Transcript Highlights:

• These are all part of the Industrial Commission, and that's why we're reviewing it, because we handle
• I'm the deputy director in the Industrial Commission admin office.
• In August of 2025, the North Dakota Industrial Commission chose to move forward with the Bakken East
• So it does not involve our Public Service Commission, as it would with a crude oil pipeline or other
• Chairman, so if this red line kind of captures that exact figure, so 160, if the commission used the

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division budget section and first reviewed the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s budget and program update. Legislative Council outlined the agency’s base budget and historical funding, and Housing Finance staff reported on homeownership lending, housing incentive fund (HIF) awards, and homeless grant spending. Agency officials said the five new FTEs approved last session are mostly filled, with one homeless program manager still open. They described strong demand for HIF, noting that September 2025 multifamily requests exceeded $73 million while only $25 million was available, and that single-family and homeless programs are also heavily subscribed. Members discussed the agency’s local loan servicing workload, interest-rate benefits, down payment assistance, and the need to coordinate housing discussions with Commerce and site-preparation efforts. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased, and committee members emphasized accountability and statewide access for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing funds. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and agency initiatives. Staff reported that the department is on track financially, that most of the five new reclamation-related FTEs are hired, and that litigation costs tied to oil and gas matters are expected to continue appearing late in the biennium. The director reviewed ongoing modernization and organizational efforts, including the North Star IT project, succession planning, training, and rulemaking for oil and gas and critical minerals. Members asked about longer laterals, spacing, and production trends; the department said operators are increasingly drilling three-, four-, and even an initial five-mile lateral, which is helping keep North Dakota oil production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. The director also discussed oil price volatility tied to Middle East conflict, hedging practices among producers, gas capture remaining around 95%, and the likelihood that current production levels will stay near flat unless prices or geopolitical conditions change significantly. An update on the enhanced oil recovery grant program followed. The Industrial Commission’s grant administrator said the full $25 million appropriation was allocated in the fall to six projects, and because the oil and gas research fund also had carryover and biennial tax revenue, total awards reached about $45.1 million. The projects are expected to run two to four years, with meaningful results not likely until mid-2026 or later. Members questioned whether the public would have access to the research findings and how accountability would be maintained; staff said the grants are reimbursement-based, require regular status reports, and will culminate in public final reports. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, which updated members on natural gas transmission projects, especially WBI Energy’s proposed Bakken East pipeline. The authority said the project has advanced through a nonbinding and then binding open season, with WBI now securing survey permissions and moving through regulatory and landowner processes, while other related gas transmission projects near Minot and Epping are also in development.

Transcript Highlights:

• commission members can do so.
• commission members can do so.
• commission members can do so.
• commission members can do so.
• agenda and control commission personnel. agenda and control commission personnel.

Bills: HB303, SB360, SB325, HB477, SB329, HB381, SB330

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The commission will conduct a comprehensive review of the Education Code.
• and Retention, this commission has 13 members.
• Does it still currently only have three teachers on this commission?
• And so I guess the goal is to find out how to— the name of this commission is to find out teacher job
• And are you aware that there's about 26 commissions and boards that have this type of language in it?

Bills: HB4, HB20

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard a series of higher education and K-12 bills, initially without a quorum and with several measures left pending subject to the call of the chair. Early bills included HB 1868, which would direct a study on lowering the dual-credit funding threshold for public junior colleges from 15 to 9 semester credit hours; HB 2598, which would replace statutory references to “licensed specialist in school psychology” with “school psychologist”; HB 3629, which would bar registered sex offenders from serving on independent school district boards of trustees; and HB 4361, which would require the Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules for timely emergency notifications at public institutions of higher education. Each received brief sponsor explanations, no opposition testimony, and was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4848, requiring public higher education systems to ensure at least one institution offers affordable competency-based bachelor’s degree programs in high-demand fields, and HB 1211, which would remove the age 25 deadline for former foster youth to use public college tuition waivers. HB 1211 drew extensive supportive testimony from Texas CASA, a former foster youth who benefited from the waiver, and a current student headed to medical school, all arguing the change would better match the realities faced by youth aging out of care. Members discussed the bill’s fiscal uncertainty and the argument that the waiver is an investment in workforce participation; the bill was left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 20, creating an Applied Sciences Pathway Program to let high school students earn certificates in targeted industries such as welding, plumbing, electrical work, manufacturing, and oil and gas while in school. Industry and workforce groups strongly supported the bill as a way to address labor shortages, while Texas 2036 raised concerns about allowing applied versions of core academic courses to substitute for traditional instruction. HB 4687, which would extend governmental immunity protections to certain campus/district charter schools and adult charter high schools, also received support from a charter-school attorney who said it would align statutes with existing case law and not expand charter rights. HB 4236, as substituted, would create a study group to examine the property value study’s effect on school finance and alternative valuation methods; it was adopted as a committee substitute and left pending. The committee also heard HB 824 on civics instruction in high school government courses and HB 2243, which would create a commission on teacher job satisfaction and retention; the latter prompted debate over removing “ethnic diversity” language from the commission’s makeup. After adopting the substitute for HB 2243 by roll call, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would, would they be doing the same thing as the advisory, as the sunset Advisory commission?
• No, uh, so what the sunset Commission again is a legislative body. This would be executive.
• commission.
• Well, um, in terms of the sunset Advisory commission, they've done that too.
• Well, I mean, Of course, the sunset commission isn't on a schedule. We agree to that.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, next up, Yasmin Chain, executive director for the state commission on the status of women on Zoom
• Um, I stand on my written testimony requesting an amendment for the commission to be included in this
• Uh, good morning, Michael Goyu Jr., vice chair of the Hawaii State LGBTQ plus Commission.
• uh to ensure State LGBTQ plus commission uh to ensure that<00:12:08.399> the<00:12:08.720>
• Uh, Michael Gouy Jr., Vice Chair of the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission. He/him pronouns.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To provide to the commission shall issue such declaratory statement within 60 days. >> The course of
• This amendment seeks to close a loophole in our statutory ethics requirements of the gaming Commission
• for at least 2 years prior following their employment with the Commission.
• And so it's important that our commission and this bill aligns with getting out in front of the issue
• It directs Kiwi PR to engage with the Florida Building Commission to develop a standardized servers.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Weaver, so I just have some questions about your commission.
• I'm not terribly familiar with this commission. How many events does your commission...
• How many events does your commission oversee each year? That's kind of hard to say.
• That would not have happened without our commission.
• And how many people are on your board of your commission? Six. Okay, thank you.

Bills: SB156, SB134, SB108, SB47, SB88, SB89, SB106, SB18, SB9, HB38, HB54

Keywords: habitual felony offender, resentencing, Alabama Department of Corrections, victim notification, criminal justice reform, life sentences, parole eligibility, pardon, parole, law enforcement, GPS monitoring, data sharing, mail theft, stolen mail, criminal penalties, personally identifying information, felony, misdemeanor, SB47, Alabama

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been increasing. legislative audit commission, we don't legislative audit commission, we don't see
• :46:14.160> commission.
• <00:46:20.480> and regarding an office or commission and regarding an office or commission
• <01:26:57.120> and review task force and commissions and review task force and commissions
• in the number of boards and commissions in the number of boards and commissions particularly<01:

Bills: HF1151, HF1239, HF1240, HF2020, HF2514, HF2515, HF2451

Keywords: Compensation Council, salaries, state officials, judicial compensation, legislative process, public funds, misuse, law enforcement, accountability, state government, legislative auditor, compliance, transparency, retirement benefits, health insurance, dependents, state employees, Medicare, legislative studies, government oversight

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:39:51.359> to Apprentice establishing a commission to Apprentice establishing a commission
• The commission has worked, and they did volunteer. Members traveled from throughout the state.
• <00:46:51.160> to have in order for the commission to have in order for the commission to
• <00:50:13.520> um their communities and this commission um their communities and this commission
• to Senator apprentice and the commission to Senator apprentice and the commission so<00:50:25.799

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have three commission members. I'm the newest member of that commission.
• is the chairman of our commission, and he's been on the commission for four years.
• the newest member of that commission. the newest member of that commission.
• and he's been on the uh commission and he's been on the uh commission<00:48:33.200> for commission
• <02:35:03.840> uh council for real estate commission uh council for real estate commission

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 409, 22 January, 2026; 1:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Mississippi Auctioneer Commission, which requested level funding. PJ Lindsay reported the agency granted 29 new auctioneer applications and 9 new firm applications, received 3 complaints, resolved 1, signed 1 consent order, and issued 1 suspension. Members questioned the commission about its cash balance, reserve levels, and a large variance between prior spending and the FY26 request; staff explained the difference was tied to technology and contractual costs, including planned computer system updates and out-of-state conference travel for board members. The commission also noted that auctioneering oversight is important because an estimated $4.5 billion will flow through Mississippi escrow accounts in 2025. The Board of Optometry then presented its budget and organizational changes. Board leaders said the board had transitioned away from a state employee model to a management company arrangement with JBAR/Cornerstone, which they said saved about $43,000 and improved service and efficiency. They described the creation of a licensing database and a new back-end system, and said the board was generally seeking level funding with a small increase for computer equipment tied to the new system. Committee members asked about the impact on PERS contributions, the former employee’s retirement, the board’s cash balance, lease arrangements, and whether licensees had complained; the board said the change required legislative approval, the former employee retired, the cash balance was about $399,900, and service complaints had decreased. The Mississippi Board of Licensure for Engineers and Surveyors reported a busy FY2025, including moving most licensure applications online, accepting supporting documents by email, expanding K-12 and college outreach, hosting student interns, visiting ABET-accredited schools, decoupling the surveyor exam registration process, and awarding about $400,000 in grants to engineering programs. The board said it licenses about 15,000 engineers and surveyors plus 8,500 interns, with most registrants from out of state, and that its fees are among the lowest nationally. For the budget, the board requested level funding overall but also sought a new investigator position, 5% salary progressions, increased travel funding for national meetings and STEM outreach, more contractual money for internships and IT modifications, additional supplies, and restoration of a $600,000 grant program that is funded every other year to support university and community college engineering and surveying programs. The board said its operations are supported by fees and that its cash balance is about $1.6 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to start by hearing from the Criminal Justice Training Commission.
• I'm the Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Training Commission.
• And the CJTC for everybody here is the state Criminal Justice Training Commission.
• And the CJTC for everybody here is the state Criminal Justice Training Commission.
• I want to briefly talk about the difference between a commission and a certification.

Summary: The committee held a work session in Mill Creek focused first on the eviction process. Judge Michael Scott of King County Superior Court described historic highs in unlawful detainer filings across Washington, especially in urban counties, and said King County has reduced its backlog and average time to resolution to about 60 days by adding two dedicated eviction judges and using more judges when needed. He also described how King County and other counties are implementing the right to counsel for indigent tenants, and noted that additional housing commissioners may help. Office of Civil Legal Aid representatives Philippe Knapp and Jane Paxe said the statewide appointed counsel program has represented more than 30,000 tenants, referred clients to social services, and helped many remain housed, but they warned of a funding shortfall that could eliminate about 17 attorneys and leave roughly 2,000 tenants without representation. A landlord-side panel argued that eviction timelines remain too long and fragmented, creating unpaid rent, safety issues, and uncertainty for both landlords and tenants; they urged more uniform procedures, streamlined rental assistance, and procedural changes to reduce refiling and delays. The second work session addressed theft and vandalism of critical infrastructure, especially copper and telecom cable theft. Committee staff reviewed existing criminal and regulatory laws covering malicious mischief, theft, scrap metal businesses, and metal property deception. Comcast, Mason Public Utility District, and the Recycled Materials Association testified that theft of aerial cable and copper has become a crisis affecting power, internet, 911 service, schools, hospitals, and line-worker safety. Utility representatives described outages, hazards, and rising costs, and asked for stronger audits of scrapyards, tougher penalties for theft affecting critical infrastructure, and tighter rules on payment and identification. Recyclers said they oppose the thefts and already operate under heavy regulation, but acknowledged enforcement gaps and the need for better coordination; committee members discussed possible bill concepts and asked for written recommendations. The final work session covered standards for law enforcement personnel. Criminal Justice Training Commission Executive Director Monica Alexander and Assistant Director Kimberly Bliss explained current certification and decertification rules, including background checks, training requirements, mandatory and discretionary grounds for decertification, and the hearing process. They said elected sheriffs are not currently required to undergo the same pre-election background check as other applicants, though they can still be decertified if already certified, and they reported a backlog of more than 1,000 cases with about 70 to 80 new cases coming in each month. Retired Judge Ann Levinson then outlined ways the legislature could strengthen and align standards for chiefs, sheriffs, and marshals, including requiring certification within a set time, setting a minimum age, requiring recent state background checks, and making loss of certification a vacancy in office. Committee members asked questions about accountability for elected sheriffs, background-check administration, and decertification outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:43:43.520> to care consumer advisory commission to care consumer advisory commission to
• ,<03:44:09.359> and attorney general, the commission, and attorney general, the commission
• in<03:53:55.040> the commission, put this commission in the commission, put this commission
• . commission. commission.
• > some<04:03:35.760> time commission needs to spend some time commission needs to spend

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This amends the conditions and manner and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management
• This clarifies that Act 130, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, which amended the Hawaiian Homes Commission
• Act take effect home Holmes commission Act take effect on<00:03:24.200> the<00:03:24.360>
• This is relating to the White Correctional Oversight Commission, beginning July 1, 2025.
• um beginning July 1st 2025 commission um beginning July 1st 2025 extends<00:04:42.680> the<00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met on a decision-making agenda and took up a series of bills, mostly accepting committee recommendations with either technical or substantive amendments. HB 472 would allow digitized identification cards to be accepted as valid ID under certain circumstances; the committee amended it to clarify that a physical ID may still be required where state or federal law demands it, and the measure passed. HB 510 on water shortages and emergencies, HB 871 on the effective date of Act 130 relating to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, HB 1120 on the Department of Health’s nuisance-abatement authority, and HB 1162 on motorcycle instruction permits all passed with amendments or technical changes. HB 544 establishing a pet insurance framework, HB 995 extending reporting time for firearm carry license reports, HB 10002 extending the White Correctional Oversight Commission coordinator term, HB 1093 clarifying the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s powers, HB 1291 expanding labeling rules for winged brown coffee to roasted coffee, and HB 1348 on public-land recreation leases and county-resident lotteries also passed, with HB 1348 amended to require a lottery within a year of vacancy and to limit renewal conditions. The committee also discussed HB 76, requiring skateboard users under 16 to wear helmets, and HB 1259, which would change how speed limits can be reduced without an engineering study. One member raised concerns about HB 1259, arguing the language could allow unsafe reductions on state highways; the committee noted a no vote from that member, but the measure still passed. HB 76 initially passed as amended, then the committee briefly revisited it after a member said they had intended to vote no; on revote, the bill was adopted unamended. Throughout the meeting, members generally voiced no objections to the remaining measures, and each bill was reported out with the stated recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:05:59.880> on<00:05:59.960> to<00:06:00.080> the First item up is the Commission
• The Liquor Commission issued a rule that specifically excludes desserts from being automatically denied
• that any beer from The Liquor Commission that any beer label<00:11:27.519> that<00:11:27.760>
• issued a rule that Liquor Commission issued a rule that specifically<00:11:42.079> excludes<00
• yes the fact that the Liquor Commission yes the fact that the Liquor Commission has<00:13:09.160

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with routine business, approving the minutes and adopting the consent calendar. It then took up an interim rule from the Department of Safety concerning a definition of “medical provider” in a rule affecting veterans. Staff explained that the original language unintentionally excluded VA-affiliated physicians who are licensed in another state, which had caused some veterans to be denied benefits tied to medical notes. The department proposed a conditional approval with edits to include physicians licensed in any U.S. state who are affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, along with conforming changes to the related form. Members asked a clarifying question about the form language, and the committee voted to grant conditional approval as amended. The committee next discussed an emergency rule from the Liquor Commission involving beer label approvals. Staff said the existing rule denying labels that might be perceived as advertising to children had been applied ambiguously, and the emergency rule would clarify that desserts are not automatically denied. The commission argued the issue created a financial emergency because a New Hampshire brewery had spent about $200,000 on new labels and could not get its product on shelves. Members discussed whether that financial impact met the standard for an emergency rule, with comments that the burden was arguably self-imposed but still financial in nature. No formal motion was made to object, and the committee did not take further action on the emergency rule. The meeting concluded with a brief update that two objection responses were still outstanding, with one expected in April and another pushed to May. The committee also agreed to cancel the mid-month continued meeting, and the meeting was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning to the next page, lottery commission.
• Item 20 Amendment 2 Rider 40, Health and Human Services Commission Partnership is adopted.
• Turning to the Funeral Services Commission on page 13.
• Turning to the Public Utilities Commission, the one technical adjustment is adopted.
• That concludes the Health and Human Services Commission Agency.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• Prior to that, I served on the Mexican-American Commission of the State of Nebraska, which is probably
• the Latino Commission now.
• And I am soon going to take a couple of meetings to learn all about the Racing and Gaming Commission,
• This is the Racing and Gaming Commission.
• I hope you let me serve on the commission. Thank you. I hope you let me serve on the commission.

Keywords: 956, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, we submit an integrated resource plan to the Public Service Commission every three years
• And so when we actually proposed to the Public Service Commission Rates for everybody else.
• I mean, the legislation required that we file those tariffs with the Public Service Commission.
• In our opinion, the Public Service Commission did not go nearly far enough.
• The Public Service Commission, thank you.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The commission team has 20.
• This is the commission And the commission can give us prospects and give us ideas of people that would
• Number 5: new commission email.
• So, it's just... it's Oklaedd commission at gmail.com.
• I'm just so sorry, may I ask you a quick question about the commission members?

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It attaches the consortium to the commission but maintains the commission remains attached to the Office
• It changes the sunset review date for the Commission by one year.
• Norman Garza, Executive Director of the Texas Space Commission. I think I've got to...
• So, a lot of conversations are underway currently about the Texas Space Commission.
• I'm Chuck Ross, Director of Fraud Deterrence and Compliance Monitoring, Texas Workforce Commission.

Bills: HB3146, HB3719, HB3895, HB3923, HB4748, HB4751, HB4936, HB4952, HB4990, HB4991, HB5061, HB5196, HB5238, HB5246, HB5487

Keywords: State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative hearings, contested case, contested case hearing, administrative law judge, ALJ, final decision, proposed decision, agency hearing, hearing continuance, rescheduling, Texas administrative law, Government Code Chapter 2001, workers' compensation, Department of Human Resources, Texas Labor Code, Transportation Code, Agriculture Code, Insurance Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, just the Tax Commission. Or is Kurt? I think just the Tax Commission.
• Oh, just the Tax Commission.
• And I've reported to the commission that I've reported to the commission that I... ...hypothetical.
• And have you worked that out with the Tax Commission?
• Jason Gardner, Deputy Executive Director of the Tax Commission.

Keywords: 985, all