Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the Claremont cases that the legislative the Claremont cases that the legislative and<01:43:28.960
• A positive mandate to legislate or to tax transforms judges into legislators and erodes the balance that
• "A positive mandate to legislate or to tax transforms judges into legislators and erodes the balance
• ,</c> several items of related legislation, several items of related legislation, including<02:01:42.159
• legislative malpractice This is legislative malpractice from<02:17:31.120><c> its</c><02:17:31.439><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first recessed for a subcommittee meeting on HB 313, which concerned an open-meetings-related issue. In the subcommittee, members discussed concerns that the bill might be unnecessary because current law already allows a person to request an open meeting in advance; the subcommittee then voted ITL on HB 313 by voice vote and closed its work session. The full Judiciary Committee then reconvened and took up CACR 6, the proposed constitutional amendment on a “right to compute,” with members debating whether the language was too broad and could create unintended consequences. Supporters framed it as a forward-looking protection for computation resources and strong encryption, while opponents said it was too open-ended and better addressed by future legislation. The committee voted ITL on CACR 6 by a 17-0 roll call. The committee next turned to HB 232, as amended, concerning the rights of conscience for medical professionals. The amendment narrowed the bill to abortion-related objections, removed sterilization and artificial contraception, aligned the abortion definition with existing state law, and reduced damages from treble damages to actual damages. Supporters said the bill would protect conscience rights, give physicians and patients more choice, and could help attract providers to New Hampshire. Opponents argued it was overly broad, unclear in key definitions, and could interfere with employers’ ability to assign staff, especially in rural health settings. Members also raised concerns about the bill’s scope and enforcement, including the broad definition of “participate,” the lack of clarity around exceptions for providers whose services include abortion as a “major part,” emergency determinations, and the inclusion of nursing homes in the definition of health care institution. Some members argued the bill singled out abortion while other controversial medical procedures were not treated similarly, and others criticized the minimum-damages provision as potentially punitive and designed to deter participation. The discussion continued without a final vote shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jennifer Goblish, committee legislative assistant. Representative Bobbie Harder.
• legislative legislative approval<00:58:55.440><c> um</c><00:58:55.599><c> and</c><00:58:55.720><c> then
• </c> amusement taxes all require legislative amusement taxes all require legislative approval<00:59:30.640
• </c><01:29:49.800><c> as</c> a constitutional issue on legislation as a constitutional issue on legislation
• </c> another um another piece of legislation another um another piece of legislation that's<01:30:07.040

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> report has to go to the legislative report has to go to the legislative permanent<00:49:58.559><
• </c> bit different from being a legislator. bit different from being a legislator.
• Uh we have the legislative tales.
• </c> the BCA uh to assist the legislative the BCA uh to assist the legislative services<03:22:26.960>
• </c><03:40:46.160><c> assistant,</c> Beth Ether, my legislative assistant, Beth Ether, my legislative

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that legislatively set, or? Madam Chair, Mr.
• What do you see going forward from us legislators?
• We get a lot of questions about this from legislators.
• It's one that you would have seen from the legislative session.
• To legislate to the executive branch most often.

Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence for a deceased member, then approved the April minutes and heard a presentation from HHS on the Diversion Task Force and related youth services grants. Chelsea Florey described the $750,000 one-time appropriation from HB 1012, the five awarded grants, and how programs in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot are using the funds for youth diversion, including school-based groups, physical activity, and services for problematic sexual behavior. Members raised concerns about staffing shortages, family engagement, service silos, and whether diversion eligibility rules are too rigid; Florey said the task force is focused on better coordination, broader education about available services, and possible changes to diversion criteria, with the Children’s Cabinet likely to drive broader recommendations. The committee then received a North Dakota Lottery biennium report from Director Thomas Lawler, who reviewed the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, player programs, and revenue distribution. He reported about $67 million in ticket sales for the 2023-2025 biennium, about $16.2 million transferred overall, including roughly $13.6 million to the general fund, plus transfers to drug task force and compulsive gambling funds. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether it is set by statute. Next, the Department of Corrections presented on criminal justice data sharing and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that jails, courts, DOCR, HHS, and other entities use separate systems with limited interoperability, making real-time communication largely manual. He outlined possible hub or point-to-point IT solutions, but noted cost, vendor, identifier, and data-definition challenges. Robin Schmolenberger followed with an update on a Medicaid data exchange project between DOCR and HHS to suspend and reactivate inmate Medicaid coverage automatically and improve care coordination, with full bi-directional exchange expected in fall 2026. The committee also heard from county representatives on 24-7 sobriety program fees and an AG opinion allowing local sheriffs to use cheaper testing options when courts waive fees. Finally, the North Dakota Racing Commission reviewed a troubling audit. Bruce Johnson acknowledged serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, missing grant documentation, a reversed decision on breeders fund eligibility, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has begun corrective actions, including monthly tracking of the promotion fund cap, stricter grant documentation, written procurement procedures, and clearer eligibility rules in condition books. Members pressed him on how the overspending occurred, whether the commission board would impose consequences, and whether statutory clarification is needed on the promotion fund limit and related spending rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Assembly Member Ortega, and her staff for authoring this legislation.
• Thank you, Assembly Member Ortega, and her staff for authoring this legislation.
• , but across a wide spectrum of important legislation that you've been advancing.
• I think the underlying intentions of the legislation, I think everyone supports.
• And the reality is that at the We're speaking truth to as legislators.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:56.240><c> secondly</c> repealed by Future legislators secondly repealed by Future legislators
• </c> should the composition of legislators should the composition of legislators but<00:47:45.400><c>
• But it is also true that when we legislate, we legislate our values.
• </c><00:50:56.880><c> uh</c><00:50:57.000><c> we</c><00:50:57.160><c> legislate</c> that when we legislate
• uh we legislate that when we legislate uh we legislate our<00:50:57.920><c> values</c><00:50:58.520>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> participation in the legislative participation in the legislative process. process. process.
• . legislators. legislators.
• </c> colleagues uh intent in this legislation colleagues uh intent in this legislation is<00:55:33.119
• </c> the decision to a subset of legislators the decision to a subset of legislators or<01:02:46.799>
• The motion of inexpedient to legislate The motion of inexpedient to legislate passes<05:22:52.958><c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you create legislation on top of legislation, it opens up, I think, personal interpretations, like
• When you create legislation on top of legislation, it opens up, I think, personal interpretations, like
• <01:21:34.120><c> on</c><01:21:35.040><c> top</c><01:21:36.040><c> of</c> legislation on top of legislation
• </c> torture I believe that some legislation torture I believe that some legislation followed<01:27:30.760
• </c><02:05:01.880><c> I</c> this in expediate to uh legislate I this in expediate to uh legislate I would

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The provisions of this legislation remove unnecessary barriers, The provisions of this legislation remove
• During the 2025 legislative session, we did hear from the department about their goal to increase the
• And the department stated that legislative action would be required to implement this recommendation.
• And the department stated that legislative action would be required to implement this recommendation.
• There were a couple of tension points that would require legislation potentially, but I remember one

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 639, sponsored by Senator Taves, which would modernize Idaho’s licensed midwifery laws by replacing a fixed statutory list of allowable medications with a board-defined formulary and protocol for maternal and neonatal care. Supporters, including licensed midwives Charity Catlin and Valerie Hall, said the bill would reduce unnecessary hospital transfers, especially for stable postpartum hemorrhage cases and other situations where midwives could safely use additional medications, while lowering costs and improving care in rural areas. Senator Taves said he worked with the Idaho Midwifery Council and that the bill reflects current training and standards. The committee moved HB 639 to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee then received a presentation from the Office of Performance Evaluations on state oversight of children’s residential care. OPE described concerns about limited licensing authority, lack of clearly communicated children’s rights, inconsistent reporting of restraint and seclusion, weak enforcement, and gaps in oversight for foster youth and privately placed children. The report also found that foster youth placements in residential care had increased, including out-of-state placements, and recommended more unannounced surveys, random interviews, better tracking of children’s needs and placement appropriateness, and clearer coordination among licensing, caseworkers, and contract monitors. Department of Health and Welfare officials responded that they have already reduced congregate care use, created a Continuity Care Bureau, standardized licensing response timelines, and improved monitoring practices. They acknowledged one remaining gap: Idaho lacks a mechanism to place substantiated facility abusers on a child protection registry, and they said legislative action would be needed. The department also said it supports a separate bill to strengthen resident rights and access to help. The committee took no further action on the OPE report and adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did, uh, several pieces of legislation last year.
• We did a piece of legislation that requires us to migrate to the cloud over the next few years.
• </c><00:04:52.320><c> We</c><00:04:52.479><c> did</c> pieces of legislation last year.
• We did pieces of legislation last year.
• </c> may have done a piece of legislation may have done a piece of legislation that<00:04:59.680><c>

Keywords: Technology - Room 210; 28 January, 2026: 9:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But as we are in the second year of the legislative biennium, because no action was taken on the bill
• But each of the agencies that are affected by this legislation, I think, has a similar story to tell.
• But each of the agencies that are affected by this legislation, I think, has a similar story to tell.
• I'm testifying as other on this legislation and would like to echo the sentiments of my colleagues.
• So I've got a district slightly over 2,000 students in my legislative district.

Summary: The House Education Committee held public hearings on two bills. House Bill 1662 would move several education-related boards and commissions—the State Board of Education, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, and the Charter School Commission—toward operational independence from OSPI by July 1, 2027, including separate administrative services, asset and employee transfers, and transition planning by OFM. The prime sponsor and supporters said the bill would improve transparency, fiscal accountability, and agency flexibility, while OSPI-related testimony emphasized that small agencies need more nimble administrative support. No one testified in opposition; the hearing record noted 2 pro, 1 con, and 5 other sign-ins, and members were told the bill was substantively the same as the version passed the prior year except for date changes. The committee then heard House Bill 1683, which would require most school districts with 2,000 or more students to elect at least some school board members from director districts rather than entirely at-large, with larger districts needing more district-based seats and districts under 2,000 students exempt. The sponsor and supporters argued the change would improve geographic and demographic representation, especially for lower-income communities and communities of color, and would help ensure school boards reflect the students and families they serve. Opponents, including a school directors association representative, said the bill would be an unfunded mandate, reduce local control, and create added election costs and recruitment challenges; one witness also suggested the bill should consider broader proportional-representation options. Staff noted that 23 districts would currently be out of compliance, and the hearing record showed 12 pro, 163 con, and 2 other sign-ins. No executive action was taken on either bill during this portion of the meeting. At the end of the hearing, the chair reminded members that several bills heard that week would be on next Thursday’s executive session agenda, urged prompt amendment requests, and announced that the committee would adjourn to caucuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• we will not permit conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of legislative
• SB 402 supports that mission, and we thank Senator Valadares for championing this legislation.
• It's really, we see it as a technical cleanup to ensure that there is appropriate legislative oversight
• Many of those pieces of legislation did not come to this committee and so the intent of this legislation
• And I want to show everyone that any future legislative efforts to amend the qualifications of autism

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair calls KJ Curtis, Analyst with the Legislative Budget Board. Welcome back. Good morning.
• Number one, debt issuance based on legislative authorization.
• The Chair calls James Kessler, Analyst for the Legislative Budget Board. 233 Thank you.
• State Preservation Board, and I'm with the Legislative Budget Board.
• However, I am eligible for retirement and I intend to retire after the legislative session.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we adjourn to begin our committee process, we have one more piece of legislative business.
• Part of that mission is to more fully utilize the powers of this legislative body.
• We have a legislative blind spot.
• That process can be a part of our regular legislative work.
• Items for legislative support services. Speaker Perez: Are there questions of the sponsor?

Transcript Highlights:

• Just legislative history, I had mentioned some of these components already.
• Legislative history, I just mentioned that it had moved from 400 to 600.
• Past legislation...
• I can't imagine that there's only one based on the new legislation.
• If not, we're going to go to Legislative Council staff.

Summary: The committee met to receive updates from the Tax Commissioner’s office on property tax relief programs and related compliance work. Commissioner Brian Croshys reviewed the Homestead Property Tax Credit, Disabled Veteran Credit, and Primary Residence Credit, noting that the Homestead program expanded significantly after HB 1158, that some households are “adjusting out” of eligibility as incomes rise, and that the committee may want to consider indexing income thresholds. Members asked for additional data on bracket breakdowns, possible costs of eliminating income limits for seniors, and how many households are zeroed out by the combined programs. Croshys also discussed the simpler administration of the disabled veteran credit, the growth in participation, and the heavy workload and auditing safeguards built into the new primary residence credit system. He said the department found no material compliance findings and that the program is designed to be digital-first, with county auditors and the Tax Commissioner’s office both involved in review and notification. The committee recessed for lunch and later reconvened, with the chair noting that more detailed PRC information would likely be available at a September meeting. Shelly Myers then presented the statewide property tax increase, or “zero growth,” report and the 2025 statistical report. She explained how county auditors report levy and valuation data, how increases and decreases are counted, and which jurisdictions showed the largest percentage changes in countywide, citywide, school district, and park district levies. In the statistical report, she summarized recent trends in assessed values: agricultural values remained relatively flat, while residential, commercial, and centrally assessed property values increased over the past five years. She also reviewed statewide tax levies by property class and clarified that centrally assessed growth figures were annual averages. Members discussed how shifts in land use and annexation can make it appear that tax burdens are moving from ag to residential/commercial property. Myers then summarized the interim study on the 3% levy limitation under HB 1176, saying most counties complied without budget changes, while some used hiring freezes, deferred purchases, or reserve funds; 23% of counties had to reduce levies, and the affected funds were mainly general, road and bridge, and weed control. She said 12 counties reported zero new growth in the data and that 35 counties reported not using all of their cap. The committee also received an oil tax presentation from Croshys on the stripper well extraction tax exemption. He outlined the number of active stripper wells, the production and revenue implications of the exemption, and projections for future biennia under different tax scenarios. He said the exemption represents substantial savings to operators but also corresponds to production tax revenue that would otherwise be collected, and he emphasized that future outcomes depend on oil prices, well counts, and technology such as CO2 enhanced oil recovery. Nathan Anderson of the Department of Mineral Resources briefly answered a question about why Red River wells have a different production threshold than Bakken wells, explaining it was tied to completion costs and lateral length. The committee then heard from Charlie Gorecki of the EERC, who presented an analysis of typical Bakken well decline curves and argued that most oil is produced before a well reaches stripper status, but that keeping wells open and investing in refracturing or other interventions can recover additional production. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting; the main actions were receiving reports, asking for follow-up data, and scheduling further discussion for a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• On one hand, there are people who promote excessive legislation.
• And this legislation is keyed into that.
• I can assume she gave him the legislation and probably a hefty check.
• You're supposed to understand it to a degree that you don't allow legislation to go through.
• Every legislator who voted for this atrocity Should be deeply ashamed.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused heavily on firearms legislation, especially bills to repeal Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 (including H. 2618/S. 1671 and related repeal measures) and bills on firearm industry accountability (H. 2672/S. 1653). Supporters of repeal, including Senator Peter Durant, Rep. Ken Sweezey, gun owners, instructors, sportsmen, and women’s gun-rights advocates, argued that Chapter 135 overreaches, creates confusion in licensing and training requirements, burdens lawful gun owners, restricts pepper spray and semi-automatic firearms, and is being enforced in ways they said criminalize responsible conduct. Committee members defending the law said it was the product of years of work, public listening sessions, and multiple drafts, and argued that Massachusetts remains the safest state for gun violence and that implementation issues, such as live-fire training, had been delayed to allow time for regulations and infrastructure. Several witnesses also testified on H. 2672/S. 1653, which would create firearm industry standards of conduct and allow civil actions against manufacturers, distributors, and dealers that engage in unsafe or unlawful practices. Supporters from the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown, Brady, Giffords, and survivors described the bill as a way to hold the industry accountable, reduce the flow of crime guns, and give victims and the Attorney General a path to sue bad actors. They cited data on crime-gun traces, disproportionate impacts on communities of color, and examples from other states that have enacted similar laws. Opponents, including gun dealers and industry representatives, argued that existing law already punishes illegal sales, that most crime guns are stolen or diverted after lawful sale, and that the bill would improperly target manufacturers for the actions of others. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to remove the non-resident ban on semi-automatic firearms for hunting (H. 2710/S. 1676), with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers supporting the change as a way to restore access for returning residents, veterans, and hunting programs that had been displaced. Later testimony returned to repeal and related gun-law bills, with sportsmen’s groups arguing Chapter 135 was rushed, confusing, and harmful to youth hunting and lawful ownership. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing; it was a public testimony session with extensive questioning by committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• In redistricting, however, we have been trying to use race as a factor in legislative decision-making
• For example, I was a part of the legislative redistricting process back in 2022.
• I was a part of the legislative redistricting process back in 2022.
• Please, legislators, please vote with the people.
• Apportionment is a legislative function under Article 3.

Summary: The Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting met to consider HB 1D, which would establish Florida’s congressional districts using the governor’s proposed map, EOG PCRP 26. Representative Persons-Mulicka briefly introduced the bill, and Jason Jazeel and Jason Pareda of the governor’s office presented the legal rationale and map details. Jazeel argued that mid-cycle congressional redistricting is not prohibited, that the governor’s position is to draw districts without considering race, and that federal equal-protection principles should control over state race-based redistricting provisions. Pareda said he drew the map alone using 2020 census data and census blocks, while also considering population growth estimates, traditional redistricting criteria, and county/city boundaries where feasible. Pareda described the map as race-neutral and said it keeps 48 counties whole, 382 cities whole, and has a boundary-analysis score of about 85.7%. He walked through regional changes, including major revisions in South Florida, adjustments in Central Florida, and changes in the Tampa Bay area, explaining that population shifts and the need for exact congressional population equality drove many of the district configurations. Members questioned the timing of the special session, the use of 2020 census data versus newer population estimates, the role of the legislature versus the governor, the legal basis for mid-decade redistricting, and whether the map complies with the Voting Rights Act and Fair Districts amendments. Motions to place witnesses under oath and to extend the committee meeting by 30 minutes both failed. During public testimony, every speaker who was heard opposed the map. Commenters argued that the proposal was a partisan power grab, would reduce Democratic and minority representation, and violated the Florida Constitution and voting rights protections. Several speakers criticized the short notice and lack of public input, while others said the map would confuse voters or split communities. The chair repeatedly reminded attendees to maintain decorum and limited each speaker to about one minute.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the California Legislative Black At caucus, our 2025 legislative priorities are rooted in the same
• I rise on behalf of the API Legislative Caucus.
• As AANHPI legislators we want to make sure those voices are seen, heard, and spoken.
• Colleagues, I rise as a co-author of this important legislation.
• Right now, without this legislation, we are dependent upon the federal government.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am Representative Peshlakai, and I am proud to tell you about Legislative District 6 and the people
• And now I am a representative for the constituents of Legislative District 6.
• First, it is the largest legislative district in the country.
• On a clear day, you can see for miles and miles in Legislative District 6.
• So this morning, Myron Soci, legislative district 6, 7 of 15 counties, 8 of 22 tribal nations.

Summary: The committee devoted much of the meeting to presentations highlighting tribal communities in rural Arizona. Representative Peshlakai opened with a video and remarks about Legislative District 6, describing it as the state’s largest district and emphasizing its many tribal nations, scenic landmarks, and her personal Navajo background. Governor Stephen Roe Lewis then presented on the Gila River Indian Community, discussing its Akimel O’odham and Piipaash heritage, water rights history, the MAR-5 aquifer recharge project, cultural traditions, and the community’s role in regional water and infrastructure issues. A presentation on the Pasqua Yaqui tribe followed, focusing on cultural resilience, ceremonial traditions, and the history of displacement and freeway construction in Tucson. Representative Sosei later outlined barriers to tribal economic development, including trust land financing limits, federal and tribal review delays, infrastructure gaps, dual taxation, and the need for broadband, water, and road investment, while proposing reforms such as tax changes, state match funds, and annual tribal field hearings. The committee then considered SB 1016, a strike-everything amendment that would move the property-owner petition requirement earlier in the municipal improvement district process and allow waivers of certain notice and protest procedures. Supporters, including mayors from Camp Verde and Clarkdale, said the change would improve transparency, reduce financial risk for small towns, and help rural communities build wastewater and other infrastructure. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and passed SB 1016 on a 5-0 vote, with one member present and one absent. Next, the committee heard SB 1401, the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act, which would let municipalities create expedited plan review and permitting processes for qualified workforce housing projects and exempt project proceeds from the state portion of the prime contracting sales tax. Supporters from Habitat for Humanity said the measure would reduce carrying costs, speed approvals, and help build more affordable homes for working families. One member noted the bill would reduce general fund revenue but supported it as a targeted tradeoff to address housing affordability. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1401 on a 5-1 vote, with one member absent.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm very grateful for this legislation.
• Chairman, I'm very grateful for this legislation.
• It's a great piece of legislation.
• I think it's a really good piece of legislation.
• So that's why the legislation is before you.

Keywords: 994, senate, all