Transcript Highlights:

• An act relating to establishing fee authority, providing accreditation services under 42 CFR Part 8.
• a tax, and it becomes a tax when it loses its connection to the underlying service that's being provided
• It has to be there to provide access.
• Amendment 2206 provides modification to the public record... ...instruction.
• Are in addition to any others provided for by law? There are no amendments.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House received a Senate message that Substitute House Bill 1570 had passed the Senate, then moved several bills from Rules to the second reading calendar, including Substitute Senate Bill 5242 on anaphylaxis medications in schools and Senate Bill 6132 on Inland Port District debt. The chamber then took up several bills, beginning with Senate Bill 5988 on Department of Health accreditation fee authority for opioid treatment programs. Amendment 2336 to cap the fee at $17,000 was debated at length but rejected, and a separate amendment to add safe-injection-site language was ruled out of scope. Senate Bill 5988 then passed 62-34. Substitute Senate Bill 6309 on enhanced municipal permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects drew multiple amendments focused on Sound Transit’s authority. Amendments to require written consent from abutting property owners, to add flood-zone and seismic/critical-area protections, and to address public-records issues were either rejected or ruled beyond scope, though the local government committee amendment was adopted. The bill passed 56-38. The House also passed Substitute Senate Bill 5886 on digital personality rights and Senate Bill 6136 on transparency in workers’ compensation rate-setting, both with strong bipartisan support. Later, the House passed a series of additional bills: Substitute Senate Bill 6034 codifying the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs; Gross Second Substitute Senate Bill 5395 on prior authorization reform, with remarks emphasizing limits on AI in health care decisions; Substitute Senate Bill 6248 creating the Washington Travel Insurance Act; Substitute Senate Bill 5720 establishing uniform consumer debt default judgment procedures; Senate Bill 5995 on port modernization funding and labor considerations; Senate Bill 6103 affecting rural hospitals; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6110 creating a work group on e-motorcycles; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5156 allowing smaller elevators to support accessible, more affordable housing; Substitute Senate Bill 6269 updating motor fuel definitions to include hydrogen; Substitute Senate Bill 6189 giving Thurston County more time to pursue an aquatics public facilities district; and Senate Bill 6134 requiring unemployment applicants to acknowledge repayment obligations if retroactive union pay is received. Most of these bills passed with large margins, and the House adjourned after completing final passage votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's only a demand to provide information.
• It's only a demand to provide information.
• None of those statutes provide a right to cure in this way.
• However, these are provided by people who are not health care providers.
• Speaker, we need to protect health care providers in this state.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House took up a series of Senate bills and moved most of them quickly to third reading and final passage, often suspending the rules and adopting committee amendments without objection. Early action included Senate Bill 5944, which addresses compensation for interpreters working for L&I when appointments are canceled or missed; it passed 86-10. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5837, dealing with guardianship and supported decision-making, drew debate over a new right to counsel in guardianship cases and concerns about expanding civil legal obligations, but it passed 73-23. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6197, a plumbers enforcement/discipline measure tied to task force work on wages and the underground economy, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019, fixing a loophole in home care worker parity law, also passed unanimously, as did Senate Bill 6011, which extends authority for Court of Appeals bailiffs to assess threats against judges and staff, though members noted concerns about access to non-conviction data. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6058, aimed at improving Labor and Industries’ ability to address wage theft complaints and backlog, passed 96-0 after House amendments. Substitute Senate Bill 5923, allowing an island hospital in Skagit County to become a critical access hospital, passed 96-0 amid support for rural health care. Senate Bill 5994, which changes how timber tax revenue is distributed so school districts are not penalized when levies fail, also passed 96-0. Substitute Senate Bill 6076, streamlining public utility district procurement and raising spending thresholds, passed 95-1 after a capital budget amendment. The House then moved to second reading of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5925, a major bill expanding the Attorney General’s authority to issue civil investigative demands in constitutional and discrimination-related matters. The bill prompted extensive debate over civil liberties, due process, and the potential for government overreach. Amendment 2160, which would have required clear and convincing evidence before a CID could issue, was rejected 38-48. Amendment 2149, creating a right to cure before a CID, was also rejected. Amendment 2150, requiring assistant attorney general approval and a reasonable suspicion standard, failed 38-48. Amendment 2151, requiring the Attorney General personally to approve CIDs in writing, failed as well. However, several narrowing amendments were adopted, including limits on scope and relevance (2288), a prohibition on CIDs to federal agencies (2289), a ban on sharing CID-derived information for criminal law enforcement purposes (2290), and a requirement that the Attorney General’s office consult with other agencies in certain overlapping investigations (2154 was rejected, but later amendments continued). Other proposed protections, such as fee-shifting for successful CID challenges and reimbursement when a CID produces no action, were debated at length but not adopted in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• prayer today will be offered by Tammy Stamphley, a Presbyterian minister and hospital chaplain at Providence
• prayer today will be offered by Tammy Stamphley, a Presbyterian minister and hospital chaplain at Providence
• This bill is ripping a rug out from underneath our child care providers, our Boys and Girls Clubs, and

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard a prayer from Tammy Stamphley, a Presbyterian minister and hospital chaplain. After approving the previous day’s minutes and receiving a Senate message, the chamber moved to second and third reading of several bills, with multiple measures advanced under suspended rules. The first major vote was on Engrossed Senate Bill 5872, which establishes a pre-K-related account to support up to 10,000 additional early learning slots for three- and four-year-olds. Supporters emphasized the Balmer Group’s private funding commitment and the value of early learning and family support; the bill passed 97-0. Substitute Senate Bill 5834, a Department of Retirement Systems request bill changing the fund source for legal, medical, administrative, and fraud-prevention expenses using interest earnings from pension funds, also passed 97-0. Substitute House Bill 2689, dealing with the Working Connections Child Care program, drew the most debate. Supporters said it aligned attendance policy with federal rules, adjusted reimbursement rates, and helped balance the budget while preserving child care resources. Opponents argued it cut support in rural and underserved counties, would worsen child care deserts, and placed budget savings on the child care industry; it passed 53-44. The House then passed Senate Bill 5922, allowing school districts to transfer vehicle depreciation funds with OSPI approval, by 59-38, and Senate Bill 6065, a narrower bill for districts under enhanced financial oversight such as Prescott, by 97-0. The session ended with announcements that both caucuses would meet later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• An act relating to establishing fee authority, providing accreditation services under 42 CFR Part 8.
• a tax, and it becomes a tax when it loses its connection to the underlying service that's being provided
• It has to be there to provide access.
• Amendment 2206 provides modification to the public record... ...instruction.
• Are in addition to any others provided for by law? There are no amendments.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House received a Senate message announcing passage of Substitute House Bill 1570 and then moved several bills from Rules to the second reading calendar, including Substitute Senate Bill 5242 on anaphylaxis medications in schools and Senate Bill 6132 on Inland Port District debt. The chamber then took up a series of bills, beginning with Senate Bill 5988 on Department of Health accreditation fee authority for opioid treatment programs. An amendment to cap the fee at $17,000 was debated at length but failed, and a separate amendment was ruled beyond the scope of the bill. Senate Bill 5988 then passed 62-34. The House next considered Substitute Senate Bill 6309 on enhanced municipal permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects. Several amendments were offered to require written consent from abutting property owners, preserve setback and seismic/critical-area protections, and add transparency provisions, but the scope challenge to the transparency amendment was sustained and the other amendments failed. Supporters argued the bill would streamline permitting for Sound Transit and reduce taxpayer costs; opponents said it gave a large transit authority too much discretion and weakened property-rights and land-use protections. The bill passed 56-38. The House also passed Substitute Senate Bill 5886 on personality rights and digital likeness protections, and Senate Bill 6136 on workers’ compensation transparency, both with strong bipartisan support. After caucuses and a rule suspension to work past 10 p.m., the House took up additional second-reading bills. It passed Substitute Senate Bill 6034 to codify the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs, Gross Second Substitute Senate Bill 5395 on prior authorization and AI in health care, Substitute Senate Bill 6248 creating the Washington Travel Insurance Act, Substitute Senate Bill 5720 on uniform consumer debt default judgments, Senate Bill 5995 on port modernization funding with labor-related concerns, and Senate Bill 6103 affecting rural hospitals and enrollment status subject to appropriation. Later, the House passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6110 on e-motorcycle regulation, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5156 allowing smaller elevators in some housing, Substitute Senate Bill 6269 updating motor fuel definitions to include hydrogen, Substitute Senate Bill 6189 extending time for Thurston County to pursue an aquatics public facilities district, and Senate Bill 6134 requiring unemployment applicants to acknowledge repayment if retroactive union pay is received. Most bills passed with large majorities, though some drew dissent over labor, property rights, transit governance, or regulatory scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• So allowing an exception for credentialed training programs, that were someone gets a credential, um,
• Not a credential that worker, right?
• As I said, transferable credentials.
• Um, and it says transferable credential.
• </c><00:36:28.960><c> a</c> have getting something a credential a have getting something a credential

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And it is an incentive at no cost for that provider. The challenge I am having is the provider.
• to do the micro credentialing.
• To answer a couple of questions and to talk about providers, it is very important we have good providers
• When we talk about the micro credential, there are questions about the micro credential.
• We want everybody to have that credential.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just saying you have a whole list of health care providers who can, who should be credentialed.
• But they will only get reimbursed if they get identified as a credentialed provider within that system
• It's just saying you have a whole list of health care providers who can, who should be credentialed.
• And in that bill, it talks about here is the credential provider, and then here is the other license
• Here is the credential provider, and then here is the other licensed provider.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Provided to county jail inmates, working with OU's College of Pharmacy to provide those meds to them.
• These are meds that are already being provided on the taxpayer dime.
• for providers.
• If they're going to provide services, they should be the ones funding it, not taxpayers.
• So these services will be provided by a company, telemedicine, effectively making.

Bills: HB2059, HB3920, HB2992, HB3267, HB4457, HB3800, HB3818, HB4425, HB4427, HB4430, HB4431, HB4333, HB4340, HB4343, HB4344, HB4363, HB4229, HB4230, HB4236, HB4246, HB1979, HB3431, HB3052, HB3047, HB3048, HB4092, HB4302, HB3261, HB3704, HB3312, HB3546, HB3849, HCR1021, HB4105, HB4159, HB4304, HB3835, HB3619, HB4490, HB3710, HB4201, HB3907, HB3748

Keywords: health care, medication, inmates, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, reimbursement, county jails, medical expenses, sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, procurement, transplant research, Oklahoma Tax Code, HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers

Transcript Highlights:

• to county jail inmates, working with OU's College of Pharmacy to provide those meds to them.
• These are meds that are already being provided on the taxpayer dime.
• The jobs that they provide are not substantial as much as what industrial companies would do.
• for providers.
• So these services will be provided by a company...

Bills: HB2059, HB3920, HB2992, HB3267, HB4457, HB3800, HB3818, HB4425, HB4427, HB4430, HB4431, HB4333, HB4340, HB4343, HB4344, HB4363, HB4229, HB4230, HB4236, HB4246, HB1979, HB3431, HB3052, HB3047, HB3048, HB4092, HB4302, HB3261, HB3704, HB3312, HB3546, HB3849, HCR1021, HB4105, HB4159, HB4304, HB3835, HB3619, HB4490, HB3710, HB4201, HB3907, HB3748

Keywords: health care, medication, inmates, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, reimbursement, county jails, medical expenses, sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, procurement, transplant research, Oklahoma Tax Code, HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers

Summary: The House met in session with prayer, the Pledge, and several recognitions, including Veteran of the Week Jake Searock, Doctor of the Day Dr. Nicole Bowden, Psychologist of the Day Dr. Amy Cherry, Nurse of the Day Eileen Cooper Grubbs, and a presentation for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day. Members also welcomed student and community guests in the galleries. The chamber then moved through a long calendar of House bills, with most measures advancing on unanimous consent or broad bipartisan votes. Among the major bills discussed, lawmakers passed measures on county jail medication reimbursement (HB 2059), a sales tax exemption for LifeShare (HB 3920), ratepayer protections for large data centers and crypto mining facilities (HB 2992), a felony offense for breaking and entering an occupied dwelling without intent to commit another crime (HB 3267), PBM access protections for specialty pharmacy patients (HB 4457), adjunct teacher guardrails in K-4 tested subjects (HB 4427), malpractice coverage for state-employed nurse practitioners and physician assistants (HB 4430), and several higher education, water, and state government cleanup bills. The House also approved bills addressing the 988 mental health lifeline, juvenile oversight disclosures, school support employee tracking, a federal education tax credit opt-in, firearms education curriculum development, AI personhood restrictions, child safety reviews related to fentanyl, and expungement relief for trafficking victims. Debate centered most heavily on HB 2992, where supporters argued data centers should pay their share of infrastructure costs so residential and other ratepayers are not burdened, while some members questioned why the bill singled out data centers instead of all large-load users. HB 3267 drew questions about how the new offense would affect people with cognitive impairments, and HB 3312, the firearms education bill, prompted concerns about who would teach the curriculum. HB 3546 on artificial intelligence personhood also generated discussion about accountability and future regulation. Several bills were amended on the floor, including HB 492, HB 4302, and HB 4105. The House recorded numerous final passage votes, with many bills passing overwhelmingly and some by narrower margins, including HB 3800, HB 4333, HB 3704, HB 4159, and HB 3619. Emergency clauses were adopted on some measures, including HB 4427 and HB 3312, while others were passed without emergency action. The chamber also reconsidered and then passed HB 1979 after a motion to reconsider a prior failure.

Transcript Highlights:

• But just because credentials, short-term credentials, certificates, et cetera, bolted on to a degree
• At one time, the hottest credential was encoding.
• That’s not the hottest short-term credential anymore.
• If the legislature did nothing and didn't provide UC any more money for the swap, you could still provide
• I'd like to provide public testimony. Right. Seeing none, thank you all.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• catalog for all credentials issued by the agency.
• Agencies must provide certain information, including the amount of any application or credential fee,
• credential requirements, application instructions,... ...credential requirements, application instructions
• The EO is not sufficient, so this provides that.
• So for them, a license is not just a credential.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills. HB 2462 would direct the governor to create rules for countering threats from unpiloted aircraft systems and authorize National Guard support for law enforcement in certain circumstances; the prime sponsor and National Guard witnesses said it would improve coordination for events like the FIFA World Cup, while one testifier supported it with amendments related to law enforcement authority, data privacy, and a web portal. HB 2401 would create a Washington State Boys and Men’s Commission, contingent on non-state funding through 2029; supporters described concerns about boys’ and men’s mental health, suicide, loneliness, education, and workforce outcomes, while some asked that physical health and fatherhood be more explicitly addressed. HB 2198 would expand and standardize statewide credential and permit reporting, require agencies to publish timelines and fee refunds for missed deadlines, and consolidate reporting; the governor’s office, business groups, labor, ports, and the Department of Health testified in support, citing faster processing, predictability, and economic benefits. HB 2419 would extend Address Confidentiality Program eligibility to administrative law judges and certain Office of Administrative Hearings staff; OAH, county officials, and county clerks supported the bill, citing threats and safety concerns, and some asked to include county clerks as well. The committee then took executive action on HB 2210, HB 2205, and HB 2249. It adopted an amendment to HB 2210 preserving existing ranked choice voting systems and advanced the bill 4-2 with one excused. It adopted an amendment to HB 2205 making threats against sports officials, coaches, or participants involved in wagered events a Class C felony and barring offenders from future wagering, and advanced the bill 5-1 with one excused. HB 2249, reclassifying certain WATEC employees performing network and security duties, was advanced unanimously 6-0 with one excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, doctors must have their Medi-Cal managed care provider credentialing application approved
• APG supports AB 2457 because it addresses a core barrier: fragmented and duplicative provider credentialing
• But after clearing that process, providers must still complete separate and duplicative credentialing
• At a time when EMS providers are having to reduce or cease providing essential services, hospitals are
• to reduce or cease providing essential services. hospitals At a time when EMS providers are having to

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills focused on workforce access, consumer protection, behavioral health parity, and public health safety. AB 1591 by Assembly Member Michelle Rodriguez would create a podiatric medicine pipeline program to address shortages of podiatrists, especially in rural and underserved counties; it drew strong support from podiatrists and medical groups and no opposition. AB 2011 by Assembly Member Hart would codify federal mental health and substance use disorder parity standards into state law; supporters argued it would preserve access if federal enforcement weakens, while health plans and insurers opposed it as premature and potentially confusing. The bill was moved on a due pass motion to Appropriations and remained on call after a roll vote with several ayes and some noes. The committee also considered AB 2311 by Assembly Member Chiavo, which would allow public health care district hospitals to directly employ physicians. Supporters said the change would help district hospitals recruit and retain doctors and stabilize care in underserved communities, while CMA and emergency physicians warned it could weaken the corporate practice of medicine protections and physician autonomy. Members raised concerns about guardrails, but the author said the bill would continue to be refined; it passed on a due pass motion to the Business and Professions Committee. AB 2030 by Assembly Member Lowenthal would prohibit sales of over-the-counter diet pills and weight-loss or muscle-building supplements to minors, with supporters citing eating disorder risks and opponents objecting to scope, age-verification, and retail requirements. The bill passed on a due pass motion to the Judiciary Committee. AB 1864 by Assembly Member Berman would require screening of gene synthesis orders to prevent misuse for bioterrorism and would authorize enforcement penalties for noncompliance. Supporters from Stanford, Encode, and the medical community said the measure would align California with federal best practices and address growing biosecurity risks, while life sciences representatives raised concerns about operational burdens and supply-chain impacts. Members discussed whether the bill should include an urgency clause and how to keep the standards current; it passed to the Judiciary Committee. AB 2457 by Assembly Member Connolly would standardize and speed up Medi-Cal managed care credentialing for physicians, and it passed to Appropriations with broad support. Finally, AB 2302, presented on behalf of Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez, would require infant formula manufacturers to test for toxic elements such as lead and arsenic and post results publicly; pediatric and disability advocates supported the measure as a transparency and infant safety bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, doctors must have their Medi-Cal managed care provider credentialing application approved
• By streamlining a credentialing process across Medi-Cal-managed networks, By streamlining a credentialing
• We support AB 2457 because it addresses a core barrier: fragmented and duplicative provider credentialing
• But after clearing that process, providers must still complete separate and duplicative credentialing
• to reduce or cease providing essential services. hospitals At a time when EMS providers are having to

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This year, we've been provided.
• It depends on which credential is earned.
• It depends on which credential is earned.
• We can definitely provide that.
• I know there are programs that provide support to different. that provide support to different areas,

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on the master credentials list.
• They wanted to have better jobs and this act provided.
• employment credentials that are available.
• Provided that change in age requirements for transition planning.
• But we do is provide in-class support and full academic.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we do provide that kind of technical assistance to districts, but we provide that with. or something
• That y'all provide funding, other than the school safety allotment, which is a per campus You all provide
• This first discusses credentials.
• credential that is awarded.
• to earn those credentials.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2683 relates to health care provider credentialing.
• provider to provide care for their members.
• care providers join a network.
• credentialing information could take a bit longer.
• credentialing information could take a bit longer.

Bills: HB2555, HB2658, HB2683, HB2685, HB2168, HB2196, HB2545

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, traditional practices, health insurance, coverage expansion, mental health, insurance coverage, transparency, consumer protection, efficiency, health carriers, providers relations, tribal data, data protection, privacy, sharing of information, Indigenous rights, overdose prevention, data sharing, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• Stackable credentials we've talked about.
• Employers are finding the students through that mechanism: digital credentials, stackable credentials
• , employers are finding the students through that mechanism, digital credentials, stackable credentials
• Students through that mechanism, digital credentials, stackable credentials are what students are looking
• The credentials under that graduate.

Summary: The Higher Ed Funding Committee met to review how North Dakota might identify and address low-producing academic programs and to discuss draft funding formulas for the university system. Lisa Johnson of the NDUS explained that the State Board of Higher Education is already developing a system-wide policy, using models from other states such as Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, and Connecticut. She described how low-producing programs are typically flagged by multi-year enrollment or completion thresholds, then reviewed for workforce demand, mission fit, cost, accreditation, and regional need before any action is taken. Committee members asked about what counts as a program, how costs are analyzed, whether certificates are included, how exemptions work for mission-critical or high-demand fields, and whether the board or legislature should set the rules. Johnson said the board is the appropriate body to lead the process, but legislators could use funding leverage if they wanted to encourage action; the chair asked the board to bring a detailed proposal to the June meeting. The committee then heard a Legislative Council presentation on a draft formula for UND and NDSU. The proposal uses fall census FTE enrollment, with a placeholder undergraduate rate of $7,000 per FTE and a graduate/professional rate of $10,500, plus incentives for completions in in-demand fields and research productivity. Alex from Legislative Council walked through the projected funding effects, noting that the model would increase funding for NDSU and reduce it for UND in the current biennium, with different results in the next biennium as enrollment changes are recognized. Members questioned the use of the placeholder rates, the definition of in-demand programs, the treatment of research funding, and the exclusion of state-appropriated dollars from the external grants calculation. The chair emphasized that the numbers were illustrative and that appropriators would set the actual dollar amounts later. A second draft formula for the other nine institutions was also reviewed. That model uses fall census FTE without a weighted economic factor, applies a higher undergraduate rate, and adds completion incentives for in-demand credentials and all other completions. Members noted that the formula would benefit some institutions, such as Bismarck State College, while reducing funding for others, such as Mayville State, and discussed whether the nine institutions should be treated more uniformly or split into smaller groups because of their different missions and sizes. Committee members and staff repeatedly stressed that the formulas are still being refined and that some institutions would likely need hold-harmless adjustments or other transition measures. The meeting ended with the chair directing the committee to continue the discussion later and to expect further work on both the low-producing program policy and the funding formulas.

Transcript Highlights:

• In New Mexico, credentialing is the process by which providers sign up with insurers and payers, including
• and looking at ways to bring down the burden on providers and institutions regarding credentialing.
• Going around that there are gold providers, and that the gold providers can just prescribe what they
• Care Authority to come up with single credentialing for Medicaid providers.
• Loss for Medicaid providers only in dealing with the cost of being a Medicaid provider.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stackable credentials we've talked about.
• Employers are finding the students through that mechanism: digital credentials, stackable credentials
• , employers are finding the students through that mechanism, digital credentials, stackable credentials
• Students through that mechanism, digital credentials, stackable credentials, are what students are looking
• different in how much we have in those credentials.

Summary: The Higher Ed Funding Committee met to review a proposed process for identifying and addressing low-producing academic programs, then moved into discussion of draft funding formulas for the university system. Lisa Johnson of the ND University System described how other states and systems define low-producing programs, emphasizing multi-year enrollment and completion thresholds, cost and workforce review, and the role of governing boards. She reported that North Dakota institutions already review programs in varying cycles, often use shared resources and stackable credentials to keep low-enrollment programs viable, and cited recent system actions over five years: 100 programs placed on inactivation, 75 terminated, and 384 new programs created. Committee members raised concerns about workforce-critical programs, duplication, exemptions, and whether the legislature or the State Board of Higher Education should drive the process. The chair said he wanted the board to bring a detailed proposal to the June meeting and suggested the legislature may use funding leverage, including a possible holdback, to encourage the review process. The committee then heard a Legislative Council presentation on a draft funding formula for UND and NDSU. The proposal used fall census FTE enrollment, with a placeholder rate of $7,000 per undergraduate FTE and $10,500 per graduate/professional FTE, plus incentives for completions in high-demand fields and research productivity. Alex from Legislative Council explained that the formula also included separate treatment for research funding, external grants, and capital building tiers, and that the MD program at UND would remain fixed funding outside the formula. Members questioned the use of the placeholder rates, the in-demand program list, the treatment of external grants, and how the proposal compared with current appropriations. The chair noted that the formula numbers were illustrative and not final budget amounts. A second draft formula for the other nine institutions was also reviewed. It used fall census FTE with no weighted economic factor, a higher undergraduate rate of $8,750 per FTE, and completion incentives for in-demand credentials and all other credentials. Members noted that the proposal would benefit some institutions, such as Bismarck State College, while reducing funding for others, such as Mayville State, and questioned whether the same structure should apply across institutions with very different missions and sizes. Committee discussion focused on fairness, hold-harmless concerns, and whether the nine institutions should be grouped differently. The committee did not take formal action, but the chair indicated the formulas would continue to be discussed later in the meeting and in future work.