Transcript Highlights:

• At Tucson Electric Power and UniSource Energy Services, business resource groups, or BRGs, are employee-led
• groups voluntarily formed to increase employee engagement, career development, or connections with customers
• of Native, tribal, and Indigenous people in the energy field, supporting and encouraging Native employees
• SP 1010, Charlie Kirk Highway; SB 1011, medical examiners, son and infant death; SB 1013, public employees

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The repealers have to do with the employee gain-sharing report from Management and Budget, the Advisory
• the Director of Legislative and Political Affairs for the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees
• We represent over 18,000 state employees across all agencies, boards, and commissions.
• I would like to just thank all the members of the public and the employees of the administration who

Bills: HF2783

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• It's flexibility for employers and less certainty for employees.
• they should do is classify them as employees, not contractors.
• Further, while that W2 employees enjoy.
• </c><00:40:45.280><c> But</c><00:40:45.440><c> that</c> employees, not contractors.
• But that employees, not contractors.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it says that it shall be 110% of the highest annual salary of any merit system employee in the tax
• tax assessor or tax collector, that they would always have to make 10% more than the highest-paid employee
• in their respective offices. employee in their respective offices.

Bills: HB375 , HB494 , HB375

Committee: House Jefferson County Legislation

Keywords: pistol permits, Jefferson County, fees, public schools, fund distribution, tax collector, tax assessor, compensation, salary increase, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , for a third-party employee."
• ,</c><00:18:32.480><c> for</c><00:18:32.640><c> a</c> statute for a state employee, for a statute for
• a state employee, for a third<00:18:33.039><c> party</c><00:18:33.280><c> employee.
• Um, most programs third party employee.
• So, and lots of different employees<00:21:18.559><c> that</c><00:21:18.880><c> need</c><00:21:19.120>

Bills: SF0058 , SF0061 , SF0095 , SF0107

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Keywords: Indian child welfare, tribal relations, sunset repeal, Wyoming law, child custody, sales tax, motor vehicle, family transfer, tax exemption, Wyoming legislation, driver's license, motor vehicle services, third-party providers, Wyoming, regulatory compliance, registration, license plate, electronic system, State Department of Transportation, county treasurers

Transcript Highlights:

• That company trained her, pushed her, and this is what happens when great companies bring their employees
• to the forefront as they have the abilities to... bring their employees to the forefront as they have
• good employees that are loyal to them.
• They will tell them, you've paying an employee below the floor of the pay, and— It.
• They will tell them you've paying an employee below the floor of the pay, and we're not going to pay

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Alina has 12 employees making a million dollars or more.
• Alina has 12 employees making a million dollars or more.
• </c><00:43:25.599><c> making</c><00:43:26.000><c> a</c> Mayo Clinic has uh 24 employees making a Mayo
• Alina has 12 employees making a Alina.
• </c><01:01:20.079><c> that</c> of DEI, they have uh 98 employees that of DEI, they have uh 98 employees

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• budget that's set forth by the legislature for the, as you probably are aware, for state government employees
• this last session, the 2-year budget that was passed included a 2% raise for basically all state employees
• The ayes have it, and it is so ordered. employees, they do executive branch employees, they do executive
• 08:54.320><c> basically</c><00:08:54.680><c> all</c><00:08:54.920><c> state</c><00:08:55.160><c> employees
• </c> raise for basically all state employees raise for basically all state employees uh uh uh for<00:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission met on June 9, 2026, with a quorum present and first elected David Nicholas as chair and Mike Soles as vice chair by acclamation. The commission then approved the prior meeting minutes and received staff reports, including March and April financial reports showing the office remained within budget. Staff also reported that the April filing cycle for employers and lobbyists had been completed and that the next reporting period would open September 1 and be due September 15. The commission approved a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for staff for fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028, consistent with the state budget. Staff also updated members on office space: the current lease, in place since 1995, is being extended for six months at the current rate while the office evaluates whether to renew or move to a larger space. Members discussed the need for a better work environment and a small conference room, and staff said they would keep the commission updated as the process develops. The commission then considered its annual recommended legislative changes to the LRC. Staff explained that the first three items were the same as last year’s recommendations and the fourth corrected a drafting issue where a confirming amendment had been missed. Members discussed the timing and usefulness of the recommendations, including a brief joke about hiring lobbyists, and then approved all four items for recommendation. Finally, the commission voted to enter executive session to discuss confidential complaints and, if necessary, informal opinions.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2624 expands California’s Safe at Home program to include immigrant service providers, their employees
• extending this program's protections to our immigrant support service providers as well as their employees
• But if an employee named Sarah, who worked for me and had a threat of violence, she could be shielded
• mentioned people go into a place of work, and on one occasion, a place of home and harassing an employee
• mentioned people go into a place of work, and on one occasion, a place of home and harassing an employee

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have an employee-directed corporation that helps the employees direct their funds where they wanted
• with a different little tickle at times because of the not-good standing, although for years the employees
• Melissa Coase here with Pacific Gas and Electric Company, we have an employee directed corporation that
• helps the employee direct their funds where they wanted to go, and the foundation, the PG& Corporation
• have given to IRS already recognize. because of the not good standing, although for years the employees

Summary: The Assembly held its first-ever outcome review hearing, focused on AB 488, Assemblymember Irwin’s 2021 law regulating charitable fundraising platforms and platform charities. Chair Bauer-Kahan and Irwin described the hearing as part of a new oversight process meant to evaluate whether enacted laws are working as intended and to identify implementation problems. Irwin reviewed the bill’s purpose: updating California’s charitable solicitation rules for online fundraising, requiring platform registration and reporting, setting disclosure and conduct rules, and creating protections for charities and donors. The Attorney General’s office said the implementing regulations took effect in stages in 2024 and 2025 after extensive rulemaking, and argued the law was needed because online fundraising had outgrown older solicitation laws. The office highlighted enforcement concerns, including unregistered platforms, delayed remittances, and unauthorized fundraising pages, and said the new online filing system should improve processing and compliance. Nonprofit representatives and platforms generally supported the law’s transparency goals but said implementation has created major burdens, especially around “good standing” determinations, slow registry response times, and disruptions to fundraising when charities are flagged as delinquent. PayPal Giving Fund and GoFundMe both said they complied with the law but urged changes to better fit platform operations, reduce delays, and ease requirements for small or micro-donations. Committee members pressed the witnesses on donor protection, due process, and whether California should shorten the time to resolve good-standing issues. Several members said the law has helped stop misleading or unauthorized fundraising practices, while also acknowledging unintended consequences for nonprofits. Irwin said she is preparing follow-up legislation to address implementation problems and balance the interests of charities, platforms, donors, and the Attorney General’s office. During public comment, Candid praised the review and the DOJ’s efforts to improve the process, and a PG&E representative described an unintended consequence in employee giving where donations were redirected because recipient charities were not in good standing.

Transcript Highlights:

• the reason that that's showing up that way in the graph is because those teachers are part-time employees
• the reason that that's showing up that way in the graph is because those teachers are part-time employees
• the reason that that's showing up that way in the graph is because those teachers are part-time employees
• Simmons: Chairman Hawkins, Representative Ehart, our teachers and principals are part-time employees
• Chairman Hawkins, Representative Ehart, so our teachers and principals are part-time employees of IDLA

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They generate billions of dollars in economic activity and they up employee millions of Floridians.
• Its business insurance businesses pay currently $7 per employee per month as an insurance premium.
• And there's a statutory trigger, meaning that $7 a month per employee goes up.
• Businesses would pay more than $7 per month per employee.
• We'll keep that $7 a month per employee per month.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• does remove a provision that provides construction for the opticianry practice act to say that an employee
• of a licensed physician or a licensed optometrist That an employee of a licensed physician or a licensed
• optometrist shall be required to secure a license under this part so long as the employee is working
• Madam Chair, I'd have serious difficulty going back and explaining to my ophthalmologist how her employee
• the current practice of ophthalmology and optometry in this state allows an individual who is an employee

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The Health Policy Committee heard and advanced several health-related bills. SB 1546 on background screening for athletic coaches was explained as another extension of the deadline for coaches to be added to the background screening clearinghouse; it passed favorably with support from athletic and youth sports organizations. SB 958 on type 1 diabetes early detection was amended to match the House version, requiring the Department of Health to provide school districts, school boards, and charter schools with informational materials for parents; it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. CS/SB 1070 on electrocardiograms for student athletes drew extensive discussion about sudden cardiac arrest prevention, implementation timelines, costs, funding through private and public sources, and whether insurance, KidCare, or Medicaid should cover screenings; after supportive testimony from school and athletic groups, it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also heard SB 1060, which would create a joint legislative oversight committee for Medicaid managed care to review encounter data, financials, audits, and rebate calculations with assistance from an actuary and the Auditor General. The sponsor and several senators framed it as a transparency and verification measure in response to large mid-year Medicaid funding increases and concerns about network adequacy and vertical integration; it passed favorably. CS/SB 944, which shortens the insurer overpayment recovery look-back period for claims involving psychologists from 30 months to 12 months, also passed favorably with support from the Florida Psychological Association. SB 1370, moving ambulatory surgical centers into their own statute rather than under hospital licensure provisions, was supported by surgery center representatives and reported favorably. The committee approved SB 768, as amended, to narrow the foreign-country-of-concern licensure attestation for health care entities to direct controlling interests and clarify the “reasonable efforts” standard; it passed after questions about how the standard would work in practice. SB 1544 on opticianry prompted significant debate over whether the bill would limit nonlicensed staff in ophthalmology and optometry settings; after a proposed amendment was withdrawn and multiple witnesses spoke both for and against, the bill was temporarily postponed. Finally, the committee adopted a strike-all amendment to SB 1808 requiring health care practitioners and facilities to refund patient overpayments within 30 days, with enforcement through AHCA fines or professional discipline, and then reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 28, Senator McCray, Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026, favorable with two
• Senate Bill 28, as amended, alters the statutory collective bargaining process for state employees by
• </c><01:28:09.800><c> the</c> the federal employee that's the the federal employee that's the defendant
• </c> out of acts undertaken by that employee out of acts undertaken by that employee in<01:28:21.920>
• </c><01:30:58.280><c> was</c> Attorney General that the employee was Attorney General that the employee

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum present and then proceeded through committee reports, largely adopting favorable reports and amendments without objection. Early measures included SB 530, which funds grants for multigenerational social connection programs for older adults; SB 731, clarifying the legal status of the Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council; SB 809, directing a feasibility study on a caregiver infrastructure program; SB 860, creating an Aging Resilience Fund with reporting and budget protections; SB 910, requiring insurance reimbursement for services provided by graduate-level clinical interns under supervision; and SB 972, making several Baltimore City alcoholic beverages licensing changes. Each of these bills was advanced to third reading after committee amendments were adopted. The Finance Committee also advanced SB 555, establishing a Dementia Services and Brain Health Program and a provider resource toolkit for dementia care; SB 757, creating a Maryland Local Sourcing Portal to connect businesses with local sources for tariff-impacted goods; SB 772, creating an employment training and opportunity database to help people qualify for or maintain Medicaid and SNAP; SB 792, requiring hospitals to adopt and train staff on immigration-enforcement policies consistent with Attorney General guidance; SB 869, establishing a workforce training pilot program through Commerce and community colleges; SB 905, creating an advanced manufacturing grant program through TEDCO; and SB 974, changing who may serve as inspector for the Caroline County Board of License Commissioners. Most of these bills were reported favorably with technical or narrowing amendments and then ordered printed for third reading. Budget and Taxation advanced SB 28, which would create binding arbitration for state employee collective bargaining impasses and include a proposed constitutional amendment requiring funding in the Governor’s budget; SB 466, expanding a physician preceptor tax credit and adjusting training-hour requirements; and later SB 704, concerning estate tax treatment for qualified agricultural property transferred to an LLC. SB 557, a gaming-related bill, was laid over until the end of the evening at the majority leader’s request. In the Education, Energy, and the Environment report, the committee advanced SB 35 on a state natural science museum designation, SB 166 on shellfish aquaculture permit sanctions, SB 189 on municipal drainage inlet safety requirements prompted by a child’s death, SB 242 on civil relief for service members and spouses, SB 266 on local regulation of invasive trees and tree-of-heaven, and SB 267 on a corporate rental-property registry and local housing application review process. SB 267 drew a brief question from the minority leader, who asked whether prior opposition remained and how the amended bill differed; the sponsor said the opposition had gone away and described the bill as now focused on a responsible-owner registry and an administrative review process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cap Brackman, on behalf of the California School Employees Association, we are proud co-sponsors of AB
• School employees, not just teachers, but paraeducators, psychologists, and nurses, are supportive adults
• Leo Griffin, with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, in support.
• I mean, in identifying so many different categories of school employees, I think we all can intuitively
• Para-educators, I mean, in identifying so many different categories of school employees, I think we all

Summary: The hearing opened with several procedural announcements and then took up AB 2148, which would prohibit artificial intelligence from replacing education workers. The author and supporters from the California Federation of Teachers and California School Employees Association argued the bill was a modest first step to protect human educators, students’ social-emotional development, and teacher agency in classroom technology decisions. Public support came from labor and education groups, while some school administrator and county office representatives said they were moving to neutral or awaiting the printed amendments. The committee discussed teacher shortages and the role of AI as a supplement rather than a replacement, then passed AB 2148 as amended to Higher Education on a 5-0 vote. The committee then heard AB 2202, which would create a Closing the Achievement Gap Commission to advise the State Board of Education. The author and sponsors said the commission would improve coordination between state and local education leaders and help the state better support local efforts to close achievement gaps. Support came from CSBA, CFT, charter schools, and many district leaders. Members raised questions about early childhood representation on the commission, and the author said he would discuss that with the sponsor. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. The consent calendar, including AB 1569, AB 2071, AB 2206, AB 2298, AB 2467, AB 2580, AB 2652, and AB 2726, was also approved. AB 2555 was then heard as a special order bill to reform English learner reclassification. The author said the current system is outdated, inconsistent, and too subjective, and proposed a more automatic, transparent process with stronger parent involvement and post-reclassification monitoring. Testimony in support emphasized personal experiences of delayed reclassification and the need to recognize biliteracy; there was no opposition. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations on a 6-0 vote. The committee also approved AB 1860, which would extend design-build authority to county offices of education while preserving prevailing wage, apprenticeship, and skilled workforce requirements; opposition from county superintendent and facilities groups was removed after amendments, and the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations. Later, the committee passed AB 2514, which would create a State of Achievement Gap Dashboard to track state-level progress in closing achievement gaps, and AB 2149, which would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office to publicly assess the state’s progress and recommend actions. Both bills were presented as part of a broader package to improve state accountability for student outcomes, and both passed as amended to Appropriations on 7-0 votes. Finally, AB 2490 was heard, proposing to allow longer-term substitute assignments with added training, mentorship, and parent notification to address teacher shortages and classroom instability. Supporters said it would reduce “subchurn” and help maintain continuity, especially in special education; opponents, including CTA, Public Advocates, and CTC staff, argued the bill was unnecessary given existing rulemaking and could create legal and training concerns. The transcript cuts off during committee discussion of AB 2490, so no final vote is shown for that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Idaho Legislature so that the legislature share in the burdens being imposed on the citizens and employees
• of Information Technology Services, the State Liquor Division, the Military Division, the Public Employee
• of Information Technology Services, the State Liquor Division, the Military Division, the Public Employee
• Retirement System, appropriating additional money to the Public Employee Retirement System for fiscal
• We're having trouble retaining our state employees because of our inability to pay competitively and

Summary: The Senate convened with 27 members present, heard prayer and the Pledge, approved the corrected journal, and then moved through committee reports, messages from the House, and first and second readings of several bills. Among the measures introduced or advanced were appropriations bills, child custody and visitation bills, a digital identification bill, a virtual currency kiosk fraud prevention bill, and bills on public outdoor target ranges, hearing loss screening, and small claims procedure. The chamber also re-referred or held several resolutions and bills, including SCR 125 and SR 121 for printing, and later took a short recess for caucus and announcements. On third reading, the Senate passed SB 1347, a transparency bill requiring more reporting from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association on federal housing and homelessness funds; supporters said it would improve oversight of subrecipients and outcomes, while opponents argued it duplicated existing HUD and IHFA reporting. The Senate also unanimously passed SB 1369, which rewrites Idaho’s civil venue statute and allows certain lawsuits to be filed either where the defendant resides or where the cause of action occurred, and SB 1358, which lets returning school administrators count prior administrative service toward the teacher career ladder if they meet performance requirements. SB 1379 passed 28-7 to raise the Project Choice vehicle registration fee by $5 to help recruit and retain Idaho State Police troopers, with supporters citing public safety and opponents warning about taxpayer burden and impacts on local law enforcement. The Senate then passed HB 635, requiring the Professional Standards Commission to report suspected criminal conduct in education cases to law enforcement; HB 532, standardizing identity requirements for DMV transactions; HB 520, standardizing hearing-notice requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act; and HB 541, expanding the definition of a child for electronic enticement offenses to cover some 16- and 17-year-olds when the offender is at least five years older. Later, the chamber passed HB 581, allowing the Legislature to formally notify the Supreme Court when it believes a court rule conflicts with statute or substantive rights, despite separation-of-powers concerns raised by one senator, and HB 599, changing distribution of digital curriculum funds to a needs-based process. The Senate also approved HB 544 on military leave, HB 642 on death benefits for surviving spouses and dependent children of fallen public safety officers and firefighters, HB 560 allowing county election workers to be drawn from the jury pool, HB 697 separating election-crime offenses into distinct code sections, HB 698 closing a loophole for out-of-state felony convictions, HB 503 transferring the Soil and Water Conservation Commission to the Department of Water Resources, and HB 676 on geothermal water applications, which began debate on Boise’s geothermal system before the transcript ended. Most final votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, with the main recorded opposition on SB 1347, SB 1379, and HB 581.

Transcript Highlights:

• So not only are our agencies themselves reliant on federal funding, but the employees that carry out
• and the federal employees, right?
• We have 2000 that are 100% funded by federal employees and 3800 but partially funded.
• I think that in the Environment department, we picked up all the federal employees pay.
• And the employee losses could be more costly than what the Medicaid losses are gonna be.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• All the other state employees, Senator Nichols, would obviously be subject to the bill."
• It's a very different dynamic than what the other state employees have." Thank you, sir.
• So all state employees..."
• I think that's a separate thing from a deduction for a 401k that you described for an employee.
• I'm a retired state employee on a fixed income, including my Social Security.

Bills: SB383 , SB1012 , SB1181 , SB1705 , SB2075 , SB2221 , SB2586 , SB2864 , SB2994

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: SB 383, ERCOT, Texas Utilities Code, interconnection, wind power facility, offshore wind, coastal wind, nearshore wind, Gulf of America, Texas coast, three marine leagues, electric grid, transmission line, distribution facility, renewable energy, battery storage, energy storage, grid access, power grid, electric service

Summary: The committee took up a long list of pending bills before moving to several bills on the day’s posting. It reported favorably SB 438, SB 512, SB 647, SB 648, SB 715, SB 758, SB 1964, SB 2121, SB 2145, SB 2167, SB 2330, SB 2349, SB 2443, SB 2629, SB 2702, SB 1495, and SB 2268, with several of those adopted from committee substitutes. Some measures were sent to the local and uncontested calendar, while others were reported to the full Senate. Votes on the pending-business bills were generally strong, though SB 715 and SB 2330 drew recorded opposition; SB 647 and SB 648 had one member present not voting because of confusion over the deed-related bills. A major discussion centered on SB 715, which would establish a reliability standard and penalties/incentives for generation resources. Senator Sparks said the committee substitute would avoid unfairly penalizing existing dispatchable generation, allow wind and solar to qualify through storage or backup power, give the PUC flexibility to set standards and phase in the program, and exempt switchable units. Critics raised concerns that it could raise consumer costs and destabilize the market, while supporters argued it would improve reliability. The committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported out 6-4. The committee also heard testimony on SB 2330, dealing with payroll deduction for association dues, where the author said the bill would end state involvement in dues collection except for first responders covered by meet-and-confer agreements. Members questioned why teachers and other employees were treated differently, and the bill was reported out 6-5. Other notable bills included SB 2864 on building-integrated photovoltaics, SB 1012 on sale of surplus state property, SB 2221 on fraudulent UCC filings, SB 1705 regulating cryptocurrency kiosks with licensing, transaction limits, fee caps, and a 72-hour hold, SB 1181 on combative sports licensing, SB 2586 on HOA transparency, SB 2075 as a TDLR cleanup bill, and SB 383 restricting offshore wind interconnection based on impacts to shipping, wildlife, and coastal interests. Several of these were left pending after testimony, with SB 1705 drawing both law enforcement support and industry concerns over the fee caps and limits.

Transcript Highlights:

• Physician groups, hospital networks, and private practices have instituted policies that barred their employee
• Make SB 1089 a true valued benefit to the state employees and ultimately to all Californians.
• As the largest purchaser of public employee health benefits in California, the program provides coverage
• The bill ensures that California state and local government employees have access to GLP-1 medications
• And my age of my employees changed by one year and that's just ludicrous.

Summary: The committee heard SB 1377, which would change California’s medical exemption process for school immunizations. The author and supporters argued the bill would restore physician discretion, reduce fear of audits and discipline, and help families with medically vulnerable children obtain exemptions. Opponents, including pediatric, medical, and public health groups, said the current system created by SB 276 and SB 277 is working, that valid exemptions are still being issued, and that loosening oversight could undermine immunization rates and public health. Members debated the data behind claims of a chilling effect, the number of exemptions reviewed or revoked, and the bill’s amendments, which narrowed the measure to current exemptions and added a small additional threshold. Because there was no quorum at the time, action on SB 1377 was delayed until a quorum could be present. The committee then heard SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act, which would create a statewide inspection and enforcement framework for large voluntary residential facilities, including private immigration detention centers. The author and supporters described alleged neglect and abuse in detention facilities, including denial of medication, unsafe food and water, and inadequate oversight, and argued the state should ensure humane conditions and accountability. The California Hospital Association expressed concern about duplicative oversight and possible overlap with existing regulation, while the author said the bill was being refined to avoid constitutional problems and duplication. The committee voted to do pass and re-refer SB 995 to Judiciary, with the roll call showing five votes and the bill placed on call. SB 1089 was also heard, proposing expanded access to GLP-1 medications for state and local government employees through CalPERS and encouraging broader affordability efforts through CalRx. The author framed the bill as a response to chronic weight disease, diabetes risk, and high costs, and described his own experience obtaining and paying for GLP-1 treatment. Supporters from the American Diabetes Association and medical groups said GLP-1s are effective tools for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes and could reduce long-term health costs. No opposition was heard, and the committee voted do pass and re-refer the bill to Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement, with the vote placed on call. The committee also began SB 1221 on Murphy conservatorships, with supporters and opponents debating whether district attorneys should have a larger role in these proceedings and whether the bill would improve public safety or disrupt the civil mental health process; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• per calendar year related to licensed distributor organizations. ...of $100 per employee per calendar
• An officer, director, shareholder, agent, or employee of a distributor may not play or conduct games.
• An officer, director, shareholder, agent, or employee of a distributor may not play or conduct games.
• A lessor's employee may not conduct games at the site when they have worked that day unless it was in
• A lessor may not require an organization employee to assist in the lessor's business.

Committee: Joint Judiciary Committee

Summary: The Judiciary Interim Committee met to continue its study of charitable gaming, especially the ownership of alcoholic beverage establishments by licensed charitable gaming organizations and the relationship between charities, site owners, and gaming manufacturers/distributors. Legislative Council reviewed the background memo and Attorney General’s Gaming Division explained the legal framework, including site authorizations, rent limits, allowable expenses, and restrictions on distributors and manufacturers. Members focused heavily on electronic pull tabs, asking about the large gap between gross proceeds and adjusted proceeds, how much is paid out in winnings, how much is retained for expenses, and whether the 60% allowable-expense cap is being used as intended. The AG’s office said e-tabs account for most gaming volume, that winnings make up much of the difference, and that some organizations do not use the full 60% while others may exceed it, though only the capped amount counts as gaming expense. The committee also discussed the number of gaming organizations that appear to own or be affiliated with bars, the ways those ownership structures are formed, and whether some arrangements may create conflicts or site-selection pressure. The League of Cities and the Association of Counties described the local site-authorization process and recent model policies adopted after the 2025 session. Cities said they can require signed agreements, limit games and machines, set qualifications, and charge up to $100 for site authorization, but cannot require charities to donate net proceeds or force a specific charity or site. They said the new policies are meant to add transparency and local control, though the more controversial parts involve requiring a local nexus or community connection. County representatives said the issue is mostly a city matter and that counties generally take a lighter-touch approach. Committee members raised concerns about whether local rules could unfairly exclude larger regional charities or create inconsistent standards across cities. The North Dakota Gaming Alliance said it supports the study and provided information on charities that own or are affiliated with bars, emphasizing that most gaming organizations do not own alcoholic beverage establishments. Its representative said some charities may pursue bar ownership for site stability and diversification, while others decide against it because operating a bar is difficult. He also said a ban on charity-owned bars could raise federal tax-law issues depending on how it is written, and agreed to provide more detail. The committee asked Legislative Council and the Gaming Alliance for additional information on ownership structures and federal-law questions before the next meeting. Later, the Racing Commission gave a separate update on live racing, pari-mutuel wagering, and related charitable partnerships, and the State Hospital superintendent reported on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s support services, staffing, and wait lists; no votes were taken on these presentations.