Transcript Highlights:

• California's recall process is an important tool of direct democracy.
• California's recall process is an important tool of direct democracy.
• It ensures the process is not misused to punish judges for carrying out their constitutional duties.
• The bill streamlines the permit process for code-compliant residential window replacements.
• SB 1193 is a simple standard: public money, public process, public trust.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we lose candidates in that process.
• And we lose candidates in that process.
• And we lose candidates in that process.
• This bill is removing a process from what is happening at the federal level.
• This bill is removing a process from what is happening at the federal level.

Bills: HF1167, HF1242

Keywords: Northern Lights Express, NLX, Minneapolis-Duluth rail, passenger rail, intercity passenger rail, high-speed rail, Duluth, Minneapolis, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, transportation funding, rail appropriation, general fund, trunk highway fund, rail project cancellation, infrastructure spending, commercial driver training, CDL, financial assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• In my understanding, what we're doing is a one-time for a two-year process.
• It's quite an expensive process. It's something that we have wanted to do.
• But that process is quite possibly longer than our rulemaking process, and it's working its way through
• I am against the process. Does that make sense?
• Seeing none, we've got a. accordance with professional audit standards. All right, thank you.

Summary: The committee first filed a report on the executive protection detail and then reviewed a long list of House and Senate bills that were ready for action, with members instructed to hold any items they wanted removed. The committee then took up several agency requests to amend bills: the Auditor of State’s request for a $370 increase for special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts’ requests for additional funding for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and requests tied to local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, emergency medical and law enforcement support, and Northwest Arkansas Community College tornado-related repairs. All of those amendments were adopted, and one amendment on House Bill 1034 was held over at Senator Johnson’s request. A major portion of the meeting focused on an amendment for the Department of Corrections to fund a pilot program using mobile technology to identify and disable illegal inmate cell phones at Varner and Cummins prisons. The bill sponsors and Corrections officials described the problem as a serious public safety issue, saying inmates use contraband phones for criminal activity, trafficking, scams, and outside coordination. Members asked about FCC rules, procurement, whether the system would jam or only identify phones, whether it would affect staff or nearby users, how quickly it would work, whether it would be a one-time or ongoing cost, and whether the department had existing budget authority. Officials said the proposal would require an RFP, that current funding was not available in the department’s budget, and that the technology would be a two-year pilot. The committee ultimately adopted the amendment and then gave the underlying bill a do-pass recommendation. The committee also considered an amendment for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, which sought a $4 million increase in appropriation authority. Senators discussed the division’s role in county extension offices, 4-H, research, and salary competitiveness, while others questioned why the division needed more appropriation room when it already had about $10 million in headroom and had requested a different funding level through higher education. Division representatives said the increase would help with salaries and provide flexibility for future funding, and Higher Education staff clarified the original request and recommendation amounts. After extensive discussion, the committee adopted the amendment and gave it a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a homestead property tax credit increase, insurance department conference travel, property appraisal analysis support, career and technical education professional development, regulatory and casino gaming appropriations, a new program integrity line for the Department of Inspector General, consolidation of licensing board appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee Readiness Center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation package for prison expansion that included special language limiting use of the funds. Members asked several questions about the prison reappropriation, including whether it still related to the earlier Calico Rock project and whether special language should be considered separately; the committee moved the governor’s letters forward for drafting and further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• history actually have a diagnosis of PTSD in the medical history proceeding that one year before medical audit
• So those patients would be full of audit, formal, formal evaluation.
• Both data are critical because we don't have much else available the in the process of enhancing memory

Transcript Highlights:

• agency, we reached out, this is going to be a fiscal-related position involved in budgeting and auditing
• affects veterans, I'd like to have just a little bit, just a little bit of insight if you could on the process

Summary: The Personnel Committee met to consider several agency personnel requests. It approved the Arkansas State Police request to surrender three corporal positions and replace them with three lieutenant positions for the I-40 corridor, and approved Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for three project program administrator pool positions to support the new College of Veterinary Medicine. The committee also approved the Department of Commerce Economic Development Commission’s request for an extra help position tied to Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act work, described as a fiscal/budgeting and auditing role. One item was pulled from consideration. The committee then reviewed a report item involving a reduction in force at the Department of Veterans Affairs that eliminated six positions. Veterans Affairs officials explained that the action was part of a broader restructuring, not simply a layoff, intended to realign the agency with its current mission, expand services for veterans earlier in their transition from service, and create a veteran employment specialist role to connect veterans with Arkansas employers. They said the restructuring was designed to fit within budget limits and would save money while expanding services. Members asked detailed questions about the impact on veterans, county veteran service officers, severance pay, and retirement implications. Veterans Affairs officials said county veteran service officers are still in place and that the agency is working to improve training, supervision, and consistency across counties, including a report-card style evaluation for county judges. Staff also explained that severance is based on years of service and is not recouped if an employee later takes another state job, though immediate transfers do not receive severance. After discussion, no further action was taken and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• agency we reached out to, this is going to be a fiscal-related position involved in budgeting and auditing
• So just a little bit of insight, if you could, on the process.

Summary: The committee first reviewed several personnel actions. It approved the Arkansas State Police request to swap three corporal positions for three lieutenant positions to supervise increased trooper staffing along the I-40 corridor, with no net increase in positions and an estimated cost of $89,000 from general revenue. It also approved Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for three project/program administrator pool positions to support the new College of Veterinary Medicine, and approved the Department of Commerce Economic Development Commission’s request for an extra help position tied to Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act work. One item was pulled from consideration. The committee then received a report on a reduction in force at the Department of Veterans Affairs that eliminated six positions. Senator Petty asked for reassurance that veterans’ services would not be harmed, and VA Secretary Colonel Rob Ader explained that the action was part of a broader restructuring rather than a simple cut, intended to realign the agency, free resources, and expand services such as a new continuum-of-care program, veteran employment support, and stronger coordination with employers as veterans transition out of service. He said the agency also expected to save money. Members also questioned VA officials about the impact on county and district veteran service officers and about severance and retirement implications for affected employees. VA officials said the county VSO program remains in place, with efforts underway to improve training, supervision, and consistency across counties, including reporting to county judges. They also explained that severance is based on years of service, is not recouped if an employee later takes another state job, and that retirement eligibility and early-retirement penalties would still apply under existing rules. The committee took no further action after the reports and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , interconnection process...
• Entities which are the entities that go through our resource process, interconnection process, to put
• And who are, as far as that process through our registration process and our security process, there's
• So as far as that process, through our registration process and our security process, there's an assessment
• But it is a complex process. I think that's been made clear today. It's a complex process.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What this resolution proposes to do is to complete that process and bring the bill back before the body
• . ...is to do is to complete that process, bring the bill back before the body for a concurrence or not
• Or did I get ahead of the process? I think procedurally we are where we need to be.
• the legislature by January 10th whether it is holding more money than it needs, with an independent audit
• add a new graduated income tax to pass-through entities that produce, transport, treat, store, or process

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the journal and the prayer for the record. The clerk read gubernatorial messages calling the legislature into a third special session and describing the call around House Bill 381, a major natural gas project bill addressing property taxes, municipal taxes, AGDC, reporting requirements, contract approval, an alternative volumetric tax, municipal impact grants, and related provisions. Messages from the Senate reported passage of a Senate-amended version of HB 381 and transmission of Senate Concurrent Resolution 203 to suspend certain rules related to the bill. The House introduced HCR 301 and HCR 302. HCR 301, which suspends rules on carryover of bills into a special session, passed 40-0. The House then took up the Senate amendments to HB 381. The Majority Leader outlined the Senate changes, including new school funding provisions, reorganization and oversight of AGDC funds, a public project dashboard, stricter bond approval requirements, a heating fuel assistance fund, changes to the alternative volumetric tax structure and distribution of revenues, a permanent rather than sunsetted tax break, new deadlines tied to final investment decision and construction, and a new graduated income tax on certain pass-through entities. He urged members to vote no on concurrence, and the House rejected concurrence 12-28. Because the House did not concur, the Speaker appointed a conference committee on HB 381 consisting of Representative Schrage, the Majority Leader, Representative Edgmon, and Representative Ruffridge. HCR 302, authorizing the House and Senate to recess for more than three days, passed 40-0 after members stated the recess was intended to allow conference negotiations to continue and that the body would return on a time certain. The House also received two governor-request bills, HB 3001 and HB 3002, both referred to the Finance Committee. The House then excused several members for specified absences and adjourned until July 1 at 10:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we ask for an aye vote to continue this process.
• So there is some process.
• We fully trust you in that process.
• We fully trust you in that process.
• They're going into the formal process.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm presenting Senate Bill 920, a good governance bill based on a 2018 audit report of the Gaming Control
• Did I hear correctly that this bill is a result of an audit completed in 2018? Yes, ma'am.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• committee substitute to Senate Bill 1883 adds provisions that make impact fees subject to independent audits
• committee substitute to Senate Bill 1883 adds provisions that make impact fees subject to independent audits

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and took up several pending bills, mostly advancing them to the full Senate. Senate Bills 1079, 1243, 1504, 1851, 1879, and 2237 were each reported favorably with recommendations to do pass and be printed, and then placed on the local and uncontested calendars without objection. Senate Bill 1504 and the other uncontested measures passed by unanimous or near-unanimous committee votes. The committee also considered Senate Bill 1921 and Senate Bill 1883 with committee substitutes. For SB 1921, the committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill to the Senate with a recommendation that the original bill not pass but the substitute do pass and be printed; it was then sent to the local and uncontested calendar. For SB 1883, members adopted a substitute that would require independent audits of impact fees, allow the Attorney General to sue on behalf of property owners challenging impact fees, provide for refunds, and repeal a substantial-compliance notice provision in the Local Government Code. That substitute was reported favorably, with one nay recorded. No other business was raised, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• process with an automated independent pre-certification vote validation process.
• , the Florida ID or driver's license process, and their citizenship has been confirmed through that process
• , the Florida ID or driver's license process, and their citizenship has been confirmed through that process
• It's been a rolling process.
• It's been a rolling process.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with a quorum, opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several member introductions recognizing guests, interns, public servants, and a resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and took up a series of bills, with some measures temporarily postponed and others advanced after brief debate and, in several cases, substitution of House companions for Senate bills. The first major bill passed was CS/CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, which requires hospitals with emergency departments to have pediatric emergency care policies, training, equipment, and a designated pediatric coordinator; it passed 36-0. The Senate also passed CS/HB 1113 on public records, expanding confidentiality protections for victims and temporarily protecting the name of a law enforcement officer who becomes a victim in the line of duty; it passed 33-4. CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity was amended to place the program under the Florida Digital Service and to adjust grant timing, then passed 37-0. CS/CS/HB 925 on clerks of court passed 38-0 after amendments affecting revenue retention, legal notices, traffic citation distributions, and municipal fee sharing. CS/CS/HB 679 on trademark registration modernization and CS/CS/HB 589 on septic permit timing also passed unanimously. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/HB 991 / SB 1334, an elections bill that would use Real ID data to verify citizenship, change voter ID rules, alter candidate qualifying requirements, and revise election administration procedures. Senators offered and debated numerous amendments on documentation fees, senior exemptions, human review versus automated systems, student and retirement-center IDs, and effective dates; most were defeated, though one amendment adding stock-trading disclosure language for candidates was adopted. The bill’s sponsor cited election-crimes reports and specific prosecutions involving non-citizens as justification for the measure, while opponents argued it could disenfranchise eligible voters, especially students and seniors. The transcript ends during continued questioning and debate on that elections bill, before final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, by the time you start your notice to proceed, go through the application process, the approval process
• Process.
• Because they don't, the process is different.
• For processes like this in this place yet.
• Madam Chair, yes, the Colonias process is based on the Water Trust Board process.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a process now that our provost and the deans have put together to really make sure that when
• It might help to understand a little bit of our process.
• And I hadn't even started the interview process.
• That includes integrating commercialization into tenure and promotion processes.
• It's a slow process like the President said, but we are strong in coatings development and testing in

Summary: The committee met at NDSU and approved the April 9 minutes. The main purpose of the meeting was an informational presentation from NDSU President David Stewart and university leaders on the university’s priorities, including enrollment, student success, research, commercialization, and use of New Horizons funding. Stewart emphasized a “One NDSU” approach, thanked legislators for past support, and said the university will focus on recruitment and retention, a new strategic plan, and growing research and tech transfer while serving North Dakota’s workforce needs. University leaders said NDSU is using tuition waivers more strategically and will work to reduce them over time through scholarship optimization. Provost Sherry Vale described academic portfolio reviews, program closures or consolidations, strategic hiring, and workload policies aimed at aligning resources with demand. They also highlighted student outcomes, including high completion rates, strong employment placement, and NDSU’s role in producing a large share of the state’s engineers, nurses, and agriculture graduates. Several students testified about how NDSU’s mentoring, internships, research, and support services helped them succeed. The committee also heard from partners on New Horizons-related collaborations: Gateway to Science described K-12 STEM outreach in rural and tribal areas, and Sanford Research discussed joint research efforts, including COBRE-related work, obesity and GLP-1 studies, and a joint biostatistics hire. Later speakers highlighted Governor’s School and NDSU’s research and commercialization efforts, including growth in research expenditures and invention disclosures. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, in the process of developing their policies, state agencies must consult with representatives
• Is there a presentation on that process, Madam Chair?
• Another question that we might need to follow up on is in the auditing processes.
• What roles do tribal governments have in actually auditing or reviewing agency compliance reports?
• As we kind of go through this process, we have a lot of folks who are what we call "bouncing."

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this bill is a basic process bill to have a fair process for cities to go through eminent domain
• ... ...process bill to have a fair process for cities to go through eminent domain to create a publicly
• and make it not a fair process.
• , to stymie the process.
• for this reconductoring process.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of attention to make sure that that's been insured, and part of it's my time with the Legislative Audit
• of attention to make sure that that's been ensured, and part of it's my time with the Legislative Audit
• And part of it's my time with the Legislative Audit Commission.
• Um, state contracting, um, so the process of agencies hiring outside consultants or, uh, entering contracts
• of agencies hiring outside uh process of agencies hiring outside uh Consultants<00:20:36.640> or<

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee met for an introductory, familiarization-only session. Members and staff introduced themselves, and House Fiscal Staff provided a budget overview for the committee’s elections-related jurisdiction. That overview covered the Office of the Secretary of State, including a requested $200,000 one-time general fund match to draw down additional federal HAVA funds released in 2024, and the presidential primary, which is an open statutory appropriation that reimburses state and local costs in even-numbered election years. It also reviewed the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board’s operations budget, the public subsidy program’s statutory and taxpayer checkoff funding, and the Voting Operations and Elections Resources account, which is funded at $3 million annually for local election-related costs. Members asked questions about the HAVA match, including whether the funds were tied to the most recent election cycle and what specific goals or security-related uses the Secretary of State’s request would support. Staff said they would need to research the details further and would share responses with the full committee. One member also raised broader concerns about non-state money entering elections and the need for clear guidance and oversight; staff said that area was beyond their expertise but could be researched further. The chair noted that the Secretary of State would appear at a future meeting and encouraged members to submit questions for shared follow-up. House Research then gave an overview of the committee’s government operations jurisdiction. Staff explained that the committee historically deals with structural and administrative issues such as agency organization, rulemaking, boards and commissions, state contracting, state IT services, emergency management, and state symbols and recognition days. They emphasized the committee’s role in maintaining consistency and compatibility across state government and in considering the balance between legislative authority and executive-branch discretion. Staff also noted overlap with State Government Finance for fiscal matters and said they would return for more detailed discussion if members wanted it. The final presentation introduced local government concepts. House Research outlined Minnesota’s local government structure, including counties, cities, towns, and special districts, and explained terms such as political subdivision, home rule charter, and Dillon’s rule. The presentation described local governments as creatures of the state, reviewed home rule charter and general welfare authority, and noted that local government powers are defined by statute unless otherwise provided. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We continue through that process.
• the rule promulgation process.
• We process tens of thousands of documents each and every year, every day, I'm sorry, and we process 7.8
• The current process is set up to process these in a, you know, much larger fashion.
• The current process is set up to process these in a much larger fashion.

Summary: The subcommittee heard updates on several major technology modernization efforts, beginning with the Department of Financial Services’ Florida PALM project, which is replacing the state’s decades-old FLAIR accounting system. DFS described PALM as a statewide effort affecting all three branches of government, with cash management already live and the remaining financial management, payroll, and data warehouse components still in development. Officials said the project began in 2014, was restructured after a 2022 legislative pause, and is now being recommended for a go-live delay from January 2026 to July 2026. Members asked about governance, staffing, contract structure, cost growth, and maintenance costs; DFS said the contract is deliverable-based, the current amendment would add a net $2.2 million, and post-go-live maintenance is expected to be about $13 million annually under the current contract through July 2027. The Agency for Health Care Administration then updated the committee on the FX Medicaid enterprise modernization program. AHCA explained that federal CMS directed states to move from monolithic Medicaid systems to a modular approach, leading Florida to procure separate vendors for integration services, data warehouse, unified operations, provider services, and claims processing, with pharmacy benefits still to be procured. Officials said the project has spent about $334 million to date, with most costs federally matched, and requested $189.95 million for the upcoming year. They also highlighted a 2024 special assessment that produced 81 recommendations, most tied to staffing shortages, and said the Legislature added 47 FTEs, with 17 currently filled or being filled. Members asked about governance changes, production status, data access, and future technology maintenance; AHCA said some components are operational, the data warehouse is nearing certification, and the agency is working to keep the system adaptable and nonproprietary. The Department of Children and Families presented its Access modernization project, which is replacing a mainframe-based eligibility system used for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid assistance, and related programs. DCF said the six-year, $205 million project is in its third year and has already delivered a new customer portal with mobile access, multi-factor authentication, and fraud protections, while also building a worker portal, document management, community partner tools, and workload management functions. The agency said it is requesting $36.625 million for the next fiscal year, the same as last year, and emphasized that the project has remained on schedule and on budget by breaking work into smaller modules and using strong vendor and staff support. Members praised the project’s progress and asked about cybersecurity testing and the long delay before modernization began; DCF said security requirements were built in from the outset and that the remaining work will focus on moving staff off the legacy mainframe and modernizing notices and back-end processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who’s auditing and giving them the number?
• You're going to transplant trees, and it's a process.
• to get that through the process and to become the new fee level.
• there is, in statute, a process for that question.
• there is there is in statute of process for that question so mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to adopt a version today to keep the process moving.
• I'm still, I'm logistically trying to process what type of authority we are given.
• As a result of a discrepancy found in their audit, they just bring some money in.
• or in addition to the court process.
• of what I think I understand how this whole process works.

Keywords: 996, all