Transcript Highlights:

• Generally, private equity firms rely on large amounts of debt to acquire majority or controlling stakes
• Together, this platform and add-on model gives the same firm control over 10 physicians even though each
• gives<00:04:22.240> the<00:04:22.479> same<00:04:22.639> firm<00:04:23.120> control
• <00:04:23.440> over<00:04:23.759> 10 gives the same firm control over 10 gives the
• same firm control over 10 physicians<00:04:25.040> even<00:04:25.280> though<00:04:25.520

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up two bills concerning health entity ownership and heard invited testimony before acting on them. Dr. Yasha Singh of Brown University testified about private equity in healthcare, describing how PE firms use debt-financed acquisitions, short investment horizons, and roll-up strategies that can avoid disclosure requirements. He said the lack of transparency makes it difficult to track ownership and outcomes, and cited research linking PE ownership to higher costs in outpatient care, more ancillary service use, workforce turnover, and worse outcomes in hospitals and nursing homes. He also noted Minnesota-specific concerns, including PE involvement in opioid treatment programs, and said the policy challenge is balancing needed capital investment with protections for patients and workers. Sam Brooks of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care testified in strong support of the legislation, focusing on nursing homes. He argued that private equity ownership is associated with worse resident outcomes, including higher mortality, more pressure ulcers, more hospitalizations, and more deficiencies, and said leverage buyouts divert money from staffing and care into debt service, management fees, and lease-back arrangements. Brooks said staffing levels and quality ratings decline under PE ownership and pointed to recent bankruptcies as examples of instability. He said the bills would add safeguards such as transparency, attorney general approval of acquisitions, and requirements that a large share of public funds go to direct resident care. The testimony framed the bills as responses to concerns about private equity ownership in healthcare and long-term care, especially the effects on quality, staffing, and financial stability. No vote or final committee action was described in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• covered transaction on the national security of the United States if the transaction would result in control
• National Laboratory testified last July saying that these cameras give China's military operating control
• the gun is loaded,' and that capability is to cause rolling brownouts across the United States by controlling
• National Laboratory testified last July saying that these cameras give China's military operating control
• the gun is loaded, and that capability is to cause rolling brownouts across the United States by controlling

Bills: SB1020, SB1107, SB1117, SB1160, SB1216, SB1308

Keywords: special plates, Arizona Space Commission, transportation, funding, space exploration, peace officer certification, police certification, law enforcement licensing, Arizona POST, peace officer standards and training, military police, veterans, honorably discharged, veteran hiring, abbreviated academy, law enforcement recruitment, public safety, community policing, background investigation, psychological fitness

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Nicotine Free New Mexico is our statewide nicotine and tobacco control coalition for training, education
• only in New Mexico, but what we're seeing nationally as well, so we can stay afloat of the tobacco control
• In the next slide, I wanted to highlight that in August, tobacco control came together.
• It's the premier conference for tobacco control here in the U.S., and it was really exciting because
• are doing, what they're seeing, have conversations with other folks, and network with other tobacco control

Transcript Highlights:

• budget trailer bill that had the goal of stabilizing the budget for the Department of Toxic Substance Control
• The Department of Toxic Substance Control is then able to conduct independent testing to verify those
• of potentially harmful chemicals and report that information to the Department of Toxic Substances Control
• It authorizes the Department of Toxics and Substance Control to expand the list of chemicals of concern
• In 2014, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a chromium-6 MCL at 10 parts per billion in

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it in a report that will then come back to the legislature so that we can see that those internal controls
• Use that moving forward to make better and more informed decisions as to how well internal controls are
• Decisions as to how we fund based on the perhaps great internal controls or a lack of internal controls
• Without real oversight Of the rules, we are in a state of spiral out of control.
• (OLA) the ability to follow back up on their recommendations and to Make sure that the internal controls

Transcript Highlights:

• news is that some of the work we've done in the meetings that we've had with facilities planning and control
• It's some of the work we've done in the meetings that we've had with Facilities Planning and Control,
• Matt Baker, Director of Office Facility Planning and Control for the Division.
• Our partners at facility planning and control. Well, I appreciate your effort.
• Facility Planning and Control prepares 100% of House Bill 2 for the executive branch and submits the

Bills: HB2, HB3, HB799, HB1039

Keywords: capital outlay, budget, infrastructure, appropriation, general obligation bonds, bond authorization, capital improvement, financial management, state treasury, boiler safety, inspection, licensing, state fire marshal, operating certificate, regulations, local sales tax, local use tax, sales and use tax, tax audit, local collector

Transcript Highlights:

• Model Toxics Control Capital and Model Toxics Control Operating, 60 and 10.
• Model toxic control capital and model taxes control operating, 60 and 10.
• are things like from the general fund to the Climate Commitment Act or to model toxics or to litter control

Summary: The conference committee met on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5167, the state operating budget, and received a detailed staff briefing on the proposed conference report. Staff explained how to read the comparison documents, the four-year balanced-budget outlook, and the main resource assumptions, including use of the March 2025 revenue forecast, exclusion of the statutory 4.5% growth assumption, revenue legislation totaling about $8.7 billion, numerous fund transfers, and reversion assumptions. They also noted the proposal does not include a temporary salary reduction or furloughs. The briefing highlighted major policy areas and their net five-year impacts, including increases for state and higher education employee compensation, K-12 education, long-term care and developmental disabilities, corrections, information technology, and other policy items. It also described net reductions in behavioral health, children/youth/families, higher education, natural resources, other human services, and health care/public health, with many of the changes tied to delayed programs, rate adjustments, fund shifts, and savings options from Governor Ferguson. The committee then heard member comments, with supporters emphasizing K-12 funding and fiscal responsibility, and Senator Gildon opposing the process and the closed-door nature of the budget development. A motion was made and seconded to recommend adoption of the conference report and pass the bill. The roll call showed one member voting do not recommend, one member excused, and the remaining members recommending adoption. By vote of the committee, the conference report was adopted, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, House File 6 covers the following priorities: where literacy is learning, global control is
• Instead of funding political agendas, members, we should be funding innovation and local control.
• Most importantly, this section unleashes local control to promote innovative and flexible education programs
• We cannot expect every child to learn in the same way, and local control is innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, programmable logic controllers, PLCs, ICSs, uh SCADA, uh supervisory control administrative systems
• that control uh electric utilities.
• Um programmable logic controllers,<00:10:12.600> PLCs,<00:10:13.480> ICSs, controllers,
• control administrative<00:10:18.080> systems<00:10:18.600> that<00:10:19.160> control
• <00:10:20.360> uh administrative systems that control uh administrative systems that control

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call: 00:01:36 Homeland Security: 00:03:46 Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership: 00:36:29, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as much control as they need, as they feel necessary.
• as much control as they need as they feel necessary. and giving that local control as much control as
• They have the ultimate control over this. Senator Braunberger. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• The recruitment effort being a little bit, you know, outside of what the court's control is.
• You know, outside of what the court's control is. Like we don't generally get involved in that.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have more local controls. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• as much control as they need, as they feel necessary.
• as much control as they need as they feel necessary. and giving that local control as much control as
• They have the ultimate control over this. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• The recruitment effort being a little bit, you know, outside of what the court's control is.

Summary: The Judiciary Interim Committee met to begin its study of charitable gaming and the ownership of alcoholic beverage establishments by licensed charitable gaming organizations, a study directed by Senate Bill 2334. Legislative Council gave an overview of the constitutional and statutory framework for charitable gaming, site authorizations, rent limits, proceeds, and recent legislative changes. The Attorney General’s Gaming Division then clarified the financial flow of gaming, explaining that in fiscal year 2025 North Dakota had about $2.5 billion in gross gaming proceeds, with roughly 88-90% paid back in prizes and about $256 million available to organizations after taxes; most of that activity came from electronic pull tabs. Members asked for more detail on winnings, replays, rent, and the breakdown of manufacturer/distributor revenues, and the AG’s office agreed to provide supplemental information. The committee also heard from the League of Cities and the Association of Counties about local site authorization. Cities said they have a limited role in approving gaming sites, can adopt policies after public hearing, may charge up to $100, and can set certain conditions, including local nexus requirements, but cannot require donations or force a specific charity or site. The League said it had worked with stakeholders on a model policy to provide more consistency, though members raised concerns that local requirements could become too restrictive for charities serving broader areas. Counties said the issue is mostly a city matter, with little county involvement beyond minimal site fees and general site approval. The North Dakota Gaming Alliance testified in support of the study and provided IRS-related material suggesting charities may use asset diversification, while emphasizing it had not taken a position on whether charities should own bars. Members questioned whether bar ownership is being used for site stability or to channel charitable gaming dollars, and whether city policies might disadvantage charities with broader missions. The committee also discussed the relationship between gaming organizations, manufacturers, and distributors, including restrictions on incentives and interference, and asked for more information on those entities and their ownership. Later in the meeting, the Racing Commission gave its regular update on live racing, pari-mutuel wagering, ADW providers, purse and promotion funds, a new TRPB contract, and concerns about cease-and-desist actions from other states. Finally, the State Hospital superintendent briefly reported on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s support services, including the SORT team, training, and security assistance for the hospital campus.

Transcript Highlights:

• What agency is going to have control of what's put in the curriculum?
• Now I understand who's in control.
• They don't have full control of them, correct? Mr.
• They don't have full control of them, correct? Mr.
• These rules then are enforceable under the Air Quality Control Act.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a few technical changes with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, a clarification that
• on technical changes with the manual of on uniform<00:01:50.320> traffic<00:01:50.799> control
• <00:01:52.399> Uh<00:01:52.640> a uniform traffic control devices.
• Uh a uniform traffic control devices.
• We passed this law knowing that we respected local control and placed just two responsibilities on our

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• little bit, but a lot more local control.
• little bit, but a lot more local control.
• little bit, but a lot more local control.
• little bit, but a lot more local control.
• little bit, but a lot more local control.

Bills: HF4893

Keywords: education finance, student support, aid allowances, appropriation, school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• We can't control the fact that when it comes to transmission lines, those are controlled by the federal
• Now, we're trying to respond to the federal... we do have control of is a few things. we do have control
• control here in this body what PJM does. control here in this body what PJM does.
• , again due to things outside our control, again due to things outside our control, not<01:47:44.280
• We have some control are as a state.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, April 2, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation by Reverend J.C. Austin of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, and journalized the prayer. Members also introduced several guests and interns, including a shadow from the 45th District, a Legislative Black Caucus fellow, a ninth-grade author from Annapolis High School, a World Autism Acceptance Day group in the gallery, and a student shadowing the Senator from District 30. The chamber then moved to House bills on second reading and Senate bills on third reading. The Senate adopted favorable committee reports and passed several House bills without objection, including measures extending the Maryland Horse Industry Board sunset, requiring housing counseling information for certain first-time homebuyers, expanding the educator expense tax subtraction to full-time pre-K teachers, increasing funding for the State Library Resource Center, extending agricultural use assessment eligibility for community solar projects, allowing the Seat Pleasant Police Department to join the Law Enforcement Officers Pension System, authorizing changes to a tax sale legacy protection program, and granting special taxing authority for the Village of Drummond. The chamber also adopted seven amendments to Senate Bill 1007 on state debt authorizations and ordered it printed for third reading. On final passage, Senate Bill 956 on Maryland Transportation Authority video toll collections passed with 44 affirmative votes. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 841, a major energy affordability and utility reform bill, with two committee amendments adopted. The bill was described as providing short-, medium-, and long-term rate relief, including changes to EmPOWER Maryland, utility cost recovery, data center tariffs, net metering, solar policy, transmission planning, battery storage, nuclear incentives, and low-income assistance. Debate began on the amended report, and a motion to lay the bill over was withdrawn while members discussed waiting on additional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• judgment and control. judgment and control.
• They can't control any data that's being gathered. They can't control the content on the devices.
• They control over what's in security.
• > that's<02:20:44.160> being can't control any data that's being can't control any data
• There is nothing more local control There is nothing more local control focused<02:36:40.319> than

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment 16 clarifies when a controller or processor complies with federal law.
• Amendment 17 clarifies a consumer right that the controller shall comply with.
• Amendment 21 provides relative to a controller processing data pursuant to federal law.
• Amendments 22 and 23 amend what a controller shall provide consumers with: a reasonably accessible and
• Amendment 24 changes how a processor shall adhere to the instructions of a controller and shall assist

Bills: HB744, HR197, SB54, SB79, SB163, SB287, SB375, SB386, SB398, SB469, SCR5

Keywords: public utility, common carrier, regulation, Public Service Commission, New Orleans, constitutional amendment, distributed energy, energy storage, electricity demand, virtual power plants, reliability, hurricane resilience, esthetics, cosmetology, hair services, beauty industry, Louisiana regulation, Louisiana Economic Development, sunset law, legislative authority

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 11, 2026, and first advanced several Senate measures with little or no opposition. It reported favorably Senate Bill 79 recreating Louisiana Economic Development, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 establishing the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, and Senate Bill 375 on Class B firefighting foam, after adopting a technical amendment clarifying use in declared emergency firefighting operations. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 398, which moves manufactured and modular housing regulation under the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board and expands inspection and enforcement provisions, after adopting two sets of mostly technical amendments and hearing testimony that the change would improve consumer safety and increase inspection coverage without adding net cost to locals. It then reported favorably Senate Bill 163 on virtual currency business licensing, after adopting an amendment providing that any future federal licensing law would preempt the state act, and Senate Bill 287 on virtual currency kiosks, which adds refund timelines, disclosure requirements, customer support, and reporting duties; witnesses from the banking and law enforcement community said the bill responds to common fraud complaints and improves consumer protection. The committee also reported favorably Senate Bill 54, which allows estheticians to blow-dry hair after certain services, despite strong opposition from cosmetology board representatives and industry witnesses who argued the service is outside esthetics training, could create scope-of-practice and facility issues, and should instead be addressed by lowering or revising separate blow-dry licensing requirements. The committee then considered House Resolution 197, which urges the Louisiana Public Service Commission to study the feasibility and value of distributed energy generation and storage resources. After adopting technical amendments and a second amendment changing mandatory language to requests and urging the PSC to coordinate with the LSU Energy Institute, the resolution was reported favorably. Testimony from solar and energy industry representatives, the PSC, and LSU focused on how distributed resources, batteries, rooftop solar, and virtual power plants could improve reliability, reduce costs, and help meet rising demand; members also discussed how the study would evaluate market value, avoided costs, and capacity benefits. Questions centered on methodology, grid impacts, and comparisons to Texas’s ERCOT system and Winter Storm Uri, with PSC officials emphasizing that the study would help determine whether such resources benefit ratepayers. Representative Wright presented House Bill 744, a proposed constitutional amendment to transfer regulation of certain New Orleans utilities from the city council to the Public Service Commission. He argued the change could reduce rates through consolidation and eliminate duplicative regulatory costs, while PSC officials explained the city’s authority is a constitutional exception dating back to 1921 and that Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana operate as separate companies with different regulatory environments. After discussion of rate impacts, utility structure, and whether the proposal should instead become a study, the bill was deferred. The committee then began Senate Bill 386, the Louisiana Data Privacy Act, which would give consumers rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of certain uses of personal data; the sponsor introduced the bill and the committee started considering technical and substantive amendments, but the transcript ends before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas has no appetite for price controls.
• Members, while well-intentioned, SB 387 imposes rigid government-mandated control.
• Well-intentioned, SB 387 imposes rigid government-mandated controls on how pharmacy benefit managers
• And when we are unable to control our health care costs, there are real consequences.
• And we are unable to control our health care costs.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 29 with a quorum present and considered several insurance- and health care-related bills. SB 192, concerning dental reimbursement and payment methods, was amended to clarify opt-in for electronic acceptance and then reported as amended. SB 84, which expands prostate cancer screening coverage for men over 40 and bars cost-sharing, was also amended and reported as amended after testimony from the American Cancer Society supporting earlier detection and reduced out-of-pocket barriers. SB 275, dealing with reimbursement and network access for certified registered nurse anesthetists, was reported favorably with broad support from nurse anesthetists, hospitals, and related groups. SB 169, a biomarker testing cleanup bill, was amended to clarify legislative intent and reported as amended. The committee spent substantial time on two major drug-pricing bills. SB 401 would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to study selected prescription drug prices, collect manufacturer and related pricing data, and report findings to the legislature; amendments narrowed the scope, addressed confidentiality, and delayed implementation. Supporters said it would provide transparency similar to Texas and help lawmakers understand drug pricing, while opponents warned about government overreach and confidentiality concerns. SB 387, the companion PBM reform bill, would restrict PBM compensation to flat fees and performance bonuses, require rebate pass-throughs, limit formulary practices, expand audit and reporting requirements, and create enforcement mechanisms; it was amended to delay implementation, refine definitions, and address ERISA-related concerns. Supporters argued it would curb PBM abuses and lower drug costs, while opponents from the Pelican Institute and PCMA said it would interfere with private contracts, reduce flexibility, and could raise premiums. After a roll call vote, SB 387 was reported with amendments. The committee also took up SB 241, which requires certain insurance adjusters and appraisers to include license numbers in written communications. After amendments narrowing the requirement to individual claims and public adjusters, the bill was reported as amended. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly raised concerns about unintended consequences, especially for cities, school boards, and other non-ERISA plans, and sponsors said they would continue working on the drug-pricing bills before floor consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• works in the hospice industry, asking that we could have clarification and for the destruction and control
• This would legalize the hospice to take control of those drugs and dispose of them properly.
• I'm referring to are those hospice care employees that might be charged with getting rid of this controlled
• How have these controlled dangerous substances been handled previously? Thank you for the question.
• So what's left is all these controlled substances. We need a clear protocol.

Bills: SCR17, SB2104, SB2155, SB1428, SB1250, SB1651, SB1794, SB444, SB1061, SB1327, SB1425, SB1455, SB1458, SB1460, SB1480, SB1530, SB1543, SB1555, SB1593, SB1209, SB1730, SB1733, SB1769, SB1805, SB2069, SB2095, SB1503

Keywords: trusts, Oklahoma Uniform Trust Code, trust administration, trustee, beneficiary, qualified beneficiary, nonjudicial settlement agreement, trust accounting, fiduciary duty, forfeiture clause, no-contest clause, in terrorem clause, certification of trust, trust property, district court jurisdiction, venue, surcharge trustee, trust protector, trust advisor, principal distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and others, I know that there were some questions about local control, and Madam Chair, I
• also will say that I support local control.
• This legislation provides a tool that supports local control by providing a mechanism for local school
• Please protect local control, respect voters, and vote no on House Bill 185. Thank you. Thank you.
• , local control, as they go in to stabilize and still perform the functions of the district, including

Keywords: 996, all