Transcript Highlights:

• It just does concern me that we have this third-party process now, and I understand the third party is
• operator, third party...
• If for some reason this third party, this operator, third-party administrator, the state of Maryland,
• But I just want to read the specific statute, which says the office shall retain a third-party administrator
• So when we read subdivision B and it says clearly we're to hire a third-party administrator to manage

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on several GovOps-related budget proposals, beginning with ongoing funding for the California Education Learning Lab. The Learning Lab described its intersegmental grants to UC, CSU, and community college faculty, including AI-related work and a math alignment project, and said the Governor’s proposal would move the program’s home agency to GovOps and restore $4 million annually. The Department of Finance supported the proposal as a way to improve coordination, while the LAO recommended rejecting it, arguing the projects are hard to scale, similar professional development already exists in the segments, and the state should consider saving General Fund dollars. Senators split on the value of the program, with some emphasizing innovation and intersegmental collaboration and others questioning its measurable long-term impact; the item was held open. The committee then reviewed the Office of Civil Rights proposal to implement AB 715 and SB 48 with $3.5 million in 2026-27 and $2.8 million ongoing. GovOps said the office had been set up administratively, positions were being recruited, and it would provide training, technical assistance, and complaint review related to anti-Semitism and other discrimination in TK-12 schools. The LAO had no concerns, but senators raised substantial questions about the office’s placement in GovOps, the lack of guidance while the laws are being implemented, the use of gubernatorial appointees, and whether the staffing structure matches the likely workload across different discrimination categories. GovOps said it would develop guidance, coordinate with CDE, and shift resources as needed once staff are hired, but several members said they were not prepared to support the item as presented; it was also held open. After public comment supporting the California Education Interagency Council, the subcommittee approved vote-only items 11 through 17 and 6 through 10. It then heard from the Office of Data and Innovation on a request for five positions and $1.25 million in reimbursement authority to expand digital service delivery work. ODI described projects such as reducing unauthorized EBT theft and forecasting community water system outages, and said it uses guardrails and contracts to protect sensitive data when working with vendor AI services. The LAO had no concerns, and members generally praised ODI’s small, high-impact role; the item was held open. Finally, the Department of Technology presented on the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, reporting that 423 miles are complete, more than 70% of the network has been permitted, and about 5,300 miles are expected to be completed by December 2026, with some work potentially slipping into 2027. CDT said Skyline Technology Solutions had been selected to operate the network and that the third-party administrator, Golden State Net, would continue to support development and later help oversee operations and sales. The LAO noted the project’s progress but raised concerns about the novel three-party structure, accountability, and long-term financial sustainability. Senators questioned the legal basis for the operator arrangement, the revenue outlook, reporting to the Legislature, and whether the network will be self-sustaining; CDT said it expects revenues to cover operations over time and will continue annual and quarterly reporting. The item was left open.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you read the article, it's that we didn't.
• And what's the third? Is it other three lines?
• At the bottom of page 16, we'll talk about our third strategy.
• They said 58% increase in reading and 78% reduction in absenteeism. That's huge.
• I saw about third, fourth grade. That didn't scare you from what I saw.

Transcript Highlights:

• none, the Chair has been informed that House 2320 has been released by the Committee on Bills in the Third
• Reading.
• Third reading of the bill: An act relative to the position of treasurer-collector in the town of Berkeley

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several procedural matters. The Committee on Rules reported orders extending reporting deadlines for the Judiciary Committee on House Order 4376 and for the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee on House Order 4393; in both cases the House suspended the rules and adopted the orders. The House also concurred with Senate-referred petitions sent to the Committee on Public Service, including a State Police waiver request for Jonathan Lewis and sick leave bank legislation for Irene O’Rourke. The House then suspended Joint Rule 12 for a petition concerning automated curb enforcement and improved parking violation procedures, sending it to the Committee on Transportation. The Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee recommended a series of bills for consideration, including measures on self-storage consumer protections, local option for associate planning board members, special education reserve funds, regional school assessment reserve funds, the status of women commissions, zoning bylaw publication procedures, and three sick leave bank bills. The House suspended Rule 7A, ordered these bills to a third reading, and later passed House 2320, a bill relative to the position of treasurer-collector in the town of Berkeley, to be engrossed. The chamber also observed a moment of silence in memory of Jacqueline “Jackie” Haley, former teacher, attorney, and wife of former Representative Paul Haley of Weymouth. Finally, the House adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m. and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• About two-thirds of household budgets is spent on services.
• About two-thirds of household budgets is spent on services.
• favorable patterns here is only a third favorable patterns here is only a third of<00:23:42.480>
• 2500 this year so we're about a third 2500 this year so we're about a third the<02:21:22.200>
• Office, despite the headlines that you read, is on its back.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a Ways and Means briefing opened by the vice chair, who introduced Jason Wong of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to discuss the national and regional economy. Wong focused on inflation, asking why it had fallen from about 9% in 2022 to the 2%–3% range, and what that meant for monetary policy and the risk of an economic downturn. He said the Fed’s target is 2%, noted that recent PCE inflation was about 2.4% and core PCE about 2.7%, and described the ongoing debate over whether interest rates should stay tight or be lowered further to protect the labor market. Wong explained that the improvement in inflation has been driven largely by goods prices, especially durable goods such as cars, appliances, and furniture, as well as non-durable goods like food. He said supply-chain disruptions during the pandemic caused major price spikes in 2022, but those pressures have eased and many goods prices are now at or below the Fed’s target. He also referenced the New York Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, saying it showed extreme pandemic-era disruptions that have since receded. The main remaining inflation problem, he said, is in services, especially housing. Wong broke services into rent of shelter and all other services, explaining that shelter is a large share of household budgets and that housing inflation has a lag because rent measures often reflect older lease terms rather than current market rents. He said monthly Zillow data suggest market rents have cooled and may eventually feed through to official inflation measures. Members asked several questions about the chart’s time scale, the treatment of real estate, property taxes, and utilities, and Wong clarified that housing costs are counted in services and that the slides would be shared digitally. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I read in the bill that they are.
• She's just reading the section, Mr. She's just reading the section, Mr.
• The third project I worked on is the St.
• The third project I worked on is the St.
• <01:18:05.440> of underfunded, receiving only a third of underfunded, receiving only a third

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• lowest property tax, third lowest taxing state in the country.
• lowest property tax is still the third lowest property tax third<00:40:16.680> lowest<00:40:17.120
• I just read it.
• <02:10:41.720> it, hand and they can actually read it, hand and they can actually read it,
• I highly suggest reading it. It is absolutely amazing.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Am I reading this right?
• Am I reading this right? like metrics. Am I reading this right?
• Pearl agreed and Senator Rosenald third Pearl agreed and Senator Rosenald third that<01:07:13.920
• Um, but it's two-thirds. It takes a two-thirds vote, right?
• Um, but it's two-thirds. It takes a two-thirds vote, right?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:51:22.000> one and they are responsible I'll read one and they are responsible I'll read
• and the third floor at the state house. and the third floor at the state house.
• They're very hard to read.
• When we did have a curator, a read.
• And so, um, I that are easier to read.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Administration Committee opened with Senate Bill 197, which would remove the Department of Health and Human Services commissioner’s supervisory role over the legislative facilities committee nurse and instead place the nurse under the Board of Nursing’s scope of practice. The sponsor’s aide and DHHS legislative director explained that the change updates outdated language last amended in 1995, aligns the statute with current practice, and was reviewed with legislative staff and nursing regulators, who were said to be comfortable with the proposal. Members asked why the change was needed and whether the commissioner had actually been supervising; the response was that the language no longer reflected how the position functioned. The chair said the bill might still be a simple consent item, but additional modifications were being discussed, so the hearing was closed with no vote taken at that time. The committee then heard Senate Bill 186, authorizing the Joint Legislative Historical Committee to accept and display a portrait of former Senator Jeb Bradley in the State House. The sponsor’s aide described Bradley’s legislative and congressional service and urged the committee to move the bill ought to pass. Members asked practical questions about whether the portrait was completed, its size, and where it would be hung. The witness said the portrait was not yet completed and that size and placement had not been determined, though the committee was told the historical committee would decide placement. A committee member noted that portrait sizes and locations are already being reviewed because of space concerns, and the hearing ended without a vote. A work session followed on the portrait bills, with the chair using them as a vehicle to discuss broader problems in the statutes governing portraits and the historical committee. He said the committee had gathered information from other states and suggested possible policy ideas such as portrait moratoriums, waiting periods after death, size limits, and clearer placement rules. Members discussed the need to update the RSAs and better define the historical committee’s authority. The committee did not take final action during the work session, but the discussion indicated that the portrait bills may be held while broader statutory revisions are considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, please ask my co-person who's going to read with me is stuck in traffic.
• For the record, we’re going to read the consent calendar.
• For the record, we’re going to read the consent calendar.
• Okay, we have a motion by Wynn and a second by Alnese and a third by Sharp Collins.
• So motion and a second, let's call the roll with a third by Harabedian.

Summary: The committee heard AB 82, which would expand privacy and safety protections for patients and providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care. The author and supporters said the bill is needed because of rising harassment, doxing, and threats, and because sensitive health data could be used by hostile actors; opponents argued it would create constitutional problems, enable abuse of safe-at-home protections, and improperly shield providers and records from scrutiny. Public testimony was heavily divided, with many advocates in support and many privacy, civil liberties, and anti-trafficking or sex-based policy groups in opposition. The bill was moved on a due pass recommendation and remained on call. The committee then heard AB 331, which would clarify that county election certification is a ministerial duty, prohibit misleading ballot return envelopes, and require voter information guides to be delivered to jails in an acceptable format. The Department of Justice and several good-government groups supported the measure, the Secretary of State had no position after amendments, and a committee member noted ongoing concerns but supported it after the changes. The bill passed on a do pass recommendation to Appropriations and was placed on call. AB 1178 followed, proposing to protect undercover peace officers’ names, images, and likenesses in public records while preserving disclosure of sustained misconduct records. Law enforcement and public safety groups supported the bill as a needed safety measure, while journalists, transparency advocates, and civil liberties groups opposed it, saying existing law already protects officers and the new language could lead to overbroad withholding. After discussion about the scope of undercover status and the need for judicial discretion, the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. The committee also adopted a consent calendar. Later, AB 981 was heard, creating a five-county pilot program requiring intelligent speed assistance devices for certain reckless driving convictions. Supporters, including traffic safety advocates and crash victims, said the bill could reduce repeat speeding and save lives; opponents raised concerns about cost, installer oversight, liability for automakers, and the breadth of the pilot. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 22, which would repeal Proposition 57 and restrict release of sexually violent predators and certain sex offenders, drew strong opposition from youth justice, public defender, and civil liberties groups who said it would be unconstitutional and harmful; the chair recommended no, no motion was made, and the bill was held. Finally, AB 897, a squatter-removal bill, was presented with the author arguing it would protect property owners through a faster due-process process; the transcript cuts off during early support testimony and does not show a final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• My understanding, and I've actually read those.
• Now, as it relates to supermajority or two-thirds...
• You had to read that?
• Of that rollback rate, then that voting threshold would increase to two-thirds.
• I read the bill summary, and there's nothing in there about the rollback rate.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• also added my Senate Bill 953 regarding the air pollution control program funding, which the Senate read
• and third read.
• The Senate third read and passed 25 to 8 on February 19.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and approved Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 913 on a do pass motion by a vote of 16 ayes and 3 noes. The transcript then moved to a public hearing on Senate Bill 1033, presented by Senator Jason Bean. The bill would exempt certain older covered farm vehicles used in local farming operations from emissions inspection requirements, and it also included language to ease permitting for cotton gins by removing the need for air dispersion modeling in certain construction permit applications. Bean also referenced related air pollution control funding language from Senate Bill 953. Testimony on SB 1033 was uniformly supportive. Cotton producers, Missouri Farm Bureau, the Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Pork Producers, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, the Missouri Mining Association/Infra, the American Council of Engineering Companies, and Associated Industries of Missouri all spoke in favor. Supporters said the bill would reduce regulatory and retrofit costs for farm vehicles, help cotton gins remain competitive with neighboring states, and provide a more stable funding stream for the state air pollution control program, which witnesses said is projected to become insolvent in fiscal year 2028. Committee members asked several questions about the cotton gin permitting changes, the number of farmers affected, and the air program funding mechanism. Witnesses explained that the funding provision would redirect a small portion of sales and use tax revenue from electric power distribution into the air pollution control program and would prevent sweeping of unused funds to general revenue. No one testified in opposition, and the chair closed the hearing on SB 1033.

Transcript Highlights:

• House and Senate bills, Joint resolutions on second reading assignment, Reassignment of bills and resolutions
• The membership of the House from the floor leader's office said measures are considered read for the
• He placed third in state for world history.
• hey listen, we celebrate a lot of things up here and rightfully so, but a kid that nationally ranked third
• We do have bills to be considered, so please read up on them. Thank you.

Bills: HB3725, HB3260, HB3660, HB3369, HB3370, HB2937, HB3419, HB3264, HB3266, HB3267, HB3268, HB3310, HB4311, HB3841, HB3024, HB3075

Keywords: labor, e-verification, immigration, employers, employment eligibility, Department of Labor, penalties, funeral licensing, continuing education, Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, professional development, licensing requirements, HB3660, natural organic reduction, human composting, soil reduction, green burial, funeral services, cremation, burial permit

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not going to read all of these to you.
• Column C, the third column in, lists the degree type.
• So then there'd be like a third tier.
• So if we could even look at a one-to-two match, you know, so it's like one-third we match and two-thirds
• two-thirds you match.

Summary: The Higher Ed Funding Committee met to review how North Dakota might identify and address low-producing academic programs and to discuss draft funding formulas for the university system. Lisa Johnson of the NDUS explained that the State Board of Higher Education is already developing a system-wide policy, using models from other states such as Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, and Connecticut. She described how low-producing programs are typically flagged by multi-year enrollment or completion thresholds, then reviewed for workforce demand, mission fit, cost, accreditation, and regional need before any action is taken. Committee members asked about what counts as a program, how costs are analyzed, whether certificates are included, how exemptions work for mission-critical or high-demand fields, and whether the board or legislature should set the rules. Johnson said the board is the appropriate body to lead the process, but legislators could use funding leverage if they wanted to encourage action; the chair asked the board to bring a detailed proposal to the June meeting. The committee then heard a Legislative Council presentation on a draft formula for UND and NDSU. The proposal uses fall census FTE enrollment, with a placeholder undergraduate rate of $7,000 per FTE and a graduate/professional rate of $10,500, plus incentives for completions in in-demand fields and research productivity. Alex from Legislative Council walked through the projected funding effects, noting that the model would increase funding for NDSU and reduce it for UND in the current biennium, with different results in the next biennium as enrollment changes are recognized. Members questioned the use of the placeholder rates, the definition of in-demand programs, the treatment of research funding, and the exclusion of state-appropriated dollars from the external grants calculation. The chair emphasized that the numbers were illustrative and that appropriators would set the actual dollar amounts later. A second draft formula for the other nine institutions was also reviewed. That model uses fall census FTE without a weighted economic factor, applies a higher undergraduate rate, and adds completion incentives for in-demand credentials and all other completions. Members noted that the formula would benefit some institutions, such as Bismarck State College, while reducing funding for others, such as Mayville State, and discussed whether the nine institutions should be treated more uniformly or split into smaller groups because of their different missions and sizes. Committee members and staff repeatedly stressed that the formulas are still being refined and that some institutions would likely need hold-harmless adjustments or other transition measures. The meeting ended with the chair directing the committee to continue the discussion later and to expect further work on both the low-producing program policy and the funding formulas.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I had read Thank you, Madam Chair.
• , education taking ESL, remedial reading, education taking ESL, remedial reading, writing,<00:26:
• And I would just say from the reading that I've done that there's a lot of national reading organizations
• lot of national reading there's a lot of national reading organizations<00:33:49.160> that<00:
• And if we might need a third semester.

Bills: HF4698, HF4608

Keywords: higher education, identity verification, enrollment fraud, funding, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, postsecondary education, community college, university, developmental education, remedial education, remediation, corequisite, co-requisite, English composition, college readiness, adult basic education, ABE, student placement, credit-bearing courses, noncredit courses

Summary: The committee first approved the March 26 minutes after Representative Coulter pointed out and moved a technical correction to add a missing “T” in “Regents.” The committee then took up HF 4698, which Representative Duran said would address enrollment fraud at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities by funding an automated identity-proofing system. Testimony from Chief Information Security Officer Craig Munson described a commercial software system that would verify student identities using a selfie and a state ID image, reduce ghost students and fraud, speed enrollment, and lessen staff time spent on manual investigations. Members focused heavily on privacy, data retention, and biometric concerns. Representative Cleveland asked what biometric data would be collected, and Munson said it would be limited to a selfie and ID images, not fingerprints or retinal scans. Chair Klippert and others urged stronger Chapter 13 protections and clearer data practices, while Chair Scott asked how long images would be stored; Munson said they should be deleted as soon as identity is validated, with possible revalidation later. Members also raised concerns about racial bias in biometric matching and the need for alternate verification methods. The bill was laid over, and Duran said he would work on the data practices with committee members. The committee then heard HF 4608, presented by Representative Allen for Representative Koznick, on developmental education reform. Allen said too many students are placed into remedial courses that do not count toward a degree, costing time and money and reducing completion rates. Jane Groatman of the International Institute of Minnesota supported the bill, describing students who spent years in noncredit remedial coursework and arguing for a one-semester cap on remedial classes and clearer notice that such credits do not count toward a degree. Mark Grant of Minnesota State College faculty opposed the bill’s approach, saying it imposed a one-size-fits-all model, could undermine open admissions, and should not limit colleges’ flexibility to meet diverse student needs. The bill was laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• The question is on engrossment and a third reading of the bill. All those in favor say aye.
• Third reading.
• third reading of the engrossment and a third reading of the bill.<01:14:35.679> All<01:14:36.000
• <01:14:43.120> Third<01:14:43.440> reading. have it. Third reading. have it.
• Third reading.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, September 19, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I'll go ahead and read it.
• However, domestic violence third is not considered a violent offense under 12-25-32.
• However, domestic violence third is not considered a violent offense under 12-25-32.
• However, domestic violence third is not considered a violent offense under 12-25-32.
• Theft in third, second, or first degree. Those are all crimes of moral turpitude.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Roughly a third of those folks are children receiving food assistance, and another third are elderly
• Their children, okay, these children, okay, I already read that, sorry, I'm nervous now.
• Regular JR accounts for two-thirds of the total JR caseload.
• At this point, it accounts for close to one-third of the total JR caseload.
• So you can see, for example, the second and third rows, the WISER ID number two.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on the effects of H.R. 1 on Washington’s Medicaid, developmental disability, long-term care, and food assistance systems, followed by a separate discussion of juvenile rehabilitation caseloads and placement capacity. DSHS officials said HR1 could affect home equity rules, immigration-related eligibility, work requirements for some expansion-population enrollees, and provider taxes, while also creating a future opportunity for a new 1915(c) waiver. Advocates and providers warned that any state response that cuts home and community-based services would worsen already thin provider networks, increase waiting lists, push more people into hospitals or out-of-state placements, and strain families and workers. A pediatric behavioral health expert and a supported living provider said Medicaid reimbursement is already too low and further reductions would threaten outpatient, residential, and inpatient services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and severe behavioral needs. The committee then turned to SNAP and the state food assistance program. DSHS said HR1 would tighten work requirements and exemptions, end some immigrant eligibility for the federal program, eliminate the SNAP education program, raise state administrative costs, and eventually require Washington to share in benefit costs based on its error rate. Officials estimated large numbers of residents could lose or see reduced benefits, with significant added state costs. Anti-hunger advocates, a food bank director, and a SNAP recipient described the program as essential for low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities, and said the changes would increase paperwork, reduce benefits, and worsen food insecurity while also harming local food economies. Testimony emphasized that food banks cannot replace SNAP and that work requirements may be difficult to meet for caregivers, people with disabilities, and those facing child care or transportation barriers. In the juvenile justice portion, the Caseload Forecast Council presented the JR forecast, which is currently mostly flat through the end of the biennium but expected to grow modestly over the longer term. Members discussed how policy choices, including the 2019 JR-25 law, have increased lengths of stay for adult-sentenced youth in JR, while diversion and other reforms have affected regular JR trends. A court researcher explained the data available to help forecast admissions and noted ongoing efforts to improve data sharing with JR, AOC, and county systems, though staffing and system-lag issues limit how quickly data can be produced. Juvenile court administrators and DCYF officials described the community-based juvenile justice continuum, rising complexity in the JR population, overcrowding at Green Hill and placement constraints at Echo Glen and Harbor Heights, and the need for more flexible community transition and mental health capacity. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sylvia earlier, and we may even want to at some point, uh, make this statute a little easier to read.
• <00:03:48.319> uh statute a little easier to read uh statute a little easier to read uh that's
• in this um uh here to read in this um uh subdivision<00:17:01.040> the<00:17:02.040> um
• uh the the purchase I'm going to read uh the the purchase I'm going to read this<00:33:05.440>
• That’s really at direct odds, as I read this, to the existing law above it.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Only a third did, right? And of that third, we only charged about 35% of those cases.
• And of that Only a third did, right?
• And of that third, third, third, we<01:26:07.000> only<01:26:07.320> charged<01:26:08.480
• I hear and read stories so often where I hear and read stories so often where Ramsey<01:30:12.000>
• charges, felony charges, I'm reading charges, felony charges, I'm reading where<01:36:50.240>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's actually three layers of appeal that they can go through with our third-party administrator.”
• This is for our third-party administrative services.
• We issued an RFP. ...our third-party administrative services.
• So this is for the second component of our third-party administrative services.
• This is for the second component of our third-party administrative services.

Keywords: 1204, all