Transcript Highlights:

• The government-wide statements provide a statewide, long-term view of North Dakota's finances.
• Compensated absences are reported within long-term liabilities on the government-wide statement of net
• How did you come up with a long-term view of North Dakota's budget?
• Capital assets and long-term highlights begin on page 13 and carry on to page 14.
• Page 15 summarizes the system's long-term liabilities.

Committee: Joint Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee

Summary: The Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and a review of the state’s annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and the Office of Management and Budget reported a clean opinion on the state’s financial statements and described continued growth in net position, strong general fund balance, and significant Legacy Fund investment income. Committee members asked about how the report reflects long-term finances and how North Dakota compares with other states, and OMB noted that the ACFR is based on audited actual results rather than budget forecasts. The committee then heard the North Dakota University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund construction money, insufficient monitoring of service organizations, improper bank reconciliations at several campuses, and investment/cash recording issues at Bismarck State College. University System officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations and greater use of shared services. Members also questioned practices such as campus use of certificates of deposit and whether repeated findings were being adequately addressed. Additional audits were presented for the State Fair Association, State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Securities Department, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Most received clean opinions with no findings; exceptions included a repeat component-unit issue at the State Fair Foundation, a securities personnel-evaluation finding, and a Housing Finance Agency finding involving a late return of escrow surplus. The committee also discussed broader oversight issues, including the need for independent auditing of the Ethics Commission, possible legislative changes to give the State Auditor more subpoena power and independent legal counsel, and future work on data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, and audit capacity. The meeting recessed for lunch after these discussions.

Transcript Highlights:

• and opportunity they deserve, all while strengthening systems of care that improve the lives of all
• connecting first responders, hospitals, treatment providers, and recovery services to create a long-term
• To create a long-term continuum of care for those suffering from substance use disorders. $74.6 million
• Focus on the core operational needs and long-term stability of Florida's justice system.
• Specifically, the amendment revises health care, Medicaid, developmental disability, long-term care,

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To ensure the ongoing viability and long-term availability of this important benefit.
• We stand ready to work with all parties and the administration to find a long-term solution to SIBTF.
• We stand ready to work with all parties and the administration to find a long-term solution to SBTF.
• We think it's critical to addressing the long-term sustainability of the program and bending the cost
• So I hope we can continue supporting these workers in the long term. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She was a PCA in long-term care.
• She was an LPN nurse in long-term care, and I know how hard that job is.
• She was a PCA in long-term care.
• </c> geriatrics she was a PCA in long-term geriatrics she was a PCA in long-term care<00:46:26.480><c
• </c> care she was Aur nurse and long-term care she was Aur nurse and long-term care<00:46:27.599><c>

Bills: HF500 , HF718 , HF1096 , HF1246 , HF1469

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, workforce development, job training, economic stability, low-income, career pathways, education funding, Summit Academy, employment, STEM programming, GED preparation, Neighborhood Development Center, NDC, small business, entrepreneurship, business training

Transcript Highlights:

• The government-wide statements provide a statewide, long-term view of North Dakota's finances.
• How did you come up with a long-term view of North Dakota's budget?
• Capital assets and long-term highlights begin on page 13 and carry on to page 14.
• Page 15 summarizes the system's long-term liabilities.
• There's more detail on long-term debt in the footnotes on pages 42 through 47.

Committee: Joint Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , reduces operational risk for the PSAPs, and accelerates the long-term deployment.
• But I'm sorry that's not answering your question directly in terms of how long we waited because it is
• And making sure that those answering points are able to get onto the system and accelerate the long-term
• And lastly, looking for the long-term future for these systems, including the potential for national
• We would like to do an open competitive process for our long-term partner.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation heard updates from the Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Department of Justice. Cal OES Acting Director Tina Curry described the department’s proposed budget, disaster response and recovery work, Los Angeles wildfire recovery, FEMA reimbursement delays, hazard mitigation grant applications, planning for major events like the FIFA World Cup and LA28 Olympics, and the state’s next generation 911 priorities. Senators raised concerns about Operation Stonegarden, small-disaster recovery delays, FEMA reimbursement timing, VOCA funding, and the need for more detailed reporting on federal grants and recovery costs. The committee then focused on Next Generation 911. Cal OES staff said the current regional deployment encountered call-routing and transfer failures, leading the department to pause further rollout and propose a new phased plan centered on a statewide provider, followed by an open procurement for a long-term vendor. They said the plan is intended to improve reliability, simplify architecture, and support Los Angeles-area PSAPs ahead of the Olympics, with a target of full statewide transition by summer 2030. The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged the Legislature to pause major changes until it receives more information, including a clearer explanation of the problems, alternatives considered, costs, cybersecurity and privacy issues, and oversight needs. Members expressed mixed views, with some supporting a joint oversight hearing and requesting quarterly fiscal reports and monthly progress updates. The Department of Justice then presented its overall workload, emphasizing public safety enforcement, fentanyl and human trafficking prosecutions, housing enforcement, civil rights work, and extensive federal litigation against the Trump administration. DOJ said the additional federal accountability work has significantly increased staffing and overtime demands, though it has hired 44 additional employees. The committee also heard DOJ’s firearms workload proposal, including funding for SB 704 implementation, continued firearms IT modernization, and a proposed shift of Bureau of Firearms costs to the General Fund. The LAO recommended using special funds and loans instead of ongoing General Fund support where possible, and asked DOJ to develop a framework by January 2027 for determining which firearms and ammunition workload should be supported by fee revenue. The Department of Finance largely agreed with the need for SB 704 funding but disagreed with the LAO’s proposed loan approach for the firearms account.

Transcript Highlights:

• The subject matter is basically having the transition of long-term care into the managed care organizations
• </c> uh long-term care from the DHHS uh long-term care from the DHHS responsibility<00:49:34.880><c>
• of Medicaid long-term supports and services transitioning to managed care."
• A strong home care system benefits the entire health care system.
• </c> total health care system. total health care system.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division 3 work session focused largely on amendment 1176 to HB 2, which would have incorporated the substance of HB 548FN, a House-passed bill creating a direct-pay or membership-based model for health care facilities. Representative Mlan described the proposal as a way to increase competition in health care by extending the direct-care model used in primary care to facilities, arguing it could encourage innovation and that concerns about widespread harm to critical access hospitals were overstated. He pointed to Oklahoma’s long-standing Surgical Center model as evidence that the approach had not spread broadly or displaced hospitals there. Several members and witnesses raised concerns. Representative Stringham questioned whether the model would shift profitable services and patients away from existing hospitals, potentially worsening their finances and affecting Medicaid-related funding. David Ross, speaking for county nursing homes, opposed the language because it also removed moratoriums on nursing home, skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, and self-pay beds, warning that it could increase pressure on Medicaid rates and undermine community-based care. Ben Bradley of the New Hampshire Hospital Association said the proposal appeared to create a separate regulatory framework for direct-pay facilities and raised concerns about patient safety, CMS participation rules, and a separate patient bill of rights. The chair concluded that, because HB 548 was already moving through the Senate, the HB 2 process was not the best vehicle for the policy and that the issue should be left to the Senate’s more deliberative committee process. Representative Ferski moved to not accept or remove amendment 1176 from the agenda, and the committee approved the motion by roll call, 9-0, withdrawing the item from HB 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of processing the complaints, we are doing continuous process reengineering, but our system
• So this proposal solves the near-term issue while long-term solutions can be considered or discussed.
• This is trust being built in communities that have long been left out of the systems of care.
• I want you to know that our association supports the long-term goal of creating a true one-stop shop.
• comprehensive housing solution, investing in CalHome also serves as a preventative measure, securing long-term

Summary: The subcommittee heard an extensive presentation on the administration’s housing reorganization proposal, which would centralize multifamily affordable housing finance under the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC) and align it with the Governor’s trailer bill language. Administration officials said the plan is intended to create a one-stop application and award process, reduce duplicative timelines and costs, and pair state subsidy with private activity bonds and federal tax credits more efficiently. They also described proposed changes to the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, including shifting a larger share of funding toward housing-related awards while preserving a portion for sustainable communities investments. The Legislative Analyst’s Office generally supported the streamlining concept but recommended changes to the proposed bond set-aside timing and urged flexibility for integrated applications and future reporting on demand. Senators, especially Senator Cabaldon, raised concerns that the proposal could weaken the original climate-and-transportation purpose of the sustainable communities program and that the reorganization would be undercut by the lack of new housing production funding in the budget. The item was held open without a vote. The committee then received a report from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee on federal and state housing tax credits. Staff explained that the federal H.R. 1 change lowering the bond-financing threshold from 50% to 25% greatly expanded the number of projects able to use the 4% federal tax credit, allowing California to fund many more projects and units. They also described the state low-income housing tax credit as an important gap-filling tool for projects that still need additional subsidy, and noted existing set-asides for rural, homeless, at-risk, and extremely low-income projects. Members discussed rehabilitation as well as new construction, and the item was informational only. Finally, the Civil Rights Department reported on the effects of federal civil rights policy changes and on three programs facing expiration: California vs. Hate, the Community Conflict Resolution Unit, and Investigations and Conciliation Enhancement. Director Kevin Kish said federal cuts and policy shifts have reduced support for fair housing and other civil rights functions, while CRD’s caseload has grown from about 8,700 open matters a year ago to more than 12,000, with a six-month wait for interviews despite overtime triage efforts. Senators expressed strong support for continuing the programs and concern about the broader federal rollback of civil rights enforcement. The department said it is using overtime, intake triage, and outreach partnerships to manage the workload and direct Californians to appropriate state, local, and nonprofit resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:46:26.920><c> long-term</c><00:46:27.760><c> structural</c> any long long-term structural any
• long long-term structural fix<00:46:30.280><c> little</c><00:46:30.559><c> bit</c><00:46:30.760><c>
• On the long-term funding challenges, I'd like to highlight the work of the road toll commission, uh,
• On the long-term funding challenges, I'd like to highlight the work of the road toll commission, uh,
• On the long-term funding challenges, I'd like to highlight the work of the road toll commission, uh,

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Public Works and Highways Committee held an orientation meeting focused on introducing members, outlining committee norms, and hearing an overview from the Department of Transportation. Chair David Mills emphasized the committee’s long-standing bipartisan working style, asked members to share contact information for short-notice scheduling, and noted that the committee would need to complete as much work as possible before the building is vacated later in the year. Members introduced themselves and described backgrounds in engineering, construction, planning, local government, military service, education, and business. Several members highlighted prior service on planning boards, school boards, zoning boards, or in transportation-related fields as relevant to the committee’s work. Members repeatedly described the committee as collegial and nonpartisan, with most bills going to the consent calendar. The chair also noted that the committee’s work centers on state infrastructure, including roads, bridges, highways, and buildings. Representative Cluder, the ranking member, and others echoed that the committee is effective because it talks issues through and resolves disagreements collaboratively. One member mentioned a recent trip that reinforced the importance of infrastructure resilience after storms and rebuilding efforts in other states. Department of Transportation officials, led by Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer David Rodrig, gave a detailed organizational and operational overview. They described DOT’s structure, mission of “transportation excellence,” and major responsibilities across highways, bridges, rail, transit, aeronautics, maintenance, and administration. Rodrig reported 1,651 permanent positions and 404 vacancies, 2,160 state bridges with 115 on the Red List, 4,600 centerline miles of roadway, 25 public airports, 11 transit systems, and 194 active state-owned rail lines. He also outlined FY 2024 spending, project development activity, highway maintenance operations, fleet and fuel systems, and the distinction between the highway fund and DOT’s budget, including the role of federal funds and the turnpike enterprise fund. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this orientation meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• A long-time teacher and educator, I have been part of the UC system since 2007.
• A long-time teacher and educator has been part of the UC system since 2007.
• services, and education supports that prevent homelessness and long-term harm.
• The system had no foster care reentry pathway for her.
• system or get... ...lot for a kid to go and say, I want to enter the foster care system or get evaluated

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no long-term care facility.
• There is no long-term care facility.
• There is no long-term care facility.
• There is no long-term care facility.
• There is no long-term care facility.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, specific to line 137, this is a medical assistance cost related to long-term care waivers.
• </c><00:14:30.880><c> So,</c> related to long-term care waiverss.
• So, related to long-term care waiverss.
• </c><00:16:35.759><c> routinely</c> long-term care facility and we routinely long-term care facility
• We put together last year the long-term care savings there counties and the DWRS folks along with the

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , so doctor, hospital, x-ray, long-term care services like nursing. facility or attendant care, behavioral
• We go to the dentist, but our long-term care population is receiving many more services.
• captured the fact. that it is a complete transformation of the foster care system.
• The supervisor can quickly assess, is this person equipped to do this job in the long-term?
• That has been a long-term goal of all of us, to reduce those.

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• health care system at present?
• Um, and in the long-term care space, we do know that Genesis Health Care operates in the long-term care
• </c> fiscal discipline and long-term fiscal discipline and long-term planning. planning. planning.
• , and lowers long-term health care costs. re-entry, and these funds support re-entry, and these funds
• ><c> health</c> wound care and lowers long-term health wound care and lowers long-term health care<01

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also has a long-term vision.
• It also has a long-term vision.
• It's not only one-time only, it's long-term.
• It's not only one-time only, it's long-term.
• It's not only one-time only, it's long-term. long-term. long-term.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4808, as amended by a DE3, a human services technology modernization bill. The author described the measure as a multi-year effort to modernize outdated county systems, improve data integration, and strengthen program integrity and fraud detection. The bill would create a Human Services Modernization Fund with a $50 million cap, establish an advisory council with strong county and tribal representation, and create a legislative commission to oversee the work and receive annual reports. It also includes a $10 million county-focused grant fund and a $15 million appropriation for the Office of Inspector General’s technology needs. Testimony from the Association of Minnesota Counties and related county groups strongly supported the bill, emphasizing the need for immediate modernization, the importance of county and tribal involvement, and the value of legislative oversight. Members from both parties echoed support, saying the bill would help county workers spend less time on outdated systems and more time serving clients, and that better system integration could reduce errors and fraud issues. One member suggested that audits should be considered in the future in addition to reporting requirements. The committee adopted the DE3 amendment without opposition. After discussion, the chair renewed the motion to refer House File 4808, as amended, to the general register, and the motion passed on a voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rudina with the office of ombudsman for long-term care.
• I'm here today on behalf of the Long-Term Care Imperative.
• Um appreciate long-term care imperative.
• </c><00:58:25.200><c> care</c> you know, a number of of long-term care you know, a number of of long-term
• Access to other long-term care settings.

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The our long-term care program through our pathway to shine program for children that are in our adopted
• And we're also long-term care services and supports accredited before expound on the history of Humana
• We also service long-term care. Simply healthcare is also a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Up until recently, a Florida community care serve the long-term care population.
• So very different from my colleagues here over 30,000 are in the long term care program.

Transcript Highlights:

• A long-time teacher and educator has been part of the UC system since 2007.
• There is a long line of equity-based adjustments we need to make to our system. It is crickets.
• There is a long line of equity-based adjustments we need to make to our systems, and this is just one
• services, and education supports that prevent homelessness and long-term harm.
• The system had no foster care reentry pathway for her.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met without a quorum and proceeded as a subcommittee while hearing a long consent calendar and several Assembly bills. Early testimony focused on AB 1744, which would prohibit sunscreen products marketed as “reef safe” or similar from containing chemical UV filters; the author and student supporters said the bill is a truth-in-labeling measure to protect marine ecosystems, and there was no opposition. Committee members praised the student witnesses and the author asked for an aye vote, but no vote was taken because of the lack of quorum. The committee then heard AB 713, which would allow undocumented students at UC, CSU, and community colleges to access campus jobs. Supporters, including a UCLA law professor and a large coalition of student, labor, immigrant-rights, and education groups, argued the bill would reduce exploitation and improve affordability and retention; opponents argued it would conflict with federal law. Members expressed strong support, and the author closed by emphasizing that students simply want the chance to work, but again no vote occurred due to the subcommittee status. The committee also heard AB 1359, allowing people age 80 and older to opt out of jury service without a doctor’s note, with support from the Alzheimer’s Association and LeadingAge California and no opposition. Additional measures included AB 2563, which would standardize California’s definition of sex discrimination across state codes to align with equal-rights principles; it drew strong support from women’s rights and labor groups and strong opposition from anti-trans advocates. AB 1705 would require websites to verify consent before hosting sexually explicit images of people, with supporters framing it as a response to nonconsensual pornography and opponents warning it could sweep in sites that prohibit such content. AB 1940 would explicitly name menopause in workplace protections, with supporters citing workforce equity and opponents saying existing accommodation law already covers it. The committee also heard AB 1824 and AB 2115 on Native American child welfare and a formal legislative apology for historic harms, both backed by tribal representatives and allies, as well as AB 2076 on nitrous oxide sales to minors and AB 2783 on court reporter licensing and remote reporting; all drew support and no recorded opposition. Several members praised the bills and indicated they would move them when a quorum was available.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1630 modernizes Florida's aging and long-term care statutes, streamlines service delivery, and strengthens
• With regard to long-term care streamlining, it allows DOEA-authorized and certified staff to complete
• long-term care eligibility screenings used by aging and disability resource centers.
• He didn't care who you served as long as you were serving God.
• , and energy-related upgrades as long-term capital decisions.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing guests, interns, public safety officials, and a doctor of the day. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and took up several bills, with some measures temporarily postponed and others substituted with House companions before final passage. No committee reports, governor messages, or House messages were on the desk at the start of the regular order of business. The first major bill passed was CS/CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, which requires hospitals with emergency departments to have evidence-based pediatric emergency care policies, training, pediatric equipment, a designated pediatric emergency care coordinator, and participation in the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment. Senators also passed CS/CS/HB 1113 on public records, clarifying confidentiality protections for victims and for law enforcement officers who become victims in the course of duty, though that bill drew questions about access to information in misconduct cases and received four no votes. The Senate then passed CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, creating a Florida Digital Service-administered program to help local governments obtain cybersecurity services and grants, with amendments shifting the grant-award deadline and rejecting House differences such as locating the program at USF and adding a sunset date. The chamber also passed CS/CS/HB 925 on clerks of court, allowing clerks to retain all revenue above Article V projections and revising related fee distributions, despite concerns from some senators and municipalities about revenue shifts. Additional bills passed included CS/CS/HB 679 modernizing trademark registration, and CS/CS/CS/HB 589 on septic system permits, which addresses long permit delays and clarifies liability if construction begins before a permit is issued. Several other bills were taken up, including elections legislation (SB 1334/HB 991) that generated extensive debate and multiple failed amendments on voter ID, citizenship verification, student and senior IDs, and implementation timing; the transcript ends while that bill is still under consideration, after the Senate adopted one amendment and rejected several others.

Transcript Highlights:

• financing options for long-term care services and supports.
• </c> 1804 establishes a legislative long-term 1804 establishes a legislative long-term care<00:48:53.599
• financing options for long-term care services and supports.
• financing options for long-term care services and supports.
• financing options for long-term care services and supports.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing opened with House Bill 1969, which would provide state funding for colorectal cancer screenings for uninsured and underinsured residents. The Department of Human Services said it supports the goal of early screening but would need new administrative capacity, including a program manager and claim pre-screening, to run the program. The Department of Health supported the measure and cited low screening rates in Hawaii, noting an educational campaign to encourage screening. The Insurance Division raised concerns about reliance on federal FAQs, warning that guidance can change and may create state cost exposure. Supporters including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Hawaii Medical Association argued the bill would close a preventive-care gap, reduce late-stage diagnoses, and save long-term costs; the committee also discussed implementation costs, estimated by DHS at roughly $1.4 million to $2 million annually plus administrative expenses, and a 6-month to 1-year timeline to establish the program. The committee then took up House Bill 1965, which would require health carriers to spend at least 6% of total medical expenditures on primary care providers. The Insurance Division said several provisions raise technical and legal concerns, including the premium freeze, the medical loss ratio language, the lack of an existing external review process for downcoding claims, and a new mandate for medically necessary inter-island transportation that could trigger an ACA defrayal. The Department of Human Services supported the intent but suggested broader language to include primary care supports and services, and noted that QUEST integration plans already invested at least 9% of total medical expenditures in primary care in 2024, with additional spending on supports and low-value care reductions. State health planning officials strongly supported the bill as an investment in primary care, saying it could improve outcomes and lower long-term costs, though they acknowledged a possible temporary premium increase during the transition. Testimony in support emphasized Hawaii’s physician shortage, especially on Maui, the Big Island, and other neighbor islands, and warned that clinics are under financial strain and may close without higher primary care reimbursement. The Hawaii Healthcare Task Force, AARP Hawaii, and other supporters said the bill would help retain providers, improve access for Medicare and Medicaid patients, and prevent downstream costs from emergency room use and avoidable hospitalizations. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.