Transcript Highlights:

• Down on item 23, amend Rider 51 Interstate Education Compacts, adopted at $60,000.
• Moving to page 33 for the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission, there were no items

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But if you travel to an event, and many of us do, and I've talked, my district is more compact than many
• before we move on to our next witness, I'm going to recognize President Pro Tem Barrow for a personal privilege
• For the last 28 years, I've had the privilege of serving children and families in various roles and capacities

Summary: The committee first approved the May 20 minutes and then advanced HCR 95, which would create a more uniform tax base for future state and local tax exemptions and credits, requiring a two-thirds vote of both chambers to deviate from that uniformity. HB 648 was deferred by the author. HB 1049, dealing with public meeting procedures and notice requirements, was amended after discussion with the Police Jury Association, school boards, and local government groups; the amendments removed a requirement for a lawyer at every meeting and clarified notice and posting language, and the bill was reported with amendments despite opposition from local government associations and the City of Baker. The committee then heard HB 615, which would expand livestreaming and two-year archiving requirements to more public bodies, including non-elected boards and commissions with taxing or rulemaking authority. Supporters framed it as a transparency measure, while local government and association witnesses argued it would impose an unfunded mandate, especially on small volunteer boards, and raised concerns about costs, staffing, record retention, and reliance on social media platforms. The bill was not advanced. HB 1201, as amended, would provide legislators reimbursement for travel and limited out-of-session expenses, including housing and mileage, beginning with the next term; members discussed the need to make public service more financially feasible and to broaden who can afford to serve. The committee reported HB 1201 with amendments. The committee also considered two constitutional convention-related bills. HB 244 would set guardrails for any future convention by capping delegates at 144, specifying delegate selection, requiring a two-thirds delegate vote to send proposals to voters, and requiring both a majority of voters and approval by three-fourths of the parishes for ratification; after debate over whether the parish threshold was too high, the bill was reported favorably on a roll call vote. HB 4, as amended, was narrowed to require the Senate and House Governmental Affairs committees to meet in the off-season to discuss the mechanics of a possible convention, but members viewed it as more of a study resolution than binding legislation, and the committee voted to keep it in committee. The meeting then moved to confirmation hearings. Courtney Myers, nominated for Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, and Ernest Jacob Reade Jr., nominated as Assistant Secretary, testified about their backgrounds and priorities, emphasizing juvenile rehabilitation, education and vocational programming, mental health services, credible messengers, family contact, and better communication with legislators and families. Nathan McBride, nominated as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, testified about his engineering and government affairs background and said he would focus on legislative work, waste tire management, permitting modernization, and constituent service.

Transcript Highlights:

• Having just done the medical compact on the floor of the Senate, I see a lot of parallels here.
• So it's a real privilege. I really think For COVID. So it's a real privilege.

Bills: SB97, SB55, SB40, SB38, SB120, SB113, SB116, SB117, SB118

Keywords: tax credits, municipality, county property, industrial revenue bonds, economic development, qualified expenditures, solar energy, tax credit, renewable energy, photovoltaic, solar thermal, New Mexico, economic incentive, energy independence, SB40, Driver Privacy and Safety Act, automated license plate reader, ALPR, license plate reader, vehicle surveillance

Transcript Highlights:

• I have the privilege to go to their communities and see the work that they're doing.
• you're busy working on many of those initiatives from everything from, you know, things such as the compacts
• It is my privilege to speak on behalf of the consortium. which includes four tribal colleges located

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The district fulfills the basic redistricting principle of compactness, stretching across vastly different
• As a white privileged male, I am embarrassed to be in that category.
• I am privileged to be able to spend this afternoon on Zoom with you.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair recognizes Representative Sells for a moment of personal privilege. >> Thank you, Mr.
• Hearing no objections, the privilege is granted.
• has had the privilege of speaking here. has had the privilege of speaking here.
• <00:15:54.160> of Matsuda and I have had the privilege of Matsuda and I have had the privilege
• You could not get off the boat Compact.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Shortly after its enactment in '82, I was privileged to be appointed as the city attorney for the city
• Shortly after its enactment in '82, I was privileged to be appointed as the city attorney for the city
• c> different requirements under the different requirements under the interstate<01:26:10.800> compacts
• and<01:26:11.440> decrees,<01:26:12.480> we<01:26:12.639> we interstate compacts
• as compliance with the Platte River recovery and implementation program or some other interstate compact

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• not only does that create extra costs, but every trip the farmer makes on that land creates extra compaction
• 23:18.679> land<00:23:18.880> creates<00:23:19.159> extra<00:23:19.480> compaction
• <00:23:20.039> and that land creates extra compaction and that land creates extra compaction
• :36.400> be<00:23:36.559> pelletized<00:23:37.159> they're<00:23:37.400> compacted
• can also be pelletized they're compacted can also be pelletized they're compacted to<00:23:38.039

Bills: HF1621, HF1701, HF1796, HF1676, HF40, HF1428, HF1540

Keywords: HF1621, CelluComp, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, appropriation, grant, commercialization, fiber-based barrier packaging, packaging materials, PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, plastic reduction, sustainable packaging, environmental health, materials innovation, bio-based packaging, food packaging, agriculture finance, one-time grant, state subsidy

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is particularly important now that we have passed some medical compacts and we're trying to
• Privileged by a hospital or outpatient health care facility shall be paid by that hospital or outpatient

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And also, just a point of privilege, I'd like to introduce my LEA, who was able to come up partly because
• So you have treaties, you have executive orders, you have compacts and statutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• All the programs, all the agreements, the continuation of the interstate compacts, for example, that
• spending, to my knowledge, in excess of ten or $12 million so far paying these co-neutrals for the privilege

Transcript Highlights:

• And what we're going to do is we're going to take a little bit of privilege here.
• No, I was privileged to go through that myself. I lived that. It's a lived experience.
• No, I was privileged to go through that myself. I live that. It's a lived experience.
• I've had the privilege of being that representative for the past four years.
• That 10%, we're looking at different compacts.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what we're going to do is take a little bit of privilege here.
• No, I was privileged to go through that myself. I lived that. It's a lived experience.
• No, I was privileged to go through that myself. I live that. It's a lived experience.
• I've had the privilege of being that representative for the past four years.
• That 10%, we're looking at different compacts.

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met at NDSU and heard an extensive presentation from President David Cook/President Stewart and NDSU leadership on the university’s priorities, including enrollment, student success, research growth, and use of New Horizons funding. Leaders emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission, its role in workforce development, and its goal of becoming more distinctive through strategic planning, recruitment and retention, commercialization, and partnerships. They highlighted that NDSU awarded 2,370 degrees in 2025, produces a large share of the state’s engineering, nursing, and agriculture graduates, and reported strong outcomes for graduates staying and working in North Dakota. They also noted enrollment headwinds, competition from other institutions, and the need to manage tuition waivers more carefully through a scholarship optimization effort. Provost Sherry Vale outlined academic stewardship efforts, including review or consolidation of low-producing programs, strategic hiring tied to institutional priorities, faculty workload policy changes, and expanded online and regional offerings. She said the university is using New Horizons dollars to strengthen advising, student support, and programs in engineering, agriculture, and health. NDSU leaders also described new or expanded academic offerings such as robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, material science and engineering, nuclear engineering certificates, accelerated nursing, nurse practitioner certificates, a Master of Health Administration, and a clinical research master’s program with Sanford Health. They stressed that these investments are intended to improve student completion, meet workforce needs, and increase return on public investment. The committee also heard testimony from students and recent graduates who described the value of NDSU’s education, mentorship, internships, research opportunities, and support services. Alyssa Hodges spoke about pharmacy education, public health work, and campus support as a parent and student; Ethan Blessy described engineering coursework, internships with Marvin, and career preparation; and Aiden Freolic discussed neuroscience research, federally funded projects, and plans for graduate study. Their testimony was followed by presentations on partnerships with Gateway to Science for K-12 STEM outreach and with Sanford Research on biomedical research, clinical trials, obesity research, and a joint biostatistics hire. NDSU also highlighted systemwide shared services, Governor’s School programming, and research growth, including a reported 8% increase in research expenditures from $199 million to $215 million. No bill votes were taken; the meeting was informational and featured presentations, testimony, and discussion of future planning and partnerships.

Transcript Highlights:

• their concerns about the State of New Mexico's ability to enforce our obligations under the gaming compact
• flag that this request is directly connected to our ability to uphold our obligations under that compact
• . ...connected to our ability to uphold our obligations under that compact to our tribal communities.
• At a very high level, the state of New Mexico has certain legal obligations under the compact, the gaming
• compacts that we have entered into with gaming tribes, to enforce our laws with respect to any entity

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first heard an Aging and Long-Term Services Department budget presentation comparing the LFC and executive recommendations. The main differences were in the Aging Network, Adult Protective Services, Program Support, and Long-Term Care Division, especially the executive’s proposed $10 million infusion into the Kiki Savadra Senior Dignity Fund and $6.2 million for expanding New Mexico Care. LFC staff explained that the committee recommendation was lower in general fund and fund-balance use, while the executive emphasized rising senior population needs, meal and transportation costs, and the cost savings of keeping older adults at home. The secretary also reviewed the department’s special requests, including the conference on aging, outreach, emergency preparedness, and the Kiki fund, and described New Mexico Care’s growth, its evaluation results, and the department’s plan to separate Kiki into its own accounting fund. Members largely focused on senior services, rural meal delivery, transportation, caregiver support, and the Kiki fund. Several members urged stronger support for non-metro aging providers and for New Mexico Care, citing its role in keeping seniors out of nursing homes and the program’s reported savings and outcomes. Questions also covered eligibility, background checks for caregivers, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer’s screening, and whether Kiki funds can support home modifications such as ramps. The committee then voted to adopt the LFC recommendation with one executive language change: adding the executive’s page 14 language allowing an additional 12.5% distribution for initial payments to aging network providers at the start of FY27. Representative Dow opposed the motion. The committee then moved to the Attorney General’s budget. LFC staff explained that the office’s budget relies heavily on the Consumer Settlement Fund, with both recommendations reducing general fund revenue while increasing settlement-fund use, and that performance measures were in consensus. The Attorney General said the office was not seeking more general fund, but wanted greater ability to use funds it recovers. He highlighted major consumer and public safety work, including litigation against major social media and AI platforms, a case involving Snapchat and child exploitation/extortion, the statewide crime gun intelligence center, efforts to address oilfield theft, work on missing and murdered Indigenous persons, and efforts to protect federal funds coming into New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• In exchange also with this regulatory compact um the utilities would have an obligation to serve all
• 49.200> regulatory In exchange also with this regulatory In exchange also with this regulatory compact
• 51.519> utilities<00:11:51.920> would<00:11:52.079> have<00:11:52.160> an compact
• um the utilities would have an compact um the utilities would have an obligation<00:11:52.800> to
• <01:28:15.360> that of um old school regulatory compact that of um old school regulatory compact

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational briefing on the Public Utilities Commission’s performance-based regulation (PBR) framework and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ whistleblower complaint process. Chair Jared Kohole opened the meeting, noted it was informational only with no public testimony, and explained that members would hear presentations and then have an opportunity for questions. The committee heard first from Ulupono Initiative, which provided background on why utilities are regulated, how Hawaii’s cost-of-service model and rate cases work, and why PBR was adopted to shift utility incentives away from a capital-investment bias and toward performance, efficiency, cost control, and policy goals such as renewable energy and reliability. Ulupono described Hawaii’s PBR structure as a five-year multi-year rate plan with annual revenue adjustments, a customer dividend, a Z factor for extraordinary exogenous events, and an exceptional project recovery mechanism for large projects. It also outlined performance incentive mechanisms tied to renewable portfolio standard progress, interconnection speed, reliability, and shared savings. The presentation said the current docket is evaluating a possible hybrid approach that would combine forward-looking forecasting with historical results, and Ulupono advocated for stronger incentives, arguing the current rewards are too small relative to utility revenues and should be more meaningful to better align utility behavior with legislative intent. The PUC then presented its own overview, emphasizing that the PBR docket is open and active and that the briefing was limited to the record to avoid ex parte concerns. The commission described the development of PBR in Hawaii through multiple phases beginning in 2018: an initial collaborative phase to set goals, a formal contested-case phase that produced the initial framework, later phases adding scorecards, reported metrics, and additional performance incentive mechanisms, and subsequent refinements including sunset of some mechanisms and adjustments after the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The PUC said the framework is intended to be customer-centric, administratively efficient, and protective of utility financial integrity, and that current work includes evaluating how to balance forward-looking and historical test-year approaches within the rebasing process. No votes or formal actions were taken at the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the elementary schedule is a very compact schedule.
• Because the elementary schedule is a very compact schedule.

Bills: HB3622, HB3621, HB3151, HB3882, HB3661, HB4273, HB3644, HB3706, HB3708, HB2021, HB3986, HB3972

Keywords: HB3622, 2030 Census, Decennial Census, U.S. Decennial Census Revolving Fund, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Commerce Department, census preparation, federal census, state treasury fund, revolving fund, continuing fund, deemed appropriated, technology upgrades, census outreach, redistricting, population count, Title 74, OMES, State Treasurer, budgeting

Transcript Highlights:

• It was created as part of a social compact to say we want to make sure that we have the availability,
• are going to spend billions with a B of money on direct-to-consumer advertising, then that social compact

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries heard and voted on several bills. SB 986 would prohibit smoking or vaping marijuana in public places and also restrict smoking in rooms and bars; the sponsor said it is intended to protect public health and outdoor spaces, while the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the goal but raised concerns about impacts on designated smoking areas, and cannabis advocates warned about unintended effects on patients and property rights. The committee reported SB 986 favorably. The committee also passed SB 678, which restores statutory authority for DBPR’s long-standing rule allowing alcohol distributors to deduct unsellable alcohol from monthly excise taxes; a strike-all amendment was adopted, including retroactive application to January 1, 2025, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 800, which increases penalties for repeat unlicensed engineering practice and creates an engineering student loan assistance program for engineers working for state agencies and water management districts, was amended and reported favorably as well. Members then considered SB 408 on vaccine advertising and liability. The sponsor argued the bill would address declining public trust in vaccines by allowing claims against manufacturers that advertise in Florida, while opponents said the measure is preempted by federal law, raises First Amendment concerns, and would create unnecessary litigation. After extensive testimony and debate, the committee reported SB 408 favorably. The committee also heard SB 484 on data centers, which would set PSC tariff requirements so large load customers pay their own costs, preserve local planning authority, and limit water permits for large data centers; testimony was mixed, with supporters emphasizing ratepayer protections and economic benefits and critics warning about overregulation and confidentiality limits. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved SB 1118, which creates a time-limited public records exemption for certain data center development information held by local governments, after the sponsor said it was meant to prevent extended NDAs while still allowing local notice and input. SB 1050, requiring veterinarians to provide written prescriptions so pet owners can choose their pharmacy, was also reported favorably. The meeting ended after several members recorded votes on bills they had missed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recommendations include $0.4 million in general revenue funds for the Rio Grande Compact Administration
• Compact Commission, and the chair calls AJ Lyenberger. with the Legislative Budget Board.
• presenting. the summary but budget recommendations for the Texas low-level radioactive waste disposal compact
• Commission The commission is a federal compact between Texas and Vermont that provides for the disposal
• We'll move on to the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• fiscal concerns with the bill in a year that we're facing an 8% cut as well as the deferral of the 5% compact
• Instead, it was because I had the privilege to be a full-time student, and they did not.
• And while we have prioritized... ...legacies of privilege throughout our country's history, we have failed
• And while we have prioritized legacies of privilege throughout our country's history, we have failed
• It's a privilege to be here today in support of AB 7, a much-needed step in the movement for a reparative

Summary: The committee hearing covered several higher education bills, with extensive testimony on student aid, affordability, and institutional debt. AB 587 would add veteran representation to the California Student Aid Commission; the author said the change would bring lived experience from the veteran community to student aid policy, and members raised a concern about keeping the commission’s membership odd-numbered, which the author said would be addressed by amendment. AB 791 would standardize cost-of-attendance housing calculations using objective data and improve notice of the adjustment process; supporters said current budgets often underestimate students’ real living costs, while UC, CSU, and independent colleges opposed or had concerns about the bill’s prescribed methodology, fiscal impact, and a 14-day turnaround for adjustments. AB 850 would create a one-term grace period for students with institutional debt to re-enroll while arranging repayment, bar reporting that debt to credit agencies, and require more transparency; proponents described students being blocked from continuing school over debts, while CSU, UC, and private-college representatives said they already use holds and payment plans and worried about added liabilities and budget pressures. AB 537 would extend the California College Promise Program to part-time community college students; supporters said most community college students attend part-time and should not be excluded from fee waivers, while the committee noted fiscal concerns but ultimately advanced the bill. AB 7 would allow universities to consider whether an applicant is a descendant of American chattel slavery in admissions as a reparative measure; supporters framed it as lineage-based reparative justice, while opponents argued it would function as a racial proxy and conflict with Proposition 209 and equal-protection principles. The committee took roll-call votes on the measures, advancing AB 587, AB 791, AB 850, and AB 537 to Appropriations, with AB 850 and AB 537 receiving fewer votes and the roll left open for additional members.

Transcript Highlights:

• Regulation and Licensing Department for a supplemental request and implementation of an interstate compact