Transcript Highlights:

• Foster legislate together.
• Foster legislate together.
• Foster legislate together.
• </c> reintroducing this important legislation reintroducing this important legislation I<03:21:04.359
• <03:21:34.040><c> hr1</c> legislation hr1 legislation hr1 1350<03:21:36.720><c> the</c><03:21:36.920>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 24, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• legislation on the committee?
• , non-legislators.
• Legislative Management.
• This is very, very good legislation, or proposition. Hopefully it will become legislation.
• This is very, very good legislation, or proposition. Hopefully it will become legislation.

Summary: The Child Custody Review Task Force met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then took up draft legislation to create a future interim committee to study the feasibility of a family court in North Dakota. Beth outlined the draft’s purpose, proposed 15-member membership, and the study topics, including constitutional authority, court structure, jurisdiction, fiscal impact, implementation, and possible phased-in approaches. Members discussed committee composition at length, ultimately agreeing to keep the committee at 15 by reducing legislative members from eight to six, adding two judges from different judicial districts, two family law section members with rural/urban representation, one parent subject to a custody order, and a clerk of court representative; the self-help, mental health, and domestic violence positions were debated, with domestic violence advocacy retained and some other positions removed or replaced. The committee also agreed to include analysis of state and local fiscal impacts and efficiencies, and to keep the provision on procedural rules in the draft. The revised draft was approved and recommended to Legislative Management, with one recorded no vote from Judge Hovey after the fact. The committee then turned to a second draft dealing with mandatory participation in a family transition program in contested parental-rights cases. Members first clarified that the term should be changed to a more general “parenting education course,” rather than a named private program, and discussed whether the bill should also require education about court process and family-law procedures. Some members argued the bill should specify content such as co-parenting, parental alienation, harassment, disorderly conduct, removal of a child from the jurisdiction, and contempt consequences, while others objected that the proposal was too vague, could impose costs without clear limits or waivers, and might amount to compelled legal advice or an undefined private program. Several members said the bill needed more specificity before it could be presented, and the discussion became increasingly divided over whether to keep the draft at all. The transcript ends amid that debate, with no final action yet taken on the second draft.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> pending legislation absolutely not thank pending legislation absolutely not thank you<00:48:44.160
• and just the nature of of uh legislation and just the nature of of uh legislation<00:50:46.280><c> it
• legislation legislation is<00:55:18.280><c> uh</c><00:55:18.720><c> thank</c><00:55:18.920><c> you</
• </c><01:02:16.359><c> why</c> great interest in the legislation why great interest in the legislation
• </c> um the information of What legislation um the information of What legislation is<01:34:49.000><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 118 in executive session and adopted Amendment 0882H, which would remove the House and Senate members from the Child Care Commission while leaving the commission in place. Members said the amendment was a continuation of earlier committee discussion and supported it as a needed change. The committee then voted 12-0 to recommend ought to pass as amended, and HB 118 was placed on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 142, dealing with Gold Star Mother’s Day. The sponsor explained that the bill was unnecessary because existing statute already directs the governor to issue a proclamation for Gold Star Mother’s Day and to urge appropriate observance, including flag-related ceremonies. Several members discussed how to ensure the proclamation and flag observance would happen and whether the committee report should note the existing statute. Other members said they would oppose killing the bill because the recognition was important. The committee voted 9-3 to table/ITL the bill, and HB 142 was declared inexpedient to legislate. The final major item was a public hearing on a non-germane amendment to House Bill 456, with a related draft amendment also discussed. The sponsor said the amendment would raise the annual membership allowance from $20 to $75, rename fees as dues, prohibit dues from being used to pay lobbyists, require NHMA dues to be brought before voters as a separate warrant article for transparency, and require separate accounting so lobbying funds are not co-mingled with other funds. Supporters said the goal was to keep taxpayer-derived money from funding lobbying while preserving non-lobbying services such as legal advice and training. Opponents argued the proposal was an overreach and would micromanage local towns. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in that spirit, I rise to ...transparent and deliberate legislative body.
• As legislators, we are elected to craft laws that serve the people, As legislators, we are elected to
• We are debating the House rules package for the 2025-2026 legislative session.
• delays clouded our legislative accomplishments.
• Executive and legislative powers be united, mischiefs the most terrible would follow.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House first took up House Bill 58, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill. The chamber adopted a further amendment offered by Rep. Michael Witts of Boston, then concurred with the Senate as amended after a roll call vote of 128-23. The House then moved to the orders of the day and considered the proposed permanent joint rules for the 2025-2026 session (House No. 2026 / Senate No. 18), with Rep. Moran of Brighton presenting the package as a set of transparency and process reforms, including joint committee procedures, a 60-day reporting deadline, public posting of summaries and testimony, and revised formal session timing. A series of minority amendments offered largely by Rep. Jones of North Reading and others were debated and repeatedly rejected, including proposals to require roll call votes for post-July 31 formal business, require two weeks’ notice for such sessions, publish State Auditor audits on the legislative website, require SJC advisory opinions on constitutional disputes, extend poll windows to two hours, require advance notice of electronic polls, and lengthen amendment filing deadlines. Supporters argued these changes would improve transparency, accountability, and member access; opponents said they would slow the legislative process and reduce flexibility. Most of these amendments failed on roll call votes by margins of 128-23 or similar, while a technical amendment from Rep. Galvin was adopted. The House then adopted the joint rules package by roll call, 128-23. The chamber also adopted the House rules package for the 2025-2026 session (House No. 2024) after debate led by Rep. Galvin of Canton, who emphasized modernization, online transparency, in-person participation, and an outside audit and EEO officer. Additional minority amendments on committee reporting, timing of formal business, and poll procedures were debated and defeated, while one technical amendment was adopted. The House later returned to the issue of legislative audits, rejecting an amendment to require House audits by the State Auditor after a lengthy debate over Question 1, separation of powers, and the scope of the auditor’s authority. The session ended with a memorial tribute to former Rep. Carol Doherty and an order to adjourn until the next day at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• If this is a legislative directive, we want information given to Legislative Management, it should come
• from Legislative Council and not from OMB.
• So that's a legislator, but then it's...
• Of legislation.
• None of them have been part of the legislative process before.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just by way of background, I drafted this legislation when we passed medical cannabis years ago.
• I just wanted to add my support to the legislation, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
• I just wanted to add my support to the legislation, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
• The next is the Tax Department promulgating a legislative rule regarding the soft drinks tax.
• But the relevant legislative... ...authority is also corrected.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislative intent was to...
• And should we avoid that as a legislative goal in future legislation if we can't get it?
• impact that legislation.
• The legislative auditor's second recommendation is that the legislature should The legislative auditor's
• The legislative auditor makes two recommendations.

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Bill 203- FN inexpedient to legislate Bill 203- FN inexpedient to legislate Senate<00:58:43.640>
• </c><01:00:34.720><c> motion</c> to the inexpedient to legislate motion to the inexpedient to legislate
• <01:12:54.040><c> performance</c><01:12:54.719><c> audit</c> legislative performance audit legislative
• on Senate Bill 293. is inexpedient to legislate is there any is inexpedient to legislate is there any
• </c><01:22:39.840><c> is</c> motion is inexpedient to legislate is motion is inexpedient to legislate

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a report from the Office of Legislative Auditor.
• Catherine Tyson, deputy legislative auditor from the Office of the Legislative Auditor, introduced herself
• Sometimes they're called legislative auditors.
• With chairs and legislators from both parties, I also want to thank the Legislative Auditor for the important
• It is not always looked on favorably by legislators.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And um you know, our focus was on the legislative response.
• And um you know, our focus was on the legislative response.
• </c> there could be more legislative there could be more legislative oversight<00:08:26.160><c> obviously
• ><c> auditor</c><00:14:40.399><c> is</c> The office of legislative auditor is The office of legislative
• </c> get a couple of new scrappy legislators get a couple of new scrappy legislators in<00:21:32.880>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This committee could draft legislation, or they could ask the tax committee to draft legislation.
• I just want to go back to your first under legislative assembly. The legislative assembly does not.
• of the legislative session, the executive branch takes over and enforces those legislative provisions
• , we need, as legislators, to have certain legislation that pertains to this area.
• And then the 2023 legislative assembly and the 2025 legislative assembly both authorized exemptions to

Summary: The committee convened, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received a memo summarizing major audit items. The State Auditor’s office and outside auditors then presented a series of audits, many of which were clean with unmodified opinions and no findings, including the Bank of North Dakota, the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Quality, Lake Region State College, and the Office of the Governor. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association audit was also clean overall, but it repeated findings about limited segregation of duties and auditor assistance in preparing financial statements, which the auditor said were expected to continue because of the organization’s small size. Committee members asked about out-of-state board addresses, and the association explained those members were North Dakota residents using South Dakota mailing addresses. Several audits did include findings. The Council on the Arts audit identified two issues: payroll charged to federal awards without supporting time records, and $12,825 in Cultural Endowment Fund spending that was not allowable under state law, including staff training, retreats, and executive director candidate travel. The Department of Public Instruction audit found unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, but additional testing confirmed the funds were credited properly and students completed required school district work, so no improper payments were identified. The University of North Dakota audit found a lack of documentation and transparency in School of Law admissions decisions; the auditor said the law school used a holistic process but did not keep notes or evaluation tools to show why applicants were admitted, waitlisted, or denied. UND leadership said the school is in good standing with the American Bar Association and agreed better documentation is needed, and the auditor said the issue was the missing documentation, not ABA accreditation itself. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which found four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating cap, grant conditions not being met, improper breeder fund awards, and improper procurement. The auditor said promotion fund spending exceeded the cap by $327,447 and the fund balance dropped sharply over the audit period. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson said the agency had become complacent, that grant requests were treated as routine, and that controls and documentation need to be tightened. He also explained that the breeder fund overpayments involved two horses whose ownership transfers were not properly documented before racing, and that the procurement issue stemmed from an advertising contract that proceeded without proper written procurement procedures after a misunderstanding with the State Procurement Office. The auditor said the Racing Commission will now be audited every two years because of the findings. The committee also received updates on Dakota College at Bottineau’s bank reconciliations, which Minot State University said had been brought current after an 18-month backlog, with only one account still needing cleanup; members asked for a written report on the corrective actions. The North Dakota Fair Foundation was reported to have dissolved, with remaining funds transferred to another nonprofit account for continued support of the state fair. Finally, the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, revising the earlier estimate to about $1.1 million based on incomplete district survey responses, and said the Anti-Lunch Shaming law likely increased meal debt because schools must feed students regardless of account balance. Members discussed the need for a more accurate year-end debt figure and possible future reporting at a later committee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• What would the proposed legislation look like? Mr.
• The task force did not submit legislation, but I did submit legislation as the chairman for the special
• Because we get caught up in the minutiae of the legislative process as legislators, and I think I can't
• ,” and then we're going to have a piece of legislation?
• that be an interesting coordination, where Legislative Management is directing Legislative Council,

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Leadership Division of the Budget Section approved the prior meeting minutes and then received an update from Senator Jonathan Sickler on the Cash Management Board’s interim work under House Bill 1278. He said the board has reviewed state cash, investments, and liquidity across agencies and concluded the state’s overall mix of long-term and short-term assets is appropriate, with about $35 billion in total liquid assets and investments and roughly 89% in longer-term investments. He highlighted process improvements already underway, including replacing more than 500 six-month CDs with a special-rate savings account to reduce administrative work, and said the board sees opportunities to improve forecasting, automation, and statewide coordination. Members asked about whether the CD change would increase returns, how the Legacy Fund transfer for the homestead tax relief bill affected earnings, and whether more state cash could be consolidated or better managed through BND; Sickler and BND staff said those issues are being studied and may lead to legislation for the 2027 session. Representative Nathan Toman then updated the committee on the Task Force on Government Efficiency. He said the group has focused less on cutting dollars and more on defining metrics and asking how the legislature knows whether programs are working. The task force is pushing a standard set of questions for new or expanding programs—who is affected, expected outcomes, alternatives, how success will be measured, and full funding—and OMB has agreed to require those answers in future budget requests. Members discussed possible use of dashboards, program evaluators, AI tools, and possible rule or statutory changes to require performance measurement. Toman said the task force will continue meeting with agencies such as the courts, university system, auditor, HHS, Commerce, and ITD to identify workflow bottlenecks and potential efficiencies. Phil Davis of Job Service North Dakota gave a workforce update, reporting that North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 2.5% and labor force participation is about 68.7%, both well above national performance. He described Job Service’s 15 workforce programs, including H-2A housing inspections for foreign agricultural workers, the job placement partnership program with DOCR, WOTC, and other federal and state workforce efforts. Davis said the agency served more than 11,000 individuals in 2025, operates nine workforce centers, and tracks outcomes through quarterly and annual reporting. In response to questions, he said job openings data reflect only positions in the system and may understate actual hiring needs, that child care and other assistance programs could be better tied to employment outcomes, and that the DOCR partnership has shown strong results with lower recidivism and higher earnings. He also said the H-2A inspection workload is growing quickly and additional staffing or less frequent federal inspection requirements could help. Allen Knutson then presented S&P Global’s updated revenue forecast. He said oil prices have risen sharply since the prior month’s outlook, improving the state’s near-term revenue picture, though the economy remains volatile and agriculture is facing weaker commodity prices. Based on the updated forecast, total major tax revenues for the current biennium are projected to be about $89 million above the legislative forecast, and the next biennium could be about $500 million higher, though that estimate is preliminary and may change. He also walked through an alternate oil-price scenario showing significantly higher oil and gas collections and a larger Strategic Investment Fund balance if prices remain elevated. Members asked whether another forecast should be requested once oil markets stabilize and about tribal allocation changes in the alternative scenario; Knutson said additional updates are possible through OMB and future forecast cycles.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent Legislative District 32, Bonneville County, and Idaho Falls.
• I was here last week with legislation to reduce the elected officials in the legislative branch by 5%
• So for that reduction for the legislative branch, it would have been $131,250.
• But this seems like good legislation to provide that transparency.
• What this legislation does, committee, is establish a new physical presence requirement for state legislative

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard several bill introductions and took action on each. Senator Cook presented RS-33715, a proposal to reduce executive branch elected officials’ pay by 5% for calendar year 2027, and the committee voted to send it to print. Senator Ruchti introduced RS-33735, which would create a transfer-on-death deed option for real property, and it was also sent to print. The committee then considered House Bill 575 on asset forfeiture transparency; sponsors said it would not change forfeiture authority or procedures, but would require state and local agencies to report forfeiture data to the State Controller for publication on Transparent Idaho. A prosecutor testified in support, and the bill was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee advanced several cleanup and policy measures. House Bill 798 repeals an obsolete treasurer reporting provision tied to securities lending agreements, and House Bill 799 repeals three outdated code sections, including a Prohibition-era provision and other obsolete reporting requirements; both received due pass recommendations. House Concurrent Resolution 33 would create an interim committee to study sextortion, its prevalence, prevention, and impacts on youth; sponsors emphasized the harm to minors and the difficulty of prosecuting overseas offenders, and the resolution was sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 810 would require legislative candidates to have lived in their district for at least 120 nights in the year before filing, with exceptions for military service and religious missions; after questions about those exemptions and redistricting, the committee voted to send it to the 14th order for possible amendment rather than directly to the floor. The committee also approved two resolutions and two additional bills. HCR 27 honors Morrison Knudsen employees and Idahoans connected to the Wake Island defense and subsequent wartime sacrifices; it was sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 736 lowers the voter-registration threshold for ballot-name rotation from 100,000 to 25,000 registered voters to reduce ballot-order effects, and it passed with a do pass recommendation. Finally, House Bill 793 reallocates a portion of beer tax revenue away from the permanent building fund and toward alcohol beverage control, the Idaho State Police, and the Idaho Law Enforcement Fund, while making smaller changes to other beer-tax distributions; the committee supported it and sent it to the floor with a do pass recommendation before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent Legislative District 32, Bonneville County, and Idaho Falls.
• I was here last week with a legislation to reduce the elected officials in the legislative branch by
• Chairman, Mark Harris, Legislative District 35, Idaho State Senate.
• What this legislation does, committee, is establish a new physical presence requirement for state legislative
• This legislation establishes a new physical presence requirement for state legislative candidates.

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard several bill introductions and resolutions focused on budget savings, transparency, election rules, and cleanup of outdated code. Senator Cook presented RS-33715, which would reduce executive branch elected officials’ salaries by 5% in calendar year 2027, and RS-33735, which would print a proposal to study transfer-on-death deeds; both RS requests were introduced. The committee also heard House Bill 575, which would require asset forfeiture reports to be sent to the State Controller and published on Transparent Idaho; sponsors said it would not change forfeiture authority, only improve transparency. A prosecutor testified in support, and the bill was sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. House Bills 798 and 799, both code cleanup measures repealing outdated statutes, also advanced unanimously. The committee then considered HCR 33, which would create an interim committee to study sextortion, its prevalence, prevention, and impact on minors. Senator Lakey and Representative Greene described the crime as technology-driven, harmful to youth, and often difficult to prosecute because offenders may be overseas; the resolution was sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. House Bill 810, which would require legislative candidates to have lived in their district for 120 nights in the year before filing, drew questions about military, religious mission, and redistricting exceptions; after discussion, the committee voted to send it to the 14th order for possible amendment rather than directly to the floor. The committee also advanced HCR 27, honoring Morrison-Knudsen employees and Idahoans who served and died at Wake Island during World War II, after hearing about civilian sacrifice and wartime losses. House Bill 736, which lowers the threshold for ballot name rotation from political entities with 100,000 registered voters to those with 25,000, was described as a way to reduce ballot-order bias and was sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. Finally, House Bill 793, which reallocates beer tax revenue to help fund Alcohol Beverage Control and law enforcement rather than the permanent building fund, passed the committee on a voice vote and was sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:21.600><c> without</c> opportunity to legislate without opportunity to legislate without interference
• The obstructing or impeding of a legislator or legislative employees will be a Class B misdemeanor for
• The obstructing or impeding of a legislator or legislative employees will be a Class B misdemeanor for
• I think you're an outstanding legislator.
• I think you're an outstanding legislator.

Keywords: This meeting will take place upon adjournment of the Senate Chambers. There is not an exact time for this meeting therefore a placeholder time for the live stream has been set for 4:00PM est. Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:20 HB 10: 00:00:47 HB 399: 00:03:40, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up two House bills. House Bill 10, relating to the rights of real property owners, was presented as a response to squatting. The sponsors said it would create a streamlined process to remove unauthorized occupants from real property, define “squatter” in statute, and keep existing criminal mischief penalties aligned for damage to property. After a motion and second, the bill was approved and reported favorably with the expression that it should pass. The committee then heard House Bill 399, relating to interference with legislative proceedings. The sponsor and the Senate Sergeant at Arms said the bill is intended to protect the General Assembly’s ability to conduct business by penalizing obstructing or impeding legislators or legislative employees and disruptive conduct in legislative spaces, while still allowing protest. They emphasized that the measure would give the legislative branch protections similar to those already available to the executive and judicial branches, and that arrests would be made only at the call of leadership or a committee chair. Members voted to advance House Bill 399 after discussion. One senator explained that while he supported moving the bill forward, he was concerned the language could be broad enough to cover peaceful demonstrations, such as teachers rallying at the Capitol, and said he would need more time before deciding how to vote on the floor. The committee ultimately reported the bill favorably with the expression that it should pass, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Privilege reported the Legislative Bureau.
• It is ordered to the Legislative Bureau.
• It is ordered to the Legislative Bureau.
• It is ordered to the Legislative Bureau.
• It is ordered to the Legislative Bureau.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Legislative Budget Office. Legislative Budget Office.
• </c> moves the to approve the legislative moves the to approve the legislative budget<00:12:40.480><c
• </c><00:38:10.400><c> Legislators</c> contemplated legislation.
• Legislators contemplated legislation.
• </c> responsive to the legislative process. responsive to the legislative process.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• What would the proposed legislation look like? Mr.
• And the committee did not, or the task force did not, submit legislation, but I did submit legislation
• Because we get caught up in the minutiae of legislative process as legislators, and I think—I can't speak
• ,” and then we're going to have a piece of legislation?
• , because wouldn't that be an interesting coordination, where Legislative Management is directing Legislative

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the previous minutes, and then received an update from Senator Jonathan Sickler on the Cash Management Board’s work under House Bill 1278. He said the board has been reviewing statewide cash, liquidity, and investment practices, finding that the state generally manages money well but could improve forecasting, automation, and coordination across agencies. He highlighted that the state has about $35 billion in liquid assets and investments, with most in longer-term investments, and described a change already underway replacing more than 500 six-month CDs with a special-rate savings account to reduce administrative work. Members also discussed the impact of House Bill 1176 on Legacy Fund earnings and the possibility of future legislation to avoid losing investment returns when large transfers are made all at once. The board also noted that some agencies still hold funds outside the Bank of North Dakota system, and that this is being reviewed. Representative Nathan Toman then updated the Task Force on Government Efficiency, saying the group has focused on how to measure whether programs are actually working. He said the task force has not yet proposed legislation, but the administration has agreed that new and expanding programs should answer five questions, including who is affected, what outcome is expected, whether there is another way to do it, and how success will be measured. Members discussed the need for dashboards, program evaluators, better data collection, and possible use of artificial intelligence to identify duplicate or outdated programs. Toman said the task force will continue reviewing agency workflows, with upcoming presentations from courts, the university system, the auditor, and other agencies, and that future legislation or rule changes may be needed to require performance metrics. Phil Davis of Job Service North Dakota presented labor market and program updates. He reported that North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 2.5%, labor force participation is about 68.7%, and the state continues to rank near the top nationally. He reviewed job openings, in-demand occupations, and several workforce programs, including H-2A agricultural worker inspections, the Job Placement Partnership Program with DOCR, and virtual and in-person job fairs. Davis said the DOCR partnership has shown strong results, with lower recidivism and higher earnings for participants, and he emphasized that Job Service tracks outcomes and reports them to federal and state partners. Members asked about child care subsidies, workforce participation, agency coordination, and whether more staff are needed for H-2A inspections. Finally, Allen Knutson presented the updated S&P Global revenue forecast. He said oil prices have risen sharply since the last update, making the revenue outlook more favorable but still volatile. S&P’s baseline forecast showed the current biennium’s four major tax collections about $89 million above the legislative forecast, and a much larger increase for the next biennium, though he cautioned that federal tax changes and oil market uncertainty could alter the numbers. In an alternate scenario using higher near-term oil prices, he estimated about $242 million more in oil and gas tax collections and roughly $120 million more for the Strategic Investment Fund. Members asked whether another forecast should be requested once oil markets stabilize and about changes in tribal oil production assumptions.

Transcript Highlights:

• not be recommended for future not be recommended for future legislation. legislation. legislation.
• </c> future legislation passes. future legislation passes.
• . legislation. legislation.
• legislation legislation passes.
• </c> further legislation, future legislation. further legislation, future legislation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it good practice to keep a larger proportion of legislators who will then be implementing the legislation
• Is it good practice to keep a larger proportion of legislators who will then be implementing the legislation
• , non-legislators.
• to implement the Together with any legislation necessary to implement the recommendations to the Legislative
• I don't believe this legislation is necessary.

Keywords: 908, all