Transcript Highlights:

• It's why senators' terms are limited. It's why the president is limited.
• It is why the governor is limited. It is about self-determination.
• It's just not—the risk versus the benefit.
• It's just not, it's the risk versus the benefit.
• So I might be limited if I don't pressure test the pipe high enough; I'm limited to that pressure test

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and the benefits go on and on and on.
• And so benefits go on and on and on.
• but not limited to uh pastor<00:02:38.239><c> Galloway.
• Today, benefits and find an apartment.
• </c><01:31:51.600><c> you</c> could benefit in a number of ways. you could benefit in a number of ways

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• folks, I just want you to know that you can see that we have a full agenda today, and so we will be limiting
• folks know that they are not bound by the two minutes and then the committee is not bound by any time limit
• And then the committee is not bound by any time limit if they have questions.
• </c><01:18:05.960><c> the</c> language in here that would limit the language in here that would limit
• Is there a question for any of the testifiers, including, but not limited to, Senator Draheim?

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a limited loss of use, and we also have to rebuild everything.
• So as a trade association in California, MBA, we have limited access to data.
• It's definitely not benefiting the survivors.
• “It's definitely not benefiting the survivors.
• Please state your name and limit your remarks to two minutes each. Thank you. Okay.

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So having that local is a very huge benefit to our borrowers.
• Another great benefit is our down payment and closing cost assistance.
• So just a magnitude of benefits.
• Who's benefiting from the information?
• Who's benefiting from the information?

Summary: The committee met as the Budget Section’s Regulatory Division and first reviewed base budget materials for the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Mineral Resources. Legislative Council explained the blue-sheet budget summaries and historical funding trends. The Housing Finance Agency then reported on its ongoing homeownership, housing incentive, and homelessness programs, noting that its new FTEs are being filled, loan servicing remains above benchmark, and the agency is operating largely on special and federal funds rather than general fund dollars. Housing Finance officials said the Housing Incentive Fund continues to be heavily oversubscribed, with requests far exceeding available dollars, and described how funds are being used for multifamily gap financing, rural single-family development, community land trusts, and homeless prevention/rapid rehousing. Members asked about performance measures, the number of people served, and the relationship between housing costs, wages, and homelessness. The agency said it uses scoring criteria tied to performance and outcomes, and requested that the Legislature maintain or increase funding for HIF, single-family housing, and homeless grants. Committee members also discussed the need to coordinate housing finance efforts with Commerce and broader site-preparation and workforce issues. The Department of Mineral Resources reported that it is on track with its budget, has filled most of its newly authorized reclamation positions, and is moving ahead on several initiatives, including IT modernization through Project North Star, organizational succession planning, and rulemaking for critical minerals and oil and gas programs. The director gave an extensive update on oil and gas activity, explaining that longer laterals and operational efficiencies are keeping production relatively flat even as rig counts decline, and that gas capture remains around 95 percent. Members asked about oil prices, hedging, spacing units, and the effects of geopolitical events on markets and state revenues. The committee also received an update on the enhanced oil recovery grant program and the Pipeline Authority. The EOR program’s $25 million appropriation was fully allocated to six projects, with additional oil and gas research funds also committed, and officials said the projects will require public status reports and final reports. The Pipeline Authority described major natural gas transmission projects, including the upcoming Bakken Express line and the proposed Bakken East project, which recently completed a binding open season after the Industrial Commission selected WBI Energy’s proposal to move forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Member Senator Hancock moves to limit public testimony in the hearing today to two minutes.
• They recognize multi-purpose projects that provide both flood control and water supply benefits.
• We all work together to meet the needs of the developers for the benefit of our communities.
• We're limited in what we can do when we process these applications.
• That’s what we're limited to and not specifically the reason why they filed their petition.

Bills: SB863 , SB1190 , SB1261 , SB1413 , SB1624 , SB1662 , SB1663 , SB1855 , SB1967 , SB2124 , SB2204 , SB1623

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: Edwards Aquifer, water conservation, reclaimed water, aquifer storage, environmental protection, water loss, municipally owned utilities, Texas Water Development Board, administrative penalties, water audit, water infrastructure, water supply, state water plan, water management strategies, water financing, municipal bonds, revenue bonds, public debt, obligations, TWDB

Transcript Highlights:

• Per this posting, we may limit witness testimony to three minutes per person.
• GRIP filings are expedited, limited-issue records.
• It was also a great benefit for the city of Amarillo.
• It's a benefit to the state, it's a benefit to that mineral owner, and it's a benefit obviously to that
• One, there needs to be a 10-year limit on these extensions.

Bills: HB2766 , HB2891 , HB3334 , HB3791 , HB3911 , HB4021 , HB4041 , HB4042 , HB4384 , HB4426

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: inactive wells, oil and gas regulation, environmental protection, Railroad Commission of Texas, well plugging, Railroad Commission, penalties, violations, pipeline safety, civil penalties, criminal penalties, wildfire prevention, oil and gas, safety inspections, administrative penalties, excavation, notification, utilities, underground facilities, regulatory compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:38:33.000><c> these</c> law and this doesn't just benefit these law and this doesn't just benefit
• :34.560><c> Health</c><00:38:35.480><c> by</c> workers it benefits Public Health by workers it benefits
• </c> people who probably need this benefit people who probably need this benefit some<01:22:15.239><c
• </c> two and they're afraid to lose a benefit two and they're afraid to lose a benefit and<01:32:19.760
• But it has to be as easy as possible for the employer to implement that benefit.

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is paid through the pharmacy benefit side, not the medical insurance side, but the pharmacy benefit
• :39:38.480><c> encourage</c><00:39:38.960><c> more</c> benefit for us to encourage more benefit for us
• Senate File 106." sometimes that benefits are beginning. sometimes that benefits are beginning.
• c> limits the reporting from limits the reporting from uh<01:10:31.199><c> from</c><01:10:32.159><c>
• So those are not uh receiving benefits.

Bills: SF0122 , SJ0006 , SF0121 , SF0106

Committee: House Labor, Health & Social Services

Keywords: medical necessity, insurance, healthcare policy, independent review, claim processing, shared parenting, family law, joint custody, child well-being, parental rights, pharmacy, collaborative care, healthcare, prescriptions, patient safety, Wyoming Pharmacy Act, welfare, Medicaid, employment, eligibility verification

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, I only work three days a week, so the access to it for them is limited.
• </c><02:11:32.800><c> of</c> system because they see the benefit of system because they see the benefit
• </c><02:17:03.920><c> testimony</c> for time we're going to limit testimony for time we're going to limit
• </c><02:46:07.640><c> from</c> ticking for those who might benefit from ticking for those who might benefit
• And I'm wondering if there's what kind of plan limitations there are.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> are still having some positive benefits are still having some positive benefits in<00:20:53.120>
• That their capacity limits their ability.
• School counselors are not just limited to helping prepare kids to go to college.
• So that sort of capacity oftentimes limits their ability.
• College-bound, so that sort of capacity oftentimes limits their ability.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , you specifically state that nothing is limited.
• </c><00:39:44.280><c> You</c> where there's no limitations. You where there's no limitations.
• </c> is limited. I think it was 3.3.7. is limited. I think it was 3.3.7.
• is not limited to any exclusion,<00:40:22.720><c> limitation,</c><00:40:23.680><c> or</c><00:40:23.920
• ><c> other</c> exclusion, limitation, or other exclusion, limitation, or other restriction.<00:40:25.160

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a little tricky in the sense that we have limited HHAP dollars.
• So I hope that we see some big cities, even if there's a limited amount of funds overall, want to see
• And so you can make a strong argument to set some kind of limits to that in this bill.
• taxes up front, straining some of their limited resources.
• This places a significant strain on our already limited nonprofit staffing resources.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard a long agenda of housing-related bills, beginning with AB 1892 on HOA/Davis-Stirling Act cleanup provisions. The author and sponsor said the bill would clarify HOA responsibilities for utility service repairs in common areas, align election notice timelines, and require electronic voting ballots to be sent at least 30 days before an election. No opposition was presented, and the bill was set aside to be taken up later when a quorum was available. The committee then heard AB 1708, which would revise the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program to give smaller cities a clearer role in regional homelessness planning and access to funding. Mayors and city representatives from Bellflower, Paramount, and other cities testified that smaller jurisdictions are spending significant local funds on shelters and services but lack direct access to HHAP dollars. Some larger-city and housing advocates opposed or were opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could add administrative burden, but committee members broadly supported the goal of including smaller cities in regional responses. Members also heard AB 2058 on factory-built housing, AB 2576 on historic-resource protections under SB 79, AB 1751 on missing-middle townhomes, AB 1924 on homelessness prevention, AB 2626 on waiving certain monitoring fees for at-risk affordable housing developments, and AB 2089 on welfare-exemption and recertification procedures for affordable housing. Testimony generally emphasized reducing duplicative local permitting for factory-built housing, protecting state and national historic resources while still allowing housing near transit, expanding ministerial approval for townhomes, creating a statewide homelessness-prevention strategy with accountability measures, giving HCD flexibility to waive fees to preserve financially stressed affordable housing, and streamlining property-tax exemption recertification. Several bills were voted out of committee, including AB 1751 and AB 2626, both passing on 8-0 and 7-0 votes respectively, while other measures were discussed with motions pending or held open for absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• There will be a two-minute time limit for testifiers.
• on liability uh provides limitation on liability uh provides significant<00:35:20.880><c> benefits</
• , a lower cap on limitation of liability.
• </c> testimony suggests limiting testimony suggests limiting securitization<00:48:59.960><c> amounts<
• There will be a two-minute time limit per testifier for those on Zoom.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 48 SD2 HD1 relating to combat sports. The Attorney General offered a technical comment on the bill’s effective date, and several testifiers from the combat sports community strongly supported the measure with amendments. They argued that boxing and MMA should be treated separately, that the current regulatory structure has made events too costly and reduced opportunities, and that more local oversight would help revive the sport and give youth a constructive outlet. Committee members questioned whether the bill’s medical staffing requirements would apply to boxing, MMA, or both, and whether the added requirements would increase costs and reduce access. The witness from the combat sports community said amateur boxing is already regulated through USA Boxing, that the DCCA should focus on professional boxing, and that for safety he would support two physicians and one ambulance for boxing and MMA events. The committee then took up SB 117 SD2 HD1 relating to transportation. The Department of Transportation and the Ulon Initiative testified in support, and the bicycling community was listed as supporting as well. Members focused on the bill’s rebate program for electric transportation devices, asking how successful it had been and whether removing the rebate would affect use. DOT said the program began in February 2023 and had issued about 500 rebates totaling roughly $166,000, aimed at helping people without vehicles access transportation options. The department explained that the bill would broaden access and increase the rebate amount, including additional assistance for low-income applicants. Finally, the committee heard SB 897 SD3 HD1 relating to energy and wildfire liability. The Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Public Utilities Commission, the Attorney General, Clearway Energy Group, Ulon Initiative, Kawai K, IBEW Local 1260, and Hawaiian Electric all testified in support, while the Hawaii Association for Justice was listed as opposed but not present. Supporters said the bill would help finance wildfire mitigation and infrastructure improvements through securitization, reduce wildfire risk, and address utility cost and credit concerns. Hawaiian Electric emphasized that the bill is forward-looking, would help protect customers from future wildfire-related cost increases, and requested amendments including a study on a future wildfire recovery fund. In questioning, members pressed Hawaiian Electric on the liability cap, asking whether it would have applied to the Maui wildfires and whether it would cover personal injury or wrongful death; the witness and company counsel clarified that the aggregate cap applies only to qualifying property damage, not personal injury or wrongful death, and said they would follow up on how the cap would calculate in a Maui-type event. Hawaiian Electric also said it would seek financing under the bill if enacted and updated members on settlement funding efforts, including raising the first $550 million in equity and divesting assets to help meet its obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, as far as eligibility to apply for these funds, are you looking at particular limitations on
• And then, as far as eligibility to apply for these funds, are you looking at particular limitations on
• I've heard from a number of water districts that there's a bit of frustration with the current limit
• He said he cannot overstate the benefit of taking action on this issue.
• Planting trees on private property is essential to attain the benefits of a robust urban tree canopy.

Bills: S2542

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: climate resilience, resilience bond bill, environmental bond, infrastructure spending, flood control, coastal resilience, PFAS, clean water, wetlands, nature-based solutions, housing permitting, flood disclosure, land conservation, biodiversity, forest reserves, municipal vulnerability preparedness, MVP grant program, food security, agricultural resilience, solid waste

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this is what we anticipate the benefit this is what we anticipate the benefit to<00:19:50.039><c
• <c> to</c><01:05:04.279><c> our</c><01:05:04.440><c> 247</c> limited to our 247 limited to our 247 facilities
• What is the benefit in that?"
• Unclassified employees do not have that benefit.
• </c> employees have uh relatively limited employees have uh relatively limited rights<01:21:06.560><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first recessed briefly, then took up HB 570, the prescription drug affordability board (PDAB). The chair and several members discussed the House amendment to repeal the board, which removed the fiscal note. The main concern raised was that the PDAB had not yet produced a clear business case showing value for the taxpayer investment, despite several years of work and four annual reports. Supporters of the repeal said the board’s recent report was largely redundant and that the board should either demonstrate a strong return on investment or be shut down; others cautioned against discarding the program too quickly and urged more time to refine the mission and legislative language. No vote was taken, and the committee appeared to agree to retain the bill for further work, with the possibility of revisiting it in a formal executive session on Tuesday. Members also shifted into discussion of HB 2, beginning with Section 85 on opioid abatement trust fund dollars for shelter programs. Department of Health and Human Services officials explained that the provision would provide $10 million from the opioid abatement trust fund, replacing general funds in the governor’s budget, while also noting an additional $2.5 million prioritized needs request for shelter care that was already fully funded. Committee members asked about shelter bed capacity, job placement efforts, and the remaining balance in the opioid fund; DHHS said there are 934 contracted beds and that case management includes help with housing and employment. Officials also said the current proposed budget includes another $1 million later in HB 2 from the opioid fund. The committee then began discussion of Sections 86 through 87, which would preserve the department’s ability to transfer funds between personnel lines. DHHS said the provision is operationally critical and that losing it would make it extremely difficult to manage the department, though it would not have a direct fiscal impact. The next item introduced was Section 88, extending a suspension related to eligibility for services until July 1, 2027; DHHS indicated that if the suspension were not continued, it would likely increase expenditures for Community Mental Health Centers and potentially others. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• , that has actual benefit.
• , that has actual benefit.
• first and then they should be benefit first and then they should be allowed<00:07:08.000><c> into</c
• </c><00:10:23.519><c> responsible</c> not unintentionally limit responsible not unintentionally limit
• </c> benefit for what they're trying to do. benefit for what they're trying to do.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• From a farmer and food security perspective, the program will have tremendous benefits.
• Alternatively, a program like CCA, and really what it's meant to do, can pay for that benefit, which
• means that benefit doesn't go to a company and accounted for somewhere else.
• However, using hydrogen to decarbonize fertilizer offers a very high climate benefit.
• And so with those limitations, we are—we don't know.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5816, which would add juice grapes to Washington’s Agricultural Marketing and Fair Practices Act. Staff explained that the bill would allow juice grape producers to form an accredited association to negotiate with processors under the same timelines used for pears, and the prime sponsor said the measure was intended to help growers obtain fairer prices. A grape grower testified that Washington producers face a small number of buyers, little real negotiation, and prices far below New York’s, arguing the bill would give growers a way to bargain collectively. The public hearing closed with 47 people noted in support and one in opposition. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5971, which would create a green fertilizer incentive program for low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer production and use in Washington. Staff described the bill as directing WSDA to establish the program, adopt rules by 2028, and report to the Legislature, with costs shown in the fiscal note. The prime sponsor and several supporters, including Atlas Agro, a port representative, labor, NRDC, WSDA, the League of Women Voters, and the Washington State Potato Commission, said the bill could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support local manufacturing and jobs, stabilize fertilizer supply and prices for farmers, and help Washington compete for federal clean hydrogen tax credits. WSDA said the program was implementable with consultation and that the Climate Commitment Act could be a funding source, though it noted rulemaking costs. The committee then held a work session on commercial shellfish fee assessments after the Department of Health adopted major fee increases for shellfish licensing and certification. Shellfish growers and association representatives said the increases—described as ranging from roughly 233% to 789% overall, with some individual licenses rising much more—would hit small and family farms hardest, could force closures, and were based on a fee structure they said is outdated and not tied well to production. DOH explained that the program has long relied on general fund support, that federal shellfish safety requirements must be maintained, and that the new fees are intended to move the program toward full cost recovery after years without increases. The department said it had used a phased approach, reopened rulemaking to look for a fairer structure, and would continue working with industry and the Legislature; no vote was taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so as you go higher in income, the benefit reduces as a proportion of your income. Okay.
• Um, and so cumulatively, Minnesotans actually benefit from a marriage bonus at the federal level.
• ><c> to</c><01:03:02.319><c> the</c> The limitations described are to the The limitations described are
• An underlying assumption here is that the benefit per entity is much larger than the benefit of a sales
• with direct limitations associated with direct expenditure<01:11:59.199><c> programs.

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:36.399><c> or</c> under the federal um EPSDT benefit or under the federal um EPSDT benefit
• ><c> from</c> Many individuals would benefit from Many individuals would benefit from having<00:36:29.680
• 00:37:02.000><c> these</c> other health benefits which these other health benefits which these medicines
• </c> maintain its full benefit. maintain its full benefit.
• Is it time limited? is that forever? Is it time limited?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on February 23, 2026, approved the January 12 minutes, and then focused primarily on Kentucky Medicaid’s coverage and potential expansion of GLP-1 drugs, especially for weight loss. Department for Medicaid Services Commissioner Lisa Lee explained that Medicaid currently does not cover drugs for weight loss, anorexia, or weight gain, but the department had filed a regulation to remove that blanket exclusion so GLP-1s could be covered when used for an underlying health condition. She said the administrative regulation review subcommittee found the regulation deficient, and the co-chairs wanted the board to discuss the policy and financing implications before any change. DMS also said it would be open to adding caveats to ensure coverage would not extend to cosmetic weight loss alone. The department provided several data points on current utilization and spending. In 2025, Kentucky Medicaid paid for appetite-stimulating drugs such as Megestrol, Dronabinol, and Marinol, but did not pay for weight-loss drugs. For GLP-1s, DMS said coverage began in 2025 and is limited to FDA-approved medical conditions, with prior authorization requiring a type 2 diabetes diagnosis code and A1C documentation. DMS reported $234.6 million in GLP-1 spending in 2025 before rebates, about 240,931 prescriptions, and said GLP-1s accounted for 7.3% of pharmacy spend in 2024 and 8.3% in 2025. It also said there were 24,844 expansion members and 13,638 non-expansion members using GLP-1s, with spending of about $156 million and $78.5 million respectively, and that 10 pediatric weight-loss prescriptions were covered under EPSDT. The department said outcome analyses, including whether GLP-1 use reduces insulin or other diabetes treatment, are underway and should be completed in a couple of months. Members asked about cost, rebates, and whether the state should wait for more outcomes data before expanding coverage. DMS said average reimbursement to pharmacies was $975 per prescription and the average dispensing fee was $109; it also said 2025 rebate invoices totaled $90.8 million, with $7.6 million collected so far. Several members expressed concern about the high cost and the need to evaluate whether the drugs improve health outcomes before expanding access, while others noted the potential benefits for obesity and diabetes treatment. Some members also discussed whether GLP-1s are effectively being used for weight loss in diabetic patients and whether broader data collection should be used to assess long-term value. After the Medicaid discussion, Eli Lilly executive Tracy Sims presented on obesity as a chronic disease and the economic burden it creates in Kentucky. She said Kentucky’s adult obesity rate is a little over 37%, that obesity is linked to about 200 diseases, and that untreated obesity costs the state billions in GDP and hundreds of millions in state budget impact. She highlighted recent federal access programs for GLP-1s, including a Medicaid-related program that she said could lower the state share of a Zepbound prescription to about $71 per month after federal matching. No votes were taken on the GLP-1 policy question during the meeting, and the main action was the receipt of testimony and discussion of the department’s proposed regulatory change.