Transcript Highlights:

• You should just be transparent with people and disclose those up front.
• Maybe they're not putting all of their fees up front. I have no idea.
• , you know, pay the cost of the item plus 10% at the register, right?
• So if I go into a Walmart, I don't ask to see their profit up front. So I get it.
• There's no money to pay for any of that. The board has... There's no money to pay for any of that.

Bills: HCR66, HB387, HB617, HB797, HB950, HB975, HB1186, HB1222, HB1223, HB1228, HB1256

Keywords: economic development, rural communities, infrastructure, workforce training, Louisiana Economic Development, engineering, land surveying, construction, state fire marshal, plan review, hidden fees, junk fees, drip pricing, price transparency, mandatory fees, surcharges, consumer protection, unfair trade practices, advertising disclosures, total price

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met on April 20, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard a series of bills and resolutions. It first advanced H. CR 66, which directs Louisiana Economic Development, working with the Governor’s Office of Rural Development, to study rural parish economic assets, infrastructure, workforce, and development opportunities. The committee also moved HB 387, a clarification allowing the fire marshal to review architectural and engineering plans equally, and HB 1223, which seeks to promote clinical trials in Louisiana by having LED market the state’s research capacity and by adjusting internal review board procedures. HB 1228, a cleanup bill for hearing aid dealers that updates definitions, contracts, testing periods, licensing, and related requirements, was also reported favorably, as was HB 950, which would create an elderly consumer perception program through the Office of Elderly Affairs to help seniors recognize scams and fraud. The committee spent the most time on HB 617, a broad “hidden fees” consumer transparency bill. The author and supporters said it would require mandatory fees to be included in upfront pricing so consumers can make informed choices, while opponents from grocery, restaurant, hotel, housing, retail, and business groups argued the bill was vague, overly broad, and likely to create compliance burdens and litigation risk. Housing advocates objected to the bill’s housing exemption, warning it could weaken renters’ ability to bring claims over undisclosed fees. After extensive debate over variable pricing, sales taxes, enforcement, and the scope of the bill, Senator Morris moved to defer HB 617, and the committee agreed without objection. The committee also heard HB 797, which would create a “Bayou Gold” certification program for certain gold vendors and transactional gold products. The sponsor said the program would encourage vendors to keep gold insured, segregated, and closer to Louisiana consumers, with the Treasury administering the certification through participant fees. Several senators and an outside witness raised concerns that the state seal could be mistaken for an endorsement, could create liability or consumer confusion, and would favor a narrow set of vendors. Despite opposition, the committee reported HB 797 favorably, with members noting it still had to go to Finance. Later, the committee advanced HB 1186, which would create a more uniform statewide building code and licensing system for inspectors, add disciplinary authority, and impose a small permit fee to support the program, and HB 1222, which would let LED develop a grocery initiative to address food deserts and food insecurity. The meeting concluded with the committee hearing HB 1256 on abandoned digital assets, which would require dormant digital assets to be held in original form for three years so owners can reclaim them.

Transcript Highlights:

• 369 is a piece in front of us this week. 369 is a piece in front of us this week.
• <00:03:52.159> As in front of us this session. As in front of us this session.
• Thank you. our payer mix, they pay less than cost. our payer mix, they pay less than cost.
• It pays for services that don't pay for themselves, like Rick mentioned: OB, ambulance, ER, behavioral
• It pays for people and quite honestly,<00:13:41.040> it<00:13:41.279> pays<00:13:41.519

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 369 was the main topic, with House authors Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar, Rep. Robert Bierman, and Rep. Dave Baker arguing that the bill would give Minnesota’s 2024 340B law “teeth” by enforcing protections for nonprofit and rural hospitals’ access to the federal drug pricing program. They said the measure costs the state nothing, aligns with similar laws in more than 20 other states, and is needed before adjournment to help hospitals close funding gaps, support services like emergency care, obstetrics, behavioral health, and pharmacy access, and preserve care in remote communities. Several hospital leaders from across greater Minnesota testified that 340B revenue helps keep their facilities viable and that losing it would threaten services and, in some cases, hospital survival. Witnesses described severe financial pressure on rural hospitals, including reimbursement cuts, workforce shortages, inflation, and rising drug costs. Leaders from United Hospital District in Blue Earth, Lakewood Health System in Staples, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, Northshore Health in Grand Marais, Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet, and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby said their hospitals serve as safety-net providers and often operate with thin or negative margins. They emphasized long travel times to other hospitals, seasonal tourism pressures in some areas, and the importance of local emergency, ambulance, inpatient, and specialty services. The Minnesota Hospital Association president also criticized pharmaceutical company messaging and said nonprofit hospitals are working around the clock to maintain access. In response to questions, Zeleznikar said she had considered other enforcement approaches but now supported using the original Senate-passed bill, citing concerns about fraud and the difficulty of alternative enforcement mechanisms. She and hospital leaders distinguished this bill from a separate hospital stabilization-grant proposal, saying both are needed but serve different purposes. No vote was taken at the meeting, and the speakers repeatedly urged House leadership to bring the bill to the floor before session ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• uh of dehydration or is having to pay uh of dehydration or is having to pay these<00:03:50.959><
• <00:03:53.120> uh these excessive prices just to pay uh these excessive prices just to pay
• <00:10:04.959> for it through the event without paying for it through the event without paying
• <00:52:32.520> of<00:52:32.599> the 1877 is in front of the 1877 is in front of the
• so the consumer is going to be paying so the consumer is going to be paying for<01:03:44.039>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not all, but most, if people would talk to me and pay me.
• But why in the name of God should they have to pay me to get there?
• Not all, but most, if people would talk to me and pay me.
• But why in the name of God should they have to pay me to get there?
• name of God should they have have to pay name of God should they have have to pay me<00:19:30.720

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the prior day’s minutes, then heard Senate File 255, which would exempt American Legion and VFW buildings from property tax. The bill’s author and the American Legion Department of Minnesota testified that many posts are struggling financially, that the tax burden can threaten building ownership, and that the posts provide important community services such as charitable gambling support, youth sports, food insecurity assistance, suicide prevention training, and meeting space for veterans and local residents. Several members voiced support, and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion. The committee then took up Senate File 30, a proposal to allow Minnesota estate tax portability for married couples, so a deceased spouse’s unused $3 million exclusion could transfer to the surviving spouse, similar to federal law. The author said Minnesota is an outlier compared with other estate-tax states and that the bill would simplify planning and reduce tax burdens, especially for family farms and other illiquid assets. A CPA and a Minnesota Farm Bureau representative testified that the order of death should not determine tax liability and that portability would help keep family farms intact. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion. Next, the committee adopted an A1 amendment to Senate File 211 and heard the bill, which would create a Minnesota subtraction for Foreign Service pension income, treating it more like military pension income. The author said the change would cover a small number of retirees and would have a minimal fiscal impact, while the testifier described Foreign Service work and said the benefit would recognize their service. The bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 132, which would revise property tax language related to electric power systems by replacing references to attachments and impertinences with broader system-based language. The author said the bill would clarify tax treatment for power co-ops, restore the original intent of the law, and provide stability for Greater Minnesota, with an estimated property tax shift of a little over $700,000. Testimony was beginning when the transcript ended, and no vote on the bill was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they pay more, I have to pay more. And that's where those dollars go.
• I need to pay for transportation.
• Do they have enough to pay for the staff?
• I don't have a number in front of me.
• How much did you pay? Okay, how much did you pay your teachers for the stipend for letters?

Transcript Highlights:

• And developers bear the financial risk and taxpayers don't pay up front.
• Also, taxpayers in New Mexico will not bear or pay anything up front. ...in New Mexico will not bear
• or pay anything up front.
• And they actually pay taxes.
• So they are paying taxes.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He went right in front of my car, but I was following the 25 mph speed limit. I stopped.
• And some people may and to pay for that.
• <00:31:22.000> for say, you know, I don't want to pay for say, you know, I don't want to pay
• <00:32:12.000> And<00:32:12.159> so even if they aren't able to pay.
• And so even if they aren't able to pay.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll go along the front committee and just introduce yourself.
• We'll go down to the front row, Representative Lujan. You've got a seat for you.
• I apologize; I don't have the Senate bill in front of me. All I have is the statute.
• I'm staring at a DA in front of me. Mr. Chair, Senator Brantley.
• Two questions: one about the loser pays. one about the venue, but the loser pays.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what we have in front of us is a compromise, Mr. Speaker.
• And what we have in front of us is a compromise, Mr. Speaker.
• The reason that I am in support of the bill in front of us today is for a few reasons.
• So right now, yeah, we're paying $10, $11, but we already have contracts.
• It pays $10,000 for funeral expenses. Okay.

Keywords: 905, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that pays for workers comp. that pays for workers comp.
• company that pays the costs, right? company that pays the costs, right?
• from other uh front of house workers. from other uh front of house workers.
• I'm talking about front of the house. I'm talking about front of the house.
• It's front of the among the tip share. It's front of the house<02:58:27.600> typically.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know myself, I use some of my insurance dollars to pay for my block captain program, to pay for my
• neighborhood website, to pay for that email, to pay for posters, pay for, you know, things that I shouldn't
• have had to pay for, but they needed to get done.
• Not get scammed and could keep putting one foot in front of the other.
• Please feel free to come up to the microphone here in the front.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on lessons from the 2017 Tubbs Fire and how Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and state partners have changed wildfire prevention, recovery, and rebuilding practices since then. Opening remarks emphasized that catastrophic wildfire is now a statewide issue, that California has shifted more toward prevention and resilience, and that Sonoma County’s recovery has become a model for other communities. Panelists included fire, water, permitting, community recovery, and insurance experts, who described how local experience has informed broader policy discussions. Santa Rosa fire and city officials described major changes in prevention and preparedness, including stronger public education, a vegetation management ordinance, an ignition-free/Zone Zero approach, and more detailed community wildfire protection planning. They said these efforts helped reduce damage in later fires, such as the Glass Fire, and noted ongoing challenges with prescribed burning, smoke management, grant delays, and maintaining vegetation treatments over time. Santa Rosa Water described improvements in regional coordination, backup power, generator redesign, and wildfire contamination response protocols after the city became the first utility to identify wildfire-related contamination in its water system. Community recovery leaders stressed the importance of block captain networks, neighborhood organization, and trusted local information in helping residents rebuild and avoid fraud. They argued for more formal support, training, and funding for block captain programs, as well as better long-term financing for local mitigation work and utility upgrades. Permit Sonoma officials said the county tried to balance speed and safety in rebuilding by streamlining permits, reducing fees, and helping residents rebuild to stronger standards, though they noted the loss of a major BRIC grant has slowed home-hardening outreach. Insurance advocate Amy Bach said wildfire risk reduction is increasingly influencing insurer behavior, with some companies offering discounts or more favorable treatment for Firewise communities and homes meeting wildfire-prepared standards. She urged continued funding for mitigation grants, better disclosure when insurers use aerial imagery to non-renew policies, and caution against removing wildfire coverage from standard homeowners policies. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken in the hearing; it was an informational discussion intended to gather testimony and policy recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I and preparation to come stand in front of you. You guys this morning.
• You may see, you know, particular species in front of you.
• And as I said, it's an honor to stand in front of you on.
• The V has to pay back the amount that was that the state give the money for.
• away from them until they pay that money to pay the money back to the state. >> That would incorporate

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and this bill would force people to pay and this bill would force people to pay a<00:14:43.920><
• numbers in front of me. numbers in front of me.
• people of Minnesota being forced to pay taxes to pay for political campaigns.
• being forced to pay taxes to pay for being forced to pay taxes to pay for political<01:31:52.520
• endall of this uh bill in front of us. endall of this uh bill in front of us.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They pay all of that.
• They pay all of that.
• they just paying more? they just paying more?
• employees uh would also be paying in. employees uh would also be paying in.
• is a pay for performance program. is a pay for performance program.

Bills: HF3843, HF3597, HF4003, HF3167, HF4193

Keywords: workforce development, appropriations, nonprofit organizations, employment services, state funding, paid leave, S corporations, employment law, exemptions, Minnesota Statutes, cancer, healthcare, appropriation, Rural Cancer Institute, Minnesota clinicians, pilot program, nursing, education, University of Minnesota, equity

Transcript Highlights:

• They get half up front and half later.
• The first part of what we were doing was pay plan. This is kind of the final act of the pay plan.
• "This is kind of the final act of the pay plan.
• We can start an employee any day during the pay period.
• We think we fixed the pay pretty much, never going to be perfect.

Summary: The ALC-Review Subcommittee reviewed seven methods of finance, including university projects at ASU Jonesboro and Mountain Home, Black River Technical College deferred maintenance, UA Batesville’s Farm Project Gateway Center, UAMS PET cyclotron equipment, a new allied health building at UAPB funded by a federal grant, and UCA’s multi-purpose arena design work. The committee also approved an alternative delivery construction project for UAPB’s Allied Health and Sciences Building, with East Harding Construction selected and AMR Architects as designer. Members then approved discretionary grants from the Department of Health and DHS, including support for a heart attack center designation, community health worker training, homeless services funding corrections, behavioral health transition support, and an enabling technology pilot. In the contracts section, the committee reviewed RFQs, construction-related contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and a large slate of out-of-state and in-state contracts covering topics such as seatbelt survey data collection, Medicaid and DHS systems, state hospital staffing and services, veterans’ services, education assessments, and state IT and procurement projects. Several contracts drew extended questioning. Senators and representatives pressed DHS and the Department of Veterans Affairs about heavy reliance on contract nursing and staffing costs, and officials said they were using pay incentives and recruitment efforts to increase state employee staffing. Members also questioned AEDC’s lithium supply chain study and the Department of Education’s security contract, with concerns about projected costs and repeated amendments. The committee held three in-state contracts—Department of Education security services and two DHS staffing contracts—until Friday, then adopted the remaining contracts and received informational reports on contract amendments, executed contracts, and emergency procurements before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the public here in person should sign the document at the front of the chamber in the front
• Members of the public here in person should sign the document at the front of the chamber in the front
• If there's a case pending in front of me, there is disorder.
• If there's a case pending in front of me, there is disorder.
• And I’m explaining the difference between a bi-monthly pay and a bi-weekly pay very often.

Summary: The Senate Executive Committee met in hybrid format and first considered two gubernatorial judicial appointments. Morgan T. Zurn, nominated to the Delaware Supreme Court, described her background in public service, the Court of Chancery, DOJ, and federal clerkship, and answered extensive questions about judicial philosophy, precedent, statutory interpretation, access to justice, AI and deepfakes, corporate law stability, civility, social media, and public confidence in the courts. Christy N. Vitola, nominated to be Commissioner of Family Court, discussed her Delaware upbringing, legal career in family law and child support, and experience with pro se litigants and high-volume dockets; she was questioned about handling family court cases efficiently, the best interests of the child, and correcting calculation errors. No votes on the nominations were taken during the portion shown. The committee then moved to legislation. House Bill 443, concerning background checks for volunteers and mentors in the Department of Education’s mentoring program, was presented as a technical update to allow DOE to continue receiving wrap-back reports and to ensure mentors undergo state and federal criminal background checks. There was no public comment or committee debate on the bill. House Bill 431 with House Amendment 1, sponsored by Representative Bush and Senator Hoffner, would allow composting of yard waste, food residue, and other organic materials to divert waste from landfills, extend landfill life, reduce disposal costs, support farmers by returning nutrients to the soil, and reduce methane emissions; it also preserves county/local control over siting and inspection. Senator Townsend asked whether composting was currently allowed, and Senator Hoffner explained that the bill would authorize it under the stated controls. No public comment was offered on either bill. At the close of the meeting, the chair noted that the bills and nominee backers had been circulated for signatures. Senator Hocker moved to adjourn, Senator Townsend seconded, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Colorado in the Front Range area.
• So, the pay for subscriptions over time.
• Who's going to pay for it annually?
• again the state through SRF would pay again the state through SRF would pay for<00:37:18.160>
• <00:37:22.160> for the communities would not be paying for the communities would not be paying

Bills: HB0078, SF0012, SF0013, SF0052, SF0069, SF0070

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, wildlife management, environmental restoration

Transcript Highlights:

• It's open for anyone who receives merit pay.
• I had a first-year teacher ask me about merit pay, and I said, 'If you are concerned about merit pay,
• I had a first-year teacher asked me about merit pay and I said, if you are concerned about merit pay,
• Well, congratulations on the merit pay.
• The ones who received merit pay and applied for it.”

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The Senate and House Education Committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program from Department of Education staff and three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central. The teachers described the year-long fellowship for high-performing merit pay recipients, saying it provided collaboration with educators across the state, shared resources, and ideas they brought back to their districts. Members asked about the teachers’ experience levels, how they shared information locally, and whether the program should be expanded to more teachers and districts. A major focus of the discussion was third-grade reading, the new ATLAS testing system, and the state’s third-grade retention law. The teachers said they do not teach to the test, but use standards, data, interventions, small groups, and relationships to help students grow. They described progress monitoring throughout the year, early screening in K-2, and interventions such as before-school tutoring, RTI meetings, and co-teaching. One teacher reported that six students in a small group improved 10 to 15 points on ATLAS, and another said a student who started the year reading four words per minute improved significantly with targeted support. Secretary Jacob Oliva said the state is trying to create clarity and alignment through Arkansas Learns, science-of-reading support, literacy coaches, and faster test-result turnaround, with student scores now available within about 24 hours and district-level results expected later in the summer. Members also asked about student poverty, trauma, ACEs, DHS involvement, social workers, community supports, and the role of counselors. The teachers emphasized that relationship-building is essential, especially for students facing unstable home situations, and described local supports such as backpack food programs, church donations, fire department incentives, and family assistance. Oliva said the fellowship was intentionally small in its first year because it targeted top-tier merit pay recipients, but he expects participation to grow. He also said merit pay and fellowship eligibility spans many grade levels and subjects, including kindergarten and hard-to-staff areas, and that D and F schools receive state literacy coaches. No additional committee votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see those details on the front page.
• It can pay rental arrears up to six months.
• wage paying jobs.
• They don't get any money up front.
• Just so it's understood right up front.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division of the budget section and received updates on several Industrial Commission-related agencies and programs. Legislative Council first reviewed base budget materials, then the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported on its current appropriation and staffing, noting that its new FTEs were being filled gradually and that it remained largely funded through special and federal funds. Agency leaders described homeownership lending, loan servicing, and housing incentive fund activity, including below-market mortgage rates, down payment assistance, and a growing servicing portfolio that has increased workload but not yet required additional FTEs. Housing Finance also detailed use of the Housing Incentive Fund and homeless grant dollars. Officials said the multifamily HIF round drew more than $73 million in requests and awarded $25 million, while the single-family program supported rural development and community land trusts. Homeless grant funding was split between emergency shelter, prevention, and rapid rehousing, with performance-based scoring used to renew or reallocate awards. Members discussed housing affordability, aging households, rental assistance, and the need to coordinate housing and site-preparation messaging with Commerce. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased in the next session. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and operations update. Staff said the agency was on track financially, had filled most of its new reclamation FTEs, and was not expecting major litigation costs beyond normal late-biennium invoices. The director reviewed agency initiatives including Project North Star IT modernization, organizational restructuring, succession planning, rulemaking, and implementation of the development incentive well tax program and critical minerals rules. He also discussed oil and gas activity, explaining that longer laterals, especially three- and four-mile wells and the first five-mile spacing case, are helping keep production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. Members asked about gas capture, hedging, break-even prices, and the effects of Iran and Venezuela on oil markets. The committee also heard about enhanced oil recovery grants and the Pipeline Authority. The EOR program’s $25 million appropriation was fully allocated to six projects, with total awards reaching about $45.1 million when other fund balances were included, subject to a possible 5% reduction if federal DOE money does not materialize. Officials said the projects are public, reimbursement-based, and will produce results over the next several years. Finally, the Pipeline Authority outlined natural gas transmission projects, including the imminent Bakken Express line and the proposed Bakken East project, which WBI was selected to advance after an Industrial Commission RFI process. The project is moving through open season, survey permission, and regulatory work, with in-service dates projected for 2029 and 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• I can't pay that bill.'
• We didn't have the money to pay the experts, so they front all the costs.
• And you mentioned that we're paying interest. What rate of interest are we paying?
• We didn't pay them 35%. They're getting 10%.
• We didn't pay them 35%. They're getting 10.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, Attorney General, budget recommendations, funding swaps, salary increases, Landowner's Compensation Program, public testimony, law enforcement

Summary: The meeting focused on the budget recommendations for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), where key issues included the proposed decrease of $163.9 million for the 2024-25 biennium and various methodology swaps for funding. Attorney General Paxton discussed ongoing litigation expenditures and emphasized the need for continued investments in agency staffing to address rising demands within law enforcement. Notably, he requested a 6% salary increase for 2026 and 2027 to retain talented personnel amidst competitive job markets. Public testimony highlighted community awareness challenges regarding the Landowner's Compensation Program, indicating a need for enhanced outreach efforts.