Transcript Highlights:

• state and I want I it was a Midwestern state and I want to<00:58:13.359><c> say</c><00:58:13.599><c> Iowa
• , but that could be a little to say Iowa, but that could be a little off<00:58:15.520><c> had</c><00:
• Um, I, you know, my vision<02:09:32.639><c> may</c><02:09:33.000><c> not</c><02:09:34.000><c> be</c><
• 09:34.560><c> others</c><02:09:34.960><c> is,</c><02:09:35.280><c> but</c><02:09:35.599><c> I</c> vision
• may not be what others is, but I vision may not be what others is, but I just,<02:09:35.920><c> I</c

Summary: The subcommittee opened its second meeting on House Bill 742, which would require catastrophic special education aid to be drawn from the education trust fund, and discussed whether to also examine differentiated aid within the adequacy formula. The chair said the committee had previously heard from HHS/Medicaid officials and now wanted to hear from local special education directors about how the aid system works in practice, including billing, training, data collection, and whether districts handle claims consistently. Members also referenced Arkansas as a possible comparison state and said they hoped to develop ideas by November to address the current funding process. Committee members focused on the current special education aid thresholds and the impact of proration. The chair described the existing formula as requiring districts to absorb costs up to 3.5 times the state average per student, with the state paying 80% from 3.5 times through 10 times and paying above that, and said FY25 appropriated about $34 million while actual claims were about $50.1 million, leaving roughly a $16 million shortfall that caused proration. Members also raised the possibility of lowering the threshold to 2.5 times and asked how that would affect the number of eligible students and costs. Another member asked about how districts decide whether services are education-related or medical-related and how Medicaid or private insurance reimbursement affects later state aid claims. District representatives from Boothby Therapy Services, Bedford, and Guilford introduced themselves and described their roles. Guilford’s director said the district tracks students with paraprofessional support, nurses, transportation, or specialized programming, uses a data system to log every service touchpoint, and tries to maximize both Medicaid and special education aid; she said a lower threshold would likely capture all students with paras or nurses and that rising staffing and service costs would increase the number of students over the cap. Bedford’s assistant director said the district uses a different system, tracks roughly 60 to 80 students a year, and pursues Medicaid and special education aid simultaneously but does not pursue private insurance if it would affect FAPE; she said reducing the threshold to 2.5 times would likely double the number of qualifying students. Members asked follow-up questions about software, data entry, and how districts decide whether to bill Medicaid or seek state catastrophic aid, and the directors explained that their systems log services by staff type and student, with some districts using the same data for both Medicaid and state reimbursement claims.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> There's one called Olympia, I think, that does the Iowa program. >> In Iowa? >> Iowa does, yes.
• </c><03:25:52.880><c> program</c><03:25:53.840><c> but</c> does the Iowa program but does the Iowa program
• but &gt;&gt; in<03:25:54.720><c> Iowa</c> &gt;&gt; in Iowa &gt;&gt; in Iowa &gt;&gt; Iowa<03:25:55.840
• </c> &gt;&gt; Iowa does yes Iowa has this program too.
• &gt;&gt; Iowa does yes Iowa has this program too.

Transcript Highlights:

• visions for Minnesota forward.<00:58:59.920><c> The</c><00:59:00.240><c> emails,</c><00:59:01.119><c
• It wasn't called Iowa Care because we weren't setting it up for people that snuck over here from Iowa
• It wasn't called Iowa Care taxpayers.
• It wasn't called Iowa Care because<01:33:50.719><c> we</c><01:33:50.960><c> weren't</c><01:33:51.199>
• </c> people that snuck over here from Iowa. people that snuck over here from Iowa.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have a list of them here: Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan
• Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's similar to Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa, where I was last week.
• When we were in Iowa, we found that was the case.

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2510, sponsored by Rep. Steinmeier, which would create a coordinated state framework for critical minerals involving the Departments of Natural Resources, Economic Development, and Higher Education and Workforce Development. The sponsor said Missouri is well positioned because it contains 36 of 60 minerals deemed critical to national security and manufacturing, and argued the bill would help Missouri pursue federal funding, build a workforce pipeline, and support advanced manufacturing with a five-year sunset. Committee members questioned the need for a new state structure and fund, the cost to Missouri, the role of universities, and whether the task force was too narrowly written around the University of Missouri system and mistakenly included DESE instead of higher education. A Missouri Chamber witness supported the bill for its economic and national security benefits, while an environmental witness urged adding an environmental professional to the task force and a mining permitting framework, citing health and water concerns and suggesting a separate mining-regulation bill as an amendment. The committee then took up House Bill 2585, sponsored by Rep. Castile, which updates Missouri workforce development statutes to align with federal law and implement the new Workforce Pell Grant program. The sponsor said the bill would allow short-term, high-value training programs in fields like welding, public safety academies, health technology, and trucking to qualify for Pell support, while preserving oversight and tying eligibility to outcomes such as completion, job placement, and earnings. Members asked about the number and makeup of the workforce board, whether the bill’s staffing references still pointed to the wrong department, how the 150% poverty-level threshold and reporting metrics would work, and whether the board could move quickly enough to meet federal timelines. A Missouri Community College Association witness said all 12 community colleges have programs likely to qualify and explained the federal eligibility standards, including a 70% completion rate, 70% job placement rate, and three-year rolling data review; a FGA Action witness and the Missouri Chamber also supported the bill as a way to expand access to skills training and draw down federal funds. After the bill hearings, the committee received an informational presentation from the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. The presenter described the compact’s regional cost-saving work, including reciprocity for distance education, technology contracts, grants, and efforts on dual credit and FAFSA support. She also shared Missouri-specific data on educational attainment, enrollment trends, student migration, and net price, noting that Missouri lags slightly behind the U.S. in attainment, has projected declines in high school graduates, retains most in-state students, and has higher net prices for low-income students than the Midwest average. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Iowa asked for it, and I had to tell the Iowa State Auditor, "I'd love to give it to you, but it won't

Bills: HF627 , HF474 , HF361 , HF1837

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota all have lower tax brackets than we do.
• Iowa has a 3.9 single rate. Wisconsin has a 3.5 lowest bracket.

Transcript Highlights:

• is another kind of a bite at the apple, kind of patterned after a similar program in the state of Iowa
• We mentioned Iowa; other states as well.
• We mentioned Iowa; other states as well.
• </c><01:39:55.360><c> uh</c><01:39:55.520><c> theirs</c><01:39:55.840><c> is</c> Iowa, other states as
• well. uh theirs is Iowa, other states as well. uh theirs is more<01:39:56.239><c> of</c><01:39:56.400

Bills: HF3898 , HF3957 , HF4372 , HF4350 , HF3692 , HF4085

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: pesticides, wild rice, environmental protection, agriculture, water quality, pollinators, training, management plan, fertilizer research, education grants, Minnesota Agricultural Council, technology transfer, agricultural productivity, HF4372, Minnesota agriculture, meat processing, meat processing training, retention incentive grants, grant extension, project deadline extension

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, attorneys general in both Iowa and the District of Columbia found that more than 90% of kiosk
• c><00:20:56.159><c> general</c><00:20:56.640><c> in</c><00:20:56.960><c> both</c><00:20:57.280><c> Iowa
• </c> In fact, attorneys general in both Iowa In fact, attorneys general in both Iowa and<00:20:58.640
• Um, you know, just quick search while we're having this discussion on CNN outlining how, you know, Iowa
• attorney general suing Coin know, Iowa attorney general suing Coin Flip<00:51:50.480><c> and</c><00:

Bills: HF3642 , HF2700 , HF3615

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So the farmer, they could be servicing acres in Iowa or Minnesota or North Dakota and Minnesota.
• /c><00:45:40.480><c> own</c><00:45:40.880><c> property</c><00:45:41.280><c> in</c> I could live in Iowa
• , own property in I could live in Iowa, own property in Minnesota,<00:45:42.560><c> and</c><00:45:42.800
• or</c><00:46:22.560><c> Minnesota</c><00:46:23.119><c> or</c><00:46:23.760><c> North</c> acres in Iowa
• or Minnesota or North acres in Iowa or Minnesota or North Dakota<00:46:24.319><c> and</c><00:46:24.520

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• 19.400><c> District</c><00:06:19.919><c> 26b</c><00:06:20.919><c> I</c> I border my district borders Iowa
• the news lately you probably heard I said, like I said in Commerce Committee, there's a senator from Iowa
• County, so I've always wanted to own Iowa farmland, and I guess in that case I could, if that's the case
• I know Kansas, Iowa, Florida, and Kentucky are four states that have looked at some form of a sales tax
• </c><00:51:01.400><c> and</c> recent years at least Florida Iowa and recent years at least Florida Iowa

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• I did a presentation on the caps and what this means for Vision West.
• If you look at other states like Iowa and California and Virginia and others, they've had large-scale
• I can tell you back in the mid-2000s, I used to compete with Iowa to try and get data centers, and they

Committee: Joint Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee

Summary: The Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee met with a quorum and approved the prior minutes. Staff reviewed the interim work schedule, noting that most assigned studies were complete and that the final meeting would be September 29, with remaining work focused on economic development tax incentives, the stripper well exemption, and property tax reform items such as the primary residence credit. The committee then took up a referral on political subdivision compliance with state law, especially reserve limits and levy calculations. State Auditor Josh Gallion explained the audit standards used for local governments, the state auditor’s limited authority to force compliance, and the practical challenges created by a shortage of auditors. He used Stark County and Mountrail County examples to show how reserve balances affect levy calculations, including Stark County’s 2023 general fund levy issue and Mountrail County’s zero-levy approach. Stark County Commission Chair Neil Messer defended his county’s decision to keep reserves for major projects and volatility in oil-related revenues, while acknowledging the county remained out of compliance with the 75% reserve rule. Committee members and staff discussed possible enforcement mechanisms, the role of county auditors, and whether the law should be changed to better fit current fiscal conditions. Linda from the Association of Counties and Matt Gardner from the League of Cities said both organizations have been heavily training local officials on the new tax cap and reserve rules. Linda said counties and cities are using standardized worksheets for the 3% cap and levy limitations, and suggested that an affidavit certifying compliance could be attached to levy submissions. She also clarified that the primary residence credit does not reduce mill levies; it only reduces the taxpayer’s bill. Gardner said city auditors receive required finance training and that his organization was unaware of current city reserve noncompliance. The committee did not take action on the issue and planned to revisit it at the September 29 meeting. The final portion of the meeting moved into a subcommittee report on the property tax statement, where Representative Headland introduced a bill draft to remove the legislative property tax relief line from the statement for further committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did a presentation on the caps and what this means for Vision West.
• If you look at other states, like Iowa and California and Virginia and others, they've had large-scale
• I can tell you back in the mid-2000s, I used to compete with Iowa to try and get data centers, and they

Summary: The committee met to review its interim schedule and then focused on a referral regarding political subdivision compliance with state law, especially levy limitations and reserve levels. State Auditor Josh Gallion explained the audit process, the Yellow Book standards, and key statutes governing political subdivisions, including the 75% cash reserve cap and mill levy limits. He said the auditor’s office has limited authority to force compliance, has only stepped in a couple of times to resume audits for fiscal irregularities, and is constrained by staffing shortages and a backlog of local government audits. Gallion used Stark County and Mountrail County as examples to show how reserve calculations affect levy decisions. He said Stark County’s 2023 general fund levy calculation should have been zero under the statute, but the county still levied mills, while Mountrail County had recently reduced or eliminated some county levies after building large reserves. Stark County Commission Chair Neil Messer responded that the county chose not to move excess funds into a capital projects fund because it wanted flexibility for future projects and emergencies, and said the county has since reduced its levy and committed reserves to major projects such as road work, a regional airport, and public safety facilities. Committee members questioned whether penalties should apply to auditors or elected officials and whether the statutes should be updated to reflect current revenue conditions. Association of Counties director Linda Svihovec and League of Cities director Matt Gardner both said they have been heavily training local officials on the new 3% property tax cap and reserve rules. Svihovec said the association has held dozens of training sessions and that the standard worksheets used statewide are designed to help counties comply; she suggested that a possible enforcement tool could be requiring an affidavit from taxing districts certifying compliance with the cap. Gardner said city auditors receive required training through the League of Cities and that he was unaware of any cities currently out of compliance. The committee took no formal action and indicated it would continue the discussion at its September 29 meeting, with members asked to review the legislative council memo on possible enforcement mechanisms and statutory changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vision Station, KVIA in El Paso, tried for over a year to get some video related. to a high school prank
• States like South Carolina, Iowa, and Virginia have successfully developed more integrated systems.
• Does it affect us if Oklahoma doesn't implement the same standards, or Iowa, or California?

Bills: HB512 , HB2248 , HB2679 , HB2832 , HB3112 , HB3368 , HB3490 , HB3512 , HB3623 , HB3666 , HB3700 , HB3711 , HB3770 , HB3963

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: grievance procedures, state agency, employee rights, workplace regulations, employment law, employees, employment actions, appeal, state employees, workplace rights, disciplinary actions, employment conditions, employment disputes, job protections, public information, transparency, government accountability, information access, notification requirements, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that this is advancing what if happens to the other side of Iowa.
• And respectfully, That this is advancing what if happens to the other side of Iowa, and respectfully,
• And I want to thank you. that this is advancing what if happens to the other side of Iowa and respectfully

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, I mean, I always think of, like, if we look at Iowa, they have major problems with non-point water
• And we can even look at their cancer rates in Iowa are like, I think they have the second highest cancer
• . ...rates in Iowa are like, I think they have the second highest cancer rates in the country.

Transcript Highlights:

• Iowa, 60.9% of their energy comes from...
• Iowa, 60.9% of their energy comes from Thank you.
• Iowa, 60.9% of their energy comes from renewable energy sources, and Missouri is at 11.3.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Broote and Iowa. Bill is reported to finance. Finally.

Committee: Senate Procurement And Contracts

Summary: The Senate Committee on Procurement and Contracts met for its second meeting of the 2026 session, with Chair Jeremy Zellner noting a quorum and welcoming members. The committee took up a series of procurement- and contracting-related bills, including measures on reciprocal MWBE certification, liability and design professionals, minority and women participation in state contracts, waste diversion planning by state agencies, breaking public contracts into smaller sizes to increase small business participation, expanded construction mentorship opportunities, service-disabled veteran-owned business participation goals, and contract fee/requirements for agreements between state agencies and nonprofit organizations. The discussion in the transcript was brief, with no substantive debate recorded. Members generally moved each bill and seconded the motions, and the chair called for votes. Most bills were reported out of committee either to the calendar or to finance, with members voting in favor and a few recorded as “without rec” or individual ayes noted. No bills were defeated. At the end of the meeting, the chair reminded members to complete their voting sheets and then entertained a motion to adjourn. The committee approved adjournment and the meeting concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, the Iowa bill is a proposed bill similar to the bill that we have here.
• In fact, the Iowa bill is a proposed bill similar to the bill that we have here.
• In fact, the Iowa bill is a proposed bill similar to the bill that we have here.
• In fact, the Iowa bill is a proposed bill similar to the bill that we have here.
• In fact, the Iowa bill is a proposed bill similar to the bill that we have here.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 758, which would establish a study committee on airport operation hours and possible noise abatement measures, including whether New Hampshire should prohibit departures between midnight and 6 a.m. The sponsor said the committee would examine the pros and cons and consult stakeholders. The Bureau of Aeronautics testified neutrally, noting that New Hampshire has 25 public airports, 12 with federal funding and grant assurances that may require them to remain open during those hours, and that cargo operations, including at Manchester, commonly occur overnight. Members also discussed existing noise abatement programs and how mitigation is determined by noise contours and FAA funding decisions. No vote was taken; the chair closed the hearing after testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 489, allowing voluntary emergency workers to use rear-facing blue lights on private vehicles when responding to emergencies. The sponsor said the bill corrects an oversight in existing law, would not cost the state or towns money, and would improve visibility and safety, especially in rural areas. Supportive testimony from a volunteer responder emphasized that blue lights help cut through fog, snow, and nighttime conditions, and that the bill would only add a single rear-facing blue light to existing red, amber, and white emergency lighting. The New Hampshire State Police opposed the bill, arguing that expanding blue lights to private vehicles would confuse the public and desensitize drivers to blue lights, which are associated with law enforcement. The hearing closed without action. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 533, which the sponsor and State Police clarified is actually two separate changes: one authorizing civilian automotive equipment inspectors to assist with vehicle inspection work, and another expanding language in motor carrier enforcement to include new entrant safety audits and compliance reviews. The State Police explained that civilian inspectors are hired and trained through the department and that any findings of state-law violations would be referred to troopers; they also said the new motor carrier language was requested to satisfy federal audit concerns about right of entry. The New Hampshire Motor Transport Association said it had no position if the civilian inspectors were not doing commercial truck inspections, but would oppose the bill if they were. Members asked about the difference between audits and compliance reviews, and the State Police said audits are for newer carriers and are non-enforcement, while compliance reviews look for violations. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 533. After a brief reset, the committee opened House Bill 594, which would repeal an alternate definition of “way” for the driving-after-suspension statute. The sponsor said the change was requested by the Department of Justice. Representative Erica Leon opposed the repeal, explaining that the prior language was intended to avoid criminalizing people who mow lawns or perform similar work near property edges while suspended, but she worried the repeal could create a loophole allowing driving on places like highway medians. Members questioned whether the issue was limited to mowing or broader vehicle use on property edges, and Leon said she would work with agencies to clarify the language so it protects lawful mowing without allowing misuse. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• direction that corn and soybeans nationally are really important crops, especially in states like Iowa
• Just a little bit of the vision. Senator Beauchet. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr.
• Just a little bit of the vision. It's an amazing facility. It's an amazing location.
• Just a little bit of the vision. It's extremely high. Just a little bit of the vision.
• Our new vision is to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and societal benefit.

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.