Transcript Highlights:

• If that seems like a long period of time, we have data in New Mexico that shows it's absolutely not long
• We have data in New Mexico that shows there's absolutely not long.
• And there's not a lot of detail within the term water projects.
• Madam Chair, I’m sorry, in terms of the burn scar.
• Madam Chair, I’m sorry, in terms of the burn scar.

Bills: SB154 , SB187 , SB193 , SM3

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Summary: The Senate Conservation Committee first took up Senate Memorial 3, presented by Senator O’Malley on behalf of Senator Bergman and a group of Rio Doso High School students and Wild Friends. The memorial asks state agencies to participate in a no-cost workshop on insect identification, ecology, monitoring, and management, and to help educate the public about insects. Students, conservation specialists, and an entomologist testified that insects are essential to pollination, ecosystems, agriculture, and biodiversity, while also noting declining insect populations and the need for more public understanding. Some senators raised concerns about the memorial’s wording, including whether it should be broadened from insects to arthropods and whether the Department of Agriculture, rather than Game and Fish, should be involved. The committee discussed timing and implementation, and the sponsor agreed to work on amendments. The memorial passed on a due pass motion by a vote of 8-0, with one excused. The committee then heard Senate Bill 154, which would require wildfire-related homeowners coverage to include flood damage caused by post-fire conditions for a five-year period. Senator Duhigg and the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance argued the bill responds to the Ruidoso fires and subsequent flooding, noting that many homes were destroyed by mudslides and that flood insurance is often unavailable or inadequate. Supporters, including Ruidoso officials, affected residents, and attorneys, said the bill would help homeowners recover from cascading wildfire and flood losses. Opponents from the insurance industry and business groups warned the bill would be an outlier, could significantly raise premiums, and might reduce availability of homeowners insurance statewide. Committee members questioned how the mandate would work, whether it should be optional, and how costs would be allocated. The bill passed on a 5-4 vote. Finally, the committee briefly heard Senate Bill 187, which appropriates $202,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Finance Authority’s Water Project Fund for future water projects authorized by the legislature. The Finance Authority said the funding would help address a gap between available money and the 113 recommended projects, totaling about $522 million, including water conservation, flood prevention, storage, wastewater, and watershed projects. Members asked for more detail on the locations and types of projects, and the Finance Authority said it would provide the list from the companion authorization bill. The committee then moved the bill forward on a do pass motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• continuation of family farms in the face of these unprecedented challenges and is critical for the long-term
• Our long-term domestic crews are dwindling and there don't seem to be any new workers willing to fill
• grower and a packer, so the planting and harvest seasons have been critical for H2A, but since our long-term
• And I hear so often from Minnesota farmers about how they rely on FSA advice and develop long-term. term
• I just hope it doesn't take too long.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Keywords: agriculture, avian flu, bipartisan farm bill, economic challenges, poultry, dairy, specialty crops

Summary: The committee meeting focused on crucial discussions surrounding the challenges faced by the agriculture sector, particularly concerning avian flu and its impact on poultry and dairy producers. Members provided insights into the economic struggles within the industry, emphasizing the need for a new bipartisan farm bill that addresses the diverse needs of specialty crop and livestock producers. Witnesses from various agricultural sectors spoke about their experiences, illustrating the high costs, regulatory burdens, and emerging diseases that threaten their operations. The meeting underscored a commitment to exploring solutions that will help maintain market stability and ensure food security.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:13:06.320><c> storm,</c> But if you have a long-term storm, But if you have a long-term storm
• There's the whole long list of terms and conditions that go along with it.
• ISO does load forecasts and looks at the long-term needs of the system, but the witness does not think
• ISO does load forecasts and looks at the long-term needs of the system, but the witness does not think
• </c> at sort of the long-term at sort of the long-term um<05:50:30.320><c> needs</c><05:50:30.638><c>

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• acute bouts of physical activity, meaning those that immediately follow some bout of activity, but the long-term
• 56.520><c> the</c> some bout of activity, but the some bout of activity, but the the<02:35:57.840><c> long-term
• </c><02:35:58.400><c> exposure</c><02:35:58.920><c> to</c><02:35:59.040><c> physical</c> the long-term
• exposure to physical the long-term exposure to physical activity<02:35:59.880><c> is</c><02:36:00.000
• Does the system work of our system? Yes.

Committee: Joint Education

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The CAT Bus operates on a flag-down system.
• There actually is some communities out there that there is now a system called a microtransit system
• We've built our system. We've got the vehicles.
• We've built our system. We've got the vehicles.
• Things like health care, jobs.

Summary: The committee met as a study subcommittee on fixed-route public transportation and first approved the December 11 minutes. It then heard detailed presentations from transit leaders in Grand Forks, Bismarck/Mandan, and Fargo about their systems, including route structures, paratransit service, ridership trends, fare changes, funding sources, fleet replacement needs, and operational challenges. Grand Forks described Cities Area Transit’s 17 routes, university shuttle service, expanded paratransit coverage, a 2025 fare increase, and rising costs for labor, fuel, parts, and new buses. Bismarck/Mandan’s Bisman Transit outlined its fixed-route and paratransit operations, recent service expansions approved for April 1, fare structure, ridership recovery since COVID, and major funding streams including mill levies, federal grants, and new local sales tax revenue. Fargo’s MATBUS representative emphasized the importance of continued state support for urban fixed-route transit. Members asked extensive questions about cost per ride, fare increases, school transportation, veteran service partnerships, app-based ticketing, local funding formulas, and whether ride-share or microtransit could replace fixed routes. Transit officials said fixed-route service remains essential because it provides reliable capacity, supports jobs and access to services, and preserves federal funding tied to public transit operations. They also said paratransit is costly but necessary for riders with disabilities, and that vehicle and maintenance costs have risen sharply. Minot’s transit superintendent added context on the state’s existing transit aid formula, explaining that it is weighted more toward rural and paratransit providers and that urban fixed-route systems are seeking a separate, dedicated funding source rather than changes to the current formula. The committee also heard public testimony from North Dakota Protection & Advocacy supporting both fixed-route and paratransit service for disabled riders, and from Minot staff on refurbished buses, CDL driver recruitment, and why the agency is not pursuing full electric buses. Near the end, members discussed whether to recommend additional state funding for the four urban fixed-route systems. A motion passed to have Legislative Council prepare a summary of the subcommittee’s activities for inclusion in the Government Finance Committee’s report to Legislative Management. Members then continued discussing possible recommendations, including a separate funding source for urban fixed-route transit and whether the four urban systems should meet to develop a proposed amount.

Transcript Highlights:

• That helps with our long-term planning and funding. Positions are.
• And that's a systemic problem with not. People sitting in jails a long time.
• You know, we don't have enough long-term treatment facilities in our state.
• is that there is no cure for those types of people and that it is a permanent condition requiring a long-term
• The Attorney General said that a long-term solution is needed for that category of people, and that she

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee first reviewed the Department of Justice FY 2027 budget, which was presented at $117.8 million, with most funding coming from statutory dedications and the largest program areas being criminal law/Medicaid fraud and civil law. The Attorney General described major work in Troop NOLA, Medicaid fraud, opioid and PBM litigation, and especially child exploitation and online predator investigations. She said ICAC tips are rising sharply, local law enforcement partnerships have expanded, and her office needs more analysts, more permanent positions, and more expenditure authority for the legal support fund and related programs. Members asked about case backlogs, staffing, settlement funds, and whether more resources could be directed toward outreach, mental health, and technology; the Attorney General said she wants to expand cyber capacity, training, and prevention efforts, and that some settlement recoveries are being used to support existing programs and fraud enforcement. Committee members also focused heavily on child safety, truancy, and mental health. Several representatives described local concerns about online exploitation, trafficking, self-harm, and the need for school-based training and community outreach. The Attorney General said she wants a broader prevention strategy involving parents, schools, and behavioral health resources, and she discussed using outreach models such as anti-vaping campaigns and town halls. On opioid settlement oversight, members raised concerns about the size of the funds and the need for stronger state oversight; the Attorney General agreed more structure and compliance monitoring would be useful and said drug courts and treatment programs are effective investments. The committee then moved to the judicial branch budget presentation. The judiciary requested $229.6 million in FY 2027, plus $5.6 million in one-time funding, with most of the budget coming from state general fund. The presentation highlighted increases for judge salaries, staff pay adjustments, health insurance, operating costs, and 17 unfunded positions, along with one-time requests for security and technology upgrades. Chief Justice John Weimer and other justices said the budget would help core court functions and statewide programs such as CASA, drug courts, and FINS, and they emphasized the need for better staffing and technology in the courts. A major discussion centered on truancy and the FINS program. Justice Griffin said statewide collaboration with education officials had reduced truancy and that FINS officers are trained to identify children who may be runaways or trafficking victims. The justices and members supported expanding FINS so every judicial district has coverage, and they said the program helps keep children out of deeper system involvement. Members also asked about security funding, technology improvements, and the 17 unfunded positions, which were described as mostly clerical, IT, and support roles in appellate and district courts. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I hope everybody's listening and cares about this issue. ...
• I hope everybody's listening and cares.
• of your... ...as being certifiable in terms of your shooting.
• I'm taking you back 40 years, but back then they had the 32s, the long B... ...32s, the long B, and I
• So, in that... ...in terms of public safety.

Bills: SB 26 , SJR 36 , SB 26 , SB 616 , SB 565 , SB 384 , SB 28 , SR 109 , SR 122 , SR 126 , SR 130 , SR 136 , SR 137 , SR 141 , SR 142 , SCR 20

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement, enforcement suspension, utility consolidation, regionalization, water supply, sewer

Transcript Highlights:

• on this proposal that helps bridge the gap between now and when the task force they created makes long-term
• on this proposal that helps bridge the gap between now and when the task force they created makes long-term
• Three of my kids are adopted out of the foster care system.
• It protects all of us. 3 of my kids are adopted out of the foster care system.
• They don't care what the law says. They don't care what the constitution says. They only care.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• His passions focus on strengthening emergency care systems, workforce readiness, and medical education
• Got a long way to go, but he is going to be a primary care physician.
• Even I did that long ago.
• grounded and community-driven health care systems.
• Our health care system and the vital role of our physicians across the state.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from public lodging, establish an establishment's QB, making it easier for operators, removes certain long-term
• Are mixing term said I want to be careful out there. This is not landlord and tenant.
• Short-term dollars. Put them in a illiquid long-term asset like alone and make these big spreads.
• . 24 hour care.
• On health care billing and collection activities.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is, like, a bleep-worthy term for them. And there’s about 26 million of those, right?
• There is like a bleep worthy<00:45:50.319><c> term</c><00:45:50.560><c> for</c><00:45:50.800><c> them
• Uh and there's worthy term for them.
• 00:46:54.880><c> industry</c> terms that the cryptonative industry terms that the cryptonative industry
• And the community, you know, takes care of regulation through the DCCA.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Hawaii State Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held an informational briefing on digital assets, blockchain, and related regulatory developments. Chair Jarrett Keohoko said the committee was focusing on national and state policy issues around digital assets, while leaving the separate issue of Bitcoin kiosks and fraud to the House Consumer Protection Committee, which had already noticed a similar briefing. No public testimony was taken; the session was for informational updates and member questions. Representatives from the Aptos Foundation, including JC Yun and Michael Cheng, gave a detailed presentation on blockchain basics and Aptos’s technology. They described blockchain as a tamper-resistant digital ledger, explained proof-of-work and proof-of-stake systems, and argued that proof-of-stake networks are faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly. They also emphasized smart contracts and potential uses beyond speculation, such as car titles, college transcripts, collectibles, digital IDs, real estate, and other tokenized assets. The presenters highlighted Aptos’s Hawaii connections and said the technology could help local residents and businesses participate in the digital economy. They cited adoption statistics, including billions of transactions on Aptos, tokenized money market funds from major financial firms, micro-lending applications, decentralized cloud infrastructure, and the rapid growth of stablecoins. They acknowledged concerns about scams and consumer protection, but argued that the answer is stronger regulation and education rather than avoiding the technology altogether.

Transcript Highlights:

• students, limit Texas' ability to continue growing its skilled workforce. and undermine the state's long-term
• Without going too far into it, the short and long-term benefits of having undocumented students receive
• I think I would defer to institutions in terms of what tracking. systems they would need to set up to
• How long does it normally take?
• impossible for many of these young people, preventing them from advancing in their careers and achieving long-term

Bills: HB232

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• a long way to go to address the long history of inequities and injustices.
• You look like him with long hair.
• They would fulfill their terms. It's a term basis, and I'm certain that in our... Their terms.
• So I believe that some of them serve staggered terms, so at the end of their term, then they would be
• Look, we're about to have a universal child care system that's going to take, could grow to $3 billion

Bills: HB111 , HJR1 , HB61 , HB8 , HB30 , HB43 , HB156 , HJM2 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB70 , SB3 , HJM3

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Summary: The House convened for a special American Indian Day celebration, with prayers, flag citations, a Navajo national anthem, and many members introducing tribal leaders, students, veterans, and community guests. Speakers emphasized Native sovereignty, government-to-government relations, cultural preservation, education, and the importance of representation in state government. The Speaker announced plans for a future tribal summit to discuss funding, capital, and policy priorities with tribes and nations. After the celebration, the House received executive messages, including gubernatorial authorization for new bills and notice that House Bill 9 had been signed into law. Committee reports were adopted on several measures, including House Bills 128, 285, 20, 52, 57, 58, 206, 109, 38, 66, 178, 198, 202, 224, 257, 103, and 247, with several health-related bills advanced via committee substitutes and referred onward. The House also adopted House Memorial 32 and enrolled House Bill 50 with a certificate of correction. On the floor, House Joint Resolution 1, as amended, passed 67-0. The resolution would create nominating committees for certain constitutionally named institutions, require no single party majority on those committees, and shift the student regent appointment to an elected student government body; members discussed the one-year party-registration requirement and the timing of implementing legislation. House Bill 8, which creates and funds the Major Capital Projects Fund for higher education projects, was then debated at length over its graduation-rate criteria and waiver provisions, and an amendment was offered to require Higher Education Department waiver findings to be reported to and approved by the State Board of Finance for added oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of those are longer-term degree programs.
• There is a 100-bed commitment to serve the Native American community within our health care system, and
• care.
• of care.
• We have the rural hospital system and then we have the UNM hospital system And I guess my question is

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• See, I so I have a really long time now. Right?
• We're focused on the college system.
• Investing in our youth is a better long-term financial decision.
• The disparity that tuition credits as it relates the Florida College system in the state University system
• It's already a flawed and costly system.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• care providers so long outside primary care providers so long as<00:32:15.519><c> the</c><00:32:15.760
• care practices resulting from health care system<00:41:07.599><c> pressures</c><00:41:08.079><c> or<
• the system, but there's ample evidence that long-term costs and risks are actually increased.
• , but there's ample evidence that system, but there's ample evidence that long-term<01:52:42.960><c>
• I the long term, which is problematic.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I understand and I appreciate your foresight to think about things for the long term for the health
• /c><00:31:07.760><c> of</c><00:31:07.880><c> the</c><00:31:07.960><c> state,</c> long term for the health
• of the state, long term for the health of the state, future<00:31:09.360><c> generations.
• They care deeply about both environmental stewardship and the long-term viability of rural economies.
• </c> long-term viability of rural economies. long-term viability of rural economies.

Bills: HF4740 , HF3940

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: financial assurance, feedlot permits, manure storage, environmental compliance, agriculture regulation, abandoned infrastructure, pollution control, environmental impact, animal feedlot, livestock, regulations, Minnesota Rules, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to begin just by thanking you all for your service to the people of Arizona.
• He served on the faculty at the University of Utah and later at the University of Arizona Health Science
• Center and the VA hospital in Tucson, at the University of Arizona Health Science Center and the VA

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This initiative also measures both short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes, allowing us to see the full
• I think this is an innovative program, and I hope that we really do make this a long-term initiative.
• Systems.
• And so, I mean, who cares?
• our teacher evaluation system.

Transcript Highlights:

• In compliance with Article 4, Part 2, Section 9 of the Constitution of Arizona, I move that the Senate
• In compliance with Article 4, Part 2, Section 9 of the Constitution of Arizona, I am directed by the
• President, in compliance with Article 4, Part 2, Section 9 of the Constitution of Arizona, I am directed

Keywords: 1182, all