Transcript Highlights:

• :02:06.479><c> is</c><00:02:07.360><c> SP2,</c><00:02:08.000><c> an</c><00:02:08.160><c> act</c> the
• </c><00:02:29.360><c> Bill</c><00:02:29.680><c> 2,</c><00:02:30.000><c> which</c><00:02:30.239><c> is
• </c><00:02:31.760><c> It</c><00:02:32.080><c> reflects</c><00:02:32.400><c> a</c><00:02:32.640><c> core
• <00:02:50.800><c> under</c><00:02:51.120><c> Kentucky</c><00:02:51.599><c> law.
• So, the purpose<00:02:53.280><c> of</c><00:02:53.519><c> Senate</c><00:02:53.840><c> Bill</c><00:02:54.160

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 02:08.959><c> lease</c><00:02:09.520><c> of</c><00:02:09.679><c> of</c><00:02:10.080><c> a</c> basically
• :02:10.959><c> parcel</c><00:02:11.360><c> to</c><00:02:11.599><c> subleasase</c><00:02:12.160><c> that
• that out for<00:02:13.360><c> grazing</c><00:02:14.640><c> um</c><00:02:14.800><c> to</c><00:02:15.040
• another livestock owner<00:02:17.280><c> um</c><00:02:17.520><c> if</c><00:02:17.760><c> if</c><00:02
• <00:02:19.599><c> different</c><00:02:20.560><c> um</c><00:02:20.800><c> rules</c><00:02:21.120><c> and

Bills: HJ0002 , SF0118 , SF0016

Committee: House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Keywords: mineral royalties, federal lands, Wyoming, revenue, education funding, transportation funding, One Big Beautiful Bill Act, eminent domain, water projects, legislative approval, state funding, land acquisition, grazing lands, subleasing, non-owned livestock, state lands, rental fees, agricultural policy, land management, 916

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.479><c> has</c><00:02:01.119><c> uh</c><00:02:01.200><c> three</c><00:02:01.439><c> things</c> &gt
• </c><00:02:02.880><c> its</c><00:02:03.200><c> statutory</c> that it accomplishes. its statutory that
• it accomplishes. its statutory cleanup<00:02:04.079><c> for</c><00:02:04.159><c> the</c><00:02:04.320
• ><c> Alzheimer's</c><00:02:04.799><c> disease</c><00:02:05.200><c> and</c> cleanup for the Alzheimer's
• ><c> council</c><00:02:07.360><c> adds</c><00:02:07.600><c> an</c> Motion on the bill.

Committee: House Health Services

Keywords: 00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 01:28 - Discussion of 26RS HB 393 03:05 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 393 04:11 - Discussion of 26RS HB 385 04:44 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 385 05:44 - Discussion of 26RS HB 388 06:39 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 388 08:00 - Adjournment, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas and Minnesota are the only two states that strictly have just a prohibition, which restricts the
• Messaging a certain number of days before an election: in Texas, it's 30 days, and in Minnesota, it is
• of their likeness and voice, then I think we can put in protections without violating any other statutes
• That included statutes, regulations, any sort of opinions that the Ethics Commission had released.

Committee: House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :29.840><c> testifying</c><00:02:30.400><c> on</c><00:02:30.560><c> behalf</c><00:02:30.800><c> of</c
• The dep stands<00:02:33.519><c> on</c><00:02:33.680><c> its</c><00:02:33.840><c> written</c><00:02:34.160
• in support<00:02:35.040><c> of</c><00:02:35.200><c> this</c><00:02:35.360><c> measure.
• In particular,<00:02:47.440><c> her</c><00:02:47.760><c> experience</c><00:02:48.160><c> in</c><00:02
• will be invaluable.<00:02:51.760><c> Thank</c><00:02:51.920><c> you</c><00:02:52.080><c> for</c><00:02

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education heard several advice-and-consent nominations to the School Facilities Authority. For GM779, Shelley Pa was introduced as a nominee for a term ending June 30, 2029. The Department of Education supported her nomination, citing her large-scale operations and stakeholder-engagement experience. In her testimony, Pa said she retired from community policing, wanted to give back to teachers and students, and believed her strengths were collaboration, listening to community input, and helping balance differing priorities. Committee members questioned her about the construction and infrastructure focus of the board, her lack of direct construction experience, and how she would handle disagreements and budget limits; she responded that she would rely on collaboration, ask questions, and keep decisions centered on students, teachers, and the community while staying within budget. The committee then heard GM777 and GM778 for Robert Davis, with terms ending June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2029. Davis described more than 30 years with the Department of Education, including roles as teacher, coach, counselor, vice principal, principal, and complex area superintendent, and said he had worked on major facilities projects and managed pandemic-era funding. He emphasized communication, transparency, and trust, and explained that his experience on the Early Learning Board helped him understand how to set policy, identify schools for pre-K, and use data and community factors in decision-making. Members asked how he would handle SFA’s growing pains, the need to balance DOE wishes with practical and budgetary limits, and the board’s role when the legislature controls funding; Davis said the board must keep communication open, include the right people, and make sensible decisions that move projects forward without stalling. For GM780, nominee Michael Unbasami was introduced for a term ending June 30, 2029. The Department of Education supported him, highlighting over five decades of public service and experience in facilities management, finance, and legislative affairs. Unbasami said he had recently retired after 31 years as associate vice president for administrative affairs for the community colleges and had extensive experience with facilities planning, construction, renovation, repairs, and working within budgets. He stated that the DOE should be treated as the SFA’s client because it knows student, teacher, and facility needs best, while SFA’s role is to implement construction work and collaborate on priorities. Committee members pressed him on how to balance DOE requests with practical project delivery, especially for teacher housing and other non-classroom needs, and he said the legislature funds the work, SFA must keep projects moving, and the workflow should involve collaboration but also realistic decisions that fit the budget and avoid delays.

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:00.720><c> on</c><01:02:00.960><c> that</c><01:02:02.079><c> is</c><01:02:03.359><c> whether</c>
• But<01:02:26.000><c> the</c><01:02:26.160><c> parent</c><01:02:26.480><c> company</c><01:02:26.799><c
• :02:28.960><c> those</c><01:02:30.400><c> uh</c><01:02:31.200><c> losses</c><01:02:32.000><c> are</c>
• <01:02:33.359><c> on</c><01:02:33.520><c> the</c><01:02:33.680><c> books</c><01:02:34.480><c> and</c>
• </c><01:02:39.599><c> Those</c><01:02:39.920><c> losses</c><01:02:40.319><c> can</c><01:02:40.559><c>

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:02:13.000><c> its</c><01:02:13.120><c> first</c><01:02:13.400><c> reading</c><01:02:13.640><c
• 13.840><c> returned</c><01:02:14.240><c> to</c><01:02:14.320><c> the</c><01:02:14.480><c> Committee</
• ,<01:02:15.480><c> Military</c><01:02:15.880><c> Affairs</c><01:02:16.520><c> and</c><01:02:16.720><c
• &gt;&gt; That<01:02:18.560><c> objection,</c><01:02:19.000><c> so</c><01:02:19.200><c> ordered.
• &gt;&gt; House<01:02:22.520><c> Bill</c><01:02:22.720><c> 767,</c><01:02:23.760><c> Representative</c

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:02:03.839><c> And</c><01:02:04.000><c> often</c><01:02:04.319><c> times</c><01:02:04.480><c>
• And often times you don't<01:02:04.799><c> even</c><01:02:05.040><c> need</c><01:02:05.839><c> those<
• /c><01:02:06.240><c> gig</c><01:02:06.880><c> wages</c><01:02:07.440><c> to</c><01:02:07.680><c> get<
• ><c> Um</c><01:02:09.119><c> but</c><01:02:09.359><c> when</c><01:02:09.520><c> the</c><01:02:09.760>
• > then</c><01:02:13.280><c> need</c><01:02:13.520><c> to</c><01:02:13.680><c> go</c><01:02:13.839><c>

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :24:15.650><c>the </c><02:24:16.021><c>still </c><02:24:16.392><c>have </c><02:24:16.763><c>it </c><02
• mrffler </c><02:24:21.398><c>please </c><02:24:22.344><c>addator </c><02:24:23.290><c>jud </c><02:24:
• ><c>very </c><02:24:29.872><c>special </c><02:24:30.060><c>guest </c><02:24:30.248><c>with </c><02:24
• <02:25:13.390><c>on </c><02:25:13.660><c>transportation </c><02:25:13.930><c>and </c><02:25:14.200><c
• be </c><02:25:17.940><c>amended </c><02:25:18.225><c>as </c><02:25:18.510><c>follows </c><02:25:18.795

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe it's been around since the 1980s, and it is, by statute, a, quote, nonpartisan tool.
• We've seen withholding of Medicaid funds in Minnesota, and Minnesota has now sued CMS to challenge that
• across the country, especially in Democratic states, we've seen withholding of Medicaid funds in Minnesota
• We've seen withholding of Medicaid funds in Minnesota, and Minnesota has now sued CMS to challenge that
• And as you've seen in Minnesota, states like ours are not unwilling to... Thank you.

Summary: The commission approved the December minutes and heard opening remarks on upcoming initiatives, including a second “Meeting the Moment” community forum in Lowell on March 27 focused on digital accessibility, education-to-employment transition, workforce supports, long-term services and supports, and health equity. The chair also previewed planning for National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, including formation of a small planning group to help select employer awardees and shape the program. A major portion of the meeting featured an update from the Attorney General’s office on federal litigation affecting Massachusetts. The presentation covered lawsuits and amicus work involving higher education diversity data requests, anti-DEI funding conditions, immigration and Haiti Temporary Protected Status, NIH research grant disruptions, and Department of Education mental health training grants. Commissioners asked about possible impacts on Medicaid and whether disability is included in the federal administration’s undefined “DEI” restrictions; the AG’s office said it was monitoring Medicaid developments closely, had not seen a CMS letter at that time, and would share guidance on DEI and employment initiatives. The meeting also included a workforce and apprenticeship presentation from Undersecretary Josh Cutler and Amara Riemann. They described registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, emphasizing paid, employer-driven training, classroom instruction, wage progression, and transferable credentials. Commissioners highlighted the Bridgewater State University Excel program for neurodivergent individuals and people with disabilities as a promising model and discussed the need to build similar pathways through community colleges and employer partnerships in fields such as direct support, CNA work, and other in-demand jobs. Subcommittee reports noted that the disability employment subcommittee heard from SEED and will host future presentations from the Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment and the Office of Veterans Affairs. The long-term services, supports, and health equity subcommittee discussed MassHealth budget pressures, a projected $3.5 billion budget gap tied to federal changes, upcoming Medicaid eligibility changes, and crisis standards of care. The executive director reported on collaboration with the Massachusetts Office on Disability, planning for the Lowell event, participation in statewide disability employment and autism advocacy work, and upcoming engagement with the Massachusetts Caregiver Coalition. Commissioners also announced several honors, including awards for Regina Marshall, Jay Livingstone, and Vanna Howard.

Transcript Highlights:

• and she<02:02:00.719><c> she</c><02:02:01.040><c> determined</c><02:02:01.599><c> not</c><02:02:01.760
• ><c> boards</c><02:02:04.560><c> she</c><02:02:04.800><c> determined</c><02:02:05.199><c> I</c> peers
• ><02:02:05.840><c> it</c><02:02:06.159><c> and</c><02:02:06.480><c> it</c><02:02:06.719><c> worked</c
• ><c> into</c><02:52:39.840><c> statute.
• </c> those uh parameters into statute. those uh parameters into statute. Thank<02:52:41.920><c> you.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those have confidential record protections in statute, but legislators and candidates did not have that
• So what this does is it amends this statute to sweep in protection for a candidate's residential address
• Chairman, complete residential address per statute is your street address, your city, your state, your
• About a longer, like a 50-day session and a 30-day session like Minnesota does.
• I did quite a bit of homework on other websites such as Minnesota.

Committee: Joint Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee

Summary: The Legislative Arrangements and Procedure Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then took up several follow-up items related to legislative security, public records, and the impacts of term limits. The Secretary of State’s office presented draft language to make legislators’ and candidates’ residential addresses confidential in public records, with discussion of who would be covered, how the protection would work, and whether it should expire when a candidate’s term ends. Members raised concerns about unintended consequences, transparency, and whether the public should still be able to see enough information to evaluate residency requirements. Rather than act immediately, the committee set the draft aside for a future meeting and asked for an amendment reflecting the Secretary of State’s suggested changes. The committee also reviewed a security best-practices memo and NCSL materials on capitol security. The memo encouraged legislators to be aware of their surroundings, avoid real-time vacation posting, vary routines, report threats, and follow security alerts. Members discussed a recent incident and the need to improve alert distribution and update contact information so legislators and staff receive notices consistently. The Secretary of State and committee members noted that the alert system may need refinement, including a separate legislative notification channel. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to Garrity Consulting’s final report on how to mitigate the effects of legislative term limits. The consultants summarized interviews, surveys, and focus groups with legislators, the public, and stakeholders, identifying major themes such as loss of institutional knowledge, leadership turnover, staffing pressures, and the need for stronger onboarding and training. Recommendations included considering annual sessions or shifting biennial sessions to even-numbered years, restructuring organizational session, making interim committees more consistent with regular committees, adding office hours, formalizing mentorship and leadership succession planning, expanding staff and professional development resources, creating public-facing educational tools, and improving communication and virtual testimony options. Members generally appreciated the report and its phased implementation roadmap, while also debating the practicality of some recommendations and the tension between making service more demanding and keeping the legislature accessible to new candidates.

Transcript Highlights:

• So,<01:02:06.000><c> we</c><01:02:06.160><c> were</c><01:02:06.320><c> asked</c><01:02:06.640><c> to<
• /c><01:02:06.760><c> talk</c><01:02:07.000><c> with</c><01:02:07.160><c> you</c><01:02:07.320><c> all
• :02:11.280><c> cut</c><01:02:11.520><c> to</c><01:02:11.640><c> the</c><01:02:11.760><c> chase.
• </c><01:02:19.840><c> So,</c><01:02:20.160><c> we</c><01:02:20.560><c> have</c><01:02:20.800><c> a</c
• We have a body<01:02:26.440><c> that</c><01:02:26.800><c> is</c><01:02:26.960><c> comprised</c><01:02

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met for its first summer interim meeting, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and took roll. The first presentation came from Jerry Gels, principal of Ignite Institute in Erlanger, who focused on the rising cost of dual credit. He said dual credit tuition has increased from about $150 to $290 for a three-credit course over roughly five years, which he argued is discouraging participation, especially for working-class and low-income students. He cited Ignite data and broader college outcomes to argue dual credit improves college persistence, shortens time to degree, and reduces student debt, noting that many of his students enter college with substantial credit and that low-income students at Ignite have increasingly participated after targeted efforts and scholarship use. He also said the instructional labor is largely paid by county school systems, so he questioned the size of the tuition increase and said the committee should examine how the costs are being set and whether college tuition should be stabilizing as more students arrive with credits already earned. Members asked about who pays for dual credit, the role of state scholarship support, and whether tuition varies by institution. Gels said students in his district generally pay the dual credit cost themselves, though some districts may cover it, and he noted the dual credit scholarship now covers fewer classes than before. He said the price appears to be set centrally rather than varying by university, and he emphasized that the higher cost is creating barriers even though the courses are taught largely by local teachers on school payrolls. He also described Ignite’s efforts to expand access for free- and reduced-lunch students, saying participation among that group rose from 27% with no dual credit to about 90-92% taking at least one dual credit class. The committee then heard from the Goldwater Institute, represented by Michael Frazier and Dr. Tim Minella by Zoom. They argued Kentucky’s public universities should face stronger accountability and transparency, citing declining public confidence in higher education, rising costs, and what they described as administrative growth and research spending that does not clearly benefit students or the Commonwealth. They proposed requiring a 10-year accounting of staffing growth by category, comparing it to enrollment and low-income Kentucky enrollment, and limiting non-STEM faculty teaching releases for research unless approved under a baseline consent process. They also criticized certain university-funded research projects as examples of misdirected spending and said public reporting should distinguish Kentucky residents from non-residents more clearly, pointing to a reported decline in low-income in-state undergraduate enrollment. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:27.800><c> it's</c><00:02:28.280><c> uh</c><00:02:28.519><c> the</c><00:02:28.720><c> impact</
• ><c> for</c><00:02:32.640><c> local</c><00:02:33.160><c> jobs</c><00:02:33.920><c> um</c><00:02:34.840
• ><c> only</c><00:02:38.640><c> serve</c><00:02:38.959><c> on</c><00:02:39.200><c> one</c><00:02:39.440
• 02:49.480><c> my</c><00:02:50.040><c> organization</c><00:02:51.040><c> is</c><00:02:51.200><c> to</c
• equitability<00:02:53.360><c> in</c><00:02:53.560><c> technology</c><00:02:54.319><c> jobs</c><00:02

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard a series of Governor’s messages for confirmation to several boards and councils, with the chair noting the meeting would continue on Monday and that testimony would be limited due to the large volume of submissions. For Governor’s Message 660, Kelly Oka was nominated to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Oka described her work in workforce development and technology, emphasizing equitable access to tech jobs for local residents, keeping young talent in Hawaii, and using HTDC to attract major technology firms and support cybersecurity and startup growth. Testimony from multiple individuals and organizations was strongly supportive, and members asked about HTDC’s challenges, federal funding, and how to attract more tech investment; no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then considered Governor’s Message 529, nominating Fono Cafi Mei to the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board. Mei said he had 20 years of crane-operating experience, including work on rail projects, and union representatives and labor organizations testified in support. Next, Governor’s Message 502 nominated Ken Louie to the Workforce Development Council. Louie highlighted his four years on the council, including two as chair, his family business, and his goal of expanding opportunities for younger and adult workers. DBEDT, council members, and labor representatives supported him, and members questioned him about the council’s priorities, staffing, federal funding uncertainty, apprenticeships, and military-to-private-sector transition programs. The committee also took up Governor’s Messages 581 and 690 together, both relating to Jared Gashi’s nomination to the Workforce Development Council for different terms. Gashi, from the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, said he would bring the tourism industry’s perspective to workforce development, citing workforce shortages, internships, scholarships, and the need for a broader tourism voice on the council. Support testimony came from state officials and community members, who praised his reliability and leadership; a member asked how he would broaden the council beyond tourism, and Gashi said HLTA represents a wide range of tourism-related sectors and partners. The committee then heard Governor’s Message 571 for Eric Noi to the Deferred Compensation Plan Board, with Noi citing his fiscal and budgeting background; DHS, the board chair, and others supported him. Finally, Governor’s Message 667 nominated Ty Noara to the same board, and Keith Regan testified in strong support, citing her public service, intelligence, and ability to handle difficult situations. The excerpt ends as the committee begins Governor’s Message 560, nominating David Louie to the Employees’ Retirement System Board, with Louie, the ERS executive director, the finance director, and former Governor Abercrombie offering strong support.

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:36.719><c> that</c><02:02:36.960><c> advantage</c><02:02:37.360><c> and</c><02:02:37.520><c> I</c
• ability to utilize information<02:02:44.880><c> better</c><02:02:45.360><c> to</c><02:02:45.679><c>
• :49.840><c> and</c><02:02:51.040><c> and</c><02:02:51.360><c> again</c><02:02:51.679><c> but</c><02:02
• :02:55.440><c> know</c><02:02:55.520><c> there's</c><02:02:55.760><c> projects</c><02:02:56.000><c> for
• LFA there's<02:02:56.960><c> projects</c><02:02:57.199><c> for</c><02:02:57.599><c> long</c><02:02:57.760

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing from the House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment focused on the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity’s update on Hawaii’s biosecurity framework, especially implementation of Act 231 (2024) and Act 236 (2025). Chairs Corey Chun and Mike Gabbard opened the meeting by framing the briefing as an update on investments to fight invasive species and improve statewide evaluation and coordination. Department leaders Sharon Her and Richard Kim described historic legislative and executive investments that have allowed the department to rebuild and modernize biosecurity infrastructure to better prevent, detect, control, and eradicate invasive species. The presentation emphasized the importance of biosecurity to Hawaii’s agriculture, economy, environment, and public well-being, citing threats such as rapid ohia death, little fire ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, brown tree snake, and red imported fire ant. Staff explained the state’s layered approach—pre-border, border, and post-border—and compared it to New Zealand’s model, stressing that Hawaii must act as a “net, not a wall” and that prevention before entry is far more cost-effective than response after establishment. They also outlined agency roles across the system, including agriculture, natural resources, health, transportation, enforcement, and university partners, and noted that Act 231 strengthened authority over high-risk imports, offshore treatment, compliance agreements, and pest management plans, while Act 236 renamed the department and clarified statewide biosecurity coordination. Jonathan Ho then walked through specific program areas and progress. He said pre-border risk analysis is being supported by Act 231 funding and a university contract, while offshore compliance and treatment efforts have improved substantially, including Christmas tree inspections from Oregon and Washington and airline declaration systems that provide advance passenger information. For border work, he highlighted inspections, surveillance, detector dogs, and port monitoring. For post-border response and readiness, he discussed the invasive pest hotline and dashboard, trace-forward/trace-back and diagnostics, preparedness for future threats, and the need to build stronger internal capacity. He also described a developing transitional facilities program authorized by Act 236, modeled on New Zealand’s certified facilities system, and said the department has already begun outreach to industry groups such as the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• :05.320><c> put</c><00:02:05.479><c> the</c><00:02:05.600><c> Senate</c><00:02:05.920><c> version</c>
• <00:02:06.320><c> into</c><00:02:06.600><c> this</c><00:02:06.799><c> Bill</c> we put the Senate version
• we</c><00:02:08.160><c> are</c><00:02:08.360><c> planning</c><00:02:08.679><c> to</c><00:02:08.840><
• for House<00:02:24.040><c> Bill</c> 622<00:02:29.160><c> no</c><00:02:29.319><c> further</c><00:02:29.599
• questions members<00:02:30.680><c> we</c><00:02:30.800><c> are</c><00:02:31.000><c> moving</c><00:02

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• official who has interfered with or usurped the parents' rights, and it outlines the civil liability statute
• HB 2138, Firefighters' Employment Status, defines firefighter in workers' compensation statutes that
• Chair Members, HB2138 Firefighters' Employment Status defines firefighter in worker compensation statutes
• HB 2043, felony murder unborn child, expands the first-degree felony murder statute to apply to the death
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2030, to provide some quick background, statute governing the Water

Summary: The caucus meeting began with introductions from pages and interns, followed by a procedural reminder from Rhonda about caucus consent and third-read consent calendars. She explained that bills coming out of rules can be placed on consent if they are not amended, and that pulling a bill from consent means members should be prepared to speak to it on the floor. The meeting then moved through a long Minority Caucus calendar of bills, with staff giving brief descriptions and members frequently noting bills for no further comment, pulling several from consent, or stating opposition. The bills discussed covered a wide range of topics, including appropriations and federal monies (HB 2148), a Buffalo Soldiers memorial (HB 2062), school library funding restrictions (HB 2008), prayer at public school governing body meetings (HB 2110), school safety administration (HB 2142), parental rights and social transitioning notifications (HB 2249), insurer assessments (HB 2091), agricultural property classification and inspection rules (HB 2104 and HB 2105), firefighters’ workers’ compensation status (HB 2138), truth-in-taxation bond notices (HB 2289), tax filing penalties (HB 2016), engineer and architect reciprocity (HB 2122), felony murder involving an unborn child (HB 2043), body concealment and related felony classifications (HB 2044), domestic violence order-of-protection service rules (HB 2048), mandatory reporting for partial-birth abortions (HB 2074), unlawful flight sentencing enhancements (HB 2108), weapons trafficking penalties (HB 2131), fentanyl sentencing thresholds (HB 2132), drive-by shooting definitions and forfeiture (HB 2045), probation review notices for sex offender hearings (HB 2046), venue changes in superior court when judicial employees are parties (HB 2126), and child support for pre-born children (HB 2144). Water-related bills included snowpack augmentation funding (HB 2024), WIFA grant disclosures (HB 2029), removing water conservation education as an eligible use (HB 2030), stormwater recharge mapping with an appropriation (HB 253), cesspool remediation assistance (HB 2096), groundwater pumping limits in INAs (HB 2097), Colorado River litigation funding (HB 2116), and natural resource board changes and education funding (HB 2117). Election-related measures included moving the primary date and adjusting cure periods and observer rules (HB 2022), and a proposed constitutional amendment on citizenship, ID, foreign contributions, early voting, and mail voting (HCR 2001). The committee also heard two memorials urging federal terrorist designations for the Muslim Brotherhood and CARE (HCM 2001 and HCM 2002). Members and staff offered substantive objections to many bills, often arguing they were anti-student, anti-abortion, overly punitive, unfunded mandates, or unfair tax policy. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including HB 2008, HB 2110, HB 2142, HB 2249, HB 2043, HB 2074, HB 2108, and HB 2144. Supportive remarks were also made for some measures, such as the cesspool remediation bill, which was noted as having unanimous support, while other bills were flagged for stakeholder meetings or future amendments. The meeting ended with announcements recognizing members’ birthdays and noting Muslim Day at the Capitol, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:02:52.160><c> All</c><01:02:52.319><c> the</c><01:02:52.400><c> rest</c><01:02:52.559><c> of<
• <02:03:50.719><c> owe</c><02:03:50.880><c> us</c><02:03:51.280><c> a</c><02:03:51.520><c> lot</c><02:
• ><02:22:26.319><c> I</c><02:22:26.479><c> do</c><02:22:26.640><c> think</c><02:22:26.800><c> it</c><02
• 02:35:24.640><c> a</c><02:35:25.120><c> a</c><02:35:25.600><c> pretty</c><02:35:25.840><c> high</c><02
• :02:21.120><c> I</c><05:02:21.200><c> I</c><05:02:21.360><c> don't</c><05:02:21.440><c> know</c><05:02

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For ANS disease, but for boats coming in from Minnesota, they don't, they don't pay anything for that
• And so I've reached out to other states and tribes, like in Minnesota.
• For example, where I had previously practiced in Minnesota, there's Rule 20. It's called Rule 20.
• For example, where I had previously practiced in Minnesota, there's Rule 20. It's called Rule 20.
• We actually served tribal members from every tribal nation in Minnesota and South Dakota as well.

Committee: Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

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• </c><00:02:12.200><c> So</c><00:02:12.480><c> at</c><00:02:12.640><c> this</c><00:02:12.920><c> time<
• If you<00:02:19.920><c> all</c><00:02:20.040><c> could</c><00:02:20.200><c> make</c><00:02:20.440><c>
• </c><00:02:45.440><c> And</c><00:02:45.800><c> you</c><00:02:45.840><c> know</c><00:02:46.000><c> what
• :02:51.200><c> we</c><01:02:51.400><c> need</c><01:02:51.600><c> to</c><01:02:51.680><c> do</c><01:02

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on September 24, 2025, approved the minutes from the September 9 meeting, and then continued its discussion of Medicaid waivers with Leslie Hoffman and Carmen Hancock from the Department for Medicaid Services. Members asked for updates on the 2024 waiver waitlist management assessment recommendations, including aligning waiver policies, standardizing applications and waitlist placement, and modernizing data systems. DMS said that work is being done jointly with Aging and Independent Living and Behavioral Health/Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities through task forces, that ARPA spending delayed action, and that implementation timelines extend through March 2027. The board also reviewed per-member waiver cost averages for fiscal years 2023 through 2025 for ABI, ABI long-term care, HCBS, Model II, Michelle P, and SCL. DMS emphasized these figures were benefit-only averages based on paid claims, not full waiver costs, and explained that true budget neutrality is calculated on an aggregate basis against institutional care comparisons approved by CMS. DMS said all six waivers remain in compliance with budget neutrality and that the most recent 18-month lag review for FY 2022 and FY 2023 found costs at or below institutional care. Members also asked about unused waiver slots; DMS said slots generally cannot be reallocated mid-year if they have been used, except in cases such as death or reserved capacity, because CMS treats participants as unduplicated for the waiver year. A major portion of the meeting focused on the new child waiver created under House Bill 6. Legislators questioned whether the waiver’s design, including the exclusion of participant-directed services and the emphasis on high-acuity children with behavioral health, DCBS, or juvenile justice involvement, matched the bill’s intent to keep children at home. DMS said it used the $14.7 million appropriated for FY 2026 to develop the program, that there is no priority list, and that the waiver is intended to serve the highest-acuity children while also addressing residential needs for those sleeping in offices or placed out of state. Members also raised concerns about the rapid growth of the HCBS waiting list and asked for more detail on age and timing patterns, which DMS said it would provide later. Finally, DMS gave average processing times from application to eligibility determination and from approval to service start, and said the overall average from application to services beginning was about 80 days, while members requested follow-up information on the Carewise assessment contract and related costs.