Transcript Highlights:

• A tribal utilities code that mirrors what the state has in its code, but also includes the provisions
• We have to deal with the consequences of somebody issuing a permit and somebody utilizing that permit
• So we have three tribally controlled schools, one in North Dakota and two in South Dakota.
• We have the Turtle Mountain High School, which is a tribally controlled grant school.
• Turtle Mountain, we have the Turtle Mountain High School, which is a tribally controlled grant school

Summary: The Tribal and State Relations Committee met at Standing Rock and heard extensive comments from tribal council members, state legislators, and tribal program leaders about ongoing state-tribal coordination issues. Early discussion focused on the committee’s purpose, the need for better communication, and frustration that the meeting agenda and time allotted did not include enough state department heads or program experts to address child welfare, ICWA, Medicaid, and other human services concerns. Tribal leaders emphasized that Standing Rock wants more direct, regular communication and more practical follow-through from prior meetings. A major theme was health and human services, including concerns that the state’s rural health transformation efforts and human service zone structure do not fit tribal needs, especially for a direct-service tribe that relies on federal funding and Indian Health Service. Members also raised foster care delays, housing shortages that force children off-reservation, substance abuse treatment capacity, and the need for cultural competency in child welfare and education. Other issues included missing and murdered Indigenous people, law enforcement cooperation, extradition and banishment ordinances, cross-deputization, roads, water and sewer infrastructure, census accuracy, and the need for updated lists of tribal liaisons and bills affecting tribes. Economic development and sovereignty issues were also discussed. Standing Rock leaders raised concerns about e-pull-tabs and charitable gaming, saying state regulation has reduced tribal gaming revenue and that e-tabs should be treated as Class III gaming. They also objected to county-issued fireworks and liquor permits that affect reservation communities, arguing that state and county authority often conflicts with tribal sovereignty. In response, legislators said e-tabs and charitable gaming were likely to return as legislative issues and suggested possible solutions such as restricting e-tabs near tribal lands. The committee also discussed the need for more information on tribal-related bills and for legislators to receive cultural and treaty training. Several tribal projects and programs were presented. Joseph McNeil described Sage Development Authority’s 235-megawatt wind project, which is paused because of federal permitting delays, and asked for state support to move it forward. Dave Arshambo described Wojou’s land regeneration, buffalo, food sovereignty, youth, and wellness programs. Later, Cheryl Carey of Sacred Pipe Resource Center introduced the needs of the urban Native population in Bismarck-Mandan and statewide, noting that many Native people live off-reservation and often fall through the cracks in state-tribal discussions. The committee adjourned for lunch and planned to continue with additional presentations afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we ought to have control over it. This is a circuit. Breaker. This is simple.
• But my preference would be that we have some control over our own election.
• Criteria was considered, and you don't know what criteria was utilized.
• It will determine who gets the clinic and who gets the flood control.
• Latino and Black voting strength while cementing and increasing Anglo control.

Bills: HB4, HB 4

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You cannot control that. Okay.
• <00:30:31.120> You<00:30:31.360> cannot the parties can control.
• You cannot the parties can control. You cannot control<00:30:32.000> that.
• Uh, were you paid control that. Okay.
• the the rules induendos, I I I utilized the the rules and<01:01:40.319> and<01:01:40.720>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Opportunity to utilize the funds that we ourselves recover.
• I do not control the child advocate. I do not direct the child advocate.
• We do not, by design, by legislative design, control that agency. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• We do not have control over our caseloads across the state.
• Bowen mentioned, we do not control that increase.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first heard an Aging and Long-Term Services Department budget presentation comparing the LFC and executive recommendations. The main differences were in the Aging Network, Adult Protective Services, Program Support, and Long-Term Care Division, especially the executive’s proposed $10 million infusion into the Kiki Savadra Senior Dignity Fund and $6.2 million for expanding New Mexico Care. LFC staff explained that the committee recommendation was lower in general fund and fund-balance use, while the executive emphasized rising senior population needs, meal and transportation costs, and the cost savings of keeping older adults at home. The secretary also reviewed the department’s special requests, including the conference on aging, outreach, emergency preparedness, and the Kiki fund, and described New Mexico Care’s growth, its evaluation results, and the department’s plan to separate Kiki into its own accounting fund. Members largely focused on senior services, rural meal delivery, transportation, caregiver support, and the Kiki fund. Several members urged stronger support for non-metro aging providers and for New Mexico Care, citing its role in keeping seniors out of nursing homes and the program’s reported savings and outcomes. Questions also covered eligibility, background checks for caregivers, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer’s screening, and whether Kiki funds can support home modifications such as ramps. The committee then voted to adopt the LFC recommendation with one executive language change: adding the executive’s page 14 language allowing an additional 12.5% distribution for initial payments to aging network providers at the start of FY27. Representative Dow opposed the motion. The committee then moved to the Attorney General’s budget. LFC staff explained that the office’s budget relies heavily on the Consumer Settlement Fund, with both recommendations reducing general fund revenue while increasing settlement-fund use, and that performance measures were in consensus. The Attorney General said the office was not seeking more general fund, but wanted greater ability to use funds it recovers. He highlighted major consumer and public safety work, including litigation against major social media and AI platforms, a case involving Snapchat and child exploitation/extortion, the statewide crime gun intelligence center, efforts to address oilfield theft, work on missing and murdered Indigenous persons, and efforts to protect federal funds coming into New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also using artificial intelligence to improve weed control and reduce herbicide use.
• We're also using artificial intelligence to improve weed control and reduce herbicide use.
• It also is used by the Army Corps of Engineers to better predict flood control in the Upper Missouri
• We utilize the Attorney General's office like the rest of UND.
• That's where we developed that mercury control technology I mentioned earlier.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're not just asking for funding and not utilizing it and putting it back into the community and
• We don't here because we utilize them to the full extent. That we can, um.
• Local control. We've heard a lot about local control. Um, we can't get away from this issue.
• That probably leaves very little room to change the yield control on property tax for the owners.
• Uh, 2, acknowledging and supporting, uh, local control and the, the, the remit for local, uh, uh, uh,

Transcript Highlights:

• effective internal controls? effective internal controls?
• to understand to understand the control to understand to understand the control environment<00:05
• <00:35:58.440> and strengthens its internal controls and strengthens its internal controls
• And just controls that are robust.
• <00:53:47.320> over so that we have the right controls over so that we have the right controls

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• for. utilized for.
• And so this is a. pretty significant change in how those dollars will be utilized.
• I I have donated to my local public school utilizing this program.
• And so, they utilize this program to build tennis courts.
• So, you can designate the school and the school can request those funds to be utilized for that.

Bills: HB3329, HR1039, HR1040, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3419, HB3420, HB3706, HB3711, HB4139, HB1268, HB3660, HJR1023, HB3298, HB3056, HJR1084, HB3934, HB3919, HB4118, HB4119, HB3791, HB4260, HB4178, HB4215, HB4324, HB3270, HB4352, HB4305, HB2955, HB3315, HB3066, HB1245, HB4125, HB3075, HB3129, HB3239, HB4153, HB3265, HB4491, SB680, HB4263, HB4268, HB1675, HB3885, HB2984, HB3697, HB2959, HB3671, HB3852, HB2933, HB3057, HB3802, HB4294, HB4285, HB3708, HB3979, HB3977, HB3986, HB3985, HB3588, HB3742, HB3845, HJR1070, HB3590, HB3595, HB3391, HB3183, HB3764, HB3765, HB1002, HB4434, HJR1086, HB4060, HB3881, HB3500, HB4408, HB3648, HB3127, HB3606

Keywords: long-term care, advisory board, sunset legislation, mental health, psychologists, University of Oklahoma, gymnastics, NCAA, congratulations, sports excellence, recognition, honor, athletics, Joseph Castiglione, leadership, education, sports management, HB3413, public finance, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• So in the A3, we do require electric utilities.
• So in the A3, we do require electric utilities.
• So in the A3, we do require electric utilities.
• So in the A3, we do require electric utilities.
• In the A3, we do require electric utilities.

Bills: HF1051, HF16

Keywords: sacred communities, micro units, religious institutions, housing regulations, homelessness, conditional use permits, immigration enforcement, sanctuary policies, sanctuary city, noncooperation ordinance, ICE, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, federal immigration authorities, deportation, undocumented immigrant, undocumented person, immigration status data, data sharing, preemption, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilization and then some backfilling of opioid settlement revenue.
• We also have seen acuity and utilization rising.
• We've also seen major trend growth in behavioral health utilization.
• On slide 21, just a comment about behavioral health utilization.
• We have some utilization trends.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• uh over uh a have more control uh over uh a the<00:09:30.240> PTSB the PTSB the PTSB and<00:09
• So when these charter schools open up, that is what is utilized for the first three years.
• in the formula school year is utilized in the formula for<01:02:12.079> funding<01:02:12.480>
• <01:03:54.079> So<01:03:54.400> its utilizing the three-year average.
• So its utilizing the three-year average.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I, the committee chair, maintain control of these proceedings and establish the following expectations
• Sort of addressing housing instability, this is a judicious and smart way to utilize these resources.
• Um, and the discussion that we had in the bill that sits before you is a utilization of some of that
• of some of that that will utilization of some of that that will not<00:13:51.760> negatively<
• This only works if parents or step in and actually use the parental controls.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 112-FN, relative to purchase power agreements for electric distribution utilities. be thrown
• for electric distribution utilities. for electric distribution utilities.
• and the Department of Energy utilities and the Department of Energy may<00:13:18.160> elect<00
• distribution utilities. distribution utilities.
• And then we got Mike Harrington to join us, and he was a former public utilities commissioner.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• [snorts] Local control is live there.
• , control, control, if<00:43:31.359> only<00:43:31.680> for<00:43:31.920> the<00
• We know our towns local control knows.
• has to do with a state assuming control has to do with a state assuming control of<01:10:04.159>
• ,<01:10:33.920> Frankenzoning wisdom of local control, Frankenzoning wisdom of local control

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it grants the board the authority to remove controlling persons from AMC's at any time. they had
• House Bill 3928 provides an alternative method for notifying vehicle owners and holders by utilizing
• So how do you how do you control those?
• That will hinder Texas-owned merit shops from maintaining current manpower and utilizing employees to
• But today, this market is controlled by a very narrow segment. of the retail spectrum, which is package

Bills: HB679, HB1764, HB1788, HB2186, HB2204, HB2418, HB2885, HB2983, HB2996, HB3250, HB3352, HB3756, HB3816, HB3913, HB3928, HB4077

Keywords: environment, regulation, land use, public health, community development, alcohol, Sunday sales, local option election, Texas, business hours, alcohol sales, liquor, off-premise consumption, alcoholic beverages, CPA, Certified Public Accountant, licensing, accountancy, state regulation, continuing education

Transcript Highlights:

• But we have uses that they also look at that we haven't utilized.
• Controller Hager, when he was advocating for the Legacy Fund, indicated in an op-ed that the state reserve
• Instead of reaching this cap, actually utilizing it like we do for the State Highway Fund, funneling
• And if our cap is $24.6 billion, our floor utility... $11.2 billion.
• I could think of a lot of things that we could utilize some of this money for.

Bills: SJR4, SJR 4

Keywords: economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security, term limits, state offices, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• acting that allows us to utilize acting that allows us to utilize nationally<00:15:00.000> certified
• We agreed to move controls and a boiler.
• The language to protect the town's ability to establish municipal stormwater utilities remains.
• The language to protect the town's ability to establish municipal stormwater utilities remains.
• The language to protect the town's ability to establish municipal stormwater utilities remains.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, the cost is high because the systems control air.
• And again, the cost is high because the systems control air.
• Except no question that we control that.
• Hanap has Plant Pest Control Branch Manager.
• How are you utilizing these with this?

Bills: HB389, HB1166, HB1510, HB1541, HB1605, HB1661, HB1663, HB1678, HB1769, HB1785, HB1801, HB1802, HB1815, HB1824, HB1838, HB1840, HB1853, HB1860, HB1891, HB1952, HB1960, HB1969, HB1970, HB1972, HB1976, HB2050, HB2094, HB2104, HB2158, HB2165, HB2171, HB2208, HB2246, HB2271, HB2300, HB2310, HB2315, HB2319, HB2338, HB2339, HB2343, HB2443, HB2498, HB2551, HB2599, HB2606, SB17, SB83, SB99, SB148, SB411, SB709, SB847, SB874, SB888, SB1032, SB1166, SB2001, SB2014, SB2031, SB2041, SB2050, SB2057, SB2061, SB2074, SB2075, SB2089, SB2095, SB2101, SB2102, SB2108, SB2109, SB2110, SB2125, SB2135, SB2138, SB2140, SB2146, SB2151, SB2152, SB2175, SB2203, SB2239, SB2246, SB2247, SB2253, SB2261, SB2268, SB2271, SB2272, SB2320, SB2340, SB2347, SB2353, SB2363, SB2367, SB2372, SB2376, SB2386

Keywords: HB389, uncrewed aircraft, drone, drones, UAS, unmanned aerial vehicle, misuse of uncrewed aircraft, criminal offense, felony enhancement, drone crime, public safety, police, deputy sheriff, fire department, intoxicated operation, registration number tampering, property damage, bodily injury, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package, Hawaii Revised Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• of<00:29:36.960> this<00:29:37.120> act<00:29:37.360> shall<00:29:38.000> control
• <00:29:38.559> over<00:29:38.960> any of this act shall control over any of this act
• shall control over any provision<00:29:39.679> of<00:29:39.840> this<00:29:40.080>
• to<00:36:38.640> be<00:36:38.800> able<00:36:38.960> to<00:36:39.200> utilize
• for people to be able to utilize that. for people to be able to utilize that.

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 24 February, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took House Bill 1637 off the table and adopted a committee substitute amendment narrowing Public Records Act exemptions to records of the child death review panel, maternal mortality review committee, and fetal and infant mortality review panel. Supporters said the exemption was intended to let providers and hospitals speak candidly in closed-door reviews to identify mistakes and prevent future deaths, while critics questioned how the public and legislature would learn the outcomes. The amendment and then the bill as amended were adopted by voice vote. House Bill 479, which would extend temporary licensing timeframes for the psychology board and the board of licensed marriage and family therapists from 30 to 60 days, was then considered. An amendment was adopted clarifying that the bill does not alter existing education, supervised training, or examination requirements. Senator Hill raised concerns that the bill’s language could allow a temporary license to last 365 days even if licensure requirements were not met, and the committee ultimately tabled the bill subject to call so the language could be clarified. The committee also heard House Bill 514, the Mississippi Veterinary Practice Act, which updates the vet-client-patient relationship definition, adds a public member and a certified veterinary technician to the board, removes some fees, and adds title protection for certified veterinary technicians. Witnesses said the changes were meant to support the profession and keep more graduates in-state. The bill passed after questions about the certification’s scope. House Bill 612, authorizing intergovernmental agreements and involving Coast Guard training and installation support services, was tabled subject to call after members said they needed more explanation. Finally, House Bill 1152, the Right to Try the Medical Cannabis Act, was considered. The bill creates a process for patients with chronic, progressive, severely disabling, or terminal illnesses not already covered by the medical cannabis statute to petition the Department of Health for access, with the treating physician initiating the request. An amendment was adopted to clarify that out-of-state patients receiving care in Mississippi are not excluded if they meet the same process and standards. Members then debated unclear language near the end of the bill about which provisions control in case of conflict; the sponsor said the new right-to-try provisions would govern for the covered patients. The discussion continued with examples of conditions that might qualify, such as non-malignant chronic pain syndromes, and the bill remained under consideration as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• California OES has deployed this into their control center.
• Designed for first responders, California OES has deployed this into their control centers, and we are
• In a time where science and technology is growing at such a rapid pace and we are utilizing it so much
• KVPR also believes in the power of collaboration to better utilize scarce resources and expand the impact
• We utilized new technology to give us every opportunity to recover and mitigate the impact of this loss

Summary: The hearing focused on the impact of the federal rescission of Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding on California public media, with Assemblymember Chris Ward and Senator Akilah Weber Pierson framing public media as essential civic infrastructure for education, local news, arts, emergency alerts, and underserved communities. Local officials from San Diego and La Mesa voiced support, emphasizing public media’s role in trusted information, children’s programming, and community arts access. Panelists from PBS SoCal, KCRW, Rebuild Local News, NPR, KPBS, Radio Bilingüe, and KVPR described significant budget losses, layoffs, reduced programming, and threats to rural and specialized services. They highlighted impacts on children’s educational content, local journalism, arts coverage, science and documentary production, and emergency alert systems. Several speakers noted that smaller stations in rural or low-broadband areas are especially vulnerable, while larger stations are also cutting staff and delaying projects. They also discussed possible responses such as shared services, cost reductions, philanthropy, and state support, while warning that one-time bridge funding is not a long-term fix. Committee members asked about operational changes, alternative revenue sources, the role of state programs, and whether public pressure could restore federal funding. Witnesses said the loss is already being felt, that restoration appears unlikely in the near term, and that any state support should be structured to protect editorial independence and provide stable, timely funding. The hearing concluded with a shift to labor and production testimony and then to station-specific testimony from KPBS, Radio Bilingüe, and KVPR, followed by public comment.