Transcript Highlights:

• advertising. advertising for lien sales under Chapter 59 of the Texas Property Code.
• No newspaper ad, the newspaper ad is not a means to notify the tenant and find out what's going on.
• Already allow alternatives to newspaper advertising for lean states, and seven of those states don't
• require any advertising.
• This bill does not eliminate newspaper advertising as an option, but it modernizes the process and provides

Bills: HB186, HB517, HB 1093, HB 1268, HB1395, HB186

Keywords: social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, property owners' association, residential watering restrictions, vegetation, fine limitations, drought, technology, innovation, economic development, grants, Texas Economic Development, business funding, HB 1395, private passenger vehicle rental, car rental, vehicle rental

Transcript Highlights:

• We reach about 400,000 unique users a month between our printed newspaper and our digital newspapers.
• I definitely recommend them for your advertising needs.
• No newspaper ad, the newspaper ad is not a means to notify the tenant.
• advertising for lean states, and 7 of those states don't require any advertising at all.
• This bill does not eliminate newspaper advertising as an option, but it modernizes the process and provides

Bills: HB 186

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivisions, government expenditure, transparency, local government, political subdivision, county, city, municipality, special district, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying restriction, registered lobbyist, government association, county association dues, Texas Legislature, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, Chapter 556

Transcript Highlights:

• in that newspaper you that advertising in that newspaper helps<04:55:38.718><c> get</c><04:55:38.878
• >> It's only for the advertiser. The benefit to the small newspaper is they get advertisers.
• The benefit to the small newspaper is they get advertisers.
• The benefit to the small newspaper is they get advertisers.
• :34:18.240><c> or</c> saying newspapers to qualify or saying newspapers to qualify or advertisers<05:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If a business is advertising— uh, what newspaper, radio, television, whatever—that is a legitimate business
• . advertising. advertising.
• The only financial incentive that the local newspaper gets is that people will come out and advertise
• </c> including u advertising. including u advertising.
• to advertise with entities that produce local news. local newspapers.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in these print newspapers.
• in a newspaper in statute, and 32 other states have already removed the advertising requirement in a
• print newspaper altogether.
• So adding the cost of having to print an advertisement in a newspaper is just an extra burden on a small
• It varies by district, so it varies by newspaper.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee considered a long agenda of claims bills, housing and business measures, and court-administration legislation. It reported favorably several claims bills, including SB 20 for J.N., a minor, SB 14 for the estate of Pennial Janvier, SB 10 for Sidney Holmes, SB 8 for Marcus Button, SB 22 for Eric and Jennifer Miles, and SB 26 for Kristen and Leah McIntosh. Members also approved SB 520 on curators of estates, SB 386 on self-storage lien-sale notices, SB 362 on reusable tenant screening reports, SB 316 creating series LLCs in Florida, and SB 1650 and SB 1652 on vexatious litigants and related public-records issues. SB 248, expanding eligibility for private school and homeschool students to participate in FHSAA sports at public schools, also passed after amendment. Most of the claims bills were described as settled cases with amounts above sovereign-immunity limits, and several senators spoke in support of compensating victims of catastrophic injury or wrongful conviction. SB 10 drew comments about the 34 years Sidney Holmes spent incarcerated after a wrongful conviction, and SB 8 prompted discussion about the long delay in resolving Marcus Button’s injuries from a 2006 school-bus crash. SB 26 was presented as an uncontested claim arising from a DACS employee’s fatal crash that severely injured two teenage girls, and the committee adopted an amendment placing funds for the minor claimant into trust. The policy bills drew more substantive debate. SB 386 would let self-storage operators use websites instead of newspaper ads for lien-sale notices, with newspaper representatives opposing the change and storage-industry witnesses supporting modernization and lower costs. SB 362 would let renters reuse tenant screening reports for 30 days, with the sponsor saying it would reduce repeated application fees. SB 316 would authorize series LLCs while adding record-keeping protections, and SB 1650/1652 would broaden Florida’s vexatious-litigant rules and create a public-records exemption for certain stricken filings. SB 248 passed over concerns from private-school and public-education witnesses about instructional time, funding, and fairness in athletic participation. All measures were reported favorably, with recorded votes ranging from 7-2 on SB 248 to unanimous or near-unanimous support on the other bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• AND MOST NEWSPAPERS REALLY DON'T GET PUBLISHED IN PAPER ANY LONGER.
• THAT IS BEING ADVERTISED IN THE PRINT NEWSPAPERS. IT IS A PRINT OF AN AUCTION.
• AND 32 OTHER STATES HAVE REMOVED THE ADVERTISING REQUIREMENT IN THE ADVERTISING REQUIREMENT IN A PRINT
• NEWSPAPER ALTOGETHER.
• ADDING THE COST OF HAVING TO PRINT AN ADVERTISEMENT IN A NEWSPAPER IS JUST AN EXTRA BURDEN ON A SMALL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• advertisement that informs the public that they can view the full advertisement on a digital newspaper
• It's worked well to put the advertisement in the newspaper to say, go to our website and see the full
• in the newspaper to the advertisement in the newspaper to say<00:18:33.880><c> go</c><00:18:34.000><
• Newspapers play a vital role.
• That's $16 of every $110,000 that they spend goes to newspaper advertisements.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up four bills. House Bill 131, sponsored by Representative Meredith, would give former second-class city fire departments more flexibility in firefighter scheduling. Meredith explained the committee substitute would allow a hybrid “1323” schedule while preserving existing collective bargaining agreements and affecting only 13 cities. There was no opposition or public testimony, and the committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill with a favorable expression. House Bill 256, sponsored by the chair, was presented by Representative Flry and Kentucky Land Title Association President Eric Case. The bill sets a 40-year statutory limit on certain dormant title interests to clear old encumbrances and make titles more marketable, while not specifically excluding coal and mineral interests. The committee adopted the substitute and then passed the bill with a favorable expression. House Bill 290, sponsored by Representative Wilson, would update county law library funding rules to allow local bar associations to use library funds for online legal services, addressing unused balances in some counties. The chair and others said the change would better use the resource for attorneys and the public. The committee approved the bill with a favorable expression. House Bill 368, sponsored by Representative Decker, would let smaller counties and local governments use the same alternative public notice methods already available in larger counties, such as posting notices on government websites after a brief newspaper notice. Supporters from county and city groups said the change would save money, improve efficiency, and help with transparency, while Kentucky Press Association Executive Director David Thompson said newspaper publication costs are relatively small and urged the legislature to set standards for government websites before expanding online notice options. The transcript cuts off during Thompson’s testimony, and no final committee action on HB 368 is shown.

Bills: SB1265, SB2154, SB1775, SB2139, SB1552, SB483, SB1198, SB2135, SB2118

Keywords: municipal ordinances, local government, ordinance publication, posting requirement, public notice, municipal law, city ordinances, town ordinances, county government, newspaper publication, effective date, Oklahoma statutes, 11 O.S. 14-106, ordinance notice, government oversight, municipalities, city government, town government, property maintenance, nuisance abatement

Summary: The County and Municipal Government Committee considered and advanced several bills related to county purchasing, municipal notice requirements, property liens, county home rule, jail funding, and local fines. Senate Bill 2135 would let county purchasing agents obtain and administer county purchase cards through county depositories, with transaction rules modeled on the state P-card program and still subject to existing purchasing procedures. Senate Bill 483 would authorize county commissioners to create a relocation assistance program. Senate Bill 1198 would require OHCA to release liens on property at the request of a county treasurer. Senate Bill 1265 would extend the deadline for municipalities to publish ordinances from 15 to 30 days, and Senate Bill 2154 would require cities to notify lienholders as well as property owners about outstanding property maintenance balances. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2139, described as clarifying language to a 2024 law after stakeholder discussion, and Senate Bill 1552, which changes population requirements in a 1992 county home rule statute. SB 1552 drew the most discussion, with members asking about its effect on rural counties, the Kenny v. Tulsa County case, and whether any county is currently affected; the sponsor said the bill raises the threshold, affects no counties now, and would still require voter approval and additional charter approval if a county later qualified. The bill passed on a 3-2 vote. Two additional bills were approved with little or no debate: Senate Bill 2118 would allow surplus funds from a county sheriff’s commissary fund to be used for jail operations, inmate care, and related expenses, and Senate Bill 1775 would cap fines in small towns. All other measures mentioned passed unanimously or near-unanimously, and the committee adjourned after completing the posted agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Notice was published in all North Dakota newspapers.
• The fee for the newspaper publication was $2,046.65.
• We published our advertising costs in all the county newspapers were $1,852.50.
• , and it could be in the name, whether a bar or restaurant is advertising, paying to advertise for gaming
• You know, we'll pay for your advertising if you do this for us, vice versa.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, one thing to remember about newspapers is that newspapers have varying fonts, font style sizes,
• newspapers.
• So if you had to advertise something in the newspaper three times, you know, within a certain time frame
• I'm Cecil Wurman, representing the North Dakota Newspaper Association and the state's 71 newspapers.
• Newspapers. We're more than newspapers. We're all of the above. Today's newspapers are in print.

Summary: The task force reviewed survey results from state agencies on potential statutory revisions, with Levi reporting 70 proposals from 20 agencies and noting that about 33 might become agency pre-file bills. Members discussed the need to share the survey more broadly within higher education and to better coordinate issues involving IT and other cross-agency functions. The task force then heard from the Office of Management and Budget on three topics: concessions, architect/engineering pre-qualification, and legal notices. OMB said the concessions law is outdated and inconsistent with current practice, and suggested a collaborative rewrite to allow best-value evaluation, raise the threshold, and standardize solicitation templates. On architect/engineering pre-qualification, OMB proposed expanding authority beyond current state-agency limits and creating uniform templates. On legal notices, OMB proposed modernizing publication requirements, exploring online and abbreviated notices, and working with newspapers and other stakeholders on technology and accessibility improvements. Members asked about where concession revenues go, whether political subdivisions must follow the same rules, and how to move from discussion to action. The task force agreed to have OMB work with Legislative Council and affected stakeholders to develop bill drafts, and the motion passed unanimously. The University of North Dakota then presented a series of proposed revisions focused on public buildings and procurement. UND asked to rework the definition of construction so routine maintenance and one-for-one replacements over $250,000 would not automatically trigger public-improvement requirements, suggested raising the threshold to $500,000, and asked for more flexibility based on project complexity and risk. UND also proposed changes to public bid advertisements to reflect electronic bidding, revisions to construction manager-at-risk selection criteria, changes to architect/engineer procurement rules, an increase in the direct-hire design threshold, and a higher legislative-consent threshold for privately funded projects. The task force supported having UND work with counsel and OMB to develop bill drafts, and that motion also passed. The Department of Public Instruction concluded with proposed cleanup to credentialing and education statutes. DPI recommended reviewing its credential categories for relevance, possibly transferring credentialing authority to the Education Standards and Practices Board, removing outdated school safety patrol language, clarifying waiver provisions, and updating dyslexia screening reporting requirements so the statute reflects current practice. Members focused mainly on whether the dyslexia reporting requirement should remain, and DPI said the screening itself would continue even if reporting language were revised. No votes were taken on DPI’s suggestions, and the task force recessed after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• But some newspapers will.
• This local newspaper is going to close. This local...
• I like reading my newspaper. Right.
• Yeah, well, the newspaper, the full newspaper print is actually digital as well.
• This bill's been properly advertised, yes, it is.

Summary: The committee met on April 15 at 5:13 p.m. with a quorum present and took up several local and municipal bills out of order to accommodate members’ travel. HB 87, which would increase the per diem for the Livingston Parish Gas Utility District No. 1 board, was presented as a local bill with no opposition and was reported favorably without objection. HB 481, dealing with the cost of publishing official proceedings and public notices, drew extensive testimony from the Louisiana Press Association, the Police Jury Association, and committee members. Supporters said a prior agreement intended a 15% to 20% reduction in notice costs, but a calculation error would instead produce roughly a 40% reduction, threatening small newspapers; opponents questioned the process and impact on local governments. The committee ultimately voted 10-5 to send HB 481 to the floor, with members urging further negotiation and possible amendment. HB 573, a major New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board governance bill by Rep. Hilferty, was amended in committee and then supported by Mayor Helena Moreno and several council members as a way to shift more oversight and accountability to the New Orleans City Council. Supporters argued the current structure diffuses responsibility and that local elected officials need more direct authority over operations, contracts, and transparency. Dr. Tracy Washington of the Louisiana Justice Institute opposed the bill, warning that transferring control could worsen financial strain, blur accountability, and raise equity and human-rights concerns for vulnerable residents. Despite the opposition, the committee voted to report HB 573 favorably to the floor. The committee also advanced HB 162, allowing the Jefferson Place/Bocage crime prevention and improvement district to impose a fee after local approval, and HB 368, which raises penalties for unauthorized demolition in New Orleans historic districts to the greater of $50,000 or 15% of assessed value. Both were reported favorably after brief discussion. HB 441, a cleanup bill clarifying that New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board employees remain in city civil service rather than state civil service, was also sent to the floor without objection. Finally, HB 257, concerning the powers and duties of the police chief of the city of Central, was amended to require consultation with the city attorney before discipline or dismissal and to delay effectiveness until January 1, 2027; after debate over due process and the chief’s authority, the committee voted to report it favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> newsletter signups, and advertising newsletter signups, and advertising tools.<00:10:57.760><c>
• </c> newspapers that will feel this squeeze. newspapers that will feel this squeeze.
• Advertising is one of the most data.
• Taxing advertising stay competitive.
• When we're talking about newspapers, you know, those newspapers sell ads that target their market.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3117, which would impose an excise tax on social media companies based on Minnesota monthly users and data-mining activity, and adopted an A1 amendment that added clarifying language identifying social media platforms. Chair Gomez described the bill as a way to tax companies profiting from data mining and social media use, citing concerns about child bullying, misinformation, and wealth concentration. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the 2025 taxes bill. Supporters testified that the measure would help raise revenue from a highly profitable industry and better align the tax code with the social costs of data collection and social media use. Pastor Julie Thompson, MAPE representative Tanner Fritzinger, Council Member Sue Bud, and Eric Bernstein of We Make Minnesota all backed the bill, arguing that social media companies extract value from users’ data, contribute to mental health and social harms, and should pay more toward public needs. Bernstein also framed the tax as a way to broaden the tax base and fund schools and other services. Opponents warned that the bill could sweep in local broadcasters, newspapers, and other businesses that use digital platforms and collect some user data, and that costs would likely be passed on to consumers. Wendy Pollson of the Minnesota Broadcasters Association said the definitions were too broad and could unintentionally include local media. Deb Peters, speaking for Americans for Digital Opportunity, argued the tax would raise costs for small businesses and consumers, create legal risks, and amount to double taxation. Several members echoed concerns about regressivity, administration, and whether the bill actually addresses online bullying or data privacy, while supporters said it is a first step toward taxing a new, lightly taxed industry.

Transcript Highlights:

• Notice was published in all North Dakota newspapers.
• And then the fee for the newspaper publication was $2,046.65.
• The fee for the newspaper publication was $2,046.65.
• He also said their advertising costs for publication in all the county newspapers were $1,852.50, and
• , and it could be in the name whether a bar or restaurant is advertising, paying to advertise for gaming

Summary: The committee approved the March 12, 2026 minutes and granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rule changes tied to House Bill 1620/1622, which concern North Dakota’s entry into the physician assistant licensure compact. The Board said it is waiting on compact rules, especially fee structures, before finalizing its own rules. The committee then took up extensive Office of Management and Budget personnel rule revisions, covering salary administration, recruitment, leave policies, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR practices and implement recent legislation, including new hire leave and enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions; the committee raised concerns about the subjectivity and fairness of the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but no action was taken against the rules. The North Dakota Lottery presented emergency and regular rule changes, including updates tied to the Millionaire for Life game and miscellaneous clarifications. The Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology described rule updates that add speech-language pathology assistants to the rules, ease continuing education requirements for out-of-state applicants, expand temporary licensure, and clarify supervision standards. The State Electrical Board reviewed numerous code updates, including changes to electrical and fire alarm standards, receptacle labeling, countertop receptacles, and a major new conveyance/elevator inspection program added by the Legislature; the board said it is preparing to begin inspections by August 1. The Industrial Commission’s Geological Survey Division presented new rules implementing House Bill 1459 on critical minerals in coal-bearing formations, including permit, reporting, confidentiality, and royalty-related provisions. The committee asked about confidentiality of exploration data and drilling depth. The Public Employees Retirement System outlined rule changes implementing several bills affecting defined benefit, public safety, defined contribution, insurance, deferred compensation, and retiree health credit programs, and noted possible future proposals to add state EMS or create a LOSAP-style plan. The Department of Health and Human Services presented substance use disorder voucher rules implementing House Bill 1012, including allowing individuals to apply directly and setting reimbursement procedures; the rules were expected to have a $250,000 general fund impact already included in the budget. The longest discussion involved the Gaming Commission rules. Members questioned whether the commission had authority to raise poker tournament buy-ins from $300 to $1,500, viewing it as an expansion of gaming rather than a mere clarification. After debate, the committee voted to void that specific rule section for lack of statutory authority. The rest of the gaming rules covered higher raffle limits from House Bill 1192, the change from “bar” to “alcoholic beverage establishment,” veterans’ organization proceeds, credit ticket voucher kiosks, online raffles, and advertising restrictions; the presenter said several public comments led to revisions or withdrawals of proposed language. The meeting ended with discussion of upcoming Ethics Commission travel-reporting rules and scheduling the next committee meeting in September.

Transcript Highlights:

• My newspapers are in northeastern...
• But some newspapers will.
• If we don't do this, this local newspaper is going to close.
• I like reading my newspaper. Right.
• Yeah, well, the newspaper, the full newspaper print is actually digital as well.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee met at 5:13 p.m. on April 15 with 14 members present and took up several local and municipal bills. HB 87, which would increase the per diem for the Livingston Parish Gas Utility District No. 1 board, was presented as a local bill with no opposition and was reported favorably without objection. HB 162, authorizing the Jefferson Place/Bocage Crime Prevention and Improvement District to levy a fee after a local vote, was also moved favorably without objection. A lengthy discussion centered on HB 481, which would change the rate for publishing official proceedings and public notices. Supporters from the Louisiana Press Association said a prior agreement intended a 15% to 20% reduction in newspaper revenue, but a calculation error meant the current law would instead cut revenues by about 40% to 50% when it takes effect in 2027. Representatives from police juries and other local-government groups argued the bill should be corrected to restore the intended compromise, while some members questioned whether the change would break a prior deal and whether small or single-newspaper parishes would be harmed. The committee ultimately reported HB 481 favorably by a 10-5 vote, with members urging further negotiation and possible floor amendments. HB 573, as amended, would restructure oversight of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board by giving the New Orleans City Council and mayor more authority over operations, contracts, and accountability measures. Representative Hilferty and Mayor Helena Moreno argued the current structure diffuses responsibility and has failed residents, while one witness from the Louisiana Justice Institute warned the bill could shift control without fixing infrastructure problems and could raise equity and financial concerns. Despite that opposition, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also advanced HB 368, increasing fines for unauthorized demolition of historic properties in New Orleans; HB 441, clarifying that Sewerage and Water Board employees remain in city civil service; and HB 257, which would give the elected police chief of Central authority to hire, fire, and discipline police personnel, subject to consultation with the city attorney and a delayed effective date. All of those bills were reported favorably after discussion and, where needed, adoption of amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Notice was published in all North Dakota newspapers.
• The fee for the newspaper publication was $2,046.65.
• We published our advertising costs in all the county newspapers were $1,852.50.
• , and it could be in the name, whether a bar or restaurant is advertising, paying to advertise for gaming
• You know, we'll pay for your advertising if you do this for us, vice versa.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Committee met on June 11 and first approved the March 12, 2026 minutes by voice vote. It then granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rules tied to recent legislation, including North Dakota’s participation in the physician assistant licensure compact and a new physician nutrition continuing education requirement. The Board said it was waiting on compact rules and fee information before finalizing its own changes. The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the Office of Management and Budget on broad personnel rule revisions, including salary administration, recruitment, leave, sick leave, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR language and implement recent legislation such as enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions and new hire leave. Members questioned the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but OMB and counsel said those standards come from statute, not the rules. The committee also heard and accepted rule packages from the Lottery, the Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, the State Electrical Board, the Industrial Commission, PERS, and Health and Human Services, with each agency describing mostly technical, clarifying, or statutory-conforming changes and noting the public notice and comment process. The most significant action came during the Gaming Commission rules presentation. After questioning whether the commission had authority to raise the poker tournament buy-in limit from $300 to $1,500, members moved to void Section 99-01.3-09-01 on the ground that the agency lacked statutory authority for that change. The motion passed on a roll call vote. The committee also discussed several gaming-related issues, including online raffles, kiosk use, advertising restrictions, and the broader policy question of whether charities should be allowed to own bars, but took no further formal action on those topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 368 will help smaller counties. publishing a brief newspaper notice publishing a brief newspaper
• </c><00:16:59.120><c> M</c> that they can view the full advertise M that they can view the full advertise
• advertisements.
• </c> that they spend uh goes to newspaper that they spend uh goes to newspaper advertisements<00:22:52.880
• </c> Notices as they appear in the newspaper Notices as they appear in the newspaper are<00:24:56.960

Keywords: Reuploaded to restore the end of the meeting Meeting Start 00:01 Roll Call 00:05 HB 131 discussion 01:55 HB 131 vote 05:08 HB 256 discussion 07:09 HB 256 vote 08:58 HB 290 discussion 10:59 HB 290 vote 13:25 HB 368 discussion 15:11 HB 368 vote 31:30 Adjournment 36:27, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered four bills. House Bill 131, sponsored by Representative Meredith, was amended with a committee substitute and would allow former second class city fire departments more scheduling flexibility, including hybrid shift patterns, while preserving existing collective bargaining agreements. There was no opposition or questions, and the committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill favorably by voice/roll call vote. House Bill 256, sponsored by Chairman Flannery, would impose a 40-year statutory limit on root-of-title interests to clear dormant title issues and improve marketable title, while excluding coal and mineral interests. A committee substitute was adopted, and the bill passed favorably on a unanimous roll call. House Bill 290, sponsored by Representative Wilson, would update county law library funding/use rules to allow more modern expenditures such as online legal services; Representative Willner supported it as a useful modernization, and the bill also passed favorably on a unanimous roll call. House Bill 368, sponsored by Representative Decker, would expand local governments’ ability to use online public notice alternatives instead of relying solely on newspaper publication in smaller counties. Supporters from local government groups argued the change would save money, improve efficiency, and still keep the public informed, while the Kentucky Press Association cautioned that website standards should be addressed and noted concerns about losing newspaper notice revenue. After discussion, the committee passed the bill favorably by roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional yes votes for HB 131, HB 256, and HB 290, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and that was regarding the right temporary local newspaper advertising.
• </c> advertising expenses. advertising expenses.
• Maybe this catches it. >> So, I think what this is trying to say is you can only advertise in the newspaper
• </c> are we advertising? are we advertising?
• . >> Line 19A. >> So, uh, advertising or underwriting on any locally owned nonprofit website or newspaper

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, one thing to remember about newspapers is that newspapers have varying fonts, font style sizes,
• newspapers.
• We grab the newspaper, a newspaper tear sheet, and we pull out our rulers, and we measure the columns
• So if you had to advertise something in the newspaper three times within a certain time frame before
• Our name alone doesn't do us any favors: newspapers. We're more than newspapers.

Summary: The task force met with a quorum and first reviewed a memorandum summarizing a survey of state agencies on possible statute revisions. Levi reported that 20 agencies submitted 70 proposals, with about 33 potentially becoming agency pre-file bills. Common themes included procurement, concessions, architect/engineering services, liability limits, and IT-related efficiencies. Members asked about sharing the survey results more broadly and about cross-agency coordination, especially with higher education and ITD-related issues. OMB then presented three topics from its survey responses: concessions, pre-qualification of architects/engineers/construction managers/land surveyors, and publication of legal notices. OMB said the current concessions law is too rigid because it requires award to the highest responsible bidder and does not fit newer concession models, and it suggested a best-value approach, a higher threshold, and standardized templates. On architect/engineering pre-qualification, OMB said the law is fragmented across several statutes and should be consolidated and expanded for broader use. On legal notices, OMB described the current rate-setting and publication process, noted rising costs and shrinking newspaper availability, and proposed a collaborative effort to modernize notice delivery, improve accessibility, and explore online options. The task force discussed how to move these ideas forward, and a motion passed directing OMB to implement its suggestions and report back at the next meeting. The University of North Dakota then presented several proposed revisions focused on public buildings and procurement. UND recommended raising the threshold for treating routine maintenance and one-for-one replacements as construction, arguing that the current $250,000 threshold forces unnecessary architect/engineer involvement and adds cost. It also proposed changes to bid advertisement language to reflect electronic bidding, revisions to construction manager-at-risk selection criteria, changes to architect/engineer procurement criteria, a higher direct-hire threshold for design services, and an increase in the legislative approval threshold for privately funded projects. Members discussed the need for data, risk and complexity considerations, and collaboration with counsel and industry groups. A motion passed directing Levi and counsel to work with UND on bill drafts based on its proposals for a future meeting. DPI followed with a shorter presentation on credentialing and statutory cleanup. It suggested reviewing the department’s 23 credential categories for relevance, and said DPI and the Education Standards and Practices Board have discussed transferring some credentialing authority to ESPB. DPI also recommended removing outdated school safety patrol language, cleaning up waiver provisions, and updating dyslexia screening reporting requirements so districts are not burdened by obsolete reporting mandates. Members agreed the screening itself should remain in place, while the reporting requirement could be reconsidered. The committee then recessed until the afternoon session.

Transcript Highlights:

• in your local project advertise in your local project advertise in your local newspaper.
• , awarding a bid, a advertising, awarding a bid, a advertising, awarding a bid, a contract, and the newspaper
• doesn't contract, and the newspaper doesn't contract, and the newspaper doesn't properly advertise it
• , but also advertise it over in newspaper, but also advertise it over in newspaper, but also advertise
• If the newspaper fails to properly advertise newspaper fails to properly advertise newspaper fails to

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, one thing to remember about newspapers is that newspapers have varying fonts, font style sizes,
• newspapers.
• newspapers.
• Now, thing to remember about newspapers is that newspapers have varying fonts, font style sizes, and
• Our name alone doesn't do us any favors: newspapers. We're more than newspapers.

Keywords: 908, all