Transcript Highlights:

• And again, SAWS is both an excavator and the underground facility owner, so we would, depending on what
• Urban corridors often include multiple utility owners in very tight spaces.
• We've heard a lot of talk today from owners, the utilities themselves, and those that represent those
• Custodially, We serve as partners with utility owners and locators in the Stewardship of the existing
• Excavators, locators, facility owners. one call centers, these are the standard for the industry.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in this committee, an act requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners
• :08:55.600> facility waste and hazardous waste facility waste and hazardous waste facility owners
• <00:08:59.839> do<00:09:00.160> have<00:09:00.880> um<00:09:01.839> a owners
• And uh we we do have um a owners.
• <00:27:52.000> water landfill 500 feet from any surface water landfill 500 feet from any surface

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held a hearing on a non-germane amendment to SB 302, a Senate bill originally requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners. Representative Patenza explained that the amendment was intended to preserve and separate out language developed for the governor’s budget proposal and HB 2 concerning a solid waste facility site evaluation committee, a moratorium, and related public-benefit/site-benefit provisions, so the policy would still have a vehicle if the budget language did not advance. He said the proposal reflects extensive work by the House, the governor’s office, and DES, and he was open to further changes to align with any budget conference committee outcome. Dr. Adam Finkele testified in support of the amendment and the underlying site evaluation concept, arguing that landfill siting decisions should be based on cost-benefit analysis that includes public harms, local impacts, and regional impacts rather than only private benefits. He praised the committee process and prior legislation requiring agencies to respond substantively to public comments, and said the new language improves on the governor’s version by moving the committee’s review earlier in the process and requiring more complete application information, including alternatives and impacts on nearby wells and aquifers. He also supported a three-year moratorium on new landfill applications, saying it would give the state time to address leachate, PFAS, waste reduction, and weak siting rules. Members asked about possible conference committee changes, the value of having a separate review body, and whether the new rules would invite litigation. Dr. Finkele said he would likely sue over the rules because he считает them too weak, but also said the legislature could fix the problems through other bills such as HB 77. He acknowledged that the site evaluation committee is not a perfect solution, but said it is a useful intermediate step between the agency and the courts and likely would meet only rarely if capacity need remains the main trigger for future landfill decisions. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we made the exception that they could still remain having the receptacle down below on the surface
• So we made the exception that they could still remain having the receptacle down below on the surface
• owners within a reasonable time of the discovery of any fire, leak, spill, or release of fluid that
• permit section recommended greater specificity to a provision which required the notification to surface
• owners within a reasonable time of the discovery of any fire, leak, spill, or release of fluid that

Summary: The committee approved the March 12, 2026 minutes and granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rule changes tied to House Bill 1620/1622, which concern North Dakota’s entry into the physician assistant licensure compact. The Board said it is waiting on compact rules, especially fee structures, before finalizing its own rules. The committee then took up extensive Office of Management and Budget personnel rule revisions, covering salary administration, recruitment, leave policies, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR practices and implement recent legislation, including new hire leave and enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions; the committee raised concerns about the subjectivity and fairness of the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but no action was taken against the rules. The North Dakota Lottery presented emergency and regular rule changes, including updates tied to the Millionaire for Life game and miscellaneous clarifications. The Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology described rule updates that add speech-language pathology assistants to the rules, ease continuing education requirements for out-of-state applicants, expand temporary licensure, and clarify supervision standards. The State Electrical Board reviewed numerous code updates, including changes to electrical and fire alarm standards, receptacle labeling, countertop receptacles, and a major new conveyance/elevator inspection program added by the Legislature; the board said it is preparing to begin inspections by August 1. The Industrial Commission’s Geological Survey Division presented new rules implementing House Bill 1459 on critical minerals in coal-bearing formations, including permit, reporting, confidentiality, and royalty-related provisions. The committee asked about confidentiality of exploration data and drilling depth. The Public Employees Retirement System outlined rule changes implementing several bills affecting defined benefit, public safety, defined contribution, insurance, deferred compensation, and retiree health credit programs, and noted possible future proposals to add state EMS or create a LOSAP-style plan. The Department of Health and Human Services presented substance use disorder voucher rules implementing House Bill 1012, including allowing individuals to apply directly and setting reimbursement procedures; the rules were expected to have a $250,000 general fund impact already included in the budget. The longest discussion involved the Gaming Commission rules. Members questioned whether the commission had authority to raise poker tournament buy-ins from $300 to $1,500, viewing it as an expansion of gaming rather than a mere clarification. After debate, the committee voted to void that specific rule section for lack of statutory authority. The rest of the gaming rules covered higher raffle limits from House Bill 1192, the change from “bar” to “alcoholic beverage establishment,” veterans’ organization proceeds, credit ticket voucher kiosks, online raffles, and advertising restrictions; the presenter said several public comments led to revisions or withdrawals of proposed language. The meeting ended with discussion of upcoming Ethics Commission travel-reporting rules and scheduling the next committee meeting in September.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an owner of Prescription Landscape.
• The owners are the richest people in human history and can afford it.
• The owners are the richest people in human history and can afford it.
• The owners are the richest for it.
• So to me, that would include both groundwater and surface water. Okay.

Bills: HF3793, HF3699, HF793, HF3322, HF3426

Keywords: groundwater, water use permit, data centers, public health, environmental regulations, municipalities, state park license plate, specialty license plate, Minnesota DNR, Department of Natural Resources, license plate design contest, North Shore, Lake Superior Agate, AI-generated art, artificial intelligence, Minnesota resident, state parks, specialty plates, vehicle registration, contest requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'm also wondering, on page six, where it's talking about the other owners, adjacent owners that
• Um, I'm also wondering, on page six, where it's talking about the other owners, adjacent owners that
• Um, I'm also wondering, on page six, where it's talking about the other owners, adjacent owners that
• Um, I'm also wondering, on page six, where it's talking about the other owners, adjacent owners that
• , adjacent owners that the other owners, adjacent owners that may<00:27:10.240> be<00:27:11.120

Bills: SF0050, SF0084, HB0133, HB0116, HB0011, HB0044

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, conservation districts, supervisors, elections, agriculture, local governance, beneficial use

Transcript Highlights:

• And where, in this equation, is the owner and the distributor, the federal government?
• And it is part of our surface water in the state. And it was a way of protecting that.
• I do think they had specific appropriations requests related to surface water permitting.
• Yes, and we did reauthorize it for FY27 so that they can use it for surface water permit?
• We did have a $3.5 million request for the surface water permitting program to implement Senate Bill

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If the oil and gas industry makes some sort of groundwater pollution or surface pollution, none of that's
• One of the things we've got to do is we don't want to create a cause of action for surface owners that

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You still meter it and account for it and pay for it to the royalty owner, but as you're using it to
• We've got a good partner in Franco-Nevada, which is one of the largest owners of precious minerals in
• They're just digging it at surface, right?
• I mean, if we could just dig all the oil out of the Bakken at the surface, we'd probably get that much
• , the state and the mineral owner, want barrels.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Finance and Tax Committee met to consider Senate Bill 2397 and a proposed amendment creating a development incentive well program for North Dakota oil and gas production. Representative Dockter explained the amendment as a way to encourage exploratory and innovative drilling in light of the state’s financial outlook and the growing share of stripper wells. Department of Mineral Resources Director Nathan Anderson and DMR geologist Timothy Nashim presented background on the Bakken and Three Forks formations, with Nashim describing research showing that Middle Three Forks second-bench development can add reserves in some areas but not others, and that roughly 600 additional wells in the strongest area could yield about 250 million barrels of oil. Continental Resources representatives William Houser and John Argo supported the amendment. They said the bill would give a temporary oil extraction tax exemption for certified development incentive wells, limited to 36 months or 300,000 barrels, and would also update tax treatment for gas used in enhanced oil recovery and on-site electric generation. They argued the measure would encourage new technology and testing in existing spacing units, complementing House Bill 1483, which they said focused on geographic expansion into non-Bakken and non-Three Forks areas. Argo said Continental still invests heavily in North Dakota but is shifting rigs elsewhere because of economics, and he urged incentives to spur exploration and preserve the basin’s long-term future. North Dakota Petroleum Council executive director Ron Ness also supported the concept, calling it a targeted, low-risk way to encourage innovation and future barrels. Committee members asked about royalty treatment, the difference from House Bill 1483, pressure maintenance, and how the program would be administered. DMR said the amendment should clarify that the operator bears the burden of proving a well qualifies and that only one incentive well per stratigraphic interval should be certified. No vote was taken; the committee paused to work on revised language and indicated the bill would likely need further adjustment, possibly in conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• existing structures that, if you've been in the Lacey area, are more of a large big-box style with surface
• With surface parking lots and build that into that walkable community, and then look at incentivizing
• And this property owner bought the house and simply wanted to do that.
• So for this property owner who wanted to simply add one lot for generational equity, they didn't come
• I'm a principal and owner at the company.

Summary: The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best. The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers. In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, I like, you know, it's if it's if it's going to be the pervious surfaces, all the more
• Most owners, especially those with vacation rentals Most owners, especially those with vacation rentals
• The beach front owner is suing us for trespassing.
• The property owners filed suit saying that they were that they didn't like the the bill we passed.
• It's a very, very tough issue on county property owner and have been for over 40 years.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• allocations, and transmissions of utility charges as they are consumed by residents on behalf of owners
• Conservis works with rental property owners throughout the state to provide utility billing services.
• Conservis works with rental property owners throughout the state to provide utility billing services.
• That would be, of course, turned back to the rental property owner to understand maybe what wasn't paid
• What are they external or existential issues that suddenly surfaced that needed to happen?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• allocations, and transmissions of utility charges as they are consumed by residents on behalf of owners
• Conservis works with rental property owners throughout the state to provide utility billing services.
• Conservis works with rental property owners throughout the state to provide utility billing services.
• That would be, of course, turned back to the rental property owner to understand maybe what wasn't paid
• What are they external or existential issues that suddenly surfaced that needed to happen?

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met with a quorum, took up its consent calendar, and passed SB 946 and SB 700 on a do-pass motion to the next committee. The committee then heard SB 546 by Senator Grayson, presented by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, which would clarify that third-party billing administrators are not debt collectors when they are only performing administrative billing services. Supporters from Conservis Utility Billing Management and the California Apartment Association said the bill reflects the original intent of the Debt Collection Licensing Act, would reduce compliance uncertainty, and still preserves consumer protections by barring coercive collection practices. There was no opposition, and the bill passed on a unanimous roll call to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 505 by Senator Richardson, presented by Assembly Member Maggie Krell, which would require digital wallet providers and money transmitters operating in California to use two-factor or multi-factor authentication for logins. Support came from the National Consumer Law Center, while TechNet said it was currently opposed but working with the author on amendments. Members discussed balancing security with convenience for trusted devices and users. The bill passed unanimously on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Appropriations, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• there was over 252 calls for wolf conflict management assistance related to livestock, poultry, pet owners
• and<00:03:41.159> citizens<00:03:41.599> concerned<00:03:41.959> about pet owners
• and citizens concerned about pet owners and citizens concerned about public<00:03:42.680> safety<
• this is in part what our our surface this is in part what our our fibers<00:59:40.280> are<00
• <00:59:49.799> you you don't get the smooth surface you you don't get the smooth surface you

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or try to acquire work with land owners or try to acquire properties<00:24:38.159> but<00:24:
• For the record, I'm Jason Stock, executive director of the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association
• You know, landowners and almost all timberland owners have an interest in wildlife.
• And if two months this to the surface.
• They talk, uh, Dan Walsh talked about condo owners; you mentioned it also mobile home owners could do

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we defined orphan wells as wells on state or private land, AKA their surface owner, that OCD has pursued
• Do we not know who the owner is? Do we not know who's responsible for it?
• Chairman, is they're more concerned about the surface impacts associated with the plugging activity.
• I said that's the surface plug and reclamation, which is different from the environmental reclamation
• How many abandoned well owners has the state gone after for well plugging costs? Mr. Shelton: Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think property owners are more focused on this issue than ever before.
• Do you think your bill is going to advantage commercial property owners?
• more or residential property owners more?
• I think it will broadly benefit property owners, period.
• Look, I care about the residential property owner. I care about the commercial property owner.

Bills: SB111, SB128, SB203, SB205, SB261, SB317, SB393, SB397, SB466, SB510, SB582, SB705, SB731, SB748, SB801, SB867, SB876, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1250, SB1285, SB1310, SB1400, SB1444, SB1483, SB1553, SB1556, SB1581, SB1608, SB1698, SB1723, SB1730, SB1835, SB1858, SB1903, SB1946, SB1950, SB1986, SB2017, SB2043, SB2056, SB2058, SB2063, SB2082, SB2105, SB2133, SB2137, SB2177, SB2203, SB2260, SB2311, SB2334, SB2344, SB2403, SB2417, SB2446, SB2519, SB2522, SB2532, SB2600, SB2611, SB2619, SB2637, SB2688, SB2717, SB2764, SB2785, SB2790, SB2794, SB2841, SB2847, SB2857, SB2878, SB2891, SB2943, SB2955, SB2972, SB2995, SB3037, SB3057, SB3059, HJR2, HB26, HB206, HB334, HB451, HB517, HB554, HB1109, HB2081, HB2756, HB3204, HB3809, SJR3, SB5, SB72, SB509, SB616, SB963, SB985, SB1025, SB1080, SB1143, SB1172, SB1245, SB1267, SB1271, SB1273, SB1355, SB1422, SB1759, SB1786, SB2361, SB17, SB314, SB455, SB761, SB1023, SB1968, SB2122, SB2371, SB2420, SB2544, SB1, SB260, SB1506, SB1637, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB1073, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1163, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB261, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB511, SB2309, SB510, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1359, SB1234, SB2926, SB2972, SB2841, SB1528, SB2891, SB1854, SB317, SB2532, SB1250, SB2082, SB2203, SB1285, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB1723, SB1858, SB1946, SB2009, SB2177, SB2460, SB2785, SB867, SB1608, SB640, SB1698, SB705, SB748, SB2680, SB2994, SB2747, SB1950, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB3059, SB2637, SB2334, SB1861, SB2043, SB1367, SB2857, SB128, SB3058, SB2044, SB2363, SB2311, SB1986, SB2565, SB2943, SB1888, SB2417, SB3048, SB3052, SB3053, SB3036, SB3057, SB3056, SB3043, SB3037, SB3050, SB3063, SB3047, SB3035, SB2446, SB466, SB2611, SB2794, SB2105, SB2017, SB1790, SB1778, SB1730, SB2995, SB2847, SB205, SB2619, SB1903, SB203, SB3061, SB1581, SB2600, SB2799, SB2790, SB2688, SB2515, SB1230, SB876, SB2522, SB2639, SB2137, SB2519, SB2403, SB2459, SB3051, SB2655, SB2251, SB2764, SB2878, SB1884, SB111, SB582, SB2617, SB1835, SB2751, SB2063, SB1400, SB2058, SB2260, SB2928, SB1310, SB2566, SB2344, SB1897, SB1749, SB1361, SB2549, SB2553, HJR2, HJR1, HB1109, HB517, HB1130, HB1689, HB2884, HB1393, HB2559, HB26, HB2756, HB3204, HB3012, HB1327, HB451, HB109, HB206, HB1238, HB2890, HB9, HB2081, HB4215, HB2970, HB37, HB1899, HB3809, HB334, HB554, HB1593, HB2607, HB3526, HB3810, HB5092, HB388, HB2809, HB1151, HB913, SB2919, SB1782, SB1705, SB2696, SB1944, SB2215, SB644, HB3307, HB879, HB116, HB12, HB2703, HB1610, HB1615, HB1620, HB30, HB21, HCR7, HCR75, HCR86, HCR92, HCR93, HCR126

Keywords: special education, school districts, legal fees, reporting requirements, transparency, hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, student privacy, numerical class rank, education policy, academic programs, high school, fetal development, health curriculum, public schools, middle school health education

Transcript Highlights:

• with the individual property um owners with the individual property um owners with<00:11:44.079>
• permission um a prior land owner without permission um a prior land owner without written<00:16:
• New Hampshire Timberland Owners New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association.
• roads that aren't an engineered surface. roads that aren't an engineered surface.
• owner enforce that restriction?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :54.080> for<00:26:54.240> this owners have already paid for this owners have already paid
• <00:27:15.200> Our owners. This is our local economy. Our owners.
• It's some of the cleanest surface water, raw water, in the state.
• It's some of the cleanest surface water, raw water, in the state.
• <00:49:08.559> um cleanest uh surface water um cleanest uh surface water um raw<00:49:10.880

Bills: HF4680, HF4047, HF4590, HF3757, HF3569, HF4507, HF4426, HF4927, HF4788, HF4757, HF4747, HF3561, HF4014, HF4013, HF4689, HF4766, HF4589

Keywords: wastewater treatment, improvements, capital investment, Greenfield, bonds, water treatment, infrastructure, municipal funding, state bonds, public utilities, HF4590, Tamarack, municipal infrastructure, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, Public Facilities Authority, sewer system, collection system, street reconstruction, local infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also outlines signage requirements for the owners or owners' agents of private property.
• The bill also outlines signage requirements for the owners or owners agents of a private property.
• It's good for car owners. It's good for the people who own these parking lots.
• It's good for car owners. It's good for the people who own these parking lots.
• It's good for car owners. It's good for the people who own these parking lots.

Bills: SB1010, SB1024, SB1205, SB1232, SB1366, SB1552, SB1624, SCM1002, SCM1006, SCR1004

Keywords: Charlie Kirk, Loop 202, Arizona highways, transportation, renaming, roadable aircraft, registration, vehicle title, license plates, aviation safety, motor vehicle booting, private property, fees, dispute process, regulations, outdoor advertising, military compatibility, zoning, electronic signage, permitting

Summary: The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee heard a series of transportation, traffic enforcement, and memorial bills. SB 1024, dealing with licensing and registration for roadable aircraft, drew a question about where vehicle license tax revenue would go, but with no sponsor present the committee still advanced it on a do pass recommendation by a 3-2 vote. SB 1205, which creates rules for private-property vehicle booting, was supported by industry and sponsor testimony as a consumer-protection framework modeled on towing laws; it passed 5-0 after discussion of time limits, recordkeeping, dispute resolution, and penalties. SB 1366, creating a temporary study committee on public-property towing and impound practices, was presented as a bipartisan, data-gathering measure and passed 5-0. SB 1232, a billboard/outdoor advertising zoning bill tied to military compatibility and ADOT permitting, was described as a technical cleanup measure negotiated with ADOT and local stakeholders; it passed unanimously 6-0. The committee spent the most time on SB 1624, which would cap photo-enforcement civil penalties at $75 and limit the effect of photo-radar violations on licensing and insurance. Supporters argued the bill would simplify enforcement and reduce reliance on cameras, while opponents from insurers and local governments warned it would mask risk, shift costs to other drivers, and reduce revenue for several state funds and local programs. An amendment was adopted to treat excessive speeding caught by photo enforcement as a class 3 misdemeanor and direct $15 of the penalty to the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund. The amended bill then passed 4-2, with members citing concerns about school zones, revenue impacts, and the role of photo enforcement. The committee also advanced SCR 1004, a voter referral that would let Arizona voters decide whether cities may continue using photo enforcement; it passed 4-2 after testimony that it was a negotiated compromise preserving local control while requiring a future local vote in affected cities. The final items were memorials naming highways. SCM 1002 would rename a portion of State Route 77 the L.F. Quinn Memorial Highway, and SCM 1006 would rename a portion of U.S. Route 70 the PFC Michael A. Nolene Memorial Highway. Both were described as constituent-driven and appropriate under naming procedures, with members noting Quinn’s long-ago death and Nolene’s service as the first Native American to die in the Gulf War. Both memorials passed unanimously 6-0. Earlier in the meeting, SB 1010 and SB 1552 were announced as held, and the committee adjourned after completing the remaining agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it is a fairly simple bill on the surface, but it's got some definite complexities to That's<00:29
• ,<00:32:50.480> but fairly simple bill on the surface, but fairly simple bill on the surface
• and the town and it property owner and the town and it doesn't<00:43:25.920> really<00:43:26.079
• These are bilateral agreements between municipalities and the property owner in the community.
• <01:09:27.040> in<01:09:27.279> the owner in the owner in the community.<01:09:29.759><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 302, which would allow the state treasurer to invest public funds in precious metals and digital assets. The sponsor was not present, so Representative Urs introduced the bill briefly and said he did not know much about it. No one from the Treasury Department testified, and members repeatedly noted the treasurer’s absence. Susan Elme testified against the bill, arguing that these investments are highly volatile and contrary to the treasury’s duty to remain stable and liquid. She said the bill should be killed. In questioning, she estimated the 5% cap in the bill would amount to roughly $10 million, depending on available funds, and said such investing would be more appropriate for an individual day trader than for the state treasury. Members also discussed prior legislative experience with Bitcoin-related proposals and raised concerns about whether the treasury had the staff expertise to manage commodity or digital asset investing. The committee did not take a final vote; instead, it agreed to hold a work session and seek additional information from the treasurer, with a plan to revisit the bill on April 1.