Transcript Highlights:

• If we come in as a state and try to alter that, Under the ADA, if we come in as a state and try to alter
• The state can't take away that right.
• And then he would move to make a decision on to make a purchase or go in store to make a purchase.
• on there, his ADA website states, website states on there, his ADA website states that if you want to
• Chairman, Brad Jones, State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business, on all the

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They will kill off the granite state They will kill off the granite state test.<00:31:36.880>
• Granite State test originally in 2019. Granite State test originally in 2019.
• the point of of the granite state test. the point of of the granite state test.
• ability of communities across the state ability of communities across the state to<00:47:23.839>
• which are also developers in the state. which are also developers in the state.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state to provide these services. state to provide these services.
• Again, with the standardization across states, it's really not the same in every state.
• Again, with the standardization across states, it's really not the same in every state.
• in the United States.
• California, Michigan, um many states. California, Michigan, um many states.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it is happening across the state.
• If the state has decided that this is a licensed profession, that's the state of Minnesota has already
• Even if we had funding that wasn't state or with state funding, we were not allowed to purchase medications
• And when we talk about a state agency overseeing another aspect, we've also seen in the state of Minnesota
• And when we talk about a state agency overseeing another aspect, we've also seen in the state of Minnesota

Bills: HF3454, HF3917, HF2906, HF3832, HF3769

Keywords: social work, licensure, employment titles, health occupations, professional standards, medication repository, drug donation, healthcare, Minnesota Statutes, pharmacy, public health, controlled substances, psilocybin, psilocin, psychedelic, psychedelic medicine, hallucinogen, mushrooms, magic mushrooms, therapeutic use

Transcript Highlights:

• OUR REGIONAL LITERACY TEAMS ARE MADE UP OF 30 STATE LITERACY DIRECTORS ACROSS THE 20 REGIONS OF THE STATE
• WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SLIDE I SHARED WITH YOU THAT OUR STATE LITERACY DIRECTOR IS FOCUSED ON THEIR WORK
• ALSO, OUR STATE LITERACY DIRECTORS ALSO FACILITATE ONE OF THE TWO STATE APPROVED LITERACY COACH ENDORSEMENT
• OUR STATE REGIONAL LITERACY DIRECTOR IS LIKE OUR EURO OF IMPROVEMENT.
• OUR STATE REGIONAL DIRECTORS ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS REALLY ACROSS THE STATE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Could a state be a validator? >> Sorry, what? >> Could a state be a validator?
• state secretary of<01:04:31.440> state.
• And then those purchasers can't sell to anyone outside the state for six months following the initial
• than five distinct purchasers per year. than five distinct purchasers per year.
• >> what other states are doing. >> what other states are doing.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call and approval of the prior meeting minutes, which passed unanimously. Members then introduced the day’s presentations, including one on the Canton network and another on tokenizing real-world assets, with a focus on how blockchain systems can support regulated financial institutions and asset tokenization. Julie, the director of policy and government affairs at Digital Asset, presented on the Canton network, describing it as a privacy-enabled public blockchain designed for regulated finance. She said tokenization should preserve the same legal and economic rights as the underlying asset, and argued that blockchain-based books and records can shorten settlement times, improve 24/7 trading, and reduce friction in capital markets. She identified three main barriers to institutional adoption of public blockchains: lack of privacy, limited throughput/scalability, and lack of control for compliance purposes such as freezing assets, pausing transactions, and meeting AML/sanctions obligations. She explained Canton’s structure as a public, permissionless network with application-level privacy controls, a global synchronizer, and super validators chosen by vote. She also highlighted current ecosystem participants and use cases, including Broadridge, Circle, and the DTCC’s planned tokenization of U.S. Treasuries on the network. Members and online participants asked about the relationship between tokenized assets and the Clarity Act, tokenized deposits, safeguards for faster settlement, and whether the platform could be used for municipal or property records. Julie said Digital Asset was not taking a position on rewards, but supported clearer statutory definitions because tokenized securities should carry the same rights as the underlying assets and investors need to know whether a token is a true tokenized security or a synthetic/reference token. She said the company is agnostic on whether the cash leg is stablecoins or tokenized deposits, though it expects both to develop. In response to concerns about rapid settlement, she pointed to institution-level permissions and SEC disclosure expectations as safeguards. She also said the technology could be used for other records, including potentially property-related records, if those assets can be tokenized.

Transcript Highlights:

• , you've been to one state.
• , you've been to one state.
• What I'd always like to do is just look at the comparison of our state with other states.
• The state helped with the infrastructure. the state helped with the devil's lord The state helped with
• Our state balked. Our state balked.

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and opening remarks from NDSU President David Stewart, who emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission of statewide service through teaching, research, and extension. He highlighted the university’s role in agriculture, water, soil health, and community outreach, and pointed to examples of research commercialization such as Lilac Agriculture’s work on nitrogen-fixing microbes for crops. He also said he is still early in his tenure and intends to spend time listening and learning across the state. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study estimated that North Dakota could develop about 1.3 million additional irrigated acres, with major potential in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau. Testimony stressed the economic benefits of irrigation for crop yields, value-added processing, dairy, and potato production, while members also discussed water availability, aquifers, downstream water use, and the need for more flexible permitting. The drainage portion of the study found significant economic benefits from legal drains, and staff explained that the impacts were calculated through increased productivity and related input purchases. Greg Lardy then gave NDSU’s required agriculture update, saying agriculture accounts for more than $41 billion in annual economic activity, one in five jobs, and about 25 percent of state GDP. He reviewed the role of SBAR, the statewide research-extension network, new crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI and weather-network tools, and Extension’s county partnerships and youth programs. He also outlined NDSU’s priorities for the next session: restoring proposed budget cuts, increasing operating support, and addressing deferred maintenance. Members asked about storage shed construction, NDSU’s relationship with Grand Farm, and whether NDSU could help with water-related research tied to drainage and aquifers. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor on water and data centers, who described graduate fellowships, a water workforce certificate program, and research on data center cooling, water use, and “Legendary Harvest” concepts that would reuse waste heat for greenhouse or aquaculture production. Questions focused on whether the cooling systems were closed-loop, who would own any related production facilities, and whether the project was still only a feasibility study. Finally, North Dakota AgTech described its NSF-funded “engine” project, saying it has brought millions in federal investment to the state, supported startups and on-farm trials, and is focused on commercialization, workforce development, and helping producers lower input costs and improve profitability.

Transcript Highlights:

• are Dr Hunter if you would please State are Dr Hunter if you would please State your<00:03:38.080
• H uh uh Mel if you would please State H uh uh Mel if you would please State your<00:15:34.959>
• It has taught me a great deal about our state, and I’ve enjoyed seeing how the state system functions
• stewards of our state resources.
• But we do work across the state.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Director.
• I believe this question is for Director Brown and the State Data Center, and feel free to correct me
• At the state level, and Secretary Inde can talk more to this at the state purchasing level, they also
• Director Atkins, I wanted to just understand a little bit more about Suncom and explain how state agencies
• Thank you, Director.

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting to examine Florida’s information technology governance, budgeting, cybersecurity, data management, and telecommunications operations. Chair Schneider and other members framed the panel as a new joint policy-and-budget forum focused on reducing jargon, improving accountability, and asking whether technology investments are feasible, aligned with state goals, cost-controlled, and secure. State Affairs Chairman Will Robinson and members emphasized that the committee should avoid buying “shiny new objects” without clear business cases and should focus on long-term value, cybersecurity, and operational efficiency. Florida Digital Service and Department of Management Services leaders provided an overview of the state IT enterprise. Secretary Pedro Allende described DMS as the state’s business, workforce, and technology service provider, while State CIO Warren Spanholz outlined Florida Digital Service’s four core areas: cybersecurity, project success, data interoperability, and enterprise architecture. Chief Data Officer Ed Ryan said the state data catalog is about 400,000 elements and roughly half of agencies are participating, and he described efforts to identify authoritative data sources and improve interoperability. Chief Information Security Officer Jeremy Rogers discussed the state cybersecurity operations center, enterprise risk management, incident response exercises, and a recurring $35 million cybersecurity resiliency budget. Chief Technology Officer Leo Schoonover described oversight of major IT projects over $10 million, updated project management standards, and a shift toward smaller phased implementations and more flexible methodologies to reduce delays and overruns. Other presenters covered telecommunications, data center operations, and cybersecurity workforce development. Director Denise Atkins said the Division of Telecommunications manages Suncom and MyFloridaNet, with nearly $336.9 million appropriated for fiscal year 2024-25, and is procuring the next network contract while emphasizing security controls and vendor flexibility. Tim Brown said the Northwest Regional Data Center operates on a chargeback basis, serves state and local customers, and returned surpluses to customers in recent years. Cyber Florida Director Ernie Ferraroso described training, workforce pipelines, K-12 outreach, a cyber range, and research programs aimed at building Florida’s cyber workforce and improving public-sector readiness. Members asked about budget setting, project delays, change orders, cybersecurity reporting, data catalog participation, interoperability, and expanding cybersecurity operations centers. Officials said chargeback rates are based on actual direct and indirect costs, project delays often stem from unclear scope and insufficient upfront planning, and cybersecurity success is measured by mean time to detect, respond, and recover. They also said the state is moving toward more modular project delivery, broader agency participation in shared cybersecurity services, and expanded CSOC locations within existing staff and budget where feasible.

Transcript Highlights:

• the rest of the state.
• only state that has its own grid?
• >> Potentially. >> So most of the other states are, most of the other grids are multi-state.
• NASEO, which is the group of state energy offices, and NARUC, which is the state PUC group, have put
• >> They will follow the state law. >> State law?

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce held its first interim hearing on securing critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, with a focus on Texas’s electric grid and the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act. The chair also highlighted Texas’s relatively low electricity prices and welcomed new committee members. ERCOT, the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and the Attorney General’s office were invited to explain how the state screens market participants and grid equipment for ties to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and how the agencies respond to noncompliance. ERCOT testified that it has implemented the requirements of three related Senate bills by requiring attestations on corporate affiliations and on critical grid equipment and services. ERCOT said it has processed thousands of attestations, used additional requests for information and third-party verification tools such as Dun & Bradstreet, and terminated nonresponsive market participants. ERCOT also said it has not seen a case requiring direct Attorney General involvement, but it does refer matters to the PUC when needed. The PUC said it can investigate suspected violations and impose penalties of up to $1 million per violation per day, and that most investigations into late or missing attestations have been resolved through compliance, market exit, or removal by ERCOT. The Attorney General’s office said its role is currently limited to audits and court involvement, and that it lacks broad independent investigatory authority under the act. Members pressed the panel on whether the current system is too reliant on self-reporting and whether it adequately addresses indirect foreign influence, especially through supply chains for batteries, inverters, transformers, and other equipment with routable connectivity. ERCOT acknowledged that the current attestation process has gaps and said it plans to refine definitions of critical grid equipment and grid services, improve information requests, and continue stakeholder rulemaking. The panel also discussed possible legislative changes, including tying prohibitions to the Department of Defense Section 1260H list and the Texas Prohibited Technologies list, clarifying warranty and service access, and expanding the statute to cover grid services more directly. Several senators raised concerns about cost, reliability, and the extent to which foreign-sourced components remain embedded in Texas infrastructure, while others suggested incentives for domestic manufacturing and stronger verification tools, including possible work with national labs such as Sandia.

Transcript Highlights:

• throughout the state of Minnesota. throughout the state of Minnesota.
• throughout the state. throughout the state.
• the state apply for these grants. the state apply for these grants.
• cross-section of the entire state. cross-section of the entire state.
• state appropriation. state appropriation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and I'm fighting this fight in many, many states.
• We're considering legal action in other states.
• states they have, Arkansas and Alabama.
• I'm the Senior Director of State Policy and Advocacy for the American Kidney Fund, and I appreciate the
• are a net positive for the state.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on a wide range of insurance-related bills. Topics included public adjusters (H. 1100/S. 785), electronic cancellation notices (H. 1123/S. 701), insurance rebates and loss-mitigation devices (H. 1233), flood hazard determinations (H. 1087 and related flood bills), organ donor insurance protections (H. 1248/S. 727), mental health parity in disability policies (S. 780), motor vehicle service contracts (H. 1139/S. 812), modernization of business-to-business insurance transactions (H. 1105), and a bill changing the GIC withdrawal notice deadline (H. 1150). Committee chairs set a three-minute testimony limit and heard from legislators, industry representatives, advocates, and affected consumers. Testimony on public adjusters was sharply divided. Insurance agents and property-casualty industry representatives argued that bills barring insurers from prohibiting public adjusters would interfere with policy terms, while public adjusters and several consumers described cases where adjusters helped secure substantially higher settlements and said some surplus lines policies already contain anti-public-adjuster endorsements. On electronic notices, the insurance industry supported consumer opt-in email communications, while agents warned that email-only cancellation notices could cause consumers to miss cancellations. On rebates/loss mitigation, insurers supported allowing risk-mitigation devices outside the policy to encourage innovation, while agents opposed the bill as an improper inducement. Flood-related bills drew opposition from insurers who said flood determinations are complex and federally governed. The committee also heard strong support for organ donor protections from a kidney transplant recipient and the American Kidney Fund, who said the bill would prevent insurance discrimination against living donors and could encourage more donations. On disability parity, a disability insurance specialist opposed S. 780, arguing that mental health limitations are a consumer choice that helps keep coverage affordable, while the bill’s sponsor said it would prevent unequal limits on behavioral health claims. The committee also heard support for H. 1139/S. 812 from the service contract industry, and support for H. 1105 from APCIA as a modernization measure for specialty commercial lines. No votes were taken; after testimony concluded, the chairs closed the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• You had stated that this doesn't prohibit the purchasing, but when I read the bill it explicitly prohibits
• But the National Bank Act precludes states from mandating what the states can charge.
• We have Jenny Berg, the state director for Humane World for Animals, which was formerly known as the
• We have Jenny Berg, the state director for Humane World for Animals, which was formerly known as the
• I'm Jenny Berg, and I'm the California State Director for Humane World for Animals.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 2, which would create enhanced civil penalties for large social media companies when negligence proven in court causes harm to children and teens. The author and supporters argued the bill is needed to address addictive algorithms and harmful content, while opponents warned it was vague, could chill speech, and might be preempted by federal law. Members largely focused on whether the bill changed the standard of care or burden of proof; the bill passed out of committee on a roll call vote, with some members noting concerns but supporting it to continue the discussion. AB 282, dealing with housing vouchers and source-of-income discrimination, would clarify that housing providers may prioritize applicants who qualify for rental assistance without violating fair housing law. Supporters from housing authorities, local governments, and advocacy groups said it would help voucher holders find units and improve use of housing funds. There was no opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations on a roll call vote, with two no votes. The committee also considered AB 882 on court reporter availability and electronic recording in certain cases when a court reporter is unavailable. Supporters said the bill is a temporary, narrowly tailored response to a shortage of reporters and would preserve access to accurate records, while opponents argued it was too narrow, raised access-to-justice concerns, and should be broadened. Members from both sides emphasized the importance of court reporters and electronic recording as a backup; the bill passed with an urgency clause and was sent to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 325 on algorithmic price fixing, AB 935 on civil rights data clarity, AB 1414 on tenant choice of internet service provider, and AB 67 on Attorney General enforcement of the Reproductive Privacy Act; each drew support from sponsors and advocacy groups, opposition centered on overbreadth or policy concerns, and each advanced on committee votes, with several members requesting further amendments or clarification.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:50.760> of ability to work in the state of ability to work in the state of Minnesota
• I'm the state director for the National Federation of Independent Business in Minnesota.
• I'm the state director<00:13:12.000> for<00:13:12.120> the<00:13:12.200> National
• by the vendor when they purchased it. by the vendor when they purchased it.
• state agencies when around the state state agencies when around the state we're<00:31:51.920>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is extremely important that we, as a reproductive state, a state that believes in allowing people
• I'm Senior Director of Policy at the Kennedy Forum.
• health care system in the state to have done that.
• law applied to every community in the state.
• I am Diana Peterson, R.N., Director of Operations.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I look at other things that the state does, and when you go out a request for purchase or whatever
• And is there any other state in the United States that has as many solar projects projected?
• that has its own... ...states, is Texas the only state that has its own grid?
• Potentially, so most of the other states are—most of the other grids are multi-state.
• They will follow the state law. State law. I'll just double-check.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:36:57.839> Teachers we also have Hawaii State Teachers we also have Hawaii State Teachers
• Hi, Kristen Sakamoto, Deputy Director of Taxation.
• Kristen Sakamoto, Deputy Director of Taxation.
• Hi, Kristen Sakamoto, Deputy Director of Taxation.
• <01:05:12.240> appropriation direct Grant uh director appropriation direct Grant uh director

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So many of you may be unfamiliar with the Office of the State of State Fed as we call it So I'm going
• The state fed office role, that would be honestly connecting them with the director who's sitting out
• . state.
• and with state agencies.
• We are agents of the state.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Does it create a disincentive for people to purchase cigarettes in the state of New Hampshire?
• In addition, most states also charge sales tax on top of the purchase price.
• <00:01:58.880> of uh purchase cigarettes in the state of uh purchase cigarettes in the state
• . state. state.
• The state transfer tax is the 3% tax that you have to pay when you purchase a home.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State your name and the organization you're representing.
• Every year, thousands of puppies are imported into our state from out-of-state breeding operations, often
• Thousands of puppies are imported into our state from out-of-state breeding operations, often through
• And the dogs are coming from other states.
• What we don't have, what all these other states have, is a copy of that given to our state.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Agriculture heard three bills. SB 18 by Senator Rubio would create a Food Desert Elimination Grant Program at CDFA to help open or improve grocery stores in food desert communities. Supporters said it would improve access to healthy food, create jobs, and help underserved neighborhoods; opponents argued it could favor large chains, lacked community input and accountability, and should better prioritize tribal, BIPOC-owned, and community-led retail. Committee members raised concerns about population thresholds, community engagement, and long-term commitments, and the author said the bill could be strengthened with guardrails. SB 18 passed 7-0 and was sent to Appropriations. SB 312 by Senator Umberg would require out-of-state shippers of dogs to electronically submit health certificates to CDFA and make them available to buyers and enforcement agencies, aiming to improve consumer protection and traceability in the puppy import pipeline. Supporters from animal welfare and humane organizations said the bill would help stop sick or misrepresented puppies from entering California and give investigators a central record. Members asked about privacy and enforcement, and the author indicated amendments could address consumer privacy concerns. The bill passed unanimously and was sent to Appropriations. SB 493 by Senator Becker would change how compensation is set for secretary managers of district agricultural associations and fairgrounds, shifting salary-setting authority to CDFA and requiring periodic salary surveys. Supporters said fairgrounds are critical emergency-response and community facilities and that the bill would help recruit and retain qualified leaders with fairer pay. Some members expressed concern about local control and appointment delays, but clarified the bill only addressed salary, not appointments. SB 493 also passed unanimously and was sent to Appropriations.