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OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Technology and Telecommunications 2ND REVISED Apr 16th, 2026 at 08:45 am
Technology and Telecommunications
Transcript Highlights:
- Because what we end up, it seems like, when we approach these state by state by state, we end up with
- It's been copied or used or based from another state that's been done.
- That is why we are trying to have one map built at the state level.
- Other states have put in limits on screen time?
- I got one from my part of the state last night.
Keywords:
artificial intelligence, education reform, innovation, funding, advisory council, broadband, Oklahoma Broadband Office, broadband access, statewide broadband plan, internet connectivity, grant programs, expansion council, termination plan, Oklahoma, Gas Hub, national laboratory, public-private partnerships, aerospace, high-performance computing, economic development
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Technology and Telecommunications 2ND REVISED Apr 16th, 2026
Technology and Telecommunications
Transcript Highlights:
- The state is already pursuing federal innovation.
- Because when we approach this state by state by state, we end up with a patchwork, and really there's
- That is why we are trying to have one map built at the state level.
- So how many other states have put in limits on screen time?
- I got one from my part of the state last night.
Keywords:
artificial intelligence, education reform, innovation, funding, advisory council, broadband, Oklahoma Broadband Office, broadband access, statewide broadband plan, internet connectivity, grant programs, expansion council, termination plan, Oklahoma, Gas Hub, national laboratory, public-private partnerships, aerospace, high-performance computing, economic development
Summary:
The Senate Technology and Telecommunications Committee considered several House bills focused on artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, broadband, and education technology. House Bill 3176 would create an Oklahoma Gas Artificial Intelligence and Space Research Hub under the Department of Commerce and a National Laboratory Development Program to help Oklahoma pursue federal research designations; members questioned the fiscal impact, public reporting, and agency placement, and the bill passed 7-1. House Bill 3544 would prohibit minors from accessing AI social companions and authorize civil penalties; supporters cited research and safety concerns, and it passed 8-0. House Bill 3619 would modernize state geographic data collection and mapping for census and boundary purposes; members raised concerns about county boundaries, costs, and possible impacts on property and taxation, and it passed 6-2.
The committee also advanced House Bill 3546, which bars artificial intelligence and other non-human entities from being granted legal personhood under Oklahoma law, passing 8-0 without debate. House Bill 1782 would create an Oklahoma AI Education Innovation Act with an advisory council and grant fund; members asked about funding formulas, membership, and dual office-holding, and it passed 8-0. House Bill 2293 would extend the Oklahoma Broadband Office sunset while requiring a wind-down plan and legislative review; members discussed the office’s consultation and termination process, and it passed 8-0.
Finally, House Bill 4358 would limit screen time for pre-K through fifth grade students to one hour per school day. After questions about enforcement, classroom logistics, and special events, the author struck the title to continue working on the measure, and the bill passed 8-0. Throughout the meeting, members generally expressed support for the policy goals of the bills while flagging implementation, fiscal, and jurisdictional concerns.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- And you eloquently stated that in your opening comments. Thank you.
- You know, we've done a lot of work in the state on vaccinations.
- a state employee.
- versus just a specific region in the state.
- They don't receive any money from the state?
Keywords:
mandatory reporter, child abuse training, online training, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Education, educator requirements, early childhood education, microcenter, school board, cooperative endeavor, economic disadvantage, vaccination, meningococcal disease, school entry, immunization requirements, public health, academic freedom, free speech, retaliation, faculty rights
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 4/15/26
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh I've removed have in the state.
- ><c> name</c><00:05:16.440><c> and</c> Next testifier, state your name and Next testifier, state your
- </c> responding to threats against state responding to threats against state legislators.
- </c> legislature and and then in the state. legislature and and then in the state.
- </c> State Patrol. State Patrol.
Keywords:
public safety, radio communications, infrastructure funding, county funding, interoperability, ARMER network, local jurisdictions, HF4597, Minnesota public safety, 911, emergency dispatch, emergency communications, public safety appropriation, Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, PSAP, dispatch interoperability, real-time coordination, emergency response coordination, cross-jurisdictional response, 911 center awareness platform
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- It was not through any kind of program overseen by the state.
- constituent bills because it can really be one circumstance or applying it, and you're creating a state
- Somebody should have... it should have been either the state or someone going to see that there should
- There is no room for political persecution in our state.
- As much for Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and every faith community in our state.
Keywords:
evictions, judgment satisfaction, tenant rights, landlord obligations, court procedures, abortion-inducing drugs, medical abortion, pharmaceutical regulation, felonies, state law, DUI, ignition interlock, substance abuse treatment, driving privileges, alcohol education, felony conviction, misdemeanor designation, court judgment, criminal justice reform, rehabilitation
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 3/4/26
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> obligation of the state. obligation of the state.
- </c> in multiple states. in multiple states.
- shift costs to states. shift costs to states.
- to states.
- are</c> on how many state how other states are on how many state how other states are reacting<01:07
Keywords:
Medical Assistance, Medicaid, MNsure, MinnesotaCare, disability determination, expedited eligibility, state medical review team, compassionate allowance, rare disease, home and community-based services, long-term care, managed care, county-based purchasing, eligibility redetermination, periodic data matching, death master file, Social Security Administration, program integrity, income eligibility, asset test
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Transportation Mar 3rd, 2026
Joint Committee on Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- I am thrilled to be back in the Commonwealth, continuing my public service in a state that is leading
- In addition to the historic levels of state funding for transportation, federal grants continue to be
- Owned state-numbered routes within the next five years.
- facility... ...need, municipal need, or, as I said, some connection to a state facility.
- to achieving climate commitments as the state has made as well.
Keywords:
transportation bond bill, municipal roads, municipal bridges, Chapter 90, road aid, highway funding, bridge repair, pavement, MassDOT, MBTA, rail reliability, commuter rail locomotives, Fair Share surtax, Commonwealth Transportation Fund, infrastructure financing, bond authorization, deferred maintenance, climate resilience, parkways, DCR
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Postsecondary Education & Workforce
Transcript Highlights:
- He said relinquishment provides a solution that had not previously existed in Washington State.
- The Washington State Legislature has provided specific funding...
- , everywhere—talking about the issues they have with contingent faculty in their states.
- The systems in Texas are radically different, and I was like going, wait, what?
- This bill helps address that, and we have fantastic financial aid programs in the state.
Keywords:
Washington Medical Commission, medical license, license relinquishment, voluntary surrender, nondisciplinary pathway, physician regulation, health professional licensing, disciplinary database, National Practitioner Data Bank, license renewal, license reinstatement, medical board, professional discipline, credential surrender, healthcare regulation, SB 5963, passport to careers, Washington College Grant, financial aid, higher education
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Feb 18th, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- And the state attorney said no.
- The state attorney, the assistant state attorney, was not aware of the pending investigations against
- across the United States last year, across the Sunshine State.
- As stated earlier, the definitions within this can easily fall to a point where criticism of the state
- Many I know came from out of state.
Keywords:
foreclosure, court clerks, budget management, judicial sales, Florida statutes, bail bonds, pretrial release, forfeiture, criminal justice, bond conditions, surety, attorney fees, litigation costs, court jurisdiction, equitable awards, financial resources, domestic violence, protective injunctions, electronic monitoring, enhanced penalties
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to consider several criminal justice and court-related bills, along with the committee’s proposed $7.9 billion budget. The committee first heard and approved CS/SB 600 on bail bonds, as amended to adjust solicitation, cash bond return, forfeiture remission timing, and clerk procedures; CS/SB 436 on felony battery, which expands qualifying prior offenses and was amended to correct a drafting issue; CS/SB 928, “Missy’s Law,” requiring immediate remand to custody after conviction for dangerous crimes; SB 1332 on career offender registration, adding in-person reporting, more detailed registration requirements, and stronger penalties for noncompliance; and CS/SB 682 on violent criminal offenses, a domestic violence measure adopted via a substitute amendment that adds stricter penalties, electronic monitoring, injunction protections, and related procedures. All of those bills were reported favorably.
The committee also approved SB 1072 creating an anti-Semitism task force in the Attorney General’s Office. The bill drew extensive public testimony both for and against, with supporters emphasizing rising anti-Semitic incidents and the need for statewide review, and opponents raising concerns about free speech, the definition of anti-Semitism, and possible conflation of criticism of Israel with hate speech. Senators also discussed the bill’s scope and the IHRA definition before it was reported favorably. In addition, CS/SB 532 on clerks of court was amended to clarify foreclosure sale procedures and funding predictability for clerks, then reported favorably. CS/SB 644 on attorney’s fees, suit money, and costs was also approved after amendments that aligned family-law fee provisions and codified standards for fee awards in dissolution and paternity cases; the sponsor said the bill was intended to curb vexatious litigation and improve consistency across districts.
After the bill actions, the chair summarized the criminal and civil justice budget, describing it as a disciplined proposal that addresses corrections deficits and future inmate growth while funding core public safety needs. The committee then heard substantial public testimony on prison conditions, staffing, pay, heat, infrastructure, and the possibility of reducing prison populations or adding air conditioning in facilities. The chair announced that SB 1632 and its conforming bill SB 1634 would be temporarily postponed to the following week, and the record was supplemented with the names of many people who had registered to speak for or against those bills. The meeting concluded after members were invited to record votes and the committee adjourned.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- are receiving it outside of the state because the servers receiving it are outside the state.
- of the state.
- They all have multiple locations in the state and out of the state.
- We sell into all 50 states. We sell across the state. We sell into 26 other countries.
- And is there another state plan?
Keywords:
public safety, retirement system, investments, trust fund, board of trustees, financial report, income tax rebate, Pinal County, taxpayer eligibility, state revenue, financial assistance, transaction privilege tax, business location, tangible personal property, shared vehicle, sourcing, income tax, veterans, donations, tax refunds
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- cannabis and state law on cannabis.
- So the struggle our state law enforcement has been having is because we don't even have a state crime
- I'm a major with the United States Police.
- If you look at State v.
- If you look at State v.
Keywords:
SB40, Driver Privacy and Safety Act, automated license plate reader, ALPR, license plate reader, vehicle surveillance, privacy, data sharing, law enforcement data, immigration enforcement, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, civil liberties, surveillance, public records, Inspection of Public Records Act, New Mexico State Police, Department of Public Safety, data sovereignty, vehicle tracking
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- So for state agencies that are a part of the annual comprehensive financial report, For state agencies
- And by separating these two for those state agencies, we're going to see that the state agency audits
- Right now, many of the state agencies, maybe a majority of the state agencies, get federal dollars.
- It could be outside the state. Okay, Mr.
- So the state of New Mexico, from a state government or a state agency perspective, has one single taxpayer
Keywords:
auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, fee update, regulatory fees, egg inspection, egg grading, egg dealer, pesticide control, pesticide registration, pesticide applicator, pest management consultant, plant protection, nursery license
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- of this state.
- The state should be able to retain those graduates and absorb their talent within a fabric of in-state
- And the state there is realizing that the state needs to take action if you want to be able to—there
- Do you think we need to set aside a parcel of state land where we can and say, okay, well, here's state
- what kind of state land we have around the state that are close to railroads, close to infrastructure
Keywords:
auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, fee update, regulatory fees, egg inspection, egg grading, egg dealer, pesticide control, pesticide registration, pesticide applicator, pest management consultant, plant protection, nursery license
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- While things are still, we're considered a grandfathered-in state.
- It's just vital for our state and especially for our rural hospitals.
- I graduated from New Mexico State University down south.
- We have over 70 solar companies in the state.
- We're certainly a state that has proven that we can do that.
Keywords:
SB 101, Health Care Delivery and Access Act, repeal of repeal, sunset repeal, delayed repeal, health care, healthcare, access to care, medical services, provider regulation, state health law, New Mexico, SB58, metropolitan redevelopment, redevelopment property, property tax exemption, payments in lieu of taxes, PILOT, municipal redevelopment, local government
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 101, which would repeal the July 1, 2030 sunset on the Health Care Delivery and Access Act and make the hospital provider-tax program permanent. The sponsor, the Health Care Authority secretary, and the New Mexico Hospital Association said the program has generated substantial federal Medicaid matching funds and has supported hospital workforce, quality, and infrastructure investments, especially in rural areas. Members asked why the sunset existed originally and whether federal changes under H.R. 1 would phase the program down; the secretary explained the sunset was meant as a review point, but that federal law now prevents creating a new similar program if this one expires. The committee heard support from hospital and business representatives, no opposition, and voted due pass 7-0.
The committee then considered Senate Bill 58, as amended, which extends the property tax abatement period for metropolitan redevelopment areas from a fixed seven years to up to 14 years. The sponsor and Albuquerque redevelopment officials said the change would give local governments more flexibility to structure projects based on financial need, while still preserving current tax payments and encouraging redevelopment of blighted or underused areas. Several supporters, including realtors and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, argued the longer window would improve certainty for developers and help spur housing and other reinvestment. Some members raised concerns about lost revenue for schools and whether the tool could be overused, but were told the program applies only in designated redevelopment areas and is intended to leverage future higher assessments. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended 7-0.
Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 55, which increases New Mexico’s state solar tax credit from 10% to 30% after the federal credit was reduced, and raises the individual cap from $6,000 to $15,000 while keeping the overall annual program cap at $30 million. The sponsor and numerous solar industry, business, and clean-energy advocates said the change is needed to prevent layoffs, stabilize the rooftop solar market, support local jobs, and preserve grid and affordability benefits for customers. Members asked about permitting, certification, consumer protection, and whether battery storage was included; the sponsor said the bill covers rooftop solar only, the credit is refundable, and EMNRD certifies systems before credits are issued. The committee heard broad support, no opposition, and voted due pass 7-0 before adjourning.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
House Chamber - Mon Feb 2, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 7
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a gathering of 34 schools from across the state, both middle and high schools, and they are here
- Again, on behalf of the Committee on Education, we welcome all of our participants who are here at the state
- If I could give um a shout out first to the Tumia Nishiguchi and the Hawaii State Student Council for
- Nishiguchi and the Hawaii State Student Nishiguchi and the Hawaii State Student Council<00:21:11.919>
- I surely hope you guys didn't think we'd forget about the best high school in the whole state and possibly
Keywords:
Hawaii National Guard, tuition assistance, graduate degrees, education, military personnel, funding, school districts, state budget, performance metrics, shopping carts, abandoned carts, cart retrieval, cart impoundment, county enforcement, municipal ordinance, retail businesses, grocery stores, wholesale stores, membership stores, private clubs
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- It further during a state of emergency.
- </c> director for the Hawaii State Council. director for the Hawaii State Council.
- </c> state can participate. state can participate.
- There would be state funding state fund?
- </c> Guard State Tuition Assistance Program. Guard State Tuition Assistance Program.
Keywords:
Hawaii National Guard, tuition assistance, graduate degrees, education, military personnel, funding, school districts, state budget, performance metrics, emergency announcements, American Sign Language, accessibility, public safety, broadcast media, Smart911, 911, 911 Board, emergency response, public safety answering point, PSAP
Summary:
The Committee on Public Safety held its first hearing and began with House Bill 1531, which would require the governor or county mayor to provide an ASL interpreter during official emergency announcements broadcast on television or the internet, ensure the interpreter is visible, and require news outlets to show the interpreter in a picture-in-picture window. Testimony was strongly supportive from disability advocates, who said live captions can be inaccurate and that ASL access is critical during emergencies, but broadcasters raised practical concerns that the bill as drafted could require extra camera crews and reduce coverage. Members discussed possible alternatives such as government-provided pool feeds and interpreter placement, and the chair recommended deferring decision-making on the bill to the following Wednesday to allow time for amendment language.
The committee then heard House Bill 1751, which would expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified enlisted personnel. The Hawaii Army National Guard, the Department of Defense, and University of Hawaii representatives supported the measure as a recruiting, retention, and professionalization tool. A member asked about funding, and the response was that the program is funded through a state appropriation currently set at $250,000 and was described as sufficient at present. The bill drew no opposition in the hearing.
Next, House Bill 1752 was taken up. This measure would remove the Adjutant General as a nonvoting ex officio member of the HAIMA advisory committee and add the HAIMA administrator as a nonvoting ex officio member of the MSAC. The Department of Defense and Department of Health supported the bill, with the Department of Health asking that it be aligned with other EMS modernization provisions in the governor’s package so the related measures remain consistent. No objections were raised.
The committee also heard House Bill 1577 on 911 services, which would require the 911 Board to establish a statewide emergency safety profile system for residents to voluntarily store emergency-relevant personal information. The Department of Health, disability advocates, the 911 Board, and others supported the concept, saying it could improve emergency response for people with disabilities, kūpuna, families, and others with functional needs. Testimony also raised concerns about funding, system integration, confidentiality, advanced directives, and liability protections if information does not reach responders in time. Members discussed statewide coordination and existing county systems, and the hearing continued with those issues unresolved.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Early Learning & Human Services Jan 28th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Early Learning & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- My name is Katie Durkin, here on behalf of the Washington Federation of State Employees.
- As you can imagine, our unhoused youth challenges in Washington State are immense.
- When my case was transferred to the state of Washington in 2022 from the state of Wisconsin, I was denied
- These are young people the state is still responsible for.
- Young people in state care are counting on you. Thank you. Thank you, Sarah.
Keywords:
housing assistance, youth, foster care, pilot program, social services, terminology correction, healthcare, regulatory compliance, department reorganization, Washington, DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, accountability board, oversight board, child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, juvenile justice, early learning, family preservation, children and families
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Civil Rights & Judiciary Jan 23rd, 2026 at 10:30 am
Civil Rights & Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- Private cemeteries have to comply with a number of state laws related to cemetery property, bailment
- We're trying to create a pathway to get an insurance product in Washington State.
- Thank you for your time and thank you for your leadership in a housing space for all of the state.
- As a reminder, this is a Secretary of State request.
- It improves processes around corporate filings done by the Secretary of State.
Keywords:
interment, location choices, remains, Washingtonians, funeral services, condominium, housing, warranty, property rights, construction, public safety, vulnerable users, pedestrians, protected classes, transportation, corporate filings, secretary of state, business entity filings, annual reports, foreign corporation
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Joint Appropriations Jan 21st, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- It may require a reprioritization of dollars from other state entities or other state programs.
- It is critical that we, as a state, maximize the federal funding available, preserving as many state
- States Marines all over the globe.
- But we wrote the contract so that any state agency and any state political subdivision would have the
- and all residents of the state.
Bills:
HB1623
Keywords:
HB 1623, North Dakota, rural health, rural health transformation program, medical facility infrastructure loan fund, medical facility infrastructure loan program, rural health loan program, Bank of North Dakota, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, federal grant, health care infrastructure, rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, nonprofit health care providers, gap financing, loan fund, public health funding, healthcare financing, Medicaid
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 1624, the “Universal Lunch Bill,” from Rep. Mike Nathie. He argued the proposal should be placed in Century Code rather than the Constitution so future legislatures can adjust it if state finances tighten, and said the bill would start the program a year earlier with a $65 million appropriation for one school year. DPI testified that the estimate did not include nonpublic schools that do not participate, and members questioned the impact on Title I, free-and-reduced applications, private-school accountability, breakfast mandates for schools that do not currently serve breakfast, and whether the funding could come from the DPI budget or other sources. Supporters, including North Dakota United, the North Dakota Catholic Conference, a pediatrician, and the American Heart Association, said universal meals improve student health and learning, reduce family costs, and are better handled in statute than by constitutional amendment. No opposition testimony was offered, and the chair closed the hearing for later work-session action.
The committee then took up House Bill 1627, introduced by Rep. Tye Dressler, which would raise the income threshold for the state-funded school lunch program from 225% to 300% of poverty, with an estimated cost of about $7 million for 2026-27. Dressler said the bill is intended as a targeted, budget-friendly alternative to the ballot measure and emphasized that the state should maximize federal meal dollars while improving participation in the current program. Members questioned whether raising the threshold would actually increase utilization, whether a dollar amount would be clearer than a percentage, and how the change would affect federal reimbursements and application rates. DPI said it could quickly calculate additional percentage levels, and the chair closed the hearing, directing DPI to prepare more numbers for the work session.
Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 2403, presented by Sen. Schiable, to create a short-term bridge-loan program for financially distressed hospitals, centered on Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin. The bill would authorize up to $5 million per loan, with a $10 million appropriation available on a first-come, first-served basis, and would run only through June 30, 2027. Schiable said the hospital’s debt and operating problems threaten local health care, ambulance service, and the community’s economy, and that the proposal was designed narrowly with Bank of North Dakota review to avoid creating a broad precedent. Committee members asked whether the appropriation could be reduced and whether the bank would still apply commercial feasibility and repayment standards; Schiable said yes, the bank would still evaluate the loan and could reject it if it was not sound.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Joint Appropriations Jan 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- To states for rural health care transformation.
- And I also have our state health officer here, Sherry Adams.
- And they're all over the state.
- This money was made for states like you. This money was made for states like you.
- We have it here in the state, but what I heard today is that cybersecurity and protecting the state needs
Bills:
HB1623
Keywords:
HB 1623, North Dakota, rural health, rural health transformation program, medical facility infrastructure loan fund, medical facility infrastructure loan program, rural health loan program, Bank of North Dakota, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, federal grant, health care infrastructure, rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, nonprofit health care providers, gap financing, loan fund, public health funding, healthcare financing, Medicaid
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 1623, the appropriations bill tied to North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program, which is funded through a new federal rural health care grant. Senator Bekkedahl explained the bill’s background, the interim committee process that developed it, and the federal conditions attached to the award, including spending deadlines, administrative cost limits, and restrictions on uses such as new construction, supplanting existing funding, and certain other costs. Legislative staff then walked through the seven sections of the bill, including appropriation authority, transfer authority, contingent appropriations for pass-through grants, procurement and public improvement exemptions, recipient reporting, legislative reporting, and immediate effective date.
Commissioner Traynor and HHS staff described how the department plans to implement the program, emphasizing that the funding is intended to improve rural access, workforce recruitment and retention, technology and data connectivity, and community health initiatives. They said the department will rely on local applications, technical assistance, templates, listening sessions, and partnerships with providers, schools, public health units, tribal entities, and other community groups. Members asked about reimbursement timing, upfront costs, administrative expenses, sustainability after the five-year grant period, and whether CTE centers, public health units, gyms, grocery stores, and other community partners could participate; the department said yes, within program rules and with a focus on measurable outcomes and sustainability.
Several supporters testified in favor. Mental Health America of North Dakota and the Mental Health Advocacy Network supported the bill and urged investment in community-based mental health, crisis response, children’s services, peer support, and mobile crisis teams. HIA Health described the grant as a chance to expand home-based and hospice care, noting that rural providers already have workable models but need funding to scale them. A cybersecurity representative also supported the bill, warning that the large amount of health data and AI-related tools will require strong data protection and professional support. The hearing was closed with no opposition testimony, and the committee announced it would return later in the day for further work on the bill and other measures.