Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, seeing none, we'll invite a witness up here for opposition testimony.
• Fourteen months ago, I made a testimony before the committee. You can look it up.
• Thank you for your testimony. Are there any other members of the public here in support?
• Thank you for the testimony.
• I have no witnesses on file, so thank you for your testimony today. OK, good morning.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members of the committee, this completes my testimony.
• I think we, I think Representative Hanson directed us to that testimony.
• So I was having difficulty reconciling those two pieces of testimony myself.
• You have two very different pieces of testimony. DOCR. Absolutely. Absolutely.
• I've gone back and I've listened to all the testimony.

Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence for a deceased member, then approved the April minutes and heard a presentation from HHS on the Diversion Task Force and related youth services grants. Chelsea Florey described the $750,000 one-time appropriation from HB 1012, the five awarded grants, and how programs in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot are using the funds for youth diversion, including school-based groups, physical activity, and services for problematic sexual behavior. Members raised concerns about staffing shortages, family engagement, service silos, and whether diversion eligibility rules are too rigid; Florey said the task force is focused on better coordination, broader education about available services, and possible changes to diversion criteria, with the Children’s Cabinet likely to drive broader recommendations. The committee then received a North Dakota Lottery biennium report from Director Thomas Lawler, who reviewed the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, player programs, and revenue distribution. He reported about $67 million in ticket sales for the 2023-2025 biennium, about $16.2 million transferred overall, including roughly $13.6 million to the general fund, plus transfers to drug task force and compulsive gambling funds. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether it is set by statute. Next, the Department of Corrections presented on criminal justice data sharing and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that jails, courts, DOCR, HHS, and other entities use separate systems with limited interoperability, making real-time communication largely manual. He outlined possible hub or point-to-point IT solutions, but noted cost, vendor, identifier, and data-definition challenges. Robin Schmolenberger followed with an update on a Medicaid data exchange project between DOCR and HHS to suspend and reactivate inmate Medicaid coverage automatically and improve care coordination, with full bi-directional exchange expected in fall 2026. The committee also heard from county representatives on 24-7 sobriety program fees and an AG opinion allowing local sheriffs to use cheaper testing options when courts waive fees. Finally, the North Dakota Racing Commission reviewed a troubling audit. Bruce Johnson acknowledged serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, missing grant documentation, a reversed decision on breeders fund eligibility, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has begun corrective actions, including monthly tracking of the promotion fund cap, stricter grant documentation, written procurement procedures, and clearer eligibility rules in condition books. Members pressed him on how the overspending occurred, whether the commission board would impose consequences, and whether statutory clarification is needed on the promotion fund limit and related spending rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um, that’s the gist of our testimony.
• So with all those issues combined, I'll conclude my testimony.
• Happy um I I'll conclude my testimony.
• Um, that's my testimony.
• No testimony was heard in 117 opposed.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate you being here and look forward to your testimony.
• Please begin your testimony. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• "Please state your name for the record to begin your testimony."
• "Please state your name for the record to begin your testimony."
• Thank you for your testimony, Ms.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• To facilitate this hearing in a timely manner, we are normally enforcing a one-minute testimony limit
• I will be reading a list of individuals who submitted written testimony for each measure.
• If you’re interested in reviewing the written testimony, please go to the legislature’s website.
• We appreciate your understanding and remind you that the committee does have your testimony that we reviewed
• written testimony in support of Mr. written testimony in support of Mr. Wats. Wats. Wats.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on a series of gubernatorial nominations to health, disability, aging, and advisory boards. Early nominees included Pria Tay for the Kauaʻi Service Area Board on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, who emphasized her 25 years in the mental health field and commitment to community access to training and resources, and Ashley Mishihara for the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee, who described her involvement in the Red Hill response and ongoing concern about protecting the sole-source aquifer and ensuring remediation. Christopher Luthie, nominated to the State LGBTQ+ Commission, said he wanted to advocate for LGBTQ+ residents statewide and help improve programs so people are not overlooked, and he received support from commission member Michael Galuyo Jr., who said the commission had lacked a Hawaii County representative since December. The committee also heard from nominees to the Radiologic Technology Board, including David Wodsworth and Reena Shimata. Wodsworth said the board should modernize rules and regulations, while the Department of Health supported him and clarified that the board focuses on policy and procedures rather than direct licensing decisions. Shimata said she wanted to help protect patients, technologists, and the public from radiation exposure, and the Department of Health and several medical professionals supported her, with one witness noting that modern technology reduces dose but competent technologists remain essential to avoid unnecessary exposure. The committee deferred GM712, a nomination not present at the hearing, until Monday, March 9. Additional nominations included Judy Pike for the disability communications/access board, who cited her prior DECAP staff experience and long involvement in disability access work, with strong support from a current board member; Rick Taber for the Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Affairs, who sought a second term and highlighted his committee leadership and long mental health career; Amy Healey Austin for the Statewide Health Coordinating Council, who said she wanted to represent rural health needs and described her leadership roles in West Hawaiʻi health care; and Ed Chevy for DECAB, who stressed the importance of interpreter access and communication access, with support from Christine Pagano. The committee took no final votes in the portion of the hearing provided, and several nominees were told their decisions would be taken up later in the meeting or at the end of the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you please state your name for the record and begin your testimony? >> Good morning, uh, Mr.
• Would you please state your name for the record and begin your testimony?
• Please begin your testimony. Good morning, chairs and committee.
• . testimony. testimony.
• Kelly, please state your name for the record and begin your testimony. >> Thank you, Mr.

Bills: HF3540, HF3522, HF3544

Keywords: veterans rights, employment discrimination, human rights, Minnesota laws, protected classes, veterans, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans affairs, Secret War in Laos, SGU veteran, Hmong veterans, Laotian veterans, honor guard, military funeral honors, state veterans cemetery, burial eligibility, veterans home, temporary closure, state active service, National Guard

Transcript Highlights:

• Those providing testimony will be given specific time limits which must be strictly observed.
• > be<00:05:00.960> given Those providing testimony will be given Those providing testimony
• Mayor, for your testimony. We really appreciate you being here today.
• You've heard testimony. Our most precious resource is our people.
• Davos, for your testimony today. That was very well said.

Bills: HF3393

Keywords: unemployment insurance, iron ore mining, additional benefits, labor force, economic support, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And as I said, we will be taking a public testimony.
• Do we have any public testimony?
• Any further questions or comments to we have public testimony seeing no public testimony.
• Any further questions for the question is, do we have public testimony?
• I haven't heard from the testimony today.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:57:35.440> I Senator reviewing the the testimony I Senator reviewing the the testimony
• same reaction to reading the testimony same reaction to reading the testimony was<00:57:53.640><
• So forth, I think, was some of the testimony we heard.
• thing you'll see is we heard testimony thing you'll see is we heard testimony that<02:04:33.960>
• forth I think was some of the testimony forth I think was some of the testimony we<02:04:49.079>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you would state your name for the record and begin your testimony.
• If you would state your name for the record and begin your testimony.
• If you would state your name for the record and begin your testimony.
• Please state your name for the record and begin your testimony.
• Kelly, please state your name for the record and begin your testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What an awesome testimony that we just heard.
• <00:21:28.720> thank thank you for um your testimony thank thank you for um your testimony
• <00:44:02.440> from though we've heard some testimony from though we've heard some testimony
• Chair: Representative Canson, please introduce your bill and proceed with your testimony.
• That's all I'll leave my comments there. testimony today talked about tric 18 and testimony today talked

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony, Ms. Pant.
• Thank you very much for your testimony.
• Thank you very much for your testimony. Good afternoon.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• <00:45:27.280> Senator you thank you for your testimony Senator you thank you for your testimony

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I’ll send that in follow-up testimony.”
• So I think you that in testimony here.
• The motion is to pass. testimony today. Um given the short time testimony today.
• things that struck me in the testimony things that struck me in the testimony was<03:45:20.160><
• Not that I heard some good testimony.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, I mean, yeah, so the—we heard testimony. One woman came in, uh, who worked in corrections.
• Response: "No, that was not brought up in testimony.
• chapen hall report that um the testimony chapen hall report that um the testimony that<01:38:33.679
• sitting behind us uh so this testimony sitting behind us uh so this testimony is<02:12:17.960>
• Thank you for your testimony. Good afternoon. My name is Lily Wellington.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: Division 3 Finance held a work session to move through five bills before noon, noting one member’s early departure and adjusting the order of bills accordingly. The first item, HB 54, would allow some alternative treatment centers in the medical cannabis system to operate for profit. Members discussed a fiscal note showing a one-time $133,000 cost, which was described as a Division 1 budget item to be handled through HB 2 rather than directly in Division 3. After discussion about keeping Division 1 informed and the distinction between retaining a bill versus funding it, the committee voted unanimously to retain HB 54 for further finance work and conversion into HB 2. The committee then took up HB 547, concerning reimbursement to counties for enhanced FMAP funds during the COVID period. The chair summarized the issue as federal enhanced Medicaid matching funds that were received by the state before authority existed to pass them through to counties, creating a disputed amount owed to counties. County representatives said the money should have gone to counties and clarified the relevant time period, while the department did not take a position. The chair proposed retaining the bill and moving it into HB 2, with discussion of a possible four-year repayment structure in equal annual installments. The committee agreed to retain the bill for continued work in the budget process. During the HB 547 discussion, members also clarified the fiscal and accounting details, including that the fiscal note had not been widely available and that some figures in the note should be treated as county revenue rather than county expenditure. Testimony explained that the enhanced FMAP increased from 50 percent to 56.2 percent, and that the state’s and counties’ shares of claims were affected by the timing of the federal change and the later state authorization. The committee emphasized that the issue was complex and budget-dependent, and that retaining the bill would allow further negotiation and incorporation into HB 2 rather than immediate final action.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Thank you for your testimony. >> Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. >> Thank you. Thank you for your testimony.
• testimony, will discuss. testimony, will discuss.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any other Public testimony. All right, let's move to debate.
• Being no questions, we'll go to public testimony.
• Is there public testimony on the amendment? I think there's one. Chris Claiborne waves in support.
• Any further public testimony on the amendment? On the bill as amended.
• Seeing none, is there any testimony on the bill as amended?

Transcript Highlights:

• All witness testimony will be in person; there will be no phone testimony option for the hearing.
• The hearing will be streamed on the Assembly's website, and members of the public can provide testimony
• All witness testimony will be in person. There will be no phone testimony option for this hearing.
• If any member of the public in the room would like to testify, There will be no phone testimony option
• We've actually served as expert witness testimony for particular litigation cases on the government side

Summary: The committee heard several measures focused on economic development, procurement, workforce equity, federal infrastructure funding, and food security. SB 1044 by Senator Reyes would raise and then index to inflation the cap for streamlined state contracts awarded to certified small businesses, microbusinesses, and disabled veteran business enterprises for services and IT work; supporters said the current cap is outdated and limits access, while opponents representing goods suppliers and some small business groups argued the bill could disadvantage goods contractors and should preserve lower thresholds for those contracts. After discussion about the ceiling versus floor effect of the cap and the impact on different types of businesses, the bill was approved as amended and sent to Appropriations. SB 247 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would create a bid preference for projects that hire workers from disadvantaged communities; supporters framed it as a way to connect public infrastructure spending to family-sustaining jobs, while union construction employers opposed it because they said they cannot control worker dispatch through hiring halls and the bill would be difficult to implement. The committee advanced the measure to Appropriations despite those concerns. The committee also approved SJR 6 by Senator Cortese, which urges the federal government to honor commitments under the bipartisan infrastructure law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act, with supporters emphasizing the importance of certainty for California infrastructure, clean energy, and semiconductor investments. SB 1025 by Senator Hurtado would establish an Office of Food Security and Affordability to coordinate food assistance efforts and develop a statewide food security strategy; supporters from a Kern County food bank and the University of California said the state’s response to hunger is fragmented and needs better coordination, while committee members asked about deliverables and timelines. The bill was sent to Appropriations. The committee also took up consent items SB 700 and SB 1340, which were moved on consent to Appropriations, and the hearing ended with the remaining votes recorded and the bills advanced. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly discussed the need for clearer implementation details, data on program impacts, and how to balance equity goals with operational realities for state agencies, contractors, and small businesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in public testimony. We are in debate. Public testimony.
• ,  336 >> Chair McClure: Members, we will go into public testimony.
• [Laughter] We are in public testimony. Met with United Way Miami in support. We are in debate.
• We are back in public testimony as amended. Seeing none, we are in debate.
• We are in public testimony.

Summary: The committee first took up CS/House Bill 981, which would restore the Ocklawaha River and related natural resources. Supporters, including environmental groups, Save the Manatee Club, business owners, and Reunite the Rivers advocates, argued the bill would improve manatee habitat, fish passage, flood protection, tourism, and long-term economic returns while reducing dam maintenance costs. Opponents and skeptics focused on concerns about water quality, nutrient loading in the St. Johns River, loss of the Rodman Reservoir’s habitat and water-supply value, and potential ecological and economic harms. Members in debate largely supported the restoration effort, and the bill was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. The committee then heard HB 697, the PRICE Act, which would use international reference pricing to set a drug cost benchmark, address pharmacy benefit manager practices, and require health plans to keep drug prices stable for the year. The sponsor said the bill would lower costs and improve access, especially for uninsured Floridians. Supporters, including independent pharmacists, argued PBMs are squeezing pharmacies and that the bill could help lower prices. Opponents from BioFlorida and PhRMA warned the proposal could disrupt the national drug supply chain, fail to pass savings to patients, and lead to shortages, reduced access, and less innovation. After debate, the bill passed favorably, with Rep. Chambliss voting no. The committee also considered CS/HB 1081, which was amended to include private colleges and universities with NCA designation in the program. After brief discussion and support from United Way Miami, the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, CS/HB 177 was introduced as a framework for Florida’s regional councils to cross-assign bills among regions; it received supportive testimony and was also reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• SEE NO MORE QUESTIONS WE HAVE SOME PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
• WERE DONE WITH PUBLIC TESTIMONY. WE ARE IN DEBATE. DOES ANYONE HAVE DEBATE?
• SEEING NONE AND NO AMENDMENTS WE DO HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
• MEMBERS PUBLIC TESTIMONY HAVING CLOSED AND IS THERE DEBATE ON THIS FINE BILL?
• SEEING NO PUBLIC TESTIMONY MEMBERS, WE ARE IN DEBATE. DEBATE ON THIS FINE BILL?

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll be limiting public testimony to three minutes today.
• The Chair calls Roger Arriaga to provide testimony.
• ...Okay, thank you for your testimony. Thank you, Chairman.
• Proceed with testimony, please.
• Thank you for your testimony. Testimony for or against the measure?

Bills: HB293, HB 1173, HB3753, HB4999, HB5696, SB2145, HB5689, HB5690, HB5694, HB5698, HB293

Keywords: HB 293, Texas housing tax credits, low-income housing, affordable housing, private activity bonds, PAB, qualified allocation plan, TDHCA, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, state representative objection, housing development approval, municipal notice, county commissioners court, extraterritorial jurisdiction, LIHTC, bond-financed housing, homelessness, housing services, Texas Department of Housing, municipal programs