• one of the I think one of the borders one of the the<01:06:40.760> the<01:06:40.920> barriers
• There's no way to assure that it's securely stored. prohibitions against copying there's prohibitions
• only there's no way to assure<01:19:35.920> that<01:19:36.040> it's<01:19:36.280> securely
• <01:19:36.960> stored<01:19:37.960> and Assure that it's securely stored, and there's

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the state of Iowa—you can go to the state of Iowa, and as soon as you cross the border,
• or some people tell me get close to the border, you can place a bet on your mobile device and then you
• I know folks that literally drive to the border, place their bets, and then come home.
• For example, the state of Iowa—you can go to the state of Iowa, and as soon as you cross the border,
• I know folks that literally drive to the border, place their bets, and then come home.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Hate Crime in Massachusetts 2023 report published by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
• In a recent memo, the Department of Homeland Security warned that violent extremists in the U.S. have
• In a recent memo, the Department of Homeland Security warned that violent extremists in the U.S. have
• My name is Jake Lappereuc, and I'm the Deputy Director of CDT's Security and Surveillance Project.
• I have a very long story about how my own civil rights were trampled by El Al security while I was in

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened with procedural guidance for a very large hearing, explaining testimony limits, written testimony procedures, and rules for maintaining order. Members then heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including proposals to define antisemitism using the IHRA definition, regulate facial recognition technology, restrict weaponized robotics and drone use, expand protections for journalists’ confidential sources, address access to decedents’ email accounts, and create or adjust rules around municipal enforcement and animal cruelty fines. Several sponsors and advocates asked for favorable reports, and committee members asked clarifying questions on implementation, costs, and how the bills would interact with existing law. On facial recognition, sponsors and advocates described the technology as a threat to privacy, due process, and civil liberties, and urged adoption of the Special Commission’s recommendations, including warrant requirements, notice to defendants, and limits on untargeted surveillance. Support came from legislators, the ACLU, CDT, EFF, and a UMass professor, while committee members asked about current state law and municipal bans. On robotics, Senator Moore and industry witnesses from MassRobotics, Boston Dynamics, and AUVSI supported a bill prohibiting weaponized robots and requiring warrants for certain law enforcement uses, describing it as a public-safety and trust-building measure. On the shield law bill, newspaper publishers, journalists, NEFAC, and the Reporters Committee argued Massachusetts needs statutory protection for confidential sources, citing costly subpoenas and chilling effects on reporting. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to expand the right of publicity to cover image and voice, with SAG-AFTRA members supporting protections against AI-driven exploitation and some discussion about viral content and consent. Another bill would allow limited access to a decedent’s email accounts, with one witness describing a family’s inability to use a deceased relative’s email to notify friends. The committee then took testimony on psilocybin-related bills: supporters described medical and personal benefits and argued for narrow decriminalization or study, while an opponent warned of public-health risks, impaired driving, and youth exposure; the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society supported limited, safety-based decriminalization. Finally, the committee heard strong support for a “safe reporting” bill for sex workers and trafficking survivors, with advocates saying immunity would encourage victims and witnesses to report crimes without fear of arrest, and members raised questions about how the immunity would work in practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• We went forward, we secured the funding for the Triplex project for the building itself, and during the
• the funding for the forward we secured the funding for the triplex<00:26:10.919> project<00:26
• I served two combat tours, both in 1991 Desert Storm and 2004 Iraqi Freedom, and one National Border
• Security Mission operation Jump Start in 2006 and 2007 on the Arizona-Mexican border.
• before they deploy and for security before they deploy and for security reasons<00:56:04.680>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• inmates and their health care providers, without the need for transportation, the need for extra security
• Inmates and their health care providers, without the need for transportation, the need for extra security
• I have patients that live all the way up on the Canadian border that used to have to travel 200 miles
• Canadian border that used to have to Canadian border that used to have to travel<00:28:31.799> to<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are approximately 1.2 million security guards in the country, making the private security industry
• My name is Larry Taylor, security officer, My name is Larry Taylor, security officer, a member of USWW
• I've been a security officer for 40 years.
• I'm a security guard from Los Angeles.
• Later that same night, the Department of Homeland Security Border Patrol posted a tweet on their official

Summary: The committee heard several bills, though no final votes were taken because a quorum had not yet been established. SB 493 by Senator Becker would add war or armed conflict to California’s price-gouging emergency triggers, with the author and supporters arguing it would protect consumers from gas-price spikes tied to international conflict. Opponents, including business and housing groups, warned the bill could over-trigger emergency powers and create broad, ongoing price controls. The chair indicated support for an aye-as-amended recommendation once quorum was reached. SB 1056 by Senator Grayson would require protective orders for disclosure of sexually explicit material involving adult victims in specified criminal cases. Denise Huskins-Quinn and Aaron Quinn testified in support, describing how sensitive evidence in their case was copied and handled without adequate safeguards; supporters said the bill would extend privacy protections similar to those already used for child sexual abuse material. Criminal defense attorneys supported the goal but raised concerns about notice procedures and how the bill would apply when material is in the public domain. The chair said the bill filled a gap in existing law and would receive an aye recommendation. SB 1208 by Senator Grayson would let law enforcement seize and return crypto assets used in scams and fraud to victims. The Attorney General’s office and law enforcement groups supported the bill as a tool to recover losses from transnational crypto fraud, while the ACLU and public defenders argued it lowered the burden of proof, raised constitutional concerns, and could be misused against unbanked or low-level defendants. The chair nevertheless said the bill aligned with existing law for stolen property and would be recommended aye. SB 874 by Senator Weber-Pearson would strengthen oversight of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, including requiring background checks for employees of providers and convening a stakeholder workgroup; it drew support from the California Association for Behavior Analysis and no opposition was heard. Later, SB 1266 by Senator Stern would change how the value of stolen copper and related infrastructure damage is calculated, aiming to address copper theft and its costs to cities and utilities. Supporters said the bill would better capture the real harm from thefts that disrupt streetlights, telecom, and emergency services, while opponents argued it would inflate charges, turn many misdemeanors into felonies, and increase court and incarceration costs. The author said he would continue discussions and accept the amendments. Senator Cervantes presented SB 1379, which would separate the Riverside County sheriff and coroner offices and create an independent medical examiner; supporters cited in-custody death concerns and conflicts of interest, while opponents said the problem was not unique to Riverside and that the bill would override local control. Cervantes also presented SB 1418 to extend ballot-custody protections to other election records and equipment after a Riverside County ballot seizure, with support from the Attorney General’s office. Finally, Senator Blakespear began presenting SB 936 on nitrous oxide misuse, describing public health, impaired-driving, and disposal concerns, but the transcript cuts off before the bill’s testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are approximately 1.2 million security guards in the country, making the private security industry
• A many new security officer.
• My name is Larry Taylor, security officer, My name is Larry Taylor, security officer, a member of USWW
• I know so many people who are security guards, and too often people think that security for some is just
• Later that same night, the Department of Homeland Security Border Patrol posted a tweet on their official

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• four students in it, there may be somewhere, you know, out of state or around the boundaries or the borders
• students in it, that there may be somewhere, you know, out of state or around the boundaries or the borders
• Now, they would still need to secure matching funds from somewhere under this proposal, and generally
• Say they weren't able to secure the matching funds, or they're saving up for a larger project, this would

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Review Committee met to continue work on a draft higher education funding formula and related capital building fund changes. Lisa Johnson of the North Dakota University System updated the committee on the board’s developing policy for low-producing academic programs. She said the board is using a five-year rolling window, with thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, and that programs flagged in three consecutive review cycles would go to the board for review. Possible outcomes include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the policy would account for enrollment, program costs, workforce need, and programs that serve students outside their major. Johnson said the board would likely use an accompanying procedure to consider those factors. She also reported that about 200 programs could potentially be reviewed under current guidance, with 135 inactivated and 112 terminated, and said the process is intended to support quality and stewardship rather than simply cut programs. Jamie Wilkie then reported on the Capital Building Fund. He reviewed the fund’s history, matching requirements, and use for extraordinary repairs, deferred maintenance, and some legislatively authorized projects. He said about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with roughly 78.7% going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Committee members pressed for updated information on how much deferred maintenance has actually been reduced, and several members said they wanted clearer reporting on the return on investment from new buildings versus repairs. NDSU representatives said the tier funding has helped significantly reduce deferred maintenance and allowed demolition and renovation work on campus. The committee also discussed the need for updated five-year facility plans and space-utilization information from the institutions. The committee then began a section-by-section review of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and restructure the capital building fund. The draft would fund UND and NDSU differently from the other nine institutions, use fall enrollment rather than completed credits, add performance funding for completions in in-demand fields, create research incentives for UND and NDSU, and combine capital building fund tiers while changing matching requirements and eligible uses. Members raised concerns about the treatment of professional students, the use of CIP codes, incentives for waivers, and whether the formula should rely on more current data. The committee did not take final action on the draft during this meeting, but it continued detailed discussion and indicated more review would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our school nutrition programs are essential to ensuring nutrition security for students.
• Our school nutrition programs are essential to ensuring nutrition security for students.
• But there's a growing shortage that exists, particularly near the California-Mexico border, where migrant
• perfectly positioned to launch and sustain PRIME Rx and address health disparities in California's border

Summary: The committee heard testimony on three education budget items: the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), differentiated assistance/statewide system of support, and universal school meals plus kitchen infrastructure grants. For ELOP, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to provide $4.7 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding and $62.4 million to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended instead fixing the Tier 2 rate at $1,579, and committee members questioned how the rate was determined, how much funding is actually spent, and whether overlapping funding from ELOP, ACEs, and 21st Century programs is being tracked. CDE said ELOP is showing positive attendance and math outcomes, but some requested data will not be available until mid-2027; members also raised concerns about double-funding, transparency, and whether middle and high school students are being equitably served. On differentiated assistance, CCEE outlined the statewide system of support and the various tiers of universal, targeted, supplemental, and intensive assistance. Finance explained the Governor’s proposal to replace the current DA structure with a more stable universal and targeted assistance model, funded at $131.9 million ongoing, with a three-year support cycle aligned to LCAP and ESSA timelines and broader State Board authority to revise eligibility criteria. The LAO objected to considering the proposal before the State Board finalizes the new performance criteria, and committee members expressed concern that moving to a three-year cycle could delay support for LEAs that newly fall into need mid-cycle. There was also discussion about whether the proposal would weaken subgroup-based equity guardrails or give the State Board too much discretion over who qualifies for support. For school meals and kitchen infrastructure, Finance proposed $1.8 billion ongoing for universal meals and an additional $100 million ongoing plus $100 million one-time for a fourth round of kitchen infrastructure and training grants. The LAO recommended rejecting the new kitchen grant round because prior rounds are still being spent and the unmet need is not yet clear. CDE said prior investments have improved meal participation, efficiency, and menu variety, but many schools still lack the facilities for scratch cooking and face construction, electrical, and procurement barriers. Members asked for more data on how prior grants were used, which schools are benefiting, and whether funds could also support lower-cost food access strategies such as pantries, while noting federal restrictions on some meal-service innovations.

Transcript Highlights:

• specifically stating that you must use the restroom that matches your sex, and I feel safer, but that security
• The uh This means don't tear down the flags, statues, monuments, 10 Commandments, babies, border, Alamo
• We, we're responsible for courtroom security.
• am here to tell you, this cuts us off from care completely, from doctors in Texas and beyond our borders

Bills: HB7, SB 8

Keywords: abortion, healthcare, jurisdiction, civil action, qui tam, prohibition, state law, sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Critics of this bill will tell you we will lose cross-border sales with this increase.
• This draws cross-border shoppers and supports local retailers, convenience stores, and creates jobs.
• particularly for our border communities. particularly for our border communities.
• if I know that our low tobacco tax compared to surrounding states is what creates a lot of cross-border
• So if you believe in the security of the title the way my friend from Dover does, you can choose to go

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members, House Bill 1629 would extend the allowable distance from the Texas-Mexico border
• Chairman and members, House Bill 1629 would extend the allowable distance from the Texas-Mexico border
• Chairman and members, House Bill 1629 would extend the allowable distance from the Texas-Mexico border
• -Mexico border plus Nueces County.
• consists of existing language from Subchapter B, which regulates subdivision platting requirements in border

Bills: HB103

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard a series of local and special-purpose bills, mostly with brief sponsor explanations and little or no public opposition. Topics included fireworks sales near the Texas-Mexico border for Cinco de Mayo (HB 1629), allowing larger counties to use their own inspectors for county buildings (HB 3234), updating governance and financial rules for the Wood County Central Hospital District (HB 5664), clarifying firefighter collective bargaining and impasse procedures (HB 3171), and exempting certain Fort Worth ETJ properties from release rules to protect infrastructure investments (HB 2512). The committee also heard bills on border subdivision rules in Cameron County (HB 3680), extending a property tax exemption to surviving spouses of certain veterans affected by the PACT Act (HB 2508/HJR 133), drainage district election timing and procedures (HB 5693, HB 2694), utility transparency for municipally owned systems (HB 1991), and management district and hospital district election or appointment changes (HB 5698, HB 2293). Another major bill, HB 1449, would expand a food truck permitting pilot program to counties over one million population; witnesses supported the concept but asked the committee to coordinate it with related fee and standards bills, and the bill was left pending for further work. The committee also heard HB 3732, which would let fire departments obtain extensions to comply with new NFPA protective equipment standards, and HB 5431, which would clarify that mayors and at-large council members do not need new elections after reapportionment; both were left pending after questions about their scope. Several transparency and tax-related bills were also discussed, including HB 103, creating a statewide database of local bond and tax election information, and HB 851, requiring reporting on homestead tax ceiling properties; both drew support and were later voted out. After testimony, the committee reported multiple bills favorably, often unanimously, and recommended many for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also used procedural swaps to substitute House companions for Senate bills on several measures, then recessed with plans to return later to process additional bills.