Transcript Highlights:

• We'll be researching other states' comparable boards and their records retention schedules.
• We'll be researching other states comparable boards on their records retention schedules.
• And I’m just providing you the research that I have done.
• So from my research, the county auditor is that person charged with the responsibility.
• Again, just based on my research, I'm not an expert in the state auditor's powers and duties.

Summary: The committee was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer were offered, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Members then received a memo summarizing major audit items and began hearing audit presentations from the State Auditor’s Office and private auditors on a range of state agencies and organizations. Several audits were reported as clean, including the Bank of North Dakota, the North Dakota Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation’s flexible transportation fund, Lake Region State College, and the Department of Environmental Quality. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association also received an unmodified opinion, though repeat findings were noted for limited segregation of duties and financial statement preparation due to its small staff. The Council on the Arts audit found two findings: payroll charged to federal awards without adequate timekeeping records, and unallowable expenditures from a restricted cultural endowment fund. The Department of Public Instruction audit identified unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, though additional testing showed the funds were used for their intended purpose. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which identified four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating limit, grant conditions not being met, improper Breeders Fund awards, and improper procurement for advertising services. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson acknowledged complacency and weak controls, said the agency would tighten procedures, and explained that the commission had since worked with procurement and would follow the rules more closely. Auditors also explained that the commission would now be audited every two years because of the findings. Another major discussion involved the University of North Dakota School of Law, where auditors found a lack of documentation supporting admissions decisions for post-baccalaureate programs. UND officials said they remain in good standing with the American Bar Association but agreed better documentation and tools are needed; the committee pressed for more transparency and follow-up on admissions criteria. The committee also received an update on Dakota College at Bottineau, where Minot State University reported that bank reconciliations had been brought current after a significant backlog and would now be maintained through shared services. Members requested a written follow-up report on the issues and corrective actions. Finally, the North Dakota Fair Association explained that its foundation has been dissolved and remaining funds were transferred to another nonprofit for continued support of the state fair, and the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, saying the reported amount was about $1.1 million from a partial district survey and that debt remains a local issue, though it could be revisited if school meal funding changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:03:01.080><c> and</c><01:03:01.160><c> development</c><01:03:01.800><c> tax</c> know, research
• and development tax know, research and development tax credit<01:03:02.960><c> and</c><01:03:03.160>
• I also think it's a little ironic, in going back and doing a little bit of research, the property tax
• research research uh<01:06:54.880><c> the</c><01:06:55.000><c> property</c><01:06:55.440><c> tax</c>
• </c> um just as there is with the research um just as there is with the research and<01:35:09.520><c>

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Have you or the governor's office done any research that either confirms or refutes any of their concerns
• respect, you didn't answer my question about whether the governor's office or you have done any research
• Yes or no, have you all provided any research?
• If we hadn't taken the time, If it wasn't researched, if we hadn't taken the time to vet the proposal
• No one researched it. That's a problem. But here's what we do know.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:38.800><c> so</c><00:10:39.399><c> that's</c> that are doing this research so that's that
• are doing this research so that's it<00:10:39.920><c> thank</c><00:10:40.079><c> you</c><00:10:40.680
• Our school boards are pretty careful on how and do a lot of research on what they want to do and how
• Representative Mueller continued: “...are pretty careful on how and do a lot of research on what they
• As for the six tiers, she said the research packet goes to the OHE's report about what this directly

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Virginia passed a similar law back in 2012, and in-depth research found that it led to a substantial
• Virginia passed a similar law back in 2012, and in-depth research found that it led to a substantial
• Virginia passed a similar law back in 2012, and in-depth research found that it led to a substantial
• Virginia passed a similar law back in 2012, and in-depth research found that it led to a substantial
• Virginia passed a similar law back in 2012, and in-depth research found that it led to a substantial

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1 and SB 1561 on vegetation management near utility lines and wildfire prevention. Testimony focused on requiring DLNR to create and update wildfire hazard maps, setting vegetation-trimming responsibilities for property owners near rights-of-way and utility lines, and authorizing utilities to enter property to remove hazardous vegetation. DLNR, the PUC, and Hawaiian Electric all testified, with Hawaiian Electric asking for clearer access language, after-the-fact notification in imminent-risk situations, and liability limits. Committee members discussed balancing wildfire response with property rights and the need for clearer responsibility and enforcement, including on easements and utility poles. The committees ultimately recommended SB 1 pass with amendments, incorporating comments from testimony, and SB 1561 was deferred. The next major item was SB 640 on artificial intelligence disclosures. The bill would require businesses and individuals in commercial transactions to clearly disclose when consumers are interacting with an AI chatbot or similar technology, and it would create private rights of action and penalties. TechNet, the Office of Consumer Protection, and the Chamber of Commerce raised concerns about vague definitions, overbroad application, enforcement, and the private cause of action; the Chamber also argued the bill could burden small businesses that use AI tools for routine functions. In response to questions, OCP said the measure was ambiguous as to who it applies to and that the remedies and treble-damages provisions were unclear. The committee recommended SB 640 be deferred. The committee also heard SB 454 on prorating the rental motor vehicle surcharge tax when a vehicle is rented for only part of a day. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii said the proposal would make the tax system fairer but more complex and would require better recordkeeping by rental companies; the Department of Taxation and Enterprise Mobility also submitted comments. Senator Melby noted possible effects on the special highway fund and said that could affect his vote. The measure was referred onward, with the discussion indicating it would proceed to Ways and Means. Finally, the committee heard SB 1272 on towing, which would create a licensing framework for tow companies. Testimony from tow-industry representatives strongly supported the measure, describing unlicensed or noncompliant operators, poor insurance practices, and the need for accountability and consumer protection. They said a licensing board would give regulators a clearer enforcement avenue and help ensure fair treatment of vehicle owners. The hearing ended before a final action was taken on SB 1272 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• NIH research confirms that initiating support such as Suboxone in the ER boosts engagement.
• I have researched every possible avenue to try to find relief.
• Mayling Ellerman, and I'm a researcher and expert on coercive control at Brandeis University.
• I'll be conducting research on abusive litigation in Massachusetts and sharing my findings.
• Research affirms coercive control intensifies post-separation.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on several Judiciary bills, with the largest portion focused on S. 1178/H. 2052 to reduce mass incarceration and end life without parole. People incarcerated at MCI Framingham, MCI Norfolk, and NCCI Gardner described personal growth, rehabilitation, restorative justice work, family separation, and the belief that parole eligibility after long sentences would better reflect public safety and human development. Speakers emphasized that life without parole removes hope and can undermine rehabilitation, while supporters argued that many lifers are older, less likely to reoffend, and could contribute positively if given a chance at parole review. Committee members did not take votes during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1139 to restore the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims involving tobacco use, with Sen. Keenan explaining that a recent SJC decision had cut off claims where the injured person did not sue within three years before death. He said the bill would restore families’ ability to seek redress in cases involving long-latency tobacco harms like COPD. Another major topic was S. 1205, which would add abusive litigation to the definition of coercive control in domestic violence law; Sen. Michael Moore said the bill would stop abusers from using repeated court filings to harass and financially burden survivors. The committee also took up S. 1114 on automatic record sealing, with Sen. Friedman and others arguing that the current petition-based process is slow, burdensome, and disproportionately harms people with criminal records, especially Black and Latino residents. Testimony also supported H. 1965/S. 1132 on compensation for wrongful conviction, with advocates and sponsors describing a faster administrative claims process, transitional support, and higher compensation without the current cap. Sen. Payano testified for S. 1241 to expand educational programming for incarcerated emerging adults, saying education reduces recidivism and improves reentry outcomes. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on S. 2522, an update to Massachusetts’ shield law for reproductive and gender-affirming care. Sen. Friedman, the Attorney General’s office, and DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said the bill is needed to strengthen protections against out-of-state legal attacks, protect patient and provider data, clarify enforcement authority, and add a state-level EMTALA-style emergency care requirement. Committee members asked detailed questions about prescription labeling, the prescription monitoring program, attorney discipline, custody and full faith and credit issues, and whether the bill’s enforcement language could create unintended limits or conflicts. The Attorney General’s office said it would provide follow-up written testimony on several technical questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will not impede legitimate research, and it will ensure that bad actors cannot exploit the gaps in
• A substantial and growing body of research shows that children under 16 are especially vulnerable to
• A substantial and growing body of research shows that children under 16 are especially vulnerable to
• Almost twice as long, the transition lasts for Black women based on the research.
• And so almost twice as long, the transition lasts for black women based on the research.

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Research and historical care practices promote connecting children to animals to support development
• </c><00:10:30.200><c> Research</c><00:10:30.640><c> and</c> vaccination requirements.
• Research and vaccination requirements.
• House Research Ms.
• for decades has supported and research for decades has told<01:03:50.280><c> us</c><01:03:50.400><c>

Bills: HF4382 , HF2929

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child care, day care, child care center, family child care, family day care, group family day care, licensed child care, licensing modernization, early childhood education, preschool, infant care, toddler care, school-age care, drop-in child care, night care, sick care, community-based child care, provider training, staff ratios, group size

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the director of research, analysis, and policy at ARM. does not provide specific remedies does not
• I let them use their phones to, you know, research things, call their families through the shift.
• I let them use their phones to, you know, research things, call their families through the shift.
• </c> their phones to, you know, research their phones to, you know, research things,<00:21:00.800><c>
• </c> just want you to know I did do research just want you to know I did do research and<01:25:03.640

Bills: HF4110 , HF2113 , HF4569 , HF4414

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, paid leave, small employers, employment law, Minnesota Statutes, workforce development, HF4569, Minnesota Paid Leave Law, protected leave, seasonal employee, seasonal worker, hospitality, hospitality industry, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer certification

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to quote from a report published in May 2025 by a researcher at the University of Minnesota
• /c><00:01:47.520><c> May</c><00:01:47.680><c> 2025</c><00:01:48.520><c> by</c><00:01:48.680><c> researcher
• </c><00:01:49.200><c> at</c> published in May 2025 by researcher at published in May 2025 by researcher
• ,</c><00:32:18.760><c> from</c> information from House Research, from information from House Research
• in March of Minnesota House Research in March of 2025. 2025. 2025.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a, uh, nonprofit that drives housing solutions through original research.
• Pew Research has done some research specifically on Minneapolis and on what some of the changes that
• Research consistently shows that it works and it has results.
• Research consistently shows that it works and it has results.
• :18.399><c> it</c> Research consistently shows that it Research consistently shows that it works<00:31

Bills: HF3425 , HF3424 , HF1385

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: supportive housing, grants, housing assistance, funding, Minnesota Statutes, eviction, rent, nonpayment of rent, landlord-tenant, residential tenant, notice to quit, unlawful detainer, housing, lease violation, late fees, rental assistance, legal aid, tenant rights, Minnesota Statutes 504B.321, pre-eviction notice

Transcript Highlights:

• And, uh, to our amazing nonpartisan staff and research team, Tim Stro and Christina Par, our non-fiscal
• Marles Belrammy Renquist, and our GOP staff, uh, CA Jod Withers, CLA Janelle Bul, and researcher Jacob
• </c> our CLA Robin Schmidt and our researcher our CLA Robin Schmidt and our researcher Marles<00:02:10.680
• </c><00:02:19.200><c> Um,</c><00:02:19.520><c> behind</c> and researcher Jacob Cowan.
• Um, behind and researcher Jacob Cowan.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• These companies all lack viable data and have no credible research to support their sweeping claims.
• Mindfulness is a science that has been researched... ...and practiced worldwide to help relieve stress
• Studies conducted by researchers at.
• So you registered as Paige Duggins Clay on behalf of Intercultural Development Research Association,
• What I propose is not just innovative, it's research-based and it's courageous.

Bills: HB4 , HB54 , SB 10 , SB 24 , HB4 , HB54 , HB775 , HB850 , HB 1122 , HB 1249 , HB1405 , HB2336 , HB2757 , HB3372 , HB3622 , HB4442 , HB4687 , HB4893 , HB5089 , HB5515 , HB5606 , SB10 , SB24 , HB1573 , HB3369

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• in geological research, resource innovation, and energy development.
• ><c> Institute,</c> The Natural Resource Research Institute, The Natural Resource Research Institute,
• innovation, and research, resource innovation, and energy<00:02:26.680><c> development.
• I'm the executive director at the Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota.
• state-of-the-art research right in my<00:08:35.039><c> hometown.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to get high-quality instructional material, you have to research it, you have to vet it, you
• it you have to to vet it you research it you have to to vet it you have<00:20:35.640><c> to</c><00:20
• what hqm is it develop and research what hqm is it would<00:21:06.240><c> be</c><00:21:06.559><c> on
• But today I’m going to pass on it just because I need to do a little more research, and I look forward
• But today I’m going to pass on it just because I need to do a little more research, and I look forward

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Primary and Secondary Education Committee met and first considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 43, a proposal tied to the Southern Regional Education Board’s crisis recovery network. Senator West and Dr. Puit explained that, for an additional $10,000 in dues, Kentucky would help create a network of 40 trained counselors in each of the 16 Southern states to provide post-crisis stabilization and psychological first aid after events such as the Marshall County shooting. They emphasized that the effort would be complementary to local and state response, would run through the school district, would not replace therapeutic services, and would allow districts to coordinate parent notifications and other protocols as usual. Members asked about parent involvement and whether pastoral counselors could participate; the presenters said local districts would remain in charge and that pastors could be included if properly credentialed. The committee then voted, and SCR 43 passed with the expression of opinion that it should pass. The committee next took up Senate Bill 207, the School of Innovation Act, with a committee substitute. Senator West described the bill as creating an optional path for districts to contract with an outside education service provider for a three-year school-of-innovation model, aimed at turning around low-performing schools or supporting other schools that want to innovate. He said the model would preserve core district functions such as transportation, facilities, and SEEK funding, while allowing waivers from certain statutes and regulations inside the school building. The committee substitute also added a high-quality instructional materials component, creating a vendor-supported repository of vetted instructional materials that KDE would still control, with testing data used to evaluate whether the materials were improving outcomes. Members questioned how the proposal differed from existing district-of-innovation law and what safeguards would exist for students. Senator West said the bill would repeal the unused district-of-innovation framework and replace it with a clearer process and guardrails, including KDE oversight, attendance rules, and authority to shut down a school arrangement for financial malfeasance. He also said the model could work with local partners, including superintendents’ associations, and could be used by magnet or other schools, not only low-performing ones. The discussion also touched on whether the bill would allow more flexibility in choosing third-party providers and whether it could support longer-term recovery and even philanthropy in schools. The transcript ends during the discussion of SB 207, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:35.519><c> and</c> which are of course being researched and which are of course being researched
• Part of the reason that research stopped with the soybean growers funding was there are serious issues
• Part of the reason that research stopped with the soybean growers funding was there are serious issues
• Part of the reason that research stopped with the soybean growers funding was there are serious issues
• stopped with the soybean that research stopped with the soybean Growers<00:49:09.280><c> funding</c>

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Research was asked to describe it. Mr.
• maybe describe what have house research maybe describe what that<00:19:57.320><c> is</c> that is that
• so if you could here from house research so if you could just<00:24:52.440><c> kind</c><00:24:52.559
• So we started taxing Social Security, if my memory and research is correct, in the Social Security Act
• </c><01:34:50.159><c> has</c> thing um we were uh house research has thing um we were uh house research

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• with the changeover, with a joint system here for a while, my committee administrator is our head researcher
• committee administrator uh is our uh my committee administrator uh is our head<00:01:50.560><c> researcher
• I’m the director of tax research at the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
• </c><00:09:39.600><c> at</c><00:09:39.720><c> the</c> I'm the director of tax research at the I'm the
• </c> Communications with the tax research Communications with the tax research staff<00:49:46.880><c>

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• mitigation bank, which will fund affordable housing and related infrastructure near transit, since research
• mitigation bank, which will fund affordable housing and related infrastructure near transit, since research
• mitigation bank, which will fund affordable housing and related infrastructure near transit, since research

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's also at the Cancer Center and Research Institute at the University of Mississippi.
• He's also at the Cancer Center and Research Institute at the University of Mississippi.
• He's also at the Cancer Center and Research Institute at the University of Mississippi.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 27 January, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all