Transcript Highlights:

• But all of that revenue, other than what's bonded—so if your convention center is bonded to be paid for
• But all of that revenue, other than what's bonded, so if your convention center is bonded to be paid
• center, where we have 1.6 million... ...the continuous expansion of our convention center, where we
• And again, we've got to continue to expand our convention center.
• And again, we've got to continue to expand our convention center.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and the Speaker announced schedule changes for the following week, including canceling the floor session on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main floor action centered on CS/HB 7033, the House tax package. Sponsor Rep. Duggan described broad tax changes, including reducing the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, exempting certain bullion sales, repealing the aviation fuel tax, delaying the natural gas fuel tax, changing corporate income tax treatment for charitable trusts, reducing the pari-mutuel tax on card rooms, and major changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use. The bill would redirect most TDT revenue toward property tax relief, dissolve tourist development councils, and include related property tax and local tax administration changes. Several amendments were debated: a Driscoll amendment to preserve local TDT flexibility failed; Duggan’s amendment giving local governments 25% discretion over TDT revenues was adopted; Eskamani’s combined-reporting amendment failed; and a Duggan amendment requiring audit certification of compliance with the TDT/property tax relief provisions was adopted. After debate, CS/HB 7033 passed 78-29. The House then took up CS/CS/HB 1221 on local option taxes, which was presented as a companion-style measure to give local governments more flexibility while redirecting TDT revenues toward property tax relief. Supporters argued the bill would provide immediate relief to property owners and restore accountability in local tax use, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism funding, infrastructure, and local services. An amendment allowing local governments to retain 25% of TDT revenues for general purposes was adopted, and the bill passed 62-45 after floor debate. The final item shown was the reading of CS/CS/HJR 1257, a proposed constitutional amendment related to property tax exemptions and assessment limits, but the transcript cuts off before debate or action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current Minnesota law, there are few restrictions placed on conventional loans.
• A conventional loan is a loan under the federal conforming loan limit that is not insured by VA or FHA
• Thank you. than is commonly used in Minnesota a than is commonly used in Minnesota a conventional<00:
• loan is a loan under the conventional loan is a loan under the federal<00:06:34.360><c> conforming</
• </c><00:06:44.520><c> loans</c> lenders originating conventional loans lenders originating conventional

Bills: HF1865 , HF2014 , HF2028

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It's for the Alabama Missionary Baptist Convention.
• I know we have members who attend churches that are part of the convention.
• They do incredible work. convention.
• health clinic, blood bank, public health clinic, public libraries, services for the disabled, health center

Bills: SB177 , HB83 , HB203 , HB218 , HB256 , HB350 , HB530 , HB546 , HB577 , HB259

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Transcript Highlights:

• That was one of the questions I was being asked at our national convention: how did you do that?
• I was being asked at our national convention, how did you do that? How do you get there?
• I mentioned the State Emergency Operations Center.
• Today, if we have a disaster today at the state emergency operations center, we live. We live.
• Last is our web-based emergency operations center, or WebEOC.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Major General James Hartzell of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the agency’s outreach, benefits assistance, and state veterans nursing homes. He highlighted Florida’s large and growing veteran population, the decline in World War II and Vietnam-era veterans, and the increase in post-9/11 veterans moving to the state. Hartzell discussed the state veterans nursing home system, including a new Collier County facility that will include skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day health care, and outpatient therapy, and he said the department is also studying future adult day health care expansion and possible additional homes in underserved areas. He also reported on the dental program funded by the Legislature, saying 245 veterans were served in the first quarter of the fiscal year, with 1,631 procedures completed and more than $525,000 in savings, and he credited the added state veterans service officer positions with helping connect more veterans to benefits. Hartzell also noted a 13% year-over-year reduction in homeless veterans, emphasized mental health outreach through SaveFLVets.org and the Overwatch program, and announced a new deputy executive director, retired Colonel D.J. Reyes. Members asked about the need for additional veterans homes in South Florida, the criteria used to site new homes, the homeless veteran reduction, and whether adult day health care could be added at existing facilities. Hartzell explained that federal criteria focus on the availability of private skilled nursing beds for veterans 65 and older, and that adult day health care is state-funded and being studied for broader deployment. He also said the department tracks where homeless veterans are concentrated and works with local partners and organizations like Tunnels to Towers to provide housing and services that reduce recidivism. The committee also discussed Florida’s national reputation for veteran support, including Veterans Month and the state’s culture of veteran awareness. The committee then received a presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster response, recovery, and technology systems. Guthrie described the State Emergency Response Team, the new Florida Central Operations and Coordination Office in Auburndale, and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, which is expected to be fully operational by spring 2026 and will significantly expand capacity and hardening. He reviewed recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Debbie, Idalia, Ian, Irma, Michael, Dorian, Sally, Nicole, and others, including sheltering, travel trailers, debris removal, and FEMA reimbursement totals. Guthrie said Florida removed more than 31.6 million cubic yards of debris from Helene and Milton in 90 days on a 24/7 basis, and he described Elevate Florida, the Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation (FROC), the DEMES platform, and WebEOC as tools to streamline recovery, mitigation, and intergovernmental coordination. Members asked about flood-response resources for cities, the state’s use of pumps and mutual aid, and lessons learned from inland flooding after Milton. Guthrie said local governments should first use county and city mutual aid, then request state assistance when needed, and he encouraged more partnerships for staging and maintaining flood equipment. He also said future flood mitigation must address outdated development patterns, watershed flow, and the need for better drainage planning, while continuing temporary fixes and homeowner assistance programs. The committee ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state contributes $2 million annually to Bartle Hall Convention Center in Kansas City.
• The state contributes $2 million annually to Bartle Hall Convention Center in Kansas City.
• In other words, it's a convention center. It's nice.
• But what has this convention center contributed back to the state in terms of revenue?
• We had a whale of a good time last year talking about that $130 million convention center was going to

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee, I'm Chris Cargill with Mountain States Policy Center.
• between those somewhat differentiated fees that individual municipalities may be charging and the convention
• I do know from a convention center perspective a lot of that goes to tourism, encouraging more, I guess
• , conventions here in Idaho and other things of that nature.
• A lot of that goes to tourism, encouraging more, I guess, conventions here in Idaho and other things

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we had a number of what we call convention center taxes that were extended in order to support
• There were taxes called the convention center taxes that were extended, and that includes city sales
• </c><00:30:42.480><c> center</c><00:30:42.799><c> taxes</c> of what we call convention center taxes of
• what we call convention center taxes that<00:30:43.520><c> were</c><00:30:44.240><c> extended</c><00
• /c><00:30:56.240><c> center</c><00:30:56.559><c> taxes</c> taxes called the convention center taxes taxes

Bills: HF4912 , HF4664

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Really sort of combines a teacher-student-centered approach with an exam schedule, if you will, that
• The rubric has two dimensions: it's conventions...
• If it's on topic, then you proceed to conventions.
• Currently, it involves analyzing sentences and paragraphs for ideas and conventions, and sometimes too
• It's sort of conventional wisdom in our field.

Bills: HB8

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• There have been over 450 convention calls passed by the states since our founding, but a convention has
• We don't want a convention; we want to use the threat of a convention at 33 states to force Congress
• Now, despite the fact that our campaign does not seek a convention, conventions are perfectly safe.
• The truth is that those who fear conventions have been made to believe that a convention, once convened
• So if not an Article 5 convention, So if not an Article 5 convention, then what? What is there?

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Unlike the convention-of-states resolution that wants to have a convention, the primary goal of this
• But largely, this actual call is not for a convention. We're not trying to have a convention.
• a convention shouldn't be feared.
• If it takes 34 states to call a convention, and we've had over 450 convention calls, why no conventions
• that the convention would obey.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the State Energy Research Center and the ERC are working on that business case analysis.
• So the State Energy Research Center Fund is number of Fund 490.
• Now they're moving to large-scale data centers, massive data centers, anything they can do in Texas to
• Now, there was a spur going down to the data center down in Dickey County, and that got...
• So that data center needs natural gas.

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:

• They do not have the right to dictate to the state what the naming convention is for the regulation.
• They do not have the right to dictate to the state what the naming convention is for the regulation.
• And if I may just one final question, then if the naming convention doesn't matter on the compacts and
• Because of a couple other states' experience, we're fairly confident that the naming convention will
• Because of a couple other states' experience, we're fairly confident that the naming convention will

Committee: Joint Business and Labor Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Furthermore, there was a proposal for a neighborhood health center in central El Paso.
• The El Paso Hospital District owns the University Medical Center there.
• UMC El Paso is the only level one... center within a 280-mile radius.
• Center to Satellite Emergency Departments.
• We're a convention of about 5,300 different churches across the state.

Bills: HB1453 , HB1718 , HB2043 , HB2207 , HB2798

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: local governments, anticipation notes, certificates of obligation, public works, flood control, financial management, local government, municipal financing, private activity bonds, closing definition, real estate finance, bond issuance, government regulation, bond election, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, political subdivision, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• So conventions don't run away.
• We've never had a constitutional convention since the original constitutional convention in the 1780s
• convention since the original<00:06:55.560><c> constitutional</c><00:06:56.400><c> convention</c><00
• :06:57.240><c> in</c> original constitutional convention in original constitutional convention in the
• </c><00:11:16.240><c> of</c> opposition of Article 5 Convention of opposition of Article 5 Convention

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1295 HD2, relating to clean energy, and then on Senate Concurrent Resolution 140 and Senate Resolution 158, which seek an Article V Convention of States application. HB 1295 drew brief supportive testimony from listed supporters and one witness who said the bill would help future generations and address pollution, runoff, watershed planning, and cleaner energy alternatives. No committee action or vote was taken on the clean energy bill during the portion provided. Most of the hearing focused on SCR 140 and SR 158. Supporters argued the resolutions would let states, including Hawaii, propose constitutional amendments to address federal overreach, fiscal responsibility, deficit spending, term limits, and the balance of power between Washington and the states. Several supporters said state legislators are closer to the people and that Article V gives states a legitimate role in proposing amendments; some also cited debt, executive orders, and the need for long-term reforms. One witness from Convention of States Action said the movement is active nationwide and that the convention process would still require ratification by 38 states. Opponents, including representatives of Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Common Cause, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, and individual testifiers, warned there are no real guardrails on a convention and that it could open the door to broader constitutional changes. They said the effort is unnecessary, risky, and potentially harmful to environmental protections, social safety net programs, and civil rights, and argued that federal action is sometimes needed during recessions and emergencies. Committee members asked questions about whether the proposal was merely procedural and whether the states should act without Congress; the discussion ended with continued questioning, and no vote or final committee action is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> any uh convention. any uh convention.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Oh, just an article 5 convention. &gt;&gt; Oh, just an article 5 convention.
• to keep the convention going. And that to keep the convention going.
• . convention. convention.
• How was a convention to for the purpose. How was a convention to be<00:27:04.240><c> formed?

Bills: HB0108 , HB0039 , HB0091 , HB0070

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Brown, as as you know, this is a continuation of the discussion we had during the summer interims centered
• around the English language centered around the English language proficiency<00:02:56.720><c> and</c
• We've got our annual convention<00:16:15.199><c> and</c><00:16:15.440><c> we're</c><00:16:15.680><c>
• really</c><00:16:16.000><c> excited</c><00:16:16.399><c> that</c> convention and we're really excited
• that convention and we're really excited that uh<00:16:17.360><c> the</c><00:16:17.600><c> head</c><

Bills: HB0032

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So there was no runaway convention.
• That's what this is: the whole new convention.
• The other option is it can go through a convention.
• It could be he could convene a convention or who convenes the convention.
• ones chosen to be at the convention.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the question is not whether a state can call for a convention, but whether it can call for a convention
• If the worst comes to pass and the convention—the adults at the convention do go wild and they start
• Convention promoters tell you they want a limited convention, but they tell Congress they want an unlimited
• convention.
• of states, an Article V convention.

Bills: SB312 , SB945 , SB946 , SB1367 , SB1861 , SB2044 , SB2337 , SB2403 , SB2819 , SJR54

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is Senate Bill 1119, which is the Convention of States implementing legislation.
• Missouri, as you know, is a signatory to several Article V calls for a convention.
• Missouri, as you know, is a signatory to several Article 5 calls of convention.
• I'm one of the volunteer convention of Missouri Convention of States liaison.
• determine who's going to go represent me through the convention.

Committee: House General Laws

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:53:08.880><c> center.
• center. 29 million for post-h convention center. 29 million for post-h harvest<00:53:11.440><c> and<
• , $5 million for the women's correctional center, $30 million for the new Oahu community correctional
• , $5 million for the women's correctional center, $30 million for the new Oahu community correctional
• , $5 million for the women's correctional center, $30 million for the new Oahu community correctional