Transcript Highlights:

• what the agency, what's gone on now into the new year, and we'll ask lots of questions if we don't cover
• With me today, I have Donna Schmidt, who's going to cover... ...mineral resources.
• With me today I have Donna Schmidt, who's going to cover a couple slides relating to the budget.
• overall look at the Industrial Commission, I think everybody here is familiar with that, so I won't cover
• But, you know, it's frustrating because there's basically three entities, Nutrien, CHS, and a tiger,

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division budget section and first reviewed the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s budget and program update. Legislative Council outlined the agency’s base budget and historical funding, and Housing Finance staff reported on homeownership lending, housing incentive fund (HIF) awards, and homeless grant spending. Agency officials said the five new FTEs approved last session are mostly filled, with one homeless program manager still open. They described strong demand for HIF, noting that September 2025 multifamily requests exceeded $73 million while only $25 million was available, and that single-family and homeless programs are also heavily subscribed. Members discussed the agency’s local loan servicing workload, interest-rate benefits, down payment assistance, and the need to coordinate housing discussions with Commerce and site-preparation efforts. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased, and committee members emphasized accountability and statewide access for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing funds. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and agency initiatives. Staff reported that the department is on track financially, that most of the five new reclamation-related FTEs are hired, and that litigation costs tied to oil and gas matters are expected to continue appearing late in the biennium. The director reviewed ongoing modernization and organizational efforts, including the North Star IT project, succession planning, training, and rulemaking for oil and gas and critical minerals. Members asked about longer laterals, spacing, and production trends; the department said operators are increasingly drilling three-, four-, and even an initial five-mile lateral, which is helping keep North Dakota oil production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. The director also discussed oil price volatility tied to Middle East conflict, hedging practices among producers, gas capture remaining around 95%, and the likelihood that current production levels will stay near flat unless prices or geopolitical conditions change significantly. An update on the enhanced oil recovery grant program followed. The Industrial Commission’s grant administrator said the full $25 million appropriation was allocated in the fall to six projects, and because the oil and gas research fund also had carryover and biennial tax revenue, total awards reached about $45.1 million. The projects are expected to run two to four years, with meaningful results not likely until mid-2026 or later. Members questioned whether the public would have access to the research findings and how accountability would be maintained; staff said the grants are reimbursement-based, require regular status reports, and will culminate in public final reports. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, which updated members on natural gas transmission projects, especially WBI Energy’s proposed Bakken East pipeline. The authority said the project has advanced through a nonbinding and then binding open season, with WBI now securing survey permissions and moving through regulatory and landowner processes, while other related gas transmission projects near Minot and Epping are also in development.

Transcript Highlights:

• So a lot of these boards and commissions within different entities that help operate these farms are
• rework because there had been some, I think, some litigation in play, but some confusion over what was covered
• , what wasn't covered under the statute.
• because there had been some I think some litigation in play but but some confusion over what was covered
• what wasn't covered under the statute so this bill today is a very narrow piece it is it is it will

Bills: HB2459 , HB2480 , HB2530 , HB2129 , HB2223

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: school siting, urban growth, education policy, zoning regulations, community planning, residential development, commercial zones, mixed-use zoning, urban planning, state regulations, public facilities district, regional aquatics, sports facilities, local government, infrastructure, agritourism, agriculture, tourism, economic development, local businesses

Transcript Highlights:

• We have one push left up through the peninsula, and then we will have covered the entire state and have
• There are many entities involved: the referring hospital, the organ procurement organization, the transplant
• I was curious: how big of an area do you cover, your organization? Yeah, that's a great question.
• So we cover all of Alaska, Montana, the northern part of Idaho, and the majority of...
• There is an organ procurement organization in Portland that covers three small counties on the very south

Committee: Joint Joint Select Committee on Health Care and Behavioral Health Oversight

Summary: The committee met to hear introductory briefings from the Department of Health and the Health Care Authority on agency priorities, federal changes, and implementation challenges. Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham said his department’s listening tour is focused on strengthening governmental public health, improving health care quality and access, and responding to federal funding disruptions and the shutdown’s effects on programs such as WIC. HCA Director Ryan Moran said the agency is prioritizing coverage preservation, oversight of major contracts, affordability, behavioral health integration, rural health transformation, and internal agency operations. Members asked about licensure delays; Worsham said the backlog had been reduced from about four months to six weeks and should be caught up by January 1, with possible further process changes if needed. A major portion of the meeting focused on H.R. 1 and its Medicaid-related implementation. Governor’s health policy advisor Caitlin Stafford, HCA staff, and interim Medicaid Director Trinity Wilson said the state is working with DSHS, the Health Benefit Exchange, tribes, and other partners to prepare for eligibility changes, work requirements, and six-month redeterminations. They said the state expects up to 30,000 Apple Health enrollees could lose coverage under the law’s non-citizen eligibility changes, and that the work requirement/redetermination provisions could affect about 620,000 adults, with roughly 80,000 also enrolled in SNAP. HCA said it hopes to automate most verification, but about 15% to 20% of cases may require manual review, with technology costs estimated at up to $30 million. Staff also said they are trying to keep H.R. 1 implementation mostly in budget language rather than statute, and that communication and navigator support will be important to minimize confusion and coverage loss. The committee also received an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program created in H.R. 1. HCA said Washington submitted its application to CMS on November 5 after extensive stakeholder engagement, including more than 310 written comments, webinars, and tribal consultation. The application centers on six initiatives: rural hospital innovation, community care and prevention, tribal investments, technology and data, workforce development, and rural behavioral health. HCA said the state is likely to receive less than the full $200 million annual amount assumed in the federal program, and that an advisory committee may be created to help guide spending over the five-year program. Members asked about palliative care, small business impacts, and communication with enrollees; HCA said it expects to share outreach toolkits and that no 2026 statutory changes are currently anticipated, though that could change. The final panels covered organ donation and transplant services. Department of Health staff explained the 2023 “Lights and Sirens” law for organ transport vehicles, including licensing, driver qualifications, insurance requirements, and use of emergency lanes and traffic preemption; the department said one company is currently licensed and there have been no complaints. LifeCenter Northwest described the organ procurement process, the legal framework under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, and the rarity and complexity of deceased donation, noting Washington has seen strong growth in donation and transplants over the past decade. University of Washington Medical Center staff then outlined its transplant programs for kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, and multi-organ transplants, describing the multidisciplinary evaluation and waitlist process and the coordination required with donor organizations and hospitals.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have an incredible relationship with just about every entity we work with, and the school district
• We try to cover a 400-mile radius, but the majority of it is in the Las Cruces and El Paso area.
• Look how the blue line almost totally covers the red line.
• I think you covered it very well. Okay. Thank you so much for the presentation, both of you.
• That's a great question and something I should have covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're saying that a homeowner has to create the MUD district because the MUD district covers homeowners
• I'm not debating the merits of your message, I just want to understand what it covers. Yeah.
• describe who we were talking about in terms of the employee that was coming into Texas. or whether it covered
• from enforcing rules or deed restrictions imposed by a homeowners association or by other private entities
• It does not change existing neighborhood character or affect impervious cover, but allows for smarter

Bills: HB602 , HB1322 , HB1930 , HB2225 , HB2304 , HB2494 , HB3275 , HB3810 , HB3919

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: affordable housing, land use, zoning, urban planning, community development, housing crisis, mixed-use development, sustainability, municipal utility district, board of directors, qualifications, land ownership, Texas, taxation, residency, municipal approval, subdivision plans, local governance, plats, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• This is one way to be able to cover you, and I'm appreciative of that.
• What does it mean when you're trying to regulate entities that are larger than the state of California
• measure that covers companion AI from start to finish, ensuring that at every step, children's healthy
• We still have concerns with how covered harm is defined, specifically with what is meant by psychological
• We still have concerns with how covered harm is defined, specifically with what is meant by psychological

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not deal with any other entity in the state but the counties.
• It does not deal with any other entity in the state but the counties.
• It does not deal with any other entity in the state but the counties.
• It does not deal with any other entity in the state but the counties.
• It does not deal with any other entity in the state but the counties.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The stuff we're seeing now is huge, large-scale entities stealing hundreds of thousands, millions of
• we're seeing now is<00:19:44.800><c> huge,</c><00:19:45.520><c> large-scale</c><00:19:46.919><c> entities
• c><00:21:10.360><c> happened</c> But the shift happened during that same period where there were entities
• the agencies, and then went and checked a sampling of the people that were being paid the other entities
• </c> the other entities. the other entities.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a holding area for a government entity or something?
• to explore all options for entities to explore all options for increasing<00:16:19.600><c> workforce
• </c> an a government entity or something? an a government entity or something?
• Uh<01:34:50.560><c> and</c><01:34:50.960><c> it</c><01:34:51.280><c> covers</c><01:34:52.080><c> um</
• It would apply to corporate entities and LLCs, would it not? Lady from Kitten, that is correct.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was on the cover page of this, but it's also in the sheet that I provided last week on the number
• It was on the cover page of this, but it's also in the sheet that I provided last week on the number
• It was on the cover page of this, but it's also in the sheet that I provided last week on the number
• It was on the cover page of this, but it's also in the sheet that I provided last week on the number
• </c><01:18:04.560><c> that</c> with a number of different entities that with a number of different entities

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission to study the cost of special education met, confirmed a quorum, introduced members and guests, and approved the minutes from the October 29 meeting. Members noted the commission’s mandate under Senate Bill 57 and emphasized the need to focus on recommendations and findings by July 1, 2026. The chair also distributed additional handouts, including materials related to the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program and administrative rules tied to differentiated aid and disability determinations. The main discussion centered on how students qualify for differentiated aid under the EFA program. Matt Sutherton of the Children’s Scholarship Fund explained that the organization, which contracts with the state to administer EFAs, accepts either school-district/IEP documentation or a medical certification of disability (MCD) from a licensed medical professional. Members questioned how this process relates to the state’s special education rules and whether the school-district examiner standards in ED 107/1107.04 apply to EFAs. Sutherton said the MCD form, created with the department, requires the medical professional to sign that they are qualified to make the determination and to identify the disability. Several members expressed concern that the EFA process is less rigorous than the school-district IEP process and may be inflating disability counts. One member argued that the administrative rules cited are primarily for school districts, not EFAs, and said the Department of Education may not know how many of the roughly 890 EFA students receiving differentiated aid came through school-district documentation versus the MCD pathway. Another member said the EFA system appears more generous than the school system and raised concerns about oversight, auditing, and whether the program’s data are accurate. Sutherton said the organization reviews signed documentation, credentials, and diagnosis information, and may request additional records to help adjudicate expenses. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the prior minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We believe that is more than adequately covered by Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes section 291E-61(a)(2), which
• We believe it more than adequately covers this.
• by Hawai R statutes adequately covered by Hawai R statutes 291 291 291 e61<00:33:57.120><c> a</c><00
• </c> believe it more than adequately covers believe it more than adequately covers this<00:34:10.240>
• </c><02:09:31.920><c> cannabis</c> domain name for the entities cannabis domain name for the entities

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture and Food Systems heard testimony and began decision-making on HB 1246, which would establish the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within DCCA to regulate cannabis. Chair Tarnas described the bill as divisive and noted the hearing had received 95 testimonies in support, 135 in opposition, and 11 comments. Members were told the office would be administratively attached to DCCA, and the department emphasized it would not direct day-to-day operations. DCCA also raised concerns about banking access due to federal law, while the Department of Agriculture supported a one-plant, one-agency approach and noted its current authority over cannabis plant importation and movement. Several agencies and advocates supported the bill with cautions or requested amendments. The Department of Health said it appreciated the bill’s public health protections but remained concerned about increased adult-use access, youth mental health, pregnancy-related risks, and effects on developing brains; it requested a 12-month delayed effective date. The Attorney General’s office said legalization should include safeguards, recommended a longer implementation timeline and seed funding, and flagged issues in the bill involving impaired driving, open-container language, and penalties for under-21 possession. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill but objected to new driving and possession offenses, saying existing law already covers impaired driving. Doctors for Drug Policy Reform supported the measure, citing regulation of intoxicating cannabinoids, testing, childproof packaging, and public education as public-health benefits. Opponents focused on youth access, public safety, and the bill’s broader social effects. The Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill over access and diversion concerns, and the City and County of Honolulu Prosecutor strongly opposed legalization, citing higher-potency cannabis, youth harms, psychiatric risks, and increased poison-center calls. The Hawaiʻi Substance Abuse Coalition argued legalization should wait until prevention programs are in place and funded first, while the Hawaiʻi Family Forum and Hawaiian Republican Women also opposed the measure, citing concerns about youth exposure, added bureaucracy, and taxpayer costs. The Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi questioned the purpose of the proposed cannabis taxes, asking why cannabis should be taxed heavily if legalization is intended. The hearing continued with additional testimony after a brief audio issue for one testifier.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to say this bill covers a multitude of, you know, nonpartisan, common-sense things, as all of
• And you're telling me that there's some entity out there who collects stormwater discharge and purchases
• not seen this come to a committee, gentlemen, and whenever I, any time I see exclusive right to an entity
• that the people are not to do, they're on the commission, if they have been receiving pay from an entity
• It could be an entity. It could be a corporation.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This does not include appropriation for cars, but it does cover shortfalls, including some transportation
• Assembly Bill 442 requires the state grant-making entity to forfeit a payment due within 30 days.
• Assembly Bill 472 prohibits school districts from contracting or partnering with certain individuals or entities
• If those individuals or entities charge candidates more than $10,000 in fees and costs, the provisions
• If those individuals or entities charge candidates more than $10,000 in fees and costs, the provisions

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also passed that bill off the floor, if that sounds familiar, but we're just making sure we're covering
• documents of how they merged and I met with the executive director and another person from both entities
• documents of how they merged and I met with the executive director and another person from both entities
• ><c> Um</c><00:42:54.800><c> and</c><00:42:55.040><c> so</c><00:42:55.599><c> just</c> from both entities
• Um and so just from both entities.

Bills: SF1959 , HF2444 , SF2298 , HF2445 , SF2216 , HF2443 , HF2130 , HF1943 , HF2436 , HF2442

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: veterans, military affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Military Affairs, omnibus veterans bill, appropriations, National Guard, state active service, armory, State Armory Building Commission, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, county veterans service office, Minnesota GI Bill, Gold Star families, Blue Star families, Secret War in Laos, Hmong veterans, Laos veterans, special guerrilla units

Transcript Highlights:

• But what this basically covers is, uh, there's been some confusion, I guess, over a like if a tenant
• </c> to cover to cover uh<00:53:16.200><c> the</c><00:53:16.400><c> actual</c><00:53:16.760><c> expenses
• You mentioned Blue Cross; they're covering the greatest share of lives in the state.
• </c> mentioned Blue Cross, they're covering mentioned Blue Cross, they're covering the<01:03:35.440><
• </c> Businesses have to pay a lot to cover Businesses have to pay a lot to cover their<01:07:08.240><

Bills: HF3766 , HF3972 , HF3437 , HF4118

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: travel insurance, regulation, insurance licensing, consumer protection, travel assistance, short-term rental, vacation rental, home sharing, rental marketplace, online platform, property damage guarantee, damage waiver, reimbursement insurance, insurance regulation, commerce department, platform user, Airbnb, Vrbo, host protection, rental home marketplace

Transcript Highlights:

• only during session, but the committee kept meeting monthly in the interim last year, and we have covered
• So, we have<00:04:16.720><c> covered</c><00:04:17.040><c> the</c><00:04:17.280><c> waterfront</c><00:
• 04:17.840><c> members</c><00:04:18.799><c> and</c> have covered the waterfront members and have covered
• , whether they're for-profit or nonprofit, but private entities that have an incentive to make a profit
• , whether they're for-profit or nonprofit, but private entities that have an incentive to make a profit

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I have one long-term disability policy, which I call my cancer policy, because it will only cover any
• call my cancer policy, because it will call my cancer policy, because it will only<00:07:03.160><c> cover
• any of my lost income when only cover any of my lost income when I've<00:07:05.120><c> already</c><00
• It says entities that are excluded under this section may opt into coverage.
• </c> of giving the agencies and the entities of giving the agencies and the entities um<00:57:23.120>

Bills: HF3843 , HF3597 , HF4003 , HF3167 , HF4193

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

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

Transcript Highlights:

• qualifying for the expanded public lands access if the project is owned or operated by a foreign entity
• First, the foreign entity of concern... First, the foreign entity of concern restrictions.
• </c><03:48:34.960><c> this</c> funding if they choose to cover this funding if they choose to cover this
• The bill bans Medicaid from covering medical care for transgender youth, but allows for the same exact
• any medical care Medicaid from covering any medical care for<04:06:12.479><c> transgender</c><04:06:

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, December 18, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Entities are looking to perhaps locate a company here.
• Because it does not cover manufacturers or non-data centers. Why? Why? Why are they exempted?
• So they really cover very different areas of what a data center would be.
• Heck, I know there's a lot of cover crop and dredging that could happen for Mr. Gray.
• This bill requires health insurance plans to cover biomarker testing.

Summary: The House met on June 30, 2026, with opening ceremonies, guest introductions, a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence for two deceased community members. Members also adopted Consent Calendar 29, which included House Concurrent Resolutions 153, 154, and 156, and passed House Concurrent Resolution 157 directing the State Lottery to report on iLottery options to support traditional lottery retailers, as amended to set a February 15, 2027 reporting deadline. The chamber then considered several bills on agriculture, telecommunications, health, fire service standards, corrections, elections, and education. Among the measures passed were Senate Bill 53 on the Delaware Farm to Community Program, Senate Bill 307 on PSC authority for Lifeline telecom carriers, Senate Bill 339 clarifying advance health care directives, Senate Bill 235 extending manufactured home rent increase rules, Senate Bill 325 updating firefighter/EMS background check and membership standards, Senate Bill 309 discharging incarceration-related balances, Senate Bill 324 on constable-related handgun purchase exemptions, Senate Bill 94 on respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication access, and Senate Bill 293 creating a licensure pathway for summer camp providers in the Purchase of Care program. The House also passed Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment to protect the right to marry regardless of race or gender while explicitly preserving religious freedom. The bill drew extended debate, with supporters framing it as a safeguard against future rollbacks of marriage equality and opponents raising concerns about constitutionalizing an issue already in statute; several members explained changed votes and personal reflections before the final roll call, which passed 28-12. House Bill 188, which would allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary, also passed after amendment, despite some opposition over party-system effects. Two measures were tabled or amended after debate: Senate Bill 233 on removing snow and ice from vehicles was initially tabled to consider a truck-driver exemption amendment, then the amendment failed and the bill later passed as amended; and Senate Joint Resolution 19 on studying health care costs was tabled briefly pending legal clarification. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404, creating a three-year pilot program for AI and extended reality in schools, passed after testimony from the Department of Education emphasizing guardrails, data privacy, and teacher oversight. The transcript ends as House Bill 478 is being read in, but no final action on that bill appears in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I think that kind of covers the basics and, in the interest of getting done in a hurry, I'm happy
• Chair, I think that kind of covers the basics and, in the interest of getting done in a hurry, I'm happy
• the situation we're in, and so, uh, um, yeah, basically this is a language from nonpartisan staff to cover
• :04:31.800><c> nonpartisan</c><00:04:32.639><c> staff</c><00:04:33.639><c> to</c><00:04:33.840><c> cover
• </c> language from nonpartisan staff to cover language from nonpartisan staff to cover the<00:04:34.360

Keywords: 1183, house