Transcript Highlights:

• designated as personnel records legally required to be kept confidential under Welfare and Institutions Code
• posting all the immunization and preventive service recommendations pursuant to Health and Safety Code
• And these fund programs as outlined in the code.
• And these fund programs as outlined in the code.
• The Health and Safety Code allows it. So yes, we could.

Summary: The hearing began with an overview of the California Health and Human Services Agency, which described its 2026-27 budget, major departments, and strategic priorities, including behavioral health, housing and human services integration, children and youth, and aging/disability services. The agency also explained a technical CalHHS/CalHires budget adjustment tied to HR1 compliance and eligibility system work. No LAO concerns were raised on that item. The committee then heard from the Office of Youth and Community Restoration on its budget, its SB 823 realignment report, and related issues. OYCR said county-based realignment has generally succeeded but outcomes and readiness vary widely, and it recommended more climate surveys, youth advisory councils, stronger behavioral management, better programming, improved transition planning, and integrated longitudinal data systems. Members pressed OYCR on “net widening,” county-by-county trends, and the gap between the detailed recommendations discussed in hearing and the more general recommendations in the public report. OYCR also described problems with federal Title II grant timing and a pending $14 million administrative funding adjustment, and discussed implementation of the juvenile justice realignment block grant formula. The Ombudsperson division separately requested two new positions due to rising complaints, site visits, and records-access disputes with counties; LAO noted the proposal would create ongoing General Fund costs. Several other departments presented budget change proposals. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities requested $730,000 General Fund ongoing to cover an interagency administrative support gap with DSS; LAO had no concerns. EMSA presented its department overview, said its AB 716 ambulance-rate report has been delayed after resources were reduced, and requested funding for disaster-response vehicle replacement, IT security assessment work, and additional HR/legal staff; members questioned delays, compliance, and the ongoing General Fund impact. The Department of Community Services and Development sought reappropriation of LIWIP funds and explained a new Proposition 4 process for continuing the farmworker housing component. The Department of Rehabilitation requested authority for $60 million in additional federal funds and 54 positions to meet growing vocational rehabilitation demand, with no General Fund impact. The Department of Child Support Services presented its budget and a supplemental report on full pass-through of child support collections. Members questioned why local agency funding was being restored despite declining caseloads, and staff explained that staffing costs have risen faster than caseload declines and that additional funding is needed to maintain service levels. The supplemental report estimated full pass-through would cost about $150 million General Fund annually, or about $80 million for a state-and-county portion, with $3 million to $5 million in automation costs. Finally, the Department of Public Health gave a broad overview of its $5.1 billion budget and its State of Public Health report, highlighting improved mortality and life expectancy, declining overdose deaths and STI rates, persistent racial and regional disparities, and increasing public health emergency demands. CDPH also warned that federal funding threats and policy changes are creating major uncertainty for state and local public health systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• Juvenile, the juvenile Criminal Code, um, needs to be, needs to be updated.
• I think we've all agreed, um, that something needs to be done regarding the juvenile code, especially
• We know that we're outnumbered, the ones that think we do need to change the children's code.
• Um, how do we fix the problem and exactly what do you think we can do with that children's code that
• And so I'd ask for you to send, send very specifics of what a reform of that code looks like to us in

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• , and you can see the two pieces of code listed there.
• Ask away. ...dictated by North Dakota Century Code.
• , and you can see the two pieces of code listed there.
• , and you can see the two pieces of code listed there.
• The rental rates are also established according to Century Code.

Summary: The Government Finance Committee met with new leadership, approved the December 11 minutes, and received a series of informational updates on the state’s finances and related policy issues. The Office of Management and Budget reported the general fund is tracking very close to forecast, with revenues about $2 million above forecast and an estimated ending balance of about $397 million, higher than previously expected. OMB also reviewed balances in major funds, including the budget stabilization fund, legacy fund, foundation aid stabilization fund, social services fund, and strategic investment and improvements fund, and answered questions about oil tax revenues and fund management. The Tax Department provided updates on taxable sales and purchases by county and industry, noting Cass County as the largest county by taxable sales and that retail trade remains the largest industry sector. Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus also discussed the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its estimated effects on North Dakota income tax collections, explaining that the projected revenue impacts are measured against a 2025 baseline and that some provisions are temporary while others are permanent. He also reported that primary residence tax credit applications were running ahead of last year, with more than 154,000 received so far and an expectation of roughly 160,000-plus applications. The committee also heard fee-study presentations from the Department of Transportation and the Information Technology Department. DOT explained that driver’s license fees cover only about half of program costs and that the shortfall is subsidized by the highway fund, while also noting recent changes such as the blackout plate and motor vehicle excise tax distribution changes. NDIT described its internal service fund model, current billing structure, and possible future changes to simplify invoices and billing frequency. Legislative staff also updated the committee on office space needs in Bismarck-Mandan and on legislative branch space planning, and subcommittees reported progress on fixed-route transit funding and regional jail capacity, including a visit to the Burleigh-Morton detention facility and discussion of future prison bed needs. No formal votes or legislative actions beyond approving the minutes were taken, and the committee adjourned with its next meeting set for June 25.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was created to provide a uniform set of reviewing and training for our peace officers in our state
• It was created to provide a uniform set of reviewing and training for our peace officers in our state
• </c><00:10:25.040><c> a</c> nation it was created to provide a nation it was created to provide a uniform
• ><c> of</c><00:10:27.440><c> reviewing</c><00:10:28.440><c> and</c><00:10:28.640><c> training</c> uniform
• set of reviewing and training uniform set of reviewing and training our<00:10:29.600><c> peace</c><00

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 1257, which would eliminate the Public Safety Advisory Committee to the POST Board, was the final bill heard. The bill’s sponsor argued the committee was created in 2020 in response to post-Floyd criminal justice reforms but had since become obsolete because local agencies and communities had created their own oversight bodies and the main POST Board still includes citizen members and public participation. The sponsor said the advisory committee had run out of issues to address and was effectively meeting just to justify its existence. Former Representative Carlos Mariani testified in opposition, saying the committee was a bipartisan part of the 2020 Minnesota Police Accountability Act and was intended to preserve citizen involvement in policing policy and protect civil and human rights after George Floyd’s murder. He argued that eliminating it would weaken a state-level structure created to rebuild public trust and ensure consistent oversight, while still allowing local efforts to continue. Another member asked about compensation and noted the committee has a $20,000 ongoing appropriation through the POST Board; the sponsor clarified members are not individually compensated beyond per diem and travel. After discussion, the sponsor renewed the motion to recommend re-referral to the General Register. The committee voted, and the motion carried, sending House File 1257 to the General Register.

Transcript Highlights:

• The RMV plans to distribute human trafficking awareness visor cards to commercial applicants that also
• In the area of commercial driving, we are finishing the process of opening a new commercial skills testing
• This site will offer commercial skills testing beginning very soon.
• I've had a lot of commercial fishermen come to me.
• Many zip codes in Boston, for example, are part of a designated equity community.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, in the, in the government code, it would be referred to as community supervision and Corrections
• So there's a part of our code. Can you send your, um, to my staff that. Provision in the code.
• So there's a provision in the state code that mandates you only hire certified teachers.
• Yes, in Chapter 19 of the Education code.
• Yeah, please, I would love to see that provision in the code. Thanks.

Committee: House Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Gannon: Under current code of law, this is already illegal.
• </c><00:49:28.200><c> side</c> if if it applies for the commercial side if if it applies for the commercial
• Citing commercial regulations and suggesting that should apply to personal driver's licensees, non-commercial
• Citing commercial regulations and suggesting that should apply to personal driver's licensees, non-commercial
• </c><01:53:50.520><c> operation</c> an inspection on a commercial operation an inspection on a commercial

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee met in executive session on several House bills. HB 212, allowing a 180-day operation waiver when a vehicle fails an emissions test, was retained at the sponsor’s request for possible modifications. HB 249, which would have let bicyclists treat stop signs as yields and stop lights as stop signs, was recommended inexpedient to legislate (ITL) by a 9-7 vote, with a minority report expected. The committee then retained HB 298, creating an exception for removing VIN tags from pre-1981 vehicles when needed for repair or restoration, by a 15-1 vote. HB 411-FN, making handheld device use while driving a secondary offense, was recommended ITL by consent after members argued the current primary-offense law is more effective for enforcement and safety. On HB 414, which would have barred DMV license suspensions based on debts owed to private towing or storage companies, the committee rejected ITL and instead retained the bill 16-0 after members split over whether the current law unfairly ties driving privileges to private debt collection. HB 441, addressing visible diesel emissions and “rolling coal,” was recommended ITL 16-0 because members said the conduct is already illegal under existing state and federal law. The committee then took up HB 461, concerning Department of Safety and DMV training and testing materials, where members debated whether driver testing should be limited to English and whether multilingual materials are a safety necessity or discriminatory; the transcript cuts off before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:02:48.480><c> in</c> constituents, our men and women in constituents, our men and women in uniform
• 50.160><c> their</c><00:02:50.480><c> families</c><00:02:50.879><c> and</c><00:02:51.200><c> all</c> uniform
• and all their families and all uniform and all their families and all the<00:02:51.599><c> people</c
• two alters the application of the bill to align it with changes made last year to Maryland statutory code
• regarding reserve components of the uniform services and clarifies the bill does not otherwise limit

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, March 5, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some 3,000 families served by the state preschool program live in areas, or zip codes, if you will, located
• She now delivers groceries to families and develops code words so parents feel safe opening the doors
• I cannot afford a commercial van or minibus, so we use two family cars to transport the children.
• I also require commercial transportation insurance, which is very expensive.
• Who wants to do that for hundreds of people walking through these commercial buildings and things like

Summary: The hearing focused first on how wildfires and other disasters affect child care providers, families, and early education infrastructure. State officials from the Department of Social Services and Department of Education described disaster response and preparedness efforts, including shelter coordination, licensing outreach, emergency waivers, distribution of supplies, and the statewide child care disaster plan. Testimony from providers and advocates emphasized major gaps in recovery funding, insurance coverage, rebuilding support, mental health services, and coordination with local rebuild plans. Several witnesses urged more dedicated disaster-recovery funding for child care facilities and suggested statutory changes, including allowing greater flexibility for rebuilding costs and requiring early childhood programs to be included in local disaster planning. The second panel addressed immigration enforcement and its impact on child care. Advocates from the Children's Partnership, Every Child California, and CHIRLA said enforcement activity is causing families to keep children home, disrupting continuity of care, reducing enrollment, and creating fear and trauma for children and providers. They argued that immigrant and mixed-status families need clearer protections, privacy safeguards, legal support, trauma-informed guidance, and safe-haven policies for child care settings. Speakers also stressed that the child care workforce is heavily immigrant and that recent state laws such as AB 49 and AB 495 will require funding, training, and technical assistance to implement effectively. Public commenters, including child care providers, described personal experiences with fire damage, displacement, permit delays, lost income, and the emotional toll of serving families during crises. Others described how immigration enforcement has made parents afraid to attend events, drop off children, or remain connected to providers. Committee members repeatedly noted that child care is often overlooked in emergencies and asked state officials how child care systems are being integrated into disaster planning and how local and state agencies can better coordinate. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill would add duplicative language regarding CEQA analysis to the Water Code and introduces a requirement
• This bill simply adds commercial and industrial projects to the list of projects that can be permitted
• bill would prematurely and significantly expand... ...local authority to issue take permits for commercial
• represent, is where the most concentration of the trees are, and that is why I'm asking here that commercial
• In fact, it is for those reasons the California Fire Code requires it, with even more restrictive Zone

Summary: The committee heard several water, wildlife, conservation, and local government bills. AB 362, by Assembly Member Ramos, would add tribal water uses as a statewide beneficial use and strengthen tribal consultation in water planning; tribal representatives and conservation groups supported it as a long-overdue correction, while water agencies, business groups, and agricultural interests raised concerns about CEQA, regulatory uncertainty, and impacts on existing water planning. The bill was moved on a due pass motion to Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, with some members noting ongoing stakeholder discussions and one abstention. AB 1089, by Assembly Member Carrillo, would expand local permitting authority under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act to include commercial and industrial projects. The author and the City of Adelanto argued it would speed housing and economic development in the high desert while preserving the overall conservation framework, but environmental groups opposed it as premature and potentially weakening protections for Joshua trees. The committee approved the bill on a due pass motion to Appropriations. AB 1024, by Assembly Member Harabedian, would require a regional black bear mitigation plan for the San Gabriel Valley and related areas; Sierra Madre officials described rising bear intrusions and the need for state help, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 846, by Assembly Member Connolly, would streamline permitting for local wildfire preparedness and vegetation management projects in local responsibility areas by creating a faster review process at Fish and Wildlife and improving mapping coordination with Cal Fire. Local government, fire service, and agricultural witnesses supported the bill as a common-sense wildfire prevention measure, and it passed to Natural Resources with no opposition. AB 263, by Assembly Member Rogers, would extend emergency minimum-flow regulations for the Scott and Shasta Rivers for five years or until permanent rules are adopted; supporters said it protects salmon recovery, tribal subsistence, and the fishing economy during a transition period, while opponents argued it bypasses normal regulatory process and harms farmers. The committee approved it on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations, with one abstention and two no votes. AB 1044, by Assembly Member Bains, would create a new Tulare County groundwater sustainability agency for undistricted lands after other local agencies split off; the bill passed to Local Government. AB 1426, by Assembly Member Arambula, began testimony on creating a Diablo Range Conservation Program to fund habitat protection and restoration across the range.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the common law tour of negligence and it's codified in the civil code.
• solutions that they could work with instead of falling to Section 230 in the federal communications code
• made it unlawful for a person to use a bot with the intent to mislead another person online for commercial
• California has made great strides to strengthen commercial privacy protections for Californians.
• California has made great strides to strengthen commercial privacy protections for Californians.

Summary: The committee heard several privacy and consumer protection bills, with most of the discussion focused on AI and social media. AB 1405 would create a state registry for AI auditors and set basic transparency, ethics, and qualification standards for those auditors; supporters said it would build trust and provide a foundation for future AI oversight, while some members questioned whether government should define auditor qualifications instead of industry groups. The bill was moved out on a 5-1 vote to Appropriations, with the roll left open. AB 2, by Assemblymember Lowenthal, would impose enhanced financial penalties on large social media companies when their negligence causes harm to children and teens. Supporters, including a grieving parent and Common Sense Media, argued the bill would create accountability for harmful algorithms and design choices, while opponents from TechNet, EFF, CCIA, and CalChamber warned it was vague, could chill speech, invite censorship, and raise Section 230 and First Amendment concerns. Committee members debated private right of action versus public enforcement, possible shakedown lawsuits, and whether the bill should be narrowed; the bill passed 6-0 to Judiciary with the roll left open. AB 410 would expand California’s bot disclosure law so bots must identify themselves up front and truthfully if asked, rather than only prohibiting deceptive bots in limited commercial or election contexts. Supporters said the measure would help users, especially youth and vulnerable people, know when they are interacting with AI and reduce deception online; one privacy group withdrew opposition after amendments, and other industry groups said they were no longer opposed or had no formal position. The bill passed 9-1 to Appropriations with the roll left open. The committee also approved AB 1327, which lets consumers cancel home improvement contracts by email instead of only by mail and requires phone assistance for cancellations; the Contractor State License Board withdrew opposition after amendments, and the bill passed 11-0 to Judiciary with the roll left open.

Transcript Highlights:

• Prior to that, there were different factions of the code, different versions of what the code might be
• Those statutes remain today, and they conflict with what is the State Building Code.
• Minnesota had a state fire code, so prior to that there were different factions of the code, different
• versions of what the code might be based on region, what a city adopts.
• Those statutes remain today, and they conflict with what is the State Building Code.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been connecting with some of the commercial carriers.
• I've been connecting with some of the commercial carriers.
• It's only the fully insured commercial market, so that's where the 8,900 comes from.
• Obviously, there's a bill being heard right here, right now, for the commercial fully insured market.
• </c> develop and install these custom code develop and install these custom code configurations<02:13

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the sponsor and our folks at TRD to help us bring this important change into our state code.
• safety, traffic calming, and to mitigate the heat island effect along San Pedro Drive to keep the commercial
• Chairman, members of the committee, Marla Schott, registered lobbyist for NAOP in New Mexico, the Commercial

Bills: HB248 , HB309 , HB332 , SB48

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Keywords: general obligation bonds, GO bonds, capital projects, bond election, property tax levy, state debt, state finance, capital outlay, senior centers, senior citizen facilities, aging services, long-term services, libraries, library acquisitions, broadband for libraries, higher education, university capital projects, community colleges, tribal schools, special schools

Transcript Highlights:

• the work of the sponsor and our folks at TRD to help us bring this important change into our state code
• safety, traffic calming, and to mitigate the heat island effect along San Pedro Drive to keep the commercial
• Chairman, members of the committee, Marla Schoz, registered lobbyist for NAIOP in New Mexico, the Commercial

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 248, the general obligation bond bill, which would authorize about $392.5 million in bond capacity for senior centers, libraries, and higher education, special schools, and tribal school projects. The sponsor highlighted major projects including a new UNM School of Medicine, a multidisciplinary building at NMSU, renovations at New Mexico Tech, a technical innovation center at CNM, an agricultural science and arts building at ENMU, and library renovations at New Mexico Highlands. Public testimony was supportive, especially from the New Mexico Library Association, and members discussed how the bond process works, including application timing, readiness to spend funds, voter approval, and how unspent bond proceeds revert. The committee voted do pass on HB 248 without opposition. The committee then considered House Bill 309, which would clarify property tax valuation rules for electric energy storage facilities by extending the existing special valuation method for electric generation, transmission, and distribution to battery storage and similar technologies. Supporters from PNM, InterWest Energy Alliance, and Inventergy said the bill would provide consistency and clarity as storage becomes more important to grid reliability and clean energy development. Members raised questions about depreciation, the 12-year schedule, the 20% floor on valuation, possible effects on local government revenues, whether the bill would apply to utilities and co-ops, industrial revenue bonds, and whether it covered microgrids or only battery systems. The committee approved HB 309 on an 8-3 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 48, which would authorize $92 million in bonds for the State Fairgrounds District to support redevelopment of the southwest corner of the fairgrounds, including land acquisition, green space, water and sewer infrastructure, and traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements near San Pedro and Central. Support came from neighborhood groups, housing advocates, the city of Albuquerque, the chamber of commerce, and others who described the project as a long-term investment in safety, infrastructure, and economic revitalization for the surrounding area. Members questioned the bond repayment structure, the 25-year term, the use of district gross receipts and gaming tax revenues, parking impacts, and future bonding needs. The committee voted do pass on SB 48 by a 10-2 margin.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the police chief, if he gets up and talks about the welfare department and he's in uniform, okay,
• talks about the whole welfare department and he says, "I'm here as a private citizen," he's not in uniform
• :13:58.240><c> in</c> um the welfare department and he's in um the welfare department and he's in uniform
• , uniform, uniform, okay,<00:14:00.959><c> that's</c><00:14:01.360><c> probably</c><00:14:01.839><c>
• ,"</c> private citizen, he's not in uniform," private citizen, he's not in uniform," then<00:14:11.360

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are starting to see them come, but we're seeing them start to abuse different codes.
• It generates a six-digit code, right? That represents your time in.
• So we have captive payment rates for certain procedures or users and codes and things.
• It would also be helpful to have diagnosis codes submitted with prescriptions.
• We took a look at the Texas Administrative Code, the TAC, audit ready.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• report that just came out about how many teachers have a second job, when they're involved in a commercial
• or a nonprofit involved in a commercial or a nonprofit uh<00:10:48.079><c> venture.
• The disclosure um and involvement in the commercial or nonprofit affiliation that is an addition in this
• The disclosure um and involvement in the commercial or nonprofit affiliation that is an addition in this
• The disclosure and involvement in the commercial or nonprofit affiliation is an addition in this bill

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It must previously have been used for commercial purposes in the beverage processing or manufacturing
• And in many cases, they subsidize residential, agriculture, and small commercial rates.
• We prefer the way the bill came out of committee, which was also including commercial projects, so just
• We prefer the way the bill came out of committee, which was also including commercial projects, so just
• We prefer the way the bill came out of committee, which was also including commercial projects, so just

Summary: The committee began with a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 1592, which would change how state public defense funds are distributed and, in the substitute version, keep current law on state funding responsibility while revising the allocation formula. Staff explained the bill would shift county and city distributions to a pro rata, caseload-based model, allow very low-density counties to request OPD to provide some or all public defense services, require additional data collection and reporting, and direct OPD to study caseload reductions and retention. Representative Peterson said the bill is meant to create a better structure for future state support of indigent defense without the very large cost of the original proposal. Testimony from counties, cities, OPD, defenders, and local officials was strongly supportive, emphasizing a statewide public defense crisis, rising local costs, staffing shortages, and the need for a fairer funding model. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 1742 on environmentally sustainable urban design and Substitute House Bill 1906 on water system regulation and water rates. HB 1742 would create a center in Ecology to promote sustainable urban design, fund design competitions and grants, and establish an advisory council; the sponsor said the bill reflects a desire to support a pilot project through alternative funding, and there was no public testimony. HB 1906 would require more planning and notice for Group A water systems, add customer notice and right-of-first-refusal provisions for some ownership changes, and direct the UTC to consider external funding sources, capital planning, and rate smoothing when setting water rates. Water utility and PUD witnesses supported the goal of improving transparency and consolidation of failing small systems, while noting the substitute reduced some fiscal concerns. The committee also heard HB 2248 on Secretary of State corporate and charity filings, HB 2438 creating the SEED scholarship for early childhood education students, and HB 2515 addressing emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers. HB 2248 would redirect part of annual filing fees to the Secretary of State revolving fund, require initial reports from nonprofits and LLPs, and change trademark certificate procedures; the fiscal note showed modest revenue losses, and the division supported restoring the fee split for operational funding. HB 2438 would transfer $10 million annually from the GET account to fund scholarships and wraparound services for early childhood education degree seekers, with testimony from early learning advocates and a student describing workforce shortages and personal financial barriers. HB 2515 drew extensive testimony both for and against: supporters said it would protect ratepayers, water resources, and grid reliability by requiring tariffs, reporting, clean-energy requirements, and a fee on large energy users; opponents argued it singled out data centers, could hurt investment and jobs, and included unrelated labor and procurement provisions. After public testimony, the committee moved into executive-session briefing on several bills and amendments, including HB 1903 on statewide low-income energy assistance, HB 1909 on a court unification task force, HB 1982 on vacating certain convictions tied to treaty Indian rights, HB 2034 on LEOFF Plan 1 retirement changes, HB 2105 on employer notice of federal I-9 audits, HB 2210 on ranked-choice voting, HB 2215 on Climate Commitment Act fuel supplier obligations, and HB 2271 on post-consumer recycled content requirements. Staff summarized proposed substitutes and amendments, with several changes aimed at reducing or shifting fiscal impacts, narrowing agency duties, or striking provisions entirely.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have a QR code here, too.
• There is another piece to this discussion in Century Code today.
• We've also committed ourselves through admin code to certain permit review timelines.
• So those were created in Century Code in 61.35.
• So mid- to late 90s, that Century Code was put in place.

Committee: Joint Water Topics Overview Committee

Keywords: 908, all