Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also from the Mescalero Apache Tribe and the Pueblo of Laguna.
• So that's why I'm supporting it When you talk about our tribes, nations, and Pueblos, the sovereignty
• to be completely I do know there are some entities out there that do have the trust of our nation, tribes
• that exists within them, but that part too is it's very sensitive because they have the trust of our tribes
• actually we are going To put this component in with people who understand how to work with Pueblos and tribes

Bills: SM13, SM14

Keywords: land grant, Las Vegas, governance, self-governance, judicial management, forced sterilization, coerced sterilization, Indigenous women, Native American women, women of color, reproductive justice, reproductive sovereignty, truth and reconciliation commission, memorial, trauma-informed care, reparative justice, human rights, bodily autonomy, Indian Health Service, Indian affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• curious as to, and I've talked with our tribal leaders and also our health care directors for the tribes
• tribal liaison will specifically work on implementation of rural health transformation activities with tribes
• I like that you have a liaison for your tribes. Can we get something like that in our zones?
• And in the same sense as we recognize that tribes... All the time.
• And in the same sense as we recognize that tribes have certain things that we need to be particularly

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Joint Policy Committee met to hear an overview of North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program before taking up the related policy bills. Department of Health and Human Services staff explained that the state received a $198.9 million CMS award, with funding focused on four pillars: strengthening rural workforce, bringing care closer to home, connecting technology and data, and improving population health through prevention. They emphasized that the program is intended to benefit rural and frontier residents statewide, including areas near urban centers when the project serves rural patients, and that CMS approval, provider readiness, and sustainability will drive what can be funded. Committee members asked about how the program would treat border communities, frontier counties, urban providers serving rural patients, multilingual outreach, tribal consultation, and whether there would be information sessions for applicants. HHS said the website will include sign-up and translation features, more listening sessions and training will be offered, and a rural health tribal liaison will work alongside the existing Medicaid tribal liaison. Members also raised concerns about reimbursement timing, cash flow for providers, and whether projects in urban areas could qualify; HHS responded that urban projects may be eligible if they clearly benefit rural residents. The department then outlined the four policy bills tied to the grant scoring: nutrition continuing medical education for physicians, the presidential fitness test, the physician assistant compact, and pharmacist scope of practice. HHS said these policy actions were incentivized in the federal funding opportunity and that failure to pass them could reduce future funding. The committee did not take final action on the bills in this portion of the transcript and recessed for lunch before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• we would like to welcome you into the space by honoring the Indigenous people of the land: the 23 tribes
• We are honored to steward this resource built through the vision and leadership of tribes and Pueblos
• I'm also a non-enrolled member of the Salish Flathead Tribe from Montana, so diversity...
• How are you involved in SRMC and the 14 tribes of Pueblos in Sandoval County, the most of any county
• I can provide more information specifically about where we are represented within the tribes and pueblos

Transcript Highlights:

• Those programs are the tribal food sovereignty program, aimed at enhancing tribes' food sovereignty through
• Twenty-three projects were delivered in partnership with California Native American tribes, including
• examples, although I could give you so many more, include a $2.3 million grant to the Tully River Tribe
• That program was created in 2023 through significant consultations with tribes and at least 27 hours
• of office sessions, so there was a lot of work that went through with the tribes that helped develop

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee heard the administration’s spending plan for Proposition 4’s climate smart agriculture and biodiversity chapters, along with related trailer bill language. CDFA outlined proposed funding for existing programs such as SWEEP, Healthy Soils, Urban Agriculture, and invasive species work, plus new or phased-in programs including year-round and mobile farmers’ markets, tribal food sovereignty, and regional farm equipment sharing. The Department of Conservation described funding for the California Farmland Conservancy Program and Working Lands and Riparian Corridors Program, while the Department of Finance and LAO discussed pending allocations and generally found the overall approach reasonable, though LAO suggested the Legislature may want more statutory guidance and reporting, especially for new programs. Members focused on implementation details, equity, and accountability. Questions covered how programs would serve vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, whether new solicitations would be reopened for previously oversubscribed grants, how outcomes are tracked, and how to structure guidance for new programs such as farm equipment sharing. The chair emphasized that the Legislature wants clearer direction on program design and noted that AB 2313 should guide implementation of the regional farm equipment sharing allocation. The committee also discussed the administration’s request to directly appropriate bond funds to departments and to exempt bond program guidelines from the Administrative Procedures Act; LAO supported the APA exemption with possible legislative guardrails for public notice and comment. The committee then heard on the farm-to-school proposal, with CDFA requesting $24.9 million General Fund for incubator grants, technical assistance, and network support. CDFA said the program has reached nearly half of California schoolchildren and has shown strong demand and positive evaluation results. LAO supported the core program but recommended rejecting the $3 million technical assistance component as too broad and suggested the Legislature consider using Proposition 98 for some of the funding. Members debated that point, with some expressing concern about using General Fund dollars for a new discretionary request during a tight budget year. The biodiversity and nature-based solutions chapter included funding for the Wildlife Conservation Board, state conservancies, and tribal nature-based solutions. WCB described major recent investments and proposed projects tied to 30 by 30, habitat restoration, tribal partnerships, and public access. Members raised concerns about long-term stewardship, the size of the WCB allocation, and whether the Legislature should receive more detail on how funds will be distributed. The committee also heard requests for Bolsa Chica wetlands maintenance and Rincon Island decommissioning funding from the State Lands Commission, with members questioning long-term liability, remediation costs, and the role of private oil operators. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with public comment from stakeholders largely supporting the APA exemption, farm-to-school funding, biodiversity investments, and related conservation programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thanks to the Assistant Secretary and the work she's doing around the work we're doing with our tribes
• , nations, pueblos, and tribes.
• With regards to the tribes, how many of the tribes have childcare facilities in existence currently?
• Chair, Senator Shindo, across the board, that varies between each nation, pueblo, and tribe, but all
• Of course, the tribes are eligible for that as well. Have they also taken advantage of that? Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This will become part of the university's repatriation process, working with tribes.
• I have the honor of serving as chairman for the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi tribe.
• Sadly, many individual tribal ancestors are still unclaimed or unidentified by any tribe or any NAGPRA
• We will ensure this bill allows plenty of time for tribes to identify their ancestors and bring them
• Pam Lopez, on behalf of the Tule River Tribe, in support. Thank you so much.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee met with a quorum and first approved a consent calendar containing AB 341, AB 1098, and AB 1316, sending those measures to the Human Services, Judiciary, and Appropriations Committees respectively. The committee then heard AB 977, which would require CSU to audit surplus land and work with California tribes to identify three regional burial sites for Native American remains that cannot yet be repatriated. Supporters, including tribal leaders and archaeology groups, said the bill is needed to honor ancestors and address the large number of remains still held by CSU; CSU said it is committed to repatriation but had no formal position. The bill passed to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. Members also heard AB 1093, creating a California-Mexico higher education exchange program, and AB 1035, expanding the California College Promise to cover tuition for students pursuing community college bachelor’s degrees. AB 1093 drew support for strengthening cross-border educational and economic ties, but some members raised concerns about border-region sewage problems and the bill’s budget implications; it was held for later consideration. AB 1035 received strong support from community college leaders and faculty who said it would help low-income and first-generation students complete workforce-focused bachelor’s degrees, but several members questioned whether it would stretch Prop. 98 funding and whether the state should prioritize broader affordability concerns. AB 1035 passed to Appropriations on a 3-2 vote. The committee next approved AB 922, which would let the University of California keep access to federal criminal-history information for hiring background checks, avoiding delays and added costs if statutory authority is required. UC said the bill is needed to maintain safety and hiring operations, and it passed to Public Safety on a 5-0 vote. AB 1346, protecting military dependents from losing in-state residency status because of family travel, also passed unanimously to Military and Veterans Affairs. AB 1212, allowing UC to use low-income housing tax credits to build affordable housing for faculty and staff on UC land, drew support from UC and labor groups but opposition from members concerned about preferential access to public resources; it was held for later action. Finally, the committee approved AB 500 and AB 684, both aimed at increasing transparency around UC admissions policy changes and UC BOARS decision-making, sending AB 500 to Education and AB 684 to Governmental Organization, each on 5-0 votes. The hearing then moved on to AB 1122 on dual enrollment, with the author and witnesses presenting the bill as a way to expand college access for high school students.

Transcript Highlights:

• That doesn't include the tribes.
• That doesn't include include the tribes.
• They, like the tribes, are requesting huge built-in advantages over everyone else.
• They, like the tribes, are requesting huge built-in advantages over everyone else.
• They, like the tribes, are requesting huge built-in advantages over everyone else.

Bills: HF1545, HF2426, HF1615, HF2403

Keywords: medical cannabis, cultivation, cannabinoid products, plant canopy, Minnesota statutes, cannabis, hemp, lower-potency, edibles, regulations, licensing, local control, consumer safety, age restrictions, commerce policy, financial institutions, insurance regulation, limited long-term care insurance, Medicare supplement, health insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• > to Received funding from the legislature to support their work and becoming an initiative tribe
• Currently, the commissioner is authorized to contract with private child-placing agencies and tribes
• <00:12:58.440> via child placing agencies and tribes via child placing agencies and tribes
• In addition, the recommendation includes modifications that allow tribes to determine the frequency of
• <01:15:34.560> tribal with each individual tribe tribal with each individual tribe tribal

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard a presentation from Department of Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner Tiki Brown on the department’s 2025 budget and transition plans. Brown said the governor’s budget pairs targeted reductions with modest investments, resulting in net general fund savings, while preserving core safety-net programs. Major proposals included funding for program integrity, modernization of the child welfare SSIS system, compliance changes for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), operating adjustments, and a transition account reallocation as the new department continues moving programs from other agencies through July 1, 2025. A large portion of the discussion focused on CCAP fraud prevention and oversight. Brown and Assistant Commissioner Diane Hy explained that the proposed statewide electronic attendance recordkeeping system would replace retroactive paper-based attendance reporting with more timely data, making it harder to falsify attendance and claim payments improperly. Brown also said the department is working with the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General and other partners on compliance and fraud controls. Senators pressed for more detail on current enforcement, whether payments can be withheld for violations, and whether recent media reports showed gaps in oversight; Brown said payments can be stopped for false attendance records, suspended or revoked licenses, or fraud allegations, but not for health and safety violations alone. The committee also reviewed other budget-neutral policy changes, including expanding permanency support services for relative foster care and tribal equivalents, strengthening tribal child welfare grants, updating TEACH scholarship rules for early childhood educators, and adjusting the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program to create a special revenue fund and extend a 10% payment increase to tribally licensed programs and programs on tribal reservation land. Brown also described a $1.5 million annual reduction to restorative practices grants, leaving a smaller ongoing base. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• troopers that are certified to be BIA officers and they can take federal arresting authority on a tribe
• If a trooper doesn't have that certification and we come across a member of the tribe on a state highway
• If a trooper doesn't a tribe member.
• on a state across a member of the tribe on a state highway<00:18:00.240> that<00:18:00.480>
• be in violation of a federal law tribe be in violation of a federal law and<00:18:56.080> if<

Bills: HB0130, HB0095, HB0096, HB0097, SF0101, SF0106, SF0067, SF0123

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearms, state rights, federal regulation, law enforcement, civil penalties, government liability, concealed carry, public colleges, university facilities, weapons legislation, self-defense, campus safety, weapons, age requirement, permits, HB0097, Wyoming firearms privacy, merchant category code, MCC

Transcript Highlights:

• she kind of talked about the issue or the entities who were at the table: environmentalists, the tribes
• So I think my other question is: Have you spoken with tribes, environmentalists, and other taxpayers
• she kind of talked about the issue or the entities who were at the table: environmentalists, the tribes
• So I think my other question is: Have you spoken with tribes, environmentalists, and other taxpayers
• <00:43:19.760> and their agreement between the tribes and their agreement between the tribes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• elected officials of the Agalasu tribe elected officials of the Agalasu tribe and<01:26:54.000><
• federally recognized tribe.
• are also military veterans and my tribe are also military veterans and my tribe has<02:31:54.080
• The four Oglala Sioux tribe members.
• The four Olgala Sue tribe Khloe.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The hearing of the Minnesota Senate Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability focused on federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, especially ICE and CBP operations, and their alleged constitutional and civil-rights impacts. Opening remarks from both parties emphasized the need for calm, cooperation, and public safety, though they sharply differed on the causes of the current situation. Republican members argued that violent criminal undocumented immigrants should be removed and that state and local officials should cooperate with federal authorities. Senator McEwen and other Democrats described the federal presence as abusive and terrorizing, citing deaths, family separations, and community fear, and called for accountability and truth-telling. The chair also held a moment of silence for Renee Mlin Good and Alex Prey before testimony began. Testimony from the ACLU of Minnesota and the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota described what they said was a large-scale federal enforcement operation, including Operation Metro Surge, with widespread alleged violations of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Tenth, and other constitutional amendments. Witnesses cited alleged racial profiling, warrantless arrests, excessive force, denial of counsel, detention out of state, and failure to comply with court orders. They referenced specific cases involving Susan Tinure, Abdi Khadir Nure, Victor Manuel Diaz, and others, as well as reports of journalists and community members being threatened or detained while documenting ICE activity. The witnesses also said the federal government’s lack of transparency makes it difficult to know how many people have been detained or deported and argued that the harm extends to both immigrants and citizens. Committee members asked questions about ICE entering homes without judicial warrants, federal claims about constitutional limits, and access to counsel for detainees moved out of state. The witnesses said that out-of-state detention, poor locator systems, paid phone access, and lack of privacy make legal representation difficult or impossible, and that civil-rights remedies often come too late because people are removed before cases are resolved. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the committee moved from opening statements into testimony and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a proud member of the Piro Manso Tiwa Tribe from Dona Ana County, and we are all related.
• We neighbor the Mescalero Apache Tribe, so it's great to see all of you here.
• I thought that money comes from the tribe. I thought the tribe issued all the chapters.
• I come from the Hopi tribe.
• A tribe they've been very patient with us.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, I'm just... and some of the other, you know, like I heard this story about the tribes,
• you know, that if the state gets the land, the tribes can't hunt on it, and I'm like, they're hunting
• So, you know, I'm just... and some of the other, you know, like I heard this story about the tribes,
• you know, that if the state gets the land, the tribes can't hunt on it, and I'm like, they're hunting
• the land, the tribes can't hunt on it, and I'm like, they're hunting on our state land now.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• um let alone within a county or tribe um let alone across<00:39:18.040> the<00:39:18.240>
• We've been working with counties and tribes on that assessment because it's been a challenge for the
• So now, like I was mentioning, a person's funding is based on their county or tribe that serves them.
• County or your tribe so uh that's<00:51:34.559> that's<00:51:34.720> one<00:51:34.799>
• that serves them uh the ability tribe that serves them uh the ability for<00:52:20.079> the<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• members of the House commemorating the Iwagua, Taino, Lukyu, and Cario Tribal Nations and the Taino tribes
• Representatives from Massachusetts, commemorating the Higajagua Taino-Luku-Kairi tribal nation and other Taino tribes
• , therefore be it that the Massachusetts House of Representatives hereby commemorates other Taino tribes
• and all Hereby commemorates other Taino tribes, and all the heritage is recognized and preserved for

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a Rules Committee resolution commending the National Alliance for Children’s Grief for Children’s Grief Awareness Day. It also concurred in several Senate petitions referred under suspension of Joint Rule 12, including proposals on manufactured home insurance costs, firefighting water supplies and a state cistern program, Medicare coverage for end-stage renal disease, and short-term rental building inspections. The chamber then took up several bills and local matters. It advanced and later enacted measures including a workplace violence prevention bill for health care employers, a bill amending use restrictions at Foxborough State Hospital, a bill authorizing disposal of certain Upton land, a sick leave bank for Amy Tangway, and local bills for Ipswich, Palmer, Wareham, North Carver Water District, Lowell easements, and Westford agricultural preservation restrictions. The House also adopted a resolution rescinding prior Massachusetts Article 5 Convention applications, with Rep. Peisch explaining that the measure would withdraw old state requests for a constitutional convention; the resolution passed 155-3. Much of the floor debate focused on House 4767, the workplace violence prevention bill. Supporters, including Reps. Lawn, Kane, and Fields, described frequent assaults and threats against health care workers, cited injury statistics, and said the bill would require facility-specific risk assessments, prevention plans, training, incident reporting, and paid leave for injured workers. An amendment narrowing language about covered workers was adopted, and the bill ultimately passed to be engrossed by roll call 158-0 before later final enactment. The House also heard a commemorative resolution recognizing the Iwagua, Taino, Lukyu, and Cario Tribal Nations and other Taino tribes and their heritage in the Commonwealth, with Leader González and other members speaking in support. Several final passage votes were taken by roll call or voice vote, with the bills and emergency preambles adopted and the House adjourning to meet the next day in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tribes are on board. That's where most of the studies will start out immediately.
• So, in follow-up, is there any way the tribes would contribute to this and or be helping joint work with
• And the tribes are very interested in solving that. problem for their people and for their areas.

Bills: HB4423, HB3342, HB3645, HB3647, HB3887, HB4430, HB4431, HB2964, HB3834

Keywords: Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Medicaid, immigration verification, healthcare access, federal reporting, health care providers, auditing, patient rights, claims, protection from fraud, audit process, error correction, hospice care, physician determination, healthcare standards, symptom management, health information exchange, all-payer claims database, health care transparency, health care costs

Transcript Highlights:

• The intergovernmental agreements that we've had with the different tribes and Pueblos are related to
• we talk about studies are really saying, well, it's going to help us statewide is because of our tribes
• And I just want to make sure that we do have our tribes, nations, and Pueblos in mind.
• I just want to make sure that we do have our tribes, nations, and pueblos in mind, so that there's no
• So I can't speak to what the other counties might be doing with their tribes and pueblos in there.

Bills: SB211, SB131, SB183, SB222, SB246, SB254

Keywords: appropriation, local government, Las Vegas, Rodriguez Park, public facilities, zoning reform, building regulations, residential apartments, commercial use, multigenerational housing, local government authority, healthcare, urgent care, emergency services, feasibility study, medical facilities, physician training, medical residency, New Mexico, massage therapy

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's most folks—and tribes who may be in the area and have children who are involved.
• Our collective efforts align diverse stakeholders, including non-profits, tribes, and universities, to
• Child Welfare and Probation agencies, tribes, and state users.
• The number of grantees more than tripled, growing from 22 counties and one tribe the year prior to the
• one-time funds, to 53 counties and 25 tribes in the fiscal year 23-24.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the DNR would uh work with the tribes, the DNR would uh work with the tribes, work<00:25:43.720
• that a project will happen and there is no mechanism for tribes to fully reject that.
• It amounts to the government telling tribes that a project will happen, and there is no mechanism for
• tribes to fully reject that.
• <00:29:29.440> to and there is no mechanism for tribes to and there is no mechanism for tribes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The repeal of the nuclear moratorium is an issue incredibly important to our tribe, given the history
• of our tribe relative to the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant.
• > pr<01:36:27.239> Nuclear of our tribe relative to the pr Nuclear of our tribe relative
• <01:36:32.920> in is a fredly recognized tribe in is a fredly recognized tribe in Minnesota
• <01:37:01.679> without<01:37:01.960> our tribe without our tribe without our consultation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Minnesota Senate Energy Committee heard Senate File 426, authored by Senator Icorn, which would remove the 100-megawatt cap on hydropower for purposes of qualifying as an eligible energy technology under Minnesota law. Supporters said hydropower is carbon-free, reliable, flexible baseload power that can help Minnesota meet its 100% carbon-free electricity goal by 2040. Testifiers from Missouri River Energy Services and Minnesota Power described existing hydropower resources, including allocations from federal Missouri River dams, Minnesota hydro stations, and Manitoba Hydro, and argued that the bill would preserve and expand options for clean energy development. Several members raised concerns about the bill’s purpose and potential environmental impacts. Senator McEwen questioned why the size limit should be removed without specific proposed projects or more information about the need for larger dams, citing concerns about fisheries, water resources, and land use. Senator Port and others asked about costs, environmental effects, and where new projects might be built. In response, supporters said the bill is intended to open the door to future projects and allow agencies to review proposals through existing permitting and environmental processes, rather than approving any specific dam. Committee members offered mixed reactions. Senator Frentz said he supported the concept but recommended laying the bill over for further discussion and possibly sending it to the Environment Committee, noting environmental concerns and the need for more conversation. Senator Gruenhagen strongly supported the bill, arguing that it merely lifts a cap while leaving permitting and review requirements in place. Senator Hoffman also supported the bill, saying current policy blocks consideration of new projects and that the change would allow regulators to evaluate proposals on their merits. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the bill was left open for further consideration.