Transcript Highlights:

• I’ve served as a legislator who supported many of the so-called economic development programs.
• The rapid development of Starbase has positioned Texas in the aerospace industry.
• And we would develop a cost recovery factor by class for the utility to implement.
• in the relationship between a wind developer and a property owner.
• The core concern of HB 3314 is that it bypasses the existing code development process and...

Bills: HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042, HB45

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• The LSC bar team is still developed.
• > regularly<00:15:53.920> change, being developed and regularly change, being developed
• of cyber business in partnership with the Neighborhood Development Center. point where we can develop
• ,<01:03:08.160> including NSA for workforce development, including NSA for workforce development
• So, we develop student skills profile.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do feel like, in our efforts with workforce development, especially the front end of the pipeline,
• especially uh the Workforce Development especially uh the the<00:27:27.279> front<00:27:27.559
• develop a protocol regarding<00:51:48.799> the<00:51:48.960> storage<00:51:49.359>
• and Implement a protocol for and develop and Implement a protocol for and applicable<00:52:03.480>
• <00:54:00.280> these um this is also part developing these um this is also part developing

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That means workforce development.
• Every single facility and infrastructure to serve the development area must be, should be, in the development
• What if the reserve areas in one county, all the developments in the other county?
• How could property owners cobble together 15,000 acres, sell it to a developer?
• If I could assure that this bill would, that these properties would be developed by certain developers

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions before moving into a long special-order calendar. The chamber first considered two claims bills: SB 6/HB 6507 for relief of L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, described as compensation for severe injuries after DCF returned the child to unsafe parents, and SB 26/HB 6509 for the estate of Mark Legata, involving catastrophic injuries tied to FDOT negligence. Both bills were substituted with their House companions and passed overwhelmingly. Members then approved several policy bills focused on child welfare, education, and professional regulation. CS/CS/SB 42/HB 47 required child protective investigators to consider certain medical diagnoses before proceeding in abuse cases; CS/SB 206/HB 851 expanded autism-related training and incentives for teacher preparation programs; SB 556/HB 453 allowed Special Olympics participation to satisfy PE requirements for students with disabilities and clarified marching band credit; SB 688 reestablished licensure and regulation for naturopathic doctors; SB 878/HB 1347 addressed clinical laboratory personnel shortages by aligning more closely with federal CLIA standards; and SB 914/HB 867 clarified that licensed occupational therapists may perform dry needling. Each of these measures passed, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The chamber also approved bills on court administration, public records, financial disclosure, and child welfare. SB 326/HB 131 modernized rules for curators of estates; SB 758/HB 625 updated the composition of the Justice Administrative Commission, with an amendment broadening the judicial member to a judge or senior judge; SB 830 created a public records exemption for certain local government executives and their families; SB 964/HB 6011 revised how gifts and honoraria are reported and, via amendment, restored a percentage-based reporting option for financial disclosures; and SB 1002 clarified that acute or chronic parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect and allow courts to order assessment and services. These bills all passed, with SB 830 drawing the most opposition among them. The most contentious debate centered on CS/CS/CS/SB 354, the Blue Ribbon Projects bill, which would create a framework for very large planned communities with substantial conservation set-asides. Supporters argued it would provide a new growth-management tool and economic opportunity, while opponents warned it was too broad, lacked specificity, weakened local control, and could be exploited by large developers. After extensive debate and an amendment limiting data centers in commercial areas, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than brought to a final vote. The Senate also passed SB 530 on lottery operations, SB 1632/HB 1471 on foreign law and domestic terrorist designations after a lengthy and divisive amendment debate over references to Sharia law, and SB 21/HB 218 on land-use regulations tied to hurricane recovery, which preserves SB 180 restrictions in storm-affected counties while lifting them later for unaffected counties.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Agribusiness Development Corp.
• I'm with the Agribusiness Development Corp.
• I'm with the Agribusiness Development Corp.
• the process of getting the development the process of getting the development project<01:40:11.199
• I'm Wendy Gat with the Agribusiness Development Corp.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That stability is good for developers, good for lenders, good for communities, and good for the Commonwealth
• We're now going to go to H. 3247, an act to promote the development of abandoned buildings.
• By supporting an act to promote the development of abandoned buildings, we are not just providing tax
• We're now going to transition to H. 3039, S. 1946, an act relative to the Housing Development Incentive
• For instance, in Worcester there's a development called Mission Chapel; the highest rent is $4,500 a

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing on several housing-related bills, with chairs Adrienne Madaro and James Eldridge framing the discussion as part of the Legislature’s broader response to the state’s housing crisis and noting that many of the bills build on the 2024 Affordable Homes Act. The chairs reviewed hearing procedures, including the three-minute oral testimony limit, the option to submit written testimony, and the hybrid format. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony began with support for H. 3278, a bill to create a graduated deed excise tax for affordable housing. Representative Worel argued that higher-end real estate transactions should contribute more to fund affordable housing production, saying the measure would not burden working families and would help address racial inequities in homeownership and displacement. Representative Soder then supported H. 3247, which would promote redevelopment of abandoned buildings through expanded tax incentives for renovating vacant properties for sale or rent, arguing that it would bring blighted units back into use and generate future tax revenue. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3040/S. 1969, residential improvement or R-PACE legislation. Robert Giles of Home Run Financing and Nicole Steele of Amalgamated Bank described the program as a voluntary, assessment-based financing tool that could help homeowners pay for energy efficiency, resilience, and other major repairs without upfront costs, and said it could complement existing Mass Save programs while expanding access to more homeowners. In contrast, Judith Lieben of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute opposed H. 3039/S. 1946, the Housing Development Incentive Program bill, arguing it would expand subsidies for market-rate and luxury housing in Gateway Cities instead of directing resources to low-income renters. Representative Hawkins also testified in support of H. 3121, which would end large investor control of homes in Massachusetts by imposing an excise tax on large owners of small residential properties and using the revenue for first-time homebuyer down payment assistance. After testimony and a few member questions, the chairs asked whether anyone else wished to testify and then adjourned the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was money for the fertilizer development incentive program from two sessions ago.
• The development of the grant management system is one of our major projects.
• First of all, our Lignite Research, Marketing, and Development Program.
• We are in development stage right now. We're finalizing contracts.
• We are in development stage right now. We're finalizing contracts.

Summary: The committee received a compliance and budget update on Industrial Commission agencies and programs, including the Industrial Commission administrative office, the Oil and Gas Research Program, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the State Energy Research Center, the Research Technology Park grant program, and related funds. Staff reviewed spending and balances for items such as electric grid resiliency grants, lignite research, enhanced oil recovery, the salt cavern business case study, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members also discussed timing, carryover balances, matching requirements, and how some programs are structured to reimburse projects over several years rather than spend funds immediately. Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described the agency’s administrative budget, the grant management system nearing completion, and the transition to standalone audits and staffing after separating from other agencies. She also outlined the status of active grant rounds across lignite, oil and gas, renewable energy, outdoor heritage, and clean sustainable energy programs. Members asked about the length of active grants, demand for clean energy funding, and the possibility of future grant rounds. Tyler and members also discussed the salt cavern study, the need to better define its commercial value, and the research technology park grant’s cash-match requirement. Ron Ness then testified on enhanced oil recovery and broader oil and gas market conditions. He said North Dakota production remained steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, longer laterals, and better use of natural gas and carbon dioxide for EOR. He described the state’s EOR grant round, the use of federal DOE funding to replace part of a state-funded project, and the expectation of additional grant rounds. Members asked about CO2 supply, storage, and the economics of using legacy fields and pipelines to extend oil production and support agriculture and industrial uses. The committee also heard from Bank of North Dakota President Don Morgan, who reviewed the bank’s mission, governance, lending verticals, disaster programs, and new initiatives. He said the bank is seeing deposit growth flatten and is responding to fintech competition by focusing on liquidity, risk management, and a new payment infrastructure initiative called Rough Rider Coin, which he emphasized is not crypto and not a public coin, but a banking payment rail for North Dakota institutions. Members asked about student loan rates, disaster lending, and how the bank’s lines of credit and balance sheet capacity are affected by deposit trends. Morgan said the bank remains profitable and continues to support agriculture, commerce, and industry through participation loans, student lending, and state-directed programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was money for the fertilizer development incentive program from two sessions ago.
• The development of the grant management system is one of our major projects.
• First of all, our Lignite Research, Marketing and Development Program.
• And each biennium, the research technology park shall develop a plan for the use of the funds.
• We are in development stage right now. We're finalizing contracts.

Summary: The committee took roll, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a compliance-report update on the Industrial Commission and related funds and programs. Staff reviewed the status of one-time appropriations and grant programs, including electric grid resiliency, lignite research, enhanced oil recovery, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the salt cavern business-case study, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members asked about funding balances, reimbursement timing, matching requirements, and how some commitments would affect the State Investment Fund and future biennia. Industrial Commission staff then gave a broader update on the agency’s administrative office, grant management system, leadership transitions at several commission agencies, and active grant rounds. They reported that the grant management system is nearing completion, that several agency leadership searches have concluded, and that the commission’s grant programs currently have 108 active grants totaling more than $165 million. They also described the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority round, the oil and gas research program’s enhanced oil recovery awards, the grid resiliency grants, the salt cavern study, and the research technology park program, noting that some projects are awaiting federal funds or additional matching cash. Ron Ness, speaking for the Oil and Gas Research Council, focused on the state of the oil industry and the enhanced oil recovery “Bakken 2.0” effort. He said production remains steady, but future growth depends on better infrastructure, longer laterals, and new EOR methods such as CO2, natural gas, and surfactants. He emphasized the importance of the Bakkeneast pipeline and related gas-utilization projects, the recent DOE funding that will return some money to the research council, and the need to modernize tax and incentive rules for CO2-based recovery. Members discussed the potential economic benefits for oil, agriculture, and manufacturing. The Bank of North Dakota then presented its compliance report and a broader strategic update. Bank leadership reviewed the bank’s mission, governance, participation lending, student lending, disaster programs, and legislatively directed programs, and said the bank is managing for a flatter deposit base and stronger liquidity because of fintech competition and changing market conditions. They reported improved earnings, with net income rising to about $231 million, and described Rough Rider Coin as a new internal payment rail for North Dakota banks and credit unions, not a public cryptocurrency. Members asked about student loan eligibility, disaster lending, and the bank’s capacity to support state programs while maintaining its balance-sheet and liquidity requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• The block captain program was developed to help the community get questions answered, developed needs
• And we're developing our very first community park in downtown Larkfield.
• We've had several, again, vetted developers come in, such as Stonefield out of L.A.
• We also try to start the conversation before properties are even developed.
• Sonoma has a lot of discussions about more development going in there.

Summary: The hearing focused on lessons from the 2017 Tubbs Fire and how Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and local partners have changed wildfire prevention, recovery, and rebuilding practices since then. Assemblymembers emphasized that the region has become a model for the state, with a shift from suppression to prevention, and panelists described improvements in defensible space, home hardening, vegetation management, alerting, and community coordination. The discussion also highlighted the continuing importance of sharing Sonoma County’s experience with other wildfire-impacted communities across California and beyond. Fire officials and local leaders described specific prevention measures now in place, including Santa Rosa’s vegetation management ordinance, ignition-free/Zone Zero requirements in rebuilding, restrictions on certain mulches, removal of dead and dying trees near roads and defensible space zones, and expanded prescribed burning authority. They also stressed the importance of community organization through block captains, Firewise/COPE-style networks, and the Mark West Area Community Fund. Speakers said these networks helped residents navigate recovery, avoid fraud and bad contractors, coordinate with local agencies, and support neighbors, but they argued that such efforts need more formal structure and stable funding. Water and permitting officials discussed how the fires changed their work. Santa Rosa Water described new regional coordination, generator and backup power upgrades, emergency training, and lessons learned about wildfire-related contamination in water systems, including the need to restore pressure, flush, and test quickly after a fire. Permit Sonoma said rebuilding was balanced by streamlining permits while still requiring safer, more resilient construction, and noted that reduced fees and one-stop permitting helped speed recovery. United Policyholders described helping residents maximize insurance proceeds, organize information, and avoid scams, while warning that insurance availability and affordability remain major barriers and that insurers are increasingly rewarding risk-reduction measures. Across the panels, the main policy requests were for faster and more flexible grant processes, more stable long-term funding for prevention and community programs, stronger support for home hardening and defensible space, better training and tools for local governments and legislative staff, and continued attention to insurance and utility-related resilience. No formal votes or actions were taken in the transcript excerpt; the hearing was informational and ended with a transition toward public comment and further discussion of remaining statewide wildfire policy needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Neonicotinoids can also impair reproduction and development, suppress the immune system, disrupt endocrine
• And when the neonics were developed, it was thought that they only worked against the insects.
• brain that's important for development brain that's important for development of<00:04:30.160>
• When we do develop that, we develop specific BMPs and mandatory label requirements and a series of voluntary
• <00:33:21.760> uh develop that uh we develop specific uh develop that uh we develop specific

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• me, director of our water development me, director of our water development department,<00:01:03.600
• projects for new development. projects for new development. >> Second. >> Second.
• Senator Crum, development.
• projects for new development. projects for new development.
• level two new development projects. level two new development projects.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:09.039> initiatives some economic development initiatives some economic development
• He's a land development specialist.
• So what that does is it can cut 30 to 45 days out of development plan approvals.
• So what that does is it can cut 30 to 45 days out of development plan approvals.
• So, those development plan approvals.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Northern Kentucky building industry representatives Brian Miller and Matt Mains on housing affordability and construction workforce issues. They argued that regulatory and code requirements add significant cost to new homes, citing an estimate of nearly $94,000 per home nationally and $15,000 to $20,000 per home in Boone County over the past decade. They recommended reforms to building code adoption, architectural design mandates, permit fees and delays, and setback/land dedication rules, saying these changes could reduce costs by $25,000 to $35,000 per home without affecting public safety. They also discussed workforce training efforts through the Enzwe Building Institute, dual-credit programs, apprenticeship incentives, and workforce grants, saying these efforts have helped hold wage growth below regional trends and improve housing affordability. Committee members asked about the breakdown of regulatory costs, the effect of energy codes, and ways to speed up permitting. The presenters said the costs were roughly split among federal, state, and local requirements, with local regulations adding about $25,000 to $35,000 and some energy-code changes adding about $19,000 per home. They said faster plan review, coordination with the Kentucky Division of Water, and addressing municipal staffing shortages could cut 30 to 45 days from approvals. Members also discussed the difficulty of building starter homes under about $350,000 and the need for more missing-middle housing, with the presenters saying such homes are hard to produce without sacrificing quality. The committee then took up Representative Kim Moer and Dr. Dale Bertram’s discussion of marriage and family therapist licensing and healthcare workforce data reporting. They explained that the bill would allow Kentucky to recognize out-of-state marriage and family therapists who meet licensure requirements, have no disciplinary history, and have passed the national exam, in order to reduce barriers and address provider shortages, especially in rural areas. They also described a separate workforce data reporting section that would require licensure boards to collect consistent information on where licensees practice and whether they are actively seeing patients, including through telehealth, so the state can better understand its healthcare workforce. Members supported the portability idea, noted that some qualified applicants are currently working in Indiana instead of Kentucky, and asked whether the data collection could be handled administratively; the sponsors said the bill would create consistency across boards. The committee also briefly discussed occupational board updates and the need for stronger communication between legislators and licensing boards, including architecture licensure issues and efforts to recruit more professionals.

Transcript Highlights:

• it requires the commissioner to develop it requires the commissioner to develop to<00:23:45.520>
• 23:47.600> the to develop metrics to measure the to develop metrics to measure the effectiveness
• we know that so much brain development we know that so much brain development is<01:07:46.080>
• continue to develop. continue to develop. 2-1-1<01:44:00.800> supports<01:44:01.200> multiple
• are not limited by standards developed are not limited by standards developed for<01:48:06.720><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:30:19.399> protective that when people develop protective that when people develop protective
• <00:35:42.640> some these kids somewhere and develop some these kids somewhere and develop
• go inwards and they're going to develop go inwards and they're going to develop mental<00:35:54.560
• I'm excited about what I even see in my church and the way kids are developing.
• I'm excited about what I even see in my church and the way kids are developing.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The other part is leadership development events.
• leadership development leadership development events<00:04:35.160> um<00:04:35.479> between
• And then there's also a piece for teacher professional development.
• <00:29:10.600> and legal and food safe and we developed and legal and food safe and we developed
• product labeling Business Development product labeling Business Development Cottage<00:31:09.519

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• within the Departments and development within the Departments and across<00:20:41.120> the<00
• One of the great outcomes that we're developing and will continue to develop is the relationship with
• The relationship, I think, is developing really well.
• developing and will continue to develop developing and will continue to develop is<00:30:33.080>
• Commerce and Economic Development Commerce and Economic Development Division<00:44:06.359> uh

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was money for the fertilizer development incentive program from two sessions ago.
• The development of the grant management system is one of our major projects.
• First of all, our Lignite Research Marketing and Development Program.
• And each biennium, the research technology park shall develop a plan for the use of the funds.
• We are in development stage right now. We're finalizing contracts.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee received a compliance and status update on Industrial Commission programs and the Bank of North Dakota. Staff reviewed appropriations and spending for several Industrial Commission funds and grant programs, including lignite research, oil and gas research, clean sustainable energy, grid resiliency, salt cavern analysis, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members discussed the timing of reimbursements, uncommitted balances, and the structure of the pipeline capacity and enhanced oil recovery funding. The Industrial Commission also reported on its administrative budget, grant management system project, and recent leadership transitions across several agencies. Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described active grant rounds and the status of major projects. She said the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority approved three projects in its sixth round, with remaining uncommitted cash and loan capacity still available, though no new funding was appropriated this session. She also said the Oil and Gas Research Council approved six enhanced oil recovery projects and expects additional funding after a federal Department of Energy award replaces one project’s state funding. For grid resiliency grants, she said some projects have been funded, some commitments were returned or reallocated, and some DOE funds remain pending. She also updated the committee on the salt cavern business case study, which replaced an earlier larger development proposal, and on the NDSU research park grant, where the nonmatching portion was paid and the matching portion has moved slowly because the match must be in cash. Ron Ness then gave an extended presentation on enhanced oil recovery and North Dakota oil and gas trends. He said production remains steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, especially gas takeaway and projects like the Bakken East pipeline. He argued that enhanced oil recovery using CO2, natural gas, surfactants, and other methods could extend Bakken production for decades, but that the state needs more CO2 supply, better storage, and updated tax and regulatory incentives. Members asked about lateral lengths, CO2 availability, pipeline impacts, and the role of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and Ness emphasized that the projects are intended to share technical learning across operators and attract follow-on investment. The Bank of North Dakota then presented its compliance report and strategic update. President Don Morgan said the bank’s mission remains to support North Dakota agriculture, commerce, and industry while cooperating with the state’s financial sector. He reviewed the bank’s main business lines: participation lending with community institutions, student loans, disaster lending, mission-based programs, and a new fintech-focused effort. Morgan said deposits are flattening, so the bank is managing balance sheet growth carefully, while still reporting improved net income and strong efficiency. He also introduced Rough Rider Coin as a bank-to-bank payment rail, not a public cryptocurrency, intended to speed and modernize payments within North Dakota’s banking and credit union system. Committee members asked about student loan eligibility, disaster program use, and how credit lines and liquidity would be affected if deposits shrink.

Transcript Highlights:

• In developing our fiscal year 27 and 28 schedule, we considered our current staffing levels, follow-up
• As part of the state single audit, we routinely select and audit the Child Care and Development Fund
• Consideration of request for a special audit of the Child Care and Development Fund. Mr.
• But the item says consideration of request for a special audit of the Child Care and Development Fund
• Other items will take more time to correct as they involve developing board policies.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The second tool in Senate Bill 9 is called a housing development district.
• Within the district, a developer can submit a project for at least 15 housing units.
• It will encourage developers to start more housing development or projects, and these incentive payments
• developers to start more housing<00:40:56.080> development<00:40:56.800> or<00:40:56.920
• > projects<00:40:58.080> and housing development or projects and housing development or

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, approved the prior journal, and received committee and House messages. The Families and Children’s Committee reported Senate Bill 191 favorably, and the House transmitted several passed bills requesting concurrence. New filings included Senate Bill 203 on community health workers and several resolutions honoring individuals and observances, including Marie Childers, Military Kids Day, and Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. The chamber then considered and passed Senate Bill 141 on legal advertisements. The sponsor said the bill updates longstanding legal notice requirements to better balance public transparency with lower costs for cities and counties, reflecting an agreement among the Kentucky Press Association, Kentucky League of Cities, and Kentucky Association of Counties. The bill passed 36-1. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 69, creating an autism spectrum disorder trust fund to support services, research, and grants through the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, with an emergency clause; it passed 37-0. Senate Bill 9, as amended by Senate Committee Substitute 1, was also passed 35-2. The bill creates two local housing tools: a residential infrastructure development district to finance infrastructure for larger developments, and a housing development district to encourage new housing through negotiated incentive payments and expedited review. The sponsor said the measure is intended to address Kentucky’s housing shortage. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 102 honoring Marie Childers for decades of service on the Pike County Board of Elections, with remarks praising her bipartisan election work and influence in Pike County politics. Later, the Rules Committee recommitted Senate Bill 125 to Appropriations and Revenue, and the Committee on Committees referred several bills and resolutions to standing committees or to the floor. Announcements were made about upcoming committee meetings, and the Senate took up Senate Resolution 104 honoring Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., with remarks describing his national and international civil rights legacy.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the bottom of slide six, you have the Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Trust Fund, and the
• next two on slide seven are the Higher Education Trust Fund and The Capital Development and Reserve
• For preservation-focused, we have funds like the Workforce Development Fund, which was intended to be
• The Economic Development Department had just gotten off of back-to-back record-breaking job creation
• How are we making this a full circle with economic development?