Transcript Highlights:

• Our water main broke outside the Maple Street School, where I teach sixth grade.
• If this bill would then cause an equivalency that would diminish the Holocaust and water it down, so
• I think Dana referred to that, that actually implementing regulations was a painstaking process that
• I think Dana referred to that, that actually implementing regulations was a painstaking process that
• I think Dana referred to that, that actually implementing regulations was a painstaking process that

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Policy Committee opened a hearing on HB 748, which would establish a local education freedom account (EFA) program. The prime sponsor, Rep. Kevin Verville, described the bill as enabling legislation that would let local voters decide whether to create a local EFA program by petition and ballot vote, with a 60% threshold to approve or repeal it. He argued that public education is about funding rather than a specific school building, said the proposal would expand parental choice, and cited Deerfield’s move from a single high school option to multiple tuitioned options as an example of local flexibility. Verville said the local EFA would be funded at twice the state adequacy amount, with the district matching the state portion, while other aid categories such as free and reduced meals, English language learner, and special education aid would not be doubled. He said students using a local EFA would still count in average daily membership, that unspent EFA funds would revert to the district, and that the bill would prohibit double-dipping with other scholarship or EFA programs. He also said special education services would remain under district discretion and that local EFA participants would still take statewide assessments for accountability. Committee members pressed him on several issues, especially special education, transportation, and fairness. Rep. Woodcock and Rep. Murray asked whether districts would still have to provide special education and transportation services if a student used a local EFA; Verville responded that special education would remain in the local district at district discretion, while transportation would generally become the family’s responsibility unless already required in an IEP. Rep. Cornell raised an equity concern about no income eligibility cap, asking whether higher-income families should receive the same public support; Verville replied that New Hampshire does not means-test public education and that the local EFA is a public funding mechanism, not a tuition subsidy that would cover full private-school costs. No vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other funds being Arts and Cultural Heritage, Clean Water, and Parks and Trails.
• ,</c><00:04:16.680><c> and</c><00:04:16.720><c> Parks</c><00:04:16.959><c> and</c> Heritage, Clean Water
• , and Parks and Heritage, Clean Water, and Parks and Trails.
• It's usually soil and water conservation districts and the grantee and the DNR working together.
• It's usually soil and water tandem.

Bills: HF3564

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: Greater Minnesota, regional parks, trails, grants, local government, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:46.520><c> canoe</c> the lake from The Boundary Waters canoe the lake from The Boundary Waters
• system that runs into the Boundary Waters.
• system that runs into the Boundary Waters.
• system that runs into the Boundary Waters.
• system that runs into the Boundary Waters.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• growing pains of infrastructure and roads, and how we're going to provide electricity and sewer and water
• When that river, that body formation water, moves through somebody's land, and then it looks as if what
• Really, you should be getting them from across the water, across the other side.
• And as I read this, as the original law reads, it talks about should this body of water take all these

Bills: HB1823 , HB3031 , HB3369 , HB3378 , HB3429 , HB3624 , HB3657 , HB3880 , HB4215 , HB4476

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Keywords: housing finance, Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, publication requirements, housing policy, state regulations, HB3031, North Pointe Workforce Development Initiative, workforce development, job training, skills training, job placement, local hiring, economic development, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, revolving fund, state treasury, appropriation, budget, workforce investment, employment outcomes

Summary: The Senate Economic Development, Workforce, and Tourism Committee met for a work session focused largely on executive nominations and several House bills. The committee advanced nominations for Jared Lundry and Norville Ritter to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission, Amy Blackburn as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, and Jason Kays to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, with each nominee describing their background and priorities and receiving favorable roll-call votes. Members also considered and advanced a series of bills affecting housing, tourism, workforce, and related programs. HB 1823 would require the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency to provide advance notice of HOME program changes, limit retroactive rule changes, and give preference to nonprofit grant recipients; it passed 8-1. HB 4476 created a revolving fund related to a music industry rebate program and passed 7-2 after an amendment raising a threshold from 25,000 to 28,000. HB 3880 updated tourism advertising law to include digital media and allowed the Oklahoma Today magazine to move online, with an amendment making publication permissive rather than mandatory; it passed 8-1. HB 3031 created a revolving fund for workforce development tied to skilled trades and the North Point Workforce Development Initiative, and HB 3378 staggered terms on the Oklahoma Science and Technology Research and Development Board; both passed. The committee also passed HB 3369, which aligned LP gas and fire-suppression rules for mobile food vendors and required annual fire safety training, HB 3429, which authorized up to $50 million in bonds for CareerTech-related economic development projects, HB 3657, which clarified agricultural labor reporting and allowed OESC to share workforce data with the Workforce Commission, and HB 4215, which lowered the minimum spend threshold for Oklahoma film post-production incentives from $50,000 to $20,000. Finally, HB 3624, a controversial bill changing how county lines are determined along shifting waterways, drew extensive debate over taxation, property records, and rural impacts before passing 6-5. The chair noted the committee likely had one more meeting remaining and invited further suggested language on the county-line issue.

Transcript Highlights:

• like infrastructure, new traffic lanes, traffic lights, utilities are brought in by the developer, water
• For example, we're paying, uh, we paid $15 million in general fund money for a water project at Mountain
• Anderson Ranch Dam, for example, will not be holding water this year, even though we're spending $125
• And in the majority of years, it will not hold water even after it's raised six feet.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you remember that high-velocity wind and what it was, we had a great deal of fire over standing water
• Those dollars, with salt and water conservation, helped fund the saltwater conservation districts.
• The unique thing about this particular fire is that a lot of that land was currently under standing water
• This fire burned on top of the water through all that brush.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because usually, I think NCL is the only American flagship that we have sailing in our waters.
• have sailing American flagship that we have sailing in<00:19:38.640><c> our</c><00:19:38.799><c> waters
• </c> in our waters. in our waters.

Bills: SB2816

Committee: House Tourism

Keywords: enterprise zones, economic development, innovation enterprise, job creation, Hawaii, 910, house, all

Summary: The committees heard House Bill 2195, HD1, which would replace the existing transit accommodations tax on cruise ships with a per-passenger infrastructure fee collected by the Department of Transportation and deposited into a new cruise ship special fund. Testimony included support from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and comments from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii warning that the bill should remain narrowly tied to harbor-related uses to avoid potential Tonnage Clause issues. The Department of Transportation testified that cruise-related harbor work includes pier repairs, dredging, terminal upgrades, and shore power, and said a dedicated revenue stream would help prioritize cruise infrastructure needs. The Attorney General’s office said it had submitted written comments but did not address questions about the litigation or constitutional background. Members questioned whether the new special fund was necessary when the existing harbor special fund already finances similar improvements. DOT said the funds overlap and suggested the bill could be amended to use the harbor special fund with a separate cruise subaccount, while still preserving a dedicated revenue stream and separate accounting. DOT also said it currently collects port entry, dockage, and per-head passenger fees from cruise ships and that existing cruise-related expenditures from the harbor special fund have not been challenged. The chair ultimately recommended moving HB 2195 forward as introduced, while continuing discussions about the fund structure and awaiting further clarity from the Attorney General and DOT. In decision-making, the committees voted to pass HB 2195, HD1, as is. They also voted to pass House Bill 916, HD1, relating to the low-income housing tax credit, which would allow certain state low-income housing tax credits to offset state transient accommodations taxes in the same county and make Act 129 of 2016 permanent. Both the Committee on Tourism and the Committee on Economic Development and Technology adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass HB 916, HD1, unamended. The hearing was then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• First reading of bills: HB 2937, Nuclear Energy and Water and Commerce; HB 2974, bylaws; HB 2979, credit
• Defamation Act; HB 4008, commerce and judiciary; HB 4009, data center, natural resources, energy and water
• Chairman, your Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water has had under consideration HB 2096 and
• Chairman, your committee on National Resources Energy and Water has been consideration HB2096 and respectfully

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of Dr. Jimmy Sade as Doctor of the Day. Members also read a proclamation honoring law enforcement officers involved in rescuing an eight-year-old boy from a human trafficking situation, with several members praising interagency cooperation and the officers’ actions. The chamber then handled routine business, including committee substitutions, referral of HB 2245 to Appropriations, and first and second readings of numerous bills covering topics such as energy, taxes, education, health, public safety, commerce, and elections. The House resolved into Committee of the Whole and considered HB 2096, HB 2173, HB 2451, and HCR 2001. HB 2096, HB 2173, and HB 2451 were all recommended do pass. HCR 2001, a proposed constitutional amendment on election requirements, drew extensive debate over voter ID, citizenship verification, foreign funding restrictions, and changes affecting early voting and mail ballots. A sub-floor amendment to HCR 2001 passed 32-26, and the resolution then received a do-pass recommendation in Committee of the Whole. HB 2121 was retained on the calendar. On third reading, HB 2010 passed 59-0 on digital consumer licensing disclosures; HB 2132 passed 59-0 on drug offenses; HB 2155 passed 57-2 on continuing the Arizona Beef Council; HB 2178 passed 51-9 on state agency medical credential requirements; HB 2310 passed 59-0 on employment relationships; and HB 2395 passed 59-0 on a Department of Education-related fitness/PE reporting measure. HCR 2001 then passed the House 32-27 and was sent to the Senate. The House also adopted the Committee of the Whole report, referred the passed measures to engrossing, and later adjourned until Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, there is an allowable 50% surcharge on water for those that are beyond the municipal boundary
• It waters it down to a study by DOT. Okay, members, do we have any questions on the amendment?
• for ensuring the availability of critical infrastructure resources such as electricity, fuel, and water
• or whatever it might be, and if it runs into an obstacle, maybe it's a... ...fire hydrant spraying water

Transcript Highlights:

• dollar for dollar, penny for penny, out of police, teacher pay, special ed, road and bridge repair, water
• They need water infrastructure. They need police.
• hull, and that consists of our basic needs as human beings: needs of security, needs of safety, food, water
• hull, and that consists of our basic needs as human beings, needs of security, needs of safety, food, water

Summary: The House opened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal. Messages from the Senate were received, including Senate Joint Memorial 108 and Senate Bills 1227, 1226, and 1225, which were filed for first reading and referred to committees. Standing committee reports also moved House Bill 557 and House Concurrent Resolution 25 to the second reading calendar, and several new House bills were introduced, including measures on civil asset forfeiture reporting, the Idaho Consumer Asset Recovery Fund, license plates, and juvenile transition services. The main floor action centered on House Bill 559, a tax conformity bill tied to the federal tax changes described by supporters as providing relief for workers, seniors, and businesses. Supporters argued it would preserve federal tax benefits for Idahoans, including provisions on tips, overtime, standard deductions, and research and experimentation expensing, and said the fiscal note was a reasonable estimate. Opponents argued the bill would significantly reduce state revenue at a time of budget shortfalls, warned it could force cuts to services such as education, health care, roads, and public safety, and questioned whether the fiscal note fully captured the bill’s cost. Members also raised questions about business underpayments and the treatment of certain deductions. The House first voted to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of House Bill 559 by a two-thirds vote, then debated the bill at length. After debate closed, the House passed House Bill 559 by a vote of 59-9, approved the title, and transmitted the bill to the Senate. The chamber then held third-reading bills one legislative day and moved to announcements and committee schedule notices before adjourning until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jaxport to the can build this new the most AI technology, simple of the action with the ship on the water
• I was just wondering, you know, how you are thinking about handling waste water at the Spaceports you're
• And what happened this past summer was Apalachicola faced an issue where they had a sudden putrid water
• great job on a pledge co after after that, we all of the businesses were shutting down because the water

Transcript Highlights:

• But that way every year we know we're going to spend money on public water, public infrastructure, and
• that's important. ...to spend money on public water, public infrastructure, and that's important.
• all the police stations and community centers, those sort of things can take second place over clean water
• that we are doing here really does impact people on a day-to-day basis, especially around the clean water

Bills: HF719 , HF2484 , HF2486

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: safety, school transportation, infrastructure, capital investment, state bonds, library construction, education funding, early childhood, child protection, funding, bonds, education facilities, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Because if you look at that, they're doing water testing, they're doing population health.
• Because if you look at that, they're doing water testing, they're doing population health.
• testing, as you may know, the Minnesota Department of Health does support our clean drinking water,
• </c> you and um to your example of water you and um to your example of water testing<00:53:44.880><c>
• </c><00:53:51.200><c> and</c> um support our clean drinking water and um support our clean drinking water

Bills: HF10 , HF27

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, permit to carry, concealed carry, handgun permit, firearm permit, pistol training, sheriff, application process, electronic filing, mail application, fax submission, certified mail, certified delivery, gun rights, Second Amendment, firearms regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no water source there.
• Do you mind if I... water source there. So, we send out fire water source there.
• So, there is no infrastructure for water out there.
• So, water, um snacks, and comfortable.
• We test our water generators. We test our water purification. purification. purification.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on hazard mitigation planning and recent tsunami and wildfire threats. Chair Dela Buladi opened by framing the meeting around the need for iterative disaster planning and lessons learned from events such as the Lahaina wildfires, the Puna Coast earthquake/tsunami, and recent wildfire activity. The committee heard first from Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Tomage Magno, who explained the federal and local hazard mitigation planning process, including the requirement for an active five-year mitigation plan to qualify for federal disaster funds. He described the plan as a living document built from prior plans, public and agency outreach, risk and capability assessments, and ongoing updates, with county departments, state agencies, and subject matter experts participating in the process. Magno outlined several FEMA-related mitigation funding programs, including flood mitigation assistance, post-fire assistance, pre-disaster mitigation, revolving loan funds, and dam safety grants. He emphasized that the Hawaii County plan was recently approved by FEMA, that the county council approves the plan, and that the county reviews it annually with a formal revision process beginning in the fourth year. Members asked about how the plan tracks project status, how priorities and funding changes are handled, and whether federal funding programs might be affected by HR1; Magno said the county is proceeding on the assumption that funding will remain available and noted some sources have been reestablished. He also said the county encourages council participation in meetings and planning. Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen then addressed the committee on DOT’s response to a recent tsunami threat, saying the agency had about four hours to prepare before the first wave arrival and was focused on its own operational response rather than the broader statewide planning process. In response to questions, he stated that FHWA funds cannot be used for evacuation routes, which is why prior legislative funding was important. Members also discussed specific mitigation projects such as fire breaks, bridge retrofits, and the Singing Bridge, with DOT noting that work is underway and that a replacement bridge upstream is being planned to carry traffic during repairs. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Senator Waters is not going to be here. Okay. And Senator Waters is... ...of the Senate.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Summary: The committee of conference on SB 108 reported that the House and Senate had reached full agreement on the bill. Members noted they were “very flexible,” thanked each other for working together, and formally closed the hearing with unanimous concurrence. The meeting then moved to the Energy Committee of Conference on SB 232. The Senate stated it would agree with the House version of the bill, with no opposition voiced. The exchange was brief and cordial, with members thanking one another and indicating the matter was settled. No substantive policy debate or testimony was presented in either segment, and no recorded votes were taken beyond the stated concurrence and agreement on both bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• on this regulation set of regulations?
• regulations? regulations?
• </c> regulation. Thank you. regulation. Thank you.
• </c> set of regulations? set of regulations?
• regulations? regulations?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then recognized a staff member’s birthday and a guest shadowing Senator Adams. It then moved into informational review of Education and Labor Cabinet, Department of Education regulation 702 KAR 3:30, which sets insurance coverage requirements for school district buildings and structures. Department of Education officials explained that districts are expected to carry coverage at replacement cost and said they understand some districts participate in self-insurance pools with backup policies, but they deferred detailed insurance questions to the Department of Insurance. Senators raised concerns that pooled coverage could leave districts exposed if claims exceed pool limits, and the chair asked KDE to follow up with DOI to confirm districts are adequately covered, especially for bondholders. No vote was taken on the informational review. The committee then reviewed emergency ABC regulations 804 KAR 130:01 through 130:04 implementing Senate Bill 100’s new licensing requirements for tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product businesses. ABC and Public Protection Cabinet representatives outlined the emergency rules governing enforcement, license applications, denial criteria, and transitional licenses. Retail industry witnesses Shannon Stiglet and Brian Clark said they support licensure in principle but argued the rules add duplicative requirements borrowed from alcohol licensing, create confusion about transitional licenses, and may be too burdensome for the roughly 7,000 affected businesses to meet by the January 1 deadline. They also said guidance has been inconsistent and requested the agency revise the regulations, remove requirements not grounded in law, and provide clearer, separate processes for new and existing businesses. Committee members asked whether the industry had worked directly with ABC and noted the public comment period was still open. Witnesses said they had communicated with ABC and the Public Protection Cabinet, but responses had been uneven and they wanted written guidance. Members expressed concern about the short timeline and the need to avoid disruption so businesses can operate legally on January 1. Representative Marzian asked for clarification that the discussion concerned emergency regulations already in effect while ordinary regulations remain in process. No formal action was taken beyond receiving the informational testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• urging the Congress of the United States to authorize a reliability report on Marine Highway 65 in the Water
• urging the Congress of the United States to authorize a reliability report on Marine Highway 65 in the Water
• more uniform system so we can better create a process for bonding under the law with the right regulations
• c><02:03:06.960><c> right</c> under the law with the the right under the law with the the right regulations
• or at least enough of regulations or at least enough of nothing<02:03:09.920><c> is</c><02:03:10.239

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As you can imagine, we have a lot of regulations and oversight into the work from the money that we're
• what they're doing, despite the type of practice they have, they are not subject to local zoning regulations
• 00:45:43.440><c> to</c><00:45:43.880><c> local</c><00:45:44.280><c> zoning</c><00:45:45.319><c> regulations
• </c> subject to local zoning regulations subject to local zoning regulations which<00:45:46.920><c> quite
• </c><01:32:35.639><c> know</c><01:32:35.920><c> the</c><01:32:36.119><c> high</c><01:32:36.320><c> water

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Number two, it adds water infrastructure among the list of prioritized grants to non-profits.
• And three, the substitute gives priority to municipal utility districts in qualifying counties for water

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's education, it's tax relief, and it's water projects.
• You know, rural North Dakota, it's education, it's tax relief, and it's water projects.
• It was leaking water from the roof and from the foundation, and so it was in need of some repairs.
• So we're implementing some water mitigation strategies to help protect that building for the long term
• And then the bottom right is a photo of the water line that has been brought in.

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes before hearing a series of informational updates. The Petroleum Council reported that North Dakota oil production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with activity shifting northward in the Bakken as technology improves and three- and four-mile laterals boost well performance. The presentation also discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, the importance of pipelines and other linear infrastructure, and enhanced oil recovery pilot projects supported by state and federal funding. Members asked questions about gas production taxes, natural gas liquids, and the outlook for drilling rigs and future production. The Office of State Tax Commissioner then reviewed the federal “big beautiful bill” and its estimated effect on North Dakota individual and business income tax collections. Staff explained that most of the individual income tax impact comes from the permanent increase in the standard deduction, while temporary provisions such as senior deductions, tip and overtime exclusions, and auto loan interest deductions have smaller or limited-term effects. They also noted that business tax changes, especially depreciation and expensing provisions, create a larger near-term cash impact, and that some FY25 collections likely reflected one-time oil field transactions that may have inflated the baseline used in earlier estimates. OMB provided updates on major capital projects and facility funding. For Capitol grounds improvements, officials described plans for 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding upgrades, public seating, lighting, tree management, and possible restroom and lobby reconfiguration, while also noting the governor’s residence security project and the discovery of human remains on the Capitol grounds. OMB and its consultants also reported on the state facility maintenance fund, including window replacement, boiler work, roof and foundation repairs, and a new facility conditions assessment covering more state buildings. Updates were also given on the new state hospital in Jamestown, the Minot state office building, and the use of federal state fiscal recovery funds, including possible future reallocations to the Department of Corrections. Finally, Legislative Council staff summarized the interim compliance report on legislative intent and trust fund activity, highlighting the status of lines of credit, Bank of North Dakota profit transfers, the statewide litigation pool, the new Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, corrections planning, HHS program updates, and a likely future general fund request for the unemployment insurance modernization project. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes; the meeting was primarily informational, with members asking clarifying questions throughout.