Transcript Highlights:

• So it updates the Land Conservation Incentive Act to reflect current land values and conservation needs
• it's those kind of last cases that this bill and its updates are really meant to address as land values
• Right now, the tax credit is transferable, but by making it refundable, landowners get 100% of the value
• And so by raising the percentage of easement value that the credit is for, that will enable a lot of
• those smaller high conservation value That will enable a lot of those smaller high conservation value

Summary: The committee first heard HB 186, which would update New Mexico’s Land Conservation Incentives Act by increasing the conservation tax credit cap from $250,000 to $2 million, raising the credit percentage, and making the credit refundable. The sponsor and conservation groups said the bill is intended to help land-rich, cash-poor landowners preserve working farms, ranches, watersheds, habitat, and cultural resources, while also leveraging federal conservation dollars and supporting rural economies. Supporters from land trusts, Realtors, conservation organizations, and local landowners testified that current caps are too low to make easements feasible for smaller properties and that the bill would reduce pressure to sell to developers. Some members raised concerns about fiscal impact, whether refundable credits should be limited, and whether wealthy landowners could benefit; the sponsor said the bill is aimed at smaller landowners and that the fiscal estimates may be overstated. The committee voted 6-3 to do pass HB 186. The committee then considered HB 92, which would phase out the state income tax on Social Security benefits over eight years. The sponsor argued that Social Security income should not be taxed and said the phase-out would help seniors, attract retirees, and support the economy. An amendment was adopted to strike language related to a prior date. Opposition testimony focused on fairness and revenue concerns, with one witness arguing the bill would mainly benefit higher-income filers and reduce funds for schools, infrastructure, and housing. Several members questioned the fiscal impact, the income thresholds, and whether the bill was ready without more data; the sponsor said the phase-out was designed to avoid a cliff effect and that the current estimates were uncertain. The committee then voted 5-3 to table HB 92. Finally, the committee heard HJM 1, a memorial supporting stronger relations between Taiwan and New Mexico and the United States in trade, technology, education, and official exchanges. The sponsor and a representative from Taiwan’s economic office described the long-standing sister-state relationship and said the memorial would reinforce goodwill and people-to-people ties. Members spoke in support of the relationship, with one noting Taiwan’s importance in technology and chip manufacturing. One member questioned tariffs and the need for the memorial but still acknowledged the strong bilateral relationship. The committee approved HJM 1 on an 8-1 do pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• of insured buildings and to provide more accurate property value assessments for agencies.
• The legislature also of insured buildings and to provide more accurate property value assessments for
• for the state. ...and looking to get the best value for the state for the service being provided.
• And if we do need the position, are they in the highest value role for the department?
• And we've also moved two positions to... ...higher value roles. One being a department trainer.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations for the Department of Administration and the Permanent Building Fund. For Administration, analysts reviewed the agency’s divisions, staffing, dedicated-fund structure, recent budget growth, and the governor’s and JFAC’s recommended changes. The department requested shifts of utility costs from the general fund to dedicated funds, three new positions and funding for Medicaid procurement and contract management, transfers of some positions between divisions, and one-time IT replacement funding. Members also discussed office-space utilization, vacant buildings and land at Chinden and elsewhere, and the department’s efforts to consolidate space and reduce general fund reliance. Director Bailey said the department has reduced or repurposed positions, closed duplicate printing operations, is exploring digital workflows and AI tools, and is trying to move toward a fully dedicated-fund model. He also explained the decision to remove GLP-1 weight-loss coverage from the state health plan due to rapidly rising costs, while noting diabetes coverage remains in place. Committee members questioned the need for higher-level procurement staff for Medicaid contracts, the role of Deloitte and the Department of Health and Welfare in the process, and the status of the MMIS procurement, which Bailey said is currently stayed by the courts after a legal challenge from the second-place vendor. He said the delay will affect MMIS implementation and, in turn, the timing of the broader managed care rollout. Members also asked about vacant state office space, the possible sale of older buildings, and whether agencies such as ITD and Health and Welfare could be moved into state-owned space to reduce lease costs. Bailey said the department is actively working on those facility-planning questions and that agencies at Chinden are paying rent for occupied space. The committee then reviewed the Permanent Building Fund budget, which finances state construction, repairs, and deferred maintenance through dedicated revenue sources and interest earnings. Analysts highlighted the fund’s multi-year project structure, the large deferred maintenance program funded in prior years, and a proposed one-time transfer of $33.75 million in canceled capital project balances to the general fund. They also described a possible redirection of fiscal year 2027 interest earnings to the general fund and a recommended new capital project for an Idaho National Guard readiness center. Administrator Barard reported that the Division of Public Works is managing 595 active projects, with most FY 2025 projects under construction, in design, or complete, and said the division continues to face labor shortages and rising construction costs. Members asked about canceled projects, including the North Idaho reentry center, the Carnegie Library purchase, the ISU pedestrian crossing, the Idaho State Police Lewiston facility, and other projects; staff said some are unlikely to return soon, while others may come back once land or other prerequisites are secured. The committee concluded the hearing and announced it would meet the next day for the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Office of the State Public Defender.

Transcript Highlights:

• In all cases, the local district paid the appraised value of the property, no more.
• In many cases, we negotiated a lower-than-appraised-value price.
• We're very cost conscious, and we try to get the best value we can.
• In many cases, we negotiated a lower-than-appraised-value price. Yes.
• We're very cost conscious, and we try to get the best value we can.

Bills: HB2201 , HB2154

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: urban growth, city planning, county regulations, development standards, land use, land ownership, conservation districts, property rights, regulatory authority, environmental policy, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• From the time that you start a project and that tree is growing or that forest... value, value, what<
• </c> with growing higher quality or value with growing higher quality or value timber<00:53:23.840><c
• </c><00:53:40.200><c> or</c> potentially growing higher value or potentially growing higher value or
• So so from a higher value. All right.
• </c> driving the forest is driving the value driving the forest is driving the value of<01:13:40.040>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductions, approval of the March 6 minutes as amended to add an attendee list, and a brief overview of the day’s agenda. The committee heard two presentations from carbon project developers, with the first from Dylan Jenkins of Finite Carbon. He described Finite Carbon’s work in improved forest management projects, its role in developing carbon methodologies and protocols, and its experience with projects in New England, Appalachia, Alaska, and Canada. He also outlined the difference between compliance and voluntary carbon markets, the role of registries and intermediaries, and the types of buyers in the market, including large corporate buyers and long-term off-take partners. A major focus of the presentation was how forest carbon projects are structured and how credits are monetized. Jenkins distinguished between removals and reductions, explaining that removals come from new forest growth while reductions are tied more closely to baseline assumptions and standing stock. He said improved forest management projects can generate both types of credits, and that removals generally command higher prices because they are easier for buyers to understand and verify. He also emphasized that carbon project commercialization can occur before, during, or after credit issuance, and that landowners may be paid through a variety of structures, including leases, advance fees, per-unit payments, or off-take agreements. Jenkins then addressed the committee’s tax-related questions, saying House Bill 123 appeared intended to treat carbon credit sales similarly to timber sales for local tax purposes. He argued that carbon credits are a forest product and that taxing them can be reasonable in principle, but he stressed that lawmakers should distinguish between commoditization and commercialization when deciding what event to tax. He noted that credits may be created but never sold, and that in some programs landowners retain timber and carbon rights while in others the developer has deeper control over those rights. In response to questions, he said the industry uses protocols, verification, and third-party oversight to address baseline and quality concerns, but acknowledged that baseline setting remains a major point of debate in the market.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, with the expense of sale of land determined, what are the values, etc.?
• Are you and your neighbors concerned about the effect on your property values?
• So you're okay with 50% of your property value going away in your particular home?
• And if the, the, the, the values of our property.
• The initial bid was $7 million; that was the appraised value. It sold for $26, I believe, or $25.

Bills: HB2150 , HB2262 , HB2267 , HB2268 , HB2351 , HB2425 , HB2426 , HB2427 , HB2755 , HB2781 , HB2913 , HB2943 , HB2956 , HB2975 , HB2985 , HB4009

Committee: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Keywords: state land department, mineral lease, renewals, indexed royalties, land use planning, auditor general, five-year plans, geospatial data, Arizona Geological Survey, resource analysis, geographic information systems, wildlife protection, public nuisance, renewable energy, wind farm, solar farm, residential property, public health, local regulations, state land

Transcript Highlights:

• The rate is 5% on the assessed value of timber when it is harvested.
• remaining funds are distributed to each taxing district in the county in proportion to the timber assessed value
• When assessors see what levies they're going to be dealing with, and the assessed value in... orcut and
• When assessors see what levies they're going to be dealing with, adamant the assessed value in. ...what
• levies they're going to be dealing with, add them in, the assessed value in, and then they come up with

Bills: SB5994

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: timber tax, school funding, levy failure, tax distribution, education funding, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It helps strengthen the value of the commodities they grow, supports more processing and value-added
• Uh, which again, if you think about a value of data, is $5.60. Is that a fair value or not?
• </c><01:25:33.200><c> There's</c><01:25:33.400><c> no</c> value. There's a value there.
• There's no value. There's a value there.
• </c> value that comes from the consumer. value that comes from the consumer.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 27.160><c> there</c><00:01:27.280><c> was</c> value evaluation found that there was value evaluation
• bill helps us support those values and I hope you do as well.
• </c><01:21:07.520><c> in</c> I also clearly see the value in I also clearly see the value in maintaining
• </c> those values and I hope you do as well. those values and I hope you do as well.
• ,</c> comport maybe with your values, comport maybe with your values, but<01:35:49.800><c> I</c><01:35

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He understood it's a common practice to pay for increased property value created by an easement, and
• it was an easement that was actually within an existing easement, like alongside a county road, the value
• So just to clarify then, that would be based on an actual appraiser value and talk about that.
• On an actual appraiser value and talk about that selection process and whatnot, is that internal, external
• We would just conclude that the value of the easement is substantiated by data on hand.

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including a silent roll call, notice of an upcoming tour of the Veolia water treatment plant, and approval of the February 9 and February 11, 2026 minutes. Members also recognized a departing page, Kaelin, who briefly shared her plans to serve an LDS mission and later attend college for an agribusiness degree. The committee then heard House Bill 652, presented by Representative Stone on behalf of a fourth-grade homeschool student from Twin Falls, Betty Grandi. The bill would designate hunting as Idaho’s official state sport. Grandi testified that she researched the issue, surveyed her community through her newspaper, and found hunting to be the clear favorite. She argued it reflects Idaho’s history, outdoor traditions, conservation values, and family recreation. The committee praised her presentation and unanimously voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to pending Idaho Department of Lands rules. Andrew Smith presented changes to mine land reclamation rules, saying the revisions were the product of negotiated rulemaking, public meetings, and comments, and would reduce word count and restrictive language while adding definitions and reorganizing requirements. Will Teeteman of the Idaho Conservation League supported periodic review of reclamation plans but objected that the rule did not clearly reflect statutory five-year review language; the committee nonetheless approved the docket. Marty Menzinger then presented navigable waterways rule changes, describing outreach, no fee increases, and reductions in word count and restrictive terms; the committee approved that docket as well. Finally, Lawson Tate presented right-of-way easement rule changes, including removal of nominal fees, updated compensation language tied to appraised value, emergency-work definitions, and longer temporary permits; after questions about appraisal costs and selection, the committee approved the rule. The meeting adjourned after all pending items were acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Deirdre Rosenwald. regional market value. With that, um regional market value.
• And I think it might be even like half CPI as opposed to the full value, 100% value of the CPI.
• And I think it might be even like half CPI as opposed to the full value, 100% value of the CPI.
• And I think it might be even like half CPI as opposed to the full value, 100% value of the CPI.
• And I think it might be even like half CPI as opposed to the full value, 100% value of the CPI.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the AGQS values.
• </c> &gt;&gt; For the AGQS values. &gt;&gt; For the AGQS values.
• a soil value or the groundwater value?
• value? value?
• because the value So the value of it because the value doesn't<01:32:52.159><c> have</c><01:32:52.400

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Values of another persuasion a church.
• </c><03:33:50.560><c> through</c> formation of student values through formation of student values through
• All education promotes values. The only question is whose values?
• All education promotes values. The only question is whose values?
• All education promotes values. The only question is whose values?

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not something that at face value.
• We<00:37:50.240><c> value</c> We value We value life,<00:37:52.880><c> the</c><00:37:53.119><c> life<
• And it makes me think of the value now.
• What has more value? value? value?
• </c> If we're put willing to put more value If we're put willing to put more value on<01:16:27.520><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:16.360><c> uh</c> credits are reflection of our values uh credits are reflection of our values
• </c> Legislature we showed that we valued Legislature we showed that we valued education<00:24:21.960
• We're here to talk ideas, concepts, values. Okay, so we have a testifier. Mr.
• </c><00:31:18.919><c> or</c> issue by creating limited value or issue by creating limited value or complex
• Additionally, a change in market pressures has caused huge jumps in residential property values.

Bills: HF2254 , HF2302 , HF2502 , HF2315 , HF2475 , HF2086

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: HF2254, Minnesota child credit, baby bonus, child tax credit, income tax, individual income tax, tax relief, newborn, birth credit, family tax credit, tax refund, advance payment, Department of Revenue, taxable year, parenting, families with children, child credit, state regulations, families, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. and a number of other high-value crop production disciplines.
• Then you get a discount on the value of that.
• That, Land, then you get a discount on the value of that.
• I think that if it were figured out, we could better distinguish between the values, the true values
• of that nuisance hole and the values of a true wetland because there absolutely is, I believe, value

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and opening remarks from NDSU President David Stewart, who emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission of statewide service through teaching, research, and extension. He highlighted the university’s role in agriculture, water, soil health, and community outreach, and pointed to examples of research commercialization such as Lilac Agriculture’s work on nitrogen-fixing microbes for crops. He also said he is still early in his tenure and intends to spend time listening and learning across the state. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study estimated that North Dakota could develop about 1.3 million additional irrigated acres, with major potential in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau. Testimony stressed the economic benefits of irrigation for crop yields, value-added processing, dairy, and potato production, while members also discussed water availability, aquifers, downstream water use, and the need for more flexible permitting. The drainage portion of the study found significant economic benefits from legal drains, and staff explained that the impacts were calculated through increased productivity and related input purchases. Greg Lardy then gave NDSU’s required agriculture update, saying agriculture accounts for more than $41 billion in annual economic activity, one in five jobs, and about 25 percent of state GDP. He reviewed the role of SBAR, the statewide research-extension network, new crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI and weather-network tools, and Extension’s county partnerships and youth programs. He also outlined NDSU’s priorities for the next session: restoring proposed budget cuts, increasing operating support, and addressing deferred maintenance. Members asked about storage shed construction, NDSU’s relationship with Grand Farm, and whether NDSU could help with water-related research tied to drainage and aquifers. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor on water and data centers, who described graduate fellowships, a water workforce certificate program, and research on data center cooling, water use, and “Legendary Harvest” concepts that would reuse waste heat for greenhouse or aquaculture production. Questions focused on whether the cooling systems were closed-loop, who would own any related production facilities, and whether the project was still only a feasibility study. Finally, North Dakota AgTech described its NSF-funded “engine” project, saying it has brought millions in federal investment to the state, supported startups and on-farm trials, and is focused on commercialization, workforce development, and helping producers lower input costs and improve profitability.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, real value has eroded.
• descended to a real value of $4.64 in 2026 purchasing power.
• to a real value of $4.64 in 2026 purchasing power.
• </c><00:51:35.880><c> your</c> I I really appreciate and value your I I really appreciate and value your
• So, we sort of... values<00:58:12.880><c> that</c><00:58:13.160><c> the</c> values that the values that

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> property values are raising like crazy. property values are raising like crazy.
• And so, the land rising property values.
• The house owner is going to pay the value, or the person who owns the land has got the value, too.
• And they taken out has got the value, too. Who who's paying has got the value, too.
• How does this tax 20% of the value for the first 20 years of it?

Bills: SB32 , HB404 , SB105 , SB32 , HB404 , SB105

Committee: House County and Municipal Government

Keywords: machinegun, enhanced sentencing, homicide, manslaughter, assault, public safety, HB404, Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, cosmetology, barbering, makeup artist, makeup application, lash artist, brow artist, lash/brow permit, esthetician, salon licensing, studio licensing, mobile salon, mobile studio

Transcript Highlights:

• And yet, we've got the Texas vaccine, value the Texas culture of everybody says what they think.
• to lead to a degree of value? And what have you seen along those lines?
• And that's just a little bit of. of the value that I gained from my degree.
• But if what you truly value is a free society, you can't have it both ways.
• Whatever they choose to do, our degree is of value.

Bills: SB37 , SB1489 , SB452 , SB724 , SB1067 , SB1741 , SB1273

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: higher education, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council, ombudsman, faculty governance, decision-making, transparency, public meetings, department head, employment approval, public institutions, institutional oversight, education, funding, accountability, state budget, school performance, employment, Texas legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• credentials that provide them a return on investment and are valued in the labor market.
• That we're offering good value to these students who then plan to transfer.
• leads to a credential with real economic value for students.
• Provide a return value to the state.
• The values for the University of Houston are innovation. collaboration, and resilience.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at cotton or the value of... Thank you.
• I want you to look at the value of Indian money. This is in India over the past five years.
• It's lost half its value. We export in dollars. We import in the foreign currencies.
• The gate value of that harvest last year was about $1.5 billion.
• And their public confidence in the value of college degrees is low.

Committee: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and welcomed a new member, then took up a series of agriculture-related bills, many focused on Louisiana seafood and producer protections. HB 121 by Rep. Domain would let the Department of Agriculture and Forestry seize and destroy adulterated imported seafood after a stop order, rather than relying on another agency to do it; the commissioner said the bill would improve enforcement without adding major cost, and it was reported favorably. HB 725, also by Rep. Domain, was amended to require retailers to keep invoices for imported seafood for six months so inspectors can verify country of origin and labeling; the committee adopted the technical amendment and reported the bill favorably. HB 367, dealing with Structural Pest Control Commission hearing notices, was described as a technical change to align notice procedures with the Administrative Procedure Act and was also reported favorably. HB 505, on certification cards for commercial applicators, pesticide salespersons, and agricultural consultants, was amended to keep unexpended pesticide fund money in the fund and streamline renewal timing; it too passed favorably. The committee then considered several measures aimed at protecting farmers from market losses. HB 344 by Rep. Coates raised the Grain and Cotton Indemnity Fund thresholds for suspending and restarting assessments, with the commissioner explaining that recent bankruptcies and broker failures had shown the need for a larger reserve; the bill was reported favorably. HB 370, a follow-up measure on the same fund, increased the assessment rate on agricultural commodities so the fund could grow faster, and it also passed without objection. HB 847, on Soil and Water Conservation Commission district supervisor elections, was amended to require certified nominating petitions, shift election administration to the Secretary of State, and remove outdated statewide election language; supporters said the change would modernize a system that had become costly and unwieldy, and the bill was reported favorably. HB 370 and HB 847 drew discussion about ballot access, election administration, and the nonpartisan nature of soil and water districts. The meeting also included a lengthy agriculture update from Commissioner Strain and a presentation from LSU Ag Center Dean Matt Lee. Strain discussed seafood imports, labeling enforcement, shrimp industry promotion, feral swine damage, fertilizer and diesel cost pressures, pesticide disposal, and export markets for rice and timber, emphasizing that Louisiana agriculture depends on testing, marketing, and international trade. Lee reported that LSU Ag Center research is ranked among the nation’s top agricultural programs, with major work in sugarcane variety development, and said the center’s research generates substantial economic returns for Louisiana producers. Several industry representatives, including Louisiana Farm Bureau and LSU Ag Center staff, spoke in support of the bills and the state’s agricultural programs.