Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:28.200> uh<00:19:28.320> audit legislative uh audit legislative uh audit uh<00:19
• non-public data from the legislative non-public data from the legislative auditor<00:31:34.639><
• <01:07:47.720> audit similar uh with the legislative audit similar uh with the legislative
• The legislative auditor and deputy legislative auditor are unclassified and appointed to a term.
• auditor and the deputy legislative auditor and the deputy legislative<01:09:43.960> Auditors<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent the 5th Legislative District, and it is an especially I represent the Fifth Legislative District
• It's unusual to have a legislative auditor's comment.
• This brings us to the legislative auditor's conclusion.
• This brings us to the legislative auditor's conclusion.
• This leads us to the legislative auditor's recommendation.

Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so it could not adopt prior minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and new JLARC staff, and noted national recognition for recent JLARC reports. The meeting then moved into a series of preliminary audit presentations and an agency strategic management update, with committee members asking questions after each item. JLARC presented a preliminary audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Staff concluded that crowding, staffing shortages, weak risk assessments, and inconsistent programming combine to create unsafe conditions. The report found that most youth are housed in two large secure facilities operating near or above capacity, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessment tools are not valid for the population, and program access depends more on facility than individual need. JLARC made one recommendation to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF, including improving retention, training, incident response procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, and data quality. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said the agency agreed overcrowding is a serious problem, described ongoing efforts to improve staffing and safety, and said a detailed response would be provided later. Committee members raised concerns about education access, retaliation against staff or youth who participated in the audit, and whether JR-25 has helped or worsened conditions. JLARC then presented a preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. The audit found that L&I generally meets inspection timelines for health and safety complaints, but not for wage and hour or retaliation complaints, where delays are driven largely by time before assignment to an investigator. Staff said complaint volume exceeds capacity, though the agency has added staff, created screening processes, and reorganized workloads, and 2026 legislation now allows prioritization of complaints and broader investigations. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. An L&I representative said the agency is hiring additional staff and will provide a formal response later. The committee also received a JLARC overview and Department of Health strategic management plan update on hospital data reporting, inspections, complaints, and adverse event reporting. DOH reported measurable progress on inspection compliance, new staffing and licensing systems, translated complaint forms, and plans for future work on language access, adverse event reporting, and financial data dashboards. After lunch, JLARC began its 2026 tax preference performance reviews. The first review covered the Main Street tax credit, which JLARC said has helped increase the number of Main Street communities and businesses, with positive growth near designated districts; JLARC recommended continuing the preference and improving business-count data. The second review covered the equitable access to credit program, which JLARC said appears to support underserved communities by funding loans through CDFIs; JLARC recommended continuing the preference beyond its 2027 expiration. The committee began questions on the program mechanics and the role of the Community Reinvestment Act, and the presentation was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• piece of legislation with him. piece of legislation with him.
• c> rural legislative legislation to support rural legislative legislation to support rural small<
• . legislation. legislation.
• common sense legislation. common sense legislation.
• on this important legislation. on this important legislation.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, December 1, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or by the members caucus or legislative or by the members caucus or legislative body.<00:03:07.599
• or House may uh establish a legislative or House may uh establish a legislative email<00:04:50.639
• very clear that the legislative very clear that the legislative telephone<00:05:12.000> number
• with how I got to the legislation with how I got to the legislation And<00:10:56.800> I<00
• <00:19:11.600> body of association with a legislative body of association with a legislative

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As I said before, in the last legislative cycle, there were 1,500 pieces of legislation introduced by
• We are a member-driven organization, so every single legislator and every single legislative staff in
• had enacted legislation.
• legislation.
• legislation.

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, established a quorum, and heard introductory remarks from Majority Leader Hogue and the chair about the committee’s charge. Members said the goal was to build a factual foundation on AI, hear from experts and stakeholders, and develop practical North Dakota-focused recommendations rather than simply produce a large volume of bills. Legislative Council also reviewed interim committee rules and procedures before the informational presentations began. Staff and NCSL presenters then gave overviews of AI concepts and the state and federal policy landscape. The background memo and presentations covered AI categories and terms, state laws in areas such as consumer protection, algorithmic discrimination, deepfakes, chatbots, children’s safety, health, education, and government use, as well as data center siting and economic impacts. NCSL described a growing number of AI bills introduced and enacted across the states, with comprehensive laws in places like Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois, and noted recurring issues around transparency, privacy, liability, and protections for minors. A major focus of the discussion was federal preemption and the tension between state regulation and national AI policy. NCSL said a recent White House executive order and related federal framework seek a light-touch, innovation-friendly national standard, with possible challenges to state laws and possible funding conditions tied to compliance, though no broad federal preemption has yet been enacted. Members asked about Commerce Clause concerns, industry pushback, oversight models, and whether AI policy is bipartisan; presenters said the issue cuts across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfake restrictions but more disagreement on broader regulatory approaches. No votes or formal actions were taken at the meeting, and the committee recessed briefly for technical issues during the second presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:36.719> directed Senate File 2970, a legislated directed Senate File 2970, a legislated
• <00:18:35.679> at financial stake in the legislation at financial stake in the legislation
• interest with respect to the legislation interest with respect to the legislation introduced<00:
• representation for a lawyer legislator representation for a lawyer legislator to<01:03:25.039>
• shouldn't be withheld from legislators. shouldn't be withheld from legislators.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um it sounds legislatively named grants?
• can't probably take away legislators can't probably take away legislators ability<00:18:51.200><
• > will<00:19:21.440> go<00:19:21.520> a legislatively named grants will go a legislatively
• from both parties, like the Legislative Audit Commission, and actually I think it should be the Legislative
• So you legislative audit commission.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Fraud and State Agency Oversight Chair Kristen Robbins and Vice Chair Patti Anderson reviewed the committee’s first session, saying its work focused on exposing fraud, identifying gaps in statute and agency tools, and creating a public whistleblower portal (mnfraud.com). Robbins said the committee helped drive bipartisan opposition to legislatively named grants/earmarks, and that committee testimony from agencies, the Office of Legislative Auditor, and the Office of Grants Management led to late-session committee bills on issues such as a state kickback statute and required grants-management training. She also said the portal received 530 submissions in its first week, which the committee will review over the interim. Members emphasized the need for stronger statewide oversight of grants and fraud prevention. Anderson said existing agency inspector general structures have not worked well and described a bipartisan effort to create a statewide Office of Inspector General with full investigatory authority. Robbins said the Senate version was moving through finance and expected on the floor soon, with the governor indicating he would sign it. Walter Hudson argued that hearings showed agencies often focus on paperwork and compliance checkboxes rather than actually preventing fraud, citing conflict-of-interest attestations and the Feeding Our Future-related testimony as examples. Jim Nash said the state government finance bill includes funding for anti-fraud efforts through the Office of the Auditor and related provisions. In response to questions, Robbins said the committee tried to remain bipartisan despite a 5-3 Republican majority, and that members had handed significant allegations to law enforcement when appropriate. She said the committee did not need subpoena power this session because it is an oversight body, not a law-enforcement body. On legislatively named grants, Robbins said the goal is to change legislative culture rather than impose a formal ban, and she expects future policy to require front-end risk review, 990 review, and capacity checks before such grants are approved. Anderson added that the House and Senate versions of the inspector general bill differ on branch placement and law-enforcement authority, and that the House will decide whether to accept the Senate version once it comes back from finance and the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are they established via legislation, and if they are, would legislation have to be enacted to perhaps
• and if they are would legislation and if they are would legislation<00:11:54.760> have<00:11:
• Are they established via legislation, and if they are, would legislation have to be enacted to perhaps
• <00:18:26.440> proposed proposed legislation proposed proposed legislation proposed legislation
• , so-called enabling legislation, is enabling legislation that can't be rescinded.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from the next legislative assembly.
• This committee could draft legislation, or they could ask the tax committee to draft legislation.
• of the legislative session, the executive branch takes over and enforces those legislative provisions
• So basically, we need as legislators to have certain legislation, So basically, we need as legislators
• And then the 2023 legislative assembly and the 2025 legislative assembly both authorized exemptions to

Summary: The committee was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer were offered, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Members then received a memo summarizing major audit items and began hearing audit presentations from the State Auditor’s Office and private auditors on a range of state agencies and organizations. Several audits were reported as clean, including the Bank of North Dakota, the North Dakota Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation’s flexible transportation fund, Lake Region State College, and the Department of Environmental Quality. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association also received an unmodified opinion, though repeat findings were noted for limited segregation of duties and financial statement preparation due to its small staff. The Council on the Arts audit found two findings: payroll charged to federal awards without adequate timekeeping records, and unallowable expenditures from a restricted cultural endowment fund. The Department of Public Instruction audit identified unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, though additional testing showed the funds were used for their intended purpose. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which identified four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating limit, grant conditions not being met, improper Breeders Fund awards, and improper procurement for advertising services. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson acknowledged complacency and weak controls, said the agency would tighten procedures, and explained that the commission had since worked with procurement and would follow the rules more closely. Auditors also explained that the commission would now be audited every two years because of the findings. Another major discussion involved the University of North Dakota School of Law, where auditors found a lack of documentation supporting admissions decisions for post-baccalaureate programs. UND officials said they remain in good standing with the American Bar Association but agreed better documentation and tools are needed; the committee pressed for more transparency and follow-up on admissions criteria. The committee also received an update on Dakota College at Bottineau, where Minot State University reported that bank reconciliations had been brought current after a significant backlog and would now be maintained through shared services. Members requested a written follow-up report on the issues and corrective actions. Finally, the North Dakota Fair Association explained that its foundation has been dissolved and remaining funds were transferred to another nonprofit for continued support of the state fair, and the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, saying the reported amount was about $1.1 million from a partial district survey and that debt remains a local issue, though it could be revisited if school meal funding changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• legislative administration. legislative administration.
• and welcome to legislative. and welcome to legislative.
• Legislative Administration.
• Welcome to legislative administration. Welcome to legislative administration.
• >> uh for this legislation? >> uh for this legislation?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:31.280> legisl legislator legisl legislator legisl legislator's<00:21:33.760> intention
• legislation not deal with the pending<03:21:53.439> legislation.
• inexpedient to legislate. inexpedient to legislate.
• legislative legislative institution?
• . legislate. legislate.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a piece of legislation that is critically important.
• I turn it over to our legislative agent, Paul Jakes, and also legislative agent Craig Hardy is here as
• presumption, any legislation...
• Any legislation that says we can do better, we are in full support of such stuff.
• I am a legislative agent with the National Association for Government Employees.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting public safety and public sector employees, with most of the discussion focused on expanding occupational presumptions and retirement protections for police, firefighters, correction officers, court officers, and other public employees. Testifiers from the Legislature, police and fire unions, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, PERAC, and the AFL-CIO generally supported bills covering cancer presumptions, contagious disease presumptions, Parkinson’s disease for firefighters, PTSD-related disability and death, and equity for post-certified police officers under the Heart Law. Several speakers emphasized that these conditions are linked to long-term occupational exposure, that current law leaves out agencies such as UMass police, Environmental Police, DMH police, and other state or campus police, and that the bills would correct gaps in existing benefits and presumptions. Representative Colleen Garry and Senator Joan Lovely spoke in support of expanding the Heart Law and cancer presumption protections, while Representative and Senator sponsors for the firefighter and PTSD bills described the health risks faced by first responders and urged favorable reports. PFFM and MassCOP representatives argued that firefighters and police officers face toxic exposures, infectious disease risks, and chronic stress, and cited studies and other states’ laws in support of the measures. PERAC testified that the PTSD accidental disability bill would clarify confusing case law and update filing requirements so traumatic incidents can be used in applications even when PTSD develops later, while still requiring medical review and retirement board approval. Additional testimony came from correction officers and trial court officers seeking comparable disability and pension protections, including a bill to extend a 100% disability pension to correction officers injured in violent attacks and a bill to treat court officers more like police and firefighters when injured in the line of duty. The committee asked a few clarifying questions, including about whether the PTSD bill would address post-retirement claims and about the impact of excluding “forgotten” police agencies. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee ultimately adjourned after hearing all scheduled testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:21:34.399> Speaker, legislation. And with that, Mr. Speaker, legislation.
• legislation within this this one bill. legislation within this this one bill.
• This legislation will fix that.
• . legislation. legislation.
• <06:08:52.558> It legislatively and politically. It legislatively and politically.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:25.840> to today we will be hearing legislation to today we will be hearing legislation
• Section 12, Legislative Inspector General Advisory Commission, creates a legislative advisory commission
• the public hearing that the legislative the public hearing that the legislative uh<00:19:05.840>
• questions the office of legislative questions the office of legislative auditor<00:20:45.559>
• between the office of the legislative between the office of the legislative auditor<00:27:08.880

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• language in mid-January, and ultimately, without any legislative action from last year's legislation
• ultimately without uh any legislative ultimately without uh any legislative action<00:10:33.120>
• :10:35.360> if action from last year's legislation if action from last year's legislation if uh
• <00:10:39.800> uh uh if the temporary uh legislative uh uh if the temporary uh legislative
• was part of the legislation from last year, to provide a full draft legislative language, also a best

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation is straightforward.
• This legislation is straightforward. This legislation is straightforward.
• Do we legislate for specific groups or do we legislate for the masses?
• legislation? legislation?
• we legislate for the groups or do we legislate for the masses?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and first moved through administrative regulations without comment. The committee then heard Senate Bill 56, sponsored by Senator Gerald Neal, which would require Medicaid and its managed care entities to treat non-opioid pain medications on equal footing with opioid analgesics by prohibiting more restrictive coverage controls, prior authorization, or step therapy for non-opioids. Neal argued the bill would improve access to safer pain treatment options and reduce the risk of opioid use disorder, and Billy O'Brien of Young People in Recovery testified in support, describing personal experiences where non-opioid options were difficult to obtain despite a desire to avoid opioids. After discussion, the bill received a motion and second and passed the committee on a 10-0 vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 72, sponsored by Senator Don Douglas and presented with Greg Chaffin of Alliance Defending Freedom. Douglas described the bill as a provider recruitment and retention measure intended to protect health care workers from being compelled to act against their conscience and to address workforce shortages and pressure in health care settings. He said the bill would protect individual beliefs while maintaining professionalism. A large number of witnesses then testified, and the chair limited public comments to two minutes each because of the number of speakers and the controversy surrounding the bill. Most public testimony opposed SB 72. Speakers including representatives of the Kentucky Council of Churches, a psychologist, an ordained minister and nurse, a nurse practitioner, and an ACLU policy strategist argued the bill was overly broad, could allow refusals of care by a wide range of health care workers, and could delay or deny treatment, especially for vulnerable patients and in rural or emergency settings. Several cited concerns about discrimination, patient safety, and the lack of adequate protections for patients. One witness recounted the death of an 18-year-old pregnant patient as an example of the harm that can result from delayed care. The transcript ends during additional testimony on SB 72, before any committee vote or final action on that bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and I reserve the balance of legislation and I reserve
• This legislation Protect taxpayers.
• This legislation is This legislation is the most comprehensive, impactful children's online safety package
• I will yield four minutes to the author of this legislation, who's worked tirelessly on this legislation
• Importantly, the legislation also brings industry experts legislation also brings industry experts to

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, June 29, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Proceedings, separation of powers, and legislative immunity and privilege.
• , House No. 51010, entitled 'An Act to Reform and Regulate Legislative Stipends,' hereinafter referred
• , House No. 51010, entitled 'An Act to Reform and Regulate Legislative Stipends,' hereinafter referred
• procedures that have... ...of the Commonwealth by mandating changes to internal legislative procedures
• entitled 'An Act to Reform and Regulate Legislative Stipends' and which is pending before the General

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate began with ceremonial items, including the Pledge of Allegiance and a welcome to Tri-County High School’s championship football and boys’ cross-country teams. The chamber then adopted a resolution commending the town of Auburn and the Robert and Esther Goddard Centennial Committee for recognizing the 100th anniversary of the first liquid-fueled rocket launch. Several local bills were taken up and passed to be enacted, including measures authorizing payment by the City of Revere, adjusting the senior property tax deferral income threshold in Wellesley, amending the Hopedinton charter regarding library trustee appointment powers, and later engrossing bills affecting the Cotuit Fire District, the Salem licensing board, and validating Bourne’s May 20, 2025 annual election. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer House petitions to committees and, on committee recommendation, advanced two Cotuit Fire District bills to third reading and engrossment. A major portion of the session focused on two Senate orders seeking advisory opinions from the Supreme Judicial Court on pending initiative petitions. One order concerned a public records initiative that would extend public records law to the General Court and the Governor’s office; the other concerned a legislative stipends initiative that would alter internal legislative procedures and compensation rules. Senator Feeney spoke in support of both orders, saying they were meant to inform the committee’s work and were not votes on the merits of the ballot questions. Both orders were adopted without objection. The Senate also received a Ways and Means report on a bill banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and pet sharks, with a new draft and amendment pending, and adopted an order placing the bill on the Orders of the Day for second reading on March 19, 2026. The session concluded with an order to adjourn to Monday at 11 a.m., which was adopted, and the Senate adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee report is adopted. to legislate. Are you ready for the to legislate.
• that it is inexpedient to legislate. that it is inexpedient to legislate.
• <04:40:29.280> Chair legislator House Bill 142. Chair legislator House Bill 142.
• Majority of the committee on legislative legislative legislative administration<04:47:21.760> which
• that it is inexpedient to legislate. that it is inexpedient to legislate.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Shame on those who continue to support this legislation.
• They shouldn't waste the House's time on this legislation.
• The legislation before us makes a mockery of that legacy.
• I was also proud to work with Him on several pieces of legislation, including legislation to provide
• I WAS ALSO PROUD TO WORK WITH HIM ON SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION, INCLUDING LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 31, 2025, 1012, house, all