Transcript Highlights:

• There's a dip there in both.
• <00:45:18.559> um wanted to go back to just the dips um wanted to go back to just the dips
• and it looks like there's another dip and it looks like there's another dip like<00:45:35.480>
• Chair. 2021 dip a lot of that was the economic 2021 dip a lot of that was the economic uncertainty<00
• County program Aid and then that the dip County program Aid and then that the dip through<00:58:

Keywords: 1183, house

Bills: HB63, HB19, HB80, HB41, HB20, HB60, HB100, HB71, HB91, HB93, HB63, HB19, HB80, HB41, HB20, HB60, HB100, HB71, HB91, HB93

Keywords: paternity, child custody, joint custody, parental rights, family law, domestic violence, shared parenting, Ebony Alert, missing youth, public safety, law enforcement, racial equity, human trafficking, victim restitution, civil action, criminal prosecution, labor servitude, sexual servitude, class A felony, class B felony

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Callaway added that the bill does not allow double dipping and does not have any quantified
• I know that was kind of double dipping.
• This this does not allow for double<00:15:54.880> dipping.
• <00:15:55.600> Um<00:15:56.480> I've<00:15:56.800> already double dipping.
• Um I've already double dipping. Um I've already addressed<00:15:57.199> that.

Keywords: HB 66 (discussion only) -- 00:05:33 Consideration of HB 213 -- 00:12:16 Consideration of HB 314 -- 00:22:11, 958, all

Summary: The House State Government Committee opened its first meeting of the year with prayer, the pledge, a roll call, and a reminder of committee procedures, including sign-up rules for public testimony, decorum expectations, and recognition of staff. The chair noted the committee had a quorum and outlined the day’s agenda, which included three bills. Representative Hodgson presented House Bill 66 for discussion only, explaining that it would distinguish between boards and commissions that can meet entirely electronically and larger public agencies that should have a quorum physically present unless there is an emergency. He said the bill also aimed to require agencies to post member information and contact details online so the public can provide feedback. Representative Tipton asked whether the bill would apply to state and local bodies, and Hodgson said it would; no vote was taken on HB 66. The committee then considered House Bill 213, sponsored by Representative Emily Callaway, on reemployment of retired police officers. A committee substitute was adopted unanimously. Callaway said the bill would reduce barriers to rehiring retired law enforcement officers, allow local agencies and universities to offer health benefits in lieu of retirement benefits, lower the service threshold for this specific rehiring from 20 years to 15 years, and give agencies flexibility on retirement contributions. She emphasized that the bill would not allow double dipping and had no quantified fiscal impact. Members raised a question about review by the Public Pension Oversight Board; Callaway said that had not yet occurred, and the chair noted the committee’s practice that pension-related bills are typically reviewed by that board first. Despite that concern, the committee voted 16-2 to report HB 213 favorably, with two members passing. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 314, relating to the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and declaring an emergency. After adopting a committee substitute, Representative Matt Lockett said the bill was intended to reorganize oversight of Kentucky Wired by moving KCNA into the Finance and Administration Cabinet under the Commonwealth Office of Technology, abolishing KCNA’s separate executive director, transferring KCNA functions and records to COOT, and restructuring the board with new members and two governor appointments from lists submitted by KACo and KLC. He said the measure was meant to provide stronger oversight and more direct control over the project, and that the emergency clause was needed because of budget implications. Members asked for clarification on the differences between committee substitutes, and Lockett said one prior substitute removed the attorney general from the board at his request, while the current one added the governor’s appointments. He also said a floor amendment would strike language related to a nonprofit board associated with Kentucky Wired. The transcript ends during discussion of HB 314, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they'll have doubled the amount of money, but guess what?
• In addition to that, all cattle are dipped at a tick dip.
• In addition to that, all cattle are dipped at a tixidal dip.
• That dip does also kill any larvae that might be on that animal. dip.
• That dip does also kill any larva that might be on that animal.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House Committee on International Trade held its first meeting of the year, with members introducing themselves and the chair emphasizing Arizona’s role in foreign relations, especially with Mexico. The committee then heard presentations from the Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce and related local partners about the region’s importance as a trade, tourism, agriculture, logistics, and mining corridor. Chamber representatives described efforts to support small businesses with bilingual resources, digital and procurement assistance, entrepreneurship training, Google certificates, and workforce development tied to the South32 mine and other emerging industries. They also highlighted tourism promotion efforts to counter negative perceptions of Nogales, noting increased online engagement and stronger visitor activity. Members asked about state and federal improvements that could help trade, and witnesses said the top needs were infrastructure upgrades, especially roads and port-of-entry access, along with more pedestrian-friendly crossings and housing to retain workers. The Santa Cruz County Provisional Community College District described its unusual provisional status, its contract with Pima College, and the challenge of limited spending authority despite expected revenue growth from mining. The college said it is expanding workforce training, especially in AI, advanced manufacturing, trades, and ESL support, and is working toward eventual accreditation. The committee also heard from cattle industry representatives from Cattlemex, T4 Ranch, and J.M. Fletcher Cattle Co. They urged the reopening of the U.S.-Mexico border to live cattle imports, arguing that Sonoran cattle are safe, traceable, and vital to Arizona’s economy and the national beef supply. Witnesses said the New World screwworm-related border closure has reduced imports, raised beef prices, hurt feedlots and packing plants, and shifted cattle trade to other states. They asked lawmakers to advocate with USDA for a Sonora-specific reopening and to support Arizona’s livestock infrastructure and grazing lands. No bills were heard and no votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just as a point of context, the PCA program has really been growing at double digits over the past 10
• Given that the program has been growing at double digits, the governor had initially put forward a proposal
• We've got, you know, double-digit cost growth pretty much across the country.
• the country is having a serious, serious problem in terms of people not being able to afford this double
• But I think when you think about what's on the horizon, you know, the trend is double digits.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened with roll call and approved the November 2025 minutes. Commissioner Charlie Carr then introduced Leslie Darcy, chief of LTSS at MassHealth, who provided an update on the PCA working group and on federal and state budget pressures affecting MassHealth and long-term services and supports. Darcy said the PCA working group had completed its work and submitted recommendations, including reinstating the 66-hour overtime cap, strengthening program integrity, and ending paid paperwork time for EVV users; she said those changes were implemented on 11/26 and were expected to save $7.4 million. She also described additional consensus recommendations to lower the overtime cap from 66 to 60 hours, create a seven-hour weekly meal-prep support limit, and continue exploring benchmarks, though the group could not reach consensus on a benchmark standard. Darcy warned that a federal bill enacted about six months earlier would significantly affect MassHealth, with an estimated $3.5 billion loss to the Commonwealth by 2028. She outlined upcoming changes including revised immigrant eligibility rules in October 2026, work requirements for certain non-disabled adults beginning in January 2027, six-month redeterminations for some adults, and shorter retroactive coverage periods. In response to questions, she said people with disabilities and Medicare beneficiaries would be exempt from the work and six-month redetermination requirements. She also explained that reduced federal ACA subsidies were being offset in Massachusetts by state spending, including $250 million in additional state support to keep premiums lower for middle-income families. Members raised concerns about community hospitals, the health safety net, and the impact of federal funding changes on provider rates and uncompensated care. Darcy said restrictions on provider taxes would limit MassHealth’s ability to use those revenues to support rates, and she noted a current $300 million shortfall in the health safety net. She said FY27 would likely include a rate freeze, targeted reductions, one-time budget measures, and further work groups to examine programs such as adult foster care, which she said had grown 40% in two years. Carr emphasized that the situation was serious but potentially fluid, and the meeting ended with no further business; the subcommittee agreed to adjourn before the next meeting and noted an upcoming February presentation from the Department of Public Health.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, the H-DIP program continues to spend millions of public dollars subsidizing high-end market
• Seattle nearly doubled the ADU permits after similar reforms.
• And then is there data that... ...might show, like, how many double staircases there are in the city
• H-DIP does not support any affordable housing.
• The H-DIP program would benefit from reforms to ensure that it does provide affordable units.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing opened a hybrid hearing focused on housing production bills, with Chairs Julian Cyr and Rich Haggerty emphasizing Massachusetts’ housing shortage and the need to produce more than 200,000 units over the next decade. The committee then heard testimony on a wide range of proposals, including social housing, starter homes and the “missing middle,” accessory dwelling units (ADUs), single-stair residential buildings, permanent affordability homeownership, and housing for people with disabilities. Several witnesses framed the bills as tools to expand supply, lower costs, and address racial and generational wealth gaps. Representative Connolly testified for H. 1478 on the Massachusetts Social Housing Program, describing publicly owned, mixed-income housing financed through a revolving loan fund. Senator Feeney testified for S. 989 on missing middle starter homes, arguing for zoning changes, incentives, and affordability tools to support smaller starter homes and duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. Multiple witnesses, including housing advocates, real estate representatives, and local officials, supported the ADU trust fund bill and the single-stair study bill, saying they would reduce barriers, support homeowners, and enable more family-sized and infill housing. Some witnesses opposed bills they said would weaken ADU reforms or add new restrictions, while others urged broader deregulation to speed production. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 1576/S. 1010, the Homes for Lasting Affordability bill, which would create a permanent affordability homeownership program for low- and moderate-income buyers and support small developments with long-term affordability restrictions. Testimony from community land trust leaders, legislators, and housing advocates emphasized that permanent affordability can preserve public investment, stabilize neighborhoods, and help families build wealth over generations. Senator Miranda and Representative Worrell tied the bill to closing the racial wealth gap and expanding access to homeownership for Black and Latino residents. The committee also heard testimony on S. 971, which would reform the Housing Development and Incentive Program to require more affordability in Gateway City projects. The committee additionally heard from Senator Kennedy and disability advocates on S. 1004, which would strengthen the Alternative Housing Voucher Program for people with disabilities by codifying project-based vouchers and aligning the program more closely with other voucher systems. Witnesses described long waitlists and the lack of accessible, affordable units as major barriers that can lead to homelessness or unnecessary institutionalization. No votes were taken during the hearing; the session was devoted to testimony and questions from committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we had a double whammy.
• dip?
• So again, we don't want to prevent overlap and double dipping, but as an island state, especially our
• So again, this, we don't, we do wanna prevent overlap and double dipping, but as an island state, especially
• dipping.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first considered three gubernatorial nominations. GM510, Faith Tui Pulotu to the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board, received strong support from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, though the nominee was not present online. GM614, Mark Gordon to the Environmental Advisory Council, also drew unanimous support from state and private testifiers; Gordon described his environmental health and safety background and said he could commit the time needed. GM696, James Falconer to the Advisory Board on Pesticides, was supported by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Hawaii Farm Bureau; Falconer discussed his long experience in coffee and sugar, including work responding to coffee leaf rust and the need for timely pesticide tools. All three nominations were recommended for advise and consent and were adopted by four-member votes. The committee then heard several agriculture bills. HB 1603 HD1 would allow the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to extend agricultural park leases without the current county-population restriction; supporters called it an equity measure and asked that it apply to all ag park leases, while the department gave standard testimony. HB 1707 HD1 would create a local agricultural transportation cost reimbursement program; supporters said transportation is a major production cost and suggested amendments to define “necessary supplies” and explicitly include honey. HB 2155 HD1 would establish an agricultural statistics program, with supporters emphasizing the need for better data to guide planning. HB 2594 HD1 would direct a study on insurance coverage for small producers, which supporters linked to recent storm damage and the lack of tailored insurance products. HB 2595 HD1 would create a regional agricultural feasibility and food systems production working group; supporters said it should consider markets as well as crop suitability and regional conditions. Members asked questions about lease competition, transportation reimbursement amounts and anti-double-dipping safeguards, the usefulness of agricultural data, and whether state or federal insurance models could be used as templates. Testifiers generally said the bills would help reduce costs, improve planning, and support small and neighbor-island producers, while noting that implementation details and funding levels would need further work. The committee then voted to pass all five bills with amendments, generally including a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050, and in the case of HB 1707, the committee adopted the suggested amendments to define necessary supplies and add honey to the covered commodities.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB330 allows double dipping by SB330 allows double dipping by elected officials.
• SB330 doubles the pay for Birmingham Waterworks Board members. See lines 262-267.
• When we start dipping into one local delegation and making it statewide, local delegation, making it

Bills: SB330

Keywords: water management, regional boards, municipal governance, ethics compliance, public utility, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• was raised about double potential double dipping<01:29:27.199> in<01:29:27.400> section
• it<01:55:14.840> you double dipping conversation um it you double dipping conversation
• so that is the limit against double so that is the limit against double dipping<01:55:36.960>
• bed<01:55:44.960> we double dipping question to bed we double dipping question to bed we already
• capabilities um but I think the double capabilities um but I think the double dipping<01:56:20.920

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not double-dipping on the clock. Why would I assume? Yes. I mean, they're double-dipping on the...
• during the day from a school district in School District A, and then they go... ...over and get a double
• dip and work in School District B at the same time.
• But do you ever have any administrators doubling as teachers also? It will apply to them.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:24:57.160> into that concern is if we start dipping into that concern is if we start dipping
• "Well, I hope they do so that we don't necessarily have to dip into our HRF, right?
• "Well, I hope they do so that we don't necessarily have to dip into our HRF, right?
• So, I think dip into other funds."
• <00:31:32.120> into the homes without having to dip into the homes without having to dip into

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Housing, meeting jointly with the Committee on Health and Human Services, heard testimony on Senate Bill 2787, which would expand use of the rental housing revolving fund to provide loans or grants for purchasing rental units, and Senate Bill 2957, which addresses tenant displacement and relocation protections, as well as Senate Bill 2866, which would make the state rent supplement program for kupuna permanent and appropriate funds for it. Testimony on SB 2787 included support from DHHL, HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, and others, while the Attorney General recommended clarifying language and standards for grants, and the Tax Foundation questioned whether grants fit the revolving-fund structure. On SB 2957, supporters including OHA, PACT, medical-legal advocates, and tenant representatives emphasized relocation hardships from the KPT redevelopment, language access, and the need for clearer minimum safeguards; the Attorney General suggested defining “comparable units” and correcting a drafting error. On SB 2866, HPHA, Catholic Charities, AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the kupuna rent supplement program permanent to prevent homelessness among low-income seniors. During discussion on SB 2957, members questioned HPHA and tenant counsel about the KPT low-rise relocation process and what “comparable housing” meant in practice. HPHA said all tenants were relocated, but counsel described disputes over comparability, disability and family-size issues, and at least one offered unit that was not livable. For SB 2787, members questioned DHHL about why it sought funding from the rental housing revolving fund rather than other sources; DHHL said it was still exploring options and had mostly used its funds for infrastructure, with only a small portion used as revolving funds. The chair expressed concern about relying on scarce housing funds and urged more efficient use of DHHL’s existing resources. In decision-making, the committees voted to pass SB 2957 with amendments and SB 2866 with amendments. For SB 2957, the amendments would replace the bill with a working group on tenant displacement and relocation, include a blank appropriation and defective date, and request $75,000 for the working group; the motion was adopted unanimously by the members present, with Senator Favela excused. For SB 2866, the amended version would include a blank appropriation, defective date, and committee report language noting requests for $110,160 for two HPHA public housing specialist positions and $2.16 million for the state rent supplement program; this motion was also adopted, with Senator Favela excused. After the joint hearing adjourned, the committee returned to the housing-only agenda and continued discussion of SB 2787 before moving on to SB 3089, which would amend the down payment loan assistance program for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers; testimony on SB 3089 was beginning when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And why, and why would you assume they're not double dipping on the clock. Why would I assume.
• I mean, they're double dipping on the.
• working during the day from a school district in school district A, and then they go over and get a double
• dip and work in school district B at the same time.
• have, and I don't know, I don't have any small districts, but do you ever have any administrators doubling

Transcript Highlights:

• So they're not double dipping. EFAs would be double dipping if they got paid for this.
• So they're not double<01:18:37.120> dipping.
• double dipping.
• EFAs would be double double dipping.
• Uh there's about um double dipping.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• challenges that we've seen, particularly from Washington D.C., and that's led to what was sort of a dip
• We're also going to double down on our support for quantum.
• What a positive thing to talk about dips and not drops. We're talking about increases and not cuts.
• in with something that wasn't really talked about: $550 million to build the new medical school, double
• happens through a variety of different funding mechanisms that will allow the university to more than double

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• dipping.
• dipping.
• dipping.
• <00:53:23.680> know<00:53:23.880> some call double dipping it had you know some call
• double dipping it had you know some you<00:53:24.160> know<00:53:24.319> in<00:53:24.440

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the purpose of deducting the Medicaid payment is not to double dip, so to speak, for state dollars
• Is it really double dipping if you've got a $68,000?
• And so there's guidance not to double-dip or count. You wouldn't be able to, say, we encourage...
• To double dip or count, you wouldn't be able to, say, we encourage $68,000, get the eight through the
• I know the Medicaid billing was brought up and the consideration of double-dipping.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the purpose of deducting the Medicaid payment is not to double dip, so to speak, for state dollars
• Is it really double dipping if you've got a $68,000...
• And so there's guidance not to double-dip or count it twice.
• To double dip or count, you wouldn't be able to, say, we encourage $68,000, get the eight through the
• I know the Medicaid billing was brought up and the consideration of double-dipping.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then received a lengthy DPI presentation from Stanley Schauer on statewide reading and math assessment data for students with and without disabilities. He explained the assessment systems used over time, the absence of 2019-20 data, and how North Dakota’s standards are set by educators. Members asked about alternate assessments, cohort trends, the apparent drop in proficiency in higher grades, and the new NDA+ assessment. Schauer emphasized that the biggest pattern in the data was the relative stability of students with disabilities, the post-pandemic drop and partial recovery, and the need to focus on reducing the novice category. He also said the state plans to revisit high school standard setting and that future data could be broken out by program, disability category, and schools using science-of-math or other initiatives. Public testimony from special education staff suggested that the flat performance of students with disabilities during COVID likely reflected continued services and intensive supports, and committee members discussed whether the current disparity goal is realistic and whether growth measures would be more useful than simple proficiency buckets. After the presentation, the committee took a short break and then moved into discussion of special education funding models. Chair Richter said members should contact Schauer directly with ideas for additional data views and noted that the committee would continue its work on funding and possible model changes. Brandon Bomback of Grand Forks Public Schools began a presentation arguing that the special education funding formula, especially the weighting factor, should be reconsidered if the committee wants a system that better reflects accountability and student needs. He said his comments were based on the perspective of a larger district and focused on the special education weighting factor rather than other parts of the formula. The remainder of his presentation was not included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• You’d first take the federal credit, then there’d be no double dipping, so to speak.
• You'd first take the federal credit, then there'd be no double dipping, so to speak.
• You would just take the rest of those as a state. first take the federal credit, then there'd be no double
• dipping, so to speak.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it almost seems to me that to some extent as it relates to this note, there may be some double dipping
• dipping.
• And that goes to what I'm trying to get to about the double dipping, and I'm trying to be as respectful
• And that goes to what I'm trying to get to about the double dipping, and I'm trying to be as respectful
• Okay, and that’s where I get a little confused because that goes into my mind of the double-dipping thing

Bills: SB25, SB132, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB237, SB250, SB433

Keywords: registrar of voters, parish registrar, chief deputy registrar, confidential assistant, election administration, elections, salary schedule, compensation, merit evaluation, population-based pay, census-based pay, Department of State, Secretary of State, State Board of Election Supervisors, redistricting, senate districts, Senate District 33, Senate District 34, Senate District 35, precincts

Transcript Highlights:

• dipping.
• So essentially what this is is a double cap.
• We talked about reserves and some of the cities and counties having to dip into them.
• You have to be careful of when you go into dipping into your reserves.
• If you're dipping into them, they'll probably give you a pass once, but if you're still If you're dipping

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to continue its tax reform and relief study agenda, approved the December 3, 2025 minutes, and announced a new subcommittee to examine property tax statement issues with counties, auditors, and the tax office. Representative Headland was named chair, Senator Rummel vice chair, and Representatives Dressler and Dr. Dr. and Senator Patton were also assigned. The chair noted the group may need an additional meeting and thanked staff and attendees. A major portion of the meeting focused on economic development incentives. The Department of Commerce presented on the Renaissance Zone program and TIF districts, describing Renaissance Zones as locally tailored tools that combine local property tax relief with state income tax incentives. Commerce said the program has supported thousands of projects since 1999 and cited examples from Beach and Mandan showing increases in property and taxable value, business retention, housing, and downtown revitalization. Committee members raised concerns that smaller rural communities often lack the staff and expertise to apply, and Commerce said it provides outreach through conferences, office hours, and one-on-one assistance. League of Cities and local officials from Bismarck and Ellendale echoed the capacity issue, discussed how the programs have worked in their communities, and suggested possible reforms or more targeted support for small towns. Ellendale’s mayor also described two TIF districts, one for industrial infrastructure in Oaks and one for housing infrastructure tied to a data center project in Ellendale. The committee then turned to stripper oil taxation. The Tax Department gave a comparison of oil and gas tax structures in selected states, noting that most have some form of stripper or marginal well provision, while Alaska does not appear to have a specific stripper-well exemption. Members asked for more detail on definitions and North Dakota’s annual adjusted rate. The Department of Mineral Resources followed with a detailed presentation on North Dakota stripper wells, explaining the statutory thresholds, the 12-consecutive-month production test, and the fact that once a well qualifies it remains on stripper status even if production later rises. DMR said about 11,332 stripper wells are active, representing roughly 54% of wells and about 16% of state production, and emphasized that stripper status can extend well life, preserve tax revenue, and reduce orphaned wells. Committee members and industry witnesses discussed refracs, the economics of keeping marginal wells active, and the competitive disadvantage created by North Dakota’s oil price discount. No votes were taken on these informational items.