Transcript Highlights:

• DHS, counties, and tribes had to work differently to determine eligibility for Medicaid.
• counties process renewals, eased the workload, and enhanced communication channels to engage counties, tribes
• And as we learn more and begin to work with our county partners and tribes and other providers, we'll
• And as we learn more and begin to work with our county partners and tribes and other providers, we'll
• And as we learn more and begin to work with our county partners and tribes and other providers, we'll

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to ensure that we're addressing any concerns or questions that the tribes and nations may have
• The other thing is that we're working with the tribes and Pueblos.
• If we want these policies to proceed, we have to build trust with mothers, with tribes, and with relatives
• I continue to hear about child removals without notice to tribes.
• I mean, I think when you're kind of talking about folks who do sort of traditional things in their tribe

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill is a biennial request for $500,000 to be divided among the five North Dakota tribes, with
• each tribe providing up to $100,000 to receive an equal amount from the state.
• That committee will be made up of representatives from the tribe, particular historical preservation
• Representatives from the tribe, tribal historical preservation officers, representatives from the Historical
• It forges a deeper partnership between North Dakota tribes and the North Dakota Historical Society, ensuring

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum call, then took up House amendments to Senate Bills 2009, 2147, and 2113. On motion, the Senate refused to concur in the House amendments and appointed conference committees for each bill. The chamber then considered several House bills, adopting amendments and passing House Bill 1556, which creates a Children's Cabinet work group to study out-of-home placement and treatment for children with behavioral health issues, and House Bill 1363, which directs development of a customizable cardiac emergency response plan template for schools and athletic events. House Bill 1533, requiring students to complete a half-unit of financial literacy for graduation, also passed after amendment. House Bill 1226, dealing with masks in public places and protest-related identification concerns, passed after the Judiciary Committee removed language about complying with law enforcement requests to unmask.

Transcript Highlights:

• The negotiation only was lengthened because the tribe was asked to put an $8.35 million land collateral
• The CCE program isn't built for tribes in mind, and so therefore we're just asking how we can remediate
• to make sure that the CCE program does fit the tribes accordingly and respects tribal sovereignty.
• able to have a ripple effect across CDSS and other programs that they want to have accessible to tribes
• I actually had a tribe that had a similar situation that they brought up to me very recently.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WCB provides grants to tribes, governments, and nonprofits to support conservation investments statewide
• Alex Lumer on behalf of the Karuk Tribe.
• This is a huge priority for the Karuk Tribe.
• This is a huge priority for the Karuk Tribe.
• The Karuk Tribe is supporting a similar economy's bill, 1891, or as I like to call it, the Beneficial

Summary: The subcommittee began by announcing a change in the agenda order, moving item 6 ahead of item 1 and then item 7, and noting there would be no votes taken on any items that day. Item 6 covered a proposed operational efficiencies control section for the Natural Resources Agency that would let multiple departments jointly fund landscape-scale or multi-jurisdictional projects and allow Finance to transfer climate bond funds to a lead state entity. The LAO said the proposal was reasonable but suggested the Legislature consider requiring summary notification on how it is used; Finance said it would consider that request. Item 7 focused on the 2026-27 biodiversity and nature-based solutions spending plan. Finance and the Wildlife Conservation Board described the climate bond funding for habitat restoration, wildlife crossings, public access, tribal nature-based solutions, and related work, including $111 million proposed for WCB and $30 million for Salton Sea habitat and public access projects. The LAO supported the overall approach but flagged the San Andreas Corridor Program as an area where the Legislature may want to specify geographic priorities. Members discussed the pace of Salton Sea work and whether the proposed projects would count toward disadvantaged community goals. Item 8 addressed Cal Fire’s aviation contract and staffing needs for wildfire response. Cal Fire said year-round fire activity, a larger and more complex aircraft fleet, and labor market pressures justified the proposed contract increase, including more mechanics, pilots, and maintenance support. The LAO recommended approval, saying the proposal addressed health and safety concerns. Members asked about contractor staffing, competition in the bidding process, and future technology for early fire detection and suppression. The committee then took up item 1 on golden mussel containment. Fish and Wildlife described the invasive species’ spread in the Delta, the task force and response framework, and a request for eight new positions funded by Prop. 4 to support control plans, outreach, monitoring, research, and coordination with partners and law enforcement. Members pressed the department on whether the state should fund more direct decontamination infrastructure and grants to local water managers, and on the realistic goal of containing the mussel. The chair and several members emphasized the urgency of the threat and requested an itemized breakdown of the $20 million request. The hearing then moved to a broader LAO overview of wildfire prevention and response funding, where the LAO summarized the state’s funding mix and warned that ongoing wildfire resilience funding will likely decline as one-time bond and GGRF funds are exhausted, prompting discussion of long-term funding options and the balance between prevention, suppression, and community hardening.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm telling them, have you talked to our tribes? Are...
• Telling them, have you talked to our tribes, our nations, our pueblos?
• A couple of questions on your work—first questions on your work with tribes...
• First questions: when you work with tribes, how many of these tribes or nations have designated, like
• , economic development zones, or are you familiar with any other than that with the tribes?

Summary: The committee first recognized Mark Roper of the Economic Development Department for his long service and retirement, with members and the secretary praising his work on economic development across the state. Secretary Rob Black then presented EDD’s budget and special appropriation requests, describing strong recent job and income growth and outlining the department’s strategy around science and technology, site readiness, workforce development, foreign direct investment, and rural/community programs. He highlighted wins in advanced energy, quantum, space and defense, and biosciences, and asked for funding for quantum/DARPA matching funds, additional site readiness work, LIDA closing funds, JTIP training support, New Mexico Partnership, and healthy foods and other community programs. Members asked detailed questions about the quantum proposal, site readiness, the new mapping tool for industrial sites, workforce participation, trade missions, foreign investment, tariffs, water and produced water, tribal site evaluation, and public engagement on major projects. Black said the quantum request was intended to match federal dollars and build a workforce pipeline, that the site-readiness software would be a set enterprise license, and that the department was working with tribes and local partners on future site evaluations. He also said tariffs have created uncertainty but New Mexico’s infrastructure and foreign trade zones could help attract manufacturing, and he acknowledged concerns about transparency and community input while noting that some projects, such as Pacific Fusion, had gone through extensive public processes. The committee also discussed specific projects and funding balances, including Mantis Space’s move to Albuquerque, the status of Virgin Galactic’s spaceport lease, and the current LIDA fund balance and encumbrances. Black and Deputy Secretary Isaac Romero said the department was trying to use State Investment Council-backed venture funds to attract companies and that the new investments were already producing deals and jobs. Members generally supported the department’s direction but pressed for more targeted expertise, faster deployment, and stronger community involvement in future economic development decisions. Later, Secretary de Blassie of the Department of Health presented the department’s budget request and progress report. He said DOH had improved revenue cycle management, reduced old Medicaid-pending cases, increased census at facilities, improved budget and contract timeliness, and responded effectively to the measles outbreak. The department requested additional base funding for epidemiology and response, the DOH helpline, the Vital Records Virtual Vault, state labs, and the veterans home, along with special requests for respiratory vaccinations and marketing and lab equipment replacement. He also noted progress on MOUD and the medical psilocybin program, and said the department was not seeking to launch new programs given the limited time left in the administration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before I go to my witnesses, I would just like to note that we have had discussions with several tribes
• Caltrans and MTC have set up regular consultation meetings and are ensuring that tribes are invited to
• I do want to thank the author for taking the concerns of the tribes seriously and continuing to work
• I think that that is something that... ...the concerns of the tribes seriously and continuing to work
• Elizabeth Washoe, descendant of northeastern California tribes, and I support this bill because it's

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of water, parks, transportation, species protection, and fisheries bills. AB 430 would require the State Water Resources Control Board to publish an economic and environmental impact study when emergency water regulations are extended over multiple years; the author and supporters from agricultural and water groups said it would add transparency without limiting emergency authority. AB 1139 would expand a CEQA exemption to let county park agencies open existing roads and trails for non-motorized recreation, with supporters emphasizing access to nature and opponents warning about impacts to sensitive habitat, tribal resources, and fire risk. AB 929 would temporarily exempt small community water systems and managed wetlands from certain SGMA pumping reductions and fines; supporters said it would protect vulnerable communities and wetlands, while farm and water coalition opponents argued it would undermine basin-wide groundwater management and shift burdens to other users. AB 1225, creating an Accessibility Advisory Committee for State Parks, drew broad support and passed unanimously. The committee also heard AB 514, which would encourage local water suppliers to develop emergency water supplies for drought and service interruptions; it passed with broad support, though one member cautioned against using scientific research as a loophole. AB 550 would let developers seek incidental take permits for species under consideration for listing, aimed at reducing delays for clean energy projects; environmental groups supported the goal but asked for clearer standards, limits on using research as mitigation, and a fee provision, and the bill passed as amended. AB 697 would authorize an incidental take permit for the State Route 37 interim project in Solano and Marin counties, balancing congestion relief and habitat restoration; supporters stressed long commutes and urgent restoration deadlines, while opponents raised climate, sea-level-rise, and tribal concerns. The bill passed, with some members noting they would continue to work on the measure. Other measures discussed included AB 975, which would give Sutter County a narrow, temporary exemption from streambed alteration agreements for certain damaged small bridges and culverts; county officials described repeated flood damage and long permitting delays, and the bill passed as amended. AB 1056 would phase out transferability of set gillnet permits after 2027, allowing only a final family transfer; supporters framed it as a gradual response to bycatch concerns, while fishing industry opponents said it would unfairly target an existing fishery and set a bad precedent. The committee also took up AB 1146, described by the author as a response to politically motivated water releases; supporters from conservation and water organizations backed the bill. Several bills were voted out to Appropriations, some were left open for later action or add-ons, and the committee repeatedly noted it was working through the agenda without a quorum early in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, just including Shoshoni and Arapaho tribes for their own tribally owned vehicles.
• adding the vehicles owned by the tribal governments of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes
• 00:01:50.799> Shosonyi<00:01:51.360> and<00:01:51.439> Rapo<00:01:51.920> tribes
• <00:01:52.640> for including Shosonyi and Rapo tribes for including Shosonyi and Rapo tribes
• of the Wind and northern Arapjo tribes of the Wind River<00:05:20.639> Indian<00:05:21.039>

Bills: HB0026, HB0042, HB0067, HB0069

Keywords: tribal governments, vehicle registration, exemption, license plates, Wind River Indian Reservation, vehicle, accident, duty to stop, felony, personal injury, death, veterans property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax relief, military tax exemption, Wyoming National Guard, active duty, reserve members, surviving spouse, surviving parent

Transcript Highlights:

• So these are looking at property owned by any Indian tribe, not just specifically one. Correct.
• than naming the tribe.
• Not we're not by any Indian tribe.
• there are ways of describing which tribe there are ways of describing which tribe has<01:09:03.359
• . tribe. tribe.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 1126, property tax exemption for an Indian tribe — is that the one, like Minneapolis?
• Yeah, a tribe owns a property in your... what's that? Mine's in Minneapolis, I think. Okay.
• is that the one like for an Indian tribe is that the one like Minneapolis<01:14:08.440> or<01
• owns a property in yeah a tribe owns a property in your<01:14:18.400> what's your what's your
• that's I guess that's the one tribe that's I guess that's the one we're<01:14:32.800> talking

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• My tribes and ancestral homelands span over seven counties, including the Sacramento.
• My tribe and others will irreparably be harmed by the Delta Conveyance Project.
• And a slap in the face to tribes, Delta communities, environment, and everyday Californians.
• Native American tribes and the public.
• Center has the voices and the culture and education of the Native American tribes of California.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also updates the tribal supervision funding formula, and that was in collaboration with the tribes
• Fund the tribes for their role in community supervision logistically and financial technical changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• indigenous students from all over the country, really, but also sort of anchored by students from tribes
• tribes and pueblos within New Mexico.
• are no people on the admissions committee who say have lived experience as members of a New Mexico tribe
• State University, its Dean Stacey Leeds, is making tremendous headway in her partnerships with the tribes
• Arizona in opening legal opportunities for people there to study the law at partnerships with the tribes

Bills: SB1, SB3

Keywords: interstate medical licensure compact, physician licensure, medical license reciprocity, expedited licensure, medical practice act, New Mexico medical board, compact commission, physician mobility, telemedicine, license portability, background check, disciplinary action, joint investigation, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, scope of practice, medical board transparency, multistate compact, licensure renewal, health care workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it was just a big bill that the tribe didn't profit any money off of it.
• <02:21:05.680> Is<02:21:05.920> the different tribes on it.
• Is the different tribes on it.
• I mean, we just listened to what the tribes were saying.
• <02:42:59.760> were we just listen to what the tribes were we just listen to what the tribes

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another key element to this is establishing a work group with the counties, tribes, and tribes to develop
• establishing a work group with the establishing a work group with the counties,<00:12:49.400> tribes
• counties, tribes, and tribes to develop counties, tribes, and tribes to develop long-term<00:12:
• We support the comprehensive study of counties, the roles and responsibilities of counties, tribes, and
• , and the state, provided that any tribes, and the state, provided that any direction<00:57:40.840>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Or do the colleges or the tribes contract for these funds to go to their tribal colleges?
• Tribes, pueblos, and nations around that have historically been missed in terms of access and opportunity
• But I think it would be helpful if the tribes could be a part of reviewing those IGA templates just so
• And that's why I'm asking these questions, because how do our tribes get the message back that, hey,

Transcript Highlights:

• of police had asked that we host a convening of all tribal police chiefs for federally recognized tribes
• It also allows the VA to offer grants to states and tribes for county VSOs and would allow the VA to
• considered for funding, projects must be submitted by a local government, federally recognized Indian tribe
• Submitted by a local government, federally recognized Indian tribe, or by an entity who has entered into

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs met to hear updates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Washington Military Department, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Commerce on federal and state impacts affecting veterans, military families, and military installations. JBLM’s garrison commander said the base remains focused on housing, child care, and spouse employment, but is facing workforce reductions tied to federal personnel actions, especially in air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and firefighting. He also said JBLM is preparing for increased mutual-aid needs during fire season, and that the Army Transformation Initiative could change unit composition at JBLM over time without a major overall population shift. He confirmed that the Lewis Army Museum is on a closure list, but said the building will remain in use for training and that the base is exploring partnerships to keep museum functions operating, possibly with volunteers or local partners. The Washington Military Department reported about 400 Guard members deployed on federal missions and described ongoing state missions in cybersecurity and firefighting. The department said the Army National Guard’s 81st Stryker Brigade will transition to a mobile combat team, with associated changes in equipment, manning, and end strength. It also warned that continuing resolutions are delaying funding, limiting new military construction starts, and increasing costs. The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs outlined a $3.2 million reduction from the governor’s budget and related cuts affecting internships, vacant positions, outreach travel, claims support contracts, counseling and wellness, veterans’ innovation assistance, and the military transition and readiness council staff position. WDVA said it is ending or scaling back several programs, including in-house nursing assistant training, the veteran farm at Ordean, Vet Corps due to AmeriCorps funding changes, and the tobacco cessation program, while noting that the legislature funded about $23.7 million in capital projects for veteran homes, cemeteries, and transitional housing. The Department of Commerce presented on the Defense Community Compatibility Account, which funds projects that reduce conflicts between military installations and nearby communities. The program currently has 10 projects across five legislative districts, including school and child care improvements, water wells, land acquisition, and a joint firefighting training center in Everett. The presenter said the main challenge is that DCCA projects often need non-state funding secured before they can compete, which can make it hard to leverage federal Defense Community Infrastructure Program dollars; he recommended more flexible state timing to help projects qualify for federal funding. In closing discussion, members raised possible future agenda items including child care near bases, veteran homelessness, suicide prevention, Navy Day, military family housing, and a possible Department of Licensing issue involving guard and reserve designations on driver’s licenses. No formal votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after members were invited to suggest topics for the October and December committee meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• both tribes.
• both tribes.
• both tribes.
• both tribes.
• Um so yeah we should have a good tribes.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hello, my name is Ignacio Taylor, and I'm a millennial descendant of the Wichita-affiliated tribes residing
• Hello, my name is Ignacio Taylor, and I'm a millennial descendant of the Wichita-affiliated tribes residing
• in the Darko, Oklahoma. my mayor with youth forward. tribes residing in Antarctica, Oklahoma.

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee met with a delayed start while waiting for quorum, then heard several bills before moving to the suspense file. AB 564 by Assemblymember Haney would freeze the planned cannabis excise tax increase at 15% rather than allow it to rise to 25%; supporters argued the legal cannabis industry is struggling against the illicit market and high taxes, while opponents said the measure would reduce funding for children, youth programs, environmental restoration, and enforcement promised under Prop. 64. The bill was sent to suspense during regular order and later approved out of suspense on a 6-0 vote with amendments, including a five-year sunset and a reduced rate. AB 1265, also by Haney, would extend and expand the state historic tax credit to encourage rehabilitation of vacant historic buildings for housing and mixed-use projects; preservation and housing advocates supported it, and it was also sent to suspense rather than voted on immediately. The committee then heard AB 1377 by Assemblymember McKenna, which would require studios seeking optional diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility film tax credits to complete the plans they submit to the California Film Commission. Labor supporters said studios should do more than make good-faith efforts, and the bill passed 5-1 to Appropriations. AB 1416 by Vice Chair Ta would clarify disaster-related property tax deferrals for homeowners who have requested installment plans, and it passed 7-0 to the Assembly Floor. Afterward, the chair gave a general warning that the bills on suspense represented large revenue losses and emphasized the committee’s need to weigh tax expenditures against other state priorities. On the suspense file, the committee approved AB 27, AB 53, AB 97, AB 231, AB 232, AB 429, AB 613, AB 984, and AB 1485, mostly on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while AB 547 passed 5-1. Several other bills, including AB 386, AB 389, AB 490, AB 6991, AB 814, AB 1057, AB 1219, AB 1282, AB 1354, AB 1431, AB 1435, and AB 1481, were held in committee. The meeting concluded with the committee adjourning after completing the suspense-file actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• input of the people who actually are using the systems, again, our partners with counties and the tribes
• our our partners with counties<01:24:02.239> and<01:24:02.440> the<01:24:03.040> tribes
• <01:24:03.800> and<01:24:04.120> and<01:24:04.239> the counties and the tribes
• and and the counties and the tribes and and the clients<01:24:04.760> as<01:24:04.920> well
• to renew eligibility for 1.5 tribes to renew eligibility for 1.5 million million million minnesotans

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee met on February 6, 2025, for an update on emergency medical services (EMS) policy and implementation. Senator Seberger described the work of the EMS Task Force, which traveled statewide to hear concerns from providers about staffing, reimbursement, and retention. She said the task force led to the Sprint Medic model and two innovation zones in Otter Tail and St. Louis counties, and she urged continued monitoring and possible reconstitution of the task force to evaluate what is working and what could be expanded statewide. She also said future EMS work should continue to explore alternative response models and telemedicine, but that the most immediate need is additional funding, especially to address unpaid non-transport calls. Dylan Ferguson, director of the newly formed Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services, gave a detailed update on the office’s structure and priorities after the transition from the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board. He described the office’s three divisions, the appointment of deputy directors, the first meetings of the advisory councils, and work on a statewide EMS strategic plan. He also reviewed the $24 million emergency ambulance aid program, explaining its 40-40-20 formula, the emphasis on rural services, the reporting and spending deadlines, and the positive response from ambulance providers. He noted that the $6 million Sprint paramedic grant program is underway, with Otter Tail County moving forward and St. Louis County still finalizing its application. Ferguson also outlined the office’s budget request for modest staffing and contract-cost increases, two rulemaking efforts to update outdated ambulance vehicle standards and expand medication options for basic life support services, and ongoing data collection on workforce needs, violence against EMS providers, and ambulance crashes. He highlighted the paramedic scholarship program administered by the Office of Higher Education, saying nearly 300 scholarships have been awarded. Members and Senator Seberger praised the EMS reforms and emphasized that non-transport calls create significant unreimbursed costs, especially for rural and volunteer services, but no votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.