Transcript Highlights:

• I am Representative Diane Powers, and the committee has convened today for the purposes of public hearings
• And the same circumstance applies to Governor Wentworth, which is SAU 49, and Middleton.
• Wentworth School District, so ultimately the superintendent in the Governor Wentworth School District
• Wentworth School District, so ultimately the superintendent in the Governor Wentworth School District
• And again, as I offered last week, Representative Stavis, Chairman Power, we're willing to work with

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ARRS committee approved the regulation, SB 85 from the 2026 session passed and was signed by the governor
• 26th session passed and was signed by 26th session passed and was signed by the<00:07:17.599><c> governor
• And what that bill did was the governor.
• And so we worked together to figure out, using our CSA and the power of our research and extension team
• improves employee health, and we've documented that and we're continuing to document that using the power

Committee: Joint State Government

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe the governor of the great state of Minnesota has canceled this program in his budget.
• </c><01:22:07.520><c> So</c> power to convene and that's it. So power to convene and that's it.
• This is how you ensure that they're valid under our separation of powers.
• </c><02:08:33.280><c> The</c><02:08:33.360><c> legislature</c> separation of powers.
• The legislature separation of powers.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Her story is powerful, but it should not be rare, especially here in Louisiana.
• Members, Gary Evans, I'm a deputy executive counsel for Governor Jeff Landry. Thank you, Mr.
• Members, Gary Evans, I'm a deputy executive counsel for Governor Jeff Landry. And, Mr.

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Given that the governor has already stopped GLP for Medicaid, there was no reason for us to be passing
• And so, you know, if you thought the governor was going to pass this— No, I mean, but it's an amendment
• We have the power. >> What bill was that? >> Thank you.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• private sector, increasing our regulatory environment that we're already ranked, you know, if the governor
• Senator Green: On page 4, section C, it says an electronic report shall be submitted annually to the governor
• Nuclear power is older than I am. It is very reliable.

Bills: HB3005 , HB3007 , HB3403 , HB1907 , HB3175 , HB3986 , HB3466 , HB3411 , HB4246

Committee: Senate Energy

Keywords: climatology, emergency declaration, Oklahoma Climatological Survey, environment, weather data, public policy, state governance, natural resources, advisory councils, sunset law, water quality, hazardous waste, solid waste, radiation management, public health, biosolids, land application, environmental quality, agriculture, wastewater treatment

Summary: The committee took up several measures dealing with environmental regulation, waste management, and energy. Early on, it passed sunset-extension bills for the Oklahoma Climatological Survey and several environmental advisory councils. It then heard extensive debate on HB 1907, the Battery Stewardship Act, which would create a battery recycling system for small and medium batteries through DEQ. Supporters argued it would reduce landfill and garbage-truck fires, protect the environment, and create recycling value, while opponents raised concerns about added regulation, costs shifted to producers and retailers, and the creation of a new state FTE. Despite those objections, the bill passed 8-3. The committee also considered HB 3403, a pilot study on biosolids and sewage sludge applied to farmland. Members debated a committee substitute that shortened the study timeline from five years to three years and added a phased rollback of land application. Supporters said the study was needed because of unresolved questions about PFOS, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and other contaminants, while critics argued the timelines conflicted and the bill could be hard to implement. The committee substitute was adopted, an amendment to delete key rollback provisions failed, and the bill ultimately passed 8-2 after testimony from Oklahoma City utilities officials and multiple rounds of questions about testing, health risks, and disposal practices. The committee then passed HB 3175 to establish the Oklahoma Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, with members noting it would have minimal fiscal impact and could help Oklahoma build nuclear expertise and jobs. It also passed HB 3986, expanding a gross production tax exemption for wells completed with recycled water, and HB 3466, which removes the statutory requirement that the Corporation Commission maintain a petty cash fund. Finally, HB 3411, another biosolids-related bill to buy testing equipment and provide information to landowners, and HB 4246, a rural water transparency/lowest-bid bill, both passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The meeting ended with the chair thanking members and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been beaten by a former governor. So I know it's been proposed before.
• It's been beaten by a former governor.
• So there's monitors, there's a keyboard with that, there's a docking station to plug it in for power.

Committee: Joint Government Finance Committee

Summary: The Government Finance Committee met with new leadership and approved the December 11 minutes. The committee first received an update from the Office of Management and Budget on the state general fund and major special funds. OMB reported revenues were tracking very close to forecast, with an estimated ending general fund balance of about $397 million, higher than previously expected. Staff also reviewed balances in the budget stabilization fund, legacy fund, foundation aid stabilization fund, social services fund, and strategic investment and improvements fund, along with oil tax collections and the current revenue picture. Legislative Council staff then summarized the special session budget changes and noted the updated beginning balance increased the projected ending balance for the next biennium. The Tax Department presented taxable sales and purchases data by county and industry, showing overall sales tax activity remained strong, with retail trade the largest sector and several counties posting notable gains. Commissioner Kraschis then reviewed federal tax changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and estimated their impact on North Dakota income tax collections, explaining that the figures were compared to the 2025 baseline and would be incorporated into future forecasts. Members asked about the overtime and tip exclusions, the senior standard deduction, and the primary residence property tax credit application count, which was running ahead of last year at more than 154,000 applications. The committee also heard from the Department of Transportation on fee schedules, with members focusing on driver’s license fees and the fact that current fees cover only about half of program costs, meaning the highway fund subsidizes the remainder. DOT also reported on specialty plate activity, including nearly 3,900 blackout plates issued, and noted increased state fleet usage. The Information Technology Department explained its internal service fund rate-setting process and discussed possible billing simplification, including annual billing and improved invoice detail. OMB also provided data on leased office space in the Bismarck-Mandan area and state workforce counts, and Legislative Council updated the committee on legislative branch space planning. Finally, subcommittee reports noted continued work on fixed-route transit funding and regional jail capacity, including Burleigh-Morton’s new DOCR housing wing and ongoing overcrowding in state correctional facilities. No formal votes beyond the minutes approval were taken, and the meeting adjourned with the next meeting set for June 25.

Transcript Highlights:

• Knowledge is power. Let people control their own lives. And with that, if you have any questions...
• a bill last year on the same issue, but we request from the legislature, the department, and the governor
• The exposure of the state, of you and this governor, is three beds.

Bills: HB2050 , HB2082 , HB2176 , HB2195 , HB2202 , HB2307 , HB2584

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, radiology, imaging, x-ray, diagnostic x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography, CT technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, bone densitometry, radiation safety, radiation licensing, scope of practice, health workforce, rural health care, critical access hospital, supervision, telehealth

Transcript Highlights:

• language that was contingent would have required DO IT themselves to come over, so it's a separation of powers
• Continuing with the sort of the governor stuff.
• We're giving a lot of latitude with a large amount of money for the governor. Mr.

Bills: HB2 , SB152

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• the... ...education study committee shall submit a final report on the comprehensive study to the governor
• Then Section 8 on page 7: the department shall submit an annual report to the governor and the appropriate
• There are clauses in here that allow for adjustments, and I think that would be based upon who's in power

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 253, a committee substitute dealing with virtual and distance learning programs and school funding. Sponsors and staff explained that the substitute removed several earlier restrictions on virtual education, including residency requirements, the 10% enrollment cap, the ban on K-5 distance programs, and the moratorium on new enrollments. It also changed the State Cyber Academy Act to the Distance Learning Act, added reporting and evaluation requirements for districts and charter schools, and allowed the Public Education Department to withhold funding if programs are out of compliance. Members discussed concerns about impacts on rural districts, charter schools, and programs like Mosquero and the New Mexico Communications Academy, as well as the temporary funding fix for Gallup Public Schools, which was amended to average prior-year and current-year enrollment rather than use current-year membership alone. Public testimony on HB 253 was largely supportive, with school leaders and education organizations backing the amendment and the broader substitute while noting that more work may be needed on oversight and funding formulas. Committee members then debated the bill’s temporary provisions, the study requirement, and whether the changes would adequately address the Gallup funding issue and broader virtual-learning accountability. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave the House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute for HB 253 a do pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 153, a voluntary industrial decarbonization package that combines an Environmental Product Declaration grant program, a rebate or incentive program for lower-carbon building materials, and production tax credits and capital grants for eligible industrial products. Members asked detailed questions about environmental product declarations, hydrogen, anti-donation concerns, funding sources, and whether the bill would support sawmills, engineered wood, biofuels, and forest-thinning-related industries. Supporters from the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and Clean Air Task Force testified that the bill would encourage innovation, attract private investment, and reduce emissions without imposing mandates. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted do pass on the bill, with Representative Brown noted in opposition. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 255, which consolidates public safety workforce funding into a single competitive fund for recruitment, retention, and professional development in law enforcement, firefighting, corrections, and public attorney offices. Testimony from counties, the chamber, AFSCME, and State Police supported the measure as a targeted response to staffing shortages and public safety vacancies. The committee took no extended debate and approved HB 255 with a do pass recommendation. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would meet again the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• But for those who succeed, it defers conviction and dismisses the charge, and that is a powerful incentive
• of us not to prepare for a possibility of federal intervention here, and that is exactly why our governor
• of us not to prepare for a possibility of federal intervention here, and that is exactly why our governor

Bills: HB2217 , HB2558 , HB2641 , HB2648 , HB1239 , HB1591 , HB2209 , HB2310 , HB2526

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: rehabilitation, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, first-time offenders, pathways to rehabilitation, mental health, sentencing alternative, criminal justice, diversion programs, HB 2641, ICE out act, law enforcement hiring, immigration and customs enforcement, ICE officers, former federal employees, sworn officer, police staffing, general authority law enforcement agency, limited authority law enforcement agency, immigration enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• But for those who succeed, it defers conviction and dismisses the charge, and that is a powerful incentive
• of us not to prepare for a possibility of federal intervention here, and that is exactly why our governor
• of us not to prepare for a possibility of federal intervention here, and that is exactly why our governor

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on January 29, 2026, and announced it would not hold executive session that day because of the large number of public hearing sign-ups; those executive sessions were pushed to the following Monday. The committee first heard House Bill 2558, relating to the mental health sentencing alternative (MHSA). Staff explained that the bill narrows eligibility to people diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, adds restrictions for certain domestic violence and prior violent offense cases, requires more detailed DOC reports, lengthens some community custody terms, mandates regular progress hearings, and shifts assessment work to contracted providers. The sponsor said the bill is intended to refocus the program on people whose offenses are tied to serious mental illness and to reduce misuse in domestic violence and other violent cases. No public testimony was taken on HB 2558 that day, and the hearing was held open for later testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 2217, which would replace the current first-time offender waiver with a pretrial deferral option and a suspended sentence option for eligible first-time felony defendants. Supporters, including public defense, immigration advocates, judges, economists, and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, argued the bill would create a meaningful rehabilitation pathway, reduce recidivism, improve employment outcomes, and avoid the long-term harm of an immediate felony conviction. They also said the deferred-adjudication structure could help immigrants avoid immigration consequences and would better incentivize restitution and compliance. Opponents, including sheriffs, prosecutors, and victim advocates, raised concerns about expanding eligibility to offenses such as assault 2 and robbery 2, the meaning of “violent offense,” the possibility of judicial diversion without prosecutor consent, and the impact on victims and public safety. After testimony, the sponsor said she would remove the bill’s strong presumption in favor of relief, and the committee closed the public hearing on HB 2217. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2641, the “ICE Out Act of 2026,” which would bar Washington law enforcement agencies from hiring people who were sworn ICE officers after January 20, 2025, with the restriction applying prospectively beginning October 1, 2026. The sponsor said the bill was meant to protect communities and prevent hiring officers associated with federal immigration enforcement practices she described as harmful. The committee then heard House Bill 2648, which would require state and local officers who encounter suspected ICE employees conducting immigration enforcement to activate body and dash cameras, report the encounter, and document it, while providing state indemnification for officers acting in good faith. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency and protect communities and officers; the Washington State Patrol said many of the practices already align with its policies. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs expressed concerns about added reporting requirements, possible effects on federal-local cooperation, and asked for changes to soften mandatory language and strengthen indemnification. The committee ended the hearing without further testimony and adjourned, noting executive sessions on about a dozen bills would occur the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• also gets included in the special session, which... which I believe is one of the topics that the governor
• One of my goals in the coming year is to start meeting with the governors of the different tribes and
• I would also like to note the states that you feel are more powerful in their recruitment of residents

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor for including AB 617 program funding.
• comments with our AFSCME affiliate Local 3930 UDW on AB 151 and 156, and we really appreciate the governor
• Good afternoon, Kim Delfino on behalf of Audubon California, California Native Plant Society, and the Power

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The emergency project had to stem from a certified disaster declared by the governor in the last three
• An emergency as a result of a natural disaster declared such by the governor. Declared a disaster.
• This gives you some sense of how broad those powers go.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• installing, erecting, repairing, and altering electrical systems and conductors to be used for light, heat, power
• As Governor Guillen mentioned, there are 35 states that currently do this.
• In clear transparency, it received a veto from the governor.

Bills: HB589 , HB705 , HB1842 , HB1874 , HB2349 , HB2614 , HB2827 , HB3012 , HB3214 , HB3308 , HB3385 , HB3529

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: cosmetology, licensure, interstate compact, state regulations, public safety, workforce mobility, charitable raffles, nonprofit, wildlife conservation, ticket sales, fundraising, master electrician, electrical work, occupational licensing, work scope, Texas law, Texas Real Estate Commission, TREC, real estate broker, sales agent

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a failure in our justice system and that's a failure that you have the power to fix.
• I think basically we would if it's approved in the legislature goes through the process and the governor
• Thank you, Senator Osgood, you're recognized in debate. >> Thank you, Senator Governor and thank you,

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> dean for the Governor Scholars Program. dean for the Governor Scholars Program.
• </c> just how much attending the Governor just how much attending the Governor Scholars<00:04:54.720>
• ><c> was</c> The Governor Scholar Program was The Governor Scholar Program was established<00:05:22.479
• </c> Over the past 43 years, the governor Over the past 43 years, the governor scholars,<00:05:49.199
• , our governor scholars have scholars, our governor scholars have been<00:05:50.639><c> part</c><00:05

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with the author and hope that we'll be able to resolve our concerns before the bill advances to the governor
• And we all know that HOAs have government-like powers in many cases.
• I have a lot of respect for homeowners associations, but also given their government-like powers, wanted
• with that, you know, and so that's kind of my philosophy on these views because they do have the powers

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• vehicles currently are now, this is going to change, but based on some legislation this year that the governor
• She was not asked to speak ultimately, but she was prepared to speak because it was not a power error
• She was not asked to speak ultimately, but she was prepared to speak because it was not power error.
• But she was prepared to speak because it was not power error of a legitimate assigned bill.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund. The sponsor offered and the committee adopted an amendment striking the section that would have imposed a 1% gross receipts tax on electricity sales. After a recap of the bill’s remaining provisions, including a $400 million seed amount and future transfers from motor vehicle excise tax revenue, the committee heard brief support from Associated Contractors of New Mexico and the Asphalt Pavement Association and no opposition. The amended bill then passed on a roll-call vote. The committee then heard HB 270, a public works/apprenticeship bill that would require contributions to approved apprenticeship and training programs or to the Public Works Apprentice and Training Fund for public works construction projects, while eliminating an exemption for certain road, highway, utility, and maintenance work. Supporters, including union carpenters, electrical workers, the building trades council, and apprenticeship advocates, argued the bill would expand training, help address labor shortages, and provide a return on public investment. Opponents from utility contractors, highway contractors, and Associated Contractors of New Mexico said they already operate federally approved in-house training programs, warned the bill would raise project costs, and argued some trades have no accessible approved programs. Members questioned how the bill would interact with existing in-house programs, whether rural contractors and nonunion firms would be affected, and whether the state-approved fund and federal highway training requirements could conflict. A proposed amendment to exempt projects of $50 million or less was introduced but tabled. After extensive debate, the committee voted 6-5 to pass HB 270. The meeting also included discussion of a prior procedural error in which HB 270 had been heard before being properly assigned, which the chair said rendered that earlier action void. At the end of the meeting, the committee received a brief New Mexico Department of Transportation District 3 presentation on district projects, budget, and construction status.