Transcript Highlights:

• , state law controls.
• Arizona's passed in 2024 in a state with large urban centers.
• Arizona is passed in 2024 in a state with large urban centers.
• I am a political refugee from Washington State.
• shall become no different than Washington, Oregon, and California.

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee first approved the February 12, 2026 meeting minutes by voice vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1342, sponsored by Senator Tammy Nichols, which would create a statewide minimum standard allowing owner-occupants of detached single-family residences to keep up to four hens for household egg production, while preserving local authority over sanitation, noise, odor, pests, nuisance, and rooster restrictions. Nichols said the bill was a narrower version of a similar proposal from last year and was intended to support food security, self-reliance, and agricultural literacy; she also noted it would not affect final enforcement actions before July 1, 2026. Public testimony was split. Supporters argued the bill would protect basic homeowner freedoms, strengthen food security, and give families a small way to produce their own food. Opponents, including representatives of the Idaho Community Association Institute and the Association of Idaho Cities, said it would interfere with private covenants and local control, create nuisance and health concerns, and raise questions about lot size and possible egg sales in residential areas. A Nampa city councilman testified in support, saying the bill sets a reasonable state floor without eliminating local authority. In committee questions, senators asked about how the bill would affect existing HOA rules, whether it differed from last year’s proposal, and how the rooster provision would work. Nichols said the bill applies prospectively, leaves lot-size decisions to local governments, and only prohibits roosters where they are expressly banned. The committee then voted to send Senate Bill 1342 to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation; Senator Taylor said he would not support it, while Senator Lakey said he would support it.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the associate controller for North Dakota State University.
• I'm the associate controller for North Dakota State University. Thanks, Travis.
• and then Dickinson State University with NDSU.
• university and dakota college at bot no uh just wanted to Steve Shirley, president of Minot State University
• I have met with the other states and with those other state directors that have a universal free meal

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are seeing industry the state.
• </c> States fully uh by the US Coast Guard. States fully uh by the US Coast Guard.
• Repeals the state from 19 to 18.
• And that in Washington state, required price impact analysis has shown that the program has only increased
• I have in previous in our state.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard SB 2694 SD2, which would authorize the Public Utilities Commission to create automatic adjustment mechanisms for water carriers, including a water carrier inflationary cost index, and to waive certain requirements under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Testimony was sharply divided. The Department of Transportation, Young Brothers, and several shipping, harbor, labor, and business-related supporters argued the bill would modernize regulation, reduce the need for large catch-up rate cases, and help keep rates aligned with rising costs. Young Brothers said its current rate-setting process is expensive and delayed, and that annual adjustments with guardrails such as a 5% cap and periodic full reviews would support sustainable operations and the state’s supply chain. Some supporters also said the company’s less-than-container-load service and required inter-island routes create costs that are not fully covered by current rates. Opponents, including the Consumer Advocate, the Maui Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Food Industry Association, restaurant and chamber groups, and other businesses, argued the bill would lead to higher costs for consumers and businesses and should not move forward. Several testified that shipping costs already significantly affect pricing and that automatic increases would worsen the cost of living. The Consumer Advocate said Young Brothers should focus on cost control and implementing its business plan rather than automatic rate increases. The Maui Chamber and others pointed to a recent PUC decision that imposed a two-year stay on rate increases and said the bill would undermine that protection. Some opponents urged the committee to defer to the PUC’s regulatory authority. The PUC explained that it regulates water carriers as public utilities under existing statute and said it had recently approved a temporary rate increase while imposing a two-year stayout period on further increases, with emergency relief still possible. PUC members said they were still examining whether they have authority to adopt the proposed WICI mechanism by rule and wanted legislative clarity. In response to questions, the PUC said it prefers the current two-year stayout as reflected in its order. Young Brothers also clarified that it serves less-than-container-load cargo, that some routes and services are cross-subsidized because they are not profitable, and that an independent observer is being put in place to monitor implementation of its updated business plan. The transcript ended with the committee still taking questions; no final vote or disposition on the bill was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are here as a state to not play as the United States Congress.
• We are here as a state to not play as the United States Congress.
• I ran for state rep.
• factor to the state; the state could prove it in a penalty...
• In the United States as an aggravated factor to the state, the state could prove it in a penalty phase

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the journal, and adoption of the special order calendar for the day. The chamber then took up House Bill 1B on immigration, along with discussion of anticipated Senate changes. The sponsor described the bill as creating a chief immigration officer housed in the Department of Agriculture, establishing an Office of State Immigration Enforcement, expanding cooperation with federal immigration authorities, increasing criminal penalties for certain offenses by unauthorized aliens, ending undocumented-student fee waivers, and providing substantial appropriations for enforcement and related programs. Members also questioned the Senate version’s proposed mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses involving unauthorized aliens, as well as pretrial detention, 287(g) participation, DMV reporting requirements, and the bill’s effects on schools, teachers, social workers, and local agencies. The sponsor and supporting members repeatedly said the bill required broad cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and that existing federal law would control where conflicts arose. A major portion of the debate focused on whether the bill would allow or require immigration enforcement in schools and other sensitive settings, and whether teachers, school resource officers, and social workers could be placed in conflict with federal privacy or professional obligations. Members also raised concerns about detention based on suspected status, the standard of proof for immigration-status determinations, prison and jail impacts, workforce shortages, and the fiscal effects on counties and state agencies. The sponsor said the bill did not provide DMV funding, that the state would need to study some implementation questions, and that the appropriations included $25 million for a local law enforcement participation incentive program and up to $350 million for broader implementation and coordination. Several amendments were offered and failed. Representative Chambliss proposed protecting schools, churches, and places of worship from enforcement activity; Representative Escamani offered amendments to preserve in-state tuition for Dreamers and to grandfather currently eligible students; Representative Woodson offered a similar Dreamer-related amendment; and Representative Bartleman proposed barring local law enforcement from entering schools during school hours to detain children solely for immigration status. Supporters of these amendments argued they would protect children, preserve educational access, and prevent trauma in schools and houses of worship. The House rejected each amendment by voice vote, and the transcript ends during debate on the Bartleman school-safety amendment before final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we see this in other states. The State of Washington has a fairly robust cybersecurity team.
• as what NDSU is doing with Dickinson State University.
• They're going to be coming up here shortly with Minot State and then Dickinson State University with
• They're going to be coming up here shortly with Minot State and then Dickinson State University with
• I did meet with the other states, with those other state directors that have a universal free meal program

Summary: The Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and a review of the state’s annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and the Office of Management and Budget reported a clean opinion on the state’s financial statements and described continued growth in net position, strong general fund balance, and significant Legacy Fund investment income. Committee members asked about how the report reflects long-term finances and how North Dakota compares with other states, and OMB noted that the ACFR is based on audited actual results rather than budget forecasts. The committee then heard the North Dakota University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund construction money, insufficient monitoring of service organizations, improper bank reconciliations at several campuses, and investment/cash recording issues at Bismarck State College. University System officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations and greater use of shared services. Members also questioned practices such as campus use of certificates of deposit and whether repeated findings were being adequately addressed. Additional audits were presented for the State Fair Association, State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Securities Department, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Most received clean opinions with no findings; exceptions included a repeat component-unit issue at the State Fair Foundation, a securities personnel-evaluation finding, and a Housing Finance Agency finding involving a late return of escrow surplus. The committee also discussed broader oversight issues, including the need for independent auditing of the Ethics Commission, possible legislative changes to give the State Auditor more subpoena power and independent legal counsel, and future work on data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, and audit capacity. The meeting recessed for lunch after these discussions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, she joins us from Washington State, and we're thrilled to have her.
• Um, she joins us from Washington<00:02:27.599><c> State,</c><00:02:27.840><c> and</c><00:02:28.000><c
• > we're</c><00:02:28.239><c> thrilled</c><00:02:28.480><c> to</c> Washington State, and we're thrilled
• to Washington State, and we're thrilled to have<00:02:28.720><c> her.
• Best agency in the state. I'll amazing. Best agency in the state.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So these are our state facilities throughout the state of Louisiana.
• issued a state eye.
• Or state locations or facilities, we make sure that they are issued a state ID.
• State facilities, we have Ashland University, Upper Iowa University, Tulane University, Loyola University
• So we currently as a state have approximately 124,000 job openings across the state.

Summary: The committee held an oversight discussion on Louisiana’s reentry landscape, with Chair Villio emphasizing that the hearing was informational only and that no bills were being considered. Department of Public Safety and Corrections officials outlined the state’s reentry mission and current programming in state facilities, local jails, regional reentry centers, and STEP facilities. They described services including literacy and GED preparation, career and technical education, industry certifications, postsecondary partnerships, mental health and substance abuse treatment, victim impact and trauma programming, and pre-release assistance such as state IDs, birth certificates, Social Security cards, Medicaid, SNAP, and driver’s licenses. Officials also discussed a new data-sharing MOU with DCFS for child support matters and a planned “return portal” with Louisiana Works to connect incarcerated people to jobs and training aligned with labor market needs. A major focus was the reentry court program at Angola for men and at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. Assistant Secretary DeLouche and Assistant Warden Easley explained that the program is limited to nine judicial districts, requires judge and district attorney consent, and includes a two-year institutional phase followed by three years of intensive supervised probation. Participants must earn a HiSET if needed, complete multiple certifications and life-skills programs, and then petition for resentencing; officials said the program’s current recidivism rate is under 14 percent. They also highlighted specialized offerings such as vocational mentoring, a Braille transcription and repair program, and family-focused events like a father-daughter dance. Testimony from employers and local officials was broadly supportive. Eric Lane described hiring formerly incarcerated workers through the parole project and said the program solved problems he had seen with halfway-house placements by helping people secure housing, IDs, and licenses before release. Sheriff Kevin Cobb said sheriffs are active partners, with 51 of 64 parishes offering some form of programming and more than 75 percent of local facilities providing services; he stressed that local jail programming has grown over time and that data collection is improving. Members repeatedly asked for more data on recidivism, employment outcomes, and what programs are available by parish, and several praised the department and sheriffs for the work already being done. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I report directly to the president of North Dakota State University in my role, and then the various
• So that is my direct report and connection to North Dakota State University.
• Also, North Dakota State University, North Dakota Department of Agriculture, and the State Mill and Elevator
• As I mentioned, we have one permanent seat from North Dakota State University.
• of the financial situation at Dickinson State University?

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Have any other states tried to correct it with legislation passed in other states?
• Additionally, for your multi-state employers in the state of Massachusetts, we have several states that
• No other state has this.
• No other state has this.
• It should really be on this state to ensure that workers. to earn the state minimum wage.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid public hearing with testimony on a wide range of labor, workforce, unemployment insurance, apprenticeship, disability services, farm labor, hospital staffing, and workplace harassment bills. Chairs Jake Oliveira and Paul McMurtry outlined hearing procedures, limited testimony to two minutes, and noted written testimony would be accepted after the hearing. Committee members and staff were introduced throughout the session as witnesses arrived in person or remotely. A major portion of the hearing focused on unemployment insurance legislation. Greater Boston Legal Services, the AFL-CIO, and Rep. Joan Meschino supported bills to adjust UI eligibility for workers with fluctuating schedules and to streamline waivers and write-offs for non-fault overpayments, arguing the current system unfairly denies benefits or burdens workers who were not at fault. They also backed bills calling for more oversight and resources for the Division of Unemployment Assistance, citing persistent delays in benefit payments. NFIB opposed the UI changes, warning that the trust fund is headed toward insolvency and arguing the bills would worsen the system’s finances. Rep. Meschino and committee members emphasized that the proposals were meant to protect good-faith claimants and did not apply to fraud. Another large set of bills addressed wages, workforce development, and working conditions. Testimony supported raising and modernizing direct care wages to address severe staffing shortages in human services and disability services, with advocates from the Massachusetts Developmental Disability Council, The Arc of Massachusetts, parents of adults with disabilities, and a direct care worker describing how low pay and turnover harm people needing support. The committee also heard support for apprenticeship-related bills from the AFL-CIO and the Carpenters, while Associated Builders and Contractors opposed mandatory apprenticeship ratios and urged changes to align them with licensing laws. Farm worker advocates supported a bill to raise farm labor standards, including minimum wage, paid breaks, and paid time off, while the Farm Bureau opposed parts of it beyond the minimum wage increase. The hearing also featured testimony on workplace harassment training, overtime protections, hospital mandatory overtime, suicide prevention signage on construction sites, and a proposal to update the Massachusetts Medical Society’s mission language from “citizens” to “people.” Labor groups, educators, and compliance trainers strongly supported mandatory annual sexual harassment training, saying it would improve workplace culture and reduce harm. SEIU 1199 supported extending the hospital nurse mandatory overtime ban to the broader hospital workforce. Witnesses on the suicide prevention bill described personal losses in construction and recovery work and urged posting 988 information on job sites. The committee took no votes during the hearing; witnesses repeatedly asked for favorable reports, and members asked follow-up questions on UI calculations, apprenticeship ratios, small-business impacts, and emergency exceptions for hospital staffing.

Transcript Highlights:

• other states' farm winery permits are all about—grapes that are grown within that state.
• the wine industry in other states.
• Other states do similar things in tracking? I cannot speak to that. I can't speak to other states.
• Most of the states, in fact, I would say every state knows.
• Please state your name, give your position on the bill, and state your testimony, please.

Bills: HB223

Keywords: municipal budget, county budget, local government finance, spending cap, expenditure limit, inflation plus population growth, taxpayer impact statement, budget transparency, property tax, fees, Legislative Budget Board, voter approval, disaster spending, fiscal restraint, Texas Local Government Code, city budget, county expenditures, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Few in the in the lake<00:15:37.080><c> states.</c> lake states. lake states.
• </c><00:16:19.640><c> state</c><00:16:20.560><c> and</c><00:16:20.760><c> then</c> tribes in Washington
• state and then tribes in Washington state and then several<00:16:21.320><c> in</c><00:16:21.440><c>
• </c> political jurisdiction, usually a state political jurisdiction, usually a state or<00:17:10.520>
• Washington state also has a program that's in the process of linking with the WCI.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductions, approval of the March 6 minutes as amended to add an attendee list, and a brief overview of the day’s agenda. The committee heard two presentations from carbon project developers, with the first from Dylan Jenkins of Finite Carbon. He described Finite Carbon’s work in improved forest management projects, its role in developing carbon methodologies and protocols, and its experience with projects in New England, Appalachia, Alaska, and Canada. He also outlined the difference between compliance and voluntary carbon markets, the role of registries and intermediaries, and the types of buyers in the market, including large corporate buyers and long-term off-take partners. A major focus of the presentation was how forest carbon projects are structured and how credits are monetized. Jenkins distinguished between removals and reductions, explaining that removals come from new forest growth while reductions are tied more closely to baseline assumptions and standing stock. He said improved forest management projects can generate both types of credits, and that removals generally command higher prices because they are easier for buyers to understand and verify. He also emphasized that carbon project commercialization can occur before, during, or after credit issuance, and that landowners may be paid through a variety of structures, including leases, advance fees, per-unit payments, or off-take agreements. Jenkins then addressed the committee’s tax-related questions, saying House Bill 123 appeared intended to treat carbon credit sales similarly to timber sales for local tax purposes. He argued that carbon credits are a forest product and that taxing them can be reasonable in principle, but he stressed that lawmakers should distinguish between commoditization and commercialization when deciding what event to tax. He noted that credits may be created but never sold, and that in some programs landowners retain timber and carbon rights while in others the developer has deeper control over those rights. In response to questions, he said the industry uses protocols, verification, and third-party oversight to address baseline and quality concerns, but acknowledged that baseline setting remains a major point of debate in the market.

Transcript Highlights:

• The State Department? All right. Terrific.
• State Bar, and so I'm going to open nominations for the new vice chair.
• The state Senate moves that Kyle Shiket be...
• With all the bars of Washington and Oregon. I love this committee.
• I noticed the Washington State Register has a small amount in the budget.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh this was a part of Washington County.
• </c> closing a major prison in this state. closing a major prison in this state.
• Um and we're in a state in county jails.
• So the state will need to be to operate.
• So county facility or in another state.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am your chairwoman, and I am State Rep. Kelly Hennessy Dickerson.
• I am your chairwoman, and I am State Rep. Kelly Hennessy Dickerson.
• LaFASA is the state coalition that oversees all of the sexual assault centers across the state of Louisiana
• All centers across the state have emergency room accompaniment.
• And so they’re funded with state funding from the state, as I mentioned, Act 662 earlier in the presentation

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The first meeting of the Human Trafficking and Emergency Department Task Force focused on implementing Act 267 of 2025, which created the body to develop a statewide human trafficking protocol to be incorporated into regional sexual assault response plans. Chair Rep. Kelly Hennessy Dickerson and Office of Human Trafficking Prevention Director Mary Kate Andrepont outlined the task force’s goal of producing a practical, transferable protocol for hospitals and emergency departments across Louisiana, with help from Heal Trafficking. Members and presenters repeatedly emphasized that the protocol should be trauma-informed, survivor-centered, multidisciplinary, and adaptable to different regions and health systems. Hospital, SANE, and advocacy presenters described current practices and gaps. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport’s Operation Rahab and FMOLHS’s policies highlighted staff education, badge buddies, private screening, reporting pathways, and coordination with the National Human Trafficking Hotline, law enforcement, DCFS, and local advocates. SANE nurses and forensic staff stressed that most trafficking victims pass through emergency departments and that subtle behavioral indicators, rapport-building, and broad staff education are critical. LaFASA described statewide sexual assault advocacy services, emphasizing 24-hour crisis response, legal support, and the role of advocates in helping survivors understand options and regain control. Child and youth trafficking specialists from DCFS-contracted programs, including Unbound Now and BCFS/Common Thread, explained Louisiana’s Act 662 response for minors, which routes reports into coordinated advocacy and care coordination. They said their teams respond statewide within 90 minutes, provide crisis support, and work with CACs, hospitals, and law enforcement. Members raised concerns about major service gaps, especially for adults, transportation, safe housing, and specialized placements for survivors with disabilities. Presenters also noted that male survivor housing remains limited, though Eden Centers now offers some beds. The task force also reviewed a needs assessment showing many hospitals lack mandatory trafficking training, screening practices, written protocols, and confidence in identifying victims. Members discussed expanding education beyond ED staff to residents, nursing schools, student health, mental health, housekeeping, maintenance, and law enforcement. No formal votes were taken, but the chair said the survey results and testimony would be used to draft a protocol before the next meeting, with a final draft to follow after further review and feedback.

Transcript Highlights:

• And other states are poised. We're going to need more and more data centers.
• And so we have states like Virginia and Texas and Ohio ready and willing to pass tax exemptions.
• A number of companies were looking at Washington to potentially locate a data center.
• That was $1 billion of investment that did not happen in our state.
• I think that makes us a less competitive state for everything, not just data centers.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal and state scheduling have to... ...courts to apply the state penalties.
• My client's top priority in their state— My client's top priority in their state-level work is legislation
• This is going through state departments of health in these other states.
• That is a state list. So this bill does not address this, then? This is a state list.
• On behalf of Freeman Hospital, the American College of OBGYN, Washington University, and the Missouri

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted House Bill 2309, Representative Jones’ Oregon Harvesting bill, do pass by a vote of 13 ayes and no nays. The committee then moved to public testimony on House Bill 1881, which would schedule xylazine as a controlled substance. Representative Bill Allen said the bill is intended to address xylazine’s role in fentanyl-related overdoses, improve tracking and enforcement, and preserve legitimate veterinary use through carve-outs. A veterinarian from the University of Missouri testified in support, emphasizing xylazine’s long-standing and safe veterinary use and the need to protect agricultural practice while targeting illicit diversion. No opposition was presented, and testimony on the bill concluded. The committee then heard House Bill 1855, which would add alpha-gal syndrome to Missouri’s reportable conditions and create a reporting/surveillance framework. Sponsor Representative Matthew Overcast said the bill was revised to shift reporting from providers to private labs, create a standalone non-communicable disease reporting section, and support data collection for prevalence, education, and federal funding opportunities. Supporters included a lobbyist for the AlphaGal Alliance, a University of Missouri dermatologist/researcher, Extension staff, cattle industry representatives, and multiple patients and family members who described severe dietary restrictions, anxiety, school and work impacts, and the need for better public awareness and treatment research. Opponents argued the bill’s language would expand DHSS authority too broadly, especially the provision allowing the department to designate and enforce rules for noncommunicable diseases, and suggested narrowing the bill and adding opt-in protections. No vote was taken. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 2355, Representative Holly Jones’ “food as medicine” bill. Jones argued that nutrition should be treated as a public health intervention and described medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, and nutrition counseling as tools that can improve outcomes and reduce costs. In questions, members raised concerns about how the proposal would interact with existing food assistance programs such as SNAP, WIC, school meals, and other federal nutrition benefits, and whether the bill would create a new entitlement or duplicate existing aid. The hearing on HB 2355 was still in progress when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United States.
• >> Senator from Washington. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I seem to be the lead chief in this herd.
• Uh, Senate Finance will meet at 1:30. >> Senator from Washington. >> Thank you, Mr. President.
• &gt;&gt; Senator<00:27:23.679><c> from</c><00:27:23.840><c> Washington.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Senator from Washington. &gt;&gt; Senator from Washington.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we see this in other states. The state of Washington has a fairly robust cybersecurity team.
• and then Dickinson State University with NDSU.
• and then Dickinson State University with NDSU.
• I'm the new president at Dickinson State University. I started last summer.
• I have met with the other states, with those other state directors that have a universal free meal program

Summary: The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts. The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects. Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.

Transcript Highlights:

• How many delegates per state? The United States Senate model of two per state or the U.S.
• How many delegates per state? The United States Senate model of two per state or the U.S.
• Washington, 2020 Supreme Court unanimous decision, which said that the states control its electors, and
• You need 38 states to pass an amendment, but you only need 13 state houses, not states—13 state houses—to
• and fraud in our state and in contravention of state and federal law.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard extensive testimony on HCR 23, a resolution calling for an Article V convention to propose congressional term limits. The bill’s sponsor and supporters argued that Congress is broken, term limits are broadly popular, and the states should use Article V pressure to force Congress to act. Supporters said the convention process is controlled by the states and ratification by 38 states is a strong safeguard. Opponents, including several Republican officials and private citizens, warned that an Article V convention is unpredictable, could exceed its intended scope, and could threaten the Constitution; they urged using elections instead. After debate, the committee adopted a motion to hold HCR 23 in committee by an 8-7 roll call vote. The committee then took up House Bill 764, which would prohibit organizations from knowingly transporting, harboring, or providing certain assistance to people unlawfully present in the United States, with language modeled on federal immigration law. The sponsor said the bill does not target immigrants themselves or ordinary charitable aid, but rather organizations that facilitate illegal immigration and related fraud, and argued the state can mirror existing federal prohibitions to support enforcement. Questions focused on how the bill would affect nonprofits, the meaning of “harboring,” and whether the bill improperly incorporates federal definitions. Testimony from the Idaho Food Bank and others opposed the bill, warning it could criminalize routine charitable work, create fear among volunteers, and be difficult to administer because of vague standards like “reckless disregard.” A Catholic witness said the bill would burden religious obligations to aid migrants regardless of status, while supporters maintained the bill would not interfere with lawful charity and would only reach knowing facilitation of illegal conduct.

Transcript Highlights:

• These grants can be used at the California State University, University of California, and private colleges
• As a veteran-founded institution, the second-largest nonprofit university in the state, offering more
• I know there are 14 bills on today's calendar that directly affect the California State University or
• I guess the first thing I have a question for the California State University.
• So that could well cause the University of California and Cal State University to lose their federal

Keywords: 987, senate, all