Transcript Highlights:

• Those in favor vote aye; opposed vote no. The ayes have it. Do you have it so ordered?
• Seeing none, those in favor vote aye; opposed vote no. The ayes have it. Do you have it?
• Seeing none, those in favor vote aye; opposed vote no. The ayes have it. So ordered.
• Those in favor vote aye; opposed vote no. The ayes have it. So ordered. Thank you.
• Those in favor vote aye; opposed vote no. The ayes have it. So ordered. All right.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There being four votes in favor and six votes opposed, the amendment is not adopted.
• in favor and six >> There being four votes in favor and six votes<00:58:10.160> opposed,
• The people can factor in that element in determining how they wish to vote.
• There being four votes in favor and six votes opposed, the A7 amendment is not adopted.
• would somebody providing uh electronic would somebody providing uh electronic access<02:39:47.359

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those in favor vote aye. Opposed vote no. The ayes have it. Do you have it? So ordered.
• Seeing none, those in favor vote aye. Opposed vote no. The ayes have it. Do you have it?
• Seeing none, those in favor vote aye. Opposed vote no. The ayes have it. So ordered.
• Those in favor vote aye; opposed vote no. The ayes have it. So ordered. Thank you.
• Those in favor vote aye; opposed vote no. The ayes have it. So ordered. All right.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and routine journal and appointment actions. Members also made brief announcements about caucus meetings and recognized guests from AIM Youth Mental Health, including a proclamation by Senator Epstein designating May 31, 2026, as Youth Mental Health Day in Arizona. The chamber then met as the Committee of the Whole to consider House Bill 2995, relating to legal decision-making and parenting time in domestic relations cases. A committee amendment and a Mesnard floor amendment were adopted; the floor amendment emphasized child and victim safety in domestic violence cases, tightened standards for rebutting presumptions, and added an emergency clause. The bill was then reported out of Committee of the Whole with a do pass as amended recommendation. Members next considered House Concurrent Resolution 2040, a proposed constitutional amendment concerning labor organization use of public resources in school districts. Supporters argued it would restrict use of district communication systems and public resources for union-related materials and work stoppages, while opponents raised constitutional, due process, contract, pension, and free speech concerns, and argued it would harm teachers and union communication. The Government Committee amendment was adopted, and after debate the resolution was reported out of Committee of the Whole with a do pass as amended recommendation by a 12-11 division. The Senate then adopted the Committee of the Whole report and adjourned until May 18, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair Calatayud: SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK SHOULD COMPLETE AN APPEARANCE
• TAKE UP TAB 4 AND FIVE, CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR APPOINTMENTS, UNLESS A SENATOR REQUEST TO SEPARATE VOTE
• ON AN INDIVIDUAL APPOINTEE WE WILL TAKE ONE VOTE ON ALL APPOINTEES.
• I GET TO VOTE FOR THE HIGHEST PRESIDENCY WITHIN THIS COUNTRY AND I DON'T GET TO VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT
• ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS WISHING TO BE RECORDED AS VOTING ON BILLS BEFOR THE COMMITTEE TODAY?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you like to vote? Representative P...: Uh, yes, I like to vote, and I vote yes.
• Would you like to vote? Representative P...: Uh, yes, I like to vote, and I vote yes.
• Would you like to vote? Representative P...: Uh, yes, I like to vote, and I vote yes.
• <00:49:14.920> we have we voted we have we voted we were<00:49:17.960> we<00:49:18.079
• > try<00:49:18.319> to<00:49:18.520> vote were we try to vote were we try to vote

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division 2 work session first took up HB 506, a bill dealing with the return of seized firearms. Members discussed how the measure would shift background-check processing for firearm returns through the Department of Safety, while the physical firearms would still remain with local police unless State Police had taken custody. The department said the bill would change which cases come to it, and members clarified that the bill concerns the background-check decision rather than possession of the firearms. The committee then voted OTP on HB 506 FN by a 7-0 roll call. The committee next discussed HB 671, establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program. Department of Education staff explained that the bill grew out of a COVID-era Waterford contract that provided home-based early literacy support for families using federal relief funds, at a cost of about $600,000 per year, but that the program ended when those funds expired. Members raised concerns that the bill’s $1 appropriation was not realistic, that the prior program lacked sufficient outcome data, and that the references to ESSA tier-one benchmarks were unclear. The department said it was conducting a broader literacy needs assessment and updating the state literacy plan, including data from the zero-to-five range, K-5, and dyslexia-related work. Waterford representatives described the program as an early-literacy, pre-K readiness service for children ages zero to five, originally designed to work in homes with computers and internet provided where needed, and later expanded in some settings such as daycares and pre-K classrooms. They said the program used assessments at the beginning and end, had served hundreds of children, and was intended to support family engagement and kindergarten readiness. Despite that testimony, members remained concerned about funding and the lack of clear results, and one member moved to retain the bill for more information. The discussion ended with the bill retained rather than advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other piece that I will just note your attention to is in your electronic packages, you've got a
• means and we do have more um electronic means and we do have some<00:26:59.840> of<00:26:59.919
• We have an asset verification system, and it's having more trust in the electronic verification processes
• We have an asset verification system, and it's having more trust in the electronic verification processes
• having more trust in the electronic having more trust in the electronic verification<00:30:39.200

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met on December 19, 2025, approved the draft minutes from the November 21 regular meeting, and received a DHS commissioners update. Patricia Tilly reported on the state’s rural health transformation application, saying CMS had provided only one question and positive feedback, that the final federal award amount was still pending, and that DHS was preparing an accept-and-expend item for fiscal review using an up-to amount. She also said the new Hampstead YDC facility remains on track, with substantive construction expected by late summer 2026 and move-in likely in early January 2027. In response to questions, she confirmed the playground/outdoor activity area had been in the original design and was added when funding became available. Henry Litman, Medicaid director, discussed the Senate Bill 248 study committee report on palliative and hospice care. He explained the distinction between palliative care, which can be provided while a patient still seeks curative treatment, and hospice care, which involves electing not to pursue curative services. He said the committee’s work pointed to a need for better education for providers and the public, and described ongoing conversations with the Foundation for Healthy Communities and Home Health and Hospice about developing materials and possibly addressing how palliative services are bundled. He also said the study committee itself did not generate future legislation, though members could pursue it separately. Litman then answered questions about Medicaid eligibility and long-term services and supports, including delays in processing, the backlog from pandemic-era redeterminations, and efforts to speed reviews. He said the department is using temporary staffing funded in part by last session’s legislation, working with the New Hampshire Healthcare Association, counties, and UNH Law to streamline policy and training, and relying more on electronic asset verification while still guarding against improper asset transfers. He emphasized the goal of balancing faster access to benefits with compliance and fraud prevention. Robert Rodler followed with the annual tuition waiver update for children in foster care or guardianship. He reported 82 applicants and 65 waivers granted, including 35 for USNH schools and 30 for the community college system, and noted a correction would be issued for inaccurate continuing/new student figures in the report. Senator Gray said he intends to pursue a separate budget appropriation for these tuition waiver costs in the future so the funding would be clearly identified and easier to track. No additional votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• themselves more and more in the field, not only wearing them in the jail itself, but in the field doing electronic
• 32.679> doing jail itself, but in the field uh doing jail itself, but in the field uh doing electronic
• <00:29:33.600> monitoring,<00:29:34.640> supervising electronic monitoring, supervising
• electronic monitoring, supervising visits,<00:29:35.800> judging<00:29:36.200> compliance,
• Okay, before we take a vote, could you just walk us through the changes to amendment number 1634-S?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, and I ask for your I vote. Thank you, and I ask for your I vote on SB 937. Wonderful.
• So I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
• Respectfully asking for an aye vote. Absolutely.
• We respectfully urge an aye vote.
• I ask for an aye vote. Thank you. Thank you very much. Before I proceed... I ask for an aye vote.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills and took testimony on each, with members often noting amendments and continuing negotiations. SB 1009 by Senator Becker would require juvenile courts to find that less restrictive alternatives are unsuitable before ordering detention, and would require periodic review of continued detention and consideration of alternatives at disposition. Supporters argued it would reduce unnecessary youth detention and improve transparency; probation, judges, and police groups opposed it as an undue limit on judicial discretion and potentially unsafe in serious cases. The chair said he would recommend an aye with amendments, but the bill was held pending quorum and later remained on call. SB 1130 by Senator Gomez Reyes would update privacy law for wearable recording devices such as smart glasses, requiring consent before recording in places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy and banning devices or accessories designed to defeat recording indicators. Supporters said the bill addresses secret recording and invasive surveillance; opponents from tech and hospitality groups sought clarification to avoid unintended liability for businesses and exempt workplace communication devices. Members discussed those exemptions, and the chair recommended an aye, but the measure also remained on call. Senator Blake Spear presented SB 99, which would let courts consider military protective orders in domestic violence proceedings and require better communication between civilian law enforcement and military authorities. Supporters from the Department of Defense, local officials, and military representatives said it would close protection gaps for military families; the ACLU opposed it on due process grounds because MPOs are issued without judicial process. The chair and author emphasized that the bill only allows consideration of MPOs and does not require civilian enforcement of them. The bill passed out on a vote, though it remained on call for additional members. The committee also heard SB 937 by Senator Gonzalez, restricting flashbang use for crowd control and banning flashbangs and explosive breaching charges in immigration enforcement, and SB 1022, creating a statewide anti-trafficking task force. SB 937 drew support from civil rights and community groups and opposition from police and sheriffs over the use-of-force standard and limits on tactics; it passed out on a vote but remained on call. SB 1022 was supported by survivor and faith groups and opposed by public defenders and sex worker advocates who raised concerns about racial disparities and enforcement harms; it also passed out on a vote. Later, SB 1395, extending criminal protective orders for certain felony sex offenses against minors up to 20 years, and SB 1230, increasing penalties for repeat illegal dumping, were both heard with mixed testimony and were held on call after committee votes. The committee also adopted a consent calendar and several bills were moved forward with amendments.

Bills: SB2969, SB3263, SB2602, SB3229, SB3199, SB2550, SB2877, SB3325, SB2024, SB2614, SB2613, SB3063, SB2319, SB2800, SB2892, SB2321, SB2407, SB2805, SB2153, SB2595, SB2781, SB3233, SB2360, SB1432, SB2543, SB2599, SB3053, SB2001, SB2041, SB3247, SB3253, SB2401, SB2673, SB3067, SB411, SB2934, SB3219, SB2919, SB2239, SB2532, SB2601, SB1032, SB2446, SB2152, SB2721, SB3076, SB3140, SB2671, SB2338, SB2268, SB99, SB2930, SB3069, SB3096, SB3097, SB3090, SB2060, SB3028, SB2544, SB2069, SB2552, SB3218, SB3022, SB148, SB2259, SB2578, SB2928, SB2816, SB2580

Keywords: SB2969, Maui wildfire, Maui wildfires, wildfire exposure, Maui Health Registry, University of Hawaii, public health, biomonitoring, medical screening, mental health services, trauma recovery, disaster recovery, first responders, kupuna, children's health, medically vulnerable, environmental exposure, toxic exposure, respiratory illness, community health

Transcript Highlights:

• Electronic benefits transfer cards used by or for recipients of benefits under assistance programs.
• Paxson, there being 8 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 present not voting.

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs considered a series of pending bills, most of them related to elections, public funds, criminal penalties, and related regulatory issues. The committee reported favorably several measures, including SB 1183 on electronic benefits transfer cards, SB 506 on ballot proposition procedures and conflicts with petition measures, SB 2742 on electioneering and unlawful use of public funds for political advertising, SB 1540 on confidentiality of personal information for election officials and employees, SB 2225 on a spirit cooler certificate, SB 2284 on regulation of air guns and archery equipment, SB 2595 on masking while harassing or intimidating, SB 3031 on aggravated assault, SB 2217 on election reporting technical corrections, SB 2514 on a criminal penalty increase tied to a DPS-related measure, SB 2876 on riot participation while masked, and SB 2877 on election fraud penalties. Several of these bills were also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar without objection. The committee adopted committee substitutes for SB 506, SB 2742, SB 2595, SB 2217, and SB 2514. The substitutes made mostly technical or clarifying changes, including giving the Secretary of State one opportunity to rewrite misleading ballot language, preventing conflicting measures from appearing on the same ballot, converting certain mask-related exemptions into affirmative defenses, clarifying election reporting language, and increasing a penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony in SB 2514. SB 2742’s substitute was described as a council draft with no real substantive changes. Votes were generally favorable, with most bills passing on unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls. SB 1183, SB 2742, SB 2225, SB 3031, and SB 2877 each had one nay; SB 2753 passed with 8 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 present not voting; and the remaining measures reported out unanimously. After completing the agenda, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think in this case, the city council voted the project down, that they no longer wanted to pursue it
• They've submitted their application electronically to the counties, but what's happening is counties
• They've submitted their application electronically to the counties, but what's happening is counties
• They've submitted their application electronically to the counties, but what's happening is counties
• They've submitted their application electronically to the counties, but what's happening is counties

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The library pays for key electronic resources for users within the Capitol complex.
• The library pays for key electronic resources for users within the Capitol complex.
• The library pays for key electronic resources for users within the Capitol complex.
• The library pays for key electronic resources for users within the Capitol complex.
• subscriptions or purchases of electronic subscriptions or purchases of electronic resources<01:05

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• government electronic duck stamps. government electronic duck stamps.
• >> The chairman votes yes. >> The chairman votes yes.
• voice vote on the floor. voice vote on the floor.
• voted it through. It passed both houses. voted it through. It passed both houses.
• Voted against.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Mani Hiltsley votes I. >> Mani Hiltsley votes I.
• for a green vote. Thank you. for a green vote. Thank you.
• a no vote at this time. a no vote at this time.
• >> please vote green. >> please vote green.
• >> Mani Hiltsley votes I. >> Mani Hiltsley votes I.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House first took up Senate File 334, a bill to modernize county human services technology used to administer programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. The author and several members described the current systems as outdated “green screen” platforms that are slow, duplicative, and difficult for workers and applicants, and argued modernization would improve service, retention, and fraud prevention. The bill would create a technology modernization fund with about $90 million over time, capped at $50 million, route funds through Minute, establish an interagency group with county representation, create a legislative working group, and provide $15 million for Office of Inspector General technology. Members from several counties spoke in strong support, citing local system failures, cyberattacks, and the need for better tools; one member noted the bill was about 20 years overdue. The bill passed third reading by a vote of 134-0, and a title was agreed to. The House then considered Senate File 4401, the cannabis bill. The author described it as a maintenance and cleanup package developed with more than 80 stakeholders over months of meetings, including business owners, labor, tribal representatives, and medical cannabis interests. The bill was presented as making noncontroversial adjustments to support small businesses, clarify statutes, improve privacy protections, adjust event and transporter rules, address good-faith errors, strengthen enforcement against unlicensed operators, and support local governments and municipal cannabis dispensaries. It also included a first step toward a medical psilocybin program and changes intended to make the medical cannabis market more sustainable, including easing the grow-and-sale ratio issue. The transcript cuts off before final action on this bill, but members speaking in support emphasized collaboration and the need for practical regulatory fixes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vote no on this. Thank you. Members, questions? Representative Morgan. Thank you, Chairman.
• I think that this legislature cares a lot about data privacy from the votes that I've seen.
• vote as far as discrimination is a pretty broad term.
• I urge you to vote no on this bill. Thank you. Thank you. Members, any questions?
• I could click it, sign it, and you could then electronically transfer my money.

Bills: HB712, HB722, HB946, HB1687, HB1809, HB1899, HB2528, HB2583, HB2741, HB2750, HB3021, HB3150, HB3265, HB3658, HB3812, HB3960, HB4392, HB4432

Keywords: prostate cancer, health benefit plans, insurance coverage, cost sharing, preventive health care, auto insurance, total loss evaluation, disclosure, insurance materials, vehicle appraisal, HB 946, Texas Insurance Code, automobile insurance claims, oral release, written release, settlement agreement, claim release, property damage, bodily injury, psychological injury

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, but he can't vote. And counsel, if we get into an issue here, will we have to?
• It'll be a two-to vote, and we could roll it into the next meeting, which will be in April.
• I believe it's a two-to vote, so it does not Actually, it does not need a majority of the vote.
• Yeah, then would you like to have that the vote?
• That's where you vote on each incentive evaluation recommendation.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SILENCE ELECTRONIC DEVICES PLEASE.
• CHAIR HOOPER. >> Chair: YES BY YOUR VOTE SENATE BILL 1906 IS REPORTED FAVORABLY.
• YOU JUST VOTED ON A BILL TO TAKE $250 MILLION A YEAR OUT.
• SO FOR ALL THOSE REASONS I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE.
• BY YOUR VOTE SBR 1908 IS REPORTED FAVORABLY. LET'S TURN THIS BACK OVER TO CHAIR HOOPER. I'M SORRY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, we can do a unanimous vote. We can do a voice vote.
• Oh, let's do a voice vote. Move it along. All those in favor of the extension, please say aye. Aye.
• But what they would have to do is bring a system in which they can pay electronically, they can receive
• electronically, and they have to verify that through geofencing that the individual is in the state
• people out there that will use any type of travel against us or missing a meeting, missing a floor vote

Summary: The committee approved the March 12, 2026 minutes and granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rule changes tied to House Bill 1620/1622, which concern North Dakota’s entry into the physician assistant licensure compact. The Board said it is waiting on compact rules, especially fee structures, before finalizing its own rules. The committee then took up extensive Office of Management and Budget personnel rule revisions, covering salary administration, recruitment, leave policies, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR practices and implement recent legislation, including new hire leave and enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions; the committee raised concerns about the subjectivity and fairness of the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but no action was taken against the rules. The North Dakota Lottery presented emergency and regular rule changes, including updates tied to the Millionaire for Life game and miscellaneous clarifications. The Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology described rule updates that add speech-language pathology assistants to the rules, ease continuing education requirements for out-of-state applicants, expand temporary licensure, and clarify supervision standards. The State Electrical Board reviewed numerous code updates, including changes to electrical and fire alarm standards, receptacle labeling, countertop receptacles, and a major new conveyance/elevator inspection program added by the Legislature; the board said it is preparing to begin inspections by August 1. The Industrial Commission’s Geological Survey Division presented new rules implementing House Bill 1459 on critical minerals in coal-bearing formations, including permit, reporting, confidentiality, and royalty-related provisions. The committee asked about confidentiality of exploration data and drilling depth. The Public Employees Retirement System outlined rule changes implementing several bills affecting defined benefit, public safety, defined contribution, insurance, deferred compensation, and retiree health credit programs, and noted possible future proposals to add state EMS or create a LOSAP-style plan. The Department of Health and Human Services presented substance use disorder voucher rules implementing House Bill 1012, including allowing individuals to apply directly and setting reimbursement procedures; the rules were expected to have a $250,000 general fund impact already included in the budget. The longest discussion involved the Gaming Commission rules. Members questioned whether the commission had authority to raise poker tournament buy-ins from $300 to $1,500, viewing it as an expansion of gaming rather than a mere clarification. After debate, the committee voted to void that specific rule section for lack of statutory authority. The rest of the gaming rules covered higher raffle limits from House Bill 1192, the change from “bar” to “alcoholic beverage establishment,” veterans’ organization proceeds, credit ticket voucher kiosks, online raffles, and advertising restrictions; the presenter said several public comments led to revisions or withdrawals of proposed language. The meeting ended with discussion of upcoming Ethics Commission travel-reporting rules and scheduling the next committee meeting in September.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, we can do a unanimous vote. We can do a voice vote.
• Seeing none, do you have to do a roll call for—oh, let's do a voice vote. Move it along.
• But what they would have to do is bring a system in which they can pay electronically, they can receive
• electronically, and they have to verify that through geofencing that the individual is in the state
• people out there that will use any type of travel against us or missing a meeting, missing a floor vote

Summary: The Administrative Rules Committee met on June 11 and first approved the March 12, 2026 minutes by voice vote. It then granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rules tied to recent legislation, including North Dakota’s participation in the physician assistant licensure compact and a new physician nutrition continuing education requirement. The Board said it was waiting on compact rules and fee information before finalizing its own changes. The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the Office of Management and Budget on broad personnel rule revisions, including salary administration, recruitment, leave, sick leave, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR language and implement recent legislation such as enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions and new hire leave. Members questioned the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but OMB and counsel said those standards come from statute, not the rules. The committee also heard and accepted rule packages from the Lottery, the Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, the State Electrical Board, the Industrial Commission, PERS, and Health and Human Services, with each agency describing mostly technical, clarifying, or statutory-conforming changes and noting the public notice and comment process. The most significant action came during the Gaming Commission rules presentation. After questioning whether the commission had authority to raise the poker tournament buy-in limit from $300 to $1,500, members moved to void Section 99-01.3-09-01 on the ground that the agency lacked statutory authority for that change. The motion passed on a roll call vote. The committee also discussed several gaming-related issues, including online raffles, kiosk use, advertising restrictions, and the broader policy question of whether charities should be allowed to own bars, but took no further formal action on those topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I'm looking at this request and I'm going to have to vote on your budget and right now I can't
• They work as gardeners and we have the right, yes, to talk to domestic workers. day, I will vote all
• We launched electronic questionnaire for unemployment.
• I actually think once we vote on this budget proposal, Second Chance Employer Fund.
• DWC Electronic Education Management System or EAMS. Any comments. Anybody from the public.

Keywords: 988, house, all