Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:39.519><c> assistant</c><00:15:40.160><c> Bonnie</c> committee legislative assistant Bonnie
• committee legislative assistant Bonnie uh<00:15:41.040><c> I'm</c> uh I'm uh I'm sorry,<00:15:42.880
• Is there any further legislation.
• You were a legislator<00:20:46.720><c> way</c><00:20:46.880><c> back</c><00:20:47.039><c> then</c><00
• way back then when I was a legislator way back then when I was a young<00:20:48.000><c> child.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The TDI implementation study for this legislation found that only 4% of providers met the threshold for
• This legislation builds on efforts that were made during the 87th session to streamline the process of
• Legislation and TDI have to make rules with the best intent, and sometimes the natural consequences of
• in the non-legislative council.
• I really thank Representative Hernandez for bringing this important legislation forward. issue.

Bills: HB712 , HB722 , HB946 , HB1687 , HB1809 , HB1899 , HB2528 , HB2583 , HB2741 , HB2750 , HB3021 , HB3150 , HB3265 , HB3658 , HB3812 , HB3960 , HB4392 , HB4432

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: prostate cancer, health benefit plans, insurance coverage, cost sharing, preventive health care, auto insurance, total loss evaluation, disclosure, insurance materials, vehicle appraisal, HB 946, Texas Insurance Code, automobile insurance claims, oral release, written release, settlement agreement, claim release, property damage, bodily injury, psychological injury

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is, uh, Representative Bell's bill that creates the Joint Legislative Committee on Constitutional
• HB 1510 is the Texas Ethics Commission sunset review legislation.
• It is more important than ever to get this legislation across the finish line.
• Fortunately, we did pass legislation that, that cleared that up and prohibited that from happening again
• What does, what this legislation proposes negates that process by singling out discounts for some of

Bills: HB 346 , HB 1360 , HB 1510 , HB 1606 , HB 1804 , HB 1805 , HB 2156 , HB 2391 , HB 2767 , HB 3022 , HB 3044 , HB 3272 , HB 3293 , HB 3493 , HB 3809 , HB 3824 , HJR 110 , HB 2463

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: expedited service, business records, veteran-owned businesses, franchise tax, fee schedule, Texas Ethics Commission, election reporting, campaign finance, violation categorization, penalties, public disclosure, Texas Utilities Code, electric utility, retail electric provider, municipally owned utility, electric cooperative, vegetation management, tree trimming, line clearance, transmission line

Transcript Highlights:

• From the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration, pursuant to Rules 1.21 and 3.33, designates
• And while this contingent of legislators who appreciate what I'm saying today continues to grow, if we
• This is a fine amendment, and I can't imagine a legislator worth it.
• Legislators are not experts. Maybe we would all understand a cyber attack.
• House File 21 restores the proper balance between the executive and legislative branches.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lord, I ask your blessing on the legislative staff who will help these representatives carry out their
• And finally, Lord, I seek your blessing on these legislators themselves.
• Today is a historical day as we begin the 89th legislative session.
• The 88th legislative session taught us that when we stand together, we can win.
• I've carried major legislation and minor bills and experienced sessions with no bills at all.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:01:09.839><c> I</c> think you know as a former legislator I think you know as a former legislator
• I am the legislative Jenny O. Higgins.
• </c><02:18:09.280><c> is</c> pieces and the way this legislation is pieces and the way this legislation
• </c><04:08:04.319><c> um</c> want to have some legislative um want to have some legislative um guidance
• </c> in expedient to legislate. in expedient to legislate. &gt;&gt; Questions? &gt;&gt; Questions?

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• D. legislation to provide for improved public access and climate resiliency on the Mystic River and increasing
• Rush for legislation to establish a sick leave bank for Edward Gillian, an employee of the Massachusetts
• Smola for legislation to create a Legion of Merit motor vehicle license plate, to the Committee on Transportation
• Rush for legislation to establish a sick leave bank for Edward Gillian, an employee of the Massachusetts
• Smola for legislation to create a Legion of Merit motor vehicle license plate, to the Committee on Transportation

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several routine and legislative matters. It adopted a resolution commending Bill Spain on his retirement from the Castle Island Association and his work preserving Fort Independence. The House also concurred in a Senate petition concerning improved public access and climate resiliency on the Mystic River and referred it to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. The chamber suspended Joint Rule 12 for two petitions: one establishing a sick leave bank for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee and another creating a Legion of Merit motor vehicle license plate. It also suspended Rule 7A to consider House Bill 4101, relative to the Dracut Water Supply District, and ordered the bill to a third reading. On third reading, the House passed to be engrossed House 5034, waiving the maximum age requirement for Boston police officer Matthew Cummings. It also adopted an amendment to House 1338, allowing fair compensation of Massachusetts credit union directors, and passed that bill to be engrossed as amended. Finally, the House enacted Senate Bill 1646 on hot work process regulations and Senate Bill 5511 on teacher preparation and student literacy, then adopted an order to adjourn and recessed/adjourned to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration will come to order because this is a fully remote
• The Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration will designate Tuesday, May 12th, for the adoption
• c><00:03:11.560><c> on</c><00:03:11.680><c> Rules</c><00:03:12.000><c> and</c><00:03:12.120><c> Legislative
• </c> The Committee on Rules and Legislative The Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration<00:

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Wagner moved that we dispense with the reading of the journal from the previous legislative day
• All right, this bill is received a second reading and placed on the calendar for next legislative day
• and placed on the calendar<00:08:04.280><c> for</c><00:08:04.400><c> next</c><00:08:04.640><c> legislative
• </c><00:08:05.960><c> This</c> calendar for next legislative day.
• This calendar for next legislative day.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with a prayer by Senator Chris Elliott, followed by the pledge and a roll call establishing a quorum with 29 senators present. The Senate approved a motion to excuse absent senators and another to dispense with reading the previous day’s journal. In committee reports, Senate Bill 1 from the Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development received a favorable report by an 11-3 vote and was placed on the calendar for the next legislative day. No other bills were introduced or discussed in detail during the session. The presiding officer also recognized several guests in the gallery, including Jesse Godbey, Miss Debbie, and Heather Gudgear, described as the 1999 Strawberry Current Queen. The Senate then adopted a motion to adjourn until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, and adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I support your bill, I just want to know what the definition of 'entity' is per the legislation.
• But thank you for this legislation because we do know that, you know, there are folks that when other
• So, thank you for bringing this legislation. Thank you. Yes, sir.
• Um, very rarely do I come and haven't been able to go through the whole piece of legislation.
• So I understand the value in having this piece of legislation.

Bills: HB435

Committee: Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development

Keywords: manufactured homes, certificate of title, Alabama Department of Revenue, homeowner, vehicle registration, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for being the author of this very important piece of legislation. Appreciate you.
• We don't want to impose a one-size-fits-all in this legislation. That is not the intent.
• I want to also mention that we want to keep an eye toward legislative whiplash.
• Again, with an eye toward that legislative whiplash, as we now call it.
• You know, this is a priority piece of legislation for us.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we will not permit conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of legislative
• part of the legislative process.
• As legislators, we have a responsibility to spend the state's money wisely.
• Assembly Member Arons, thank you, Senator, for bringing this piece of legislation forward.
• I will say that I think, in my humble opinion, because of our legislation...

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee met first as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum, then later obtained a quorum and took up several bills. The committee heard SB 1064, which would reduce the frequency of Clean Truck Check testing for low-use heavy-duty vehicles; supporters said it would ease burdens on rural agricultural businesses, while clean air advocates opposed it as weakening an important emissions program. The bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1174, which would give Caltrans bid preferences to construction firms with employee stock ownership plans; supporters argued it would build worker wealth and improve project quality, while contractor groups opposed it as likely to raise costs and reduce competition. That bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The consent calendar items SB 607, SB 962, and SB 990 were also approved. The committee then heard SB 1279, which would allow Long Beach to place additional speed safety cameras on Pacific Coast Highway. Long Beach officials and several safety and advocacy groups supported the bill, citing high fatality rates and repeated pedestrian crashes on that corridor, while some members raised concerns about fines, affordability, and whether cameras would address pedestrian-related collisions. The bill passed as amended to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1213, the Clean Truck Transportation Act, would require more price transparency for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission truck incentives and direct agencies to explore alternative financing tools; supporters said it would improve affordability and competition, while one manufacturer and the trucking association raised implementation concerns. It passed to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader use by limiting retention to 30 days, requiring audits and training, and restricting access and hot list use. Privacy advocates supported the bill as overdue accountability, while law enforcement groups argued the retention limit would hinder investigations and that some technical definitions needed work. The bill passed to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1315, dealing with advanced driver assistance systems, would prevent automakers from disabling a consumer’s ability to drive their own vehicle through software updates and would encourage DMV testing questions about ADAS responsibilities; after amendments, industry opposition softened and the bill passed to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Finally, SB 1246, on autonomous vehicle emergency response, would require U.S.-based remote drivers, quicker on-scene response, and better coordination with local agencies; first responders and labor groups supported it, while AV industry groups remained opposed unless amended. The bill passed to the Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee. The transcript ended as the committee began hearing SB 1250, a planning bill to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation asset management, with the sponsor and supporters explaining it would improve safety and habitat planning without mandating specific projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this proposed legislation is backed by 70 or more organizations.
• A study tends to always go into a piece of legislation.
• North Fork Kings was created via special legislation rather than a JPA.
• Our GSA was established by legislation. SB 594 was an old Canella bill in 2016.
• So as a special legislation district and not...

Summary: The committee first heard SB 872, which would direct $300 million annually for 20 years to repair subsidence damage in the State Water Project and to fund Delta levee repairs. The author and supporters said the bill is needed to protect water deliveries for 27 million Californians, prevent major infrastructure and flood risks, and address long-term threats to California’s water supply. Support came from a broad coalition of water agencies, local governments, environmental groups, and business interests; there was no opposition testimony. Members discussed the scale of the funding, the beneficiary-pays issue, and whether the bill should more clearly address risk and identify likely project areas. The committee adopted amendments, and SB 872 passed 5-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call. The committee then took up SB 1305, a study bill on the feasibility of reintroducing the California grizzly bear. The author, tribal sponsors, and conservation supporters framed the bill as a science-based roadmap that would examine habitat, impacts, and implementation, while recognizing the grizzly’s cultural significance to tribes and its ecological role. Opponents, including sheriffs, cattle groups, county representatives, and a former Fish and Wildlife law enforcement official, argued that California lacks the staffing, funding, and public-safety capacity to manage another apex predator and that the state is already struggling with wolves and mountain lions. Members raised questions about the scope of the feasibility study, local control, and whether the bill should address conflict risk earlier in the process. The author agreed to work on additional amendments, and the bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations and remained on call. SB 1079, creating a Cal Fire Fire Innovation Unit to speed the testing and deployment of wildfire technologies, was heard next. The author and supporters said California has strong wildfire innovation but lacks a formal pipeline to move promising tools from pilot projects into statewide use. Supporters included Megafire Action, Fireworks, the Orange County Fire Authority, and the California Association of Realtors, which sought amendments related to nonprofit administration of grants. There was no opposition testimony. The bill passed 5-0 to Emergency Management and was placed on call. The committee also heard SB 997, which would give the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency lien authority to collect fines and fees tied to its groundwater sustainability plan. Supporters said the change would allow more efficient enforcement and avoid lengthy civil litigation; no opposition appeared. Members asked whether the authority should be extended more broadly to other statutory GSAs, and the author said discussions were ongoing. SB 997 passed 2-0 to Judiciary and was placed on call. The committee later caught up on votes for the earlier bills and then moved to SB 894, a wildfire resilience loan program modeled on Go Green to help homeowners finance home-hardening measures; it passed 5-0 to Emergency Management and was placed on call. Finally, SB 1229 was introduced by Senator Allen to strengthen coastal protections for rebuilding after disasters, beginning with the Palisades fire context, but the transcript cuts off before that bill’s full hearing concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation is offered in honor of Caleb, with the family's support and with the clear purpose to
• So we didn't pass legislation.
• It wasn't a comprehensive set of legislation, but that was a starting point.
• So the legislation was designed to work in tandem. Gotcha. Okay, thank you very much.
• He was one of the main, the other main legislator that was on this task force.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 25, 2026, with a quorum present and heard a series of education-related bills and one resolution. The committee first took up HB 636 on hazing at public post-secondary institutions. Representative LaFleur presented the bill as a response to Caleb Wilson’s death, and family members, former Rep. Jason Hughes, and other supporters urged stronger prevention, reporting, and penalties. The committee adopted amendments adding implementation details and a lifetime ban on re-chartering an organization if hazing results in death, then reported the bill as amended as the “Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act.” The committee then heard HB 218 on food insecurity screenings in public schools. LaFleur said the bill would formalize a process to identify hungry students and connect families to resources, with amendments tying the screening to existing McKinney-Vento forms and adding food-insecurity questions. Support came from charter school representatives, the Department of Education, and others, while Dr. Will Hall suggested involving caregivers and faith-based groups. The bill was reported with amendments. The committee also approved HB 626, which would require colleges and universities to provide suicide-prevention information, hotline access, and aggregated non-identifiable reporting on suicide risk. Rep. Jordan described it as a response to an uptick in suicides among college-age students, and the Board of Regents said most institutions already use telehealth or 988 resources. The bill was reported favorably. Next, the committee heard HB 749 on the administration of START, START K-12, and ABLE savings accounts. Rep. Carver said the bill would modernize and secure the program by allowing a third-party manager and online platform, while Treasury and Board of Regents staff explained that oversight would remain in place and that ABLE accounts would not be charged fees. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered HB 352 on behavioral health services for public school students. Rep. Mack and advocates from the Arc and ABA providers said the bill would ensure medically necessary services can be delivered in classrooms or other school settings, while the Louisiana Federation of Teachers asked for clearer pre-conference expectations to avoid classroom disruption. After testimony from parents, providers, and school stakeholders, the bill was reported with amendments. Finally, the committee approved HB 201 creating a state seal of fine arts for high school graduates, and HB 738 revising student disciplinary proceedings at colleges and universities to ensure evidence and fairness in disciplinary actions. Both bills were reported favorably. The committee also began hearing HCR 14, which expresses support for federal efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, but the transcript cuts off before any final action on the resolution is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is effective, proportionate, transparent, and aligned with legislative intent.
• We have people, we have some plans here that I know we've showed some of the legislative staff.
• I'm past president of CLCID, which is the California Legislative Coalition for Interior Design.
• I'm past president of CLCID, which is the California Legislative Coalition for Interior Design.
• This statement was recorded and shared with legislative staff.

Summary: The joint sunset oversight hearing reviewed five California regulatory entities: the Respiratory Care Board, the California Council for Interior Design Certification, the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board, the Board of Occupational Therapy, and the Board of Naturopathic Medicine. Each agency described its mission, recent modernization or enforcement work, and requested continuation of its authority. Committee members focused on access to care, workforce impacts, fee structures, transparency, and whether proposed changes would improve public protection without creating unnecessary barriers. For the Respiratory Care Board, the main issues were a possible move from an associate to a bachelor’s degree for entry-level licensure, fee cleanup changes, and ongoing work on the role of LVNs in respiratory tasks. Board representatives said the degree change would better align with national trends and could support future reimbursement and professional advancement, while public commenters and some legislators warned it could worsen shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas. Much of the public testimony centered on families and facilities relying on LVNs for trach and ventilator care in congregate living health facilities, with requests to preserve or expand exemptions. The board also discussed its reserve cap and efforts to modernize licensing and enforcement systems. The interior design item drew the most debate. CCIDC leaders argued the current voluntary certification/title-act model works, that complaints have not shown public harm, and that licensure would disrupt the workforce and create barriers for experienced designers. Committee members questioned the lack of enforcement authority, transparency, and whether the model provides enough accountability or consistent plan acceptance by local jurisdictions. Public testimony was split between supporters who said the current system is flexible and effective, and critics who said the private structure lacks accountability and creates confusion, especially for commercial work and plan check acceptance. The Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board reported major modernization gains, including online licensure processing, faster application times, new continuing education audits, and updated supervision and advertising rules. Members and stakeholders discussed a proposed audiology assistant license, which the board and the California Academy of Audiology supported as a way to improve access to care and reduce workload pressures. The Occupational Therapy Board described strong enforcement and licensing performance, a new strategic plan, and a request for additional fee authority to address rising costs and reserve concerns; public testimony largely supported the board and a proposed reduction in advanced practice hand therapy training hours. The Naturopathic Medicine Board emphasized consumer protection, unlicensed practice enforcement, and consumer confusion over titles, saying most of its enforcement workload involves unlicensed activity and that stronger title protection and clearer statutory authority are needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am Representative Sarah LaGoree from Legislative District 5.
• I am Representative Sarah LaGoree from Legislative District 5.
• I'm Kevin Volk, Representative for Legislative District 17.
• So with that, I support this legislation and I'm happy to answer questions. Any question?
• So with that, I support this legislation and I'm happy to answer questions. Any question?

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2134, which would create the Arizona Critical Infrastructure Protection Act to bar state and critical infrastructure entities from contracting with the People’s Republic of China or Chinese companies for access to Arizona critical infrastructure, and to prohibit Chinese-produced software in critical infrastructure. The sponsor and a witness from State Armor argued the bill was needed to reduce cyber and sabotage risks and to align Arizona policy with national security concerns. Some members questioned costs, overlap with federal law, and the Corporation Commission’s capacity, but the bill was approved on a 6-4 vote for a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 2051, which would require AHCCCS contractors, subject to federal approval, to cover breastfeeding and lactation care services and, under a proposed amendment, create a voluntary state certification for lactation care providers through the Department of Health Services. Testimony from lactation consultants, maternal health advocates, and researchers emphasized improved maternal and infant outcomes, access gaps for Medicaid families, and potential cost savings. AHCCCS and ADHS were neutral but noted implementation costs and the need for CMS approval; the committee adopted the amendment and gave the bill a 9-0 due pass recommendation. House Bill 2700 would establish a 15-member technology-first study committee focused on assistive technology for people with disabilities, with an amendment adding appointments by legislative minority leaders. Supporters said the committee would help Arizona catch up on assistive technology, improve independence, and address staffing shortages and aging-population needs. The committee discussed the amendment and then approved the bill 9-0. House Bill 2800, which would increase penalties for knowingly lending a vehicle to a person with a DUI-related driving restriction if that person later causes serious injury or death, drew extensive debate over whether the felony penalty was too broad; the sponsor and family members of a victim supported it as a targeted deterrent, while some members raised due process and knowledge concerns. It passed 9-1. House Bill 2114, which would use motorcycle safety fund money for scholarships for rural and low-income riders and require at least one registered owner to have a Class M license before a motorcycle registration is issued, received supportive testimony from the sponsor, motorcycle advocates, and safety supporters; members noted a possible wording issue with existing endorsements, but the bill passed 10-0. The committee also took up House Bill 2127, a large special-plates bill that had been expanded into an omnibus measure; after discussion of a Kavanaugh amendment removing a duplicate Grand Canyon plate and withdrawal of an Alston amendment, the committee adopted the Kavanaugh amendment and gave the bill a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is effective, proportionate, transparent, and aligned with legislative intent.
• I'm past president of CLCID, which is the California Legislative Coalition for Interior Design.
• I am also serving as the president of the California Legislative Coalition for Interior Designers.
• As the profession grew, the board successfully sought necessary legislative and regulatory changes that
• This statement was recorded and shared with legislative staff.

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate business committees held a sunset review hearing for five California regulatory entities: the Respiratory Care Board, the California Council for Interior Design Certification, the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board, the Board of Occupational Therapy, and the Board of Naturopathic Medicine. Each board or council described its licensing, enforcement, modernization, and consumer-protection work since the last review, and committee members focused on workforce access, transparency, fee authority, and whether current regulatory structures are appropriately tailored to public safety. For the Respiratory Care Board, the main issue was a proposal to move toward a bachelor’s degree requirement for licensure. Board representatives said the change would better align education with the complexity of care and could help the profession’s long-term status and reimbursement prospects, but Assembly Member Addis and others raised concerns about rural access, staffing shortages, and added barriers to entry. Public commenters, including respiratory therapists, families, and congregate living health facility operators, strongly opposed the degree mandate and urged continued use of LVNs for certain respiratory tasks in community settings. The board also discussed its ongoing work on LVN respiratory care issues, updated suctioning guidance, digitized licensing and enforcement systems, and fee cleanup language. The interior design item drew the most debate. CCIDC leaders defended the current title-act certification model, arguing it establishes competency without evidence of public harm and avoids the disruption a full licensure system could cause. Several committee members questioned the lack of enforcement authority, the private nonprofit structure, Bagley-Keene compliance, and whether certification meaningfully improves plan acceptance or public safety. Public testimony was split: supporters said the system works and preserves flexibility, while opponents argued the model lacks accountability, creates confusion, and does not reliably prevent plan-check denials or protect the public. The speech-language pathology/audiology board reported major modernization gains, including a new online licensure system, faster processing, continuing education audits, and updated supervision and advertising rules; it also received support for creating a new audiology assistant license category, while a consumer group urged more public members, proactive inspections, and faster discipline. The occupational therapy board reported growth, improved enforcement and licensing performance, and a need for additional fee authority to address rising costs, while public testimony supported reducing advanced practice hand therapy training hours. The final naturopathic medicine item began at the end of the transcript, but no substantive discussion was captured before the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, we're going to start out with Legislative Council's going to have a just a quick little
• Chairman and members of the committee, for the record, Adam Aetek, Legislative Council, senior fiscal
• Like I said, but we won't, I don't plan on addressing those until the next legislative session.
• We spoke about that at the last legislative sessions. We're in a good spot there as well.
• I presented in front of a legislative group in January, and I showed them a price of about $55.

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:

• Legislative day number 21, Friday, March 6, 2026. Anderson, here. Barlo, present. Boner, here.
• Preserving a piece of Wyoming’s legislative history for future generations.
• </c><00:15:46.000><c> process</c> observe the legislative process observe the legislative process firsthand
• shows how each of you cares deeply about the entire legislative process.
• It's a good piece of legislation and uh I'll stand for any questions. Thank you.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the intent of this legislation is to roll back to pre-1994 language.
• We need to build awareness among the legislative body.
• This bill is there just to protect... ...among the legislative body.
• Representative Wheeler, again, I like this legislation.
• Representative Wheeler, again, I like this legislation.

Committee: House Business

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 702, which would amend Idaho’s Uniform Commercial Code provisions governing securities entitlements. The sponsor and a guest attorney argued the bill would restore investor priority over banks in the event of a major Wall Street failure, saying current law gives secured lenders priority when brokers or custodians pledge customer securities without consent. Several members questioned whether the bill was broader than described, whether it mainly affected margin accounts, and whether it should be handled at the state level at all. After discussion, a motion to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation failed 8-7, and the committee then moved to hold the bill in committee at the call of the chair while members sought more information and further discussion. House Bill 562, sponsored by Representative Sauter, would extend the notice period for property insurance nonrenewals and cancellations from 30 days to 60 days for both residential and commercial policies. The sponsor said the bill was intended as a consumer protection measure to give policyholders more time to find replacement coverage or resolve issues with their current carrier, and he noted it would not change the 10-day notice for nonpayment or the separate timeline for rate changes. Committee members asked about existing contract language and whether a longer notice period could discourage insurers from writing policies in Idaho; the sponsor said he had not heard that concern from carriers and was open to adjusting the effective date. The committee approved a motion to send the bill to general orders. The committee then considered House Bill 585, which would impose “shot clocks” on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections, similar to last session’s building inspection timelines. The sponsor said local governments would have 48 hours to complete inspections or refund the fee so a private third-party inspector could be used, and would have to provide written reasons for a failed inspection within three business days. Testimony from a third-party inspector and the Idaho Associated General Contractors supported the bill, saying it could save time and money and help keep projects moving. The committee adopted a due pass motion and sent the bill to the floor. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 545, which would create a pathway for certain military chaplains to become licensed professional counselors in Idaho based on their Master of Divinity, military counseling experience, and related clinical pastoral education. The sponsor and supporters said chaplains already provide substantial counseling in military settings and should be able to serve Idahoans, including veterans, while critics from the counseling profession argued the bill would bypass important counseling coursework, the national counselor exam, and existing gatekeeping standards. After extensive testimony from both sides, including questions about training, testing, supervision, and public protection, the committee had not yet reached a final disposition in the portion of the transcript provided.