Transcript Highlights:

• they're at Bismarck Legacy or if they're at Valley City High School or if they're at Grand Forks Red River
• drop-off in Minnesota, and we've started to see that certainly, and you see our friends across the river
• drop off in Minnesota, and we've started to see that certainly, and you see our friends across the river

Summary: The committee met on the Minot State campus for a presentation from President Shirley and several university leaders on enrollment, academics, workforce initiatives, and partnerships. Shirley reviewed the university’s financial audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings in recent years, and highlighted Minot State’s major programs, specialized accreditations, and ties to Minot Air Force Base and NCAA Division II athletics. Members asked about education workforce shortages, athletic tuition waivers, dual credit incentives, and the university’s in-state tuition policy for all students. Shirley also discussed the university’s recruitment efforts, including the Hometown Pride and Academic Excellence scholarships, campus visit growth, and the Emerging Scholars dual-credit reimbursement program. A major focus was workforce development and new academic offerings supported by legislative Workforce Education Innovation Funds. Shirley described the new Innovation Engineering program, which was developed with industry input to train broadly skilled engineers for western North Dakota, and said it had already drawn more applicants than expected. Dr. Crystal St. Peter presented a new master’s program in counseling that integrates mental health and addiction counseling to address statewide provider shortages, with a hybrid format to reach rural students. Members asked about licensure requirements, internship hours, and job placement for graduates. Shirley also outlined a new nursing simulation center and health sciences space in downtown Minot, made possible by state support and the purchase of the former Trinity Health Center West building. The committee also heard about Minot State’s efforts to build pipelines into education and special education, including the Aspire program for rural high school students and an online paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Shirley said these programs, along with new articulation agreements and a large Bush Foundation grant, are intended to address teacher shortages and keep students in North Dakota. No formal committee votes or actions were taken during the presentation; the session consisted of informational updates and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• the bridge and might be able to cross the bridge and cross<01:16:31.600><c> the</c><01:16:31.840><c> river
• > over</c><01:16:32.400><c> to</c><01:16:32.640><c> Indiana</c><01:16:33.679><c> and</c> cross the river
• over to Indiana and cross the river over to Indiana and benefit<01:16:34.640><c> students</c><01:16:

Summary: The House convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, approved the prior journal, and received committee reports on several bills. Reported measures included House Bills 1 and 2 from Appropriations and Revenue, along with bills on animal control officers, emergency services revenue, postsecondary education, proactive postsecondary admission, vehicle lights, motor vehicle operation, motor vehicle dealers, and machine gun conversion devices. The chamber also took up Senate Bills 52 and 124 for concurrence, and House Bill 1 was moved from rules to the orders of the day for immediate action. The House then considered House Bill 568, which would regulate public adjusters by prohibiting new licenses, allowing renewals for current licensees, imposing conflict-of-interest and contract requirements, capping fees at 5%, and barring adjusters from negotiating claims. Supporters described it as a consumer-protection measure responding to complaints and investigations, especially after recent storm-related exploitation. The bill passed overwhelmingly, 95-1. The House next debated House Bill 1, which would opt Kentucky into the federal education freedom tax credit program and authorize the Secretary of State to administer the state’s participation without using state general funds. Supporters argued it would bring federal scholarship dollars into Kentucky for K-12 students, including public school students, and could generate significant private donations for scholarship-granting organizations. Opponents raised concerns about shifting resources away from public education, the speed of the process, and a proposed waiver of Eleventh Amendment immunity. A motion to table the bill failed by a wide margin, and members continued debating the bill and its implications for public schools and state sovereignty.

Transcript Highlights:

• FWRC has acquired a 14,000-acre tract of forest land on the Wolf River, just north of I-10.
• This coastal forest land will protect 100 miles of Wolf River main stem and tributaries.
• of Conservation, Vegetation Production, the Mississippi Small Farmers and Agribusiness, Mississippi River

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we do live, I mean, Ashland is clearly right on the Ohio River.
• they mentioned the research that shows that people with severe mental illness... right on on the Ohio River
• So, um we right on on the Ohio River.

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board first approved the September 24 minutes and then heard a presentation from four certified community behavioral health clinic providers: Pathways, NorthKey, Seven Counties Services, and NewVista. The presenters explained the difference between traditional community mental health centers and CCBHCs, describing CCBHCs as an enhanced model that integrates behavioral health, primary care, wraparound services, and crisis response. They reviewed the federal history of the model, Kentucky’s entry into the Medicaid demonstration in 2022, and the scheduled end of the enhanced federal match on December 31, 2027. They also emphasized required services such as 24-hour mobile crisis, care coordination, and services for veterans, and described care coordination as a key feature that helps patients follow up after hospital or emergency discharge, manage medications, and connect to transportation and other supports. The presenters gave examples of improved outcomes, including a patient who was able to remain living independently because of coordinated home-based and telehealth support, and they argued that CCBHCs are helping Kentucky build a more responsive crisis system through 988, mobile crisis teams, and crisis stabilization units. They said the model is data-driven, uses performance metrics, and has led to stronger collaboration among community partners. One speaker said more than 100 agencies participated in a Jefferson County community health needs assessment and continued meeting afterward to reduce redundancies and barriers to care. They also said crisis call hub compliance and mobile crisis outreach compliance improved significantly over the past year. Members asked about how navigators and connectors fit into the model, how CCBHCs work with managed care organizations, and how the program could expand statewide. The presenters said navigators are not built into the CCBHC model but may be used through referrals, while the CCBHCs continue to bill MCOs the same way and receive a Medicaid wrap payment for the enhanced rate. They said the goal would be for all community mental health centers to become CCBHCs, but that a state plan amendment would be needed and could not be limited only to CMHCs if submitted to CMS. They estimated about $28 million would be needed statewide to continue the program in the next biennium, combining the loss of enhanced federal match and the state share of enhanced service costs. The board also discussed transportation, with one presenter explaining that their program arranges Medicaid transportation for eligible appointments, and members raised concerns about mental inquest warrant transport and whether sheriffs should remain involved. No votes were taken on the CCBHC or transportation items during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• contacted by the City of San Jose late last year about shopping carts and other trash ending up in a river
• He said the bill does nothing to address trash from homeless encampments or trash getting into the river
• I can say in Los Angeles County, we have the River City portion, which has its own corruption issues.

Committee: House Local Government

Summary: The committee began with housekeeping and then took up SB 753 by Senator Cortese, a bill to update California’s shopping cart recovery law. The author and supporters from San Jose, the League of California Cities, counties, and water districts argued the bill would let local governments retrieve abandoned carts immediately, return them directly to retailers, and recover documented costs, rather than storing carts for 30 days. Retail groups and grocers opposed the measure, saying carts are stolen property, that the bill could create a new revenue stream for cities, and that retailers should retain a first right of retrieval without added fees. Members debated notice periods, cost caps, and local control, and the author agreed to continue working on amendments. The committee adopted the bill as amended and passed it 6-0. The committee then heard SB 445 by Senator Wiener, which would speed up third-party permits and approvals for high-speed rail projects. The author said the bill was narrowed from an earlier broader transit proposal and now focuses on requiring early engagement, clear rules, and binding arbitration to prevent utilities, cities, and other entities from delaying a state-approved project. Supporters said permitting delays add major costs and can hold projects hostage; opponents from utilities, cities, counties, telecoms, and special districts said they were concerned about impacts on safety, reliability, affordability, and local authority, though many said they were willing to keep working on amendments. The committee sent SB 445 to the Utilities and Energy Committee on an 8-1 vote. Finally, the committee heard SB 9 by Senator Wiener, a narrower housing bill dealing with accessory dwelling units. The bill would require local ADU ordinances to be submitted to HCD for review and would make state standards apply if a local agency fails to submit a compliant ordinance or respond to HCD findings within the required time. Supporters from housing and YIMBY groups said the measure would improve enforcement of state ADU law and prevent local barriers from slowing housing production. There was no opposition testimony, and the committee passed the bill 6-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• project for the co-chair of the Ways and Means Committee, and it's a pedestrian bridge across the Rum River
• project for the co-chair of the Ways and Means Committee, and it's a pedestrian bridge across the Rum River
• It's a proposed bridge that would be a third crossing within less than a quarter of a mile on the Rum River

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's on the Mississippi River on the west side of the riverbank.
• So it's on the Mississippi River on the west side of the riverbank.
• It's on the Mississippi River on the west side of the riverbank, a large area that used to load commodities

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh instead of the Mississippi River<00:32:43.519><c> Trail</c><00:32:43.840><c> Project,</c><00:32:44.320
• ><c> it</c><00:32:44.480><c> should</c><00:32:44.720><c> read</c> River Trail Project, it should read
• River Trail Project, it should read North<00:32:45.360><c> Commons.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• 35.039><c> Mississippi</c> bridge that straddles the Mississippi bridge that straddles the Mississippi River
• 19:36.320><c> the</c><00:19:36.480><c> east</c><00:19:36.640><c> and</c><00:19:36.799><c> west</c> River
• and connects the east and west River and connects the east and west banks<00:19:37.280><c> of</c><00

Bills: HF3220

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• a as representative nor has mentioned is a different<00:09:00.800><c> flare</c><00:09:01.240><c> rivers
• <00:09:01.640><c> and</c><00:09:01.760><c> the</c><00:09:01.920><c> different</c> different flare rivers
• and the different different flare rivers and the different 87<00:09:02.880><c> counties</c><00:09:03.480

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• this last summer, because we've got quite a few members and we have employers on both sides of the river
• this last summer because we've got quite a few members, and we have employers on both sides of the river
• employers are running into. ...we've got quite a few members, and we have employers on both sides of the river

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• , which makes no sense because communities on both sides of the river, adjoining, you know, have more
• , which makes no sense because communities on both sides of the river, adjoining, you know, have more
• :34.480><c> Marramck</c> they split the state on the Marramck they split the state on the Marramck River
• , which makes no sense because River, which makes no sense because communities<00:11:37.360><c> on</c
• </c> communities on both sides of the river communities on both sides of the river adjoining,<00:11:39.760

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2010 there were two bills happening on either side of the river, in both states, New Hampshire and
• Vermont and politics in New Hampshire, but for us as Native people, we have kin on both sides of the river
• And like I said, that doesn't mean that they're Vermont Indians who crossed the river and came to New
• </c><03:47:40.880><c> and</c><03:47:41.080><c> came</c> Indians who crossed the river and came Indians
• who crossed the river and came to<03:47:41.399><c> New</c><03:47:41.640><c> Hampshire</c><03:47:42.000

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 610, which would fold the Office of the Consumer Advocate into the Department of Energy rather than fully eliminate consumer advocacy functions. The prime sponsor argued the current office is small, funded by a special assessment on ratepayers, and duplicative of DOE work. He said moving the function to DOE would streamline energy policy review, reduce bureaucracy, and better focus the larger agency on lowering residential energy costs. He also disputed claims that the Consumer Advocate is independent, saying the office is appointed through a political process similar to DOE leadership. Committee members and the sponsor discussed whether the bill would actually relocate existing positions or replace them, and whether the Department of Energy would absorb the cost of the transferred staff. The sponsor said the fiscal note shows roughly a million-dollar reduction in both revenue assessment and spending, and that the bill would effectively reduce the office from five positions to three. He also defended his cost estimates for energy-code-related housing impacts and said the Consumer Advocate has sometimes supported policies he считает increase costs, such as energy-efficiency measures and building code changes. He argued the office should focus more on energy supply and generation, including natural gas and nuclear, rather than efficiency alone. Representative Wendy Thomas testified in opposition, saying the Consumer Advocate is an important, fair, and impartial voice for ratepayers and warning that the bill was fiscally irresponsible because the incumbent could still be owed salary and benefits if the office were repealed. She also said the bill’s drafting was confusing and that the Consumer Advocate’s role is to push back on utilities on behalf of consumers. Other members raised questions about whether the DOE would simply inherit the same political appointment structure and whether the bill would meaningfully lower bills. No vote was taken in the excerpt; the chair indicated additional testimony would follow, and the Department of Energy was present to answer questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Flood have done, benefiting a big city like the Los Angeles basin all the way to a capital city like
• As I say, benefiting a big city like the Los Angeles basin all the way to a capital city like Little

Bills: HB1531 , HB6644 , HB3190 , HB3390 , HB3682 , HB5616 , SB3705

Keywords: Taiwan, China, banking organizations, financial regulators, national security, Burma, sanctions, foreign relations, accountability, economic oversight, military accountability, discount window, Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Act, Board of Governors, liquidity, bank liquidity, emergency lending, lender of last resort, financial stability

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, well, in March, we contacted Dead River and we made arrangements to have the Maragas tank removed
• and have a new tank installed by Dead River at our expense.
• Uh well, in March, we contacted<04:34:00.240><c> Dead</c><04:34:00.561><c> River</c><04:34:00.879><c>
• and</c><04:34:01.119><c> we</c><04:34:01.359><c> made</c> contacted Dead River and we made contacted
• </c> installed by Dead River at our expense. installed by Dead River at our expense.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• ponds in New Hampshire, about a thousand that are greater than 10 acres and about 18,000 miles of rivers
• about 18,000 greater than 10 acres and about 18,000 miles<01:45:27.119><c> of</c><01:45:27.360><c> rivers
• </c><01:45:29.040><c> And</c><01:45:29.199><c> we</c><01:45:29.360><c> do</c> miles of rivers and streams
• And we do miles of rivers and streams. And we do have<01:45:29.679><c> cyanobacteria.
• thousands of acres of timberlands owned by timber companies, as well as 146,000 acres of the Connecticut River

Committee: House Resources, Recreation and Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We can look at Epping and we can see how much sewage is going into our rivers.
• We can look at Epping and we can see how much sewage is going into our rivers.
• We can look at Epping and we can see how much sewage is going into our rivers.
• I don't understand that. much sewage is going into our rivers.
• I much sewage is going into our rivers.

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• > Care at the the Manchester VA or the Care at the the Manchester VA or the White<02:05:38.079><c> River
• <c> Junction</c><02:05:38.800><c> VA</c><02:05:39.800><c> so</c><02:05:40.119><c> 60,000</c> White River
• Junction VA so 60,000 White River Junction VA so 60,000 veterans<02:05:41.119><c> go</c><02:05:41.239
• We would lose lakes and rivers management. We would lose shellfish and dam operations.
• They're not in... lakes and rivers management we would lakes and rivers management we would lose<05:12

Summary: The committee reviewed the Department of Corrections budget, with the chair initially noting that the overall numbers looked close to fiscal year 2024 spending, except for federal funds. Department officials explained that prior ARPA expenditures and delayed revenue recognition had distorted the comparison, and that the corrected general fund spend was about $169.7 million. Members then focused on whether the budget’s staffing assumptions were realistic, especially the shift from overtime to full-time lines and the use of vacant positions to offset overtime costs. The department said it is leaning on vacancy savings, but would return for additional appropriations if unforeseen staffing problems arise. A major portion of the discussion centered on recruitment, retention, and staffing levels. Officials reported a 42% vacancy rate in enforcement ranks, down from 51% in January 2023, with 28 new officers headed to the next academy and 33 new hires already tracked. They said overtime is more expensive than regular staffing because of benefits and that it takes about 11 months for a new hire to break even. Members also asked about the split between incarcerated and supervised populations; the department said it oversees about 1,970 inmates in facilities and just over 4,000 people in the community, with 77 positions supervising the community population and the inmate population remaining the most expensive area. The committee also discussed how sentencing and statutory changes affect incarceration levels, including misdemeanor/felony thresholds and theft thresholds, with the department agreeing that such changes can significantly affect prison and jail populations. Members asked about education and recidivism, and the department said base education is the most important foundation, followed by vocational training, while noting that many incarcerated men lack a high school diploma. The department also described a $1.3 million reduction in contracted forensic evaluation services, explaining that these evaluations are court-ordered competency assessments and are not statutorily required to be provided by DOC. Finally, members reviewed victim services funding and staffing, including VOCA-supported positions, and the department explained that a new victim witness specialist would help support survivors at parole hearings and safety planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• My grandfather worked in the coal train unloading the coal into the Susquehanna River power plant.
• Yes, I'm Sally Pick from Montague, Massachusetts, about a mile from the Connecticut River, as the bald

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several energy-related bills, with the main focus on H. 3534/S. 2255, which would ban or sharply restrict residential third-party electric suppliers, and on related reform proposals. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, municipal and regional planning officials, environmental justice groups, consumer advocates, and city officials from Boston and Chelsea. They argued that the residential competitive supply market has produced higher bills, deceptive sales tactics, auto-renewals into higher rates, and disproportionate harm to low-income residents, seniors, communities of color, and people with limited English. Witnesses cited AG reports estimating hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges over time, described door-to-door and storefront marketing abuses, and said municipal aggregation programs have saved residents money while offering more stable rates. Several supporters said the Legislature should either ban residential competitive supply or adopt strong guardrails such as ending automatic renewals, banning incentive-based commissions, and capping rates relative to basic service. Opponents or industry representatives from the Retail Energy Advancement League, Vistra, and Constellation argued that the market can provide savings, longer-term price stability, and value-added products such as renewable options and time-of-use offerings. They said Massachusetts has already improved consumer protections through DPU proceedings, that complaints are relatively few compared with the size of the market, and that a ban would eliminate consumer choice. They also defended direct sales and commissions as normal features of a retail market, while saying they would support additional protections, licensing, bonding, and stronger oversight of bad actors. Committee members pressed both sides on whether the market truly saves money, whether automatic renewals should be banned, and whether the AG’s proposed reforms would be enough. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3972, a bill to extend utility shutoff protections during extreme heat, with Rep. Mindy Domb arguing that Massachusetts should treat extreme heat like extreme cold and protect customers facing financial hardship. Rep. Barrett also testified for H. 3450, a municipal broadband/right-of-way bill, arguing that communities need easier and cheaper access to utility poles and public rights of way to build municipal broadband. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Creem testified for S. 2239, which would bar utilities from recovering ratepayer funds for lobbying, promotions, trade association dues, and similar expenses. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of those visits, the highest rate was concentrated in Fall River, a community that is among the state's
• toward municipalities with a high number of MassHealth patients and low dental utilization, like Fall River

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a large docket of bills focused on MassHealth benefits and reimbursement, health equity, behavioral health, public health, dental access, 340B drug pricing, tobacco cessation, and coverage for children. The chairs emphasized rising health care costs, provider shortages, administrative burdens, and persistent inequities by income, race, geography, and immigration status. Much of the testimony centered on H.1416/S.901, an act to advance health equity, with legislators and members of the Health Equity Compact arguing for statewide benchmarks, stronger health equity leadership, reimbursement for interpreter services, community health workers and patient navigation, Medicaid graduate medical education support, and a health equity zone trust fund. Witnesses described disparities in life expectancy, maternal mortality, access to primary care, and the impact of federal Medicaid and social service cuts, and urged the committee to report the bill favorably. The committee also heard strong support for H.1368/S.847 on rapid whole genome sequencing for critically ill MassHealth children. Testifiers from industry, academia, hospitals, and families said early sequencing can end long diagnostic odysseys, improve treatment decisions, shorten hospital stays, and save money, while also providing emotional relief and information for families. The hearing then moved to H.1407 on MassHealth rate parity for inpatient behavioral health providers, where Rep. Scanlan and the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems said the bill would codify existing administrative parity so managed care plans cannot pay less than the MassHealth fee-for-service rate. On H.1392/S.853 to preserve and protect public health, witnesses supported higher vaccine administration fees to improve provider participation and immunization rates. The committee also heard testimony on H.770/845 to protect 340B providers in MassHealth, and on S.848 to require reporting and transparency around 340B revenues and outside administrative costs. Additional bills drew testimony on tobacco cessation coverage for MassHealth members, with advocates supporting broader access to counseling and medications through medical, behavioral health, and dental providers. On H.1409, a nursing home operator asked for more flexibility in a MassHealth staffing-related penalty tied to patient days per resident. On H.1401/S.888, supporters of the “Take 10” dental access proposal said adult MassHealth dental coverage is underused because too few dentists accept MassHealth, leading to long travel times and avoidable emergency room visits; they urged incentive payments for dentists serving new adult MassHealth patients. Finally, on H.1403/S.855, “Cover All Kids,” advocates and immigrant community members urged removal of immigration status as a barrier to full MassHealth coverage for children, while also backing a related bill to ensure 12 months of continuous coverage for children. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and asked questions on costs, reimbursement levels, and implementation details.