Transcript Highlights:

• So you're not getting general damages or even lost wages.
• So, taking the median labor costs of Louisiana, a fare is 225 percent of the state's median hourly wage
• UM also, as you know, provides some other benefits as far as lost wages... and Uber's policy, to my knowledge
• UM also, as you know, provides some other benefits as far as lost wages, all-a-all-a-all-all-a-all-all-a-old
• UM also, as you know, provides some other benefits as far as lost wages, all of those things that a driver

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We go and we create another increase with the wage.
• That means that our local law enforcement will now be competing with those wages, which has an indirect
• our local law enforcement and for our sheriffs and for our chiefs of police to go and increase the wage
• And for our sheriffs and for our chiefs of police to go and increase the wages for everybody else across
• They need this wage to retain the current troopers they have and maybe even recruit some in.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the journal and received several communications, including substitute-member appointments and committee reports on pending administrative rules. The House State Affairs and Resources and Conservation committees recommended approval of most agency rules, with some exceptions and one rejection for inconsistency with legislative intent. The chamber also received gubernatorial and Senate messages transmitting and signing numerous bills, and it concurred in several Senate amendments to House bills, including HB 730, HB 928, HB 758, and HB 822. The main floor action focused on suspending rules to take up memorials and bills. House Joint Memorial 22, concerning wildlife and pelican impacts on fisheries, was adopted after debate emphasizing fish losses and asking for federal compensation. HB 957, a Department of Water Resources code-cleanup bill, and SB 1396, repealing an inactive Pacific Fisheries Task Force provision, both passed. HB 948, directing LSO to help produce an annual revenue estimate, passed 61-4. HB 967, providing $4 million for Idaho State Police pay raises by shifting some liquor-account revenue, passed 50-18 after debate over impacts on counties, cities, and property taxes. The House also passed HB 959, a property-tax measure for fire and EMS districts that raises the cap for those districts and changes how new construction is calculated, after extensive debate on property-tax relief and local impacts. On the Senate side, SB 1435, the Health and Welfare maintenance budget, passed; SB 1401, a public health enhancement bill, failed 30-36; SB 1429, the behavioral health enhancement budget, passed 39-27; SB 1431, the Water Resources enhancement budget, passed 48-18; SB 1389, addressing liability for private polling locations, passed; SB 1391, a trailer bill adding surveyors to a property-rights/trespass measure, passed; and SJM 114, urging Congress to act on NIL in college athletics, was adopted by voice vote. The House also took up additional budget and trailer bills later in the day, including HB 964, HB 965, and HB 966, which passed, while continuing to process Senate amendments and committee referrals.

Transcript Highlights:

• We go and we create another increase with the wage.
• That means that our local law enforcement will now be competing with those wages, which has an indirect
• our local law enforcement and for our sheriffs and for our chiefs of police to go and increase the wages
• They need this wage to retain the current troopers they have and maybe even recruit some in.
• They need this wage to retain the current troopers they have and maybe even recruit some in.

Summary: The House convened with 68 members present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the House Journal. It also received communications appointing substitute legislators and committee reports on pending administrative rules, including recommendations to approve most rules while rejecting or partially rejecting a few dockets from State Affairs and Resources and Conservation. The chamber also received messages from the Governor and Senate listing numerous bills signed, enrolled, or transmitted for further action. The House then took up several measures on the second reading and motions calendar. It suspended rules and passed House Joint Memorial 22 on predatory birds after debate about pelican predation and fish losses, then passed House Bill 957 to repeal obsolete water-related code provisions, Senate Bill 1396 to repeal Idaho’s inactive participation in the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force, House Bill 948 to have LSO provide an annual revenue estimate, and House Bill 959 to adjust property tax/new growth rules for fire and EMS districts. House Bill 967, which would provide a $4 million pay increase for Idaho State Police troopers by shifting liquor-account revenues, passed after substantial debate over whether it was a necessary retention measure or an improper tax shift to counties and cities. Later, the House passed House Bill 964 for the Fish and Game budget, House Bill 965 moving historic preservation funding to a new office, House Bill 966 funding county reimbursement for out-of-state placement costs tied to absconders, Senate Bill 1435 for Health and Welfare maintenance appropriations, Senate Bill 1429 for behavioral health enhancements, Senate Bill 1431 for Water Resources enhancements, Senate Bill 1389 on liability protections for private polling locations, Senate Bill 1391 as a trailer bill on surveyors and property rights, and Senate Joint Memorial 114 urging congressional action on college athletics NIL issues. Senate Bill 1401 on public health enhancements failed 30-36 after debate over funding priorities and program changes. The House also concurred in Senate amendments to House Bills 730, 928, 758, and 822, and received additional bills and appropriations measures for first reading and committee referral before recessing and later resuming business.

Transcript Highlights:

• They were fighting against low wages. They were fighting against terrible working conditions.
• the farm workers by renaming this day as farm workers continue to fight dangerous conditions, low wages
• the farm workers by renaming this day as farm workers continue to fight dangerous conditions, low wages
• listen to her about no school for children, so they brought their children to the fields, about poverty wages
• We need to celebrate the wins for safer working conditions, fair wages, and strong unions, and that's

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our salaries and wages, the vacant FTE pool, operating expenses, our capital assets, grants,
• I think when you look at the jobs that are available in North Dakota, a lot of the jobs are lower wage-paying
• And so the service and the retail... [00:48:45.000] ...wage-paying jobs.
• The salaries and wages line, of course, is... ...information is in front of you.
• The salaries and wages line, of course, is right on track.

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division budget section and first reviewed the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s budget and program update. Legislative Council outlined the agency’s base budget and historical funding, and Housing Finance staff reported on homeownership lending, housing incentive fund (HIF) awards, and homeless grant spending. Agency officials said the five new FTEs approved last session are mostly filled, with one homeless program manager still open. They described strong demand for HIF, noting that September 2025 multifamily requests exceeded $73 million while only $25 million was available, and that single-family and homeless programs are also heavily subscribed. Members discussed the agency’s local loan servicing workload, interest-rate benefits, down payment assistance, and the need to coordinate housing discussions with Commerce and site-preparation efforts. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased, and committee members emphasized accountability and statewide access for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing funds. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and agency initiatives. Staff reported that the department is on track financially, that most of the five new reclamation-related FTEs are hired, and that litigation costs tied to oil and gas matters are expected to continue appearing late in the biennium. The director reviewed ongoing modernization and organizational efforts, including the North Star IT project, succession planning, training, and rulemaking for oil and gas and critical minerals. Members asked about longer laterals, spacing, and production trends; the department said operators are increasingly drilling three-, four-, and even an initial five-mile lateral, which is helping keep North Dakota oil production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. The director also discussed oil price volatility tied to Middle East conflict, hedging practices among producers, gas capture remaining around 95%, and the likelihood that current production levels will stay near flat unless prices or geopolitical conditions change significantly. An update on the enhanced oil recovery grant program followed. The Industrial Commission’s grant administrator said the full $25 million appropriation was allocated in the fall to six projects, and because the oil and gas research fund also had carryover and biennial tax revenue, total awards reached about $45.1 million. The projects are expected to run two to four years, with meaningful results not likely until mid-2026 or later. Members questioned whether the public would have access to the research findings and how accountability would be maintained; staff said the grants are reimbursement-based, require regular status reports, and will culminate in public final reports. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, which updated members on natural gas transmission projects, especially WBI Energy’s proposed Bakken East pipeline. The authority said the project has advanced through a nonbinding and then binding open season, with WBI now securing survey permissions and moving through regulatory and landowner processes, while other related gas transmission projects near Minot and Epping are also in development.

Transcript Highlights:

• For decades, renters have faced housing costs that rise faster than wages.
• But some folks earning low wages or on fixed incomes do struggle to afford both the cost of housing and
• But some folks earning<00:09:40.399><c> low</c><00:09:40.640><c> wages</c><00:09:40.959><c> or</c><00
• on</c><00:09:41.440><c> fixed</c><00:09:41.760><c> incomes</c><00:09:42.240><c> do</c> earning low wages
• or on fixed incomes do earning low wages or on fixed incomes do struggle<00:09:42.800><c> to</c><00:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The cost is their wages. I'm covering their wages.
• I'm covering their wages while they go to training, but more importantly, I'm covering overtime costs
• I can tell you my average officer on the street is about somewhere between $80,000 to $100,000 in wages
• you my average officer on the street is about, you know, somewhere between $80,000 to $100,000 in wages

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 626, which would require cities to collect county development impact fees for facilities such as courthouses and jails. Rep. Alfieri said the bill was intended to prevent cities from opting out of collecting fees the legislature already authorized, and county officials and the Idaho Association of Counties testified in support, describing lost revenue and growth-related infrastructure costs. The Association of Idaho Cities and a private attorney opposed the bill, arguing cities are separate sovereigns, the measure could be unconstitutional, and the issue should be handled through intergovernmental agreements rather than a mandate. After debate over fairness and constitutionality, a motion to hold the bill in committee failed and the committee voted to send HB 626 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 749, an annexation-related measure. Rep. Ehardt described the bill as a collaborative fix to problems faced by property owners, including large costs tied to forced annexation and utility hookups. The Hammonds testified about annexation expenses and uncertainty affecting their property, and the committee moved HB 749 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 659, which would require local and county law enforcement agencies to apply for 287(g) agreements with ICE and to explain any inability to do so. Rep. Hawkins said the bill was meant to help law enforcement cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and emphasized that it focused on jail-based models and applications for agreements. Supporters argued it would improve public safety and accountability, while sheriffs, police leaders, cities, and other opponents raised concerns about costs, staffing, state sovereignty, existing cooperation with ICE, publication of sensitive information, and possible conflicts with current law. Testimony continued from both sides, but no final committee action on HB 659 was shown in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• company such as mine will be less equipment, possibly, and slower hiring of union workers at family wages
• Yet the people doing this essential work are often paid poverty wages, and that is not right.
• Yet the people doing this essential work are often paid poverty wages, and that is not right.
• My wages haven't kept up, and neither has anyone else's.
• The millionaire's tax helps rebalance that burden so low-wage workers and families with young children

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the induced effects are from wages from employees in the direct and indirect effects spending in
• Madam Chair, Senator, the reason for that is there's additional data on the wages that were paid by some
• And so then in the years that they paid higher Higher wage amounts than that had a spillover effect to
• that again the next year; is that why taxes are kind of doing what they're doing on this when the wages
• We paid out $145 million in wages just in the last five years.

Transcript Highlights:

• But under SB 371, they could be left with hundreds of thousands in medical bills, lost wages, and long-term
• There's nothing that prevents algorithmic wage setting or surge pricing or anything that riders and drivers
• their employer steps in immediately to provide medical treatment and cash benefits to offset lost wages
• and then we would switch to temporary disability benefits, which is two-thirds of the average weekly wage
• They would be eligible for industrial disability retirement, which starts at 50% of your last wage and

Summary: The committee heard several insurance-related bills. SB 371 by Senator Cabaldon would lower uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage requirements for rideshare companies from the current $1 million level to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, with added transparency and data-reporting provisions. Uber, Lyft, and several business groups supported the bill as a way to reduce fares and improve affordability, while consumer attorneys, labor groups, and others opposed it as a major cut in protection for injured passengers and drivers. Committee members raised concerns about whether savings would actually reach riders and drivers, but the bill was approved on a do-pass vote to the next committee, with one member not voting. SB 487 by Senator Grayson would change how settlement or judgment proceeds are distributed when peace officers or firefighters are injured by a third party, ensuring they receive at least two-thirds of the at-fault party’s liability insurance limits in certain cases. Supporters, including public safety unions and an injured deputy sheriff, said current law can leave injured first responders with little or no recovery after employer reimbursement, while opponents representing cities, counties, and public agencies argued the bill would reduce recovery of taxpayer-funded workers’ compensation costs and lacked sufficient data. The committee members who spoke largely supported the bill, and it passed on a do-pass vote to Appropriations, with one member not voting. SB 616 by Senator Rubio would create an independent community hardening commission within the Department of Insurance to develop statewide wildfire mitigation recommendations and a post-catastrophe reporting process. The Department of Insurance, local governments, consumer groups, and fire-related organizations supported the measure as a way to improve wildfire resilience and insurance availability, while water agencies opposed provisions touching water infrastructure and warned of litigation and ratepayer impacts. The bill advanced on a do-pass vote to Appropriations, with some members not voting and one member voting no. The committee also heard SB 547 by Senator Perez, coauthored by Senator Rubio, which would extend wildfire-related insurance cancellation/nonrenewal moratoriums to commercial properties; insurers removed their opposition after amendments, and the bill passed to Appropriations on a do-pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is one of the highest-demand jobs we have across the state and a priority sector, high-wage, high-demand
• This is one of the highest-demand jobs we have across the state and a priority sector, high-wage, high-demand

Keywords: Finance - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 4:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if we look at salaries and wages, that increases the three and three state.
• So if we look at salaries and wages, that increases the three and three state.

Bills: SB2019, HB1369

Keywords: career education, funding, appropriation, technical training, workforce development, state aid, school funding, public improvement, construction loans, school district levies, boarding care costs, 908, all

Summary: The committee met to finalize and advance the Career and Technical Education budget in Engrossed Senate Bill 2019. Representative Richter walked through Amendment 2004, which included increases for salaries and wages, inflationary operating expenses, a $2.5 million federal grant increase, $12.7 million for secondary grant programs and related work-based learning support, a $100,000 increase for Marketplace for Kids, and removal of the STEM initiative and adult farm management from the CTE budget because that program funding was moved to the Department of Agriculture. The amendment also included $750,000 for workforce training branch office positions and set the total general fund appropriation at $64 million. Members also discussed a $1 million virtual reality career exploration item, which remained in the bill but was shifted to SIF one-time funding. A new $150,000 one-time general fund appropriation was added for CTE moving expenses because the agency must relocate after Legislative Council expands into its current space. Committee members noted that amount may need to be revisited in conference committee once more accurate relocation and rent costs are known. Levi from legislative staff explained that the exemption language in the bill applies to remaining coronavirus capital projects fund dollars for CTE center construction, allowing those federal funds to be spent before they expire. The committee adopted Amendment 2004 on a 5-0 roll call and then passed Engrossed Senate Bill 2019 as amended on a 5-0 roll call. Representative Richter was named the carrier, and the committee adjourned after noting that higher education and congressional budgets were the remaining items to resolve.

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails, and the minutes are adopted.
• ><c> passes,</c> Motion prevails, the amendment passes, Motion prevails, the amendment passes, and<00
• Motion prevails. The A1 is adopted. Representative O'Driscoll, to your bill as amended.
• Motion prevails and the bill is adopted. Expeditiously done. We already covered that.
• Motion prevails and the bill is nay.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• when there is legitimate federal law and legitimate state law that are in conflict, the federal law prevails
• when there is legitimate federal law and legitimate state law that are in conflict, the federal law prevails
• when there is legitimate federal law and legitimate state law that are in conflict, the federal law prevails
• 32.400><c> 1,</c><01:39:32.639><c> section</c><01:39:32.960><c> 8,</c><01:39:33.280><c> clause</c> prevails
• Article 1, section 8, clause prevails.

Keywords: This version of the House chambers was retrieved from back up and uploaded. The original live stream contained issues where audio and video got out of sync., 958, all

Summary: The House convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, approved the prior journal, and received committee reports on several bills. Reported measures included House Bills 1 and 2 from Appropriations and Revenue, along with bills on animal control officers, emergency services revenue, postsecondary education, proactive postsecondary admission, vehicle lights, motor vehicle operation, motor vehicle dealers, and machine gun conversion devices. The chamber also took up Senate Bills 52 and 124 for concurrence, and House Bill 1 was moved from rules to the orders of the day for immediate action. The House then considered House Bill 568, which would regulate public adjusters by prohibiting new licenses, allowing renewals for current licensees, imposing conflict-of-interest and contract requirements, capping fees at 5%, and barring adjusters from negotiating claims. Supporters described it as a consumer-protection measure responding to complaints and investigations, especially after recent storm-related exploitation. The bill passed overwhelmingly, 95-1. The House next debated House Bill 1, which would opt Kentucky into the federal education freedom tax credit program and authorize the Secretary of State to administer the state’s participation without using state general funds. Supporters argued it would bring federal scholarship dollars into Kentucky for K-12 students, including public school students, and could generate significant private donations for scholarship-granting organizations. Opponents raised concerns about shifting resources away from public education, the speed of the process, and a proposed waiver of Eleventh Amendment immunity. A motion to table the bill failed by a wide margin, and members continued debating the bill and its implications for public schools and state sovereignty.

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails. All right. Continue, Senator Putnam. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
• So Madam Chair, that's really all I got. prevails. All right. Continue. Senator prevails.
• Motion prevails. Thank you, Senator Putnam. Okay.
• Motion prevails. Proceed. appreciate that. Uh, this Senate file appreciate that.
• </c><01:01:13.680><c> Motion</c><01:01:14.000><c> prevails.</c><01:01:14.799><c> Proceed.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails. Third reading as amended by the Senate.
• Motion<00:04:44.880><c> prevails.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But the test for whether or not to issue an injunction is whether one of the parties is likely to prevail
• So the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion saying that the plaintiffs were likely to prevail as to some specific

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 1448, a follow-up measure tied to the ongoing litigation over Idaho’s library law (HB 710). Deputy Attorney General Phil Skinner explained that the bill is intended to address specific concerns identified by the Ninth Circuit, including removing language the court said did not track the Miller obscenity test and adding a definition of “adolescent minor” to better fit Supreme Court guidance on applying obscenity standards to children. He said the bill does not change the underlying standard, penalties, or civil liabilities, but is meant to narrow the law enough to help resolve the case and avoid further litigation and attorney fees. Members raised concerns about whether the bill still leaves constitutional problems in place, especially the definition of “sexual conduct” and whether benign references involving homosexuality could still be treated as harmful to minors. Skinner responded that those provisions were not changed because the court did not identify them as the problem being addressed. Representative Handy asked about possible state costs and attorney fees, and Skinner said the goal was to moot the case and avoid fees, noting that similar acquiescence in other cases had prevented fee awards. He also said repeal of the law would remain a policy option if lawmakers wanted it. Jenny Emery Davidson testified against the bill, arguing that the process had been rushed, public access to the bill was limited, and the measure did not fix the underlying problems with HB 710. She urged repeal instead of another quick fix. Committee members also questioned the bill’s legislative path and timing late in session; Chairman Scott said it had moved through the Senate Judiciary and Rules process and reached the House as quickly as possible once the issue was identified. After discussion, the committee voted to send S-1448 to the floor with a do pass recommendation, with some members recording no votes and several closing comments criticizing the reactive nature and cost of legislating under court pressure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. A quorum is present. Thank you. Madam President, Madam President.
• The motion prevails, and I declare the joint convention adjourned. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for tyranny to prevail. for tyranny to prevail.
• Have a great day. that they prevail in court. Uh at least that they prevail in court.
• Motion prevails. The amendment &gt;&gt; Opposed. Motion prevails.
• Motion prevails. The &gt;&gt; I. Opposed. Motion prevails.
• So uh first amendment and and prevailed.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails, and the minutes for March 11th, 2026, are approved.
• The motion does prevail. [snorts] >> Okay.
• >> The motion does prevail. The amendment is adopted.
• The amendment the motion does prevail. The amendment is<00:19:38.799><c> adopted.
• It does not prevail. Next on our docket is we have an amendment labeled A4.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the March 11, 2026 minutes, then heard House File 4048, which would exempt chiropractors from Minnesota’s provider tax if they are no longer eligible to provide chiropractic benefits under Medicaid/MinnesotaCare. Representative Robbins said the bill corrects an unfair situation because chiropractors still pay the tax even though the benefit was eliminated. Testifiers from the Minnesota Chiropractic Association and a longtime chiropractor supported the bill, arguing that most chiropractors are small-business owners and should not pay a tax for services they can no longer provide. Several members said they supported restoring chiropractic coverage instead of changing the tax, and there was discussion about whether the tax applies to all providers and whether it is effectively passed on to patients. The committee adopted a motion to recommend HF 4048 to the Committee on Taxes. The committee then took up House File 3893, as amended, a bill to restrict artificial intelligence from engaging in psychotherapy or counseling with humans. The author and supporters said the bill is intended to prevent AI chatbots from posing as therapists or counseling vulnerable people, citing reports of suicides and other harms linked to chatbot interactions. The A2 amendment was adopted; the author said it reflected stakeholder concerns and added informed-consent language. Testifiers in support, including a psychologist and a suicide-prevention nonprofit leader, urged strong safeguards and said AI should not replace licensed professionals in crisis settings. Other testimony raised concerns about overbreadth and unintended effects. TechNet and a rural mental health provider said the bill should be narrowed so it applies to clinical therapy rather than wellness or educational tools, and should allow supervised AI uses such as transcription and administrative support. Members discussed rural access, existing licensing-board authority, privacy laws, and whether the bill should target AI companies directly rather than licensed clinicians. The transcript ends during continued discussion of HF 3893, with no final committee action shown in the excerpt.