Transcript Highlights:

• Other medical equipment that will be needed for the space.
• For equipment, for instance, we might do more than $40 million in equipment. in ensuing years.
• So equipment, for instance, you know, we might do more than 40 million in equipment.
• So, equipment, for instance, you know, we might do more than $40 million in equipment—the equipment grants
• Once we get the equipment in, we want to make sure that there's equipment in so people can see it operational

Summary: The committee was called to order, the roll was taken, and the March 18 minutes were approved. Members then received several project and program updates, beginning with CHI St. Alexius’s behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks. St. Alexius reported that the Bismarck project remains on track for June 2027 completion, with demolition underway and final design work nearing completion. Williston reported construction is progressing, staffing recruitment is underway for psychiatrists and other staff, and an air handler replacement is creating a roughly $750,000 unbudgeted barrier that will slightly delay the timeline. Grand Forks reported its expansion is about 30% complete, with no major barriers beyond weather, and leaders said the project should be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2027. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented a series of budget and program updates. Donna Ockland explained several recent line-item transfers as technical corrections that net to zero and do not require new spending, then reviewed salaries, wages, and FTE counts, noting the department remains within its authorized staffing levels. Pat Rainer followed with an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying 12 opportunities have been posted, 422 applications received, and $8.4 million obligated so far, with a goal of obligating the full $199 million by September. He described grants for workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community gardens, school wellness, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, equipment, technology, EMS, and other initiatives, emphasizing that the program is intended to be transformational and tied to metrics. Members asked extensive questions about how rural eligibility is defined, how grants will support both rural facilities and hub hospitals, and how future years of funding will build on current awards. The committee also heard an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller, who said North Dakota has been accepted as a demonstration state, implementation is underway in Williston, North Central/Minot, Fargo, and Dickinson, and care coordination and service counts are increasing. Rebecca Askins then reviewed SNAP payment error rates, saying the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89%, with the state aiming to get below 6% through policy updates, training, data tools, and a quality assurance team. Members pressed her on the causes of the error rate, the role of the SPACES software system, and the need for accountability and improvements. Finally, Dirk Wilkie reported the state laboratory project reached substantial completion on June 12 and is on budget at about $69.95 million, though a service elevator had to be redesigned because it was too small for equipment.

Transcript Highlights:

• For equipment, for instance, we might do more than $40 million in equipment.
• So equipment, for instance, you know, we might do more than 40 million in equipment.
• So, equipment, for instance, you know, we might do more than $40 million in equipment, the equipment
• I can drill down to the zone.
• Once we get the equipment in, we want to make sure that there's equipment in so people can see it operational

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on health-related projects and Department of Health and Human Services budget matters. Representatives from CHI St. Alexius in Bismarck and Williston, and Altru in Grand Forks, reported progress on behavioral health expansion projects, including demolition and construction milestones, updated timelines, funding status, staffing plans, and barriers such as an unbudgeted air handler replacement in Williston. Members asked about original completion dates, use of telehealth, recruitment of psychiatrists and other staff, and whether the new beds might reduce the need for patients to travel to Jamestown State Hospital. The projects were described as on track overall, with completion expected in 2027 for the larger builds and earlier openings for some phases in Williston. The committee then heard from HHS leadership on technical line-item transfers and the Salaries and Wages Block Grant. Donna Ockland explained that recent transfers were administrative corrections to place spending in the proper budget lines and did not involve new spending, and she reviewed FTE counts and vacancies across the department. Questions focused on behavioral health staffing changes and the use of consultants in the Rural Health Transformation Program. Pat Rainer outlined the rural health program’s first-year grants and priorities, including workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community wellness initiatives, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, hospital equipment, suicide prevention training, technology, and EMS support. He said North Dakota’s plan was drawing positive national attention, but the department still needed to obligate roughly $199 million by September and was working with CMS on timing and compliance. The committee also received an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller. She said North Dakota had been accepted as a demonstration state, with certification efforts underway in Williston, North Central, Fargo, and Dickinson. Members asked about care coordination, service growth, staffing, and whether certification would expand to all clinics; the department said it was still collecting baseline data and evaluating impacts before making future recommendations. Finally, Rebecca Askins reviewed SNAP payment error rates, explaining that the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89 percent and that the department is working on training, system changes, and quality assurance steps to get below 6 percent. Members pressed on the causes of monthly variability, the performance of the SPACES system, and accountability for ongoing errors, and the department said it expects improvement over the next 6 to 12 months.

Transcript Highlights:

• my office or other law enforcement agencies for example a crew from Detroit rented construction equipment
• Grants are being issued for equipment and training in my office, and we will continue to deliver that
• But you might have looked into this, and I can't remember all the drill down to all the specifics.
• The other thing is the equipment. is so expensive.
• Court reporters purchased their own equipment many times.

Committee: House A&B Judiciary Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• of the equipment for our special<00:08:55.920><c> response</c><00:08:56.320><c> team.
• . equipment. equipment.
• We've got a fee that's $10 for a well driller fee or well drilling a groundwater well.
• We've got a fee that's $10 for a well driller fee or well drilling a groundwater well.
• I'd like to drill down on that a little bit more. >> Yeah.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• As a mother, I know my daughter will one day have to do active shooter drills at school because of these
• I know my daughter will one day have to do active shooter drills at school because of these policies,
• These so-called high-capacity magazines are standard equipment for millions of law-abiding Americans.
• Individuals intent on violence do not follow equipment restrictions.
• These magazines are specialized competition equipment, and the guns they go in are too.

Bills: SB48 , HB250 , SB17

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, technology, innovation, advisory board, entrepreneurial support, stakeholder representation

Transcript Highlights:

• So equipment, for instance, we might do more than $40 million in equipment.
• So, equipment, for instance, you know, we might do more than $40 million in equipment, the equipment
• I can drill down to the zone.
• Once we get the equipment in, we want to make sure that there's equipment in so people can see it operational
• Once we get the equipment in, we want to make sure that there's equipment in so people can see it operational

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on major health-related projects and programs. CHI St. Alexius representatives reported progress on behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks, including demolition and construction milestones, staffing plans, and timelines. The Bismarck project remains on track for completion in June 2027 with about $346,500 spent to date. Williston reported construction underway, a $750,000 unbudgeted air handler replacement, active recruitment for psychiatrists and other staff, and a projected substantial completion in early 2027. Grand Forks reported about 30% completion, weather-tight status expected in August, and continued staffing ramp-up as the facility expands from its current 24-bed operation. The Department of Health and Human Services then reviewed a set of technical line-item transfers, emphasizing that they were administrative corrections with no net change in funding. The department also walked through the Salaries and Wages Block Grant and FTE counts, noting overall staffing remained within appropriated limits and that behavioral health staffing had increased. Members asked about vacancies, consultant use, and the mix of in-state versus out-of-state expertise for the Rural Health Transformation Program. HHS said it had posted 12 funding opportunities, received 422 applications, obligated $8.4 million so far, hired 26 people, and was preparing additional grant rounds and a CMS budget submission. The department said the program is structured around workforce, prevention/healthy living, care closer to home, and technology/data, with ongoing stakeholder engagement and community forums. The committee also heard on the certified community behavioral health clinic implementation plan, SNAP payment error rates, and the state laboratory project. HHS said CCBHC certification is being implemented in four regions—Williston, Minot/North Central, Fargo/Southeast, and Dickinson/Badlands—with care coordination expanding and baseline data still being collected. On SNAP, the department reported a 2025 payment error rate of 9.89%, acknowledged cost impacts under HR1, and said it is using training, system changes, and pre-authorization quality checks to reduce errors toward a 6% target over the next 6 to 12 months. Finally, Public Health reported the state laboratory reached substantial completion on June 12, with total costs at $69.95 million of the $70 million budget, though a service elevator issue will require a new lift to be added using contingency funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• That came from our stock of our equipment that we have.
• time do we make a decision to buy equipment and bring it in-house versus we rent or lease equipment?
• That is a part of... ...is we rent or lease equipment.
• or lease and rent said piece of equipment.
• and use that equipment on a day-to-day basis.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• And both of you I'm sure know the drill here.
• And u both of you I'm sure<01:05:26.400><c> know</c><01:05:26.640><c> the</c><01:05:26.799><c> drill<
• </c><01:05:27.440><c> If</c><01:05:27.599><c> you'll</c><01:05:27.839><c> just</c> sure know the drill
• If you'll just sure know the drill here.
• Next slide. other HVAC equipment. Some of these other HVAC equipment.

Summary: The committee met jointly for State Government, State and Local Government, and Elections and Constitutional Amendments, approved the minutes from the September 23 meeting, and then took up discussion of Senate Bill 126, a proposed constitutional amendment to restrict the governor’s pardon power. Senator Chris McDaniel said the measure was prompted by concerns over pardons issued in 2019 and would bar pardons for 60 days before a gubernatorial election through the swearing-in of a new governor, leaving the power otherwise intact. Members who spoke generally supported the proposal as a way to increase accountability, and McDaniel said he intended to place it on the 2026 ballot. No vote was taken on the bill during the discussion. The committee then moved to House Bill 16 on water fluoridation. Representative Hart and Senator Greg Elkins said the bill would remove Kentucky’s fluoridation mandate and give local water districts the choice to add fluoride or not. They emphasized that the revised draft also adds immunity language to protect districts from civil litigation regardless of their decision. Dr. Jack Call, a Louisville dentist, presented against fluoridation, arguing that the main dental benefit is topical rather than from drinking water and citing studies and reports he said linked fluoride exposure to reduced IQ in children and other health concerns. Cindy Batson, a nurse and parent, also supported the bill and said she had testified on the issue for years. During questions, Senator Rollins raised concerns about fluoride being an industrial byproduct and described fluoridation as forced medication. The discussion remained focused on the bill’s local-control and immunity provisions, with sponsors saying they were not trying to relitigate the broader science but wanted to remove the mandate. The transcript ends while questions and testimony on HB 16 were still underway, and no final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:37.519><c> site</c> exploration plans, and drill site exploration plans, and drill site inspections
• The Get Out More initiative invests in transformational infrastructure and equipment.
• they would not ordinarily receive in conservation officer training, along with certain types of equipment
• </c><01:01:43.920><c> types</c><01:01:44.240><c> of</c><01:01:44.319><c> of</c><01:01:44.720><c> equipment
• types of of equipment as well for<01:01:46.480><c> um</c><01:01:46.640><c> deployments</c><01:01:47.280

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we will be drilling down a bit further with the state university system.
• , and services. equipment and services.
• The third year was fixtures and equipment. Follow-up. No, no, I think you weren't done. Oh, okay.
• It was planning, construction, and fixtures and equipment.
• And fixtures and equipment. So you'd get your appropriation over a three-year period.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met to hear an overview of State University System finances from the Board of Governors and detailed budget presentations from Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of North Florida. The witnesses explained how university budgets are organized into fund categories such as education and general, contracts and grants, auxiliaries, local/designated funds, capital projects, and component units such as direct support organizations. They also described carry forward funds, the statutory reserve and spending-plan requirements, the PICO/HECO capital outlay process, and how universities use investment accounts, audits, and board oversight to manage restricted and unspent funds. The universities emphasized that most operating dollars are restricted to specific uses and that state support helps keep tuition low. Members asked about differences in funding levels among institutions, especially why FSU receives more funding than UCF despite lower enrollment. Officials said preeminence funding, performance funding, and special legislative appropriations explain much of the difference, and the Board of Governors noted that Florida now has four preeminent universities, with UCF nearing that status. Questions also focused on what happens to unspent carry forward money, how it is invested, and whether the Board of Governors or Legislature can require funds to be returned; officials said the money is invested conservatively, subject to board and audit oversight, and can roll forward under a detailed spending plan, though the Legislature can change funding levels. The committee also discussed capital projects, with members asking about delays, inflation, and whether more projects should be phased or funded faster; witnesses said PICO funds remain with the state until needed and are reimbursed as construction proceeds. A substantial portion of the discussion covered athletics, research, student fees, and endowments. The universities said athletics is generally expected to be self-supporting, though limited use of auxiliary or carry forward funds may be allowed for projects benefiting the broader student body. They also described the financial pressures from name, image, and likeness changes and new NCAA-related costs, and said institutions are planning for those changes now. On research, the universities explained sponsored research funding, indirect cost recovery, compliance obligations, and tech transfer, but did not provide specific commercialization revenue figures and said they would follow up. Members also asked about student fee increases, student input, counseling and wellness funding, and how housing costs affect affordability; the universities said student committees and boards review fees, and aid packaging is intended to keep student debt low. Endowments were described as being held in separate foundations/DSOs with independent investment committees and used mainly for scholarships, faculty support, and research.

Transcript Highlights:

• And yet our children grow up practicing active shooter drills and lockdowns because adults in this country
• even with that, we've also asked our young generations to endure active duty training or active duty drills
• to school and having to— we used to do duck and cover for earthquakes, and now we're doing active drills
• And I think a lot of us who have kids, the first time that our kid does an active shooter drill, we realize
• But now it's not just active shooter drills, and it's not just these lives that are being touched and

Transcript Highlights:

• This forces vehicle owners to drill holes in their bumpers in order to avoid receiving a citation.
• They had to get it from many states over and it took about 4 or 5 weeks to get and they drilled holes
• Morales buys a, a Porsche or whatever these expensive cars he buys, and he's gonna drill a hole in it
• And and he's gonna have to drill a hole because he's not gonna have a sticker and that Porsche has a
• I love this uh bill because I had to drill holes in my car to put a front license plate and, uh, yeah

Bills: HB408 , HB787 , HB 1029 , HB 1126 , HB 1136 , HB1607

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: cultural attractions, highway signs, Texas Department of Transportation, travel guidance, Museum of the Big Bend, traffic control, tourism, sunscreening devices, motor vehicle, judicial specialty license plate, vehicle safety, Texas Transportation Code, disability, parking, Governor's Committee, mobility impairment, disabled veterans, legislative recommendations, license plates, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• They'll adjust; they'll make a write-up for an original manufacturer's part, original equipment, and
• I think we need to drill down on that a little bit. The concern of the 10-year anniversary.
• I'm sorry, oil and gas drilling, right? Does that apply in rural areas?
• Or you build all this equipment in China, and you burn coal?
• You can do the same thing with the generators or the gearbox and all the other heavy steel equipment.

Bills: SB458 , SB819 , SB1238 , SB1642 , SB1643 , SB1644 , SB1791 , SB1810 , SB1824 , SB1825 , SB758 , SB1455 , SB1706

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• certain kinds of health-promoting behaviors amid their drug use—trying to get sterile injection equipment
• So I think within the medical community, if we can sort of drill down on those things.

Summary: The Working Group on Outreach and Treatment of the Special Commission on Xylazine held its first meeting, chaired by Gabe Adams-Cain in Senator John Villis’s absence. Members introduced themselves and described priorities such as improving education about xylazine, expanding first responder and clinical training, and ensuring patients and providers know how to respond to xylazine-related wounds and complications. Several participants emphasized that outreach should reach both people who have not been exposed and those already affected, and that stigma is a major barrier for patients and families. Discussion focused on the main challenges to treatment and outreach, including limited awareness, inconsistent wound care access, gaps in geographic coverage, cost of supplies, and the need for better training in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Dr. Kimmel noted that harm reduction and outreach programs are already providing much of the care, but often lack specialized staff, sufficient supplies, and standardized protocols. He also said xylazine can complicate withdrawal and make it harder for people to engage in substance use treatment. Members discussed the value of non-stigmatizing, consensus messaging, family support organizations, and existing resources such as PARI, StreetCheck, and state-funded syringe service and naloxone networks. The group also reviewed the commission timeline and next steps. Staff said materials for the December 11 full commission meeting should be submitted by December 2, with draft presentation materials to be shared by December 4 and reviewed by December 9. Members agreed to do additional follow-up research on topics including the cost-effectiveness and contents of self-care wound kits, outreach to family and recovery organizations, incarcerated populations, and geographic access gaps. The meeting ended with agreement to use a PowerPoint-style presentation and to continue compiling research through a shared folder, followed by adjournment at 9:55 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we need a House committee substitute to kind of drill down on that, we'll be glad to do that.
• have to pay officers and firemen, we need to get competitive and make sure that we have the proper equipment

Committees: House Local Government , House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill handler to get that language cleaned up if we need a House committee substitute to kind of drill
• Competitive and make sure that we have, you know, the proper equipment, vehicles, and everything there

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The Committee on Local Government met in executive session and first adopted a substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 975, which replaced Senator Black’s version with Representative Farnan’s bill. Members discussed that the controversial community-agreement language had been removed and that related community paramedic language had been moved to another bill. The committee then voted 16-0 to do pass the substituted bill. The committee next considered House Bill 3496, dealing with county officials’ salary schedules and county classification issues. Representative Reedy explained the substitute added election authorities language, incorporated another bill on sheriffs and prosecuting attorneys, and changed the title and substance to address county valuation rules for certain fourth-class counties. Members discussed the impact on county classifications and the inclusion of abated and tax-exempt property in valuation calculations. The substitute was adopted, and the committee voted 15-1 to do pass the bill. In public hearing, Representative Sharp presented House Bill 3028 as a Lewis County fix to allow more at-large members on a county board instead of requiring one from each township; a retired Lewis County commissioner testified in support, and no opposition appeared. Representative Thompson presented House Bill 2431 to let Lexington ask voters for a public safety sales tax after a major gas explosion; supporters said it would fund police, fire, and ambulance needs without reducing current budgets, while an opponent argued against new taxes and special laws. Representative Violet presented House Bill 2732 to raise the voter-approved cap on water service line repair fees from $12 to $24 annually; St. Peters officials said costs have risen and the program helps residents avoid large repair bills, while an opponent said existing programs are solvent and opposed the increase. No votes were taken on the public hearing bills, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• the goal here is not to prevent the water districts from, you know, financing trucks, financing equipment
• there are many places where, in north-central Missouri specifically, they can't get good water by drilling

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The Utilities Committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 2807, with a substitute ending in .03C. Representative Herbert explained that the substitute was intended to match the Senate version, add battery energy storage to the renewable standard, clarify that the nuclear provision applies to new, not existing, nuclear generation, and create nuclear energy credits to help track generation for the PSC. Members asked about how the credits would work, whether they could involve out-of-state generation, and how the bill would affect Missouri jobs and in-state generation. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 2807 do pass by a roll call vote of 18 ayes and 1 no. The committee then heard House Bills 3351 and 3371, sponsored by Representatives Koslow and Taylor, which would expand a prior, narrower water-district detachment proposal statewide. The bill would create a “specific demand customer” category for large water users whose quantity or quality needs may exceed a district’s capabilities, require a water district to respond within 60 days, and allow the customer to seek service elsewhere and pursue detachment if the district cannot or will not serve them. It also would prevent districts from taking on new encumbering federal debt to block detachment and would require gifts offered specifically to pay off such debt to be accepted and applied to that purpose. Sponsors said the measure was meant to stop “debt hoarding” and remove barriers to economic development while still allowing courts to review reasonableness and protect both districts and customers. Members questioned the scope of the bill, including the use of “may exceed” in the definition, whether the restriction on new loans could create problems in emergency or repair situations, how reasonableness would be judged, and whether the proposal could affect existing ratepayers or apply to municipal systems. The sponsors said the intent was to address net-new customers and to leave ordinary financing available except for loans used to prevent detachment. In informational testimony, Missouri American Water described a separate but related problem involving USDA red tape delaying a partial sale of the city of DeKalb’s water system, saying the delay was preventing lower rates and needed capital investment for a small community. No votes were taken on HB 3351 or HB 3371 before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As part of the government efficiency drills, the budget of $1 million for establishing the Office of
• These services include retrofits such as insulation and high-performance windows. energy-efficient equipment

Transcript Highlights:

• In 1869, brothers Gustavus and Edwin Graham made history by drilling the first Texas gas well.
• Central Texas College and Arranger Junior College equip future generations.

Bills: SB26 , SB28 , SJR36 , SB26 , SB616 , SB565 , SB384 , SB28

Transcript Highlights:

• sanitary equip or sanitation equipment<00:12:20.880><c> and</c><00:12:21.200><c> sanitation</c><00:12
• :21.920><c> conditions</c><00:12:22.480><c> need</c> equipment and sanitation conditions need equipment
• </c> That means fewer stops for the equipment That means fewer stops for the equipment violations<01:
• </c> to a place where he had the equipment. to a place where he had the equipment.
• So, um I heard equipment failures.

Committee: Senate Commerce