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:

• 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:

• 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:

• 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:

• 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

Committee: Joint Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee

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:

• So this is a piece of legislation that is critically important.
• I turn it over to our legislative agent, Paul Jakes, and also legislative agent Craig Hardy is here as
• presumption, any legislation...
• Any legislation that says we can do better, we are in full support of such stuff.
• I am a legislative agent with the National Association for Government Employees.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting public safety and public sector employees, with most of the discussion focused on expanding occupational presumptions and retirement protections for police, firefighters, correction officers, court officers, and other public employees. Testifiers from the Legislature, police and fire unions, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, PERAC, and the AFL-CIO generally supported bills covering cancer presumptions, contagious disease presumptions, Parkinson’s disease for firefighters, PTSD-related disability and death, and equity for post-certified police officers under the Heart Law. Several speakers emphasized that these conditions are linked to long-term occupational exposure, that current law leaves out agencies such as UMass police, Environmental Police, DMH police, and other state or campus police, and that the bills would correct gaps in existing benefits and presumptions. Representative Colleen Garry and Senator Joan Lovely spoke in support of expanding the Heart Law and cancer presumption protections, while Representative and Senator sponsors for the firefighter and PTSD bills described the health risks faced by first responders and urged favorable reports. PFFM and MassCOP representatives argued that firefighters and police officers face toxic exposures, infectious disease risks, and chronic stress, and cited studies and other states’ laws in support of the measures. PERAC testified that the PTSD accidental disability bill would clarify confusing case law and update filing requirements so traumatic incidents can be used in applications even when PTSD develops later, while still requiring medical review and retirement board approval. Additional testimony came from correction officers and trial court officers seeking comparable disability and pension protections, including a bill to extend a 100% disability pension to correction officers injured in violent attacks and a bill to treat court officers more like police and firefighters when injured in the line of duty. The committee asked a few clarifying questions, including about whether the PTSD bill would address post-retirement claims and about the impact of excluding “forgotten” police agencies. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee ultimately adjourned after hearing all scheduled testimony.

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:

• You said in our area— is that in your legislative district?
• Our area is legislators right now in the Boise area.
• Legislators could do this on their own.
• It's the American Legislative Exchange Council.
• It's the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We ask for your blessings over this legislative body.
• in determining the right legislation to face the challenges and opportunities before them.
• Legislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans and legislation imposing spending limits on entities
• Legislation further protecting unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion.
• Legislation protecting women's privacy and sex-segregated spaces.

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.

Committee: Joint Child Custody Review Task Force

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent the 5th Legislative District, and it is an especially I represent the Fifth Legislative District
• It's unusual to have a legislative auditor's comment.
• This brings us to the legislative auditor's conclusion.
• This brings us to the legislative auditor's conclusion.
• This leads us to the legislative auditor's recommendation.

Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so it could not adopt prior minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and new JLARC staff, and noted national recognition for recent JLARC reports. The meeting then moved into a series of preliminary audit presentations and an agency strategic management update, with committee members asking questions after each item. JLARC presented a preliminary audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Staff concluded that crowding, staffing shortages, weak risk assessments, and inconsistent programming combine to create unsafe conditions. The report found that most youth are housed in two large secure facilities operating near or above capacity, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessment tools are not valid for the population, and program access depends more on facility than individual need. JLARC made one recommendation to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF, including improving retention, training, incident response procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, and data quality. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said the agency agreed overcrowding is a serious problem, described ongoing efforts to improve staffing and safety, and said a detailed response would be provided later. Committee members raised concerns about education access, retaliation against staff or youth who participated in the audit, and whether JR-25 has helped or worsened conditions. JLARC then presented a preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. The audit found that L&I generally meets inspection timelines for health and safety complaints, but not for wage and hour or retaliation complaints, where delays are driven largely by time before assignment to an investigator. Staff said complaint volume exceeds capacity, though the agency has added staff, created screening processes, and reorganized workloads, and 2026 legislation now allows prioritization of complaints and broader investigations. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. An L&I representative said the agency is hiring additional staff and will provide a formal response later. The committee also received a JLARC overview and Department of Health strategic management plan update on hospital data reporting, inspections, complaints, and adverse event reporting. DOH reported measurable progress on inspection compliance, new staffing and licensing systems, translated complaint forms, and plans for future work on language access, adverse event reporting, and financial data dashboards. After lunch, JLARC began its 2026 tax preference performance reviews. The first review covered the Main Street tax credit, which JLARC said has helped increase the number of Main Street communities and businesses, with positive growth near designated districts; JLARC recommended continuing the preference and improving business-count data. The second review covered the equitable access to credit program, which JLARC said appears to support underserved communities by funding loans through CDFIs; JLARC recommended continuing the preference beyond its 2027 expiration. The committee began questions on the program mechanics and the role of the Community Reinvestment Act, and the presentation was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we would like to hear from legislators today.
• Chairman, Legislative Management.
• Dakota's 67th legislative assembly.
• I have visited with the IT staff of our own legislative I have visited with the IT staff of our own legislative
• We're all senior legislators.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee opened with roll call and a review of special-session procedure: bills would be heard in filing order, with related school-lunch bills grouped together, and any bill advancing would require a motion, second, and majority vote to be introduced. Members also discussed that the committee was functioning much like a delayed-bills committee, with final referral to either Appropriations or Policy depending on the bill’s fiscal impact. The first major proposal was Senator Schibley’s bill to create a narrow, statewide Bank of North Dakota bridge-loan program for struggling nonprofit medical facilities, prompted by Jacobson Memorial Hospital’s financial crisis. He argued the hospital and surrounding EMS services could close without short-term help, while committee members questioned the added language, the population cap, the $10 million fund with $5 million per applicant limit, and whether the program could open the door to future requests. Representative Headland then presented two cleanup bills from the prior property-tax session: one to fix notice and tax-certification issues for local taxing districts, and another to correct how the primary residence credit is applied so taxpayers receive the full benefit rather than counties retaining part of the reimbursement. Members asked about township hearing timing, the estimated $10–15 million annual impact, and whether the credit issue could be fixed retroactively; Headland said the bill was intended to correct the problem going forward. Three school-lunch bills drew extensive discussion. Representative Vetter proposed a small administrative appropriation to add an FTE to help eligible families enroll in the existing free/reduced lunch program, saying the goal was to ensure needy children are signed up and that the state should not subsidize meals for wealthy families. Representative Nathe offered a broader bill mirroring the pending initiated measure but placing the program in statute instead of the Constitution, moving implementation up a year, and funding it with a one-time $65 million from the strategic investment fund; he said this would preserve legislative flexibility and avoid constitutional entrenchment. Representative Dressler proposed raising the state-funded eligibility threshold from 225% to 300% of poverty, arguing it would expand access while still preserving federal reimbursements and encouraging better enrollment systems. Members debated costs, future budget pressure, whether the bills set a precedent for responding to ballot measures, and whether the program should include breakfast and other operational details. Other proposals included Senator Powers’ bill to create a hyperbaric oxygen board and support rural access to hyperbaric chambers for wounds, concussions, PTSD, and other conditions; Representative Tolman’s reporting-requirements bill to force new or expanded programs to justify purpose, alternatives, evaluation methods, and full implementation costs; Representative Frelich’s bill addressing the ongoing redistricting litigation and what happens if the Supreme Court or lower courts alter the current map; and a bill requested by the Public Service Commission and ITD for FERC litigation support and ADA website/document compliance. The committee also heard a rural-health eligibility bill from Representative Twait aimed at steering federal rural health dollars toward rural providers, with questions focused on whether the mileage limits would exclude some communities. One Holocaust education item was deferred until the sponsor could be located.

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.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As your legislative liaison, I need direction on what this body wants to do.
• committee to work with the legislative liaison, to review language.
• From a legislative of committee standpoint, this board can...
• It would take legislation to do that, right?
• We could be, you know, but it's going to take legislation to move us.

Summary: The Oklahoma 911 Management Authority held a special meeting with a quorum present to discuss House Bill 2710, the Oklahoma Emergency Communications Act. Staff and the legislative liaison explained that the bill had already changed and was expected to change again before floor consideration. As described, the original draft would have created a new Office of Emergency Communications and moved 911-related functions and funding into it, but the revised direction would instead remove the office language, strip out sections affecting the 911 Management Authority, and place a new Emergency Communications Authority under the Department of Public Safety. The new authority would oversee radio infrastructure and public-safety communications procurement, while 911 funds would remain in Emergency Management. The only direct tie to the 911 Management Authority would be a seat for the state 911 coordinator or designee on the new authority. Members discussed concerns about mission creep, funding, and whether the authority should be involved in radio-related functions, with staff emphasizing that the board’s mission is 911 and dispatch rather than radio operations. They also noted that no additional funding was expected for the radio side and that the bill could still change multiple times as it moved through the House, Senate, and governor’s office. Several members asked whether the board could remain neutral while still allowing the legislative liaison and legislative committee to stay engaged and respond quickly to changes. A motion was made and seconded to keep the board neutral on the bill for now, while authorizing the legislative liaison and legislative committee to continue working with Representative Ford and other legislators, monitor revisions, and speak for or against changes as needed to protect the authority’s mission. The board also agreed that updates could be provided at regular meetings or by email as needed. The motion passed by roll call vote, and the meeting was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You said 'in our area'—is that in your legislative district?
• Our area is legislators right now in the Boise area.
• Legislators could do this on their own, absolutely.
• It's the American Legislative Exchange Council.
• It's the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from January 19 and 20. It then heard several RS requests from Rep. Heather Scott aimed at removing Idaho from or repealing participation in various commissions and regional agreements. RS 32866 would eliminate the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs; after questions about whether it would end the agency immediately, the motion to introduce failed on a 7-7 tie. RS 32921 would withdraw Idaho from the Pacific Northwest Economic Region Cooperation Agreement; Scott argued it cost about $60,000 annually and advanced policies Idaho does not support, while some members said they wanted more information but supported introducing it. The motion to introduce RS 32921 passed. RS 32922 would remove Idaho from the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force; Scott said it was a taxpayer-funded NGO with little clear benefit, but other members raised concerns about Idaho losing a voice on fisheries, salmon, and water issues. The motion to introduce RS 32922 failed, 7-7, and was returned to the sponsor. The committee then considered RS 32951, brought by Rep. Elaine Price, which would create a House joint resolution asking voters whether to repeal Section 5 of Article 9 of the Idaho Constitution, the Blaine Amendment. Price said recent court decisions show the provision can conflict with the U.S. Constitution and discriminate against Christians, citing a case involving a church and a school facility. Members asked for clarification on the constitutional conflict and examples of unequal treatment, and one member said Idahoans should decide the issue. The motion to introduce RS 32951 passed, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Draft municipal authorization or legislation.
• Legislation.
• It generally requires legislative authorization.
• What we frequently see in legislation that authorizes DCAM to actually Frequently see in legislation
• This legislation does not appear, that aspect of this legislation does not appear to be gray.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight held an oversight hearing on draft regulations implementing Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution under Chapter 274 of the Acts of 2022, the Open Space Act. Chairs Cabral and Collins framed the hearing as a review of how the new process for dispositions or changes in use of Article 97 land would work, including public notice, environmental justice protections, replacement land, appraisals, and the role of the legislature. Under Secretary Stephanie Cooper and Commissioner Adam Bakke testified for EEA/DCAM, followed later by Deputy Inspector General O’Neill and Deputy Inspector General Giles on appraisal review. Much of the discussion focused on how the draft regulations would operate in practice. EEA said the regulations would require advance public notice, define “comparable location” for replacement land, and allow the Secretary to make findings on whether an action would adversely affect environmental justice communities. Members pressed for longer public comment periods, clearer notice to local officials, more frequent updates to the site evaluation tool, and a clearer definition of terms such as “limited duration” for permits and licenses. EEA said the regulations are intended to standardize a process that has been handled through policy and case-by-case review, and that the legislature still retains the final authority to approve any Article 97 disposition. Committee members also questioned whether the draft rules shift too much discretion to the Secretary and whether the proposed “proponent” process could allow private entities to drive Article 97 actions. EEA responded that non-public proponents would still need municipal support and legislative sponsorship, and that the regulations do not create a new avenue to bypass the existing home rule and legislative process. Members raised concerns about the current policy’s unanimous-vote requirements for municipal commissions, the proposed waiver provisions, whether MEPA applies, and the lack of explicit enforcement or penalty language in the act or regulations. EEA and DCAM said the act does not provide an enforcement mechanism and that disputes would generally be handled through the courts or the Attorney General. The Inspector General’s office explained its role in reviewing appraisals for special legislation, including Article 97 matters, to ensure compliance with USPAP standards and to forward its review to DCAM. The hearing did not include any votes or formal committee action; members indicated that the committee may later issue recommendations to the executive agencies based on the testimony and questions raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• Selena Reyes is my legislative analyst, and Jacqueline Andrade is a legislative aide.
• ><c> analyst</c><00:16:33.519><c> and</c> Reyes is my legislative analyst and Reyes is my legislative
• </c> Jacqueline Andrade is a legislative aid. Jacqueline Andrade is a legislative aid.
• </c> involving an unidentified legislator involving an unidentified legislator have<01:01:43.119><c>
• </c> legislator. Thank you. legislator. Thank you.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from the next legislative assembly.
• This committee could draft legislation, or they could ask the tax committee to draft legislation.
• of the legislative session, the executive branch takes over and enforces those legislative provisions
• So basically, we need as legislators to have certain legislation, So basically, we need as legislators
• And then the 2023 legislative assembly and the 2025 legislative assembly both authorized exemptions to

Summary: The committee was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer were offered, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Members then received a memo summarizing major audit items and began hearing audit presentations from the State Auditor’s Office and private auditors on a range of state agencies and organizations. Several audits were reported as clean, including the Bank of North Dakota, the North Dakota Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation’s flexible transportation fund, Lake Region State College, and the Department of Environmental Quality. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association also received an unmodified opinion, though repeat findings were noted for limited segregation of duties and financial statement preparation due to its small staff. The Council on the Arts audit found two findings: payroll charged to federal awards without adequate timekeeping records, and unallowable expenditures from a restricted cultural endowment fund. The Department of Public Instruction audit identified unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, though additional testing showed the funds were used for their intended purpose. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which identified four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating limit, grant conditions not being met, improper Breeders Fund awards, and improper procurement for advertising services. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson acknowledged complacency and weak controls, said the agency would tighten procedures, and explained that the commission had since worked with procurement and would follow the rules more closely. Auditors also explained that the commission would now be audited every two years because of the findings. Another major discussion involved the University of North Dakota School of Law, where auditors found a lack of documentation supporting admissions decisions for post-baccalaureate programs. UND officials said they remain in good standing with the American Bar Association but agreed better documentation and tools are needed; the committee pressed for more transparency and follow-up on admissions criteria. The committee also received an update on Dakota College at Bottineau, where Minot State University reported that bank reconciliations had been brought current after a significant backlog and would now be maintained through shared services. Members requested a written follow-up report on the issues and corrective actions. Finally, the North Dakota Fair Association explained that its foundation has been dissolved and remaining funds were transferred to another nonprofit for continued support of the state fair, and the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, saying the reported amount was about $1.1 million from a partial district survey and that debt remains a local issue, though it could be revisited if school meal funding changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker. support for legislation that House support for legislation that House Republicans<00:06:03.840
• </c><00:06:42.400><c> will</c> new legislation, House Republicans will new legislation, House Republicans
• </c> colleagues to support this legislation colleagues to support this legislation and<02:29:37.200><
• This legislation is about balance.
• This legislation is uh improvements. This legislation is about<04:09:47.920><c> balance.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, December 15, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Introduction of legislation. Hearing no objection, we're adjourned.
• Seeing no objection, Senator Muñoz to explain the bill. permanent legislative committees and legislative
• legislative departments: Braille Legislative Council Services $12,184,000, Interim Legislative Expenses
• This is the introduction of legislation.
• This is an extra referral on this piece of legislation.