Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, Chair Members, Caheyne Morton Deputy Treasurer Office of State Treasurer Fiona Ma.
• As an educator, I believe deeply... ...teachers, but for the future generations that we teach.
• LAUSD responded perfectly and adopted the model guidelines that the Attorney General had put forward
• On behalf of Generation Up, I respectfully urge your aye vote on SB 334.
• We always talk about the next generation being the future.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard a series of bills focused largely on school safety, immigrant student protections, Holocaust and genocide education, civic engagement, and workforce pathways. SB 631 would expand the charter school revolving loan fund by increasing loan amounts and broadening eligibility, including for charter schools affected by natural disasters; it drew support from the Treasurer’s Office and the California Charter Schools Association and was advanced on a 4-0 vote, with the bill held on call. SB 472 would reinforce Holocaust, slavery, and genocide education requirements and create or expand teacher training and grants; it received strong support from survivors, educators, and Jewish organizations and passed 6-0, with several members asking to be added as coauthors. The committee also took up a package of immigration-related school bills. SB 48 would bar school officials from allowing immigration enforcement access to campuses without a judicial warrant and protect student records; it was backed by Superintendent Tony Thurmond, teachers, school districts, and many advocacy groups, and passed 5-0 to the Judiciary Committee. SB 98 would require K-12 schools and higher education institutions to notify campus communities when immigration enforcement is present; it also drew broad support from student groups, colleges, and education organizations and passed 3-0 to Higher Education, with the bill held on call. Both measures were presented as responses to recent immigration enforcement activity near schools and the chilling effect on attendance and student well-being. Other measures advanced included SB 848, which would strengthen protections against employee sexual misconduct in schools by updating safety plans, training, reporting, and misconduct tracking; it was supported by education groups and a survivor who described grooming at her high school, and passed 6-0 to Public Safety. SB 638 would create a statewide coordinating entity for education and workforce programs and support career pathways, with testimony emphasizing the need to align fragmented funding and improve access for underserved communities; it passed 7-0 to Higher Education. SB 316, on high school voter registration and pre-registration, passed 8-0 to Elections after testimony from students and civic engagement advocates, and SB 334, which would add sexual harassment prevention content and a Sexual Harassment Safety Week to school curriculum, was presented with support from student advocates and AAUW, with no opposition noted in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• With us from the House Republican Caucus are House Republican Deputy Leader Chris Corey of the 15th District
• As John mentioned, I'm Deputy Republican Leader Chris Corey.
• position of the Republican caucuses in both chambers, that the statements by the governor and the Attorney
• General are escalating tensions?
• I'm told it can generate more than $700 million a year for education, both public and private.

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders used the media availability to argue that the Democratic majority is making Washington less affordable through new taxes and fees. They cited measures including a utility surcharge bill, expanded producer responsibility costs for clothing, a tire fee bill, proposed tobacco and pharmaceutical taxes, and speculation about an income tax, saying these would raise the cost of living and burden working families and small businesses. They also criticized a bill affecting initiative procedures, calling it an attack on direct democracy, and said Republicans would continue to oppose measures they view as adding costs or limiting voter input. A major portion of the discussion focused on immigration-related bills and public safety. Republicans condemned Governor Ferguson’s comments about events in Minnesota as inflammatory and said the incidents there should be investigated without political escalation. They also opposed a bill to restrict face coverings for federal immigration officers, arguing it would not be enforceable and would not affect federal law enforcement. Another bill they criticized would allow the state health department to fine the Northwest Detention Center if inspections are blocked; Republicans said the state lacks authority to regulate the federal government in that way. They also rejected a proposal to bar ICE agents hired under the second Trump administration from future law enforcement jobs in Washington, saying it was political messaging and inconsistent with the state’s public safety needs. The caucuses also discussed several other bills and policy areas. They said they were generally supportive of restoring College Bound and Washington College Grants funding for private nonprofit colleges, but only if done through the budget without new taxes. They backed a proposal to increase accountability and reporting for nonprofit organizations involved in state programs, citing concerns about fraud in mortgage assistance and other state programs. On a housing bill that would limit local enforcement of anti-camping ordinances, House Republicans said the measure was delayed for further work and that cities were worried about implementation and liability. In closing, Republicans said they would keep pushing solutions centered on affordability, transparency, and public safety while continuing to oppose what they described as politically driven bills from the majority.

Transcript Highlights:

• General to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the laws of this state.
• Under the Texas Constitution, the office of the Attorney General is in the executive branch and under
• The attorneys are in the judicial branch.
• Our governor served as the Attorney General of the state of Texas for 12 years.
• That's one side of it, a lot of generalities.

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1004 by Toth relating to the duty of the Attorney General to prosecute certain criminal offenses,
• Security Public Safety and Veterans Affairs, HB 1025 by Shaheen, relating to the appointment of the General
• General for Education to the creation of a division for the Inspector General for the Education and the
• And implementation of the General Land Office of a distributed ledger based title registry pilot programmer
• AB 1050 by derazio relating to the award of an attorney fees in certain suits involving a groundwater

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:33.600><c> chief</c> that the salary for the deputy chief that the salary for the deputy chief
• </c><00:32:19.840><c> plans,</c> land use, comprehensive general plans, land use, comprehensive general
• It also requires the department to brief the General Assembly.
• </c> uh specify committees of the general uh specify committees of the general assembly<00:37:26.079>
• General.

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, journalized the prayer, and recognized Read Across America Day with a special resolution congratulating the Maryland State Education Association on the program’s 28th anniversary. Senators also welcomed several guests and student groups, including Eleanor Roosevelt High School students, Maryland Federation of Republican Women members for Red Scarf Day, medical shadows from Johns Hopkins, a student page prospect, and a group from Matthew Henson Elementary School. The chamber then took up multiple Finance Committee consent calendars and individual local alcohol-related bills, all of which were reported favorably, adopted without objection, and ordered printed for third reading. Measures included changes to alcohol license fee refunds for uniformed service members, Anne Arundel County license classifications and compensation for liquor board officials, a Baltimore City racetrack license extension, a Cecil County license quota change, and new or expanded licenses for golf courses, sports venues, and barber shop/beauty salon establishments. The Senate also advanced bills on social work licensing, a rural readiness economic development program, a Maryland-Ireland Trade Commission extension, peer-to-peer car sharing insurance rules, telematics-based auto insurance disclosures and appeals, and veteran status notation on public profiles. Several bills were amended before being advanced, generally with technical or clarifying changes and no recorded opposition. Senate Bill 18 would create a provisional social work license; Senate Bill 351 would regulate insurer use of vehicle telematics data; Senate Bill 395 would revise insurance and liability rules for peer-to-peer car sharing; and Senate Bill 197 would alter comprehensive plan elements in land use law. Senate Bill 439, protecting fire and rescue public safety employees from adverse action based on medical cannabis certification, also moved forward without amendment. One measure, Senate Bill 69, which would make permanent the nonprofit navigator position in the Department of Commerce, was discussed at length after a member raised concerns about oversight of nonprofit grant funding. On request, the bill was special ordered to the next day for further consideration. All other bills discussed in the transcript were advanced to third reading by unanimous or near-unanimous voice action, with no recorded roll-call votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:36.959><c> year</c> attorney general in SB583 last year attorney general in SB583 last year
• , Deputy Attorney General Kevin Tong with comments.
• </c> attorney general. attorney general. &gt;&gt; Not<01:23:02.480><c> on</c><01:23:02.719><c> Zoom.
• c><01:23:07.679><c> General</c> &gt;&gt; Good afternoon, Deputy Attorney General &gt;&gt; Good afternoon
• , Deputy Attorney General Kevin<01:23:08.239><c> Tong</c><01:23:08.639><c> with</c><01:23:08.960><c>

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The committee first heard SB 2627, which would exempt Hawaii Tourism Authority contracts and agreements for sports projects, events, and related marketing from the state procurement code and other competitive bidding requirements. HTA, DBEDT, and the State Procurement Office testified in support or with comments, while one individual offered general support for sports tourism. Senators focused on narrowing the bill so the exemption would apply more specifically to sports-related projects and marketing, rather than broad marketing activities, and discussed whether the bill should require notice to the State Procurement Office or approval by the chief procurement officer. Procurement officials said a reporting requirement would be the most expeditious option, while still allowing post-event monitoring and public posting of exemptions. Members also discussed whether the exemption should be limited to situations involving sole-source sports entities, such as major leagues or international sports organizations, to better justify bypassing procurement rules. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion provided, but members and testifiers agreed to continue working on the language. The hearing then moved to SB 2074 relating to state facilities and naming rights for the Aloha Stadium and Hawaii Convention Center. The Stadium Authority, HTA, and DBEDT testified in support, while the Outdoor Circle and other organizations opposed the measure. Opponents argued the bill could create fiscal and legal risk, echoing concerns raised in prior legislation and by the attorney general, and warned it would mark a major shift by treating public facilities as commercial branding opportunities. Supporters said naming rights could generate significant revenue to help fund the stadium project and reduce the burden on the state and developers. Senators questioned how signage would be handled, especially whether it would be exterior-facing or limited to inward-facing signage, and the Stadium Authority said it was willing to work with the Outdoor Circle on language that would preserve community aesthetics while allowing revenue generation. A senator cited a prior study estimating naming rights could bring in about $1.5 million per year over 20 years, and asked what that revenue would buy for the public; the Stadium Authority responded that it would help advance the project toward a larger, improved stadium. No final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• AI developers must report safety incidents to the Attorney General.
• AI developers must report safety incidents to the Attorney General, and the AG can bring civil penalties
• who's executed a power of attorney, as long as it authorizes the person who has a power of attorney to
• Attorneys General in four states, including Massachusetts, have filed lawsuits against crypto ATM operators
• In Washington, D.C., the Attorney General found that half of all deposits were flagged as fraud.

Transcript Highlights:

• With her is her Mohave County Chief Deputy Assessor, Darren Rasmussen. There they are out.
• SCR 1027, General Election Day All Offices. SCR 1029, Mine Inspector Four-Year Term.
• just wanted to state, make a statement concerning the reason why I introduced the bill asking the Attorney
• General to retract her dangerous, incomplete, confusing statement and resign.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the pledge of allegiance, and an electronic roll call showing 26 members present and four excused. The journal for January 29, 2026, was approved, and the chamber recognized Lucid Motors Day at the Capitol, highlighting the company’s Arizona operations, investment, and job creation. The Senate also received a gubernatorial nomination for Troy L. Campbell to the State Liquor Board, which was referred to the Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency. A large number of bills were introduced and read for the first time, covering topics such as commerce, E-Verify, municipal self-certification, voter registration text notices, immigration enforcement training, school eligibility and testing, campaign finance, vulnerable adults, temporary vehicle plates, tribal flags, water projects, public works apprenticeships, housing and water supply, special plates, controlled substances research, and election-related resolutions. One bill, SB 1429, was further referred to the Committee on Finance. The Senate also placed many measures on second reading, including bills on roads, labor and collective bargaining, tax relief, education data, assisted living, liquor policy, public pensions, housing, utilities, and election and redistricting proposals. The President noted that it was the final day to submit bills by the 5:00 p.m. deadline and announced upcoming caucus and committee meetings for February 3. During a personal privilege statement, the Majority Leader criticized the Attorney General’s recent remarks as dangerous and confusing, argued she should retract them, and said elected officials should lower the temperature around rhetoric that could contribute to violence. The Senate then adjourned by motion until Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• With her is her Mojave County Chief Deputy Assessor, Darren Rasmussen. There they are.
• SCR 1027, General Election Day All Offices. SCR 1029, Mine Inspector Four-Year Term.
• just wanted to state, make a statement concerning the reason why I introduced the bill asking the Attorney
• General to retract her dangerous, incomplete, confusing statement and resign.

Transcript Highlights:

• Generally speaking, punitive damages.
• Generally speaking, punitive damages are not the default rule.
• I'm the deputy director of Washington Bikes.
• of pocket, and there is no restraint. on what a plaintiff's attorney could ask for in attorney fees.
• They're able to determine who should pay attorney fees.

Summary: The House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on HB 2095, which would create training requirements for law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges on negligent driving involving vulnerable users of public ways, and would establish a rebuttable presumption of negligence in certain civil claims when a vulnerable user is injured or killed in a protected area such as a sidewalk, crosswalk, bike lane, or similar designated space. Staff explained that the bill also allows recovery of actual damages, statutory damages, attorney’s fees and costs, and, in limited circumstances, punitive damages if the defendant has previously injured or killed three or more vulnerable road users. Members questioned the unusual nature of punitive damages, the burden-shifting presumption, the three-incident threshold, and whether the education component was tied to the bill’s purpose. The prime sponsor said the training is meant to improve reporting and understanding of existing vulnerable-road-user laws, and said the bill was intended to narrow liability to protected areas and could be amended further, including on the punitive-damages threshold. Supporters, including a widow whose husband was killed while bicycling, Washington Bikes, trial attorneys, a bicycle commuter advocate, and a physician, argued the bill would better protect pedestrians and cyclists, improve police reporting, and reduce the burden on injured people and families who currently must prove negligence after serious crashes. They said the presumption would encourage safer driving and align Washington with similar frameworks used elsewhere. Opponents, including defense lawyers, the Association of Washington Cities, the Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, the Washington Trucking Associations, and the Washington Liability Reform Coalition, said the bill would expand litigation, create uninsurable risks through fee shifting and punitive damages, and could draw cities, businesses, and taxpayers into lawsuits. Some opponents also urged narrowing the bill to individuals and clarifying the protected areas and training requirements. No vote was taken; the chair closed the hearing and encouraged follow-up and amendment requests before executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've brought with me my executive deputy director, Anniengle, our CFO, Brandy Bain.
• They assess their needs, and either they get, generally speaking, the levels of care vary.
• The district attorney argued against people going in.
• I've explained the additional attorneys.
• For example, the district attorneys council, etc.

Committee: House A&B Judiciary Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• General for a ballot title and summary.
• Attorney General for a ballot title and summary.
• And the countless hours of staff work that was going into it by both the Attorney General's office, my
• I'm the deputy director of Fuse Washington, the state's largest progressive political organization.
• I'm the deputy director of Fuse Washington, the state's largest progressive political organization.

Bills: HJR4209 , HB2260 , HB2259

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: redistricting, congressional representation, census, state law, legislative boundaries, ballot measures, petitioners, signature gatherers, voting rights, election integrity, initiative process, referendum, signature gathering, ballot measure, citizen actions, support demonstration

Transcript Highlights:

• The trades ready and understanding and seeing that next generation get ready.
• With this, I'm going to turn it over to my partner, Deputy Program Administrator Ray Mabee.
• And if the bridge lifts are generally reduced, that has a positive impact on truck and car traffic.
• I'm the deputy assistant administrator for the IBR program.
• Greg, we're partners along with all of our other deputy managers, and they have been fabulous.

Committee: Joint Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee

Summary: The Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee met for a work session and public hearing on the Interstate 5 bridge replacement program. Program staff outlined major milestones, including the recent biological opinion, the Coast Guard’s opening of a public comment period on the Navigation Impact Report, expected decisions in early 2026 on navigational clearance and the final supplemental environmental impact statement, and a possible amended record of decision in 2026. They also discussed the Bridge Investment Program grant amendment deadline, the need for an initial finance plan, and ongoing community outreach and contractor engagement. Greg Johnson announced he was stepping down as program administrator, and Carly Francis introduced herself as interim administrator. A large portion of the meeting focused on design and cost questions. Staff said the program is studying fixed and movable spans, single- and double-deck configurations, and one versus two auxiliary lanes, with final recommendations to be made through the federal environmental process. They said the Coast Guard’s decision is central to what bridge configuration is permittable and to the timing of the updated cost estimate, which has not yet been released. Members pressed for more detail on cost drivers, potential impacts to businesses upriver, and whether the states would need to seek additional funding. Staff said they had reached agreements with four impacted river users, but the underlying evaluation materials are protected and not publicly releasable. The committee also reviewed transit-related questions. Staff explained that light rail remains part of the modified locally preferred alternative and that ridership and operations estimates are being updated using federal modeling methods. They said projected opening-day transit operations and maintenance costs have dropped from an earlier estimate of $21.8 million to about $10.3 million annually because the current model assumes lower frequency, with Oregon and Washington shares split by geography and fare recovery. Members raised concerns about TriMet’s financial stability and the need for a funding plan by fall 2027, ahead of a planned federal transit funding application in fall 2028. During public testimony, several speakers criticized the delay in releasing a new cost estimate and argued the project scope should be reduced if costs continue to rise. Testifiers from City Observatory and the Just Crossing Alliance said the project appears to be avoiding bad news, urged the committee to consider scope reductions, and questioned whether the active transportation and freeway components align with the project’s core purpose. The meeting ended with thanks to Johnson for his service and a transition to public hearing testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Marissa, deputy commissioner. Yeah. Marissa, deputy commissioner. Yeah.
• We we we generally frame it as state.
• </c> picked up by state general funds. picked up by state general funds.
• general funds has not increased. So the general funds has not increased.
• </c><03:26:03.760><c> I</c> general um thoughts on the matter. I general um thoughts on the matter.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it the world in general?
• </c> &gt;&gt; the world in general? &gt;&gt; the world in general? &gt;&gt; Okay. &gt;&gt; Okay.
• </c><00:57:15.839><c> general</c><00:57:16.319><c> of</c><00:57:16.720><c> New</c> looked at the attorney
• general of New looked at the attorney general of New Hampshire<00:57:17.280><c> and</c><00:57:17.440
• </c> can go ahead with legal in our attorneys can go ahead with legal in our attorneys and<04:43:10.000

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I just wanted to talk about a pattern that I see generally coming from this body, and that's, you
• generally coming from this<00:08:57.120><c> body</c> this body this body and<00:08:58.440><c> that's
• And an an an attorney to navigate.
• <00:18:13.760><c> the</c> attorney who's familiar with the attorney who's familiar with the process.
• </c> next generation of Vermonters. next generation of Vermonters.

Transcript Highlights:

• , their criminal defense attorneys, and/or immigration attorneys to review any potential immigration
• I am the district attorney of Modoc County.
• I'm here on behalf of the California District Attorneys Association.
• Aaron Friday, attorney and president of Our Duty.
• Good morning, Nina Salernam, Modoc County District Attorney, on behalf of the California District Attorneys

Committee: House Public Safety

Summary: The Assembly Public Safety Committee met to consider several Senate bills, first adopting a five-bill consent calendar that included measures on missing and murdered Indigenous persons, peace officers, prison clearances, and related public safety topics. SB 221 by Senator Ochoa-Bogh was pulled from the agenda for later consideration. The committee then heard SB 281 by Senator Perez, which would require judges to use the exact statutory immigration-consequences advisement for noncitizen defendants. Supporters said the bill would restore consistency and avoid confusion, while district attorneys warned it could create plea-withdrawal problems and sought amendments; the bill was held on call after a split vote. The committee next heard SB 337 by Senator Menjivar, a broad prison-safety bill focused on women’s prisons, including documentation of searches, body-camera rules, grievance timelines, hiring restrictions for staff with violent or sexual convictions, and stronger oversight of investigations. Supporters said it would improve transparency and protect incarcerated people from abuse; opposition testimony focused largely on transgender inmate placement and was criticized by members as not germane. The bill passed 9-0 to Appropriations. SB 379 by Senator Jones, which would add Department of State Hospitals oversight to sexually violent predator conditional release placements, also passed to Appropriations after support from law enforcement and district attorney groups and opposition from criminal justice advocates. Later, SB 734 by Senator Caballero passed to Appropriations. It would give law enforcement officers due process protections when findings from California Racial Justice Act hearings are later used in employment or decertification proceedings. Supporters argued officers should have notice and a chance to defend themselves, while the bill was presented as not changing defendants’ CRJA rights. Finally, SB 551 by Senator Cortese, which would codify normalization and dynamic security principles in corrections policy to promote rehabilitation and safer prison conditions, passed to Appropriations despite objections that prisons should remain punitive. The committee adjourned after updating vote records and announced its next hearing would be July 1 in Room 126.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm tired of being attacked by the attorney general.
• </c> post on X from South Carol attorney post on X from South Carol attorney general<04:01:44.800><c>
• </c> outlined in my speech and my attorney outlined in my speech and my attorney general<04:02:28.760
• general Allan Wilson floor my attorney general Allan Wilson and<04:02:34.840><c> I'm</c><04:02:34.920
• I'm tired of being attacked by the attorney general.

Bills: HR758 , HR856 , HR153 , HR872 , HB1515

Keywords: fencing, youth development, underserved communities, athletics, Peter Westbrook, scholarships, academic achievement, SNAP, nutrition assistance, contingency funds, government shutdown, hunger prevention, vulnerable populations, federal funding, condolences, aviation safety, transportation disaster, victims support, first responders, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here today with my colleague Dan Murdoch, who is the Deputy District 7th Director of Rightaway in
• And I'm Danny Yost, the Assistant Deputy Director of Legislation at Caltrans, and that's our opening
• And to know that there's now three generations of my family that have been talking about this issue,
• Do you know how many lawsuits Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed against the President of the United
• And in fact, here we're talking about not even general taxpayer dollars.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee because quorum was initially lacking, and the state auditor gave an update on his office’s workload, including several JALAC audits in progress, other statutory audits, staffing growth, and capacity to begin additional audits. Members also announced that one audit request on Prop. 28 was being held and that the PUC request would be moved off consent for presentation. After quorum was later established, the committee took up and approved several audit requests, including the DMV license revocation audit on consent, the CPUC utility interconnection timeliness audit, and the Caltrans SR 710 extension project audit. The fusion centers audit was approved on call, while the Orange County Board of Education audit was still being discussed when the transcript ended. Senator Cervantes presented the fusion centers audit request, arguing that California’s fusion centers operate with little public oversight and may collect, share, and retain sensitive information without adequate legal authority, privacy protections, or accountability. Supporters, including former FBI agent Mike German and an ACLU representative, said the centers function as opaque intelligence-sharing hubs and have a history of inaccurate or biased reporting. The state auditor said the audit would examine the State Threat Assessment Center and two local fusion centers, focusing on oversight, legal authority, data quality, disclosure controls, use of private vendors, funding, and performance metrics, while noting possible access and public disclosure limits because of intelligence-related information. The request drew sharp criticism from one member, who called it politicized and unnecessary, but it ultimately advanced on call. Senator Allen’s CPUC audit request focused on the commission’s enforcement of Rule 21 interconnection timelines for customer-sited solar and storage projects. Supporters said utilities routinely miss deadlines, causing delays and added costs for schools, nonprofits, businesses, and homeowners, while CPUC staff said the commission has public reporting, workshops, and an active proceeding to address the issue. The auditor said the review would examine CPUC monitoring, enforcement tools, and data on why utilities struggle to comply, estimating about 3,500 hours of work. The committee approved the request after discussion about whether an audit or legislative oversight would be the best tool. Senator Perez and Assembly Member Fong presented the Caltrans 710 corridor audit request, describing tenant complaints about mold, pests, deferred maintenance, inconsistent pricing, unclear communications, and delays in the affordable sales program created under the Roberti Act. Caltrans said it had completed many sales, was moving additional properties, and remained committed to transparency and compliance. The auditor said the review would examine whether Caltrans is complying with the Roberti Act, how it sets affordable prices, appraisal and appeal practices, communications with buyers, rent accounting, property maintenance, and follow-up on prior audit recommendations. The committee also heard Senator Umberg’s request to audit the Orange County Board of Education over transparency, contracting, litigation spending, charter oversight, and whistleblower issues; supporters argued the board’s actions warranted scrutiny, while board representatives said there was no factual basis for an audit and that complaints, enforcement actions, and legal challenges were minimal or absent.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a little better package for the attorney." Well, all right. Good afternoon.
• Oh, are these, is it a mix of federal and general fund for these?
• Some of these are all general funds. Some are federal, some are other.
• I do have a general fund and other fund breakout at the bottom.
• My deputy commissioner, Emily O'Brien, is right behind me.

Summary: The committee was called to order, the roll was taken, and the March 18 minutes were approved. Members then received several project and program updates, beginning with CHI St. Alexius’s behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks. St. Alexius reported that the Bismarck project remains on track for June 2027 completion, with demolition underway and final design work nearing completion. Williston reported construction is progressing, staffing recruitment is underway for psychiatrists and other staff, and an air handler replacement is creating a roughly $750,000 unbudgeted barrier that will slightly delay the timeline. Grand Forks reported its expansion is about 30% complete, with no major barriers beyond weather, and leaders said the project should be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2027. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented a series of budget and program updates. Donna Ockland explained several recent line-item transfers as technical corrections that net to zero and do not require new spending, then reviewed salaries, wages, and FTE counts, noting the department remains within its authorized staffing levels. Pat Rainer followed with an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying 12 opportunities have been posted, 422 applications received, and $8.4 million obligated so far, with a goal of obligating the full $199 million by September. He described grants for workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community gardens, school wellness, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, equipment, technology, EMS, and other initiatives, emphasizing that the program is intended to be transformational and tied to metrics. Members asked extensive questions about how rural eligibility is defined, how grants will support both rural facilities and hub hospitals, and how future years of funding will build on current awards. The committee also heard an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller, who said North Dakota has been accepted as a demonstration state, implementation is underway in Williston, North Central/Minot, Fargo, and Dickinson, and care coordination and service counts are increasing. Rebecca Askins then reviewed SNAP payment error rates, saying the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89%, with the state aiming to get below 6% through policy updates, training, data tools, and a quality assurance team. Members pressed her on the causes of the error rate, the role of the SPACES software system, and the need for accountability and improvements. Finally, Dirk Wilkie reported the state laboratory project reached substantial completion on June 12 and is on budget at about $69.95 million, though a service elevator had to be redesigned because it was too small for equipment.