Transcript Highlights:

• Anybody who falls in that paid category, the state would pay.
• So if they qualify for free, they don't pay. If they don't qualify, they pay full price for it.
• So if they qualify for free, they don't pay. If they don't qualify, they pay full price for it.
• Somebody is paying for this.
• I mean, whether it’s school lunches or anything else that the state pays for, yes, taxpayers are paying

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thankfully, I get a co-pay assistance card from the manufacturer, so I don't need to pay this out of
• Thankfully, I get a co-pay assistance card from the manufacturer, so I don't need to pay this out of
• Yeah, and it counts toward their co-pay offset. Yeah.
• for and what they're asking employees to pay for?
• for and what they're asking employees to pay for?

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several measures, beginning with SB 331 by Sen. Menjivar, which would require large-group health plans to cover hearing aids for children. The author and supporters described the bill as a long-running effort to address a developmental emergency and reduce out-of-pocket costs for families, while opponents were absent. Testimony from parents, advocates, medical experts, and organizations emphasized the importance of early access to hearing aids; committee members voiced strong support, and the bill was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations, with several members requesting to be added as coauthors. The committee then heard SB 608, also by Sen. Menjivar, to expand access to condoms in school-based health centers and related settings and to prevent barriers such as ID checks. Supporters, including students and school health advocates, argued the bill would improve sexual health and reduce stigma, while opponents from family and faith groups argued it would undermine parental authority and normalize early sexual activity. The bill was supported by committee members and moved forward on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. Next, SB 971 by Sen. Choi proposed community-based healthy aging partnerships for older adults, with testimony from the California Senior Legislature and supporters from aging and dementia organizations. The measure was described as voluntary and focused on connection, independence, and local collaboration; there was no opposition, and the committee moved it on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 869 by Sen. Weber Pierson, which would require warning icons and statements on chain restaurant menus for beverages with very high added sugar content. Supporters framed it as a transparency and public health measure, while restaurant and beverage industry representatives opposed it unless amended, citing cost and menu-space concerns; the bill was nevertheless moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations after a roll call vote, with some members voting no and the measure placed on call. The committee also considered SB 950 by Sen. Weber Pierson, aimed at ensuring timely coverage of FDA-approved, medically necessary treatments for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease on commercial plans. Supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association and a patient advocate, said the bill would reduce delays and barriers to care, while health plan representatives opposed it over step therapy and utilization-management concerns. Members discussed the limited treatment window and the need for early access, and the bill was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. In addition, SB 490 by Sen. Umberg would set timelines for DHCS investigations of unlicensed sober living homes and allow counties to assist if the department cannot act in time; supporters from Anaheim and a patient-brokering survivor described serious abuse and oversight gaps, while county behavioral health representatives opposed the county role as an unfunded and potentially liability-creating burden. After discussion, the bill was also moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1037 by Sen. Weber Pierson on health insurance affordability and rate review, with supporters arguing it would tie premium increases more closely to affordability targets and public reporting; the transcript cuts off before the committee completed action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• They pay a little bit less, and when the water goes out, they pay a little bit more.
• You say that that will pay for the out-of-city rates?
• So taxpayers within the City of Tucson pay all this.
• within the City of Tucson pay, so it would be fair for them to pay a little bit more when they're asking
• more and one-third would pay less.

Summary: The committee began by announcing that House Bill 2094 would be held and not heard that day, then received a lengthy update from Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzky on Colorado River negotiations and post-2026 operating rules. He described Arizona’s legal position, the basin’s water allocations, current shortages, conservation efforts, and the state’s view that the Upper Basin should share more of the reductions and move more water from reservoirs above Lake Powell to Lake Mead. Members asked about tourism, recreation, tribal water rights, public outreach, and the role of the state’s delegation and the federal government. Buschatzky said Arizona has already made major conservation cuts and that further reductions are likely, whether by agreement or federal action, and emphasized ongoing negotiations and public meetings. The committee then heard House Bill 2758, which would expand McMullen Valley groundwater transfer rules to allow eligible entities, including private water companies, to withdraw and transport groundwater under specified conditions, with ADWR oversight and reporting requirements. Supporters argued the bill would provide a lawful, regulated way to move water for urban growth and housing needs, while opponents from La Paz County and rural advocacy groups said it would accelerate aquifer depletion, harm private wells, and benefit a New York hedge fund at the expense of local residents. After debate over guardrails, stakeholder outreach, and the impact on rural communities, the committee adopted the Griffin amendment and passed HB 2758 as amended on a 6-4 due-pass vote. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 2098, which revises bonding authority and public hearing notification requirements for county water augmentation authorities and allows such authorities to enter into local repayment agreements with WIFA. Pinal County officials and related stakeholders testified in support, saying the changes would help the Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority finance future water and infrastructure projects, including possible augmentation efforts tied to Bartlett Dam, and would clean up statutory language to match the authority’s needs. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 2098, before any committee vote on that bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• pay or are struggling<00:29:32.399><c> to</c><00:29:32.640><c> pay</c><00:29:33.360><c> their</c><00
• </c><00:29:52.320><c> their</c> Minnesota not being able to pay their Minnesota not being able to pay
• </c><00:29:58.640><c> their</c> tax subsidies to help them pay their tax subsidies to help them pay their
• And I just got done mentioning that 36% of Minnesotans can't pay or are struggling to pay their electricity
• </c><00:41:14.720><c> their</c> pay or are struggling to pay their pay or are struggling to pay their

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're not going to quit their job because they still got to pay the rent or the mortgage.
• They're not going to quit their job because they still got to pay the rent or the mortgage.
• They're not going to quit their job because they still got to pay the rent or the mortgage.
• </c><00:37:00.000><c> their</c> cash flow in order to pay their cash flow in order to pay their mortgages
• </c> notices to try to get rent paying notices to try to get rent paying tenants<00:57:39.839><c> in<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And like I just told you, we're now paying $2 million.
• This isn't a winner, a loser pay thing.
• I mean, the voters don't want to pay for, for lawsuit.
• And I tell them frankly, if you lose this lawsuit, you'll pay my fees, you'll pay the groundwater Conservation
• I say, if you win, you pay my fees.

Bills: HB 1520, HB 1525, HB 1530, HB 1535, HB 2068, HB 2091, HB 2347, HB 2372, HB 2805, HB 2815, HB 2867, HB 3154, HB 3482, HB 3483, HB 3663, HB 3781, HB 3901, HB 3915, HB 4135, HB 4153, HB 4158, HB 4329, HB 4331

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; Well, in transfer tax um the buyer pays &gt;&gt; Well, in transfer tax um the buyer pays
• What I need in Portsmouth is to pay our cops, to pay our firemen, to pay those that are driving the EMS
• </c> would ask, do we pay uh property taxes? would ask, do we pay uh property taxes?
• <01:16:33.920><c> our</c> is to pay our cops, to pay our our is to pay our cops, to pay our our firemen
• </c> that um when we're talking about paying that um when we're talking about paying our<01:17:43.199

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 4M, providing $1 million to the city of Jackson to pay costs associated with renovations and
• Section 4BZ, providing $500,000 appropriation for the city of Greenville to pay costs associated with
• Section 4HV, providing $300,000 appropriation to the Department of Finance and Administration to pay
• Section 4HV, providing $300,000 appropriation to the Department of Finance and Administration to pay
• To pay costs associated with construction and development of a downtown green space.

Bills: HR144, HB4182, HC51, HR169, HB4178, HB4179

Keywords: commendation, sports, team achievement, high school, state championship, suffrage, restoration of voting rights, conviction, probation, law-abiding citizen, congressional term limits, constitutional amendments, Article V, state resolution, political reform, Jackson State University, Veterans Memorial Stadium, economic growth, property tax, multi-purpose facility

Transcript Highlights:

• So if that happens, do we have an extra billion dollars lying around the state to come up with to pay
• for the mandated spending. ...raise taxes or cut services in order to pay for the mandated spending
• Yes, and mental health and everything else that we pay for.
• Would the savings be available, like the rate preservation fund, to help pay for the state portion of
• We pay it as we determine in each individual case. With that, I yield for questions.

Summary: The committee primarily considered House Bill 440, which would move Medicaid expansion language from the Oklahoma Constitution into state statute and send the change to voters in a special election. Supporters argued this would give the Legislature flexibility to manage the program, especially if federal Medicaid matching rates were reduced, and said it would help protect the state budget and allow future adjustments such as eligibility or work requirements. Opponents said the measure would weaken voter-approved constitutional protections, create uncertainty for more than 300,000 enrollees, rural hospitals, and providers, and could allow future cuts without another vote of the people. Members also discussed the possible fiscal impact of a federal match change from 90-10 to 60-40, with supporters saying the state could face roughly a billion-dollar annual cost and would need flexibility to avoid cuts to other services. Questions also focused on the choice of an August special election rather than the November general election, and on whether tribal governments and other stakeholders had been consulted. After debate, the committee tabled an amendment and passed House Bill 440 on a 14-2 vote. The committee then took up House Joint Resolution 1087, which would change the Avalon reimbursement program so the Legislature could manage funding levels and methodologies rather than being bound to the current structure. It passed 14-2. The committee also considered House Joint Resolution 1067, a trigger measure that would only appear on the November ballot if House Bill 440 failed in August; it would relieve the state of any obligation to fund Medicaid expansion for working adults if the federal match dropped below 90%. After adopting a committee substitute and tabling an amendment, the resolution also passed 14-2. The committee then laid over H.J.R. 1089 and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• in our introductory hearing, I think it was Representative Nelson, if I remember right, about who pays
• So what this does is clarify that they shall pay during that 20-year period of time, and that the...
• So what this does is clarify that they shall pay during that 20-year period of time and that the during
• the Lincoln County schools and Jerome that have a valley that has the smallest amount of ability to pay
• off bonds, pay off their levies.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first approved the February 9 minutes by voice vote. It then introduced RS 32974, which would set a uniform school start date of the Tuesday after Labor Day. Supporters said it would create consistency for families and help tourism, while members raised concerns about impacts on rural districts, harvest schedules, fairs, and the school year ending later in the spring. The sponsor said those issues could be discussed later when the bill is formally heard. Next, the committee introduced RS 33138C1, an apprenticeship-style pathway for principals and superintendents intended to help fill vacancies, especially in rural areas. It also introduced RS 33325, creating a voluntary high school civics seal or endorsement for diplomas, with requirements tied to civics coursework and civic engagement. Members asked for follow-up information on how many schools have used similar seals and how the program is working. The committee then heard testimony and advanced House Bill 608, a clarification bill for the public school facilities cooperative fund. Sponsors said the bill would fix ambiguities in the grant process, reduce the need for districts to run repeated bonds when grant amounts are smaller than prior bond requests, clarify repayment rules, and better prioritize districts with greater need. Superintendents from Camas County, Middleton, and others testified in support, saying the current law creates confusion and can undermine community trust. After discussion about how HB 608 differs from other school facilities funding laws, the committee sent the bill to the floor with a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered and passed House Bill 636, which would allow school districts to use remaining school district facilities funds for lease-purchase agreements and related financing after required obligations are met. The sponsor said the bill would give districts another way to address construction, renovation, and maintenance needs without raising property taxes, and a West Ada superintendent testified that it would improve long-term planning and debt management. Members discussed the size and funding source of the school district facilities fund and noted broader concerns about disparities between rural and urban districts. The committee then sent HB 636 to the floor with a do pass recommendation and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're doing a great job in paying our educators.
• Florida ranks near the bottom nationally in average teacher pay.
• Florida is roughly 49th in teacher pay.
• Legislators in the audience to pay attention, get involved.
• , I would like to say we do not pay our teachers enough.

Transcript Highlights:

• We pay for...
• They're already paying very high prices for electricity in the state of California.
• But you've got to pay your fair share, and I think that's what this does.
• Don't make us pay for someone else's infrastructure and bring us some good jobs to our communities.
• dollar helps pay the fixed costs of the grid.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So today, these actions are finally paying off.
• We are actions are finally paying off.
• She pays her own rent. And of our kuna. She pays her own rent.
• So don't hesitate when you have the opportunity to pay it forward.
• </c><00:58:57.359><c> Don't</c> opportunity to pay it forward. Don't opportunity to pay it forward.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paying $1.5 million for a thousand square foot house is not fine.
• Because that's $10 billion a year right now we pay out.
• You know, if this is a priority, we can pay out.
• That's a cost that we continue to pay for every single year.
• You only pay the interest on that and some of the principal.

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related measures, beginning with SB 222 by Senator Wiener, the Heat Pump Access Act. The bill would streamline permitting for heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems, allow virtual contractor participation during inspections, and limit HOA barriers to installation. Supporters, including Spur, a contractor, and several clean-energy and environmental groups, said the measure would lower costs, reduce pollution, and speed replacements. The League of California Cities opposed the bill over the permit fee cap and concerns about virtual inspections, while committee members raised questions about HOA authority, electrical panel upgrades, and whether the bill could create unintended costs for local governments. SB 222 was approved 10-0 and sent to Local Government. The committee then considered SB 677, a follow-up to SB 79. The author announced the bill had been narrowed to two items: mobile home exemption language and a future SB 79 cleanup bill in the next session, with the larger set of implementation issues to be handled separately. Local governments and counties said the reduced bill still needed clearer definitions and more implementation guidance, while several housing and transit advocates supported the narrowing and the decision to revisit the broader cleanup later. After the amendments were accepted, SB 677 passed 10-1 and was sent to Local Government. The main debate centered on SB 417, a proposed $10 billion affordable housing bond for the 2026 ballot. Supporters, including the California Housing Consortium, labor, housing nonprofits, local governments, and many advocacy groups, argued that the state’s existing housing bond funds were exhausted, that thousands of shovel-ready projects were waiting for financing, and that the bond would leverage federal tax credits and private capital to produce and preserve affordable homes. Opponents and skeptics focused on state debt levels, the cost of housing production, and whether another bond was the right approach, with Habitat for Humanity asking for a dedicated CalHome allocation. Committee members discussed debt capacity, affordability, homeownership, and the need to keep funding flowing to existing programs. SB 417 passed 8-1 to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 492, a youth housing and youth center bond proposal, which the author said was intended to be folded into the larger housing bond package; testimony from Covenant House California emphasized the need to house transition-age youth and prevent long-term homelessness. No vote on SB 492 was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:33.679><c> And</c> pay yield it to holders. And pay yield it to holders.
• </c> even if they're not themselves pay even if they're not themselves pay paying<00:18:13.120><c> it
• I'll pay for it or I'll redeem.'
• I'll pay for it or I'll redeem.'
• I'll pay for it or what you're doing. I'll pay for it or I'll<01:14:38.960><c> redeem."

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call and introductions of commission members and guests, followed by approval of the agenda and a motion to approve the February 10 minutes with a correction clarifying that one quoted statement was misattributed. The commission then moved into presentations. The main presentation came from the Conference of State Bank Supervisors on implementation of the federal GENIUS Act for stablecoins. The speaker reviewed the OCC’s recent 367-page proposed rule, noting it raises many open questions and design choices for states, and discussed expected upcoming rulemaking from the FDIC, Federal Reserve, and Treasury. The presentation focused on six areas: permissible issuer activities, reserve assets and redemption, risk management and supervision, treatment of state-qualified issuers, capital/operational backstops, and foreign issuers. It also flagged unresolved issues around Bank Secrecy Act/AML requirements and the meaning of “digital asset service provider” activities. A substantial portion of the discussion addressed yield restrictions, with the presenter explaining the OCC’s broad definition of yield and its rebuttable presumption against issuer-affiliated or related third-party yield arrangements. The speaker said this likely forecloses many existing white-label structures but leaves some room for third-party payments depending on distance from the issuer, and noted ongoing Senate debate over similar provisions. The presentation also covered reserve valuation, liquidity and diversification requirements, redemption timing, and supervisory expectations such as third-party oversight, IT security, exam cycles, and reporting. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the amended minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I go way back to: why do government agencies pay taxes? Because they're paying with tax dollars.
• Why do government agencies pay Yeah. Why do government agencies pay taxes?
• </c> of that nature and expect them to pay of that nature and expect them to pay more,<00:37:04.880><
• /c> about what they pay us, um, pays me about what they pay us, um, pays me $22.38<01:32:31.600><c> for
• </c><01:33:44.960><c> And</c> to pay for this. And to pay for this.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You pay 25%, and the federal government pays 75%.
• ><c> patients,</c> When combined with self-pay patients, When combined with self-pay patients, more<01
• </c> now the only debt that the hospital pays now the only debt that the hospital pays is<01:20:39.160
• </c> And when they come in, they cannot pay And when they come in, they cannot pay for<01:35:07.320><
• </c><01:45:43.840><c> rate</c> million loss in directed pay rate million loss in directed pay rate because

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pay for five days a month for absences.
• I think paying on enrollment versus attendance causes a lot of issues and potential for issues that paying
• I will say paying based on enrollment is how private payers have to pay.
• And again, if we are paying on enrollment versus attendance, you're paying for days for which care is
• Those dollars still factor into what we pay for children in child care subsidies, what we pay providers

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> as far as proficiency goes, it pays as far as proficiency goes, it pays school<00:08:09.280><c>
• If we go to the state, they will have to pay an increased amount of their take-home pay to be able to
• </c> that they can right now, they can pay that they can right now, they can pay the<01:04:10.400><c>
• ><01:04:22.960><c> the</c> amount of their take-home pay to the the amount of their take-home pay to
• </c><01:30:33.840><c> for</c> EGI cost rather than paying for EGI cost rather than paying for the<01:

Bills: SF0059, SF0053

Keywords: language proficiency, literacy education, reading interventions, dyslexia support, Montessori methods, individualized reading plans, amateur status, high school athletics, student eligibility, sports regulation, monetary compensation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some owners cannot pay their commercial mortgages when tenants cannot pay the rent, and landlords will
• </c> we were just expected to pay in full. we were just expected to pay in full.
• </c> constituents paying for this relief? constituents paying for this relief?
• </c> to pay for this. to pay for this.
• Empty storefronts don't pay Greenman. Empty storefronts don't pay property<01:40:09.960><c> taxes.

Bills: HF4477

Keywords: Minnesota business recovery loan program, small business loan, zero-interest loan, forgivable loan, business recovery, economic development, small business emergency loan account, Minnesota Initiative Foundations, nonprofit lenders, greater Minnesota, Twin Cities metro, seven-county metropolitan area, immigration enforcement, business interruption, revenue loss, job preservation, business stabilization, state appropriation, forward fund, loan forgiveness