Transcript Highlights:

• Only 43 projects were funded, supporting 621 homes, less than half of what was proposed.
• I'm a tenant of the Colony Mobile Home Park here in Vancouver, Washington.
• Today, I'm a tenant of the Colony Mobile Home Park here in Vancouver, Washington.
• My newborn daughter, with complex medical needs, now has her home jeopardized.
• My name is Vince McGowan, and I serve as the chair of the Public Works Board.

Bills: SB6003

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Only 43 projects were funded, supporting 621 homes, less than half of what was proposed.
• I'm a tenant of the Colony Mobile Home Park here in Vancouver, Washington.
• My newborn daughter, with complex medical needs, now has her home jeopardized.
• My newborn daughter, with complex medical needs, now has her home jeopardized.
• My name is Vince McGowan, and I serve as the chair of the Public Works Board.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held its first meeting of the 2026 session to hear Governor Ferguson’s proposed supplemental capital budget from OFM. Budget staff said the proposal uses nearly all of the roughly $400 million in available bond capacity, leaving about $5.4 million unused, and includes additional funding from the Common School Construction account, the Climate Commitment Account, and federal funds. OFM described housing as the largest priority, with $237 million total, including $225 million for the Housing Trust Fund for affordable rental housing, homeownership, preservation, and manufactured home community acquisition; it also highlighted urgent state facility needs, climate and clean energy investments, natural resource projects, and education funding for school seismic safety, small district and tribal compact school modernization, lead pipe remediation, and higher education preservation projects. Committee members asked about the timing of housing production, and OFM said the proposed supplemental projects would not be completed within the biennium. Public testimony in the housing section strongly supported the governor’s housing investments, especially the Housing Trust Fund, manufactured housing preservation, and homeownership programs, while several speakers asked for larger appropriations for workforce housing, community land trusts, right-to-counsel, and specific local projects such as Thrive Center Tacoma, Alliance Place, Casa Mia, and Native and immigrant community facilities. One testifier criticized overall state tax policy, but the chair clarified that the capital budget is bonded and does not directly raise taxes. Testimony on K-12 education generally supported the proposed funding for small school modernization, seismic safety, and Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools lead remediation, with rural districts emphasizing the importance of planning and construction grants for aging facilities. Higher education witnesses supported preservation and deferred maintenance funding but asked for additional support for projects at Cascadia College, WSU Spokane, UW’s decarbonization work, and other campus infrastructure needs. Natural resources testimony backed Salmon Recovery Funding Board and community forest investments, while asking for more funding for ranked RCO projects. In the final section, local governments and utilities opposed a proposed $75 million transfer from the Public Works Assistance account to the operating budget, warning it would reduce infrastructure lending capacity; other speakers supported the Washington State Green Bank, public works financing, and several local economic development and utility projects. No votes or formal committee action were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 5t between the homes and there are homes 5t between the homes and there are homes in<01:37:12.560
• Nurses Week tribute for Na Nurses Week.
• Force, known as NPACH, and the Board of Nursing, and um my good colleague here in the Senate. within
• </c> an NPACH and the Board of Nursing and um an NPACH and the Board of Nursing and um my<05:00:50.080
• Nurses.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , an elected board.
• Our largest might be like Willist... to do, open meetings, open board meetings, an elected board.
• The effects on school funding, nursing homes, local tax base, and the viability of advanced care ambulance
• First, the board removed the former administrator, First, the board removed the former administrator
• As a board-certified nurse practitioner who has practiced in rural health care, I understand the daily

Bills: HB1623

Committee: Joint Appropriations

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:

• But I'm on your foundation board.
• Keep our teachers, keep our nurses, keep our, whatever, you know.
• So Kiana is not only a nursing student here, not only a student board of regents, she's also a Tejano
• One of our board members is a fellow named Lou Bovina.
• And have a safe ride home today. Thanks again.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of this bill is to establish a consistent standard.
• In particular, California is home to more than 1.2 million veterans.
• In particular, California is home to more than 1.2 million veterans.
• A promise that when they come home, especially when they come home injured, we will stand by them.
• For those in the workforce, U.S. labor statistics show a 53% decrease in veterans in the California workforce

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or any other board or agency in state government.
• But Jake preserved that Bible and brought it back home with him.
• Jerry came home and became the first...
• This is Raven Christopher, an Army Nurse employed with... an Army Nurse employed with... it's going to
• You see there on the right Army personnel serving at a nursing home in... Next slide.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• standardize standardize the the the uh<00:14:12.880><c> charity</c><00:14:13.200><c> care.
• can standardize as we can standardize um<00:14:55.280><c> charity</c><00:14:55.600><c> care</c><00:14
• </c> standard across the industry. Thank you. standard across the industry. Thank you.
• </c> will not have the healthcare workforce will not have the healthcare workforce we<01:01:14.000><c
• ><01:03:49.000><c> without</c> statewide workforce strategy and without statewide workforce strategy

Bills: HF4343

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, advertising tax, taxable services, digital advertising, online marketing, marketing services, search engine marketing, lead generation, internet advertising, ad agency, media buying, campaign planning, Minnesota tax law, service tax, broadening tax base, web advertising, promotional services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that's actually a take-home pay.
• We are seeing great gains across the board. Our growth We are seeing great gains across the board.
• Since our creation in 2020, New Mexico's child care workforce has grown by 64%, while the national workforce
• home with six, a group home with 12, centers anywhere from 27 to 300, you know, who are serving infants
• We have bachelor-level home visitors who are, you know, not necessarily the nurses delivering the Nurse-Family

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Marty Lopez with the California Nurses Association, in strong support.
• California already has the nation's most rigorous pesticide regulatory standard.
• California is home to nearly one-third of the nation's landscaping workforce.
• California is home to nearly one-third of the nation's landscaping workforce, and a significant share
• Brett Burnt, UCLA Student Homes, in support. Thank you. Good morning.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> SCRIPT standard. SCRIPT standard.
• Sections 15 and 16 make changes to home and community-based services licensing standards regarding the
• Sections 15 and 16 make changes to home and community-based services licensing standards regarding the
• I appreciate that, but I hope that whatever target we get is not at the expense of nursing homes and
• </c><01:20:19.160><c> homes</c> is not at the expense of nursing homes is not at the expense of nursing

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She adds such value to that Board of Regents.
• The Defense Science Board was a national board that discussed our nuclear deterrence and helped us recapitalize
• cause of action against a Board of Regents or a community college governing board, or a member of those
• boards for a breach of fiduciary duty, requiring Boards of Regents or community college governing boards
• Council in the event of a board member's breach of fiduciary duty.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this workforce is primarily comprised of women of color.
• Both increase across the board. Thank you for clarifying that.
• Parents are forced out of the workforce.
• It's a workforce crisis. This is an economic crisis.
• A cost-of-care increase is essential to support the provider workforce.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittees on early childhood education heard a broad review of the Governor’s child care and preschool budget proposals, with testimony from the Department of Finance, the Department of Social Services (CDSS), the California Department of Education (CDE), and the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). The main topics were cost-of-care-plus and COLA adjustments, the California State Preschool Program, child care slot reductions tied to federal and Proposition 64 funding changes, disaster recovery grants for child care facilities, trailer bill proposals on family fees and absences, prospective pay, and several budget change proposals for departmental staffing and licensing. Officials also discussed the state’s transition toward an alternative methodology for setting rates based on the true cost of care. On rate reform, CDSS and CDE said the current reimbursement system remains below the alternative methodology in many counties and that providers continue to struggle with recruitment and retention. The LAO recommended aligning cost-of-care-plus increases across provider types, while CDE urged that any COLA be added to base rates rather than cost-of-care-plus payments because providers view the latter as less ongoing. CDSS said the next alternative methodology update will be developed with a contractor during fiscal year 2026-27, with public engagement and legislative input, and estimated that fully transitioning to rates informed by the methodology would take about 24 months once policy and funding are in place. CDSS also said the direct-service cost of care under the methodology was estimated at about $18.7 billion in a July 2025 report. A major point of contention was the proposed reduction of 4,167 child care slots due to lower federal CCDF funding and reduced Proposition 64 revenue. CDSS said it expects to absorb the reduction through unspent funds and relinquishments so currently enrolled children are not disrupted, while the LAO supported the reduction as a way to avoid worsening the structural deficit. Members strongly objected to the slot cuts, arguing the administration has repeatedly proposed reductions after prior budget agreements and emphasizing the economic and family benefits of child care. The committee also discussed preschool enrollment trends, including growth in three-year-old enrollment and a sharp increase in two-year-olds served under a temporary provision, with CDE warning that the temporary two-year-old authority expires in 2027. The committee also reviewed an $11.5 million Proposition 64 proposal for child care infrastructure grants for facilities impacted by 2025 state disasters, especially the Los Angeles fires, and members asked for trailer bill language to make the funds flexible for repairs, equipment, insurance, and permitting. On trailer bill items, the panel discussed codifying family fee reimbursement rules, defining excessive unexplained absences to allow disenrollment after prolonged nonuse, and expanding temporary provider absences; CDSS said the absence policy is meant to mirror federal CCDF rules, while CDE said it is already pursuing its own rulemaking. The hearing also covered prospective pay, with CDSS and CDE saying they are waiting for final federal guidance before moving ahead; LAO said the state could save ongoing costs if the federal requirement is rescinded. Finally, the committee reviewed staffing and support budget requests for CDSS and other implementation items, and held several items open for further discussion before the May Revision. Public comment overwhelmingly urged full funding for child care slots, true cost-of-care payments, and ongoing support for early education programs and county offices of education.

Transcript Highlights:

• purchase homes.
• to welcome them home.
• and achieving the American dream of home ownership.
• And there's a small group of us that never came home.
• There's a small group of us that never came home.

Committee: House Military and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:54.000><c> and</c><00:14:54.240><c> funds</c> workforce, things like that. and funds workforce
• </c> they're eligible or need nursing they're eligible or need nursing facility<00:15:16.639><c> or</
• </c><00:52:15.359><c> workforce.
• </c> the um healthcare workforce workforce. the um healthcare workforce workforce.
• </c> Medicaid oversight and advisory board. Medicaid oversight and advisory board.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met and approved the minutes from its August 27 meeting. It then received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislators on the Medicaid provisions in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill, referred to as HR1. She explained that the bill is estimated by CBO to save the federal government $911 billion over 10 years, with more than 20 Medicaid-specific provisions, most of the savings concentrated in five policies and largely backloaded into 2030-2034. She emphasized that the bill’s effects will vary by state, but that expansion states and hospitals are expected to be most affected, in part because of changes to eligibility, provider taxes, and state-directed payments. Castanza highlighted several new funding and flexibility provisions, including a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund for 2026-2030 and a new home- and community-based services waiver option effective July 1, 2028, with $100 million in grants in fiscal year 2027. She also outlined major eligibility changes for Medicaid expansion adults: work or community engagement requirements effective January 1, 2027; twice-yearly redeterminations for the expansion population effective the same date; and new cost sharing for certain expansion adults effective October 1, 2028. She noted that Kentucky, as an expansion state, would be subject to these changes and that state agencies would face significant implementation demands, especially because federal guidance and timelines are tight. A substantial portion of the presentation focused on financing changes. Castanza described new limits on provider taxes, including a 0% safe harbor for new taxes and a phased reduction for existing taxes in expansion states beginning in 2028, while nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities are exempt from the reduction if already taxed. She also explained that state-directed payments will be capped and phased down over time, with existing arrangements grandfathered only briefly; she said Kentucky has 11 approved state-directed payments and could see significant fiscal effects. She added that the bill also bars Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood or similarly situated providers for one year, changes immigrant eligibility rules effective October 1, 2026, lowers the federal match for certain emergency services, and expands the scope of the federal erroneous payment recoupment provision effective October 1, 2029. Throughout, she stressed that federal savings may translate into state cost shifts and that implementation timing will be critical.

Transcript Highlights:

• safety net and revitalizes rural communities, many of which are struggling to retain. an adequate workforce
• From our home farm, a microchip plant has come in and so that has driven up the cost of land.
• So your question and that complex issue hits very close to home to me as well.
• And what we're seeing is continued significant earned net worth losses across the board.
• And so we have different loan underwriting standards specifically for those customers.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Keywords: farm bill, rural economy, crop insurance, access to credit, young farmers, USDA funding freeze, agricultural policy, risk management

Summary: The meeting of the agricultural committee focused on significant concerns regarding the current state of America's rural economy, highlighting the need for a strong five-year farm bill to address the challenges faced by farmers, particularly young and beginning farmers. Key testimony was given by multiple stakeholders including agricultural leaders and young farmers, emphasizing issues related to crop insurance, access to credit, and the adverse impact of recent USDA funding freezes. Various members discussed the necessity of risk management tools that farmers rely on to secure financing, which is crucial for sustaining agricultural operations and supporting rural communities. The importance of timely legislative action was underscored, as many farmers reported struggles in the current economic climate, raising urgency for reforms within the Farm Bill framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Executive Director for the Board of State and Community Corrections.
• That’s not something that we have state minimum standards for.
• “If it’s a minimum standard, our agency could develop a minimum standard that each agency would need
• The folks at that prison that get closed, they’re incarcerated; they don’t go home.
• Because we still have to staff a house with our standardized staffing.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview from the Board of State and Community Corrections on its budget change proposal for 11 additional permanent positions, which BSCC said are needed to manage a rapidly expanded grant workload, increase technical assistance, and strengthen oversight and audits. BSCC also updated members on its new In Custody Death Review Division, created under SB 519, reporting that it has begun collecting and reviewing local jail death investigations, has hired about one-third of its staff, and has received access to medical records and related documents. Members raised concerns about family notification practices, local jail deaths, and whether BSCC’s increased administrative use would reduce grant dollars; BSCC said the change is intended to be permanent but should not substantially affect local assistance. The LAO supported the position authority request but flagged a methodological issue in the administration’s Proposition 47 savings estimate, and Finance said it would update the estimate by May Revision. The committee then reviewed CDCR’s overall budget, population, and facility issues. The Secretary said the incarcerated population is holding around 90,000, parole around 33,000, and described major cost pressures from retirements, workers’ compensation, medical transport, violence, and aging infrastructure lacking air conditioning and ADA features. He defended prison closures as creating overcrowding and reducing programming capacity, while also highlighting successes such as declining recidivism, expanded college and reentry programming, and the completion of the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Members pressed CDCR on fiscal discipline, the effect of closures on savings, community impacts from prison shutdowns, vacancy and staffing issues, and climate-related facility needs. CDCR said it clusters medically vulnerable and ADA-needing populations at more suitable facilities, uses heat plans and temperature monitoring, and is developing a 20-year infrastructure plan. A separate item addressed CDCR’s request for $91 million ongoing for lump-sum leave payouts for correctional officers and nurses. CDCR said these costs have historically been covered by vacancy savings, but declining vacancies and facility closures have reduced that source. The LAO said the funding is reasonable in the near term but recommended limited-term approval with reporting, and urged the Legislature to scrutinize unallocated savings assumptions and the ongoing Boston Consulting Group efficiency contract. Finance argued the lump-sum request should be ongoing because the costs are recurring and vacancy savings are less reliable. Members questioned whether CDCR is doing enough to reduce leave liability and whether the department will actually achieve the budgeted savings from the consultant work. Finally, CDCR presented updated population projections through June 2030, estimating a 6.5 percent decline in the institution population and a 10.4 percent decline in parole, while revising its Proposition 36 methodology based on actual admissions data. CDCR said Prop. 36 admissions are increasing but at a lower level than previously projected, and that the law’s long-term effects remain uncertain. On the California Rehabilitation Center closure, CDCR projected about $99.6 million in net General Fund savings next year and roughly $150 million ongoing, with 522 positions eliminated. The LAO said the state could close another prison within a few years and identified the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad as a strong candidate, recommending against approving new capital projects there unless another closure is identified. Finance said the administration has not proposed any additional closure at this time.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, and also for that reason, I think my colleague pointed out nursing home nursing home is
• </c><01:12:54.239><c> or</c> of the one nursing home in the county or of the one nursing home in the
• </c><01:13:17.600><c> excluded</c> nursing home nursing home is excluded nursing home nursing home is
• </c> specific to a nursing home, um I would specific to a nursing home, um I would have<01:14:06.640>
• </c> specific to nursing homes. specific to nursing homes.

Bills: HF3797 , HF3780 , HF4068 , HF3935

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: long-term care, insurance policy, healthcare, partnership policy, Minnesota, human services, wage increase, support workers, shared services, community first services, medical assistance, sanctions, healthcare services, monetary recovery, government accountability, assisted living, training, unlicensed personnel, resident rights, safety regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• And this combines the Board of Denturity and the Board of Dentistry.
• Some of the boards we've consolidated in the past are the Midwifery Board, the Nursing Board, the architects
• board now.
• This bill allows the board of competitors to redefine accepted educational standards or schools.
• And we've had other boards that have been consolidated, nursing and midwifery.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• she was an advocate for music programs as a school board member.
• Graduated with a 4.0 when she got her master's in nursing education.
• We see these students at concerts, at all-state festivals, and in our homes.
• you have a workforce that does rank itself favorably in terms of attractiveness to teaching.
• We think of this in terms of really thinking across the board.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The meeting began with a student performance from Horizon Middle School Show Choir, including songs from an eighth grade concert and the show choir piece “The Body Electric.” After the performance, Deputy Superintendent Donna Fishbeck spoke on behalf of State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler in support of music education, emphasizing its benefits for creativity, collaboration, school climate, and student development, and noting the department’s support for music grants and professional development. She also highlighted the North Dakota Music Educators Association’s role in expanding access and quality in music education. The committee then heard a presentation from Vital Network, introduced as a DPI-funded effort focused on teacher retention. Nate Eklund and Dr. Aaron Rob described the organization’s work with schools and districts to reduce educator burnout by improving workplace conditions, especially around time management, voice in decision-making, and care/support. They said the program uses surveys, dashboards, advisory support, and facilitated school and district processes to identify local friction points and help educators and leaders solve them, with examples ranging from simplifying material requests to improving PLC time and communication. They stressed that retention is driven more by workplace conditions than pay alone, and that solutions must be local rather than one-size-fits-all. Members asked about rural teacher overload, sustainability after grant funding ends, and whether the model could inform broader policy or continuing education reforms. Vital representatives said the work is designed to be embedded in district systems and strategic plans so it can continue beyond their direct involvement, and that the approach aligns with the state’s teacher retention and recruitment task force recommendations. They reported serving about half of North Dakota educators across roughly 50 districts, with partnerships through regional education associations to reach rural areas. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the discussion.