Transcript Highlights:

• natural resources, enforce civil rights laws, and help victims of identity theft, mortgage-related fraud
• , illegal business practices, and other consumer crimes.
• that the department is processing and is that information available on the website are publicly consumable

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Technology has evolved since then, along with how people consume information, as we all know.
• involving the important partners that you have today is so meaningful. since then, along with how people consume
• And do our due diligence to keep, you know, Commissioner yesterday talked about the fraud issues, to
• keep those fraud issues low, to keep everything moving smoothly, and for us to be able to do our work

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The subcommittee of the Tax Reform and Relief Committee met with a quorum to begin its study of whether the content of North Dakota real estate tax statements should be revised to improve transparency. Legislative Council staff reviewed the background for the study, including House Bill 1176, current statutory requirements for tax statements, and recent changes such as separate line items for bonded debt, primary residence credit, and legacy fund-related amounts. The Tax Department then explained the current statement format and noted that the form is prescribed and approved by the tax commissioner, with changes typically driven by statute and implemented collaboratively with counties and vendors. County officials from the North Dakota Association of Counties described the full annual process for preparing budgets, setting levies, calculating taxable values, and issuing notices and tax statements. They said counties spend significant time coordinating with taxing districts, neighboring counties, and software vendors, and that the new budget hearing notices and valuation notices have not generated much public response. Members raised concerns about the usefulness and clarity of certain line items, especially the legislative tax relief calculation and the primary residence credit, and discussed whether the current statement creates confusion rather than transparency. Testimony also addressed the 3% cap, mill levy worksheets, assessment cycles, and the role of county auditors and tax directors in maintaining accurate values. The committee also heard from software vendors CPT and Tyler Technologies about how legislative changes are programmed into tax systems and how online taxpayer portals can provide more detailed breakdowns of tax bills. Vendors said changes required by law are generally absorbed in contracts rather than billed directly to counties, and they demonstrated web tools and pie-chart style breakdowns that show where tax dollars go. NDACO presented a survey of eight counties estimating tax statement preparation and mailing costs, concluding that outsourced printing tends to be cheaper on average and that total statewide tax statement costs may be roughly $600,000, though the estimate was based on limited data. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on gathering testimony and identifying issues for possible future recommendations or bill drafts.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would say to you, you're absolutely right that preventing fraud, dealing with fraud, avoiding fraud
• pretty well known that we have a fraud pretty well known that we have a fraud problem<01:13:33.360
• <01:14:01.199> Provisions some of the uh anti-f fraud Provisions some of the uh anti-f fraud
• <01:15:00.320> fraud fraud dealing with fraud avoiding fraud fraud dealing with fraud avoiding
• <01:16:24.320> and which we seek to uh prevent fraud and which we seek to uh prevent fraud

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• who thinks there's $880 billion of fraud who thinks there's $880 billion of fraud in<00:57:49.799
• <00:57:57.799> unit attorney general's Medicaid fraud unit attorney general's Medicaid fraud
• kids who are committing Medicaid fraud kids who are committing Medicaid fraud these these these
• representative Anderson on the fraud representative Anderson on the fraud prevention<01:07:15.440
• we can far it out and prevent this fraud we can far it out and prevent this fraud thank<01:07:53.079

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• involving exploitation of persons for labor, services, or commercial sex through the use of force, fraud
• Who benefits from that is not going to be the consumer; it's going to be the companies that receive the

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to public safety, emergency response, wildfire prevention, and environmental protection. AB 2152 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez would streamline CEQA litigation for new fire station projects and add best-practice requirements; supporters, including firefighters, said it would help communities and firefighter safety, while opponents argued the project labor agreement requirements would raise costs and limit participation for small and nonunion contractors. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2041 by Assembly Member Carrillo would expand reporting related to 911 dispatcher pre-arrival medical instructions; after amendments and stakeholder agreement, opposition groups said they would remove their opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2101 by Assembly Member Gipson would require human trafficking notices and training at disaster sites and for disaster response workers; supporters said it would protect vulnerable workers, while broadband, city, and county representatives raised implementation concerns, especially in rural disaster areas. It passed to Appropriations despite a no vote from Vice Chair Hadwick. The committee also considered AB 1805, which would require an audit and stronger oversight of the state’s Next Generation 911 project after concerns about major spending and delays. CalNENA supported the bill’s transparency and accountability provisions, and the measure passed to Appropriations. AB 1536 by Assembly Member Addis would tighten safety and public review requirements for offshore oil pipeline restarts and require decommissioning of certain spill-prone pipelines; environmental and coastal government groups supported it, while the Western States Petroleum Association warned it would threaten fuel supply and pipeline operations. The bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. AB 1964 would direct the State Fire Marshal to survey home hardening in fire-prone areas and estimate costs; it passed to Appropriations with broad support. AB 1960, also by Assembly Member Bennett, would use a portion of wildfire prevention grants to encourage community-level home hardening certification. The author said the bill would create incentives and broader public awareness, while the vice chair argued it would favor communities that can already afford hardening and divert resources from higher-need areas; the bill still passed to Appropriations. AB 1863 by Assembly Member DeMaio would clarify that people cannot be charged simply for calling 911 or when no services are rendered, while preserving fees for actual services and allowing billing for legitimate emergency response costs; it passed to the Assembly floor. The committee also took up consent item AB 2517, which passed to Appropriations. After add-on votes for absent members, the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• have to be named, and every person in the state of Oklahoma would have to be named because we all consume
• Mine is line 23: 'but is not limited to,' any cause of action for fraud, misrepresentation, deception

Bills: HR1046, SB1733, SB1439

Keywords: Oklahoma City, terrorism, Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, memorial, remembrance, first responders, community support, child abuse, reporting requirements, sexual misconduct, law enforcement, school personnel, confidentiality, student safety, fossil fuels, liability protection, climate change, energy independence, oil and gas

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several special recognitions tied to the 31st anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. The chamber honored the 138th Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department as Veterans of the Week, and also recognized Dr. Camissa Stewart as Doctor of the Day and Tammy Powell as Nurse of the Day for their roles in the 1995 bombing response. A lengthy floor presentation followed, featuring remarks from legislators, Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, memorial museum leaders, Justice Stephen Taylor, and Pastor Ronnie Fields, all focused on remembrance, the Oklahoma standard, the victims and survivors, and the importance of hope, civility, and the rule of law. On legislation, Senate Bill 1733 was presented and debated. The bill requires school personnel who have reason to believe a student is a victim of child sexual abuse or sexual misconduct to report it to law enforcement within 24 hours. Supporters said it clarifies and strengthens reporting requirements to protect children, while opponents warned it could trigger harmful public accusations and undermine trust in educators and administrators. The House passed the bill 92-1, and the emergency clause also passed 92-1. The House also considered Senate Bill 1439, an oil and gas measure intended to bar speculative climate-related lawsuits and limit liability to actual violations and provable harm. Supporters argued it would prevent frivolous litigation, protect the state’s energy economy, and keep costs down for consumers; opponents said it would create a special legal carve-out for industry and shift costs to taxpayers and families. The bill passed 74-16. In addition, Senate Bill 2184 was assigned to Rules, and H.J.R. 1078 and H.J.R. 1079 were withdrawn from Rules and sent to appropriations and budget committees. The House adjourned after announcements and introductions.

Transcript Highlights:

• system, DPS; SB 1798, school safety identification system appropriation; SB 1815, personal data consumers
• those who are online, throughout the past few, more than a year actually, we have talked about this fraud

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• little bit more about that later, but this is a massive portfolio, and we do this with very little fraud
• And so if all of your major congestion relief projects are consuming the resources available, you know

Summary: The committee held a panel discussion on micro-mobility device regulation and enforcement, focusing on e-bikes and e-scooters. Sheriff Robert Hardwick and Chief Jamie Cruz described serious injuries involving children, including crashes at high speeds, and argued that current law is outdated because it folds e-bikes into the bicycle statute. They urged a separate statewide framework with clearer age limits, licensing or training requirements, helmet rules, and penalties for modifying devices to go faster. Both also emphasized that parents should bear responsibility and that enforcement should include education, progressive discipline, and, if needed, civil citations. FDOT District 6 Secretary Daniel Iglesias and DHSMV representative Lonnie Groner said their agencies are prioritizing education, outreach, and better data collection. They noted that micromobility devices are increasingly common, create safety and accessibility issues on sidewalks and shared-use paths, and are difficult to track because crash reports often do not identify them consistently. Members discussed whether motorized devices should be barred from sidewalks, whether riders should be licensed and insured, and how enforcement could be made uniform statewide. The panel also said manufacturers have not been meaningfully engaged and that local approaches vary widely. The committee then heard 2026 legislative priorities from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue and DHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner. Perdue outlined FDOT’s large five-year work program, ongoing congestion-relief projects, investments in ports, airports, rail, workforce, heavy equipment, facilities, and cybersecurity, and the need to do more with flat revenues. Kerner summarized DHSMV’s agency bill priorities, including requiring a Florida address and proof of residence for vehicle registration, updating identification requirements, aligning tank vehicle and motor carrier rules with federal standards, improving IFTA administration, raising the crash-report damage threshold, and allowing electronic notices. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• One big item is fraud prevention.
• Compensation Fund as an alternative to the time consuming and costly judicial remedy for victims.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• just different facilities that we've had issues with that have come across our desk, basically in the fraud
• Minnesota farms, Minnesota colleges and universities, Minnesota companies, and Minnesota consumers all

Transcript Highlights:

• fingerprint requirements for all retailers of motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, and trailers to reduce fraud
• on land, which is part of the Texas miracle, moving fuel to Mexico, which is one of the largest consumers

Bills: HB767, HB 1242, HB1373, HB1404, HB1708, HB1936, HB2041, HB2198, HB2270, HB2315, HB2415, HB2427, HB2455, HB2457, HB2522, HB2523, HB2686, HB2763, HB2775, HB2944, HB3034, HB1683, HB1695

Keywords: highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, HB 1242, Texas Transportation Code, U.S. Highway 281, Brooks County, Ernesto Soliz Cantu, memorial highway, road naming, TxDOT, road signage, commemorative resolution, memorial markers, county road 304, Huppergate Road, Los Robles Trail, Farm-to-Market Road

Transcript Highlights:

• We held workshops where we took an information from utilities, consumer representatives and stakeholders
• prudent see is that once it's determined in this cause, it's not subject to disallowance except for fraud

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and misuse of workers who report fraud and misuse of public<00:14:46.240> funds.
• For the misclassification fraud report. those um changes. Okay, those um changes.
• So this fraud impact analysis and report would require money to do the report and the study.
• the mclassification fraud report. Okay. the mclassification fraud report. Okay.
• <00:26:01.640> uh mclassification fraud impact report uh mclassification fraud impact report

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:57.280> programs<00:12:57.880> and fraud-ridden programs and fraud-ridden programs
• Um, the fraud that's going on in our state.
• <00:19:35.200> on Um the fraud that's going on Um the fraud that's going on in<00:19:36.280
• And you talked about have gone in fraud.
• <00:20:30.600> in us statewide shutting down the fraud in us statewide shutting down the fraud

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our integrity and preventing fraud waste and abuse we have already put our new protocols to the
• And as you know, and as I mentioned in a previous response, we did have the wire fraud transfer and we
• I'd love to be able to promise that we would never have an instance of fraud, waste, and abuse again,
• And it's no wonder that we have issues like the $2 million wire fraud.
• , outright fraud from happening again, correct?

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the truth of the matter, there is election fraud.
• But initiative petition fraud is a form of election fraud.
• Campaign finance fraud is a form of election fraud. So it's a large, it's a much larger umbrella.
• Fraud that we're seeing.
• So there's all sorts of chances for fraud. We've got that locked down.

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met to hear a lengthy presentation from Secretary of State Cord Byrd on Florida election administration, with a focus on how elections are handled during natural disasters, election security, and preparations for the 2026 cycle. Byrd described Florida’s response to hurricanes in 2022 and 2024, saying the state works directly with county supervisors of elections to tailor executive orders to local conditions, add or relocate polling sites, extend deadlines, and help displaced voters and emergency workers cast ballots. Members from affected areas echoed that local supervisors had managed storm disruptions well and that turnout remained strong despite major damage. A large portion of the meeting covered election integrity and security. Byrd emphasized Florida’s use of paper ballots, pre-election logic and accuracy testing, post-election audits, public canvassing, standardized voter-intent rules, and strict vote-by-mail request and signature-match requirements. He said the Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security investigates complaints and refers matters to law enforcement, and that Florida has expanded access to the federal SAVE database to verify citizenship. Members asked about threats to election workers, staffing vacancies, cybersecurity, ballot design, vote-by-mail address changes, and how the state coordinates with county supervisors, emergency management, and other agencies. Several members raised questions about voter eligibility and returning citizens, and Byrd said the department provides free information to help people determine whether their rights have been restored, while noting that court and clerk reporting practices still create challenges. He also said the department is considering additional legislative proposals, including more safeguards tied to driver’s license and citizenship verification and a possible statewide 100% audit of races before certification. The meeting ended with the chair encouraging members to visit supervisors of elections offices and submit specific ideas for future elections legislation; no votes were taken and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a budget year, but we can pass good policy on combating fraud in the state of Minnesota.
• It's not a budget year, but we can pass good policy on combating fraud in the state of Minnesota.
• And we have over a dozen proposals that we have put forward to try to combat fraud, which is taking away
• , which is taking away the dollars fraud, which is taking away the dollars that<00:15:02.400> are<
• Republicans to get serious about fraud Republicans to get serious about fraud and<00:15:08.160><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<01:22:10.480> as Um, but as we're looking at fraud, as Um, but as we're looking at fraud
• Um that go towards that zero fraud?
• hearing just on waste, fraud, and abuse? hearing just on waste, fraud, and abuse?
• Let me be very clear because when you said something about fraud and then you said something about fraud
• review and look at the issue of fraud review and look at the issue of fraud because<01:28:38.080

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the fraud that's occurring is due directly to Governor Walz's failed leadership.
• that is confirmed ensure that the fraud that is confirmed to<01:27:16.560> be<01:27:16.719>
• Fraud, as we know, has happened for a very long time under many programs through many administrations
• I'm on which is addressing I'm on which is addressing fraud<01:30:14.679> um<01:30:14.960>
• <01:30:24.520> only politicalized that some fraud only politicalized that some fraud only

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention heard presentations focused on public housing and related funding needs, with testimony from Minnesota NAHRO and several local housing authorities. Melissa Taphorn described the role of housing authorities statewide, including public housing, vouchers, CDBG/HOME funds, Bridges, and HEAT, and emphasized that public housing serves over 36,000 low-income Minnesotans, many of whom are seniors, people with disabilities, or children. She said federal operating and capital funds are insufficient, creating deferred maintenance backlogs, and noted that Minnesota’s public housing capital needs over a five-year period were about $500 million, with nearly $200 million unmet. She also discussed federal uncertainty, including a recent HUD funding freeze notice, possible changes to fair housing requirements, RAD repositioning options, and Build America, Buy America costs. Committee members asked about tenant rent calculations and the populations served. Testimony clarified that public housing residents generally pay 30% of monthly income, with utility allowances factored in, and that the average tenant rent in Minnesota is about $399. Members also heard that about 65% of public housing households are seniors or people with disabilities, while about 35% are families. The committee then heard examples of how state POP grants have been used to preserve public housing stock. Kurt Kina of the Red Wing HRA described multiple POP-funded projects that replaced windows, upgraded heating and cooling, and modernized electrical systems in a 100-resident high-rise, saying the work was essential to keep the building viable. Louise Siba of the St. Paul PHA testified that St. Paul’s authority serves nearly 22,000 people through more than 4,200 public housing units and over 5,200 vouchers, with most townhomes and high-rises serving elderly or disabled residents. She said St. Paul PHA has received nearly $16 million in POP funding since 2012, including about $8.5 million last year, and that those funds enabled major life-safety and modernization projects such as the Denan Terrace renovation and boiler, plumbing, and interior upgrades in high-rises. Jill Keers of the Duluth HRA described a broader set of housing programs, including vouchers, rehab loans, emergency repair funds, construction training, and development. She said Duluth HRA is adding 128 housing units between 2023 and 2025, including mixed-income rentals, senior housing, and family townhomes, and stressed that state investment through POP and other programs is necessary to keep housing affordable and safe.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't see indicators of fraud, so we're not concerned there.
• We that, you know, we did not see fraud.
• <00:40:38.120> Uh say, it's not concerns for fraud. Uh say, it's not concerns for fraud.
• Um this report doesn't spell out fraud.
• And I think the opportunities for fraud?

Bills: HF3564

Keywords: Greater Minnesota, regional parks, trails, grants, local government, 1183, house

Summary: The Legacy Finance Committee met to approve the prior meeting minutes and then heard a presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on its performance audit of the Department of Natural Resources’ administration of Outdoor Heritage Fund grants. OLA explained that the DNR generally complied with the criteria tested, but the audit identified two main problem areas: grant payments and grant monitoring. The audit covered 13 grants, mostly legislatively named grants awarded in fiscal year 2020, and reviewed agreements, amendments, payments, monitoring, and some site visits. OLA reported that for three grantees, totaling about $400,000, invoices lacked enough detail to determine whether costs were allowable, and about $5,000 was paid to two grantees without sufficient supporting documentation. The auditors also said DNR lacked policies defining allowable costs and what “directly related to and necessary” means under state law. On monitoring, DNR missed required annual visits for six grants, made payments on current progress reports that were missing or not on file, and had weaknesses in closeout evaluations, including missing required elements, late completion, and two grants with no closeout evaluation at all. OLA recommended stronger documentation, clearer guidelines with the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, timely monitoring and closeout, obtaining progress reports before payment, and improved internal controls. Members reacted strongly to the findings, especially the repeated failures to follow grant procedures and the risks of legislatively named grants and advance payments. Representative Heintzeman and Vice Chair Skraba questioned whether the issues reflected broader problems in state grant oversight and asked about prepayments, follow-up, and whether more legislative action was needed. OLA officials said they do not rely on self-attestation, but instead retest agencies after 2 to 3 years, and noted a new annual update-report process that will track whether agencies implement prior recommendations. Judy Randall, the Legislative Auditor, said the laws and policies already exist and emphasized that the issue is ensuring agency staff follow them; she also said most recommendations in the recent update report had been implemented. No further committee action or vote was taken on the audit during this portion of the meeting.