Transcript Highlights:

• critical facility needs.
• They had identified facility maintenance needs.
• The east side of the facility.
• And that will be, I believe, hosted at the current state facility or state hospital facility.
• This facility will be constructed as a pre- This facility will be constructed as a pre-engineered metal

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes before hearing a series of informational updates. The Petroleum Council reported that North Dakota oil production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with activity shifting northward in the Bakken as technology improves and three- and four-mile laterals boost well performance. The presentation also discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, the importance of pipelines and other linear infrastructure, and enhanced oil recovery pilot projects supported by state and federal funding. Members asked questions about gas production taxes, natural gas liquids, and the outlook for drilling rigs and future production. The Office of State Tax Commissioner then reviewed the federal “big beautiful bill” and its estimated effect on North Dakota individual and business income tax collections. Staff explained that most of the individual income tax impact comes from the permanent increase in the standard deduction, while temporary provisions such as senior deductions, tip and overtime exclusions, and auto loan interest deductions have smaller or limited-term effects. They also noted that business tax changes, especially depreciation and expensing provisions, create a larger near-term cash impact, and that some FY25 collections likely reflected one-time oil field transactions that may have inflated the baseline used in earlier estimates. OMB provided updates on major capital projects and facility funding. For Capitol grounds improvements, officials described plans for 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding upgrades, public seating, lighting, tree management, and possible restroom and lobby reconfiguration, while also noting the governor’s residence security project and the discovery of human remains on the Capitol grounds. OMB and its consultants also reported on the state facility maintenance fund, including window replacement, boiler work, roof and foundation repairs, and a new facility conditions assessment covering more state buildings. Updates were also given on the new state hospital in Jamestown, the Minot state office building, and the use of federal state fiscal recovery funds, including possible future reallocations to the Department of Corrections. Finally, Legislative Council staff summarized the interim compliance report on legislative intent and trust fund activity, highlighting the status of lines of credit, Bank of North Dakota profit transfers, the statewide litigation pool, the new Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, corrections planning, HHS program updates, and a likely future general fund request for the unemployment insurance modernization project. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes; the meeting was primarily informational, with members asking clarifying questions throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have a little time to figure out the recycling facility.
• Yes, and all battery facilities have far more than smoke detectors.
• So does every battery facility. Okay.
• That's because a private property owner wants the facility.
• But the other part of it is these upgraded facilities.

Committee: Senate Energy And Telecommunications

Summary: The Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications met under Chair Senator Kevin Parker and considered several bills related to clean energy, transmission, storage, schools, and microgrids. Bill 1456, which would require certain watercraft, aircraft, and trains to be zero-emissions and direct NYSERDA studies and incentives, was discussed as technology-neutral and advanced with one no vote to the Finance Committee. Bill 286, increasing statewide energy storage capacity, drew concerns about battery safety, fire risk, and volunteer fire department training, but was advanced to the floor with two no votes. Bill 2482, the Go Green Schools Act, would let schools convert to renewable energy and keep savings for school operations; it advanced to the floor despite concerns about siting solar on school grounds. Bill 2485 on expanding electric transmission lines and Bill 5510 directing NYSERDA to develop microgrid recommendations were both advanced to the Finance Committee, each with one no vote. The committee then heard testimony from Marguerite Wells, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York. She argued that wind, solar, storage, and transmission have made New York a leader in clean energy and said renewable energy is increasingly cost-competitive, with much of recent bill increases driven by grid upgrades and gas prices rather than renewables. She also said clean energy helps hedge against volatile fossil fuel prices, pointed to community solar and offshore wind as savings and reliability tools, and said the state’s permitting and interconnection processes have improved. Members questioned Wells about farmland use, decommissioning, recycling of solar and wind equipment, battery storage safety, local control, and misinformation. Wells said utility-scale projects require decommissioning plans and financial assurances, farmland must be restored under agricultural guidelines, and recycling capacity is developing. On battery storage, she said New York has rigorous codes and monitoring requirements, that not all storage is lithium-ion, and that state-level permitting is appropriate for large facilities. Several senators raised concerns about fires, contamination, winter performance, and siting projects in densely populated areas or on farmland, while others emphasized farmland protections and the value of renewable projects to host communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the Senator mentioned, there was a day care facility.
• These facilities safely and reliably recover... without any subsidies.
• And that these facilities must operate in a health-protective manner.
• Catastrophic fires have been a regular occurrence at this facility.
• We run local household hazardous waste collection facilities.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Transcript Highlights:

• Digging in a little bit on the Kauai facility, the new medical facility, or potentially new—where are
• Aging facilities, those kinds of things — those costs are gigantic for those facilities as compared to
• Aging facilities, those kinds of things — those costs are gigantic for those facilities as compared to
• Aging facilities, those kinds of things — those costs are gigantic for those facilities as compared to
• Aging facilities, those kinds of things — those costs are gigantic for those facilities as compared to

Summary: The Committee on Finance held an informational briefing with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on its budget, staffing, and operations. The director reviewed department leadership and reported on recruitment and retention efforts, including a 14% vacancy rate, a 10.5% workforce increase from filling 189 positions, and the Hela Imua internship program, which has placed 516 interns since inception and led to 62 permanent hires. The department also described modernization efforts, including the UI Huakai project and the Disability Compensation Division’s electronic case management system, and said the unemployment compensation trust fund exceeded $71.5 million, triggering Schedule C for calendar year 2025. The department’s main budget requests included $2.9 million for fiscal year 2026 to support maintenance and operations of the electronic case management system, plus restoration of two enforcement specialist positions. Officials said those positions are needed to address a decline in investigators from 11 to six since 2009, improve compliance, and handle Hawaii Compliance Express certificate work. Additional requests included two human resources specialists to address recruitment backlogs, two labor enforcement specialists to reduce a backlog of Chapter 104 prevailing wage and wage cases, and two positions for the Office of Community Services to expand immigrant services and access centers. The department also discussed federal funding for unemployment insurance and workforce programs, including National Dislocated Worker Grants and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds, and said some funding is received in increments and may require extensions. Members asked about Kauai inspection coverage, federal funding uncertainty, the size of the special unemployment insurance fund, and whether the department could ramp up staffing during a future crisis. Officials said Kauai is currently served by inspectors from Honolulu and there are no plans to open a permanent island position because of staffing constraints. They said the department is meeting federal guidelines and is not in jeopardy, and that the special unemployment insurance fund has about $10 million, with current UI operations funded at a little over $15 million, meaning the fund may need to cover roughly $5 million if federal support declines. The director said the department would use the special fund to supplement shortfalls, but noted that federal funding cuts and the loss of ARPA support have already affected operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• facility.
• facility.
• </c><00:15:19.920><c> thank</c> Correctional fac facilities thank Correctional fac facilities thank you
• 00:24:48.440><c> to</c> from a male Correctional Facility to from a male Correctional Facility to Shaka
• </c><00:25:24.399><c> at</c> male facility to the females facility at male facility to the females facility

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:02.320><c> committee</c> through the joint facilities committee through the joint facilities
• </c> parties on the joint facilities parties on the joint facilities committee<00:10:28.399><c> and</
• </c> any restrictions um from the facilities any restrictions um from the facilities committee<00:15:
• </c> office and the joint facilities office and the joint facilities committee,<00:17:44.080><c> um,<
• </c> at the member of the facilities at the member of the facilities committee<00:19:23.840><c> that's

Summary: The committee opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then moved into a work session on its remaining bills. The main discussion centered on House Bill 477, which would establish a commission to study safety and security procedures at the New Hampshire State House. Members debated whether a new commission was needed, with several speakers arguing that security is already being reviewed through the bipartisan Joint Facilities Committee and existing security staff, including an outside consultant’s review. Others raised concerns that members do not always know how to report safety or behavioral issues and suggested better communication to the full membership about who to contact and what information can be shared. The House clerk then explained the structure and authority of the Joint Facilities Committee under RSA 17-E, noting that it is a bipartisan legislative committee made up only of elected officials, with publicly listed members, defined duties, and the ability to meet in nonpublic session on sensitive matters such as security. The clerk said members can bring concerns to the committee, its chair, or their caucus leadership, and that some safety briefings are already given to all members when appropriate. Several members said they preferred keeping security matters limited to a need-to-know basis and opposed creating a new commission that could force public discussion of sensitive procedures. The committee then voted on HB 477. Representative Sheen moved ITL, Representative Turkot seconded, and the motion passed 12-0, with Representative Wall voting no. The bill was sent to consent. After that, the committee began discussion of House Bill 314, which would prohibit the use of federal, state, or local funds for lobbying activities, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I saw how bad that facility was.
• And we have a facility in Bunkie.
• I mean, we do have that in some facilities.
• I mean, we do have that in some facilities.
• We've had conversations with Facility Planning and Control that that old facility, because of the condition

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• facilities to the grid.
• Section 1 changes the definition of a single plant from facility sharing infrastructure to facilities
• </c> energy facility. energy facility.
• facility on their land want that facility on their land anymore,<00:09:48.040><c> whoever</c><00:09:
• </c> facility apart and restore the site. facility apart and restore the site.

Transcript Highlights:

• a current facility.
• </c><00:15:16.399><c> thank</c> Correctional fac facilities thank Correctional fac facilities thank you
• 00:24:44.919><c> to</c> from a male Correctional Facility to from a male Correctional Facility to Shaka
• </c><00:25:20.880><c> at</c> male facility to the female facility at male facility to the female facility
• to the facility at Shakopee?”

Transcript Highlights:

• We cut our time at the facility back just a little bit because the plan had been to bring us all back
• But thank you all so much for the work that you do and for showing us your facilities.
• We had to maintain our ratio of 8 to 1 within the facility.
• In 2025, to the director's point, we've only turned one away from the facility.
• Either in your facility or afterwards? Mr.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Disability Rights Washington's treatment facilities team focuses on serving people in treatment facilities
• , including inpatient psychiatric treatment facilities.
• It does serve people who are exiting those facilities.
• It does serve people that are exiting those facilities.
• The skilled nursing facility got an enhanced rate to admit them.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Planning for Aging and Disability Issues

Summary: The committee held what was described as its final meeting and began with introductions, then received updates on several long-term care and aging initiatives that originated from earlier J-LEC work. A presentation on the WA Cares Fund reviewed its development from a 2014 research project to implementation, including premium collection, expanded eligibility for near-retirees, portability, recent technical fixes, and the creation of a supplemental private insurance market. The presenter said the program is now largely in place and ready for future use, with benefits expected to go fully live next summer. The Dementia Action Collaborative also reported on its state plan, including Project ECHO dementia training, dementia-capable community pilots through area agencies on aging, and ongoing work on early detection, brain health, and caregiver support. Another DSHS presentation covered the Medicaid Transformation Project, including Medicaid Alternative Care, Tailored Supports for Older Adults, presumptive eligibility, and health-related social needs benefits such as rental assistance and nutrition support, with officials saying the waiver is likely secure until its 2028 renewal. The meeting then shifted to emerging issues from advocates and ombuds. The long-term care ombuds described persistent staffing shortages, concerns about low wages, the growing use of technology and surveillance in care settings, private equity ownership of facilities, and illegal or pressured discharges and evictions. The developmental disabilities ombuds focused on people with developmental disabilities who remain hospitalized without medical need, the need for better mental health and behavioral health access, and workforce training gaps for people serving this population. Disability Rights Washington urged more community-based supports to reduce repeated institutionalization, pointing to gaps in programs such as PACT, GOSH, and peer bridgers, and recommending those services be expanded and bundled at scale. Provider and workforce panels emphasized similar themes. Washington Health Care Association and LeadingAge Washington said assisted living and skilled nursing facilities face workforce shortages, Medicaid rates that lag behind costs, increasing client acuity, behavioral health needs, and discharge bottlenecks. They highlighted the need for more flexible care models, improved case management, and better reimbursement, including for complex behavioral health cases. Supported living providers reported high turnover, underfunding, and a successful pilot that used enhanced rates and added training to place 30 hard-to-serve individuals. SEIU 775 argued that the central problem across settings is the direct care workforce crisis, driven by low wages and inadequate benefits, and said rate increases must be tied more directly to worker compensation. DSHS closed by noting heavy reliance on federal Medicaid funding, ongoing pilots in training, transportation, remote caregiving, smart-home technology, and rental subsidies, and said future planning should shift toward a multi-sector state strategy after the committee sunsets.

Transcript Highlights:

• And from $3 to $2 for those who don't have a composting facility.
• the proper facilities in which they'll be held.
• the proper facilities in which, Our animals, whenever they are picked up, we'll have the proper facilities
• it, they have funded 95% of the existing facility.
• nuclear facilities to the list of eligible renewable energy resources.

Bills: SB47 , SB195 , SB196 , SB197 , SB198 , SB78

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: food recovery, composting, waste management, solid waste surcharge, organic waste reduction, environment, grants, advisory group, soil conservation, water resources, training services, outreach programs, environmental protection, animal care, veterinary services, spay and neuter, Las Vegas, community funding, animal welfare, animal shelter

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't... a disposal a disposal facility<00:31:13.040><c> like</c><00:31:13.280><c> in</c> facility
• </c> major solid waste facility. major solid waste facility.
• </c> existing capacity need for the facility. existing capacity need for the facility.
• says</c><01:16:39.440><c> we've</c> facility an existing facility says we've facility an existing facility
• . facility. facility.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> swine, sheep, and goats at facilities swine, sheep, and goats at facilities not<00:04:22.320><c>
• So we do not inspect the facilities. The only entity that is inspecting those facilities is USDA.
• So we do not inspect the facilities. The only entity that is inspecting those facilities is USDA.
• Facilities. So we do not inspect the facilities.
• </c> facility. Uh, so at a custom facility. facility. Uh, so at a custom facility.

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held a work session and then an executive session on HB 396, which would allow processing of beef cows, swine, sheep, and goats at facilities not certified by USDA. Representative Comtois presented a revised amendment after earlier drafting issues were corrected. She explained that the amendment now limits the amenable species language to cuts of meat rather than meat food products, fixes labeling language, removes an exemption from federal law, strikes a seasonal date range, and restores a section that had been removed. She also said the amendment distinguishes between amenable and non-amenable species and keeps a registration statement acknowledging the federal-law conflict. Committee members and witnesses debated the policy. Representative Howard questioned whether the bill should educate farmers rather than legislate them and raised concerns about requiring a farmer to register as violating federal law. Representative Comtois argued the bill supports small farmers, year-round meat processing, and intrastate activity, and described problems she said had occurred at USDA facilities. Representative Miner and others expressed support for moving the amendment forward. DHHS food safety officials testified that the department has no oversight of custom exempt facilities, that USDA is the only inspector in that system, and that if the bill passed there would be very limited regulatory oversight unless there were complaints or a foodborne outbreak. They also noted the original September 1 to April 30 date range had been tied to bison because of size and temperature concerns, and said the current language appeared to address bison, elk, and red deer documentation rather than the livestock species named in the bill. The New Hampshire Farm Bureau’s policy director, Rob Johnson, said the organization had recently voted down a policy opposing state regulations that would allow uninspected meat sales at retail until federal law changes, and that he needed to consult further with leadership before taking a position on HB 396. He suggested the bill should use the term “beef cattle” for consistency with livestock statutes. In executive session, Representative Comtois moved to approve amendment 2025-3090H, Representative King seconded, and members reiterated both support and reservations. The transcript ends during executive-session discussion, with no final recorded vote on the bill shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• At best, charter school facility costs are reimbursed at 75% of facility costs, which many cap below
• for state offices, health facilities, daycare centers, as well as educational facilities.
• In the case that the charter had taken over a facility that was once a public school facility, does the
• public school system Facility that was once a public school facility, does the public school system
• You know, I think that facilities are scarce. District facilities are scarce.

Summary: The committee heard an update on the administration’s Career Education Master Plan and the new California Education Interagency Council. Administration and agency staff described efforts to better connect K-12, higher education, workforce, and data systems, including the California Cradle to Career Data System, e-Transcript California, and a proposed career passport. They emphasized regional coordination with workforce boards and community colleges, and said the new council’s immediate tasks are to hold its first meeting by the end of June, enter into a data-sharing MOU, and complete a strategic plan by the end of November. Members asked about the council’s authority, reporting requirements, and how it would relate to the broader Master Plan for Higher Education; staff said the council will make recommendations but does not have implementation authority. The committee then took up the Governor’s proposed $100 million one-time expansion of dual enrollment grants and related changes to instructional minute requirements. Finance and the Department of Education said the proposal would support middle college, early college, and CCAP programs, add technical assistance, prioritize high-need LEAs, and reduce the minimum instructional day for certain dual enrollment students from 240 to 180 minutes to ease scheduling barriers. The Chancellor’s Office strongly supported the investment, citing access, acceleration, and equity benefits, while the LAO recommended rejecting the funding, arguing the state already provides ongoing support and that the proposal does not address major barriers. Members raised questions about adult learners, A-G alignment, reporting on outcomes and expenditures, rural access, transportation, staffing, and whether the funding would create lasting program capacity. The item was left open after discussion. The committee also considered trailer bill language to align the definition of long-term English learners across data systems. Finance and CDE said the change would simplify identification by defining LTELs as students who have not attained English proficiency within seven years and RTELs as students not proficient within six years, matching the dashboard and research-based timelines. CDE said the current mismatch between dashboard and assessment definitions creates confusion and delays, while some members and advocates worried the change could reduce earlier intervention or should be handled through policy committees rather than the budget process. The committee voted to reject the proposal and refer it to policy, though the administration said it still supports the budget language. Finally, the committee heard a proposal to extend the Supporting Inclusive Practices project by one year, through June 30, 2027. CDE said the project is promising but raised concerns about the contract structure and fiscal management, while Marysville Joint Unified School District testified that SIP had helped expand inclusive preschool and district-wide practices and reduce reliance on more restrictive placements. Members questioned why funds had not been fully encumbered and whether the remaining money should be redirected to areas with greater implementation need. The item was discussed but no final action was described in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um charged for facility fees and where. um charged for facility fees and where.
• </c> substantial costs for these facil substantial costs for these facil facility<01:27:43.920><c> fees
• </c> they in cover all of the facility fees. they in cover all of the facility fees.
• I I don't like facility fees.
• </c> facility fees. facility fees.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• You're recognized to present HB 1089, Waste Facilities.
• facilities commonly known as MRFs where recyclables are processed.
• My understanding is it's had no impact on that type of facility.
• going to be able to use and they can no longer discharge into that facility.
• land application facilities would still be able to be permitted.

Transcript Highlights:

• An assisted living facility is a facility that provides sleeping accommodations and assisted living services
• A licensed assisted living facility is a health care facility regardless of the size of the facility
• </c> that smaller assisted living facilities that smaller assisted living facilities are<00:08:10.800
• I mentioned the facility, right?
• Are they safe in the facilities?

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> maintenance the buildings and Facilities maintenance the buildings and Facilities across<00:01:36.360
• </c> main source of funding for facilities main source of funding for facilities for<00:03:49.319><c>
• </c><00:10:23.079><c> that</c> the workforce they want facilities that the workforce they want facilities
• </c> doesn't have the most updated facilities doesn't have the most updated facilities and<00:24:39.520
• It's just a beautiful facility.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• Advocates have also exposed the human reality inside these facilities.
• . safety for all of our detention facilities.
• Attention facilities as well.
• youth facilities are important and are vital.
• didn't apply to secure youth treatment facilities?

Committee: House Health