Transcript Highlights:

• But if we look zero in on that, we find, and that's a big percentage, it's about 16% of our But if we
• look zero in on that, we find—and that's a big percentage—it's about 16% of our deliveries in North
• We don't have to go to zero opioids. That's not our goal. That's not what we're advocating for.
• from Minnesota, the Department of Health people from Minnesota, come up and testify to say they had zero

Summary: The committee first approved the previous meeting minutes and then heard a detailed annual report from Dr. Thomas Arnold, chair of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, on maternal mortality trends and policy issues. He explained the committee’s review process, confidentiality protections, and national and North Dakota data showing that most maternal deaths are preventable and that mental health conditions, substance use, cardiovascular issues, infection, hemorrhage, and embolism are the leading causes. Members asked about suicide, domestic violence, midwife training, home births, and whether pregnancy testing at death scenes should be expanded; Dr. Arnold said better coroner education, more investigation of unexplained deaths, and possible post-mortem pregnancy testing could improve case identification, especially in rural areas. He also noted that deaths often occur well after 42 days postpartum and that mental health-related deaths remain a major concern. The committee then heard from State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark on cigarette reduced-ignition-propensity standards and related fire prevention issues. He recommended updating the state’s cigarette propensity law to current national standards and also raised a separate recommendation to require fast-breakaway oxygen tubing for home oxygen users, citing fatal fires linked to smoking around oxygen. Members asked about implementation, cost, insurance coverage, and whether the standards apply in tribal communities; Dr. Clark said he would provide follow-up information and was willing to help with any legislation, but no agency bill had yet been planned. Next, Christine Greff of the Department of Health and Human Services reported on the North Dakota Stroke System of Care. She described the statewide network of stroke-ready hospitals, registry-based quality improvement, and performance data showing continued improvement in stroke recognition, imaging, thrombolytic treatment, transfers, and EMS pre-notification. She highlighted new quality measures for inter-facility transfers and intracerebral hemorrhage care, and said the system remains strong but depends on continued legislative and hospital support. Committee members asked about participation by the VA hospital and were encouraged to consider outreach to include it more fully in the stroke system. Finally, the committee began a presentation on prior authorization and non-opioid pain treatment from Taha Khan of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. He argued that prior authorization can delay access to non-opioid acute pain medications, especially in the 24- to 72-hour post-discharge window when pain is most severe, and said delays can push patients toward opioids. He emphasized that prior authorization has a role in utilization management but should not create barriers in acute pain care, and he noted that current use of the company’s non-opioid product remains very low. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• few months because that was the fall of '78, and in March of 1979 that project, the value went to zero
• of 78 in March. because that was the fall of 78, in March of 1979, that project, the value went to zero
• So that graph goes from zero to 6,000 parts per million. Department of Energy...
• That graph goes from zero to 6,000 parts per million.

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to review prior minutes and hear a series of presentations on advanced nuclear technology and state readiness. The committee approved the April 21, 2022 minutes. Nucleon’s William Bridge outlined the advanced nuclear landscape, distinguishing near-term light-water SMRs from more advanced Gen 4 reactors and microreactors, and emphasized that fuel supply, especially HALEU, remains a developing supply chain. He said light-water designs are the most deployable in the near term, while advanced reactors may be better suited for industrial heat applications and could face a 2- to 3-year delay from fuel availability. Representatives from NASEO described how other states are supporting advanced nuclear through task forces, roadmaps, pilot programs, financing tools, workforce and supply-chain efforts, and regional coordination. They highlighted the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative and stressed that states are focusing early on emergency preparedness, community engagement, waste management, affordability, and consumer protections. They also noted that some states are creating nuclear-ready community programs and cost-recovery guardrails, while public utility commissions are examining long-term lifecycle costs and rate impacts. North Dakota agencies then outlined their potential roles. The Public Service Commission said it would likely be involved in public-interest review, siting, and rate regulation, but noted current statutes may not fully address long-term nuclear projects, co-location, or decommissioning. The Department of Environmental Quality said it would continue to regulate radioactive materials and likely support emergency planning, while fission reactor oversight remains federal. The Department of Emergency Services said it would serve as the lead off-site preparedness agency, needing a radiological emergency program, training, exercises, equipment, and possibly industry funding. The Department of Water Resources said North Dakota has sufficient surface water, especially from the Missouri River, but that water planning would be important; it did not recommend statutory or budget changes at this time. The committee recessed for lunch after these presentations, with no additional votes or actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• There being 134 ayes and zero nays, the bill is passed and a title is agreed to.
• /c><00:26:18.000><c> 134</c><00:26:18.640><c> eyes's</c><00:26:18.880><c> and</c><00:26:19.039><c> zero
• </c><00:26:19.279><c> nays,</c> There being 134 eyes's and zero nays, There being 134 eyes's and zero

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This presentation zeroes in on what I think some of the issues are and some of the ways that we can make
• You know, if you really want to zero in on the priorities, one way to do that would be for the members
• Those are state dollars you spent zero of. And again, I love what y'all do.
• Those are state dollars you spent zero of. And again, I love what y'all do.

Summary: The committee met for an informational hearing focused largely on the state capital outlay process and House Bill 2. Roger Husser and Matt Baker of the Division of Administration/Facility Planning and Control described how the office prepares and administers the capital outlay bill, said the bill has grown substantially over five years, and argued that recent changes in culture, staffing, project management, cash-flow analysis, and use of third-party support have more than doubled project expenditures and improved delivery. Members asked about the use and cost of third-party project managers, delegation of smaller projects to agencies, hiring difficulties, and whether the changes represented better interpretation of existing law versus statutory changes. Husser said some statutes were amended, some internal customs were removed, and the office would provide a list of those changes. He also explained that the office is trying to move away from overly rigid practices and toward faster project completion while still following public-bid and oversight rules. A major portion of the discussion centered on the size and structure of the capital outlay bill, especially the gap between Priority 1 cash capacity and the much larger Priority 5 backlog. Husser said the current annual Priority 1 limit is tied to construction inflation and is about $574 million, with additional surplus funds also available, but that the bill contains far more Priority 5 funding than can realistically move in a five-year plan. He and members discussed dormant projects, scope creep, legacy projects that have sat in the bill for years, and the problem of false expectations for non-state entities. Proposed solutions included limiting Priority 5 to five times Priority 1, requiring annual re-endorsement by members, setting district or project caps for non-state projects, requiring time limits and reporting for grant-like non-state projects, placing matches in escrow, requiring design readiness before submission, and consolidating the many existing reporting requirements into one clearer report. Members also discussed bundling multiple projects under one agency project, which the House had begun piloting for LSU, UL Lafayette, Southern, and DOTD, and which Husser said could improve flexibility, reduce overappropriation, and better reflect actual spending. Baker then explained cash-flow management and the commitment process, saying FPC now analyzes projects annually to estimate what can actually be spent in the next fiscal year and uses commitments to allow projects to proceed when future-year funding is expected. He said overappropriations can result from poor cash-flow estimates, delays, dormant projects, or projects coming in under budget, and that the office is already reworking cash-flow assumptions and reappropriating savings where possible. Members also raised concerns about change orders and low bids; staff said project managers review change orders closely, require concurrence on non-state projects, and sometimes reduce scope to keep projects within budget. After FPC’s presentation, the committee heard the beginning of Louisiana Economic Development’s capital outlay discussion, where LED explained that its projects generally fall into three categories, including the Economic Development Awards Program and Site Readiness Program, both used to support targeted economic development and job creation.

Transcript Highlights:

• This zeroes in on what I think some of the issues are and some of the ways that I think we can make it
• You know, if you really want to zero in on the priorities, one way to do that would be for the members
• You know, if you really want to zero in on the priorities, one way to do that would be for the members
• Those are state dollars you spent zero of. And again, I love what y'all do.

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• people are required to take mitigation steps, which will soon include what could be expensive Zone Zero
• The ayes are seven, the noes are zero. That bill is out. File item 9, consent, SB 1206.
• Ayes are seven, noes are zero. Aye, Rubio? Aye. Ayes are seven, noes are zero.

Summary: The committee heard three major insurance-related bills. SB 1209 by Senator Allen would give the Insurance Commissioner new authority to require insurers to implement corrective actions found in market conduct and financial exams, with penalties for failure to comply. Supporters, including Commissioner Ricardo Lara and his deputies, said current law leaves CDI without a direct way to compel remediation of repeated violations or obtain needed financial information, while opponents argued the bill expands CDI authority too far, could duplicate existing penalties, and should be limited to legal violations rather than recommendations. After discussion, members and the author agreed to narrow the bill through amendments, including tying it to legal violations, applying penalties per exam rather than per policy, and clarifying accounting language; the committee then passed the bill 5-1 to Appropriations, with one member on call. SB 1301, also by Senator Allen, would reform residential property insurance non-renewals by requiring clearer written explanations, giving homeowners a chance to mitigate correctable issues, and prohibiting certain unfair non-renewal bases such as claims below deductible or claims not paid by the insurer. The author and supporters said Californians face unusually high non-renewal rates and often receive vague notices that make it hard to keep coverage, while opponents warned the bill’s original 180-day notice period and reporting requirements were too burdensome and could worsen availability. Senator Richardson said he would support the bill after the author agreed to reduce the notice period to about three months and continue working on a mitigation-based process; the committee then approved the bill 4-1, with one member on call. The committee also considered SB 1026 by Senator Gonzalez, which would strengthen regulation of bail fugitive recovery agents by allowing CDI to suspend or revoke licenses without a criminal conviction, expanding prohibited conduct, and tightening insurance and appointment requirements. Supporters, including Commissioner Lara, said the 2022 licensing law left loopholes that allow misconduct to continue and that the bill would improve public safety and accountability. Opponents from the bail industry and crime victims groups argued the bill requires unavailable or impractical insurance coverage, including coverage for willful acts, and could reduce the number of recovery agents and delay justice. Members raised concerns about the insurance language and availability, and the author said the bill was still being worked on with opposition; the committee passed it 4-1, with one member on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 982 by Senator Wiener, the Affordable Insurance and Recovery Act, which would let the Attorney General seek recovery from fossil fuel companies for climate-related costs affecting the Fair Plan and private policyholders. The author said Californians are paying rising insurance and disaster costs while fossil fuel companies that contributed to climate change are not, and witnesses from flood and wildfire communities and climate policy experts supported the bill as a way to fund recovery and resilience. Opponents, including business and labor representatives, argued the bill would impose broad liability, invite litigation, and harm jobs and energy affordability. The hearing included extensive testimony, but no vote was taken on SB 982 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• people are required to take mitigation steps, which will soon include what could be expensive Zone Zero
• The ayes are seven, the noes are zero. That bill is out. File item nine, consent, SB 1206.
• The ayes are seven, the noes are zero. Rubio? Aye. The ayes are seven, the noes are zero.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I love that it might help you for Monday to tap in on Sunday, but I have zero expectations that you do
• Monday to tap in on Sunday, but<01:17:52.680><c> I</c><01:17:52.760><c> have</c><01:17:53.040><c> zero
• expectations</c><01:17:54.720><c> that</c><01:17:54.920><c> you</c><01:17:55.080><c> do</c> but I have zero
• expectations that you do but I have zero expectations that you do your<01:17:55.400><c> work</c><01:

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have decided as a state to go to net zero by 2050.
• How do you think that plays in delivering... ...at zero by 2050.
• It doesn't have a history with, hey, let's go to zero.
• It doesn't have a history with, hey, let's go to zero. Or, hey, let's go to three.

Bills: H5006 , H5007

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: tax revenue, state surplus, taxpayer refunds, budget growth, Massachusetts General Laws, income tax, tax reduction, state law, personal income tax, tax rates, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Saving Our Children was zeroed out of the budget despite the governor's recommendation.
• With the ayes being 145 and the nays being zero, House Bill 2636...
• With the ayes being 145 and the nays being zero, House Bill 2636 is third read and passed.
• It passed out of committee rules and on this floor two years ago with zero no votes.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 90% energy reduction compared to similar buildings and would be aligned with the university's net zero
• Minnesotans who are vulnerable. be aligned with the university's net be aligned with the university's net zero
• </c> zero emissions goals. zero emissions goals.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Well, let me say this: insurers have zero desire to underinsure.
• 00:37:02.079><c> this</c><00:37:02.560><c> insurers</c><00:37:03.599><c> have</c><00:37:04.480><c> zero
• </c> &gt;&gt; well let me say this insurers have zero &gt;&gt; well let me say this insurers have zero

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up a short-form administrative licensing measure requested by the administration to correct and clarify renewal provisions in a prior bill. Members raised no questions, and the committee voted to adopt the proposed Senate draft and recommit the bill back to the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee for a further public hearing. The committee then heard SB 2876 on natural hair braiding, which would exempt natural hair braiders from licensing under certain conditions. The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology said it views hair braiding as within the broader scope of cosmetology, but agreed that people who only braid hair should not need a license because the training and exam requirements are minimal. The board warned, however, that exempting braiders could create consumer protection gaps involving sanitation, training, and enforcement, and noted that related services such as waxing, cutting, coloring, shampooing, and relaxing would still require licensure. Supporters included the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and the Institute for Justice. The committee also heard SB 2950 on captive insurance and SB 2951 on insurance proceeds. On SB 2950, the Insurance Division opposed the bill, saying captive insurance is designed for formal self-insurance for companies and that allowing captives to insure the public would not fit the existing regulatory framework; a fire survivor advocate supported the measure as a way to expand disaster-related insurance options. On SB 2951, which would require mortgage servicers to follow certain rules for disbursing insurance proceeds after residential damage or destruction, United Policy Holders strongly supported the bill, citing delays in releasing funds and the need to help survivors rebuild, while banking and financial industry groups submitted opposition or comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 2952, SB 2960, and SB 2964, all related to property insurance and disaster recovery. SB 2952 and SB 2960 would extend the time policyholders have after a declared disaster to submit documentation and recover replacement cost value, with supporters arguing that rebuilding after major disasters takes far longer than standard policy deadlines allow and that the bills would improve consumer protection and transparency; the Insurance Division, the Insurance Council, and national insurance groups opposed the measures. SB 2964 would require annual disclosures of replacement cost value and coverage sufficiency; the Insurance Council opposed it as costly and unnecessary because policies already include inflation-related adjustments, while United Policy Holders and fire survivors supported it, saying many homeowners are underinsured and do not understand their coverage.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment passes 10 to zero.
• Amendment<02:46:45.760><c> passes</c><02:46:46.240><c> 10</c><02:46:46.479><c> to</c><02:46:46.720><c> zero
• 47.359><c> Uh</c><02:46:47.680><c> we</c><02:46:47.920><c> now</c> &gt;&gt; Amendment passes 10 to zero
• Uh we now &gt;&gt; Amendment passes 10 to zero.

Committee: House Legislative Administration

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in work session to consider amendments to House Bill 1332, which concerns Gold Star-related flag displays. Members discussed two proposed amendments: one would allow the governor to choose to honor Gold Star families by ordering display of the Gold Star flag at the State House and at the State Veterans Cemetery, and another would define the flags covered by the bill as those officially recognized by the federal government. Members debated whether the language should be mandatory or permissive, whether the State House display would trigger broader flag-flying requirements, and whether the veterans cemetery language was necessary. Testimony noted that the Gold Star flag is federally recognized, while the Honor and Remember flag has not been officially recognized by Congress. The committee also took up House Bill 1097, dealing with historic road signs and the committee referral for that bill. Representative Janet Wall explained an amendment changing the bill’s referral from the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee to the Joint Historic Committee, saying the historic committee is better suited to handle issues involving historic signs and artifacts. She described the Joint Historic Committee’s broader jurisdiction after a prior statutory combination of committees, and members discussed whether that committee has authority beyond the State House complex. Supporters said the change would provide more appropriate oversight and public input on controversial historic markers; one member opposed legislative involvement in removing markers, arguing the issue should remain with existing historical and transportation entities. The amendment was discussed favorably, and members indicated they liked it. No final votes were taken in the portion provided. The committee appeared to set aside the Gold Star amendments for further consideration and moved on after discussion of the historic-signs amendment, with members noting the need to review the written amendment text before acting.

Transcript Highlights:

• the nature of the crime being what it is, and when the language is up to that also means it could be zero
• means<00:42:31.200><c> it</c><00:42:31.440><c> could</c><00:42:31.599><c> be</c><00:42:31.839><c> zero
• </c><00:42:33.040><c> Um</c><00:42:33.440><c> and</c><00:42:33.680><c> so</c> means it could be zero.
• Um and so means it could be zero.

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division B

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 25 February, 2026; 9:00 A.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's been zero recidivism among the individuals discharged from KCPC who no longer meet criteria under
• future. uh have to look at uh in the future. uh there's<00:15:31.519><c> been</c><00:15:31.760><c> zero
• ><00:15:32.079><c> recidivism</c><00:15:32.800><c> among</c><00:15:33.120><c> the</c> there's been zero
• recidivism among the there's been zero recidivism among the individuals<00:15:33.839><c> discharged<

Committee: House Health Services

Keywords: 00:00:06 - Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:23 - Review of Referred Administrative Regulations 00:02:00 - Discussion of 26RS HB 485 01:00:40 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 485 01:03:25 - Adjournment, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• contribution, setting the student aid index, parental contribution, and student contribution below zero
• to zero, and setting parental contributions below -1500.
• contribution, setting the student aid index, parental contribution, and student contribution below zero
• to zero, and setting parental contributions below -1500. -1500.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There being 10 yeas and zero nays, the amendment is adopted.
• </c><00:10:56.800><c> 10</c><00:10:57.200><c> eyes's</c><00:10:57.440><c> and</c><00:10:57.839><c> zero
• </c><00:10:58.079><c> nays,</c><00:10:58.480><c> the</c> There being 10 eyes's and zero nays, the There
• being 10 eyes's and zero nays, the amendment<00:10:58.880><c> is</c><00:10:59.399><c> adopted.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, there's seven yes and zero no. Motion prevails. Hi. Senator Housechild. Yes. Senator Hi.
• </c><01:09:20.640><c> seven</c><01:09:20.960><c> yes</c><01:09:21.199><c> and</c><01:09:21.600><c> zero
• Okay, there's seven yes and zero Lane.
• Okay, there's seven yes and zero no.<01:09:22.319><c> Uh</c><01:09:22.640><c> motion</c><01:09:23.400

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the board, um, I appreciate you bringing this, um, and just wanted to put on the record that I have zero
• record, um,<00:47:49.599><c> that</c><00:47:49.839><c> I</c><00:47:50.000><c> have</c><00:47:50.160><c> zero
• </c><00:47:50.560><c> concerns</c><00:47:50.880><c> and</c><00:47:51.119><c> I</c> um, that I have zero
• concerns and I um, that I have zero concerns and I signed<00:47:51.520><c> on</c><00:47:51.680><c> to

Bills: HF2233 , HF1524 , HF1893 , HF1396 , HF2456 , HF2959 , HF2300 , HF2412 , HF3022 , HF2825 , HF1862 , HF1373 , HF1039 , HF3070

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: Uniform Special Deposits Act, special deposit, banking law, financial institutions, escrow, escrow account, trust account, security deposit, beneficiary, depositor, creditor process, garnishment, attachment, levy, setoff, recoupment, financial market infrastructure, retirement benefits, compensation, earnest money

Transcript Highlights:

• She said this is a growing industry, that production has gone from zero to 300 million in the last 11
• this is a growing industry we've<00:44:12.760><c> gone</c><00:44:13.079><c> from</c><00:44:13.440><c> zero
• ><00:44:13.760><c> production</c><00:44:14.119><c> to</c><00:44:14.359><c> 300</c> we've gone from zero
• production to 300 we've gone from zero production to 300 million<00:44:15.160><c> 330</c><00:44:15.800

Keywords: Call to Order 00:00 SB 100 Discussion 00:05 SB 100 Vote 06:42 SB 202 Discussion 08:35 SB 202 Vote 43:17 SB 17 Discussion 47:37 SB 17 Vote 48:08 SB 22 Discussion 49:22 SB 22 Vote 52:55 SB 133 Discussion 53:55 SB 133 Vote 55:15 SB 190 Discussion 56:00 SB 190 Vote 56:38 Adjournment 57:19, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 100, which would place cigarettes, vapes, and related nicotine products under the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) system, add enforcement tools against bad actors, and regulate nitrous oxide/laughing gas sales to those under 21. Supporters, including youth advocates Mallerie Jones and Griffin Kian Neth, argued the bill would reduce youth access to nicotine products through retail licensing, compliance checks, and escalating penalties. Higdon said the bill targets illegal sales rather than most retailers, and noted the measure also updates House Bill 11 from the prior year and raises the retail license fee from $250 to $500. The committee adopted the committee substitute and then passed the bill on a roll call vote, with members voting yes and no opposition recorded in the transcript. The committee then considered Senate Bill 202, focused on cannabis-infused beverages. Senator Julie Raque Adams said the bill was intended to create common-sense public health guardrails for a rapidly growing product category sold in gas stations, liquor stores, and vape shops, and to address enforcement gaps. She explained the committee substitute would define cannabis-infused beverages at a 5-milligram limit per 12-ounce can, place enforcement under ABC while keeping CHFS manufacturing and testing rules in place, require a University of Kentucky report back to the General Assembly, allow existing higher-dose inventory to be sold through June 1, exempt festivals and fairs until January 1, 2026, and allow stores to obtain licenses to continue selling the product. The committee adopted the substitute and then heard testimony from hemp-industry representatives and a consumer. Opponents of SB 202/SB 22, including Dee Taylor of the Kentucky Hemp Association, Cornbread Hemp co-founder Jim Higdon, Annie Rouse of Cannabuzz Barn, and consumer Nancy Roberts, argued the bill would hurt a legal Kentucky hemp industry, reduce consumer access, and force sales into liquor stores. They said the 100-milligram beverage referenced in debate is actually 10 servings with a resealable top, that hemp retailers educate customers, and that the industry already operates under 2024 regulations and needs better enforcement rather than new restrictions. Higdon and Rouse objected to the 5-milligram cap, the on-premise sales ban, the move to ABC enforcement, and the taxation approach, warning the bill could wipe out a large share of business and jobs. No final vote on SB 202 was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.