Transcript Highlights:

• They consume water rather than allow that water to go back. Days of the year.
• This is a direct violation of the Mitigation Fee Act and Proposition 26.
• It extends direct wage liability to developers per Labor Code Section 218.8.
• We represent about 370 of the region's largest employers.
• That was one of our core principles to allow us to go that direction.

Summary: The committee hearing covered a long agenda of local government and housing-related bills, with the chair repeatedly noting the committee was operating without a quorum for much of the meeting. Several measures were heard with no opposition, including AB 2639 on Merced County flood control coordination, AB 1788 on allowing best-value contracting for general law cities and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, AB 2058 on reducing duplicative permitting and inspection costs for factory-built housing, AB 2576 on clarifying historic resource protections in a housing law, AB 2568 on increasing the compensation cap for water district board members, AB 2224 on updating county recorder fees and requiring electronic recording, AB 2469 on water-supply review and cost responsibility for data centers, and AB 2397 on requiring local governments to justify denials of certain housing-finance decisions. Most of these bills were presented as targeted fixes to improve efficiency, reduce delays, or modernize outdated statutes, and the authors generally requested aye votes and noted committee amendments where applicable. The most extended debate centered on AB 1751, which would streamline approval of qualifying townhome projects while setting a $28 hourly minimum wage floor for construction workers on covered private projects. Supporters argued the bill would expand homeownership opportunities, raise wages for largely non-union residential workers, and preserve existing prevailing wage law while adding enforcement tools and developer liability. Opponents, including several building trades and labor organizations, argued it would undercut prevailing wage standards, create a race to the bottom, and potentially affect wage-setting more broadly. Committee members asked detailed questions about land-use barriers, the relationship to prevailing wage, and whether the bill would affect unionized work; the author and supporters responded that it applies narrowly to private for-sale townhome projects and does not alter prevailing wage requirements. AB 2469 also drew a substantive split. Supporters said data centers should be required to provide water-supply assessments before approval, pay for infrastructure they trigger, and account for impacts on overdrafted groundwater basins and local ratepayers. Opponents from the Chamber of Commerce, Data Center Coalition, counties, and tech groups argued existing law already covers water planning, that the bill imposes unique and burdensome requirements on one industry, and that some reporting provisions could raise security concerns. The author responded that the bill is about front-end planning and local accountability, not daily reporting, and emphasized the hyperlocal strain data centers can place on small water systems. No final votes were taken during the hearing because the committee lacked a quorum, though members repeatedly indicated support or intent to vote aye once a quorum was present.

Transcript Highlights:

• The result is that trust assets are unnecessarily consumed by legal and accounting fees.
• also public officials or public employees are entitled to 30 days of paid leave from government employment
• And finally, the bill directs the Board of Podiatric Medicine to adopt implementing rules.
• Infrastructure, with direction, and the vision that we needed to move forward. Thank you.
• This is a very strong step in the right direction of regulating data centers.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Industries which is why we have consumer Industries which is why we have consumer protection<00:
• </c> the strongest levels of Consumer the strongest levels of Consumer Protections<00:10:12.160><c> and
• </c> not to be terminated from her employment not to be terminated from her employment I<00:31:22.880
• It is also the part that most consumers of sports wagering wish to participate in.
• </c><01:01:54.799><c> of</c> also the part that most consumers of also the part that most consumers of

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• At the end of the day, consumers want automated vehicles, and widespread consumer adoption in other states
• </c><00:05:19.840><c> want</c> At the end of the day, consumers want At the end of the day, consumers
• 05:21.919><c> widespread</c> automated vehicles and widespread automated vehicles and widespread consumer
• adoption in other states proves consumer adoption in other states proves that<00:05:25.520><c> it's<
• Other places where they've instituted it, the employment numbers there were 20 to 25% of the, you know

Summary: House Republicans held a Transportation Committee press event to promote several bills they said would make driving cheaper and transportation more innovative. The main measures discussed were House File 3526, which would reduce vehicle tab fees; House File 3513, which would legalize automated driverless vehicles with regulatory guardrails; and a bill to consolidate metro-area bus operations and reduce administrative overhead and subsidies. They also said other transportation-related bills, including a school bus stop-arm clarification and a distracted-driving bill, were scheduled for the House floor on Monday. Representative Patti Anderson argued that Minnesota vehicle registration fees have become unaffordable, citing examples of high costs for newer and older vehicles, and said the state should roll fees back to pre-2023/2024 levels. On automated vehicles, Republicans said the bill had been revised after concerns from committee members, MnDOT, and stakeholders, adding a weight limit to avoid autonomous trucking, accessibility provisions for wheelchair users, a U.S.-based support person requirement, a labor/economic/congestion study, and tighter permitting. They said the bill should advance to the next committee and rejected delaying implementation for further study. On transit, Republicans said the metro has too many separate bus systems and that consolidation would save taxpayer money by cutting redundant service and administrative costs. They cited high per-ride subsidies and claimed combined reserve funds and reduced waste could save tens of millions of dollars. In questions, they defended using general-fund dollars for transportation, said the system benefits all residents, and argued that autonomous vehicles and related industries would create new opportunities even if some driving jobs are displaced. No formal votes were taken in the press event, though the speakers said they expected committee action on the automated-vehicle bill and that other bills would move to the floor or other committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Consumer Protection & Business Committee, Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
• These reforms support employees, they support employers, and they help keep hospitality businesses operating
• may not be aware, but there's been a recent rule change for the Washington State Bar that allows direct
• Post-California and some of what's happened in California, you're seeing an increase in non-renewals, and then consumers

Bills: HB1977

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: indemnification, liquor, commercial servers, liquor liability, business protection

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to capture more consumers for this bill by raising the number.
• And from time to time... ...for our consumers.
• And we also have an employer portal that employers go on a monthly basis to submit their payroll reports
• We anticipate needing to continue pursuing the best interests of North Dakota consumers.
• help try to direct money to my district, and nobody else can.

Bills: HB1623

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1624, the “Universal Lunch Bill,” from Rep. Mike Nathie. He argued the proposal should be placed in Century Code rather than the Constitution so future legislatures can adjust it if state finances tighten, and said the bill would start the program a year earlier with a $65 million appropriation for one school year. DPI testified that the estimate did not include nonpublic schools that do not participate, and members questioned the impact on Title I, free-and-reduced applications, private-school accountability, breakfast mandates for schools that do not currently serve breakfast, and whether the funding could come from the DPI budget or other sources. Supporters, including North Dakota United, the North Dakota Catholic Conference, a pediatrician, and the American Heart Association, said universal meals improve student health and learning, reduce family costs, and are better handled in statute than by constitutional amendment. No opposition testimony was offered, and the chair closed the hearing for later work-session action. The committee then took up House Bill 1627, introduced by Rep. Tye Dressler, which would raise the income threshold for the state-funded school lunch program from 225% to 300% of poverty, with an estimated cost of about $7 million for 2026-27. Dressler said the bill is intended as a targeted, budget-friendly alternative to the ballot measure and emphasized that the state should maximize federal meal dollars while improving participation in the current program. Members questioned whether raising the threshold would actually increase utilization, whether a dollar amount would be clearer than a percentage, and how the change would affect federal reimbursements and application rates. DPI said it could quickly calculate additional percentage levels, and the chair closed the hearing, directing DPI to prepare more numbers for the work session. Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 2403, presented by Sen. Schiable, to create a short-term bridge-loan program for financially distressed hospitals, centered on Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin. The bill would authorize up to $5 million per loan, with a $10 million appropriation available on a first-come, first-served basis, and would run only through June 30, 2027. Schiable said the hospital’s debt and operating problems threaten local health care, ambulance service, and the community’s economy, and that the proposal was designed narrowly with Bank of North Dakota review to avoid creating a broad precedent. Committee members asked whether the appropriation could be reduced and whether the bank would still apply commercial feasibility and repayment standards; Schiable said yes, the bank would still evaluate the loan and could reject it if it was not sound.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> those goals could be uh employment, those goals could be uh employment, tourism<00:24:53.600><c
• We have to protect consumers and Hawaii.
• protect consumers or that doesn't<00:26:58.960><c> protect</c><00:26:59.200><c> reputation.
• That has to be employment related taxes.
• </c> investment and employment? investment and employment?

Transcript Highlights:

• The state arbitration process is rarely used, time-consuming, and difficult to navigate.
• The state arbitration process is rarely used, time-consuming, and difficult to navigate.
• , different employment opportunities, different volunteer opportunities, where they will be paying one
• I guess I'll just ask a direct question. Senator Yarbrough, why do you feel that this bill is...
• I guess I'll just ask a direct question.

Bills: S1082 , S1168 , S1756 , S1156 , S1480

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The committee took up several health-related bills. SB 1082, on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program, was presented as a way to let providers and insurers use the federal independent dispute resolution process for emergency out-of-network claims under state-regulated commercial plans. A late-filed amendment clarified when providers and health plans could access the state program, and the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 1168, which would centralize background screening clearinghouse functions at the Agency for Health Care Administration, also passed as amended after an amendment requiring sealed and expunged records to be included in screenings for qualified entities. Supporters said centralization would improve turnaround times, reduce duplication, and save costs; the sponsor said the bill also addresses coaches’ background screening language from last session. The committee then approved SB 1156, which moves ambulatory surgery center regulation out of the hospital-focused chapter of law into a standalone section, and SB 1480, as amended by a strike-all, which would grandfather certain temporary certificate holders practicing in areas of critical need if federal designation changes affect those areas. Testimony on SB 1480 emphasized continuity of care for patients in underserved communities, and the bill was reported favorably. The final and most heavily debated measure was SB 1756 on medical freedom, which would require state-approved educational materials on childhood vaccines, require practitioners to provide those materials and alternative schedules before vaccination, expand school immunization exemptions to include conscience-based objections, clarify that the Surgeon General cannot order vaccination during a public health emergency, and authorize pharmacists to provide ivermectin behind the counter without a prescription with written information and safeguards. The sponsor argued the bill strengthens parental choice and informed consent. Committee members raised concerns about vaccine-preventable disease risks, immunocompromised children, school outbreaks, and the impact of adding a new exemption. A Department of Health representative said the department would need to provide details on the history of exemption consultations and noted that removing the earlier consultation requirement had not been shown to increase outbreaks. The committee adopted a friendly amendment to give physicians the same liability protection as pharmacists for ivermectin dispensing, but rejected a substitute amendment that would have required a consultation for exemption requests. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed to the bill, with physicians, pediatric specialists, cancer advocates, parents of immunocompromised children, and public health groups warning that it would lower vaccination rates and endanger vulnerable Floridians. The bill remained pending after testimony, with the committee continuing to hear public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:05.799><c> is</c> individuals families and employers is individuals families and employers
• </c> my name is Stefan gild Meister I direct my name is Stefan gild Meister I direct the<01:16:21.880
• Is that direct or less direct?
• </c><01:43:15.920><c> um</c> that direct or less less direct um that direct or less less direct um what's
• </c><01:59:51.840><c> the</c> questions that we want um to direct the questions that we want um to direct

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this bill, this is in the right direction.
• And so this bill is in the right direction.
• I think we're getting all the right direction.
• We're working in the right direction, and we're collaborative on that.
• Podiatrists have a direct and often urgent perspective on diet-related diseases.

Committee: House Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not directed at any of you individually, but I want to be incredibly clear.
• to us or directed to the men.
• to us or directed to the men.
• We will be working with the Department of Consumer Affairs to review this possibility.
• Access to meaningful paid employment is critical to successful reentry.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s handling of mental health care in prisons and allegations of sexual abuse, retaliation, and excessive force in the state’s women’s facilities. CDCR officials described their PREA-based prevention and response efforts, including training, oversight, body-worn cameras, retaliation follow-up, and partnerships with outside groups. The Office of the Inspector General explained its monitoring role, noting increased authority under SB 1069, but also limited staffing and the ability to monitor only a portion of cases. The Legislative Analyst’s Office added that prison population trends could allow the state to close a prison and save over $100 million, with some savings potentially redirected to prevention or response efforts. Advocates and formerly incarcerated witnesses from Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition and the California Coalition of Women Prisoners testified that meaningful systemic change has not occurred and that retaliation, blocked programming, and unsafe reporting conditions remain widespread. They described alleged barriers to community-based services, forced or coercive treatment concerns involving Suboxone, and the need for survivor-centered reentry support, trauma-informed care, and more independent oversight. Sandra DeAnda gave detailed testimony about alleged staff abuse, retaliation, denial of mental health care, and a large use-of-force incident at Central California Women’s Facility, while Amika Mota and April Grayson urged release or resentencing for survivors housed with their abusers and greater investment in outside programs. Members of the committee pressed CDCR and OIG on accountability, use-of-force standards, criminal referrals, disciplinary outcomes, and whether investigations are completed within statutory timelines. CDCR acknowledged cultural problems at both women’s prisons and said it was retraining staff and working on reforms, while OIG said it had monitored 161 investigations and found most grievance routing appropriate, though some cases had lapsed due to time limits. Later exchanges revealed that CDCR has over 13,500 active cases and 109 investigators, and that some cases have exceeded deadlines, prompting concerns from members about whether the current system can adequately investigate misconduct and impose consequences. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• OSI ensures the financial strength of carriers operating in New Mexico, and OSI is committed to consumer
• During this time, OSI supported over 400 consumers and processed over 200 formal complaints.
• This resulted in a recoupment of approximately $4 million in consumer restitution.
• And if we could put some money towards hardening systems, that's exactly the direction we need to go
• That direction to give someone an option, not just strictly require one and not the other.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> pay four to five times the consumer pay four to five times the consumer price.<00:08:52.000><c>
• Consumer pricing is far lower title.
• >> Consumer.
• </c> and should have secure my FPS employment and should have secure my FPS employment from<00:56:52.160
• I appreciate the direction of eight.

Bills: HF3698 , HF3067 , HF3730

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• board has an opposed position on SB 1002 as the board believes that licensure is a vital form of consumer
• Unlicensed dental assistants are also supervised by their dentist employer.
• Unlicensed dental assistants are also supervised by their dentist employer.
• SB 1311, a lot. are also supervised by their dentist employer.
• It simply speeds up the time frame for a consumer to receive a refund from their physician or dentist

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Summary: The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee met first without quorum and heard several bills in subcommittee before later reconvening and taking formal votes. The consent calendar included SB 1263, SB 1148, SB 1376, and SB 1391. The committee also heard SB 1002, SB 1311, and SB 1416, all of which were ultimately advanced to the Senate Appropriations Committee, with SB 1311 amended. After quorum was reached, the committee later ratified the earlier actions and adjourned. SB 1002 by Senator Niello would expand the David Hall Act to allow certain patients who were originally eligible for out-of-state telehealth care because of an immediately life-threatening diagnosis to continue receiving that care after entering remission. Supporters, including a cancer survivor, said the bill would preserve continuity of care for patients who still need specialist monitoring. The Medical Board of California and the California Medical Association opposed the bill, arguing that licensure is an important consumer protection and that the bill would weaken oversight and standards of care. Senator Caballero supported the measure, emphasizing access to care, especially for rural patients. SB 1311, presented by the chair, updates the Dental Practice Act so unlicensed dental assistants can satisfy infection control training requirements either through the Dental Assisting National Board exam or approved courses. The California Dental Association and California Association of Orthodontists supported the bill, saying it would help strengthen the dental workforce and improve patient access. The California Academy of General Dentistry raised concerns that the exam option lacked hands-on training and should be limited unless amended. The committee approved the bill as amended. SB 1416 by Senator Wahab would shorten from 30 days to 21 days the time a physician or dentist has to refund duplicate payments to consumers. Support was brief and largely focused on the bill’s consumer affordability benefits, and no opposition was voiced. The committee passed the bill to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• that said this is when DHS uh directive that said this is when when<00:09:38.920><c> you're</c><00:09
• Let's prioritize direct services and supports to those in need versus indirect services facilitated by
• needs before amenities let's focusing on needs before amenities let's prioritize<00:18:18.720><c> Direct
• um is clean and safe and then consuming um is clean and safe and then if<00:54:31.559><c> it's</c><00
• instead of expanding Minnesota direction instead of expanding Minnesota care<01:31:00.480><c> and</c

Bills: HF10 , HF27

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have any direct data on that, but I suspect that these very large companies have presence both
• was sufficient... from this, but in the 80s, a very significant concern was a reduction in foreign direct
• Number two, if they did charge a little bit more, then that would be borne by consumers.
• California going in this direction.
• To this question, obviously I would hope that this would not be the direction that the Legislature would

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on California’s taxation of foreign subsidiaries of U.S. corporations, especially the state’s water’s-edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. Committee members and witnesses discussed how unitary taxation and sales-factor apportionment work, why multinational corporations are a small share of filers but a large share of tax liability, and how foreign income, profit shifting, and double taxation concerns affect policy choices. The Franchise Tax Board explained current filing rules, the seven-year water’s-edge election, and recent filing statistics showing about 21,562 water’s-edge returns in 2023, roughly 6% of C corporation filers but about half of corporate tax liability. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and FTB staff emphasized that revenue effects from eliminating water’s edge are uncertain because foreign affiliate income is not directly observable, and they noted possible revenue volatility and administrative complexity. Several committee members asked about foreign government pushback, the burden on FTB, whether certain industries are more likely to shift profits, and whether companies would leave California; witnesses generally said there was no strong evidence that firms would exit the state because tax liability is driven mainly by California sales. They also discussed how California already administers both methods, how the election can be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on a firm’s facts, and how federal reforms like GILTI/NCTI, CAMT, and OECD Pillar Two may affect the issue. The second panel presented sharply contrasting views. One professor and a tax policy advocate argued that water’s edge creates unfairness, encourages profit shifting, and leaves California with billions in lost revenue, while a Tax Foundation witness argued that mandatory worldwide reporting would tax the wrong income, create double taxation and litigation risk, and impose heavy compliance burdens, especially for foreign-based multinationals. A later panel from the California Budget and Policy Center supported closing the “water’s-edge loophole,” saying it would raise needed revenue for public services and level the playing field between large multinationals and smaller domestic businesses. No vote or formal action was taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, Idaho operates under direct accountability. The governor appoints the director.
• Today, Idaho operates under a direct accountability. The governor appoints the director.
• It is exclusively directed toward letting the Harrimans enjoy... ...the property.
• They have a board that gives them direction. And I think what we have is good.
• So I would think we're just moving in the wrong direction here, Mr. President.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you came into the hearing room today, the Sergeant directed your attention to the rules for public
• And we know that maintaining educational access for disabled students is not only a directive from our
• And we don't need to do an expensive study to know that stable housing is a direct contributor.
• The motion is due pass as amended and re-refer to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.
• The motion is due pass as amended and re-refer to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard a long policy agenda focused largely on student access, equity, and institutional oversight. Bills discussed included AB 2236 on common course numbering and streamlined articulation across the community colleges, CSU, and UC; AB 2422 on protections when financial aid is delayed; AB 1669 on medical and mental health leaves of absence; AB 1713 on accepting IEPs and 504 plans as proof of disability for accommodations; AB 2766 on priority housing and related supports for foster youth and students experiencing homelessness; AB 2212 on tech-facilitated sexual harassment and AI-generated intimate images; AB 2504 on a pilot to upskill creative-industry workers for AI-related changes; AB 1734 on preserving and expanding California food insecurity data collection; and AB 2771, the sunset bill for the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. The committee also took up a consent calendar of three bills earlier in the hearing. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from student groups, advocacy organizations, and system representatives, with many speakers describing personal experiences with transfer confusion, delayed aid, mental health crises, disability documentation barriers, housing instability, and online sexual harm. AB 2236 drew support from community college, CSU, UC student associations, and college-opportunity advocates, while the CSU Academic Senate registered opposition. AB 2771 drew a notable exchange over the cost and scope of the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education, with Vice Chair DeMaio opposing the extension on fiscal and bureaucracy grounds; the author responded that the bureau is fee-funded and that its fees had not been raised in years. AB 1734 also prompted skepticism from DeMaio about the survey’s cost, methodology, and whether the work should be competitively bid, though supporters argued the existing California Health Interview Survey infrastructure was the most efficient way to preserve critical food insecurity data after federal cuts. The committee voted to advance the measures it heard, generally on party-line or near-party-line votes, with several bills held open for additional members to add on. AB 2236, AB 2422, AB 1669, AB 1713, AB 1734, AB 2766, and AB 2212 all received do-pass recommendations and were re-referred to the appropriate policy or fiscal committees. AB 2771 was also moved forward to the Committee on Business and Professions after debate over the bureau’s reauthorization and fee structure. The hearing ended with the committee beginning consideration of AB 2504, the AI-related workforce upskilling pilot for creative industries.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you came into the hearing room today, the sergeant directed your attention to the rules for public
• And we know that maintaining educational access for disabled students is not only a directive from our
• And we don't need to do an expensive study to know that stable housing is a direct contributor.
• The motion is due pass as amended and re-refer to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.
• The motion is due pass as amended and re-refer to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the legislature directed that a study be made of New Mexico's tax system and that the tax system
• And so the legislature directed that a study be made of the New Mexico's tax system and that the tax
• whichever was greater to the taxpayer: a $30 credit rebate for state and local taxes passed on to consumers
• And as it says, it was the final step in a policy direction that had been taken in the 1970s.
• About half the insurance plans in the state are actually employer pools—one employer, including the state

Summary: The committee’s final day focused first on a historical overview of New Mexico tax packages by Pam Stokes of Legislative Council Services. She described how tax packages have alternated over the decades between tax relief, revenue raising, and tax reform, with examples ranging from the creation of the gross receipts tax in 1966 to major packages in 1981, 1986, 1991, 1994, 2005, 2019, 2022, 2024, and the vetoed 2025 package. Members discussed how tax policy often tracks revenue conditions, how packages can combine increases and decreases, and how local government gross receipts taxes and hold-harmless distributions have affected communities differently. Several members reflected on past packages, especially the 2004 food tax repeal and the 2013 film tax and manufacturing changes, and noted that tax policy can have major economic and political effects even when it is not “sexy” legislation. The committee then heard a proposal to expand the health care practitioner gross receipts tax deduction to include co-insurance, and to extend the sunset date. Sponsor Senator Figueroa said the bill was intended to help recruit and retain medical providers and build on prior deductions for co-pays and deductibles. Testimony explained that co-insurance is the patient’s share after the deductible, that providers currently absorb the gross receipts tax on those payments, and that the proposal would cost about $30 million to the state plus about $20 million to municipalities and counties, with the exact fiscal impact likely to be updated. Members raised concerns about the effect on local governments, whether insurers could be required to reimburse providers, whether the bill would actually attract doctors, and whether better evaluation measures and sunsets should be added. The sponsor said the bill was part of a broader set of efforts to address provider shortages and that the discussion would continue. Representative McQueen then presented a bill to update the Land Conservation Incentives Act. He and conservation partners said the program has protected more than 500,000 acres but has not kept pace with rising land values, especially for irrigated agricultural land in the Middle Rio Grande. The proposal would increase the percentage of conservation value eligible for the credit, raise the per-transaction cap from $250,000 to $2 million, and make the credit refundable rather than only transferable. Testimony emphasized that the program is voluntary, keeps land in private ownership and production, and helps land-rich, cash-poor landowners preserve farmland and water rights. Members asked about average credit amounts, how easements work, whether landowners could effectively buy land and then use the credit, and whether there should be inflation indexing or a statewide cap. The discussion also touched on water rights, fencing, and the role of conservation easements in protecting agricultural land and compact water deliveries. Finally, Senator Sharer previewed his 2% tax proposal with a historical presentation on New Mexico tax law, using props to illustrate the evolution from early territorial tax codes to the modern tax system. He argued that the state’s current tax structure is overly complex and that recent federal changes have disrupted the personal income tax base. The committee did not take any votes on the day’s presentations; the meeting was primarily informational, with members offering feedback and raising policy concerns for future sessions.