Transcript Highlights:

• I buy from certain entities that market from wherever.
• I buy from certain entities that market from wherever.
• There's still government entities, though. But they're unelected.
• There's still government entities, though. But they're unelected.
• entity that actually approved the vehicle going forward.

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present and the chair noting it was the committee’s last meeting of the session. The committee first considered Senate Bill 254, which would prohibit certain excess debit card surcharges and authorize enforcement by the Attorney General. After adopting technical amendments and a committee amendment requiring written notice before a private right of action, the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then took up Senate Bill 80 on broadband administration fees and GUMBO program closeout. Members questioned the proposed increase in administrative and contractor fees, the timing of project completion, and how withheld reimbursements would work for utility damage. After adopting several amendments, including cleanup language and a provision to restore the reimbursement process, the bill was reported favorably as amended, though the Louisiana Telecommunications Association voiced concerns about the withholding language and lack of a clearer fault-determination process. The committee next considered Senate Bill 469, updating the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law. Technical amendments were adopted, along with amendments clarifying that the bill’s 30-day notice to utility owner-operators is separate from existing GUMBO notice requirements and creating a rapid dispute-resolution process involving the Office of Broadband, the utility operator, and the local governing authority. Testimony from broadband and municipal stakeholders emphasized the need for quicker responses to excavation damage and better enforcement, while some witnesses raised concerns about the late amendment and the need for clearer recourse and standards. The bill was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 468, dealing with fuel rewards programs and fuel discount limits, was also amended to allow such discounts while capping them at $1 below the advertised price; it was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 131, concerning attorney’s fees and costs in professional licensing disciplinary proceedings, drew testimony from a cosmetology board representative and the Pelican Institute. Supporters argued the bill would curb incentives for boards to generate revenue through enforcement and give licensees a fairer opportunity to resolve cases; board testimony noted that some boards already have fee caps and that enforcement actions are relatively limited. After adopting an amendment clarifying when a licensee is the prevailing party, the bill was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 251 on critical infrastructure protection also received technical amendments and several substantive changes, including adding ports and airports to the definition of critical infrastructure, clarifying “significant access,” adding a knowledge requirement, and adjusting exemptions and enforcement timing; it was reported favorably as amended after testimony from State Armor representatives about foreign adversary threats. Finally, House Resolution 253 was introduced to create a task force to study how post-2005 building code additions and inspection requirements affect residential construction costs, with the sponsor explaining the goal was to gather industry input and return recommendations next session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Corrections um you know other entities Corrections um you know other entities within<00:20:07.919
• Now, you all are the policy-making entity. We are empowering you all with the data.
• We are on the cusp of making some really good recommendations to different entities.
• We are on the cusp of making some really good recommendations to different entities.
• We are on the cusp of making some really good recommendations to different entities.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The working session focused on the New Hampshire Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s budget request and its recent work. Early discussion centered on a technical question about a statutory dedicated fund for donations: members asked why the budget did not show a line item for accepting donations, and DHHS CFO Nathan White explained that the statute already authorizes the fund, but because no revenue has been received yet, it does not appear in the budget. He said any future donations would go through the normal process under RSA 14:30-a, with fiscal committee and Governor and Council approval and a memo to the Department of Revenue Administration. The chair clarified that the account was not a prerequisite to soliciting donations, and White said the fund would supplement, not replace, General Fund support. Kirk Williamson, the board’s executive director, then presented the board’s mission and budget. He said the governor’s budget provides about $256,500 in the first year and slightly more in the second, all General Funds, and that the board had distributed a technical amendment to continue the executive director position. He described the board’s role as analyzing prescription drug costs, identifying savings opportunities, monitoring market trends, promoting transparency, and making recommendations to the legislature and public payers. He also emphasized that the board operates publicly, with live-streamed meetings and a stakeholder advisory council that includes unions, state agencies, Medicaid, corrections, higher education, and other stakeholders. A major topic was the board’s estimate of $6 million in potential savings, based on Medicare’s newly negotiated prices for 10 drugs. Williamson explained that the board used those federal negotiated prices as a benchmark to estimate what New Hampshire public payers might be missing by not having similar leverage, and said the board is trying to build evidence for future recommendations rather than directly setting prices. Members asked how those potential savings could become actual savings, and Williamson said the board is sharing findings through its advisory council and feedback loops, though it has not yet sent a formal recommendation letter to specific purchasers. He also discussed the difference between pharmacy-benefit spending, which relies heavily on PBM-negotiated rebates, and medical-benefit spending, which is administered differently and is being added to the board’s next report. Williamson highlighted other work, including a model on Humira and a pending legislative effort to improve biosimilar competition, plus a proposed state-backed pharmacy savings card that would be no cost to the state and could save users about $240 per prescription based on Connecticut’s experience. No votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:24:34.000> and allowed to go to postsecary entities and allowed to go to postsecary entities
• <00:59:10.480> including to additional entities including to additional entities including
• We had things that we could control, things we couldn't control, and we were dealt some hands that weren't
• We had things that we could control, things we couldn't control, and we were dealt some hands that weren't
• We had things that we could control, things we couldn't control, and we were dealt some hands that weren't

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minneapolis did an RFP to identify the entity that the money would flow through, and that happened.
• Minneapolis did an RFP to identify the entity that the money would flow through, and that happened.
• <00:09:16.279> that shouldn't be going to any entity that shouldn't be going to any entity
• billionaire oligarchs are controlling billionaire oligarchs are controlling more<00:20:33.559>
• We again—we can't control what the federal government does.

Bills: HF3023, HF3078, HF107, HF2171, HF3079, HF689, HF1316

Keywords: unemployment benefits, iron ore mining, economic support, workforce development, Minnesota, unemployment insurance, deferred resignation, employment, worker rights, benefits eligibility, Ellsworth Independent School District, ISD 514, school construction, school renovation, sales tax exemption, use tax refund, construction materials, HVAC replacement, boiler replacement, window replacement

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:57:33.920> or isn't um otherwise rent controlled or isn't um otherwise rent controlled
• I mean that you agreed to a rent control I mean that you agreed to a formula<00:57:39.000> around
• new programs, were things that were passed through, you know, MHFA was essentially a pass-through entity
• <01:10:26.679> to was essentially pass through entity to was essentially pass through entity
• <01:10:28.520> so get the money to other entities so get the money to other entities so you're

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an agency overview from Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho. After member and staff introductions, Ho described Minnesota Housing’s mission, structure, and role as a mission-driven financial institution that issues bonds, uses earnings to support operations, and works across the housing continuum from homelessness prevention to homeownership and preservation. She emphasized that the agency is not a builder or regulator, but funds and partners with developers, local governments, nonprofits, and lenders. She also noted the agency’s four divisions, including a new local government housing programs division created after the 2023 legislative session expanded the agency’s responsibilities. Ho reviewed funding and program activity, saying Minnesota Housing spent $1.96 billion in fiscal year 2024 and helped more than 73,000 households. She highlighted that the agency’s work is heavily competitive and often oversubscribed, with many projects selected through RFPs and grants but more applications than available resources. She discussed 2023 and 2024 investments, including homeownership, rental, and manufactured housing projects, and said roughly half of competitive dollars have gone to Greater Minnesota over the last several years. She also explained the difference between funds committed and funds actually disbursed, noting that construction and rehabilitation projects can take many months to close and draw down funds. The commissioner also updated members on new programs created in 2023 and 2024, including first-generation down payment assistance, the Greater Minnesota Workforce Housing Development Program, public housing rehabilitation, state housing tax credits, and other local and regional initiatives. She said some programs are already closed out, while others remain in early implementation or are still accepting applications. Ho mentioned a forthcoming technical amendment to adjust a high-rise sprinkler program after eligibility issues limited participation. She closed with examples of projects preserved or funded, including a St. Louis Park preservation deal, public housing preservation in Greater Minnesota, a St. Cloud challenge project, and the first-generation down payment assistance program, which distributed $50 million to about 1,450 first-time buyers, most of whom were Black, Indigenous, or people of color. No votes or formal committee actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• they would assure the public that they would pursue these charges to try to get this problem under control
• they would ensure the public that they would pursue these charges to try to get this problem under control
• Again, we pass some of those to a local entity or the State Police for investigation.
• Again, we pass some of those to a local entity or the State Police for investigation because there potentially

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, Senate Bill 1077 determines that a person or agent of an enterprise who knowingly controls
• Who knowingly controls, keeps, maintains, manages, operates, or owns an interactive computer service
• Senate Bill 1058 establishes the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act to prohibit a government entity
• owned firearms or firearm owners, and to prohibit a payment card network and a person or covered entity

Bills: SB1010, SB1035, SB1058, SB1077, SB1093

Keywords: Charlie Kirk, Loop 202, Arizona highways, transportation, renaming, Arizona Department of Corrections, ADC, corrections, prison, jail, correctional officers, prison guards, staffing, retention, salary increase, pay raise, wage increase, general fund, appropriation, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, that's the first part of trying to get your funding right for your entity.
• A lot of the entities that are out there will be...
• We had a couple of entities that we found because they happened to show up.
• If I'm not mistaken, there are over 3,000 entities in the state of New Mexico.
• So those entities, those almost 200, they're different entities. multiple conversations with them because

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, they do retain full ownership of their land, so their privacy, control of their land, um, and they
• I'm just curious how it works for you as an entity. You're not for profit, obviously.
• foreign entities foreign entities buying<01:07:59.320> carbon<01:07:59.640> credits
• the private entity has no right<01:08:50.720> to<01:08:50.839> that.
• There's no control over the land by whoever buys that credit.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductions and approval of the previous minutes, including a small amendment clarifying a note about “leakage” in a prior presentation. The committee then heard a presentation from Sarah Hall of the American Forest Foundation on the Family Forest Carbon Program, which she described as a voluntary carbon and forest management program for smaller landowners. She said the program provides annual payments and technical assistance, requires a forest management plan within two years, and is designed to support improved forest management while still allowing compatible uses such as recreation, hunting, and some harvesting. Hall emphasized that the program is intended as one tool among many and is not a fit for every property. She said most enrolled landowners did not previously have a forest management plan or work with a forester, and that the program helps bring “unengaged” landowners into active management. She also said the program is compatible with current use and other commitments on a case-by-case basis, and that landowners retain ownership of their land and timber rights while AFF holds the carbon rights for the contract term. She highlighted examples of landowners using the program to support taxes, family ownership, wildlife habitat, timber stand improvement, and continued recreational or business uses. Committee members asked about registry compliance in New Hampshire and the relationship between carbon markets and the program. Hall responded that AFF handles registry administration for landowners and would follow up on the specific registry count raised by a member. She explained that the program is funded through a mix of carbon market revenue, philanthropy, and grants, and that carbon credits are generated through landscape-level methodology and monitored using randomly selected plots compared with FIA data. She also noted that consulting foresters are key partners in the program and that AFF has paid more than $3 million to consultants nationwide.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know the actual cost, but the private entity will. Will there be any discussion or debate?
• And this would essentially be a fund that the state could appropriate money into and outside entities
• So, really, that responsibility would would fall on on on that entity.
• here to follow up on that and potentially look at if that needs to be changed if there's another entity
• And if you'll give us a second, the staff will control the queue. OK, let's try this again.

Bills: HB3674, HB4326, HB4331, HB3029, HB2963, HB3551, HB2973, HB3019, HB3461, HB2961, HB3261, HB3759, HB3429, HB3069, HB3372, HB3705

Keywords: school resource officer, sexual assault training, law enforcement training, CLEET, school safety, mental health, continuing education, HB4326, Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, Oklahoma's Promise, scholarship, tuition assistance, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, eligibility expansion, adopted students, foster care, DHS custody, child-placing agency, tribal custody

Transcript Highlights:

• Regarding the bill's rent control, the chilling effect rent control has on the development and expansion
• > all<01:13:02.880> motans, Rent control will hurt all motans, Rent control will hurt all
• manufactured housing with rent control manufactured housing with rent control and<01:14:30.480><
• We're just asking for a few controls. We're just asking for a few controls.
• control leads to slums. I'm a no. control leads to slums. I'm a no.

Bills: HF3403, HF2687, HF2381

Keywords: HF3403, emergency rental assistance, rental aid, homelessness prevention, housing crisis, imminent risk of homelessness, eviction prevention, county aid, Tribal governments, local government aids, general fund appropriation, Minnesota revenue commissioner, poverty level, low-income housing, housing stability, family homeless prevention and assistance, emergency housing assistance, HF2687, single-family homes, corporate landlords

Transcript Highlights:

• would replace the Department of Human Services with the Governor's Office of Volunteerism as the lead entity
• provisions which provide that monetary damages imposed on a representative of a corporation or other entity
• So to penalize the employer because of a reason that is beyond their control is just, we see, unfair.
• authorizes dual employment by certain employees of Rutgers University and affiliated contracting entities
• From what I understand, though, there are a lot of exemptions, a lot of entities are being exempted.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is how it is done currently: either under control of the utility or under control of the company
• That is how it is done currently: either under control of the utility or under control of the company
• That is how it is done currently: either under control of the utility or under control of the company
• Um, that they wouldn't entity.
• on the entity seeking to interconnect. on the entity seeking to interconnect.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No entity has requested a variance or waiver.
• No entity has about. Zero.
• organizations and entities have options. organizations and entities have options.
• We're not shifting any cost to the counties that they cannot control.
• We're not shifting any cost to the counties that they cannot control.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They would be controlled.
• to um you don't have to do a control to um you don't have to do a control trial<02:21:14.479>
• <03:10:28.240> in ultimately get placebo controlled in ultimately get placebo controlled in
• where you then have um, placebo controls where you then have um, placebo controls and<03:11:25.600
• affordable, give patients more control affordable, give patients more control over<04:49:40.160>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Flag issues, hopefully correct issues, before they spiral out of control.
• And so I'm a big advocate of cooperation between government entities.
• I believe strongly in limited government, local control, and allowing communities...
• I think local control matters a lot. So let me put it out there.
• control.

Bills: SB1024, SB1032, SB1059, SB1062, SB1064, SB1097, SCM1001, SCR1004

Keywords: roadable aircraft, registration, vehicle title, license plates, aviation safety, corrections oversight, funding, state budget, criminal justice, reform, appropriation, Department of Transportation, right turn lane, traffic improvement, infrastructure funding, transportation funding, authorization, road improvements, intersection safety, transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• And we would also want to run it by the California Gambit Control Commission.
• And that is a separate entity that handles that, outside of CDCR.
• And that is a separate entity that handles that. So that is outside of CDCR.
• Right now, if we have four regions, each that has a data center that controls the traffic, we're not
• And so we have proposed some budget control language, and submitted a letter earlier today distributed

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1330, local option alcoholic beverage control law revise definition of qualified majority
• ... ...license these types of entities that would transfer money.
• Ensures they are properly bonded and have a data security control policy and audit.
• Parents feel out of control, that they don't have control.
• Landrum was previous to 2008 also convicted of possession of controlled substance and the controlled

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 1 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee, two entities have done this analysis.
• as it would come from the actual entity as it would come here?
• ,<01:59:13.520> the<01:59:14.000> the those three entities, the the those three entities
• large uh entities with a lot of people. large uh entities with a lot of people.
• <03:28:52.399> throughout that is build those entities throughout that is build those entities

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• "To mean the sale or other transfer of ownership to a different individual or entity with a different
• identification number, or the transfer of 51% or more of the ownership, shares, membership, or controlling
• It also prohibits a recovery residence credentialing entity from requesting or obtaining clinical or
• includes, but not limited to the transfer, the majority of the ownership interest in the licensed entity
• or transfer of responsibilities under the license to another entity.

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs heard and advanced several bills and confirmations. SB 1016, on medical assistance eligibility for working persons with disabilities, was amended to remove automatic enrollment and to improve information sharing between AHCA and DCF; supporters said the bill codifies an existing program that helps developmentally disabled adults work without losing Medicaid coverage, and the committee reported the bill favorably. SB 1002, on temporary custody of minor children, was amended to focus on substance abuse as a pathway for court intervention when parental drug abuse creates ongoing risk to a child, and it was also reported favorably. SB 1594, on veteran benefit payments for minor clients in foster care, would ensure military benefits accessed for foster youth are preserved for post-secondary education or aftercare rather than used as reimbursement to agencies; it passed favorably without amendment. The committee also considered SB 1630 on aging and disability services, a broad modernization bill covering long-term care screening, emergency continuity of care, area agency oversight, Alzheimer’s services, home care, and guardianship reforms. Two amendments were adopted, including one on competitive procurement and another allowing area agencies on aging to directly provide core services during emergencies with department approval. Supporters emphasized caregiver navigation, dementia training, and service continuity, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1030 on substance abuse services/recovery residences was taken up with a substitute amendment that narrowed transfer definitions, required faster licensure action for existing providers adding levels of care, and limited credentialing entities’ access to resident medical records; stakeholders said further work was needed, but the committee still reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard the nomination of Robert Astellos to lead the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. He outlined priorities including reducing the pre-enrollment list, improving transparency and family involvement, strengthening customer service, and streamlining agency processes. Several disability and provider organizations appeared in support, and the committee voted to recommend his confirmation. The committee then recommended confirmation of the appointees on tabs 7 through 10 by a single favorable vote, and adjourned at the end of the meeting.