Transcript Highlights:

• There is some rulemaking associated with that process, and we have started that process.
• We are in the process of designing our application and selection process, which will be published in
• But it's about a process and replicating that process instead of focusing on a result.
• I believe that process is done at campuses.
• A similar process occurs at Edgewood ISD.

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment that, basically, instead of the Land Board or DLNR being involved in this certification process
• that</c><00:02:57.879><c> it</c><00:02:58.000><c> be</c><00:02:58.239><c> DOA</c> uh certification process
• that it be DOA uh certification process that it be DOA because<00:02:59.159><c> that</c><00:02:59.360
• </c><00:41:59.440><c> and</c> housing and um development process and housing and um development process
• </c><00:53:31.280><c> or</c> the project proponent to contract or the project proponent to contract or

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first heard SB 443, which would require agricultural-district lands with solar energy facilities to also be certified as being used for a farming operation. DLNR, the State Energy Office, and the Agri-Business Development Corporation all supported the bill but recommended changes, including shifting the certifying authority from DLNR/BLNR to the Department of Agriculture. The Attorney General also recommended replacing the certification requirement with a condition that the land be used for a farming operation, citing the lack of a clear statutory framework for certification. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported the measure but suggested using existing county agricultural dedication processes and raised concerns about conversion of agricultural land. The committees adopted amendments reflecting the Department of Agriculture as the certifying body and the Attorney General’s proposed language, then passed SB 443 with amendments. The committees then took up SB 79, relating to historic preservation reviews for state affordable housing projects. DLNR State Historic Preservation and DHHL supported the bill with amendments, including striking a redundant section and conforming the language to existing law. The committees agreed to those changes, and after a brief recess and decision-making, Water and Land, Housing, and Hawaiian Affairs each voted to pass SB 79 with amendments. The record notes that some members were excused and that the committees adopted the chair’s recommendations. Later, the joint Housing and Water and Land hearing considered SB 26, SB 867, and SB 1170. SB 26 would create an affordable housing land inventory task force within HCDA; HHFDC supported it, while HCDA suggested an alternative approach involving county coordination. The committees amended the bill to incorporate OPSD’s proposed language, add legislative and county representatives to the task force, and include an appropriation for the Mayor Wright project, then passed it with amendments. SB 867, which creates a working group to inventory water resources and streamline well permit approvals for affordable housing, drew broad support and was amended to specify the Department of Health director rather than the Clean Water Branch chief; it also passed with amendments. SB 1170, which would exempt certain Maui affordable rental housing projects from chapter 205A, drew support from housing interests but concern from the Attorney General that it could be unconstitutional; the AG suggested narrowing the bill to disaster recovery and limiting its scope. Testifiers also discussed the Weinberg Court Apartments project and other redevelopment concerns, but the transcript ends before final action on SB 1170 is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• . contracting. contracting.
• </c> and making sure that we have contracts and making sure that we have contracts in<00:10:42.040><c
• Um, I want to commend everybody that was involved in the stakeholder process.
• </c><01:06:46.800><c> Obviously,</c> in the stakeholder process.
• Obviously, in the stakeholder process.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rumor has it that... oh, sorry, I don't know if a Sentra got their contract renewed by the Executive
• </c><00:12:48.120><c> around</c> provisions of the contract around provisions of the contract around
• yeah I I don't know rumor has it process yeah I I don't know rumor has it that<00:13:00.160><c> that
• </c><00:13:04.639><c> uh</c><00:13:04.760><c> renewed</c> Centra got uh their contract uh renewed Centra
• Thank you. into our hands till late in the process into our hands till late in the process so<00:44:34.400

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So are things going well in that process?
• And that’s why we need more process of collaboration and reviewing of processes, yes, because I believe
• we also have a full-time the contract we also have a full-time contract<01:55:23.920><c> monitor</c>
• , it's pre-trial, in the process of being convicted.
• it's pre-trial in the in the process it's pre-trial in the process<02:08:45.280><c> of</c><02:08:45.520

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: At the joint hearing on SB 951 SD2, the committees heard testimony on a child protection measure requiring mandatory child abuse and neglect reports to include military status and to improve communication between DHS and the Department of Defense. The U.S. Department of Defense testified in support and described its coordinated community response process for abuse reports, saying the bill would help ensure child safety and better coordination with DHS. DHS was initially absent, later appeared, and said it supported the measure but was still working with DOD on implementation details and staff training. Members asked about how DHS becomes involved and whether there were gaps in the current process. The chair recommended passage with technical amendments, including changing the effective date to 7/1/25 and conforming related language, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The Public Safety committee then heard SB 1377 SD2, which would create a Veterans Cemeteries Board within the Office of Veterans Services in the Department of Defense to provide guidance, education, and technical assistance to state veteran cemeteries. DOD supported the bill and explained that county-run cemeteries must meet National Cemetery Administration standards to remain eligible for federal reimbursements and grants; witnesses described past compliance problems at several cemeteries, including one still not compliant in Hilo, and said the board would help counties prepare for future site visits and improve oversight without taking over operations. Members asked about costs, reimbursement amounts, and whether the state would assume cemetery operations; DOD said the current reimbursement process runs through the state to the counties and that direct takeover would be costly. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments. The committee also heard SB 1382, which would make intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a National Guard member performing duty a class C felony. The Hawaii National Guard and HPD supported the bill, citing incidents during the Maui response where Guard members encountered noncompliant and sometimes physically confrontational individuals while assisting police and protecting impacted areas. Testimony emphasized that Guard members are often unarmed and should receive protections similar to first responders. One witness opposed the bill, but the committee moved forward and adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments. Finally, the committee took up SB 1379 SD2 on emergency preparedness and Community Readiness Centers. Hawaii Emergency Management supported the bill, and supporters said it would create a statewide framework for resilience hubs that can provide supplies, action plans, and refuge during disasters. Testimony highlighted recent hurricanes, wildfires, and other hazards, and argued the measure would complement existing county efforts rather than replace them. County of Hawaii testimony opposed the bill, raising concerns about overlap and cost, while members asked about estimated expenses and implementation. The discussion ended with questions about planning and whether the bill would enhance existing programs; no final vote was captured in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's been thousands of people participating in this process.
• First, the state must finish the job with the process it started in Jobs First.
• I've seen this repeatedly in real site selection processes.
• And they said they wanted to get a federal contract. They could not get the capital.
• That kind of process can help a lot and be applied this way, too.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if we want this process to go smoothly, stay close to the microphone. We'll do.
• Okay, from there, I was just going to go through our homeownership process again.
• And we're in the process of hiring the last reclamation tech.
• So I just hope that's continuing as part of the review process. Is there any other questions?
• At this time, there have been no commitments, no contracts, anything.

Summary: The committee met as the Budget Section’s Regulatory Division and first reviewed base budget materials for the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Mineral Resources. Legislative Council explained the blue-sheet budget summaries and historical funding trends. The Housing Finance Agency then reported on its ongoing homeownership, housing incentive, and homelessness programs, noting that its new FTEs are being filled, loan servicing remains above benchmark, and the agency is operating largely on special and federal funds rather than general fund dollars. Housing Finance officials said the Housing Incentive Fund continues to be heavily oversubscribed, with requests far exceeding available dollars, and described how funds are being used for multifamily gap financing, rural single-family development, community land trusts, and homeless prevention/rapid rehousing. Members asked about performance measures, the number of people served, and the relationship between housing costs, wages, and homelessness. The agency said it uses scoring criteria tied to performance and outcomes, and requested that the Legislature maintain or increase funding for HIF, single-family housing, and homeless grants. Committee members also discussed the need to coordinate housing finance efforts with Commerce and broader site-preparation and workforce issues. The Department of Mineral Resources reported that it is on track with its budget, has filled most of its newly authorized reclamation positions, and is moving ahead on several initiatives, including IT modernization through Project North Star, organizational succession planning, and rulemaking for critical minerals and oil and gas programs. The director gave an extensive update on oil and gas activity, explaining that longer laterals and operational efficiencies are keeping production relatively flat even as rig counts decline, and that gas capture remains around 95 percent. Members asked about oil prices, hedging, spacing units, and the effects of geopolitical events on markets and state revenues. The committee also received an update on the enhanced oil recovery grant program and the Pipeline Authority. The EOR program’s $25 million appropriation was fully allocated to six projects, with additional oil and gas research funds also committed, and officials said the projects will require public status reports and final reports. The Pipeline Authority described major natural gas transmission projects, including the upcoming Bakken Express line and the proposed Bakken East project, which recently completed a binding open season after the Industrial Commission selected WBI Energy’s proposal to move forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• year 27 is the budget we are currently working on, and as you know, we have a three-year budgeting process
• couple years ago, and the agency itself in total was continued for any number of years as part of that process
• Act to prohibit People's Republic of China government-controlled or majority-owned companies from contracting
• the state. ...People's Republic of China government-controlled or majority-owned companies from contracting
• requires a company to certify with ADOA that it is not submitting a bid or proposal for a state contract

Summary: The meeting began with a JLBC presentation on the state budget proposal. Staff reviewed revenue changes from the April forecast, which lowered expected growth slightly, and then walked through major tax policy provisions. Those included full conformity with HR1 for the current tax year, a shift to the provisions of SB 1106 for future tax years, new deductions for retirement/pension distributions and Roth IRA contributions, an increase in the dependent credit, and a child and dependent care subtraction. Staff said the tax changes had an overall fiscal impact of about $1.4 billion over four years. They also described offsets from repealing several tax credits and exemptions, including solar-related tax breaks, a renewable energy production credit, a new employment tax credit, a refundable R&D credit for smaller employers, and a pollution-control device credit, totaling about $75 million in added revenue. Another budget item would redirect Arizona Commerce Authority Competes Fund lottery distributions to the general fund. Members asked questions about the budget’s effect on ACCESS eligibility checks, state employee health insurance funding, and cuts to one-time funding for area agencies on aging and Alzheimer’s programs. The committee then moved to caucus items on several bills. HB 2249, as amended by the Senate, would expand the parents’ bill of rights to include access to a child’s complete educational record and notice if school staff facilitate social transitioning, and would require investigation of prior violations; the sponsor concurred with the amendment. HB 2035 would require DCS and courts to identify and consider extended family for kinship foster care placement, with Senate changes shortening a reporting deadline and adding adopted family members to the definition. HB 2170 would bar state contracts for electronic or IT goods with PRC-controlled companies, with a certification requirement added in the Senate. HB 2573 would remove a waiting period for ignition interlock restricted licenses after DUI revocation and adjust psychotherapy language. HB 2415 on kratom would classify synthetic kratom as a narcotic drug and add advertising, packaging, and retail restrictions, but the sponsor intended to refuse the Senate changes. HB 2873 would let local petition sponsors withdraw municipal referendum petitions retroactively, which members noted could affect the Marana data center petition effort. The final bill discussed, SB 1798, would create a Financial Aid Awareness Program in the Department of Education to recognize schools that support FAFSA completion. Members questioned whether the department would need additional staff or resources, but no fiscal note had been provided. The meeting ended with recognition of interns and a brief photo opportunity before the caucus moved into closed session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We seek to protect the rights of all who participate in the legislative process so that we can have effective
• Please be aware that violations of these rules may subject you to removal or other enforcement processes
• If a health plan has a contracted rate and cost sharing is limited, the plan or insurer is still obligated
• to pay the entire contracted rate to the provider. ...the plan or insurer is still obligated to pay
• the entire contracted rate to the provider, and I'm committed to continuing conversations with any concerned

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1713, access procurement contracting. SB 1714. SB 1713, access procurement contracting.
• SB 1721, prevailing wage contracts agreements. SB 1723, domestic violence.
• SB 1748, victims' rights opt-in process. SB 1749, raffles, real property.
• SB 1775, in-may telephone system service contracts. SB 1776, traditional healing services access.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a working process.
• And that process, I believe, represented...
• Process.
• The exact same process is contemplated here.
• There's a long process before they get issued.

Committee: Joint Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's getting us access, and after this contract is done, if the state of Minnesota says we don't have
• It's getting us access, and after this contract is done, if the state of Minnesota says we don't have
• It's getting us access, and after this contract is done, if the state of Minnesota says we don't have
• It's getting us access, and after this contract is done, if the state of Minnesota says we don't have
• </c> moved that up in the planning process moved that up in the planning process while<00:48:51.799><

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The taxpayers have been paying liabilities of doctors in New Mexico through that process the last two
• That process is abused to leverage higher settlement amounts.
• And has this bill been through any committee processes this year? Yes. Well, not this year.
• And in that case, you have this overlap between a policy by the hospital and their contract to contract
• But the process that I think people in New Mexico want us to do is to protect them.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 61, which would raise aggravated battery on a peace officer from a third-degree to a second-degree felony in cases involving great bodily harm or a deadly weapon. The sponsor and supporters said the bill fixes an inconsistency in current law, where aggravated assault on an officer can be punished more severely than aggravated battery causing serious injury. Law enforcement representatives, the Chiefs Association, CBRC, and chamber representatives testified in support, and the New Mexico Sentencing Commission was noted as having endorsed the bill by a 6-3-4 vote. After questions about proportionality and plea bargaining, the committee voted due pass on HB 61 without objection. The committee then returned to House Bill 99, a medical malpractice reform bill, and several members made conflict-of-interest disclosures before debating amendments. The discussion focused heavily on the patient compensation fund, surcharge setting, and whether an advisory board or the superintendent should control rates. Amendments to segregate future fund money, require surcharges no lower than the advisory board’s recommendation, and create a commission with more actuarial and financial expertise were debated at length; the committee rejected the first two amendments. Members and witnesses argued over whether past undercharging of hospitals and doctors led to insolvency and taxpayer bailouts, and whether the bill should require more transparency and oversight. The committee also debated amendments on punitive damages. One proposal would have delayed punitive damage claims until after substantial discovery; opponents said it would conflict with civil procedure, prolong litigation, and likely be struck down. Another would have tied punitive damages to a multiple of compensatory damages or a percentage of net worth; supporters said that would better deter harmful conduct, while opponents said it would create uncertainty and more discovery. That amendment also failed. A final punitive-damages amendment would have removed caps in cases involving sexual assault or intoxication by a health care provider and protected the first $5 million of an independent provider’s personal assets; it too was rejected after members said it would shield egregious misconduct and go beyond the bill’s purpose.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're going to mine and process that mineral a lot cheaper than we ever could.
• First, what’s the current process? First, what’s the current process on this?
• You know, we have processes. We can help you. Luckily, through U.S.
• It's a process measure. They're making burgers and they're selling burgers.
• That's a measurement of their process. It's not a measurement.

Bills: HB2056 , HB2202 , HB2207 , HB2224 , HB2303 , HB2344 , HB2532 , HB2759 , HB2798

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: brackish water, groundwater, desalination, water resources, feasibility study, environmental impact, dementia care, telementoring, healthcare education, rural communities, grant funding, braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion, produce incentive, agriculture, economic support, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• So can you give us a little more update on the grant process that you have?
• I mean, sometimes it is just that the work is being done without the proper contract or the proper notice
• We certify the worker or the contract company. So they receive training. They take a test.
• allows an individual who is a veteran that meets certain criteria to, instead of going through the process
• allows an individual who is a veteran that meets certain criteria to, instead of going through the process

Committee: All ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The committee first reviewed the Division of Environmental Quality’s asbestos abatement program. DEQ officials explained that the program licenses asbestos-related workers and businesses, including contractors, workers, inspectors, planners/designers, consultants, air monitors, and training providers, under federal and state requirements. Members asked about asbestos use today, grant funding for removal, inspections funded by fees and fines, complaint handling, enforcement authority, and health risks. DEQ said some asbestos-containing products are still manufactured, grants have not been issued in over six years due to funding constraints, inspectors investigate complaints and can issue civil penalties or other enforcement actions, and exposure can cause asbestosis and mesothelioma. The report was accepted without objection. The committee then heard from the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training. Officials described the agency’s standards and training divisions, three basic academies, advanced training, and jail standards training. Members asked about recruitment, academy capacity, training costs, and curriculum changes. The commission said recruitment and retention are improving, basic academy enrollment is around 700 per year with capacity for about 725 to 750, training costs counties nothing because the state funds it, and basic training is being expanded from 528 hours to 705 hours with more practical instruction based on input from chiefs and sheriffs. Questions also covered detention officer training, school resource officer training, and whether other agencies are subject to the same standards. Officials said detention officers receive separate training, school resource officers have standalone training approved by the commission, and other law enforcement divisions such as the Department of Agriculture are held to the same standards. They also noted a Veterans to Law Enforcement program that allows eligible veterans to attend the academy without first being hired by an agency, with GI Bill support. The report was accepted without objection, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you give us a little more update on the grant process that you have?
• I mean, sometimes it is just that the work is being done without the proper contract or the proper notice
• We certify the worker or the contract company.
• test done and then there's asbestos. ...and they can't really afford to go through the abatement process
• allows an individual who is a veteran that meets certain criteria to, instead of going through the process

Committee: All ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1177 clarifies ad valorem tax exemptions for defense and aerospace operations and revises contract
• Would you ask, with the current process, as a Legislature, to understand what, for example, the cash
• Representative, briefly, before the establishment originally of this fund, what was the process?
• Since its establishment, what was the process before the trust fund establishment, if you know?
• The regular operating process.

Summary: The Transportation Economic Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard four measures. First, the committee considered PCS for HB 1177, which originally addressed ad valorem tax exemptions for defense and aerospace operations and contract procedures for Space Florida. An amendment removed the tax exemption portion for later consideration in the tax package, and the bill then passed favorably after brief discussion about Florida’s competitiveness in the space industry. The committee next took up a conforming budget bill on documentary stamp taxes, which redirects a portion of doc stamp revenue from general revenue to the State Transportation Trust Fund. The sponsor said the change restores a $60 million transportation funding stream with a corresponding general revenue reduction, while maintaining a net zero fiscal impact overall. Members asked about why the funding was being restored and how the money would be used, and the bill passed favorably. Members then heard PCB 26-02, which re-creates the Emergency Preparedness Response Fund and adds restrictions and oversight. The proposal limits the fund to state appropriations for natural emergencies, requires legislative consultation for extended emergencies, keeps revenue in the fund, sends federal reimbursements to general revenue, adds quarterly reporting and inventory/accounting requirements, and sunsets the fund in 2030 unless reenacted. Testimony and debate focused on accountability, disaster response readiness, and concerns about prior uses of the fund; the PCB passed favorably. Finally, the committee considered HB 953, which strengthens oversight of commercial driving schools by authorizing county tax collectors to enforce related statutes and inspections. The sponsor said the bill responds to fraud and misrepresentation in the industry and would help protect driver licensing integrity, especially in South Florida. After supportive testimony from the Miami-Dade Tax Collector’s Office and a lobbyist, the bill passed favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's aimed at increasing the clarity around home service contracts for consumers.
• The changes in the provision will fall more in line with the current process And the provision will fall
• more in line with the current processes that the Oklahoma Insurance Commission currently uses, and the
• Hopefully the processes that are placed currently through the Oklahoma Insurance Department would handle
• This bill is designed to give homeowners a five-day cooling-off period to get out of a contract when

Bills: HB3790 , HB2941 , HB2959 , HB3087 , HB3974 , HB3500 , HB3697 , HB3262 , HB3582 , HB4226 , HB3037 , HB4139 , HB4143 , HB4144 , HB2936 , HB3322 , HB4296 , HB3278 , HB4202 , HB4176 , HB3303 , HB3648 , HB4119

Committee: House Civil Judiciary

Keywords: home repairs, consumer protection, contracts, homeowner rights, rescission, fentanyl, overdose, first responders, drug reporting, immunity, controlled substances, penalties, school abuse reporting, child abuse, neglect, mandatory reporting, student safety, school employee misconduct, administrator reporting, superintendent

Summary: The committee considered a series of House bills, mostly on civil procedure, public records, insurance, local government, and liability issues. Early measures included HB 4139, creating the Oklahoma Home Warranty Transparency Act to improve disclosures in home service contracts; HB 4143, raising the property-damage threshold for Oklahoma City officers to work traffic collisions from $300 to $3,000; HB 4144, clarifying that arrest and incident reports must include a brief summary; and HB 3974, allowing counties in multi-county jails to limit lawsuits to the county that placed the inmate in the facility. Each of these bills received a motion, no debate, and a unanimous due-pass recommendation. The committee also heard HB 3303, which was presented as a response to an insurance claim dispute involving fault allocation after a red-light crash. The author said the bill would align with Oklahoma Insurance Department processes and could be revised further before oversight; members raised concerns about jury verdicts and whether the bill could affect premiums. HB 3790, giving homeowners a five-day cooling-off period after door-to-door home repair sales, and HB 3697, a procedural fix codifying extra time defendants can already obtain by reservation, also advanced unanimously. HB 3262, a request bill from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office to update warrant fees, was amended to say “up to” and then passed 7-2. Additional bills approved included HB 4226 on timelines for judicial recusals, HB 2936 barring people convicted of pedophilia from adopting, HB 3322 on interpreting statutes when multiple versions exist, HB 4296 protecting a notary’s home address from publication, HB 3278 creating a process to resolve Open Meetings Act violations without court, HB 4202 moving radiology reimbursement rates in workers’ compensation to the fee schedule, HB 3648 extending Governmental Tort Claims Act coverage to OU Health entities, HB 3500 removing a nine-month delay for filing a transfer-on-death deed confirmation, and HB 3037 adding certain students working under professors to the employee definition for tort-claim purposes. The committee also laid over HB 2941, HB 2959, HB 387, HB 4176, and HB 419, and adjourned after reporting the remaining bills due pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> underlies that um in that uh process underlies that um in that uh process there<00:43:24.040><c>
• There's a robust process for that.
• There's a robust process for that.
• Representative Frasier: But I don’t understand how we would skip that process.
• Nobody's hiding the contracts that exist between our office and NYU.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:29.120><c> Um,</c><00:19:29.919><c> we</c> processing through the system.
• Um, we processing through the system.
• You have a signed contract to do something, he said.
• You have a signed contract to operate. You have a signed contract to do<00:43:02.319><c> something.
• </c><01:18:09.440><c> that</c> overrule the planning processes that overrule the planning processes that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all