Transcript Highlights:

• stand against harmful ideologies, harmful graphic materials, and a culture that seemed hell-bent on sexualizing
• SB 13, authored by Senator Angela Paxson, would remove sexually explicit books from our school libraries

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Huffman passed legislation making it illegal to possess or distribute AI-generated child sexual
• Last year, there was a Texas mother who found an AI-generated explicit image of her daughter circulating
• images to... ...either exploit children, groom children, or engage in fantasies related to child sexual

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The FBI has issued warnings about online sexual exploitation specifically targeting LGBTQ youth and young
• The FBI has issued warnings about online sexual exploitation, specifically targeting LGBTQ youth and
• One in eight 13- to 50-year-olds get unwanted sexual advances in the last week. 98% of them are from
• ... ...mislabeling LGBTQ content as adult or explicit, and other kinds of suppression of LGBTQ voices
• use, Sexual contact, sleep disruption, problematic use, mental health, help-seeking, use of secondary

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing on the impact of social media on LGBTQ+ youth, focusing on benefits, risks, and possible safeguards. Chair members framed the discussion around the tension between protecting young people from addictive design, harassment, hate speech, exploitation, and mental health harms while preserving access to affirming resources, community, and crisis support that many LGBTQ+ youth rely on online. Members emphasized that the hearing was meant to inform future policy rather than relitigate prior bills, and several members of the LGBTQ+ Caucus attended or participated. The first panel featured lived experience and advocacy testimony from Madi Roby of Alliance for Trans Youth Rights, Shea Gardner of LGBT Tech, and Casey Pick of the Trevor Project. Roby described social media as essential to exploring identity, finding trans language and safety information, and connecting to Trevor Project resources during a family crisis, while also acknowledging online hate and bullying. Gardner argued that lawmakers should regulate harms more precisely rather than impose broad age-based exclusions, warning that account bans and age-gating could cut off access to community, privacy-protective pseudonymity, and crisis resources. Pick testified that LGBTQ+ youth are more likely than peers to attempt suicide, that social media can be both a lifeline and a risk, and that Trevor Space and other moderated online spaces can improve mental health and reduce isolation; she also cautioned against policies that would push youth into less visible, less moderated spaces. Committee members questioned the witnesses about algorithmic feeds, addictive design, age verification, and whether platforms should be required to do more to protect youth. Several lawmakers distinguished between personalized feeds and addictive features such as infinite scroll and autoplay, and asked for more targeted prescriptions. Witnesses generally supported stronger privacy protections, limits on data collection and use, better reporting and moderation tools, digital literacy, and design changes that reduce harmful engagement patterns without eliminating access to community. The discussion also touched on the loss of LGBTQ-specific 988 services at the national level and the importance of maintaining alternative support pathways. The second panel presented research from Common Sense Media, UC Irvine, Hope Lab, and LGBTQ+ Health Australia. Researchers reported that LGBTQ+ youth often arrive online with higher depressive symptoms and limited in-person support, encounter homophobic and transphobic content at high rates, and may self-censor because of fear of harassment. At the same time, many said social media helps them feel less alone and find affirmation. Dr. Sean Young emphasized a harm-reduction approach, noting that online environments can be designed to support health and that policymakers should measure whether restrictions actually reduce harm or simply displace it. Dr. Amy Green echoed that social media is both harmful and supportive for LGBTQ+ youth, underscoring that the policy goal should be to make youth safer rather than less visible online.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lowe said critics claim her book is sexually explicit or pornographic, but it is not.
• Um, sexual... ...diseases, which we all really want for our children.
• Sexual violence, normalization, distorted gender roles, developmental risks.
• I've dedicated myself to preventing child sexual abuse, and I can tell you this: exposure to sexually
• explicit content is not harmless.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on several bills related to access to library materials, including measures addressing book bans and censorship in public and school libraries, as well as legislation on digital library collections and e-book licensing. Committee leaders said testimony would be limited to three minutes and encouraged written submissions. Early testimony from Chair Brian Murray highlighted H. 3595, which would address challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections by limiting restrictive publisher-library contract terms, protecting patron confidentiality, and creating a special legislative commission to study the issue. A large number of legislators, librarians, authors, students, publishers, and advocacy groups testified in support of the free expression bills, including H. 3594 and S. 2328, arguing that book challenges in Massachusetts disproportionately target LGBTQ+ and BIPOC titles and that librarians and educators need protection from retaliation and harassment. Witnesses described local incidents of book removals, threats, and pressure campaigns, and several said the bills would create transparent challenge procedures, keep materials available during reviews, and ensure decisions are made by trained professionals rather than political actors. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s office also submitted support, and multiple speakers cited national trends and Massachusetts-specific censorship attempts. Testimony on the digital access bills emphasized that e-books and audiobooks are essential for readers with disabilities, homebound patrons, students, and others who rely on accessible formats, but that current licensing terms are far more expensive and restrictive than print purchasing. Library representatives said libraries spend millions on digital content, face long wait times for popular titles, and often must repeatedly re-rent the same materials. Legal and library experts supported the proposed commission as a practical step toward fairer licensing and stronger bargaining power for libraries. The hearing ended after extensive testimony; no votes or final committee action were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Artificial intelligence is being used to create non-consensual sexually explicit images and videos that
• Committee Substitute House Bill 3694 would make it a crime to knowingly produce or distribute sexually
• explicit deepfake media without the consent of the person appearing to be depicted.

Bills: HB 115, HB507, HB1765, HB1847, HB2046, HB2239, HB2328, HB2309, HB2417, HB2728, HB2794, HB3206, HB3566, HB3694, HB3744, HB4254, HB4697, HB4733, HB4915, HB5465, HB2813, HB115

Keywords: habeas corpus, postconviction, criminal procedure, indigent defense, scientific evidence, legal representation, judicial power, capital felony, criminal law, death penalty, attorney qualification, training standards, law enforcement, no-knock warrant, search warrant, peace officer, attorney workload, criminal justice, caseload limits, fair representation

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, 2025, 2026, we saw continued enactment of regulations around explicit content.
• So these are state laws focused on sexually explicit images, so more in general...
• In 2024, 2025, 2026, we saw still continued enactment of regulations around explicit content.
• So these are state laws focused on sexually explicit images, so more in general, Explicit content.
• So these are state laws focused on sexually explicit images, so more generative AI, so having to do with

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, 2025, 2026, we saw continued enactment of regulations around explicit content.
• So these are state laws focused on sexually explicit images, so more in general...
• In 2024, 2025, 2026, we saw still continued enactment of regulations around explicit content.
• So these are state laws focused on sexually explicit images, so more in general, Explicit content.
• So these are state laws focused on sexually explicit images, more generative AI, so having to do with

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, establishing its purpose as a study and policy-development body rather than one aimed at producing many bills. Majority Leader Hogue urged members to move quickly, focus on federal and other states’ AI laws, consider possible federal preemption, child protections, and the siting and economic impacts of data centers. Committee leadership echoed that the goal is practical, balanced governance that protects North Dakota while allowing innovation to continue. Legislative Council staff provided a background memo and NCSL presented a detailed overview of AI concepts and the current state legislative landscape. The presentations distinguished narrow AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and theoretical AGI/ASI, and summarized major state policy themes: comprehensive AI laws in states such as Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois; targeted laws on deepfakes, chatbots, health, education, notifications, and digital likeness; and growing use of appropriations and agency inventories. Members asked about Colorado’s repeal and reenactment, Texas’s sandbox and training provisions, oversight structures, and whether AI regulation is bipartisan; presenters said most issues cut across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfakes but more division on broader regulatory approaches. The federal update focused on executive orders, preemption, and congressional activity. NCSL described a White House framework favoring a single federal standard, a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department review of state laws, and possible funding conditions tied to state AI policy, though no formal state-law challenge had yet occurred. The presentation also covered a recent executive order creating a voluntary federal vetting process for advanced frontier models after safety concerns, and congressional proposals including a failed 10-year state moratorium, Senator Blackburn’s child-safety bills, the Kids Online Safety Act, a House-passed children’s digital safety package, a Senate data center moratorium proposal, and a House ratepayer/data-center bill. The committee took no formal action beyond receiving testimony and asking questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, 2025, 2026, we saw still continued enactment of regulations around explicit content.
• So these are state laws focused on sexually explicit images, so more in general...
• In 2024, 2025, 2026, we saw still continued enactment of regulations around explicit content.
• So these are state laws focused on sexually explicit images, so more in general, Explicit content.
• So these are state laws focused on sexually explicit images, so more generative AI, having to do with

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, established a quorum, and heard introductory remarks from Majority Leader Hogue and the chair about the committee’s charge. Members said the goal was to build a factual foundation on AI, hear from experts and stakeholders, and develop practical North Dakota-focused recommendations rather than simply produce a large volume of bills. Legislative Council also reviewed interim committee rules and procedures before the informational presentations began. Staff and NCSL presenters then gave overviews of AI concepts and the state and federal policy landscape. The background memo and presentations covered AI categories and terms, state laws in areas such as consumer protection, algorithmic discrimination, deepfakes, chatbots, children’s safety, health, education, and government use, as well as data center siting and economic impacts. NCSL described a growing number of AI bills introduced and enacted across the states, with comprehensive laws in places like Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois, and noted recurring issues around transparency, privacy, liability, and protections for minors. A major focus of the discussion was federal preemption and the tension between state regulation and national AI policy. NCSL said a recent White House executive order and related federal framework seek a light-touch, innovation-friendly national standard, with possible challenges to state laws and possible funding conditions tied to compliance, though no broad federal preemption has yet been enacted. Members asked about Commerce Clause concerns, industry pushback, oversight models, and whether AI policy is bipartisan; presenters said the issue cuts across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfake restrictions but more disagreement on broader regulatory approaches. No votes or formal actions were taken at the meeting, and the committee recessed briefly for technical issues during the second presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The FBI has issued warnings about online sexual exploitation specifically targeting...
• The FBI has issued warnings about online sexual exploitation, specifically targeting LGBTQ youth and
• One in eight 13- to 50-year-olds get unwanted sexual advances in the last week.
• , Mislabeling LGBTQ content as adult or explicit, and other kinds of suppression of LGBTQ voices.
• use, Sexual contact, sleep disruption, problematic use, mental health, help-seeking, use of secondary

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:01.039> assault invasive process of the sexual assault invasive process of the sexual
• Sexual Violence, the Sexual Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Sexual Assault<00:39:35.040> Kit
• sexual exploitation. sexual exploitation.
• Deepfake nudes are synthetic media creations that depict real people in sexually suggestive or explicit
• CSAM child sexual abuse platforms.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And you all know there's no way that this child would dream such explicit dreams without having experienced
• Child sexual abuse, shared at CACs.
• Child sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, maltreatment, you name it.
• Imagine sharing everything that's happened to you—sexually, physically—and your parents being able to
• One example is if there's an allegation of... ...example is if there's an allegation of sexual abuse

Bills: SB140, HB235, HB276, HB317, HB340

Keywords: Coach Safely Act, youth athletics, noncompliance penalties, Department of Public Health, youth athlete, social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the crimes is luring a minor for sexual exploitation by offering or soliciting sexual conduct
• Any offense that involved, Any offense that involves a sexual offense, harassment involving sexually
• explicit communications or conduct, stalking, commercial or exploitation of a minor, sexual exploitation
• We're talking about egregious sexual crimes.
• engaged in this kind of criminal behavior, incest, domestic violence, stalking, luring a minor for sexual

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• comments to sexual relationships with students.
• Exposing systemic deficiencies that contribute to educator sexual misconduct.
• Sexual abuse in the schools is a hidden epidemic.
• Sexual abuse has no place in our schools.
• Child sexual abuse is horrifying and unacceptable.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of the youth that we served were survivors of other crimes, with child sexual abuse, child sexual
• Sexual performance is used in 12.1-27.2 and defined as a performance which includes sexual conduct by
• explicit deepfake videos and other kinds of issues that involve AI and media.
• that use of sexual performance.
• We did try to do a one-to-one switch-out on that phrase, sexual performance by a minor, with child sexual

Bills: HCR3028

Keywords: human trafficking, victim services, re-entry programs, legislative study, public safety, mental health, law enforcement, 908, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard and acted on several measures related to human trafficking, criminal procedure, and child protection. It first took up House Concurrent Resolution 3028, which would direct a legislative study of human trafficking victim services and re-entry programs. The sponsor and supporters emphasized helping victims rebuild basic life and workforce skills and better understanding existing services; YouthWorks and the North Dakota Catholic Conference described current programs and the trauma victims face. The committee discussed overlap with other interim studies, then voted unanimously to give the resolution a due pass, with Senator Braunberger designated to carry it. The committee then considered House Bill 1263, concerning sealing criminal records, and moved it forward without changing the House version after members noted the House had removed presumption language and reduced the waiting period. That bill also received a due pass recommendation. Next, House Bill 1226, which revises the state’s mask law for public places, drew testimony from the sponsor and an expert witness who argued that masking to conceal identity during group criminal conduct undermines public safety and law enforcement. Members debated the House-added requirement that law enforcement request unmasking; the committee adopted an amendment to remove that language, then passed the bill as amended, with Senator Luick to carry it. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1410, a study resolution on criminal conduct against children, including child sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and the use of artificial intelligence in exploitation crimes. Supporters from the Child Sexual Assault Prevention Task Force, YouthWorks, and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Dakota said the study would help update outdated terminology, review AI-related issues, and improve investigation and prosecution tools. The committee approved the resolution with a due pass recommendation, and Senator Cory was assigned to carry it. The committee also received a brief report that, in a quick review, there were 82 active studies introduced, including 10 shall studies and 35 shall-consider studies, with limited overlap identified beyond the trafficking-related measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Crypto is, quote, the dominant choice for buyers and sellers of commercial child sexual abuse content
• Surely we agree on keeping our children safe and making certain that we are not facilitating sexual abuse
• pull a license if an issuer is found to have engaged in in facilitating the proliferation of child sexual
• If additional explicit restrictions on executive compensation are necessary, they can be addressed in
• We have very explicit anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act laws that prevent banks from doing business

Bills: SB875

Keywords: banking regulation, federal agencies, reputational risk, financial services, supervision, FIRM Act, bank supervision, depository institutions, federal banking agencies, FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve, NCUA, CFPB, credit unions, Operation Choke Point, financial discrimination, safety and soundness, supervisory guidance, examination manual

Summary: This meeting focused on the markup of the Genius Act and the FIRM Act, two significant pieces of legislation addressing stablecoin regulation and the financial industry's regulatory framework. The Chairman noted the importance of providing clarity to the digital asset community and protecting American consumers, while also promoting innovation and competition within the financial sector. Members of both parties expressed varying viewpoints, with some highlighting concerns related to national security and the potential risks associated with stablecoins.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Huffman, she passed legislation making it illegal to possess or distribute AI generated child sexual
• Um, just last year, there was a Texas mother, um, she found an AI generated explicit image of her daughter
• images to either exploit children, to groom children, or to engage in fantasies related to child sexual

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you believe that women have reached out to me who have been victims of sexual assault, who are
• charging claiming to have sexually charging claiming to have sexually assaulted<01:07:26.880>
• three been sexually assaulted assaulted three been sexually assaulted three<01:07:28.799> times
• on that promise by taking explicit on that promise by taking explicit legislative<04:33:38.240><
• that 78% of them wanted an explicit that 78% of them wanted an explicit right<04:40:15.280> to

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How do you do that in a sexual nature, or can you? You'd do it in a sexual nature.
• ... ...sexual in nature.
• That is sexualizing children.
• Just as we would never allow sexually explicit performances in public schools or at city parks for our
• It was not sexual in any way.

Bills: SB34, SB75, SB330, SB1535, SB18, SB 18, SB 34

Keywords: wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, volunteer fire department, Texas A&M Forest Service, West Texas A&M University, prescribed burning, fuel loading, fuel reduction, firefighting equipment database, emergency communications, disaster preparedness, rural fire protection, asset hardening, natural resource management, emergency management, large wildfire risk, fire grant funding, fire suppression, Texas Legislature

Transcript Highlights:

• issues, sexual health issues without parental sexual issues, sexual health issues without parental support
• Whether it's I have a sexual nature.
• As you know, there are bad actors on wine targeting minors with sexually explicit and sexually suggestive
• I'm asking them to meet up for sexual encounters. I know ladder. That's tough.
• suggestive in outright sexual stuff that they that gets passed on.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• language stating that they are subject to chapter 84, which is the ethics code, but we'll make it explicit
• for the regular rule, but we'll<00:13:42.520> make<00:13:42.720> it<00:13:42.800> explicit
• we'll make it explicit. we'll make it explicit.
• underground storage tank fund, the newborn metabolic screening special fund, the domestic violence and sexual

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees met in decision-making sessions and considered a long list of Senate bills, with no oral testimony taken. Several measures were advanced unamended, including SB 2178 on industrial hemp, SB 2277 on hospital price transparency, SB 2387 on digital financial asset transaction kiosks, SB 2688 on compassionate release, SB 3132 on syndromic surveillance data reporting, SB 3219 on housing infrastructure growth bonds, and others. Many bills were also advanced with technical or substantive amendments, including SB 2114 on collective bargaining grievance rights, SB 2601 on procurement penalties, SB 2698 on cruise ships/transportation, SB 2757 on digital asset charters, SB 2948 on insurance fraud, SB 2002 on water governance, SB 2022 on state water code penalties, SB 2190 on inclusionary zoning, SB 3294 on wrongful imprisonment compensation, and SB 17, SB 2407, SB 2811, SB 2907, SB 2930, SB 3084, SB 3103, and SB 2808 in the later agenda segment. The committee also discussed SB 2080, relating to the psychology interjurisdictional compact, where one senator objected to interstate compacts as opening local jobs to out-of-state professionals; despite that objection, the measure was adopted. SB 3133 on preventive medicine drew amendment discussion to remove unnecessary language about committee members not being state employees and to delete an immunity subsection, while preserving ethics-code coverage and provider immunity. SB 3000 on insurance was amended to remove a savings clause, and SB 2921 on fund transfers received extensive amendments removing or revising numerous special funds and revolving accounts across agencies. Most votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, often with members present voting aye or with reservations. A few measures drew recorded no votes or reservations, including SB 2080, SB 3133, SB 2921, and SB 2401, where one member voted with reservations and the committee report was to reflect the Attorney General’s comments. In each case, the committee adopted the recommendation and moved the bills forward.