Transcript Highlights:

• And for learning about EHS.
• I had children two, three years old, coming in with 12 years. was no fluoride in the water system.
• Most importantly, the last year has seen the National Toxicology Program conclude that prenatal and early
• My son had horrible migraines for years until we removed Wi-Fi from our home, and that was 10 years ago
• We learned many lessons from COVID-19.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing focused on children’s health, disease prevention, screening, treatment, and pharmacy-related bills. The chair explained that the session was for public testimony only, with no votes or decisions taken that day, and outlined the three-minute limit for individual testimony. The committee then heard testimony on a range of bills, including H. 2413 on adding electromagnetic sensitivity to the state’s MAVEN registry, S. 1508 and H. 2433 on creating an amputation prevention task force, H. 2535 and S. 1551 on establishing a naloxone purchase trust fund, S. 1635 on authorizing pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment, H. 2385 on creating a special commission on avian influenza, and S. 1497 on patient safety and non-FDA-approved compounded drugs. Testimony on H. 2413 came largely from advocates and individuals who described electromagnetic sensitivity as a real health condition and argued that adding it to the registry would improve data collection, provider education, and public awareness. Testimony on the amputation prevention task force bills came from the American Diabetes Association and podiatry groups, who said diabetes-related amputations are often preventable, disproportionately affect people of color, and could be reduced through earlier screening, better care coordination, and improved insurance coverage for preventive foot care. On the naloxone trust fund bills, a representative, emergency physician, and nurse testified that hospitals often cannot reliably send overdose patients home with naloxone because of billing and reimbursement barriers, and that a bulk-purchase fund would expand access at no added cost to payers or providers. The committee also heard strong support for S. 1635 from pharmacists and public health researchers, who said community pharmacists could safely initiate and maintain buprenorphine treatment and help close gaps in opioid use disorder care. On H. 2385, a local board of health chair supported a special commission on avian influenza, citing gaps in emergency preparedness and the need for clearer coordination across agencies. On S. 1497, a pharmacy representative opposed restrictions on compounded drugs from outsourcing facilities, warning that changes could reduce access to life-saving medications and harm patient safety. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Services in the past 10 years.
• They are time-consuming and often don't change significantly from year to year.
• to year.
• , meaning once every two years instead of every year or every few months.
• Learning through a game or through experiential programs like what's offered at Buckner is very effective

Bills: HB2510, HB3589, HB4611, HB4655, HB4665, HB4666, HB4670, HB4700, HB4730, HB4798, HB4838, HB5136, HB5243, HB5302, HB5539

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm excited to start the year.
• My experience spans 25 years helping aid state programs in tool development, regulatory, and environmental
• So one of the things that we've learned over time managing the UIC program, both in Ohio and nationwide
• Previously, I administered North Dakota's Class II UIC program, and it would take a year or two to get
• The Underground Injection Control Program has historically been around for about 40 years now.

Transcript Highlights:

• Approximately fiscal year 2028.
• for plan year 2026.
• A dedicated dementia program at MDH will have line of sight into the various programs and funding streams
• My small business, we had three program areas.
• They had to learn back rhythms this time.

Bills: HF2435

Keywords: healthcare, dementia services, public health funding, opioid prevention, women's health, community health boards, mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• The cost per kid participating in this program has exploded over the past number of years, and it's upwards
• We have that's where we put a lot of time, the two and three-year program right...
• I think there's a lot for all of us to learn about how that program is supposed to work and how it will
• These are sort of non-program disruptive fixes that could get us by a year, especially if it's low severity
• So I, you know, I ran a school-to-work program years ago I hate to tell you how many years ago, but we

Transcript Highlights:

• And also one of the Tulsans of the Year, nominated one of the Tulsans of the Year.
• One of the Tulsans of the Year, nominated one of the Tulsans of the Year.
• I've learned responsibility by being trusted with it, and I've learned that service isn't just something
• The bill that passed last year had a...
• Last year, we had a veteran who passed away.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• after year.
• > year.
• after year. after year.
• Now we've learned what they meant. Now we've learned what they meant.
• One thing I've learned here in my early years is that most of what we do at the state level is because

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Senate DFL senators discussed the Health and Human Services supplemental budget on the floor, framing it as a response to federal HR 1 and related Trump administration policies that they said shift costs to states, counties, hospitals, and families. Senators Liz Bolden, Lindsey Port, Erin Murphy, Alice Mann, and Rob Kupec argued the bill is needed to backfill cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, stabilize hospitals, and prevent property tax increases and service disruptions. They said the package totals about $700 million, with more than $250 million aimed at hospital support and roughly $300 million to help counties absorb food-support cost shifts. Members described the federal changes as adding red tape and work-reporting requirements that would cause eligible people to lose coverage, with estimates cited of more than 150,000 Minnesotans losing Medicaid and about 62,000 losing individual-market coverage due to higher premiums. They also said counties would face new administrative burdens and hiring needs, and that rural hospitals, safety-net providers, and EMS systems would see more uncompensated care. One senator noted Dakota County could face an additional $11 million next year and property tax increases, while another said Minnesota hospitals could see charity care rise by more than $269 million next year. The discussion also covered specific funding in the bill, including $300 million for hospital stabilization, with $150 million for HCMC, nearly $115 million for other hospital stabilization grants, almost $18 million for community safety-net providers, and $15 million for rural EMS uncompensated care. Senators said these funds are short-term measures, not long-term fixes, and that if the state did nothing, the health care system and SNAP administration could collapse. They said they do not expect Republican support in the Senate and suggested longer-term options could include federal changes after the next election or state-level tax changes on the ultra-wealthy. No vote outcome was stated in the excerpt, but the senators indicated the bill would move forward with DFL support.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the Maiden in Oklahoma program is a free marketing program for all producers of almost any product
• Over the past several years, they've received around $822,000 a year.
• Just for context, we are asking for $42.5 million as year two of our eight-year deferred maintenance
• Obviously, Route 66 centennial this year, next year, I think we've got the Senior PGA.
• What I want you all to know is I've been learning about working with the LA28 mission and learning about

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the Learn Everywhere program, where we can work with those vendors that have been provided.
• down the road, you're going to see years down the road, you're going to see programming<01:00:34.240
• There’s every year there’s we got to kill the EFA program. We got to kill the education tax.
• we got to kill the every year there's we got to kill the EFA<03:18:42.479> program.
• years of this program over the last four years of this program and<03:35:11.920> those<03:35:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much. over a 3-year period the legislature over a 3-year period the legislature would<
• This bill lets us, lets me, be able to learn from my kupuna, learn from my aunties, my uncles.
• <01:57:36.880> from<01:57:37.079> my to learn from my kapuna learn from my to learn
• Thank you for all being here year after year, many familiar faces.
• Thank you for all being here year after year, many familiar faces.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Committee on Health and Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce heard two midwifery bills, with testimony focused primarily on HB 1194. Committee chairs opened the hearing with rules for Zoom testimony and noted the bills relate to midwives. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said it supported the intent of HB 1194 and offered comments. Supporters of the bill, including the Midwives Alliance of Hawaii, argued that midwifery should remain subject to mandatory licensure to protect consumer safety, citing the state’s regulatory licensing standards and a 2025 state auditor sunset analysis. They said the bill would strengthen educational standards and public protection, and some offered clarifying amendments. Opponents argued HB 1194 would restrict access to care and fail to protect traditional, cultural, and community-based birth practices. Testifiers from the Hawaii Home Birth Task Force, the Hawaii Home Birth Collective, the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Pacific Birth Collective, and Papa Ola Lōkahi said the bill would limit licensure pathways, reduce access in rural and underserved areas, and burden Native Hawaiian and traditional practitioners. Several speakers said the measure could worsen Hawaii’s maternal health shortages, especially on Maui, and urged lawmakers to defer HB 1194 or instead advance HB 1328, which they said better protects practitioner access and cultural practices. The Hawaii affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives said it opposed HB 1194 because it did not align with national or state standards for certified midwives and could create conflicts with Medicaid reimbursement and prescriptive authority. The ACLU also opposed the measure, emphasizing reproductive rights, privacy, and the need to preserve apprenticeship pathways to licensure. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I trained at Mayo Clinic over 30 years ago and run a large pain program in the Twin Cities.
• period, or a 20-year period, a 10-year period, or a 20-year period, or<01:59:47.000> 30-year<
• This is the first time in the 50-year history of the SNAP program that the federal government will no
• on programs. on programs.
• . mid-year. mid-year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . in the program.
• I came up here for years and years and years advocating for increases in reimbursement rates, help with
• We want to Bring together all of those programs for a summit next summer to elevate, showcase, learn
• This is a program you all started several years ago with nonrecurring funds.
• So, that is a bonding program that is available every other year and that typically mostly funds higher

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The program will provide...
• Our third award of the year.
• Our third award of the year.
• Metro is also leading the nation's largest transit capital program, investing $120 billion over 40 years
• Metro is also leading the nation's largest transit capital program, investing $120 billion over 40 years

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing-related bills. SB 457 would direct HCD to develop statistical formulas based on historical development data to help cities complete housing element site inventories, with the author and supporters arguing it would make RHNA compliance more realistic and less costly; the California Building Industry Association opposed, and the bill was later approved on a 7-1 vote. SB 904 would codify and expand wildfire-rebuilding coordination and reporting practices used after recent fires, with supporters saying it would speed recovery and opponents questioning the need for additional reporting; it passed 11-1. The committee also took up SB 1091, which would create a state acquisition-and-preservation program for unsubsidized affordable housing to prevent displacement; it drew broad support from housing and tenant groups and passed 9-1, with members emphasizing preservation as a key housing strategy. Members also considered SB 1267, which would require EV charger installers in common-interest developments to indemnify associations during installation and make homeowners responsible for costs arising from use of privately owned chargers. The bill was presented as a follow-up to prior HOA-related EV charging legislation, with support from HOA, EV, and climate groups and opposition from the California Association of Realtors pending amendments; it passed 10-0. SB 1117 would clarify that ADU impact fees above the 750-square-foot exemption are charged only on the portion above that threshold, not the entire unit, and supporters said it would remove a fee cliff that discourages slightly larger ADUs. Cities, special districts, and fire agencies opposed or opposed unless amended, citing infrastructure funding concerns, but the bill passed 10-0 after extensive debate. The committee also heard SB 1361, which would prevent local governments from taking actions to avoid SB 79 transit-oriented housing requirements at existing or planned transit stops. Supporters from L.A. Metro, labor, and housing groups said it would protect transit investments and jobs, while the City of Burbank opposed; the bill passed 9-0. Two consent items, SB 722 and SB 1426, were approved without discussion. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly stressed the goals of streamlining housing production, preserving existing affordable homes, and reducing barriers to rebuilding and transit-oriented development.

Transcript Highlights:

• parks. programs to develop the program over the next year, and then we'll come back to the legislature
• This is similar to our museum grant program that we've had over the years, but with a little twist.
• We're going to be using what we've learned from the museum grant program to roll this one out.
• Cash say, they're planning to run a program solicitation in the budget year, even though that's a brand
• You mentioned you've got the program starting up this year with that $459 million.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on an existing program or a new program altogether, and whether a program is working with existing recipients
• , two year long administrative studies or administrative planning and that they're actually getting programs
• I've been running this program for about 10 years now.
• But if I may, that was almost over 10 years ago. I've been here 10 years.
• the last 15 years.

Summary: The committee began with member introductions, then heard a presentation on a draft final report studying alternative funding mechanisms for sidewalks and related pedestrian infrastructure. Consultants said current local funding sources are insufficient, with most jurisdictions unable to complete planned sidewalk networks within 50 years. They evaluated four options: a sidewalk utility fee, a modified transportation benefit district sales tax, a new real estate excise tax option, and expanded stormwater fee use for ADA sidewalk ramps. The consultants recommended authorizing the modified TBD sales tax and new REET option, considering a sidewalk utility despite legal uncertainty, broadening any authorization to all pedestrian improvements, and not pursuing the stormwater fee option. Members asked about legal authority, fairness, revenue adequacy, and whether jurisdictions had been consulted; the presenters said state enabling legislation would likely be needed for a sidewalk utility and that fairness could be defined either by direct benefit or by need. The committee then received an update on the 2025 assessment of city transportation funding needs. The consultants reported that city transportation revenues have grown in some local and federal categories since 2019, but state revenues have remained relatively flat and smaller cities are especially affected by declining fuel tax revenues and limited tax bases. They estimated annual city transportation needs at $4.25 billion, average annual spending at $1.89 billion, and a funding gap of $2.37 billion, larger than in the prior study because of updated data, inclusion of system improvements, and higher preservation costs. Draft recommendations focused on reducing costs and improving efficiency, preserving and increasing state support, and expanding local funding options, including preservation-first spending, a permanent federal fund exchange program, streamlined review processes, better coordination with WSDOT, possible property tax flexibility, and exploration of new local tools. Members raised questions about design standards, the role of density and transit, federal compliance, and whether the report would identify specific consolidation or process changes. The committee also heard a project update on evaluating zero-emission vehicle and electrification programs funded by the Climate Commitment Act. Consultants said they had reviewed roughly 23 programs and projects across seven agencies and were now evaluating options to improve delivery, including process improvements, reorganizing programs, or consolidating governance and administrative functions. Early findings highlighted staffing shortages, duplication and variation across agencies, differing levels of risk, and the challenge of coordinating climate priorities across agencies with other core missions. Members asked about program outcomes, administrative costs, whether some programs should have exit strategies, and how to strengthen the EV Coordinating Council. Finally, WSDOT provided an implementation update on its new public-private partnership authority under SB 5801, saying work is underway to prepare governance, legal, policy, and organizational structures ahead of the January 1, 2027 effective date.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Early Learning, and the fourth is Program Support.
• consolidating that all into this one Program Support sub-program. ...it all into this one Program Support
• sub-program.
• that budget program.
• So this is after, it seems like, two or three years and even longer, but the last couple of years we

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And you all did tweak that, uh, last year or the year before.
• was 1020 years ago.
• use those dollars to, um, grow that those diversion programs and other programs, um, The MAP program
• Bregman, you said that, um, this 17 year old, 6 times seeing through, um, um, he didn't learn, he didn't
• learn.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what we learned was— But during the discussion of that bill, we learned about the real challenges
• They do the abandoned mines program. They are in charge of our coal mine reclamation program.
• Now, if we've got to set it aside for two years, so be it.
• As stated, it's been more than 10 years.
• It's now 12 years since the last major license increase bill.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, pledge, roll call, and a quorum present, then approved a motion to lay over House Bill 1525 for one legislative day. It also voted not to concur with House amendments on Senate Bills 2294, 2297, 2070, 4017, and 2262, appointing conference committees for each. The chamber then took up a series of House bill amendments and final-passage votes. On amendments, the Senate adopted changes to House Bill 1229 on fleeing law enforcement and driving-record transparency after debate over insurance impacts and public safety; House Bill 1510 on teacher retention, on-site child care, and licensure study language; House Bill 1160 to restrict student personal electronic devices during instructional time; House Bill 1429 to address drone harassment and stalking of animals; House Bill 1203 to harmonize medical marijuana provisions; House Bill 1600 to create a UND immigration clinic with reporting requirements; House Bill 1130 to broaden K-12 funding formula changes and reduce state fiscal impact; House Bill 1279 to modify the coal conversion tax exemption; House Bill 1442 to adjust membership and scope of a state task force; and House Bill 1464 to convert a maternal care services proposal into a study and remove the appropriation. The Senate rejected an amendment to House Bill 1022 concerning the Retirement and Investment Office bonus program, then passed the bill. It also passed House Bill 1234 on a $90 million transfer to reduce PERS liability, while rejecting a floor amendment to it. On final passage, the Senate passed House Bills 1008 (Public Service Commission budget), 1218 (temporary moratorium and study on economic analysis for drain projects), 1234 (PERS funding transfer), 1146 (PERS defined contribution cleanup and emergency clause), 1355 (expanded notice for administrative rulemaking), 1470 (Game and Fish fee changes and guide/outfitter updates), 1029 (Capital Grounds Planning Commission duties), 1017 (Game and Fish budget), 1374 (township supervisor open-meeting exemption for on-site inspections), and 1064 (NC-SARA membership and distance education regulation). It defeated House Bill 1583 on false political advertisements with civil-action language and House Bill 1393 on earned wage access provider regulation. The transcript ends as the Senate begins consideration of House Bill 1326 on self-defense and unlawful firearm possession by felons.

Transcript Highlights:

• The cap calculations last year— The cap calculations, last year was the first year, as you know.
• to year.
• But as they learn more and more, it is becoming a valuable resource in the programming effort.
• program it.
• Again, this is year two, and the program changed again in the January special session, which actually

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:

• We sincerely appreciate Assembly Member McKinnor for her leadership not only this year, but in years
• We sincerely appreciate Assembly Member McKinnor for her leadership not only this year, but in years
• We sincerely appreciate Assembly Member McKinnor for her leadership not only this year, but in years
• year.
• They were five and 14 years old.

Summary: The committee heard a series of child care, social services, immigrant support, disability services, and language access bills, with many measures drawing strong support and no opposition. Early in the hearing, AB 450 proposed a Department of Aging task force to study and recommend policies for undocumented adults age 55 and older; AB 593 would let CDSS identify data-sharing opportunities to improve CalFresh administration and participation; and AB 904 would clarify child care subsidy eligibility so families do not lose care during pregnancy leave, family leave, caregiving, or job search periods. All three were presented as ways to reduce barriers and improve access to essential services, and AB 904 was moved out on a 1-0 call after support testimony from child care advocates and a member of the public. AB 617, which would expand and standardize respite care access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by requiring licensing and registry participation, drew both support and significant opposition from respite providers and disability service organizations concerned about added regulation, cost, and possible delays; the author said she would continue working with opponents, and the bill was moved out on a 2-0 call. The committee also heard AB 1220, which would require regional centers to document denials, notices of action, and appeals in individual program plans and include that data in annual reports to improve transparency and equity in developmental services. The bill drew extensive public support from parents, advocates, and disability organizations, with no opposition, and passed 5-0. AB 752 would make child care centers by right in certain residential zones when co-located with multifamily housing or institutional uses, and supporters argued it would reduce zoning barriers and help expand child care capacity; it also passed 5-0. AB 1242 would create a CalHHS language access director, require human review of machine translation, and improve language coverage determinations for state and local agencies; supporters emphasized health equity and the need for better access for limited-English communities, and the bill was moved out on a 4-0 call. Later, AB 548 would continue and expand the Asylee and Vulnerable Non-Citizen Program, which provides case management and integration services for asylees and certain visa holders; supporters said the program had been effective but had run out of funding, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, would strengthen family safety planning for immigrant families, standardize acceptance of caregiver authorization affidavits, and create a joint guardianship process for temporary separations; testimony focused on fear of family separation and the need for clear school and medical procedures, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 1357 would exclude guaranteed income payments from being counted as income for state public assistance eligibility, with supporters arguing it would prevent recipients from falling off the “benefits cliff”; it passed 4-1. Finally, AB 1201, the Reunity Act, was introduced to require individualized court assessments before denying reunification services to parents with certain violent felony convictions after a five-year period, with the author and a witness describing the bill as a trauma-informed approach to family reunification.