Transcript Highlights:

• So the current program we have is called the risk pool, and there used to be a 25% surcharge if you went
• program we have is it's called the risk program we have is it's called the risk pool<00:47:25.440
• If you get into the risk pool, you have a surcharge, and if you're going to put them in that risk pool
• that's got a surcharge and you're bringing in risks that don't have insurance?
• The pool of people that existed in that first pre-approval is no longer the same.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this is almost like a form of double jeopardy or a double um risk associated with it.
• The primary duty of the director is to evaluate and mitigate risk through policy decisions.
• evaluate and mitigate mitigate risk evaluate and mitigate mitigate risk through<00:24:46.799>
• from the other body on the bonding pool from the other body on the bonding pool bill<00:56:12.960
• It's the exact year on the bonding pool.

Bills: HB0130, HB0095, HB0096, HB0097, SF0101, SF0106, SF0067, SF0123

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearms, state rights, federal regulation, law enforcement, civil penalties, government liability, concealed carry, public colleges, university facilities, weapons legislation, self-defense, campus safety, weapons, age requirement, permits, HB0097, Wyoming firearms privacy, merchant category code, MCC

Transcript Highlights:

• The next one we had was the new and vacant FTE pool.
• If they're tight and there's some accidents, doesn't that put evidence at risk?
• If they're tight and there's some accidents, doesn't that put evidence at risk?
• So some of those litigation fees are on the litigation pool as well.
• Some of the litigation pool went to fund some efforts to defend that statute.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to hear the Attorney General’s budget and related agency presentations. Legislative Council first reviewed the compliance with legislative intent report and the base budget worksheet, highlighting current and ongoing appropriations, FTE changes, one-time funding items, continuing appropriations, and major special and federal funds. Members asked about items such as the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund, the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit grant funding, and staff explained the funding sources and status of those programs. Assistant Attorney General Clare Ness then outlined the Attorney General’s office structure, staffing, and budget pressures. She emphasized the office’s broad statutory duties, the value of its legal and investigative work for state and local governments, and concerns about attorney salary competitiveness, the new and vacant FTE pool, and the impact of the 3% operating budget reduction on BCI, IT, and the crime lab. Members also discussed AG opinions, boards and commissions training, and the office’s litigation and settlement recoveries. Ness and committee members raised the possibility of broader attorney salary benchmarking across state government. The crime lab director described severe space and infrastructure constraints, including overcrowding, shared workspaces, glycol leaks, air handling limits, and aging fire and burglar alarm systems. She said the 2024 study projected a much larger facility would be needed and that a new building on the current health department site would best address the lab’s needs. She also reported that backlogs have improved significantly in DNA, drug, fingerprint, and firearms work, though toxicology had a recent delay after an air compressor failure. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit director described the unit’s fraud, abuse, and neglect work, noted federal-state funding and recent federal scrutiny, and said the unit needs more staff. The gaming division reviewed charitable gaming growth, e-tabs, trust accounts, and compliance issues, while BCI covered its caseload, cybercrime and child sexual abuse material investigations, the missing indigenous person task force, and the use of lottery funds for drug task forces. No formal votes or budget actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unlike other high-risk professions, commercial diving operations involved in lake weed removal lack clear
• <00:49:22.880> then the pool uh once you go to the pool then the pool uh once you go to the
• <00:54:41.440> of things there that can create risks of things there that can create risks
• isn't uh a risk unless Minnesota were to isn't uh a risk unless Minnesota were to take<01:02:57.160><
• regulation uh that that isn't a risk regulation uh that that isn't a risk that<01:03:02.279>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We call it the state self-insurance pool, or SSIP for short.
• <01:19:53.520> management that would come out of risk management that would come out of risk
• It creates substantial and long-term financial risk.
• Raising the cap dramatically risk.
• pool.

Bills: HB0068, HB0062, HB0127, HB0109

Keywords: veterans, property tax exemption, disabled, service-connected disability, Wyoming, governmental claims, liability limits, inflation adjustment, public safety, local government insurance, HB0127, recreation mill levy, recreational facilities, public recreation, mill levy, property tax, local tax, county commissioners, school district levy, voter approval

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's a financial risk of my own.
• Ninety-five cities came together to say we want to pool our insurance and insure ourselves, and so we
• run the pool to make sure that our members have coverage.
• Risk management. It's human capital, financial assets, physical assets.
• You know, they even have a swimming, kind of like a pool lake for swimming. There.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:08:12.040> render training investment at risk, render training investment at risk, render
• The smaller the number of people in the pool, the higher the costs for each person.
• The paid family medical leave puts jobs at risk for apprentices.
• At the same risking their livelihoods.
• <00:35:00.560> of protections while reducing the risk of protections while reducing the risk

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, it shifts the risk abatement.
• ><00:17:48.160> enforceable risk allocation and clear enforceable risk allocation and clear enforceable
• requiring action with two two pool requiring action with two two pool projects<00:26:52.840>
• and one from the supplemental pool.
• All four are water grant reallocations from the county allocation pool. Okay.

Keywords: 0:00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:00:28 Approval of Minutes 0:00:40 Information Items 0:01:13 Rpt from Postsecondary Institutions 0:26:46 Project Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 0:30:53 Lease Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 0:39:20 Rpt from OFM – KIA 0:52:42 Econ Development – EDF Grants 0:55:15 OFM Debt Issues 0:58:43 Informational Discussion 1:44:36 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including a quorum call, approval of minutes, and informational items on school district financing and KCTCS equipment purchases. It then considered two KCTCS capital projects after initially rolling them together and later unrolling them: a Fire Commission Fire Academy maintenance building project that had grown from an original $2 million authorization to $4.7 million because of design changes, soil issues, and higher mechanical costs, and a $1.5 million renovation of the Blake Lee building at Somerset Community College for a health science simulation lab. Members questioned the large cost increase on the fire academy project and the adequacy of front-end due diligence, while KCTCS said the project was bid and ready to proceed and that a 15% contingency had been included. Both projects were approved by roll call vote, with the Blake Lee project ultimately approved after the committee unrolled the items and took them separately. The committee next heard and approved a University of Kentucky public-private partnership for the Hamburg East Medical Office Building, a five-story, 220,000-square-foot facility with a not-to-exceed budget of $275 million. UK said the project is intended to expand outpatient access, consolidate some services, and support projected growth in patient volume; the building will house multiple specialties, urgent care, therapy, imaging, and a retail pharmacy. Members asked about possible community uses, consolidation of services, and whether the project would free up other space, and UK said it hopes to consolidate some services and free campus space. The project was approved by roll call vote. The committee then approved three UK lease renegotiations: a specialty pharmacy and infusion services lease at Wellington Way in Lexington, a Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences lease at Conte Terrace, and a College of Social Work lease at McGrath Park Way. Members asked about rising lease rates, occupancy, and whether space needs should be reduced; UK and the lessor’s representative said the pharmacy space remains busy, the ophthalmology lease was lower than before, and the social work lease had been negotiated down from a higher request. The committee also approved a Department of Military Affairs project amendment for a Mutual Field Maintenance Shop Restoration project, increasing federal funding by $1 million to $4.5 million because of higher construction costs, and approved a Kentucky State University Shanty Hall renovation project funded by bond and HBCU Title III funds. Finally, it approved a new lease for the Office of Mines and Minerals in Pike County, a new lease for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Pulaski County, and a lease renewal for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Kenton County after questions about rent increases and office utilization; the cabinet said the Kenton County space still has limited vacancy and remains in use by field staff. The meeting ended as the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority began presenting six sewer and water loans and six cleaner water program grant reallocations, with members agreeing to roll those items for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• But relatively straightforward, they would like to widen the range of and the pool of potential applicants
• Representative Hawkins. but relatively straightforward they would like to widen the range of and the pool
• The select board unanimously supports the change because they believe it would increase the pool of here
• So we completely understand that there would be some corresponding risk involved with going this route
• This leads to higher peak flows in drainage systems and increases the risk of downstream flooding.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on bills related to land use, zoning, permitting, municipal governance, and homelessness. Early testimony focused on a home rule petition for Ipswich to remove a residency requirement for a town manager, with supporters saying it would broaden the applicant pool and help fill a vacant permanent manager position. Another panel backed legislation to change the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission’s governance so ratepayers in surrounding communities would have representation, arguing the current board structure leaves many users without a voice in rate-setting and capital decisions. Several housing and zoning bills drew testimony. Senator Keenan and the Home Builders and Remodelers Association supported a bill to toll the one-year period for acting on a variance while an appeal is pending, saying appeals should not consume the time needed to implement approved projects. Representative Murray and the Real Estate Bar Association also testified on broader zoning reforms, including changes to undersized lots, merger rules, hearing deadlines, appeals, and variance standards; they argued the proposals would reduce delay and uncertainty and help housing production. Committee members questioned whether shifting zoning appeals from de novo to closed-record review would limit new evidence, and the witnesses said the change would speed cases while preserving limited opportunities to supplement the record. The committee also heard testimony on bills to end the criminalization of homelessness. Representatives, advocates, and shelter organizations said local camping bans and fines are counterproductive, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision, and urged a statewide response centered on housing and public health rather than punishment. Other municipal bills included remote participation in open town meetings for Wayland and a statewide local option, Fairhaven and Mattapoisett charter changes, and Cambridge’s request to use automated parking enforcement and mail parking tickets. The hearing also included testimony supporting fairground zoning flexibility, a Shrewsbury solar siting bill, and an Inspector General bill clarifying county land disposition procedures by requiring written notice to DCAM and a defined response period. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:53.359> are at these shallow depths risks are at these shallow depths risks are generally
• of scuba diving or scuba Lake risk of scuba diving or scuba Lake removal<00:38:12.319> is<00:
• You panic when you're in the swimming pool.
• You panic when you're in the swimming pool.
• You panic when you're in the swimming pool.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the shared common theme, what you hear today, is the risk versus reward comparison.
• The risk just is not great enough. It's too lucrative of an industry.
• A RICO-type illegal versus what's legal beyond pool table, whatever it is, buzzball things.
• You are risking something.
• They have very valid reasons not to risk their licensure through the state, rather.

Summary: The Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee met to hear a panel on the prosecution and enforcement of illegal gaming in Florida. The chair opened with a video showing seized machines at a Florida Gaming Control Commission warehouse and described the scale of illegal operations. Panelists included the commission’s executive director, local sheriffs and police officials, and state attorneys from several counties, who described widespread illegal slot-machine locations, often in strip malls or convenience-store-type settings, and said the machines are typically used in organized criminal activity rather than legitimate amusement gaming. Witnesses repeatedly said the current penalty structure is ineffective because possession and operation of illegal slot machines are generally second-degree misdemeanors, which they described as too minor to deter operators who can quickly reopen after paying fines or completing diversion. They said enforcement is resource-intensive, requiring undercover work, search warrants, machine seizure, storage, forensic review, and long prosecutions, often while the same operators reopen elsewhere. Several panelists cited associated crimes such as robberies, firearms offenses, prostitution, drug activity, human trafficking, and at least some homicides tied to illegal gaming locations. Members also asked about the difference between legal amusement devices and illegal slot machines, online gambling, illegal horse racing, local licensing and ordinances, and whether manufacturers or distributors could be pursued. The commission and prosecutors said legal slot machines are limited to specific regulated locations and that lawful amusement machines lack a material element of chance. They said many illegal machines are imported or reworked versions of gaming devices and that upstream accountability is difficult under current law. Panelists also discussed cooperation with licensed casinos, tribal gaming entities, and local governments, noting that some local ordinances have tried to permit or limit these businesses. The main policy takeaway from the panel was a call to increase penalties, likely to felony-level offenses, and to consider stronger forfeiture and enforcement tools. No vote or formal action was taken at the meeting, and the chair adjourned after thanking the panelists.

Transcript Highlights:

• This report is being provided at a time when the structure and operations of public entity risk pools
• Risk pools emerged as a solution to that problem, allowing these entities to collectively self-insure
• Today, over 90% of public entities in the United States participate in at least one risk pool, demonstrating
• “There are many organizations like NDIRF across the United States operating as governmental risk pools
• Education of all stakeholders is vitally important for the full understanding of public entity risk pools

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This report is being provided at a time when the structure and operations of public entity risk pools
• Risk pools emerged as a solution to that problem, allowing these entities to collectively self-insure
• Today, over 90% of public entities in the United States participate in at least one risk pool, demonstrating
• “There are many organizations like NDIRF across the United States operating as governmental risk pools
• Education of all stakeholders is vitally important for the full understanding of public entity risk pools

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:

• Some of the options we have include a potential for a state-sponsored surety pool, where...
• A percentage would be contributed into this pool, which may help reduce the cost for operators.
• A pooled surety program for small operators works out well.
• The federal partners do not allow a pooled approach.
• Our federal partners, due to current federal law, are unable to allow a pooled approach.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have one appearance form: Dallas Season, from the Florida Swimming Pool Association, waiving in
• Watching a child go from fear of the water to confidence in joining the pool is incredibly powerful.
• But for children with autism, the risk is exponentially higher.
• The risk does not stop at age four.
• Dallas Thesson, Florida Swimming Pool Association, waiving in support.

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and reported favorably a series of bills after hearing sponsor presentations, public testimony, and roll-call votes. Among the health and public safety measures, CS/SB 68 would require pediatric readiness standards in hospital emergency departments; CS/SB 340 would require nursing students to complete human trafficking identification training; CS/SB 32 and SB 210 would create a new injunction process and related public records provisions for victims of serious violence by a known person; and SB 418 would add autism-focused law enforcement training and a voluntary Blue Envelope Program for drivers with ASD. Each of these bills received supportive testimony and passed the committee. The committee also approved several child safety and community protection measures. CS/SB 606 would add drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials, and SB 428 would expand the state swim lesson voucher program to older children, with strong support from advocates and families concerned about drowning risks, especially for children with autism. CS/SB 302 would streamline permitting and incentives for nature-based coastal resiliency projects, and SB 636 would create an alternative beach management pathway for coastal communities, though beach preservation advocates warned about perpetual easement language and funding concerns. SB 628, designating Warrior Sacrifice Way in Pensacola, also passed unanimously. In addition, the committee advanced CS/SB 1734 on juvenile justice, with a late-file amendment updating definitions for juvenile probation and detention officers and codifying detention cost-share language. It also reported favorably CS/SB 246, a specialty license plate bill that was amended to include the UFC plate and an additional first responders resiliency plate, and CS/SB 1028, which revises Citizens Property Insurance Corporation clearinghouse procedures and related insurance market rules. Several witnesses testified in support or with technical concerns on the insurance bill, and members discussed competitive safeguards, clearinghouse scope, and Citizens’ assessment risk. At the end of the meeting, members requested to be recorded on specific bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The loan pool and the grants will go out through professionals who do that work.
• pools putting it into three different pools one<01:13:44.159> for<01:13:44.400> patient
• pool managed by the Minneapolis Foundation and a low-cost patient capital loan pool.
• Pools there's a mix of the Grant Pool Pools there's a mix of the Grant Pool managed<01:24:05.480>
• and a lowcost patient Capital loan pool and a lowcost patient Capital loan pool uh<01:24:09.960>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance and risk and uh risk analysis insurance and risk and uh risk analysis and<00:54:37.839
• The risk is spread to the entire pool and priced accordingly.
• The risk is spread to the entire pool and priced accordingly.
• And I just looked up, and again I go back to this, like this risk pool that we're talking about here.
• talking<01:29:42.960> about like Risk pool that we're talking about like Risk pool that we're

Bills: HF1865, HF2014, HF2028

Keywords: mortgage, qualified mortgage, QM, points and fees, conventional loan, consumer lending, home loan, residential real estate, lender fees, service charge, finance charge, closing costs, Minnesota Statutes 47.20, housing finance, borrower protections, cooperative apartment loan, contract for deed, real estate lending, foreclosure, notice requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• You can't be a part of the risk pool. You can't be a part of the risk pool.
• You can't be a part of the risk pool. You can't be a part of the risk pool.
• money investment pool money back<00:12:21.960> well back well back well maybe<00:12:23.880>
• You know, the pool isn't insured while it's still probably safe.
• Thank you. pool you know um isn't insured while pool you know um isn't insured while it's<00:13:57.480

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• um just because it's a smaller pool. um just because it's a smaller pool.
• pools.
• pools where there's an inordinate risk of, you know, a few relatively expensive patients who are members
• of the pool.
• Let's create this pool, right?

Bills: HF3794, HF4472, HF4410, HF4347, HF4412, HF4398, HF4397, HF4201, HF4199, HF4203, HF3706, HF4071, HF4120, HF4175, HF4188

Keywords: surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, automated decision systems, consumer protections, data privacy, biometrics, school district health insurance, charter school health benefits, employee benefits, public sector health insurance, health insurance survey, Legislative Budget Office, LBO report, premium costs, retiree coverage, broker commissions, third-party administrator, health plan transparency, health reimbursement arrangement

Transcript Highlights:

• The other point is create a safety net, high-risk pool, or reinsurance program, or something like that
• The other point is create a safety net, high-risk pool, or reinsurance program, or something like that
• The other point is create a safety net, high-risk pool, or reinsurance program, or something like that
• The other point is create a safety net, high-risk pool, or reinsurance program, or something like that
• we're going to take it out of the risk we're going to take it out of the risk pool<01:46:03.040>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all