Transcript Highlights:

• If you wanted to continue spending the same amount on specials and if you wanted to continue spending
• I don't see how we can keep spending the way we're spending. Oil and gas have finally peaked.
• Just like you would on any spending increases.
• They then go in Utah to spending reductions.
• But for example, if you're reducing recurring spending, how do you prioritize which recurring spending

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet, despite the success, funding is limited, and they are on a shoestring.
• Essentially, congestion is high and the options are very limited.
• Essentially congestion is high and the options are very limited.
• Sometimes it is limited to area and scope.
• So people spend less time in traffic and more time in healthy, connected neighborhoods.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of transportation bills focused on rural microtransit, commuter rail fares and service, rail electrification, climate alignment, and safety. Several speakers supported H. 4054 and related microtransit proposals, arguing that rural communities need stable, permanent funding for services like the Tri-Town Connector and Quaboag Connector, which have strong ridership, high satisfaction, and measurable economic and health benefits. Testimony also supported a commission bill to study microtransit funding and definitions, with witnesses emphasizing that current grant programs are helpful but short-term and insufficient for long-term service planning. A major theme was commuter rail equity and expansion. Boston-area officials and advocates backed bills to make all Boston commuter rail stations Zone 1A, citing large fare disparities between nearby stations in Hyde Park, Roslindale, and Readville. Related testimony supported studying an Orange Line extension from Forest Hills to Roslindale Square and expanding The Ride to Foxborough, as well as restoring commuter rail service to Cape Cod via Middleborough to Buzzards Bay and beyond. Speakers said these projects would improve access, reduce car dependence, and better serve neighborhoods and regions that currently face limited rapid transit options. Multiple panels urged action on electrification and climate-focused transportation planning, including H. 3726, the Freedom to Move Act, and bills to electrify commuter rail, buses, school buses, and public fleets. Advocates from environmental, transit, and public health groups said transportation is the state’s largest emissions source and argued that statutory goals, coordinated planning, and streamlined permitting are needed to speed decarbonization while improving safety, affordability, and reliability. The committee also heard support for a bill to streamline rail electrification permitting, a bill to exempt certain transit projects from MEPA review, and a bill to improve commuter rail pedestrian safety with gates, fencing, and warning devices at at-grade crossings. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we don't have any limitations on what they're spending, right?
• Don't have any limitations on what they're spending, right?
• There could be some districts that will incur some spending cuts.
• That will incur some spending cuts.
• If you limit it to 15% over two years, you'll have my vote.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And Duxon Limited, in support. Thank you.
• But I do have a final question: should there be term limits? We all have term limits, 12 years.
• Should there be term limits? We all have term limits 12 years. Should there be term limits?
• I want to spend more time with them.
• We will have to limit you. After the two minutes, we will go to just. We will have to limit you.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And you've limited this. I think you have limited this to $12.5 million.
• But that only limited.
• I'm talking about what we are actually spending it on.
• Help me understand why this budget limits bill. Thank you.
• And weren't there limitations on how schools could spend that money? Is that Correct? Thank you.

Bills: HB4030, HB4031, HB4032, HB4033, HB4034, HB4035, HB4036, HB4037, HB4038, HB4039, HB4040, HB4041, HB4042, HB4043, HB4044, HB4045, HB4046, HB4047, HB4048, HB4049, HB4050, HB4051, HB4052, HB4053, HB4054, HB4056, HB4057, HB4065, HB4067, HB4071, HB4072, SB1144, SB1145, SB1146, SB1147, SB1148, SB1149, SB1156, SB1157, SB1158, SB1159, SB1161, SB1162, SB1163, SB1164, SB1165, SB1166, SB1167, SB1174, SB1175, SB1176

Keywords: education funding, budget appropriations, public schools, teachers' retirement, early childhood education, aeronautics, infrastructure, funding, sustainability, Oklahoma, mining, operator fees, coal production, noncoal mining, department of mines, revenue, state budget, budgetary reform, financial legislation, fiscal accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• spending.
• That's $6.8 trillion, and the spending spending has grown by about 11% every year, so the amount of money
• And so, key to this is what has grown in the federal system. spending.
• It also made cuts to the overall mandatory spending by $1.2 trillion.
• This reduction will limit our ability to provide much of that outreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• want to spend its money on.
• It limits their input. It limits our input. We don't have the chance.
• We're limited, extremely limited on debate time. 14 hours on 21 bills. today.
• It limits our input. We their input. It limits our input.
• :27:55.919> on<00:27:56.240> debate limited, extremely uh limited on debate limited, extremely

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• have a time limit. have a time limit.
• large courtyard uh for youth to spend large courtyard uh for youth to spend time<00:09:44.320>
• kids to spend time out outdoors.
• spend it, we don't know the amounts. spend it, we don't know the amounts.
• It it and ended up being a limited.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: Division Three of the Finance Committee met in work session on April 20, 2026, to consider Senate Bills 481, 603, and 663, with the discussion focused primarily on SB 481, relative to the sale of the Sununu Youth Services Center property. The chair explained that the bill was advisory only and that the committee’s recommendations would go to full Finance on April 27. For SB 481, members reviewed conflicting provisions in the prior budget law about whether sale proceeds should go to the general fund or the Youth Development Center Claims and Administration Settlement Fund, and the bill was described as a compromise that would direct proceeds to the general fund before June 30, 2027, and to the settlement fund after that date. It was noted that the settlement fund had originally received about $20 million and had roughly $10 million remaining. The committee also received an extensive update from DCYF Director Marie Noonan on the new Youth Development Center in Hampstead. She reported that construction remained on schedule, with major structural and interior work complete, substantial completion expected in late summer or early fall 2026, and occupancy anticipated in early 2027. The presentation highlighted the facility’s design features, including single-occupancy bedrooms, sensory rooms, an education wing, medical and clinical suites, visitation space, a gym, and multiple outdoor courtyards, all intended to support a trauma-informed setting. Members asked about the facility’s funding, square footage, fencing, and scanner; staff said the building is about 34,000 square feet, funded entirely with federal ARPA state recovery funds to date, and that the scanner is on site but not yet operational pending policy and staff training. Committee members also raised concerns about the facility’s design and security. In response, DCYF said some concrete walls are required for structural and safety reasons, but they are being painted to maintain a brighter environment, and that the fencing will be about 15 feet high with privacy netting because the campus is shared with Hampstead. Officials said the new facility is legislatively limited to a maximum of 12 youth, while the current center can house 12 to 18, and emphasized that courts ultimately determine placements. No votes or final actions were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will enforce that time limit strictly.
• Instead of spending over $200 million on a special election.
• As there's way better ways to spend our tax dollars. Thank you.
• So if you don't have a time limit, so I believe the questions.
• Can you explain to me how spending $200,000- Madam Chair. This entire state, they deserve this.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're putting limitations in the bill, especially in the.
• Within all constitutional and statutory spending limits and meets the needs of our rapidly growing state
• more than we have. ...investing wisely for the future, living within our constitutional spending limits
• That's what we spend. I had 85% in the original bill.
• Spending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction to House Bill 5246.

Bills: SB27, SB1494, SB2121, SB2373, SB2431, SB1, SB8, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB30, SB37, SB260, SB268, SB331, SB379, SB441, SB447, SB457, SB568, SB650, SB763, SB1405, SB1506, SB1540, SB1566, SB1610, SB1637, SB1660, SB2018, SB2024, SB2217, SB2308, SB2337, SB2601, SB2753, SB2878, SB2900, SB2972, SB3059, HB4, HB40, HB46, HB119, HB145, HB300, HB493, HB705, HB1545, HB2011, HB2017, HB2067, HB2516, HB2885, HB2963, HB2974, HB3071, HB3372, HB3556, HB3595, HB3642, HB3909, HB5138, HB5246, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1234, SB2926, SB2841, SB1528, SB1854, SB317, SB1250, SB2082, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB2009, SB867, SB640, SB1698, SB2680, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB2334, SB1367, SB2044, SB2363, SB2565, SB1888, SB3036, SB3057, SB3043, SB3063, SB3035, SB203, SB2688, SB2522, SB2459, SB2655, SB2251, SB1884, SB2928, SB2566, SB2549, SB2553, SB2919, SB1944, SB1232, SB1798, SB2603, SB2607, SB2683, SB1319, SB3045, SB3071, HB796, HB1523, HB5294, HB748, HB3395, HB180, HB3171, HB146, HB5596, HB5694, HB1135, HB3225, HB186, HB1449, HB3793, HB112, HB104, HB3336, HB3520, HB3320, HB5663, HB2399, HB111, HB3483, HB4580, HB3748, HB632, HB4730, HB5690, HB5689, HB3385, HB4359, HB5381, HB123, HB5606, HB1057, HB3664, HCR141, HCR40, HCR59, SR634, SR687, SR703, SR709, SR715, SB1494, SB2121, SB2373, SB2431, HB46, SB1, SB8, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB37, SB260, SB331, SB379, SB441, SB447, SB457, SB568, SB763, SB1405, SB1540, SB1566, SB2018, SB2308, SB2337, SB2878, SB3059, HB705, HB2017, HB2067, HB3071, HB3372, HB3556, HB3595, HB3909, HB5246

Keywords: elections, local governance, political subdivisions, general elections, Texas Election Code, data brokers, personal data, regulation, business entities, consumer protection, financial exploitation, artificial intelligence, phishing, legal liability, criminal offense, civil penalty, foreign language, study abroad, higher education, language credit

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:32:35.120> his dying day for him never to spend his dying day for him never to spend his
• received on this I am going to limitate received on this I am going to limitate uh<01:22:40.639>
• Revenue but about responsible spending Revenue but about responsible spending this<03:50:58.640>
• by this spending cap can be overridden by this spending cap can be overridden<03:51:20.640> by
• of how water Waterville Valley spends of how water Waterville Valley spends that<04:28:05.279>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on HB 563, which would revise the education funding formula for pupils receiving special education services by replacing the current single special education amount with three differentiated categories. Representative Rick Ladd, the prime sponsor, said the bill largely tracks a House-passed version from the prior session with minor figure adjustments, and explained that the proposal uses projected FY26 amounts for three categories based on time in general education versus more intensive placements. He also noted that the bill does not address catastrophic aid directly, but that special education aid, CAT aid, and proration all remain issues for later work sessions. Ladd and supporters argued that weighted categories better reflect actual costs and are more sustainable than treating all IEPs the same. Representative Margaret Drye said the approach was one of the best ideas from the education funding subcommittee and urged the committee to support differentiated aid. Representative Ames asked how the category amounts were derived, and Ladd said Category A follows the FY26 base, Category B is a higher weight, and Category C is a still higher weight for more intensive services, though he acknowledged the exact multipliers were developed earlier and could be revisited. He also said the committee would continue discussing whether the weights are appropriate and how they interact with CAT aid. Testimony from Bonnie Dunham strongly opposed the bill. She argued that funding based on placement rather than actual service need would create incentives to move students into more restrictive settings, could stigmatize children with labels such as "Category C," and would undermine the least restrictive environment requirements under federal special education law. She described her son’s experience in inclusive settings as beneficial and said the bill would have penalized the district for serving him there. In response to questions, she said schools and parents should base funding on the child’s actual needs and costs, not on placement, and urged the committee to recommend the bill inexpedient to legislate.

Transcript Highlights:

• what doesn't fit into that 'but not limited to.'
• <00:12:03.560> to<00:12:03.760> in limited to because but not limited to in limited
• That could be as limited as uh the SAU.
• <01:06:01.320> on we have a lot of money we're spending on we have a lot of money we're spending
• amount of money we spend on children." amount of money we spend on children."

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The conference committee first discussed HB 1099, which creates a committee to study private business providing special education services and local school district reimbursement. Members explained that the issue is broader than special education alone, involving residential placements, foster care, court-ordered placements, and questions about which entity pays for education and care costs when students are placed in residential facilities. The House proposed an amendment to expand the study to include students placed in residential facilities by school districts as well as those placed through episodes of treatment or court order, and members agreed the existing commission would not resolve the issue before its July 1, 2026 expiration. Representative Coker raised concern about the phrase “but not limited to,” but members said the broader language was needed to capture placements beyond the existing statutory categories. The committee then agreed to accede to the Senate version of HB 1099 with a committee amendment, and the House voted unanimously to adopt amendment 2026-1845H. The bill was placed on the consent calendar, and the meeting adjourned. The transcript also includes a separate conference committee discussion on HB 1807, concerning mandatory reporting to voters. The main dispute was how to present administrator compensation: the House favored total administrative cost, while the Senate initially preferred average administrator salary. Members debated whether voters would be better informed by totals or averages, and whether the bill should define “administrator” more clearly by reference to DOE rules. The committee reached a tentative compromise to add both an average administrator salary graph and a total administrator cost graph, define administrators by reference to ED 501.02(B), scale the graph more precisely, and list the top 10 highest-paid administrators plus any employee earning over $100,000. Both chambers then gave unanimous support to the revised approach, with the understanding that the draft would be finalized and signed later.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're going to talk about limits of fish. How many fish should we keep? Daily possession limits.
• They're going to talk about limits of fish. How many fish should we keep? Daily possession limits.
• They're going to talk about limits of fish. How many fish should we keep? Daily possession limits.
• They're going to talk about limits of fish. How many fish should we keep? Daily possession limits.
• They're going to talk about limits of fish. How many fish should we keep? Daily possession limits.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There’s no limit there, but we asked agencies to be cognizant of the fact that we’re trying to limit
• our growth in ongoing spending.
• So it's not an increase in any spending.
• People are just going to spend under two minutes, literally, to renew a PRC application, versus spending
• Right now, the limit on that account is $100 million.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to be cognizant of the fact that we’re trying to limit our growth in ongoing spending.
• So it's not an increase in any spending.
• People are just going to spend under two minutes, literally, to renew a PRC application, versus spending
• Slide 7 is the one that I'd like to spend just a little bit more time on.
• Right now, the limit on that account is $100 million.

Summary: The Budget Section met to approve prior minutes and receive a series of budget, revenue, and program updates from OMB, the Tax Department, DOT, DMR, and DPI. OMB reported that general fund revenues through May were about $76 million below the legislative forecast, driven mainly by individual income tax and sales tax shortfalls, though the biennium is still projected to end with a positive balance. OMB also reviewed oil price and production assumptions, the budget stabilization fund transfer above its cap, Legacy Fund performance, federal grant applications, fiscal irregularities, tobacco settlement proceeds, budget guidelines for agencies, vacancy savings, and the DAPL settlement, noting that most of the settlement funds had been deposited but a small amount of accrued interest would require a future deficiency request. The committee then considered Emergency Commission requests. It approved requests for Public Service Commission abandoned mine lands federal authority, an Attorney General FTE and related funding for criminal investigator work tied to the Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, and a DPI transfer for bridge software costs. After discussion, the committee also approved DPI’s request for a $500,000 transfer for the food vendor program, despite questions about the program’s savings and cash-flow structure. Later, the Tax Commissioner presented the primary residence credit program, reporting that current biennium costs are expected to exceed the appropriation by about $22 million and explaining how the credit interacts with homestead and disabled veteran credits and the 3% property tax levy cap. The Legacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board reported strong returns for both funds, and DOT sought and received approval for two flexible fund highway projects on ND 49 and ND 31. DOT also updated members on Highway 85 construction and said remaining flex fund dollars were essentially fully allocated. DMR reported on the abandoned well plugging and site reclamation fund, noting North Dakota’s relatively small orphan well inventory, current and projected fund balances, rising remediation costs, and a possible need to adjust the fund cap in future sessions. Finally, DPI outlined the new integrated formula gap funding program, explaining that it compensates school districts that cannot reach the assumed 60-mill local contribution because of the 3% levy cap; the first year’s gap funding totaled about $1.8 million, with future costs expected to grow.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so if we're going to work on small government, we need to limit that bureaucracy, the regulations
• Do you consider this a step in the right direction towards limiting government, or maybe an opportunity
• Do you consider this a step in the right direction towards limiting government, or maybe an opportunity
• And out of the<00:07:47.120> limited<00:07:47.520> government<00:07:47.919> person
• that I am, the limited government person that I am, one<00:07:49.440> of<00:07:49.520> the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• government knows how to spend your money.
• The governor clearly had prioritized education, education spending, special education spending.
• We're either spending too much or we're not spending enough. That we hear from the other side.
• We're either spending too much or we're not spending enough. That's what we hear.
• Not spending enough, oh my God, no, you're spending too much.

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think, you know, you can see sort of in the PSA spend, that there's a significant spend there.
• And then we're 15th nationally in spending per capita.
• South Dakota, I think, was number eight in spending per capita.
• Most states in our region have annual limits for adults.
• and emergency services from their limits, so the limit usually applies to only treatment.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to review the history and current treatment of North Dakota health insurance mandates, with presentations from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Sanford Health Plan, the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and the Insurance Department. The discussion focused on how mandates apply differently to fully insured, self-funded, ACA, Medicaid, and PERS plans; how the state’s benchmark plan and federal essential health benefits affect coverage; and how the existing process requires cost-benefit analysis and, for certain measures, a PERS pilot period before broader application. Presenters also reviewed the long list of existing state mandates, including provider, beneficiary, and coverage requirements, and noted that many were enacted decades ago and have not been revisited despite changes in medical evidence and treatment options. Witnesses from the carriers argued that mandates should be reviewed periodically because some are outdated, can create unintended costs, and may not align with current medical guidance. Examples cited included PSA screening, off-label drug coverage, prior authorization rules, step therapy, and cost-sharing provisions for mental health and substance use treatment. They emphasized that carriers often cover services without a mandate when supported by clinical evidence, and that mandates can shift costs to employers and employees, especially in the fully insured small-group market. They also suggested possible policy improvements such as clearer mandate definitions, better transparency around cost-benefit analyses, a regular 10-year review of mandates, and more timely submission of proposals through the interim process. PERS and the Insurance Department highlighted a recurring tension over what counts as a mandate and when a measure triggers the state’s defrayal obligation under federal law. PERS described its interim committee process, the April 1 deadline for fiscal-impact proposals, and the limited pilot program used for certain measures, noting that only a few bills have gone through the full pilot process. The Insurance Department explained that it views new benefit mandates through the lens of the ACA benchmark plan and essential health benefits, distinguishing true new benefits, such as infertility coverage, from changes to existing benefits, such as telehealth or insulin cost-sharing caps. No votes were taken on policy changes; the meeting was informational, with members asking questions about costs, applicability, transparency, and whether a periodic mandate review should be established.

Transcript Highlights:

• So next we look at the visitor spending.
• We have an estimated daily spending for visitors by category.
• Now we look at visitor spending and the direct jobs that are coming from visitor spending.
• It's up to the counties how to spend that money, but an example of...
• Half of all renters are spending 30% or more of income on rent.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we recommend collecting more granular spending data moving forward.
• debt service. while CSU is allowed to spend up to 12%.
• Limited funding has left us unable to keep up with necessary maintenance.
• Was limited; it actually resulted in more need being rolled forward.
• Roughly half has been spent already, and now we are spending the other half.

Keywords: 988, house, all