Transcript Highlights:

• Please make sure all cell phones and other communication devices are turned off or placed on silent mode

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please ensure cell phones and other communication devices are turned off or placed on silent mode.

Summary: The conference committee on Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations and House Justice Budget Subcommittee met briefly to exchange budget conference materials. The House, through Vice Chair Mani, presented its first counteroffer, including budget items, proviso language, back-of-bill language, implementing bill language, and conforming bill language related to judges. Chair Garcia acknowledged the offer and said the committee had made progress, especially on judges, and would review and respond to the House proposal. Members emphasized the goal of reaching agreement and avoiding a budget “bump.” No public comment was offered, and no substantive debate or amendments occurred during the meeting. The committee reminded members that future meetings would be on one-hour notice. The only action taken was adjournment, moved by Representative/Senator Wright and approved without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please make sure that your cell phones and all other communication devices are silenced.

Summary: The Appropriations Conference Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government met to review a Senate budget spreadsheet offer. Chair Lopez explained that highlighted yellow figures on the left side of the spreadsheet marked areas where the two chambers had made movement or likely reached agreement, with much of the remaining material already grayed out. Members described the Senate proposal as aggressive and said the House would review it and return with a response soon. The discussion was brief and focused on the status of budget negotiations rather than specific line items. Senator Brodeur was thanked for the offer, and both sides expressed that the conference process had been productive and that further progress was expected. No public testimony was offered. At the close of the meeting, members were reminded to watch for notice because the committee was operating under a one-hour limit. Representative Banks moved to rise, and the meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• The fish do not know there are borders; we could be misdirecting key forage stocks.
• As with any government program, you take your risk that it could be discontinued in the future.
• As with any government program, you take your risk that it could be discontinued in the future.
• That's the risk one takes when it's dealing with government programs.
• That's the risk one takes when it's dealing with government programs.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please make sure that your cell phones and other communication devices are turned off or placed on silent

Summary: The Conference Committee on State Administration, Budget, Agriculture, Environmental, and General Government Appropriations met briefly to receive the Senate’s first offer on the budget spreadsheet, proviso items, projects, the back of the bill, and the implementing bill. Senator Brodeur said the offer included many areas already agreed to, with numerous items grayed out or highlighted to show movement toward compromise, and he described it as a strong first offer that would narrow differences on several issues. House members responded positively, saying the proposal looked good and thanking the Senate for its work. No additional substantive comments were offered by Senator Brodeur or other members. There was no public comment. The committee reminded members to watch for notice of the next meeting, noting that only one-hour notice is required. The meeting then adjourned without any votes or formal actions beyond receiving the Senate offer.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Please silence all electronic devices. We have microphones.

Transcript Highlights:

• MAKE SURE CELL PHONES AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DEVICES ARE TURNED OFF. WE WANT TO WELCOME REP.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• PLEASE ENSURE CELL PHONES AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DEVICES ARE TURNED OFF OR PLACED ON SILENT MODE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please silence all of your electronic devices.

Bills: AB404, AB428

Keywords: brew pub, alcoholic beverages, liquor store, licensure, regulation, Department of Taxation, fertility preservation, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, oncology, reproductive medicine, infertility, cancer treatment, egg freezing, embryo freezing, oocyte cryopreservation, sperm banking, assisted reproductive technology, health insurance mandate, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• , aptly called the FARM program.
• I saw that you changed the name of the HOPE Scholarship Program to just the HOPE Program.
• I saw that you changed the name of the HOPE Scholarship Program to just the HOPE Program.
• in the program?
• Digital devices being uniform across the scholarship programs is an absolute benefit that is in this

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and took up two bills. The first, SB 250 on rural communities by Senator Simon, was described as a broad rural development package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and transportation investments, added funding for rural education consortiums, and health care initiatives for rural areas. Senator Harrell asked about overlap between road funding programs, and the sponsor explained that eligible counties could receive both SCRAP and FARM funding. Several organizations waived in support or spoke in support, and the bill was reported favorably by unanimous vote. The committee then heard SB 318, the committee substitute for educational scholarship programs by President Gates. The bill was presented as a response to Auditor General findings about the rapid growth and administration of Florida’s school choice and scholarship programs. It would separate Family Empowerment Scholarship funding from the FEFP, require more frequent student enrollment verification, lower scholarship funding organization administrative fees, require return of overpayments, create a student ID system, establish a $250 million stabilization fund, require annual audits, and direct DOE to recommend future program administration through competitive procurement. Gates also offered five amendments, including technical changes to eligibility documentation and a substantive amendment requiring a DOE report on future administration and competitive selection; all five amendments were adopted. During debate and public testimony, senators and witnesses discussed accountability, software solutions, reimbursement delays, monthly attestations, and impacts on public schools and families. Supporters and opponents alike raised concerns about bureaucracy, fraud prevention, special education services, and whether the bill would help or burden parents. Gates said the bill aimed to fix tracking and payment problems without capping the program, and he noted the IEP timeline would be aligned with public school timelines. After debate, the committee reported CS for SB 318 favorably by unanimous vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please silence all electronic devices. Senator Hooper, the House has several offers for you again.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please ensure that cell phones and other communication devices are turned off or placed in silent mode

Summary: The conference committee on the House Justice Budget Subcommittee and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to continue budget negotiations. Members discussed offers related to the budget, projects, proviso, implementing language, and conforming language for House Bill 5403E, with both sides noting progress and expressing hope for timely responses so more items could be closed out. They also referenced ongoing efforts to finalize agency funding and member projects. No public testimony or public comment was offered. Members were reminded that the committee is now on a one-hour notice schedule for the next meeting. With no further business, Senator David Smith moved to rise and adjourn, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please make sure all cell phones and other devices are on mute or silent mode.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please ensure that cell phones and other communication devices are turned off or placed in silent mode

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please make sure that your cell phones and other communication devices are turned off or placed on silent

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please make sure all cell phones and other devices are on mute or silent mode.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Conference Committee met to continue negotiations on the higher education budget, projects, and proviso language. Senator Harrell presented the Senate’s counteroffer on the budget and projects, noting that changes from the original budget and project lists were highlighted in the packet, and said the Senate was ready to keep working toward agreement. The House presented its first proviso offer, focused on items that differed most from the chambers’ starting positions, and said it would review the Senate’s proposal. No public testimony was offered, and members did not raise questions or comments during the meeting. Both sides expressed optimism about continued progress and a desire to conclude negotiations soon. The committee took no substantive votes or actions on the merits of the offers. Representative Young moved to adjourn, and the meeting was concluded with notice that the committee remains on one-hour call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please ensure that cell phones and other communication devices are turned off or placed in silent mode

Summary: The conference committee on the House Justice Budget Subcommittee and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to discuss budget-related negotiations, including projects, proviso items, implementing language, and back-of-the-bill provisions tied to House Bill 5403E. Members exchanged offers and noted that progress had been made on closing out projects, with both sides expressing optimism that additional items could be resolved with more time. Senate and House members thanked each other and staff for their work and indicated they would continue reviewing offers and preparing responses for a later meeting. No public testimony or public comment was offered. The committee reminded members that future meetings would be on one-hour notice. With no further business, Senator David Smith moved to rise and adjourn, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please make sure that your cell phones and other communication devices are turned off or placed on silent

Summary: The Conference Committee on State Administration, Budget, Agriculture, Environmental, and General Government Appropriations met briefly to receive the Senate’s first offer on the budget spreadsheet, proviso language, projects, the back of the bill, and the implementing bill. Senator Brodeur said the offer included substantial movement and agreement, with many items grayed out or highlighted to show progress toward compromise, and he expressed hope it would bring the chambers closer on several issues. House members responded positively, saying the offer looked good and thanking the Senate for its work, while noting they would review it and follow up soon. No additional substantive comments were made, and there was no public testimony. With no further business, the committee reminded members that the next meeting would be noticed on a one-hour basis and then adjourned without any votes or formal actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Everyone, please make sure your electronic devices are turned off or on vibrate.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will also say there is a patient savings program or co-pay assistance program, those kinds of things
• that program has gone in a second.
• well about the CLND program and its reach and impact.
• lunch program.
• So there is some opportunity within the CHW program.

Summary: The committee first approved the previous meeting minutes and then heard a detailed annual report from Dr. Thomas Arnold, chair of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, on maternal mortality trends and policy issues. He explained the committee’s review process, confidentiality protections, and national and North Dakota data showing that most maternal deaths are preventable and that mental health conditions, substance use, cardiovascular issues, infection, hemorrhage, and embolism are the leading causes. Members asked about suicide, domestic violence, midwife training, home births, and whether pregnancy testing at death scenes should be expanded; Dr. Arnold said better coroner education, more investigation of unexplained deaths, and possible post-mortem pregnancy testing could improve case identification, especially in rural areas. He also noted that deaths often occur well after 42 days postpartum and that mental health-related deaths remain a major concern. The committee then heard from State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark on cigarette reduced-ignition-propensity standards and related fire prevention issues. He recommended updating the state’s cigarette propensity law to current national standards and also raised a separate recommendation to require fast-breakaway oxygen tubing for home oxygen users, citing fatal fires linked to smoking around oxygen. Members asked about implementation, cost, insurance coverage, and whether the standards apply in tribal communities; Dr. Clark said he would provide follow-up information and was willing to help with any legislation, but no agency bill had yet been planned. Next, Christine Greff of the Department of Health and Human Services reported on the North Dakota Stroke System of Care. She described the statewide network of stroke-ready hospitals, registry-based quality improvement, and performance data showing continued improvement in stroke recognition, imaging, thrombolytic treatment, transfers, and EMS pre-notification. She highlighted new quality measures for inter-facility transfers and intracerebral hemorrhage care, and said the system remains strong but depends on continued legislative and hospital support. Committee members asked about participation by the VA hospital and were encouraged to consider outreach to include it more fully in the stroke system. Finally, the committee began a presentation on prior authorization and non-opioid pain treatment from Taha Khan of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. He argued that prior authorization can delay access to non-opioid acute pain medications, especially in the 24- to 72-hour post-discharge window when pain is most severe, and said delays can push patients toward opioids. He emphasized that prior authorization has a role in utilization management but should not create barriers in acute pain care, and he noted that current use of the company’s non-opioid product remains very low. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.