Transcript Highlights:

• While President Trump is hard at work securing our border, it is now time for Congress to secure our
• WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP IS HARD AT WORK SECURING OUR BORDER, IT IS NOW TIME FOR CONGRESS TO SECURE OUR
• , and child care centers.
• AND CHILD CARE CENTERS.
• They call it election security.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 31, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the CEO for the Spirit Lake Health Center, and thank you for being here.
• Andrew Wallers, I'm the Director of Pharmacy for Spirit Lake Health Center.
• North Dakota support our current shelter that the Spirit Lake Tribe has operational operating.
• IMDs are defined in the Social Security Act and code of... ...known as IMDs.
• Would you add them to the centers of excellence category?

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and first heard welcoming remarks and introductions from tribal leaders and program directors. Chairwoman Street and other tribal representatives outlined a range of concerns and requests for state action, including taxation of reservation lands, support for non-beneficiary students at the tribal school, homelessness funding, Indian-managed health care, gaming and e-tabs, Feather Alert improvements, industrial farming near waterways, tourism, and better state-tribal consultation. Committee members responded that the meeting was intended to improve understanding and communication, and several members suggested future legislation or resolutions could be used to advance some of the issues. The tribe also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to legislators and staff. A major portion of the discussion focused on Spirit Lake fish and wildlife jurisdiction and the lake boundary. Tribal representatives asked for an MOU or co-stewardship agreement with the state to clarify hunting and fishing rights, recognize tribal licenses, and reduce recurring disputes over “gray areas” on the reservation and lake. Committee members discussed whether to draft a bill or resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and asked that North Dakota Game and Fish be invited to a future meeting. Related concerns included aquatic nuisance species prevention, with both sides agreeing that more aggressive boat inspection and cleaning measures would be beneficial. The committee also discussed taxation and county relations. Tribal leaders raised concerns about county resistance to fee-to-trust transfers and about property and vehicle taxation affecting members living on or near reservation lands. Committee members and tribal counsel reviewed federal treaty principles and court cases, and one member noted that the committee had previously taken no formal action on similar issues. Later, Benson County’s tax equalization director explained how the county values taxable land, handles inundated land applications, and tracks land coming off the tax rolls when the tribe repurchases acreage. The discussion ended with a presentation from the president of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, followed by an HHS presentation on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion as the committee moved to its next topic.

Transcript Highlights:

• All centers in Kansas City, a lot of it around the lack of child care, because people can't go to work
• It affects us in every region of Kansas City as well as the rural area.
• Other than my work with MEDC, I also serve as a volunteer for the Ozark Region Workforce Development
• Other than my work with MEDC, I also serve as a volunteer for the Ozark Region Workforce Development
• Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of Sikeston and our regional partners.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You can move money with reserves from the light-shaded regions to the dark-shaded regions.
• If the state does not have enough reserves on hand to be able to cover the sort of dark-shaded regions
• I'm the budget director at the California Budget and Policy Center.
• Right now, our rainy day fund is not enough to sustain the state's operations in a downturn.
• While the state's General Fund operates on a much larger scale, the principle really does remain the

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on proposals to reform California’s Budget Stabilization Account, or rainy day fund, ahead of the May Revision. Members and witnesses reviewed how Proposition 2 (2014) changed reserve rules, including mandatory deposits, a 10% cap on the fund, and limits tied to the Governor’s declaration of a budget emergency. LAO staff explained that California’s revenues are highly volatile, that current reserve rules are complicated by interactions with Proposition 98 and the Gann limit, and that under current law reserves would cover only about one-third of funding shortfalls in a benchmark scenario over 50 years. The LAO presented its report recommending a larger reserve target, including raising the cap to 50% by 2055 and pairing that with either broader, more flexible deposit rules or a simpler approach that deposits all excess capital gains. The Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to raise the cap from 10% to 20% and exempt BSA deposits from the state appropriations limit, while Assembly Member Valencia presented ACA 1, which would make similar changes and was described as an evolving proposal. Testimony generally supported saving more during boom years, but differed on how much to hardwire into the Constitution versus leave flexible, and on whether to broaden the deposit formulas beyond capital gains. Public witnesses and committee members raised additional issues, including whether reserve reforms should also address debt repayment, the treatment of unemployment insurance fund debt, and whether the Gann limit should be adjusted to better allow reserve growth. Supporters argued that stronger reserves would protect Californians from cuts during downturns and help the state weather volatility and federal funding threats. Some advocates warned that reforms should not come at the expense of current public needs, while taxpayer representatives cautioned against turning the BSA into a pass-through account that weakens constitutional spending limits. The hearing ended without a vote, with the committee chair noting the complexity of the issue and adjourning after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alison Hilliard, with the Climate Center, in support.
• Hello, Allison Hilliard with the Climate Center, support.
• Christina Scring for the Center for Biological Diversity, in support.
• And none of these... ...state have operated very successfully without the full RAM.
• That's why business doesn't operate that way. That's why we don't operate that way.

Summary: The committee heard several energy and water affordability bills, with extensive testimony on SB 254 by Senator Becker, SB 541 by Senator Becker, SB 453 by Senator Stern, SB 292 by Senator Caballero, and SB 473 by Senator Padilla. SB 254 was presented as a broad utility affordability package addressing short-term climate credits, a Power Fund, tighter scrutiny of rate increases and utility profits, wildfire spending, securitization of future utility costs, and streamlining. Supporters, including TURN and several environmental and public power groups, said it could lower bills and reduce long-term costs; opponents from investor-owned utilities, labor, business, and local government raised concerns about market impacts, insufficient analysis, and the breadth of the bill. The committee approved SB 254 on a 6-3 vote and placed it on call. SB 541 focused on load flexibility and using existing grid capacity more efficiently. Senator Becker described it as a transparency and planning measure to identify cost-effective load shifting and reduce peak demand, while supporters said it could improve resiliency and save money. Several CCAs and utilities opposed the bill in print or unless amended, arguing that some language implied a mandate and that the concept needed more cost-effectiveness analysis; the author said amendments would remove language dividing the state goal among retail suppliers and clarify that the bill is not a procurement mandate. The committee passed SB 541 as amended to Appropriations on a 9-1 vote and left it on call. SB 453 by Senator Stern would return unspent ratepayer-funded microgrid program dollars and was described as a way to keep the lights on and redirect unused funds. It drew support from local government and environmental groups, with PG&E expressing concern about how the bill would affect its ability to spend awarded funds. The committee passed SB 453 as amended to Appropriations on a 12-0 vote. SB 292 by Senator Caballero would require more granular outage and reliability reporting, including census-tract-level data, to better inform resilience planning after PSPS events; utilities opposed unless amended, citing duplicative reporting and regulatory overlap, but the bill passed 12-0 to Appropriations. SB 473 by Senator Padilla would require or expand water utility decoupling to promote conservation and affordability. Supporters, including water utilities, labor, business, and local government groups, argued decoupling stabilizes revenue, supports conservation, and can keep rates lower for low-use customers. The Public Advocates Office opposed, saying prior pilot data showed no conservation benefit and about $1 billion in added costs, and that the CPUC had already rejected similar requests. Committee members questioned the conservation and capital-investment effects of the different rate structures; the author and supporters argued decoupling helps utilities fund infrastructure while allowing lower fixed charges for low-use customers. The transcript ends during that discussion, before a final vote on SB 473 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is the operating mandate underneath it.
• It is a state-specific rate of payment operations.
• So it sounds to me like it might be a simpler operation or an undertaking here.
• So it sounds to me like it might be a simpler operation or an undertaking here.
• The Devil Dogs operation team appreciates your understanding.

Summary: The Special Commission on the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses heard testimony from credit union, retail, banking, and payments industry representatives. Much of the discussion focused on proposals to exclude sales tax and tips from interchange fees, the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act and related litigation, and whether similar state action in Massachusetts would help small businesses or instead create a patchwork that burdens state-chartered institutions. Witnesses from defense and community credit unions argued interchange helps fund fraud prevention, cybersecurity, member services, and low-fee products, while retail and NRF representatives said merchants are paying significant swipe fees and that state laws like Illinois’s are aimed at reducing costs that are not being passed on to consumers. Several witnesses emphasized that the current payment system provides security, fraud protection, rewards, and access to credit, and that many of the costs merchants complain about are actually bundled processor or acquirer fees rather than interchange itself. Others countered that small businesses are struggling with rising overall costs and that Massachusetts should consider reforms such as allowing surcharging, improving transparency in merchant contracts, and studying collection costs. There was also discussion of the recent Visa/Mastercard antitrust settlement, with industry witnesses describing it as meaningful relief for merchants and opponents saying it is temporary and incomplete. No formal votes were taken on legislation. The commission accepted oral testimony, noted that written testimony would be accepted through July 31, and concluded the meeting by unanimously voting to adjourn. The chair and members said they would continue gathering testimony and work toward recommendations, with the chair stressing the need to find a fair middle ground that supports both small businesses and the broader payments ecosystem.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:06:08.960><c> ensuring</c> programs in the nashal region ensuring programs in the nashal region
• </c> they go to a different treatment center they go to a different treatment center and<02:48:15.080
• </c> know after the first treatment center know after the first treatment center and<02:57:02.880><c>
• </c><03:04:04.520><c> it</c> affordability board ought to operate it affordability board ought to operate
• </c> uh having had an opportunity to operate uh having had an opportunity to operate the<03:04:37.600

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• organizations still owned this large amount of land in urban and suburban areas, with many of those centers
• That remaining savings will still ultimately matter, particularly for nonprofit builders operating on
• Costs, both operating and development, are increasing and hurting production in Spokane.
• Southport has never had a project fall out of affordability in its 30 years of operation.
• I think we operate our policy goals based on principles of direct cash.

Summary: House Finance heard testimony on two affordable housing bills. House Bill 1859 would expand an existing density bonus for housing on religious organization property by lowering the affordability threshold from 100% to at least 50% affordable units, requiring local policies to implement the bonus upon request, and creating a new state and local sales and use tax exemption for qualifying projects with at least 50% affordable units maintained for 10 years. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would help projects on church-owned land pencil out amid high construction and financing costs, while a county association raised concern that the bill would create an unfunded mandate for local planning departments. Several witnesses also asked that homeownership projects be explicitly included, and staff confirmed the exemption would be administered through an exemption certificate. The committee then moved to House Bill 1717, which would authorize cities and counties to create a local sales and use tax remittance program for affordable housing developments. Staff said the remittance would cover 100% of local taxes paid after project completion, with a 50% affordable housing threshold and 40-year affordability requirement, and the sponsor and local government and housing advocates supported it as a flexible tool to reduce development costs. Testifiers generally backed both bills, with some asking for more flexibility on income targeting and clarification on county-city interactions under HB 1717. No votes were taken; both public hearings were closed and the committee adjourned after a separate work session on the Working Families Tax Credit, where advocates urged broader eligibility, higher benefit amounts, and easier access, and a California researcher described data-linking methods used to improve tax credit take-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Defense and regional industry leaders including Cins...
• But our collective efforts as a state, as a region, working with the private sector, we believe this
• </c><00:36:25.800><c> um</c> efforts as a state as a region um efforts as a state as a region um working
• </c> of receiving from the national Center of receiving from the national Center for<01:02:45.200><c>
• <01:26:47.880><c> and</c><01:26:48.080><c> administrative</c> operations and administrative operations

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The second category is optimizing operational costs. Capacity.
• will, in the future, put them in a much more secure environment.
• The operating account is a self-leveling dedicated fund.
• They have partnered with us and built an exam center in Waco.
• Okay, let's move on to the Securities Board. LBB, Kelsey Sims.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• called a security seal, because it gives us a form of security. 100%.
• The state even goes into birth centers and inspects birth centers, and there are standards in birth centers
• centers and midwives that own and operate these birth centers.
• Y'all can operate in a separate facility. ...from a doctor, right? Y'all can operate.
• A CAA and a CRNA in the same operating room? Same operating room, no.

Bills: HB3772, HB1656, HB4504, HB1896, HB4420, HB4421, HB4076, HB3708, HB2806, HB3540, HB1586, HB5459, HB4553, HB4535, HB3811, HB3749, HB4255, HB4051, HB5098, HB3554, HB4539, HB5274

Keywords: e-cigarettes, health and safety, regulations, directory, penalties, regulation, certification, compliance, manufacturers, FDA, nicotine, mental health, emergency detention, paramedic authority, mental illness, healthcare facility, public health, covenants not to compete, health care practitioners, physicians

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> Surge,</c><00:14:45.680><c> total</c> Because of Operation Metro Surge, total Because of Operation
• We have experienced the largest ICE operations with Operation Metro Surge in our nation's history.
• Surge</c> operations with Operation Metro Surge operations with Operation Metro Surge uh,<01:45:58.520
• </c><01:50:37.080><c> and</c> who was convicted of securities and who was convicted of securities and
• </c> my region. my region.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• G5 is a Department of Disability Determination for Social Security Administration.
• G5 is a Department of Disability Determination for Social Security Administration.
• They have a grant for, For Social Security Administration, this is for $1.5 million.
• They have a grant from the Social Security Administration to cover the increase in caseload.
• It amends an existing contract for information security and compliance support and training.

Summary: The committee heard a series of appropriation requests and contract reviews across multiple sections. In Section B, members approved temporary appropriations for the Court of Appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics, and Insurance-related payments and refunds. Section C ARPA requests from DHS were approved to return unused federal funds. Section D infrastructure-related appropriations, including wildfire preparedness, broadband BEAD funding, forestry support, recycling, and oil and gas sample preservation, were approved after questions about broadband audit controls and performance safeguards. Section E DHS reallocations were approved, including large transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical to private and public nursing home lines, along with smaller transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services; members asked about the source and purpose of the medical services transfer. Sections F and G were reviewed, covering cash fund requests, federal grants, and miscellaneous grants, including community college storm repairs, corrections commissary and maintenance, 911 enhancements, maternal health, disability determinations, state police equipment, digital newspaper archiving, and CDL data improvements. In Section H, the committee reviewed pay plan appropriations and performance fund transfers tied to the new Class and Comp pay plan. Section I reviewed three methods of finance for UA Little Rock, UAMS, and the University of Arkansas system. In Section J, the committee reviewed discretionary grants, including a $1.4 million HIV services grant and nine tobacco prevention subgrants through UAPB. Members questioned the effectiveness, metrics, and addresses of some tobacco-cessation arts-based grantees, especially Arts Absolutely Inc.; after discussion, Representative Kavanaugh moved to expunge the vote on J2 and refer it back for review at a later ALC meeting, and that motion passed. J3, a Department of Energy and Environment grant for propane safety training and e-waste recycling services, was then reviewed. The committee also reviewed contracts in Section K. K-1 ratified emergency management nuclear planning work performed during a transition between agencies. K-2 construction contracts included architectural and engineering services for corrections, National Park College signage, a Razorback Road parking facility, and UAMS cyclotron installation. K-3 intergovernmental contracts covered health, education, autism waiver, stroke, newborn screening, Medicaid evidence review, and radiation testing services. K-4 out-of-state contracts included staffing, IT, tobacco prevention, audit, marketing, planetarium, recruitment, and janitorial services; Senator Irvin noted one contract appeared to belong in the out-of-state list rather than intergovernmental. K-5 in-state contracts covered staffing, cleaning, re-entry and treatment services, foster care and disability services, hearing officers, asbestos abatement, campus IT support, and janitorial work. The meeting ended after a brief personal update from Senator Irvin about tornado damage in Stone County and thanks to members for their concern, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hotels already operate under extensive safety expectations, including clear rules for pool operations
• I'm also a self-storage operator here in Washington.
• I'm also a self-storage operator here in Washington.
• But other operators might not act in the same way.
• Modern consumers expect secure, transparent online access.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee heard public hearings on several bills related to real estate, self-storage, and consumer disclosures. House Bill 2477 would shorten the time to bring claims against appraisers arising from appraisal reports to two years from discovery or five years from signing, except fraud claims, and would limit liability to specified clients and intended users. The sponsor and appraiser witnesses said the bill would reduce long-tail liability, lower insurance and recordkeeping burdens, and help attract new appraisers; no opposition testimony was heard in the excerpt. House Bill 2512 would prohibit real estate brokers from marketing residential properties to exclusive groups unless the property is also publicly marketed. Supporters, including Washington Realtors, Zillow, Habitat for Humanity, Windermere, and others, said it would promote transparency, competition, and fair housing; opponents argued it could limit homeowner privacy and autonomy, and the Attorney General’s office said the Washington Law Against Discrimination already covers discrimination concerns and objected to placing enforcement in that statute. House Bill 2240 would modernize self-storage rental agreements by allowing electronic execution, deeming continued use after notice as acceptance, and setting notice and disposal rules after termination or nonrenewal; storage industry witnesses supported the bill as clarifying safety and notice procedures, while an advocacy witness opposed it as harmful to unhoused people and others who rely on storage units. House Bill 2465 would require a water recreation safety guide for short-term rentals with pools or similar facilities; the sponsor and hospitality industry supported it as a low-cost safety measure, while cities raised implementation concerns and asked for an amendment on where the guide would be posted. House Bill 2501 would update a seller disclosure notice to reflect the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency’s shift from a no-cost insurance program to a loan-and-grant remediation program, and it drew support as a technical correction. House Bill 2624 would exempt public entities, tribes, and nonprofit land conservancies from the 2025 “solicited real estate transactions” appraisal and notice requirements; conservation groups and the Department of Natural Resources supported it as necessary to preserve land acquisition and grant funding, and the sponsor described it as a cleanup bill. The committee then moved into executive session and took action on two liquor-related bills. House Bill 2536, allowing wineries to hold a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license or beer/wine restaurant license at one location, was moved out of committee with a due pass recommendation by a 14-1 vote. House Bill 2476, modifying the spirits, beer, and wine theater license, was amended via a proposed substitute that restored the 120-seat-per-screen limit except for theaters admitting only patrons 21 and older; the substitute was reported out with a due pass recommendation by a 13-2 vote. Members discussed the balance between business flexibility and concerns about alcohol access in family settings and recovery communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have a website that will be up and operating.
• The outlets can operate when downstream conditions allow.
• Again, we do try and operate those as much as we can.
• It is the Food Security Act.
• We use our Food Security Act manual.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's one dam that is owned and operated by ISC.
• to operate their system over the years.
• and operations.
• It was operated for almost 50 years, from 1973 to 2022.
• The plant operated under three discharge permits.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was watching Josh play hockey on center ice, and all of a sudden we found ourselves sitting on center
• </c> energy these businesses need to operate energy these businesses need to operate in<00:13:43.639>
• operate across the state.
• operate across the state.
• operate across the state.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• California serves nearly 350 health centers across the state.
• For over 53 years, the Center for Health and Prevention, or the Center, has provided quality, respectful
• If any one health center was to shut down, there's not an exorbitant amount of other health centers that
• We may not survive; the center may not survive this.
• Because you want job security.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for the American the Atlantic region for the American waterways<01:11:50.120><c> operators</c><01:11
• </c><01:13:25.239><c> ing</c> Security asset critical to security ing Security asset critical to security
• <c> there</c> operators barge operators there's there operators barge operators there's there would<01
• So in that way, these Jones Act mariners ensure that security because they are secure personnel operating
• government as Regional a regional government as Regional government<05:16:43.920><c> adviser</c><05:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul River Center in just two days.
• For House File 80 from the Immigrant Development Center.
• We are only asking for $500,000 for operational costs. for operational costs.
• The Freedom Festival costs about $650,000, and $96,000 of that is for security alone.
• I'm the executive director of the African Women, Youth, and Resource Center.