Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, with respect to, uh, you gave an example of somebody who had been terminated for objecting.
• <00:39:26.240> Um<00:39:26.720> and<00:39:26.960> you terminated for objecting
• Um and you terminated for objecting.
• As a corporate executive, I've had to terminate through my actions two presidents of two corporations
• As a corporate executive, I've had to terminate through my actions two presidents of two corporations

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We help the people when they're get terminated, and so I think we know on the end what happens and how
• We help the people when they're get terminated, and so I think we know on the end what happens and how
• We help the people when they're get terminated, and so I think we know on the end what happens and how
• a memorandum to pause all terminations a memorandum to pause all terminations because<02:51:35.439
• go out just terminating people are insufficient.<02:53:22.160> All<02:53:22.319> they<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• office manager and the assistant director who were employed when these transactions occurred were terminated
• office manager and the assistant director who were employed when these transactions occurred were terminated
• two people who had direct access and were responsible for the activity that was discovered were terminated

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• office manager and the assistant director, who were employed when these transactions occurred, were terminated
• office manager and the assistant director who were employed when these transactions occurred were terminated
• two people who had direct access and were responsible for the activity that was discovered were terminated

Summary: The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to approve prior minutes and receive reports from several subcommittees and audits. The executive committee reported that audit and special reports were scheduled for presentation, one requested report remained outstanding, and staff had reviewed circuit-court caseload assignments in Benton County’s 19th West Judicial District. The committee also heard that Arkansas legislative audit financial statements and audits for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 received clean opinions with no internal-control findings, and that the report was accepted. The counties and municipalities report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, with many entities reinstated after filing required reports, and reviewed current and deferred reports; several reports were referred to prosecutors, the attorney general, or the Government Bonding Board. The education audit report covered 57 school district audits, with three districts—Camden Fairview, Forest City, and Eudora—deferred until the June meeting because of findings and referrals. A substitute motion amended the report to file the Nettleton School District report, and the amended report passed. The state agencies report noted findings at the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation and Shared Services, including duplicate payments, collateral issues, record-keeping problems, and missing vehicle logs; the committee filed five reports. The committee then reviewed the City of Pine Bluff’s 2024 financial audit. The city received clean opinions overall, but the management letter identified serious issues in the mayor’s office, Parks and Recreation, and Finance, including unaccounted-for receipts, altered invoices, unallowable and questionable purchases, missing equipment, and weak cash-receipting and reconciliation procedures. City officials, including the mayor and department heads, testified that the problems largely involved prior activity, said they had terminated involved employees, referred matters to law enforcement, and described corrective steps such as a forensic audit, new procurement and accounting procedures, electronic receipting and payments, and software upgrades. After questions from members, the committee voted to file the Pine Bluff report and adjourned, with the next meeting set for June 4-5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• He didn't know he was going to have to do this, but John's out of our Denton terminal.
• He didn't know he was going to have to do this, but John's out of our Denton terminal.
• Out of our Denton terminal. John, how long have you been driving? Sixteen years?

Bills: SJR36, SB2

Summary: Texas senators, representatives, the Texas Trucking Association, DPS, and Bob’s House of Hope held a Capitol press event focused on human trafficking awareness, with an emphasis on the often-overlooked trafficking of boys and young men. Speakers said Texas remains among the worst states for stopping trafficking and argued that public awareness must expand beyond the common assumption that victims are only girls and women. Several participants described trafficking as modern-day slavery and stressed that it affects people across all backgrounds, including in border and highway communities. The event highlighted a new awareness campaign in partnership with the trucking industry, including decals and posters to be placed on trucks statewide to encourage drivers and the public to “see something, say something.” Texas Trucking Association leaders said the industry’s large statewide footprint gives it a major role in spotting suspicious activity and educating drivers. Bob Williams of Bob’s House of Hope said his organization opened the first U.S. safe house for sex-trafficked boys and young men and cited studies suggesting boys may make up a substantial share of trafficking victims, though the problem is underreported. Lawmakers and DPS officials said the state should continue giving law enforcement more tools to combat trafficking and praised the partnership with private industry and victim services. No formal vote or legislative action was taken at the event; the main action was the launch of the awareness campaign and the public rollout of the truck decals, with participants posing for photos with the first truck carrying the new messaging.

Transcript Highlights:

• Terminates that woman's pregnancy. Yeah. Yes. Okay, they could be sued, right?
• And a miscarriage Terminated pregnancy, of which my wife and I have suffered.
• The actus reus, you have to have the mens rea—knowingly using these drugs to terminate a pregnancy.
• Abortion to terminate the life of a baby in Texas is illegal in the state I represent.
• Without these medications for terminations and beyond, women will die.

Bills: HB229, HB229, HB3990, HB5082, HB5510

Keywords: HB 229, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county dues, county association, state association of counties, lobbying, lobbyist, public funds, taxpayer lawsuit, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, Government Code Chapter 556, Local Government Code Section 89.002, legislative advocacy, municipal government, county government, city government, special district

Transcript Highlights:

• because of the difficulty of terminating because of the difficulty of terminating Tendencies<00:19:13.919
• That's just termination of tenancy. Well, given all right, that makes sense.
• That's just termination of tenancy.
• This is a notice of termination.
• This is a notice of termination.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• changed the contracts, changed everything well into the program, and it should never have been terminated
• changed the contracts, changed everything well into the program, and it should never have been terminated
• changed the contracts, changed everything well into the program, and it should never have been terminated
• changed the contracts, changed everything well into the program, and it should never have been terminated

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 340, an act relating to termination of residential leases. Representative Wilner.
• 00:12:19.200> act<00:12:19.360> relating<00:12:19.680> to<00:12:19.839> termination
• Bill 340, an act relating to termination Bill 340, an act relating to termination of<00:12:20.399

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 00:55 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 11:09 Motion to Act on HR 21 15:13 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 23:52 ConC and Rules Report 29:29 Adjournment 31:04, 958, all

Summary: The House opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum with 96 members present. Routine business followed: absent members were excused, the rules were suspended to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications, and the journal from January 12, 2026 was approved. No bills were taken up on second reading, and there were no committee reports or orders of the day at that point. During announcements, members recognized the Frederick Douglass High School cheerleading squad for winning a state title, and several members noted visits or upcoming events involving Kentucky firefighters and fire chiefs. Multiple committee meeting notices were also shared, and House Bill 244 was withdrawn by its primary sponsor. The clerk then read a long list of newly filed bills and resolutions covering topics including pharmacist reimbursements, immigration enforcement, housing, identity documents, sex-based classifications, school choking prevention, local minimum wages, rental property, labor standards, wages, veterans issues, homelessness prevention, real property appraisers, jury duty, paramedic education, adult performances, sanctuary policies, charitable gaming, court costs, National Guard benefits, child care coverage, and several resolutions. The chamber then considered House Resolution 21, honoring the victims of the UPS Airlines Flight 2976 crash in Louisville and commending first responders. The sponsor described the crash, named the victims, and detailed the extensive multi-agency response. The House opened the board for additional co-sponsors, observed a moment of silence, and adopted the resolution without objection. Afterward, the House recessed briefly for Committee on Committees and Rules Committee meetings, then received committee referrals for numerous bills to standing committees. No floor amendments were introduced, and the House adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we've also added a criteria for early termination from probation.
• that clients are licensed and have installed their ignition interlock device before they are early terminated
• And then we've also added a criteria for early termination from probation.
• clients are licensed and have installed their ignition interlocked device before they are early terminated

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met in Yakima to focus on tribal traffic safety, with members and Yakima Nation leaders emphasizing the importance of safety, the right to travel, and continued partnership on U.S. 97 corridor improvements. Yakima Nation Vice Chair Christopher Wallachie and engineering staff described the Tribal Traffic Safety Committee, the U.S. 97 safety project, heritage connectivity trails, roundabout construction, and the use of federal grants and advanced sensing technology to identify hazards before crashes occur. They highlighted collaboration with WSDOT, the Traffic Safety Commission, the University of Washington, and other regional partners, and explained that the goal is to move from reactive crash response to proactive risk reduction. The Yakima Nation engineering team and AI Vision presented the MUST sensor project, which uses compact AI-enabled devices to collect traffic counts, speeds, near-miss events, roadway conditions, and pedestrian activity, with data transmitted to a dashboard and used for real-time warnings and longer-term planning. Committee members asked about speed tracking, driver behavior, enforcement, and partnerships with WSDOT and counties. Yakima Nation staff said the relationship with WSDOT has improved over time, especially after community outreach on proposed roundabouts, and that the tribe now supports several roundabout projects and broader safety coordination. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission then presented statewide fatality trends and tribal traffic safety data. Mark McKekney said 2024 showed a roughly 10% decrease in fatalities statewide, though recent years remain among the highest in decades. He noted that race and ethnicity data are only available for people who die in crashes, and that many American Indian and Alaska Native fatalities involve passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists rather than drivers. Penny Rerick outlined tribal traffic safety coordinator grants and other state-funded tribal projects, including work with Yakama Nation, Colville, Kalispel, Makah, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Muckleshoot, Lower Elwha, and Puyallup, stressing that flexible state funding helps fill gaps left by federal programs and supports community-led solutions. The final presentation covered impaired driving enforcement and ignition interlock compliance in Yakima County. Yakima Police Chief Sean Boyle said the city created a DUI enforcement and education officer program that helped reduce serious injury and fatal impaired-driving crashes, supported by state funding and social media outreach. Yakima County District Court’s Nick Bazan described a supervision program for DUI offenders and interlock compliance, reporting more than 1,000 DUI convictions in 2024-25 and about 3,800 noncompliant interlock users countywide. He said the court is using a two-pronged approach—pretrial assistance for indigent clients and post-conviction accountability and case planning—to improve compliance and reduce impaired driving. The committee expressed support for the work, noted the progress made, and adjourned the work session after thanking presenters for their updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also requires the program shall be terminated for failure to submit an annual report and subjects
• And failure to timely do this could subject the program to termination.
• evaluation to determine programs are in compliance with statutory provisions and subject the program to termination
• 91.2%, and you are now at 78%, 80%, which two years ago was the rate we were at, you will have to terminate

Summary: The Committee on Health Policy met with a quorum and considered three bills. Senate Bill 526 on nursing education programs, sponsored by Senator Harrell, would tighten oversight of nursing schools by requiring admission criteria, exit exams, remediation plans, annual reporting, on-site inspections, and stronger action against programs with poor NCLEX results or adverse actions in other jurisdictions. After testimony from the sponsor and several committee questions, a late-filed amendment restored a two-year probation period instead of one year, and the bill was reported favorably. Senate Bill 714, also by Senator Harrell, would create a voluntary non-opioid advance directive allowing patients to document a wish not to receive opioids, including when incapacitated, with the form developed by the Department of Health and potentially included in electronic medical records. The sponsor said it would not prevent treatment discussions and would provide liability protection for providers who lack actual knowledge of the directive in emergencies. The bill drew no opposition in the meeting and was reported favorably. Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Senator Burton, would add nursing home quality and transparency measures, including consumer satisfaction surveys, patient safety culture surveys, electronic health record requirements, reporting to the Florida Health Information Exchange, a $10,000 fine for failure to submit required financial data, and reporting on Medicaid quality payments. An amendment clarified the fine’s application to both facilities and home offices. Testimony from AARP and the Florida Health Care Association supported the bill, and it was reported favorably after discussion about implementation and costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• suspended if the recipient is charged with a criminal offense relating to a state grant agreement and terminated
• relating to a state Grant<00:05:04.080> agreement<00:05:05.080> and<00:05:05.360> terminated
• <00:05:06.280> if<00:05:06.520> the Grant agreement and terminated if the Grant agreement
• and terminated if the recipient<00:05:08.160> is<00:05:08.400> convicted<00:05:08.880>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House State Government Finance and Policy Committee met on January 23, 2025, approved the minutes from January 21, and took up House File 2, a bill on mandatory fraud reporting and grant oversight. Representative Davis described the bill as requiring state agencies to report suspected fraud to law enforcement and legislative leaders, post organizational charts online, conduct unannounced site visits for grant recipients, require reporting of grant violations, and suspend or terminate grant agreements when recipients are charged with or convicted of related crimes. No testifiers were present. Committee members asked about how the reporting requirements would work, whether the bill should reference inspectors general or other law enforcement channels, and whether whistleblower protections would cover employees making reports. Representative Joy suggested the bill should halt funding immediately when fraud is reported, while Representative Ston raised the possibility of including contract employees. The committee administrator said the general whistleblower statute likely applies, but would follow up if needed. Representative Anderson noted that the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits was listed as an opponent and asked about any outreach; Representative Davis said he was surprised and had not been contacted directly. The chair said the bill would be laid over because no fiscal note was yet available, and encouraged further discussion with members and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits before the bill returns. The chair then moved on to a brief discussion of the governor’s budget proposal, noting that several agencies had declined to appear, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That reputation is built on the workers who clean the terminals late at night, assist passengers, prepare
• New<01:20:28.400> Jersey<01:20:28.640> healthy New York and New Jersey Healthy Terminals
• compensation standards for that routine frontline work in the security-sensitive areas within the terminals
• Routine frontline work in the security-sensitive areas within the terminals.
• concerned that as local businesses are deciding whether to open a store or a restaurant in one of our terminals

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The tax terminates after 25 years or when the project is complete and completely paid for, whichever
• The terminates is the tax after details.
• The terminates is the tax after 25<00:15:13.000> years<00:15:13.959> or<00:15:14.280>
• we will terminate at that point.
• four is termination of the tax<00:47:31.920> for<00:47:32.880> up<00:47:33.120> to<

Bills: HF4094, HF3390, HF3813, HF3583, HF3751, HF4324, HF4789, HF3596, HF4033, HF4424, HF4053

Keywords: Crosby, local sales tax, bonding authority, community projects, voter approval, Owatonna, use tax, special law, community center, municipal finance, capital project, sales and use tax, local option tax, city tax, public facility, general election, bond referendum, debt limit, levy limit, Minnesota local government

Transcript Highlights:

• As you may recall, I was here about a month ago regarding the termination by the CDC of several important
• by the CDC of several termination by the CDC of several important<00:36:15.920> federal<00:36
• A budget-neutral proposal in our budget is housing stabilization services termination and a redesign.
• services termination and a redesign. services termination and a redesign.
• of this program and it the termination of this program and it would<01:14:38.120> direct<01:14

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Terminals that we provide, we have 22,000 dealers.
• That's the process that we changed, that they would not obtain that many terminals again.
• Because there's not enough terminals at just four locations.
• They had a large number of your terminals and you said one of the things that you had you had done to
• I think you said it has to come to you for terminal numbers like that.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, for example, the Kapalama container terminal, that's about a $555 million project.
• Um, but there are some facilities that are cruise only, like the terminal, like the covered area where
• We have two large dedicated cruise terminals.
• like the covered area like the terminal like the covered area where<00:26:15.039> uh<00:26:15.200
• two large um dedicated cruise terminals. two large um dedicated cruise terminals.

Bills: HB1709, HB2195, HB2023, HB2031, HB2033, HB1937, HB2586, HB2575, HB2038, HB2030

Keywords: water carriers, transportation, public utility, Department of Transportation, liability, agricultural rates, certificates of convenience, cruise ship, passenger head fee, harbor, capital improvement, funding, environmental impact, active intelligent speed assistance, intelligent speed assistance, speed limiter, speed limiting device, speed governor, vehicle telematics, traffic safety

Summary: The joint committees on Transportation, Labor and Technology, and later Transportation and Economic Development and Tourism, heard several bills. SB 2573 would allow administrative driver’s license revocation hearings to be held by interactive conference technology such as Zoom and permit electronic exchange of evidence. The chief adjudicator for the ADLRO supported it as a non-mandatory option that has worked well since 2021, improving attendance and saving time and money; DOT also supported it. The committees voted to pass SB 2573 with technical, non-substantive amendments. SB 3215 would make permanent the requirement that securing mooring lines at commercial docks be performed by labor subject to collective bargaining by repealing the sunset date in existing harbor safety law. DOT did not submit testimony, and the chair noted support from longshore labor. The committees voted to pass SB 3215 unamended. The committees also heard SB 2693, which authorizes $15 million in general obligation bonds for planning, design, and construction of a 50,000-square-foot aerospace hangar and related facilities at Hilo International Airport. A Phoenix Space executive testified in support, saying Hawaii and Hilo have geographic advantages and that the project could support aerospace investment and jobs; several other organizations and individuals submitted supportive testimony. Committee members questioned whether federal matching funds or airport capacity existed, and DOT said it had no assurance of federal participation and would need to check on capacity and potential users. The hearing then moved to SB 2698, which would create a cruise ship special fund and impose a per-passenger head fee on cruise ships docking in state commercial harbors while repealing the existing cruise ship TAT framework effective January 1, 2026. DOT supported the bill but requested amendments to clarify that the new fee is in addition to existing passenger, port entry, and dockage fees and to raise the fee from $6.50 to $10; DOT said the higher amount would better fund harbor improvements such as shore power. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings testified in support but said the added fee would significantly increase costs, while a local ship supply business supported the cruise industry and opposed the TAT approach, saying cruise activity benefits local farmers and jobs. No final vote on SB 2698 was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the chief immigration officer must approve any termination of the agreement.
• ...would have to accept the termination. Is that accurate? Senator Gruters. Thank you, Mr.
• The chief immigration officer must approve the termination of any such agreement. Senator Ingoleum.
• If somebody wanted to terminate a 287(g) program, then the chief immigration officer must approve it.
• The immigration officer will have to approve it if they terminate.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of an amended joint proclamation expanding the Legislature’s immigration agenda. The proclamation added items calling for financial penalties for government officials, enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration law. The chamber then took up the special order calendar, beginning with Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill. Most of the meeting was devoted to debate and questions on the strike-all amendment to SB 2B. Sponsor Senator Gruters described the bill as a broad immigration enforcement package aligned with President Trump’s agenda. He said it would require greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities, strengthen participation in the 287(g) program, create a chief immigration officer and council, authorize financial penalties for noncompliance, provide bonuses for officers assisting ICE, and direct information-sharing with federal agencies. He also said the bill would bar DHSMV from issuing licenses or ID cards to unauthorized aliens and would end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Berman, Osgood, and others questioned the scope of the bill, whether it would affect schools, churches, cities, nonprofits, and green-card holders, and how the 287(g) provisions would work in practice. Gruters repeatedly said the operational focus was on jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. A major point of controversy was the bill’s proposed mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of certain capital offenses. Senator Fine said the covered crimes were the most serious capital felonies, including murder, child sexual battery, destructive-device offenses causing death, and certain trafficking offenses, and argued the provision was intended to withstand constitutional challenge. Senator Pizzo raised Eighth Amendment concerns and questioned whether the bill could mandate death sentences. The tuition waiver provisions also drew extended debate: Fine said the state would save about $41 million by ending discounted tuition for undocumented students, while Democrats argued the savings would not return to general revenue and that the policy would harm students who are already enrolled. Fine and Gruters said green-card holders would not be affected and that the bill targeted only students in the country illegally. The discussion also covered appropriations and implementation. Senator Smith asked about the bill’s large funding levels, and Fine broke down the spending as including $375 million for the chief immigration officer, $100 million in grants to local law enforcement, $29 million for the new Office of State Immigration Enforcement, and $10 million for an unauthorized-alien transport program. Gruters said the funds would reimburse local governments and help address staffing shortages, while critics questioned the lack of benchmarks and the fiscal impact. No final vote or disposition on the bill appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there were three projects added for the Pease: the Market Street Terminal main wharf dredging, the
• Rye Harbor Hampton Harbor riprap repair, and the Market Street Marine Terminal warehouse removal of
• Market<00:34:12.159> Street peas. um the Market Street peas. um the Market Street Terminal
• Main Warfar dredgery, the Ry Terminal Main Warfar dredgery, the Ry Harbor<00:34:15.679> Hampton
• and the Market Street Marine Terminal and the Market Street Marine Terminal warehouse<00:34:20.560

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the last section was notice to terminate in policy.
• Essentially elevating the requirement: you must have a master's or a terminal degree in the area of your
• Essentially elevating the requirement: you must have a master's or a terminal degree in the area of your
• moving forward, again, you must have a master's degree or higher in your field of expertise, the terminal
• moving forward, again, you must have a master's degree or higher in your field of expertise, the terminal

Summary: The committee met at Dakota College at Bottineau, approved the January 15, 2026 minutes, and heard an extensive campus update from Dean Corey Gorder and other DCB leaders. Gorder described the college’s affiliation with Minot State and its growing use of shared services, including business office functions, HR, institutional research, Title IX, printing, financial aid support through UND, and payroll support through NDSU. He said the arrangement lets DCB focus on its core mission while relying on system partners for specialized administrative work, and noted that accreditation concerns were not believed to limit those shared-service arrangements. He also highlighted DCB’s mission, enrollment growth, dual-credit reach across rural schools, and the college’s emphasis on nursing, dental, paramedic, farm management, and other workforce-oriented programs. Committee members asked detailed questions about dual credit, program delivery, and whether DCB’s partnerships were exclusive. Gorder said the relationships are generally collaborative rather than exclusive, that schools can choose other providers, and that many partnerships began through personal outreach and ongoing relationships with rural schools. Lisa Johnson of the university system added that transfer complaints are rare and that dual credit generally transfers well within North Dakota, though highly selective out-of-state institutions may treat credits differently. Members also asked about stipends for high school instructors, the share of K-12 versus DCB instructors, and the capacity limits in dental hygiene and other programs. Gorder said dental hygiene is capped by space and staffing, that there were more applicants than seats, and that expansion is being considered; he also said he would provide follow-up information on the paramedic program and instructor breakdowns. Gorder closed by identifying long-term challenges, including aging residence halls, recruiting faculty and staff, and the need to review low-enrollment programs. He said DCB should consider expanding into more high-demand trades such as welding, HVAC, and electrical work, and should streamline dual credit and strengthen its Minot programming. The committee then heard from the North Dakota Student Association, whose leaders outlined student priorities from the last session and the interim. Their main concerns included campus housing quality and affordability, food insecurity and food pantries, mental and physical health resources, student-led research funding, academic and career readiness, internships, and campus collaboration. They also discussed dual credit, saying it is valuable but uneven across the state, and raised questions about how to better retain students in North Dakota through the system. Members asked follow-up questions about housing, transferability of dual credit, and whether incentives could be used to encourage students to stay in-state for higher education.