Transcript Highlights:

• However, this is an unenforceable illegal act of jaywalking.
• However, this is an unenforceable illegal act of jaywalking.
• However, this is an unenforceable illegal act of jaywalking.

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That's<01:12:54.640><c> that's</c><01:12:54.960><c> illegal</c><01:12:55.280><c> to</c><01:12:55.440>
• </c> That's that's illegal to supplant. That's that's illegal to supplant.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There’s nothing hidden about it, but could that be construed to be illegal lobbying under the bill?
• There’s nothing hidden about it, but could that be construed to be illegal lobbying under the bill?
• There’s nothing hidden about it, but could that be construed to be illegal lobbying under the bill?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 118 in executive session and adopted Amendment 0882H, which would remove the House and Senate members from the Child Care Commission while leaving the commission in place. Members said the amendment was a continuation of earlier committee discussion and supported it as a needed change. The committee then voted 12-0 to recommend ought to pass as amended, and HB 118 was placed on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 142, dealing with Gold Star Mother’s Day. The sponsor explained that the bill was unnecessary because existing statute already directs the governor to issue a proclamation for Gold Star Mother’s Day and to urge appropriate observance, including flag-related ceremonies. Several members discussed how to ensure the proclamation and flag observance would happen and whether the committee report should note the existing statute. Other members said they would oppose killing the bill because the recognition was important. The committee voted 9-3 to table/ITL the bill, and HB 142 was declared inexpedient to legislate. The final major item was a public hearing on a non-germane amendment to House Bill 456, with a related draft amendment also discussed. The sponsor said the amendment would raise the annual membership allowance from $20 to $75, rename fees as dues, prohibit dues from being used to pay lobbyists, require NHMA dues to be brought before voters as a separate warrant article for transparency, and require separate accounting so lobbying funds are not co-mingled with other funds. Supporters said the goal was to keep taxpayer-derived money from funding lobbying while preserving non-lobbying services such as legal advice and training. Opponents argued the proposal was an overreach and would micromanage local towns. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• not a product of the free market; local city policies have made efficient and economic use of land illegal
• not a product of the free market; local city policies have made efficient and economic use of land illegal
• not a product of the free market; local city policies have made efficient and economic use of land illegal

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A court found the federal funding freeze to be illegal, but I have spoken with programs that are continuing
• A court found the federal funding freeze to be illegal, but I have spoken with programs that are continuing
• A court found the federal funding freeze to be illegal, but I have spoken with programs that are continuing

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, this bill was also previously introduced in the unconstitutional and illegal sham session,
• You know, this bill was also previously introduced in the unconstitutional and illegal sham session,
• so I'm kind of curious about why it hasn't been worked on in the past four weeks. ...illegal sham session

Bills: HF5

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: tax modification, transportation funding, electric vehicle tax, Social Security subtraction, retail delivery fee, motor vehicle registration, state budget, transportation policy, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• our budget was found in Section 8 of Senate Bill 2014 in the 2025 session, and this authorizes the transfer
• Under the authorized transfer authority, we have transferred a little over a million dollars from the
• We had a transfer out of $4 million over to OGRP for the enhanced oil recovery for part of that $25 million

Summary: The committee received a compliance and budget update on Industrial Commission agencies and programs, including the Industrial Commission administrative office, the Oil and Gas Research Program, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the State Energy Research Center, the Research Technology Park grant program, and related funds. Staff reviewed spending and balances for items such as electric grid resiliency grants, lignite research, enhanced oil recovery, the salt cavern business case study, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members also discussed timing, carryover balances, matching requirements, and how some programs are structured to reimburse projects over several years rather than spend funds immediately. Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described the agency’s administrative budget, the grant management system nearing completion, and the transition to standalone audits and staffing after separating from other agencies. She also outlined the status of active grant rounds across lignite, oil and gas, renewable energy, outdoor heritage, and clean sustainable energy programs. Members asked about the length of active grants, demand for clean energy funding, and the possibility of future grant rounds. Tyler and members also discussed the salt cavern study, the need to better define its commercial value, and the research technology park grant’s cash-match requirement. Ron Ness then testified on enhanced oil recovery and broader oil and gas market conditions. He said North Dakota production remained steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, longer laterals, and better use of natural gas and carbon dioxide for EOR. He described the state’s EOR grant round, the use of federal DOE funding to replace part of a state-funded project, and the expectation of additional grant rounds. Members asked about CO2 supply, storage, and the economics of using legacy fields and pipelines to extend oil production and support agriculture and industrial uses. The committee also heard from Bank of North Dakota President Don Morgan, who reviewed the bank’s mission, governance, lending verticals, disaster programs, and new initiatives. He said the bank is seeing deposit growth flatten and is responding to fintech competition by focusing on liquidity, risk management, and a new payment infrastructure initiative called Rough Rider Coin, which he emphasized is not crypto and not a public coin, but a banking payment rail for North Dakota institutions. Members asked about student loan rates, disaster lending, and how the bank’s lines of credit and balance sheet capacity are affected by deposit trends. Morgan said the bank remains profitable and continues to support agriculture, commerce, and industry through participation loans, student lending, and state-directed programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• The department is now working with Department of Fish and Game on a transfer of management responsibilities
• on</c><00:32:27.840><c> a</c> Department of Fish and Game on a Department of Fish and Game on a transfer
• <00:32:28.440><c> of</c><00:32:28.760><c> management</c><00:32:29.200><c> responsibilities</c> transfer
• of management responsibilities transfer of management responsibilities from<00:32:30.800><c> the</c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee first approved the March 16, 2026 minutes, then took up several Department of Transportation property actions. The committee approved a Greenland access point sale for a cell tower site to Wakefield Investments for $132,800 plus a $1,100 administrative fee, and approved disposal of two Epsom parcels to the town at no cost, with the town assuming demolition of the former depot and the committee waiving the fee. It also approved a Milton access point sale to Jeremy West Champney and Cameron McDermott for $90,000 plus the fee, with conditions requiring permits and other approvals. During the DOT items, members asked about appraisals, access restrictions, and where the administrative fee goes; staff said the fee generally offsets agency administrative costs and may go to a dedicated fund or the general fund depending on the project. The committee then considered three Department of Environmental Services requests for utility easements to bring power to dams so gates can be operated more efficiently and potentially remotely. It approved an easement with New Hampshire Electric Co-op for Pine River Dam in Wakefield, an easement with New Hampshire Electric Co-op for Sunset Lake Dam in Alton, and an easement with Eversource for Suncook Lake Dam in Barnstead. Members discussed whether to waive the $1,100 administrative fee on these items, with some questioning the fee’s purpose and where it is deposited. The committee ultimately approved the DES items as requested, including the fee waivers, while asking staff to research the fee’s history, sufficiency, and use for a future report. Finally, the committee received informational items from the New Hampshire Council on Resources and Development. Members briefly discussed a property at Bloody Point in Newington and the related Sullivan Bridge demolition, and DOT staff said the property had been tabled previously and is now being worked on with Fish and Game for a possible transfer of management and future water access use. No votes were taken on the informational items.

Transcript Highlights:

• As drafted, the benefits would be paid through an appropriation and transfer to the volunteer first responder
• The draft provides for a transfer from the strategic investment and improvement funds, the Highway Patrol
• non-grandfathered members of the TFFR plan that meet certain requirements the opportunity to elect to transfer
• non-grandfathered members of the TFFR plan that meet certain requirements the opportunity to elect to transfer

Summary: The Employee Benefits Committee met to approve prior minutes, hear presentations on state employee health insurance, compensation, leave, and related policy issues, and then recess for lunch. PERS reviewed the history and structure of the state health plan, noting the long-standing state-paid family coverage, cost-control measures, wellness incentives, the current grandfathered PPO and high-deductible options, and the effects of recent benefit mandates such as insulin caps, prosthetic coverage, medication management, prescription copay changes, and ambulance balance-billing limits. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact of adding benefits and the possible cost of moving to a non-grandfathered plan, while PERS and HRMS emphasized that health insurance remains the top-ranked employee benefit and that any major plan changes should be considered carefully. HRMS also presented compensation comparisons showing state pay generally below private-market benchmarks, discussed targeted market equity adjustments, identified ongoing recruitment and retention concerns in fields like nursing, IT, engineering, and attorneys, and reviewed leave policies, tuition reimbursement, and family leave comparisons with neighboring states. Job Service provided labor market data showing low unemployment, high labor force participation, and wage growth that still trails some neighboring markets, and OMB explained that prevailing wage requirements apply to federally funded projects under Davis-Bacon, not to ordinary state contracts. After lunch, the committee took up the required process for health insurance mandate bills and adopted an amendment to Joint Rule 211. The amendment clarified that the deadline for submitting mandate measures is intended to allow time for all required reports, including both the cost-benefit analysis and any Employee Benefits Committee actuarial report, while leaving the existing deadline unchanged. The amendment was adopted on a roll call vote, with several members voting yes and a few no votes recorded. The committee then moved into its jurisdiction review of bill drafts, beginning with a bill that would automatically renew pre-tax dental and vision elections; members debated whether it had any actuarial or administrative impact on PERS or the state, and the chair explained that the committee’s role was only to decide whether further analysis was needed before later testimony and recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• But yet we have the eligibility under expanded Medi-Cal to actually transfer a good portion of our population
• And we're seeing that same kind of a transfer now as people are aging with HIV and are becoming eligible
• By clarifying that long-term care facilities cannot deny admissions, transfer, discharge, or refuse to
• By clarifying in the long-term care facilities cannot deny admissions, transfer, discharge, or refuse

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But yet we have the eligibility under expanded Medi-Cal to actually transfer a good eligibility under
• expanded Medi-Cal to actually transfer a good portion of our population over there.
• And we're seeing that same kind of a transfer now as people are aging with HIV and are becoming eligible
• By clarifying that long-term care facilities cannot deny admissions, transfer, discharge, or refuse to

Summary: The committee held an inaugural hearing on the health care and support needs of older LGBTQ Californians, with members and witnesses emphasizing that this population has made major gains in rights and longevity but still faces discrimination, isolation, economic insecurity, and gaps in services. Opening remarks highlighted concerns about older LGBTQ people entering nursing homes and feeling forced back into the closet, as well as the growing number of Californians aging with HIV. The hearing was structured into three panels, with public testimony considered if time allowed. The first panel focused on the overall health and support landscape. Justice in Aging described survey findings showing discrimination, poor health, difficulty with errands, and economic insecurity among older LGBTQ Californians, and warned that federal Medicaid cuts and broader federal actions could worsen access to home- and community-based services and culturally competent care. CalHHS and the Department of Aging described the Master Plan for Aging, the first statewide LGBTQIA older adult survey, and efforts to support gender-affirming care, PACE, care management, and community supports. Witnesses stressed the need for better outreach, data collection, and a “no wrong door” approach so people can more easily find and access services. The chair and senators pressed the departments on how survey findings are being translated into concrete action and how state agencies are coordinating across silos. The second panel addressed health care for seniors living with HIV. A longtime survivor described severe financial and benefits consequences from a federal clawback and argued that California needs stronger legal, navigation, and housing supports, including HIV-specific housing funding. The Department of Aging reported on implementation of SB 258, saying it has educated area agencies on aging, added HIV data to planning tools, and found that 20 of 33 area agencies identified HIV as a target population, with 16 including specific strategies. The Office of AIDS outlined Project Cornerstone, Ryan White, ADAP, HOPWA, a Medi-Cal waiver, and PrEP-AP, noting these programs serve thousands of older clients and that local case managers are expected to coordinate whole-person care. Case managers and advocates said housing, food, transportation, mental health, and premium assistance remain major needs, and senators asked whether future ADAP rebate funds could support navigation, housing, and other gap-filling services. The final panel turned to transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex seniors. The Department of Social Services described protections under SB 219, including nondiscrimination notices, resident rights postings, required records for preferred names and pronouns, and annual inspections of licensed facilities. The Department of Public Health and a TransLatin Coalition leader were introduced to discuss additional supports for TGI seniors. Across the hearing, members repeatedly returned to the themes of visibility, coordination, and implementation, asking departments to follow up on how they will better connect services, improve outreach, and ensure that existing laws and programs are actually reaching the people they are meant to serve.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the last section, four, would be a transfer of $30 million in fiscal year 2027 from the general
• 51.360><c> a</c> then the last section four um would be a then the last section four um would be a transfer
• <00:40:52.000><c> of</c><00:40:52.360><c> $30</c><00:40:52.880><c> million</c> transfer of $30 million
• transfer of $30 million in<00:40:54.080><c> fiscal</c><00:40:54.400><c> year</c><00:40:54.520><c> 2027

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're looking for a motion, I would move that we just pause it, make a pause on any, I guess, transfers
• policy, and that one of those changes was the funding obligations of the Legacy Fund in terms of both transfers
• important because this is the thing that essentially contributes to the ability of those spending transfers
• even more important now after having put essentially additional burdens on the Legacy Fund to do transfer

Committee: Joint Legacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're looking for a motion, I would move that we just pause it, make a pause on any, I guess, transfers
• policy, and one of those changes was the funding obligations of the Legacy Fund in terms of both transfers
• important because this is the thing that essentially contributes to the ability of those spending transfers
• even more important now after having put essentially additional burdens on the Legacy Fund to do transfer

Committee: Joint Legacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the October 22 minutes, and received an update on the planned Legacy Fund transparency website. Jody Smith said the site is in contract negotiations after six bidders responded, with a target go-live around November 1 after added security review. The website is intended to provide downloadable, more detailed public information on the Legacy Fund, including historical changes, legislative allocations, and investment breakdowns. Members asked about comparables and data detail, and Smith said North Dakota would likely be the first state to offer this level of sovereign wealth fund transparency. Scott Anderson of the Retirement Investment Office then reviewed Legacy Fund performance through January 31, 2026, describing strong returns, low fees, and the benefits of diversification. He noted that real estate had been a drag on returns, but it is a small portion of the portfolio, and he discussed market effects from geopolitical events, inflation, credit spreads, and private credit. Members also questioned the in-state investment program and the BND CD-Match program. Representative Bosch moved to pause new transfers to the CD-Match program until the bank reports back, and the motion passed on a roll call vote. The committee also agreed to request a cost-benefit analysis from RVK on that change. After lunch, the committee heard from RVK consultant Jim Voidko on the investment policy statement, focused on the in-state investment provisions. He reported that, after interviews with implementers and stakeholders, RVK found no major policy impediments in the current IPS and no strong calls to change the size limits or core guardrails. He emphasized the importance of risk-adjusted returns, diversification, pacing, exit strategies, and governance, and warned that foregone returns or higher spending obligations can pressure the fund’s long-term mission. He also recommended clearer terminology around “infrastructure,” distinguishing public infrastructure from commercial infrastructure, and noted unresolved policy questions about nexus and economic diversification. The committee then began reviewing proposed IPS updates with Rio staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, in discussing whether or not duties could be transferred from this work to that committee, I would
• or not duties in discussing whether or not duties could<00:31:06.560><c> be</c><00:31:06.680><c> transferred
• </c><00:31:07.280><c> from</c><00:31:07.600><c> this</c><00:31:08.000><c> work</c> could be transferred
• from this work could be transferred from this work to<00:31:09.280><c> that</c><00:31:09.560><c> committee

Committee: Senate Rules and Administration

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the fiscal years 2025 through 2029 only, it lets school boards transfer funds between accounts to
• By giving districts temporary fund transfer authority and the ability to opt out of the most burdensome
• focus money and energy where it actually belongs: on students, teachers, and results. temporary fund transfer
• author authority temporary fund transfer author authority and<00:12:10.960><c> the</c><00:12:11.080>

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Minnesota Senate Republicans held a press event focused on school safety, student performance, and relief from what they described as burdensome mandates on districts. Sen. Zach Duckworth promoted the SHIELD Act, which would provide grant funding through the Minnesota School Safety Center for security upgrades such as access controls, ballistic-resistant materials, mass notification systems, and staff training. He also highlighted other education bills, including measures to require parental and teacher notification of violent incidents within 24 hours, allow short removals after serious incidents in K-3 classrooms, expand retention and intervention policies for students not meeting grade level, and increase parental access to curriculum materials and consent for sex education. Duckworth said the school safety proposal has bipartisan support and argued schools should have flexible, locally driven tools to protect students. Sen. Julia Coleman and other Republicans framed the agenda as a response to classroom violence, learning loss, and a lack of transparency. Coleman said teachers and parents are seeing serious problems firsthand and argued that schools should not hide violent incidents. She described Senate File 676 as a notification and anti-retaliation bill, and said Senate File 4023 would give schools a brief reset after serious incidents in early grades. She also backed the transparency bill requiring parental review of curriculum and written consent for sex education. The group repeatedly argued that schools, parents, and teachers should be prioritized over what they called political secrecy or overreach. Sen. Jason Rarick focused on school finance, saying new state mandates have left districts in deficit despite prior funding increases. He discussed bills to expand safe school aid to nonpublic schools, increase staffing at the Minnesota School Safety Center, expand counselor funding for nonpublic students to K-6, and conform state law to federal tax credits that could support scholarships and tutoring. Sen. Carla Nelson Housley argued that more than 60 unfunded mandates have strained districts and said Senate File 3361 would temporarily let districts transfer funds between accounts and opt out of certain new mandates from 2023-24, with public board discussion and votes. In the question period, Republicans also discussed the governor’s supplemental budget, fraud enforcement, possible bonding for IT upgrades, and potential tax and child care credit changes, while emphasizing they want bipartisan cooperation on fraud and school safety but oppose new taxes and what they called harmful mandates.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is one that allows for a little bit more ability to transfer from account two to account one.
• This is due to input from our budget fiscal staff, recognizing that they need this additional transfer
• For a little bit more ability to transfer from account two to account one.
• This is due to input from our budget fiscal staff, recognizing that they need this additional transfer

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the point of transfer is the best place to deter potential victims from becoming actual victims.
• And the point of transfer<00:20:50.559><c> is</c><00:20:50.799><c> the</c><00:20:51.039><c> best</c><
• 00:20:51.280><c> place</c><00:20:51.679><c> to</c><00:20:52.000><c> deter</c> transfer is the best place
• to deter transfer is the best place to deter potential<00:20:53.360><c> victims</c><00:20:53.840><c>

Committee: Senate Banking & Insurance

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:01 Discussion SB 157 00:23 Vote SB 157 05:22 Discussion SB 189 05:57 Vote SB 189 26:49, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They implement a new legislative requirement to transfer free allowances from natural gas utilities to
• The transfer is intended to address electricity affordability concerns and to further incentivize electrification
• Also, the legislature gave us the explicit direction to transfer natural gas allowances over to electric
• workshop after the bill was signed into law to ask for feedback on how we might set up a framework to transfer

Committee: House Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policy heard an overview from CARB on proposed amendments to California’s Cap-and-Invest program, which was reauthorized through 2045 by AB 1207 and SB 840. CARB said the draft rules are intended to preserve affordability, market certainty, and progress toward the state’s 2030 and 2045 climate targets. The agency described the program’s main features, including the declining emissions cap, utility and industrial allowance allocations, offset changes, the allowance price containment reserve, and new reporting and oversight requirements. CARB also said the rulemaking is on a public comment timeline, with board consideration planned for late May and an effective date targeted for September 1, 2026. Committee members focused heavily on electricity affordability, the planned shift of free allowances from natural gas utilities to electric utilities, and whether the proposal would raise rates for investor-owned and publicly owned utilities. CARB said the proposal is meant to protect ratepayers from compliance costs and that the utility allocation is based on updated data showing utilities are greener than before, but members and utility representatives argued the transition should happen faster and that the current draft could reduce expected revenues and disrupt long-term planning. Members also pressed CARB on carbon capture and sequestration, asking that the regulations clearly recognize it as a compliance pathway, and on whether the SB 905 rulemaking for carbon capture should move forward on schedule. A second major topic was industrial allocations, especially for refiners and other sectors at risk of leakage. CARB said it is keeping all industries at high leakage risk through 2030, maintaining the current cap-adjustment approach, and leaving room for additional comments and data on whether refiners need more allowances to avoid economic leakage and preserve in-state refining. Members also questioned how imported gasoline is treated, and CARB explained that transportation fuel is regulated at the rack and through the low-carbon fuel standard, while cap-and-invest covers in-state tailpipe and smokestack emissions rather than full life-cycle emissions. CARB said it is open to using additional data, including SB 253 reporting, to improve fuel carbon-intensity estimates. The panel of outside experts largely agreed that the program must balance affordability, ambition, and leakage concerns, but they differed on how much allowance value should go to utilities, industry, and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The Legislative Analyst’s Office emphasized that the Legislature should scrutinize CARB’s allocation choices now because they will be hard to change later. An IEMAC representative said the proposal appears to shift more allowance value to industry and utilities, which could reduce GGRF revenues, while EDF argued the cap could be tightened further in the near term without triggering price containment. SCAPA, representing publicly owned utilities, warned that the proposal would reduce utility allowances and could raise costs for ratepayers and undermine early decarbonization investments. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think if we were to update, of course, we'll be transferring the funds from the state to the counties
• 00:36:36.079><c> course</c><00:36:36.320><c> we'll</c><00:36:36.480><c> be</c><00:36:36.720><c> transferring
• </c><00:36:37.119><c> the</c> um of course we'll be transferring the um of course we'll be transferring

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 29 January, 2026: 8:00 AM, 925, all