Transcript Highlights:

• You know, where you can get your payment every year for 20 years or whatever it is, or a one-time payment
• payment.
• The legislation or the state rules are designed as it's not a lease payment, but it's a lump-sum payment
• That is the only method I have been a part of dealing with. You may continue.
• And then the lease payments to landowners, up to $82 million over the same time.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Energy Development and Transmission Committee met in interim session and approved the November 6 minutes. Chair Novak outlined the committee’s study agenda, including large energy users such as data centers, geothermal, landowner relations, wind and solar, and other energy topics across the state. The meeting was framed as informational only, with no bills or formal legislative action taken beyond the minutes approval. Testimony focused first on landowner relations. Oliver County Commissioner Dave Berger described the county’s energy history and local support for coal and related development. North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue emphasized proactive, face-to-face communication with landowners, respect for property rights, and the need for developers to be transparent about tradeoffs; he also discussed insurance and liability concerns tied to easements. Committee members asked about eminent domain, local versus state authority, and how communities can better understand the revenue and infrastructure implications of energy development. Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Tom Bodine then described the department’s ombudsman programs for pipeline restoration and reclamation, wind restoration, and royalty oversight. He said the programs provide confidential, third-party assistance on reclamation and royalty disputes, but do not provide legal advice. Senators raised concerns about post-production deductions in royalty leases and whether the ombudsman can explain them; Bodine said the program can clarify statements and deductions but cannot resolve legal disputes. He also said the department has not received requests related to fiber lines. Representatives from Grid United and One Oak described their project development and landowner engagement practices. Grid United’s Brent Johnson discussed the North Plains Connector transmission project, its route selection process, voluntary acquisition approach, and efforts to avoid eminent domain by working closely with regulators, counties, townships, and landowners. One Oak’s Danette Welsh and Tom Giltner described the company’s midstream operations, extensive North Dakota footprint, and emphasis on direct landowner communication, consistent local regulation, careful construction practices, and post-construction reclamation. Members asked about setbacks, zoning consistency, invasive species prevention, outside advocacy groups, and eminent domain use; One Oak said it has not used eminent domain on its North Dakota projects, largely because most gathering lines are negotiated easements.

Transcript Highlights:

• My understanding is that tap is always the preferred method. My colleague, Mr.
• So normally what we do is consumers submit a complaint and we contact the method of payment that they
• Normally what we do, scammers have been asking for methods of payment in different ways.
• Gift cards is one way that the scammers do ask for payment.
• Later on, that policy cancels for non-payment.

Summary: A joint House-Senate Insurance and Commerce meeting focused on the growing threat of financial fraud in Arkansas, with members hearing from bankers, regulators, law enforcement, AARP, and mortgage and insurance industry representatives. Witnesses described a wide range of scams, including spoofed bank calls and texts, fake websites and social media impersonation, romance and investment scams, business email compromise, gift card fraud, check fraud, wire fraud, reverse mortgage scams, and crypto kiosk schemes. Several speakers emphasized that fraud is increasingly organized, technology-driven, and amplified by artificial intelligence, and that seniors are disproportionately targeted and often suffer the largest losses. Testimony highlighted both prevention and recovery efforts. Bankers said institutions spend heavily on training, customer education, and fraud detection, but often cannot stop losses once customers have been convinced to authorize transfers. The Attorney General’s office described its Consumer Protection Division, a new Financial Fraud Task Force, and examples of recovering funds quickly from crypto kiosk and wire fraud cases. The State Bank Department and Securities Department said Arkansas’s 2025 crypto ATM legislation and related education requirements have helped, and they urged continued public education. The Insurance Department reported major insurance-fraud trends, including fake insurance cards, forged policies, premium-finance schemes, and staged auto accidents, and said it prosecutes these cases aggressively. Members asked about reporting scams, the security of tap payments, how fraud losses are tracked, the role of crypto kiosks, and whether Arkansas should pursue model legislation or stronger action against telecom and social media companies. Witnesses said tap payments are generally safer than chip or swipe, that crypto transfers are often unrecoverable, and that spoofed caller ID and impersonation ads remain major problems. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association urged state and federal action against telecom and social media platforms and supported national scam legislation. No new bills were voted on at the meeting, but members approved the November 3, 2025 minutes and several witnesses offered to share model legislation, consumer education materials, and state-by-state fraud data with the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• My understanding is that tap is always the preferred method. My colleague, Mr.
• So normally what we do is consumers submit a complaint, and we contact the method of payment that they
• Normally what we do, scammers have been asking for methods of payment in different ways, and gift cards
• is one way that the scammers do ask for payment.
• They get a commission, and then later on that policy cancels for non-payment.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: A joint House-Senate Insurance and Commerce meeting focused on the growing threat of financial fraud in Arkansas, with members hearing from bankers, the Attorney General’s office, the state bank and securities commissioner, the insurance department, AARP, and mortgage industry representatives. Witnesses described fraud as increasingly organized, technology-driven, and often transnational, with common schemes including spoofed bank calls and texts, fake websites and social media impersonations, business email compromise, gift card and wire scams, crypto kiosk fraud, check fraud, and mortgage/real estate fraud. Several witnesses emphasized that seniors are disproportionately targeted and that losses are often underreported because victims feel embarrassed or do not know where to report incidents. Testimony highlighted both state and national responses. Bankers and regulators pointed to Arkansas’s 2025 actions on crypto ATMs and elder-fraud education, including training for gift-card sellers and safe-harbor protections for banks under the Safe AR Act. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division described its complaint process, a new financial fraud task force, and examples of recovered funds, including quick recoveries from Bitcoin kiosk scams and wire fraud cases. The American Bankers Association and others urged stronger accountability for telecoms and social media platforms, citing spoofed caller ID, impersonation ads, Section 230 issues, and the need for a national scam-prevention strategy or federal office. Artificial intelligence was identified as a major emerging risk because it can generate convincing scam emails, websites, and impersonation content at scale. Members asked about reporting procedures, whether banks reimburse fraud losses, how crypto affects recoverability, the safety of tap-to-pay versus chip use, and whether public online records contribute to fraud. Witnesses generally advised victims to report scams through the proper channels, avoid clicking links or responding to suspicious messages, and verify requests independently by contacting institutions directly. The committee also heard that banks and regulators are already sharing information and educating consumers, but that more legislative and cross-agency action may be needed. No formal vote or bill action was taken beyond approval of the November 3, 2025 minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• what I will do is I will ask our first presenters, who will be talking about alternative delivery methods
• related to alternative delivery methods related to alternative delivery methods about<00:04:35.759
• these alternative, you know, methods these alternative, you know, methods when<00:32:12.320>
• I'm just saying we're offering you if there's other methods that we can make... capabilities.
• As a topline feedback from our industry, we're supportive of alternative delivery methods.

Keywords: 00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:20 Road Projects 46:30 Approval of Minutes 46:50 Railroads 57:26 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum, so it could not approve the minutes. The chair announced an Eastern Kentucky University health forum later that day and then proceeded with testimony on alternative delivery methods for road projects. Jason Sawala of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Chad Laroo of the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors were sworn in and introduced themselves. Sawala explained KYTC’s use of alternative delivery tools, including design-build, construction manager/general contractor (CMGC), and public-private partnerships (P3s). He said the cabinet’s goal is to deliver the best value to taxpayers in terms of quality, cost, and time, and emphasized that alternative delivery is most useful on projects with special circumstances such as innovation needs, specialized technology, complex constructibility, schedule pressure, or early contractor input. He cited the cabinet’s wrong-way driving prevention project as an example where design-build helped evaluate technologies and coordinate with stakeholders such as EMS and first responders. He also outlined the main tradeoffs: alternative delivery can improve collaboration and sometimes accelerate schedules, but it also brings risks related to right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, changing scope, and the need for dedicated staff and compressed decision-making. He stressed that these methods are not a cure-all and are not appropriate for every project, while noting that traditional design-bid-build remains effective for most of KYTC’s work. Representative Branscum responded favorably, saying early contractor involvement is valuable and consistent with his experience in the vertical construction world. No votes or formal actions were taken because the committee lacked a quorum.

Transcript Highlights:

• It regulates sales methods and locations, such as Limiting the sale of Kratom to only locations that
• My methods... Were applauded by Florida Blue.
• These are not fees on normal ACH payments.
• It distinguishes an ACH payment from other types of electronic payments. That is the amendment.
• And your payment is due on the 15th, and all of a sudden it is the 15th, you haven't mailed your payment

Transcript Highlights:

• You get some sort of substituted method of service.
• The problem is with those who are delaying rent payments.
• There's a method for going in.
• They took my rent payments and put them towards those fees, and then evicted me for non-payment of rent
• roommate misses their rent payment, are they going to be out on the streets?

Bills: HB32, HB15, HB171, HB421, HB581, HB644, HB745, HB349, HB917, HB204, HB923, HB15, HB171, HB204

Keywords: eviction, landlord rights, tenant rights, justice court, property law, court procedures, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, deep fake, digital impersonation, age verification, private cause of action, explicit content, consumer protection, HB 581

Transcript Highlights:

• um whether it's an of delivery methods um whether it's an urgent<00:12:32.639> care<00:12:33.040
• method is, and now they're like, well, how do I know if this is a Medicaid patient?
• <00:38:12.640> method<00:38:13.040> is<00:38:13.920> and<00:38:14.160> now
• ><00:38:14.480> they're<00:38:14.720> like, payment method is and now they're like, payment
• method is and now they're like, well,<00:38:15.119> how<00:38:15.280> do<00:38:15.359>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We received over 320 claims from consumers and are in the process of sending out a first wave of payments
• We received over 320 claims from consumers and are in the process of sending out a first wave of payments
• And if they cannot... ...do that or take advantage of things like the down payment assistance program
• A principal and interest payment, every taxes, insurance, and the more that that tax insurance portion
• It ensures that the policyholder and the insurers alike have access to a structured, balanced method

Bills: HF4881, HF4867, HF4422, HF4223

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, regulation, financial institutions, prescription drug affordability, consumer protection, restitution account, financial compensation, attorney general, distributions, property insurance, homeowners insurance, fire and allied lines, hail insurance, appraisal clause, loss adjustment, alternative dispute resolution, insurance claims, claim valuation, actual cash value

Transcript Highlights:

• And then if you look on page six, we've explained that it would go against utility tax payments levied
• And then if you look on page six, we've explained that it would go against utility tax payments levied
• levied in articles 3 4 of payments levied in articles 3 4 of chapter<00:02:19.280> 21.
• They may choose a different method.
• Um we're just saying it's your method.

Bills: HB245, HB138, HB151, HB152, HB245, HB138, HB151, HB152

Keywords: inhalants, controlled substances, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, health, public safety, pregnancy, pregnant defendant, incarceration, jail intake, pregnancy test, bail, pre-incarceration probation, supervised probation, electronic monitoring, electronic supervision, perinatal care, prenatal care, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• program payment, DSH payment, the UPL payment, GME, outpatient APC opt-outs, and EHR payments.
• structure. payment, uh the UPL payment, GME payment, uh the UPL payment, GME outpatient<00:30:34.880>
• product of the impact payments going up. product of the impact payments going up.
• You got paid in a dish payment. patient. You got paid in a dish payment.
• these add-on payments is not reflective. these add-on payments is not reflective.

Keywords: Medicaid - Room 216, 4 February, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee heard presentations on several Medicaid-related topics. First, a pharmacy representative discussed nonopioid pain medications as a way to reduce opioid dependence and overdose risk, emphasizing that options such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and topical diclofenac can be useful for pain management. She cautioned that nonopioids can still have risks and said any policy should avoid requiring patients to step through opioids before accessing safer alternatives, while still allowing reasonable step therapy among nonopioid options. The presenter said the goal is to keep patients from being pushed toward opioids by cost or insurance design. The committee also heard emotional testimony from parents of a child with Prader-Willi syndrome, who described the condition as a rare genetic disorder that causes severe, lifelong hyperphagia and requires rigid supervision and ongoing treatment. They argued that alternative funding programs can disrupt access to medically necessary drugs such as human growth hormone, forcing families into costly and uncertain coverage gaps. They asked lawmakers to ensure insurance coverage remains stable for rare disease patients and thanked Senator Blackwell for prior support of rare disease legislation. Next, a Livanova representative urged the committee to support higher Medicaid reimbursement for vagus nerve stimulator surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy. He said inadequate hospital reimbursement has reduced access in Mississippi, causing patients to travel long distances or go without treatment, and argued that better reimbursement would improve outcomes and save money over time. He cited studies showing seizure reductions, lower ER use, and a projected $2.8 million in five-year savings for Medicaid based on 40 patients, and asked that hospitals be reimbursed at 100% of Medicare rates for the procedure codes. Finally, a Medicaid official gave a broad overview of hospital payment structure, including fee-for-service, managed care, MHAP, DSH, UPL, provider taxes, and related funding mechanisms. She explained that hospital payments are interrelated and have shifted over time, with major changes tied to managed care, MHAP/UPL increases, and provider taxes. At the end of the discussion, the committee was running short on time and asked her to skip ahead to the provider tax component; no votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• , uh, payment.
• method option.
• So our interpretation of that is that it is the method by which the supplemental payment itself is being
• costs of withholding and the payment costs of withholding and the payment method<02:33:38.080>
• by which the of that it is the method by which the supplemental<02:33:54.240> payment<02:33:54.560

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Virginia Parkway's authority to cease tolls on West Virginia Turnpike upon completion of all bond payments
• The bill sets forth three payment methods, including a reloadable instant card.
• Committee Substitute for House Bill 4412, requiring certain websites to utilize age-verification methods
• material harmful to minors can be held liable if they fail to perform reasonable age-verification methods
• Engrossed House Bill 5686, relating to the timing of payments of annually required deposits into eligible

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and numerous guest introductions, including students, coaches, visitors from West Virginia universities, and representatives of Hunger Free West Virginia and Mountaineer Food Bank. The chamber also recognized Hunger Free West Virginia Day and heard remarks highlighting food insecurity efforts and a company working on pharmaceutical manufacturing and sickle-cell treatments. Senate Resolution 60 honoring Hunger Free West Virginia Day was adopted, while Senate Resolution 61 urging reversal of Obergefell was held over and Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 on the Southern West Virginia water crisis was referred to the Rules Committee. The Senate concurred in House amendments and passed several measures, including Senate Bill 467 on enforcement of Purple Heart parking spaces and Senate Bill 712 on cattle guards on certain public roads, with both made effective from passage. The body also passed Senate Bill 844, a supplemental appropriation to the Department of Human Services, and Senate Bill 87, a supplemental appropriation to the Department of Commerce, both with immediate effectiveness. In addition, the Senate advanced a large number of House bills and committee substitutes on first or second reading, including measures on government organization, judiciary, transportation, workforce, and health-related topics. On third reading, the Senate passed a series of bills covering a wide range of policy areas. These included the Blue Envelope Program for drivers with autism, dementia, or developmental disabilities; coverage for scalp cooling systems during chemotherapy; expanded sex-offender registration for certain offenses; child welfare clothing allowances; school personnel misconduct reporting; age verification for online sexual content; free Gold Star license plates for parents; sanitarian training and licensure changes; sheriff hiring authority; organ donor registration through voter registration; a Cold Case Task Force; abandoned vehicle title procedures; continuing education in nutrition for physicians; special plate rules; gift card fraud crimes; protections for athletic officials; school personnel reassignment rules; Homeland Security administrative updates; pharmacy benefit manager regulation; the VAPE Safety Act after a strike-and-insert amendment; parole supervision fee increases; partial service credit for disabled troopers; state property valuation reporting changes; and quarterly Hope Scholarship payments. Most of these bills passed overwhelmingly, often 34-0, with a few narrower votes such as the organ donor bill passing 30-4 and the school personnel movement bill passing 33-1.

Transcript Highlights:

• single-family home, which makes an enormous difference to people trying to get a mortgage and make payments
• We have the flexibility to be able to use different methods or different materials to help streamline
• We have the flexibility to be able to use different methods or different materials to help streamline
• And I think that there are different methods for different people.
• And I think that there are different methods for different people.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It depends on the cooling methods that the data center uses.
• Depends on the cooling methods that the data center uses.
• It depends on the cooling methods that the data center use.
• They use this closed-loop cooling method.
• So you can't get a payment there.

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and opening remarks from NDSU President David Stewart, who emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission of statewide service through teaching, research, and extension. He highlighted the university’s role in agriculture, water, soil health, and community outreach, and pointed to examples of research commercialization such as Lilac Agriculture’s work on nitrogen-fixing microbes for crops. He also said he is still early in his tenure and intends to spend time listening and learning across the state. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study estimated that North Dakota could develop about 1.3 million additional irrigated acres, with major potential in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau. Testimony stressed the economic benefits of irrigation for crop yields, value-added processing, dairy, and potato production, while members also discussed water availability, aquifers, downstream water use, and the need for more flexible permitting. The drainage portion of the study found significant economic benefits from legal drains, and staff explained that the impacts were calculated through increased productivity and related input purchases. Greg Lardy then gave NDSU’s required agriculture update, saying agriculture accounts for more than $41 billion in annual economic activity, one in five jobs, and about 25 percent of state GDP. He reviewed the role of SBAR, the statewide research-extension network, new crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI and weather-network tools, and Extension’s county partnerships and youth programs. He also outlined NDSU’s priorities for the next session: restoring proposed budget cuts, increasing operating support, and addressing deferred maintenance. Members asked about storage shed construction, NDSU’s relationship with Grand Farm, and whether NDSU could help with water-related research tied to drainage and aquifers. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor on water and data centers, who described graduate fellowships, a water workforce certificate program, and research on data center cooling, water use, and “Legendary Harvest” concepts that would reuse waste heat for greenhouse or aquaculture production. Questions focused on whether the cooling systems were closed-loop, who would own any related production facilities, and whether the project was still only a feasibility study. Finally, North Dakota AgTech described its NSF-funded “engine” project, saying it has brought millions in federal investment to the state, supported startups and on-farm trials, and is focused on commercialization, workforce development, and helping producers lower input costs and improve profitability.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I want to make sure it's clear that this does not affect anyone who is using a payment processor
• . ...affect any transaction originating from a banking institution like a bank or credit union or payment
• They include bill payments, remittances, prepaid cards, and money orders.
• It's a method that we can actually put in place to help.
• method, I think they all got to be lumped together.

Bills: HB297

Keywords: cash transactions, money transmission, regulatory compliance, criminal penalties, Alabama Securities Commission, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said he took what was presented to him as staff recommendations and the means and methods of take
• And so I think when you really break down the methods of hunting, there's pros and cons in every one
• of those methods.
• I know that sometimes people like to call it traditional fishing and hunting or traditional methods,
• but it's lethal methods.

Summary: The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee first took up the appointment of Joshua Kellum to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Kellum described his background in diversified land, agricultural, materials, and real estate operations and said he views himself as a conservationist. Senators questioned him closely about his development background, the balance of perspectives on the commission, his vote supporting the black bear hunt, and the use of Fish and Wildlife Foundation funds for the “Yes on 2” campaign. Supporters argued he is primarily a land steward and conservation-minded landowner, while opponents said the commission is already dominated by developers and lacks scientific or conservation expertise. After debate, the committee voted to recommend Kellum’s confirmation, with Senator Smith voting no and the rest of the voting members in favor. The committee then received a presentation from FWC on implementation of recently enacted boating and vessel laws. Bill Holcomb outlined changes under SB 1388 (the Boater Freedom Act), including limits on vessel stops and boarding, a new Florida Freedom Boater Safety Inspection decal, and revised rules for Springs Protection Zones. He also reviewed SB 164 on derelict and at-risk vessels, including new enforcement tools, a long-term anchoring permit, and updated penalties; HB 289, Lucy’s Law, which strengthens boating safety penalties and education requirements; SB 830 on the disposition of migrant vessels; and HB 735 on water access facilities and boating infrastructure. Holcomb said FWC is in rulemaking, training officers, and updating forms and permitting systems to implement the laws. Members asked follow-up questions about derelict vessel cost recovery and whether penalties go back to the state, and about the Springs Protection Zone standard. Holcomb said the state can recover removal costs from responsible owners and that the new springs standard requires “significant harm” and that vessel activity be the predominant cause, with subject matter experts and partner agencies helping make those determinations. He said Silver Glen Springs remains a proposed zone but was paused pending the new criteria and rulemaking. The committee took no further action on the presentation and adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• While some counties offer online methods for doing this, Jana was not given that option and was told
• While some counties offer online methods for doing this, Jana was not given that option and was told
• While some counties offer online methods for doing this, Jana was not given that option and was told
• While some counties offer online methods for doing this, Jana was not given that option and was told
• While some counties offer online methods for doing this, Jana was not given that option and was told

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• specific to the delivery method specific to the delivery method selection<00:10:36.320> for
• <00:15:59.240> selection<00:15:59.560> of delivery method selection of delivery method
• this is an Innovative uh delivery method this is an Innovative uh delivery method allowing<00:21
• how we use that that procurement method how we use that that procurement method uh<00:43:14.200>
• able to to utilize a different method able to to utilize a different method within<01:18:57.480>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• TARGET RATE OF 6 PERCENT ON THE DEBT RATIO WHICH IS CALCULATED BY USING THE CURRENT DEBT SERVICES IS PAYMENT
• THEY PROPOSE A CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE A NEW METHOD TO WITH FUNDS TO PROVIDE NONRECURRING FUNDING FOR
• TO ME, THERE ARE TWO METHODS. ONE IS IF THERE IS A REVENUE SHORTFALL WHICH COULD HAPPEN ANY YEAR.
• AT ONE TIME THAT NUMBER CAPPED AT 10 PERCENT AND I THINK THIS YEAR, AS A SIDE NOTE, I THINK YOUR PAYMENT
• THE FIRST TWO PAYMENTS ON I UNDERSTAND THAT 750 MILLION EACH WOULD TECHNICALLY HAPPEN BEFORE VOTERS WOULD

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The current method of payment for dispensing medication is broken and unsustainable.
• <00:37:42.760> of<00:37:42.880> payment<00:37:43.200> for the current method
• of payment for the current method of payment for dispensing<00:37:44.200> dispensing<00:37:44.880
• directed payment directed payment programs<01:09:49.159> directed<01:09:49.679> payment
• payment gaps.

Keywords: 1183, house