Transcript Highlights:

• Did you look at a bonding uh did city.
• Did you look at a bonding uh did you<00:31:27.920> request<00:31:28.320> bonding<00:31:
• <00:32:04.200> You killed that in the bonding bill. You killed that in the bonding bill.
• killed that project in the bonding bill. killed that project in the bonding bill.
• Fire hall should not be in bonding Fire hall should not be in bonding bills.<00:32:10.040> They

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 283, The President's Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2026.
• In the local Senate bond initiatives.
• going to be funding legislative bond going to be funding legislative bond initiatives<00:44:10.440
• President, put in bond initiative, Mr.
• Maryland Academic Facilities Bonding Maryland Academic Facilities Bonding Authority.<01:16:54.280

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with 42 members present and a quorum, opened with an invocation by Pastor Jaylen Robinson, and recognized several guests and honorees. Early floor remarks included a welcome to students from Forest Oak Middle School, a young Senate shadow from Woodlawn High School, and guests from Charles H. Flowers High School. The chamber also noted a doctor of the day and announced that panoramic photos in the Senate lounge were available for order by March 27, with eye exams available in the State House. The main legislative business was Senate Bill 283, the President’s Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2026. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee presented 291 amendments, described as funding priorities for jobs, infrastructure, and reliability while staying within debt affordability limits. The amendments covered school construction, natural resources, higher education, housing, Maryland Environmental Service, miscellaneous grants, local Senate bond initiatives, jails and detention centers, and pre-authorizations for fiscal 2028. Four amendments were separated for individual roll calls: 30, 35, 46, and 241, all of which were adopted. The remaining committee amendments were adopted without objection, and the favorable committee report as amended was then taken up. During debate on the capital budget amendments, one senator raised concerns about the bill and the difficulty of tracking the amendments on the electronic system, prompting discussion about technical issues and the availability of the documents on the website and in paper form. The chair said the committee had been working on the bill for months and urged the body to proceed. A question was raised about Amendment 264, which deauthorized a Willing Helper Society renovation project in Charles County; the chair explained the money had not been spent, was about to expire, and was repurposed to a Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maryland project to keep the funding in Charles County.

Transcript Highlights:

• know how we're funding that and the bond know how we're funding that and the bond rates<00:32:25.440
• I know in Brooklyn this year there was a bond, and we didn't even know how much it was going to be.
• And also if it's a lease or a bond, you know, what are you planning on as a duration at that time?
• So there's any proposed bond or useful.
• So there's any proposed bond or lease<00:43:23.359> over<00:43:23.720> $100,000.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would allocate $50 million in bond money for the Healthy Homes Program.
• Now I know that in the context of this environmental bond bill, that's a pretty substantial amount of
• There are many, many positive aspects to the Ready Act, informally known as the Environmental Bond Bill
• Funding in this enormous bond bill of almost $4 billion.
• Of this fund are very similar to the ones that are in the bond bill, i.e., it's a very clever way to

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up a major environmental bond bill with amendments covering climate resilience, housing health, plastics reduction, coastal protection, fisheries, and related regulatory issues. Early debate included Senator Keenan’s withdrawn amendment to fund the Massachusetts Healthy Homes Program with $50 million, followed by his adopted amendment banning hotels from providing plastic toiletry packages. Senator Tarr’s amendment to remove the paper bag charge was defeated after extended debate over whether the 10-cent bag assessment functioned as a tax; a related floor speech from Senator Duner argued the fee would burden working families. The chamber also adopted Senator Fernandez’s ocean acidification amendment, which would aggregate ocean monitoring data to support shellfish, water quality, and coastal management, with support from Senators Sear and Driscoll. Other adopted measures included Driscoll’s Houghton’s Pond multi-use trail, Montigny’s New Bedford State Pier redevelopment and harbor oil-recovery provisions, Collins’s Commonwealth Conservation Commission later withdrawn, and several coastal resilience and housing-related amendments. The Senate also approved a series of environmental and public health measures. Senator Moore’s rodenticide restriction amendment was adopted after testimony from animal welfare and conservation groups, with the sponsor describing harms to wildlife, pets, and livestock and noting local municipal support. Senator Lewis’s amendment directing DEP to study the feasibility of banning polystyrene was adopted, as was Senator Mark’s Massachusetts Climate Bank amendment and Senator Edwards’s carbon sequestration amendment expanding attention to salt marshes, seagrasses, and waterways. The chamber adopted amendments on equitable representation, improving indoor air quality, and a Douglas State Forest trust fund that would raise the entry fee from $1 to $2 for maintenance. Several amendments were withdrawn, including Collins’s urban coastal resilience commission and Tarr’s proposed Commonwealth Conservation Commission. Housing and permitting issues were another major theme. Senator Driscoll’s amendment requiring local confirmation before a project is designated a priority housing project was defeated, but his related amendments clarifying the process and requiring consultation with the Housing and Livable Communities Secretary were adopted. The Senate also adopted Crichton’s amendments streamlining permitting for coastal resiliency projects in urban areas and creating a five-year pilot for nature-based solutions, as well as Tarr’s amendment adding dredging and sand placement to general coastal permits. Tarr’s amendment to revise the Salisbury Beach Preservation Trust Fund was adopted, while his later constitutional challenge to a landform-migration provision was withdrawn after he argued it could amount to an uncompensated taking. The session ended with the Senate noting only two amendments remained and then adjourning in memory of Quincy’s former mayor James A. Sheets.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides relative to electronic bonds. Chairman Cline Peter, on your bill.
• Does it require them to be bonded at? No, they're allowed to be considered to be bonded out.
• Does it require them to be bonded at? And does it require them?
• Does it require them to be bonded out? No, they're allowed to be considered to be bonded out.
• It still goes back to whether they're allowed to be bonded or recommended.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met on May 12 and took up a series of bills, mostly on juvenile justice, gaming-related background checks, bail/electronic bonds, and corrections policy. Early in the meeting, the committee reported favorably SB 258 on juvenile traffic violations, SB 321 on electronic bonds, SB 134 on limiting certain child sexual abuse material offenses for juveniles under 17 in specific circumstances, HB 75 on promotional play for racetracks as amended, and SB 422 on unsupervised probation for certain fourth-offense impaired driving cases. Later, the committee also advanced SB 440 on the Renaissance District board membership, SB 393 on explosives regulation, SB 487 on charitable gaming rental arrangements, SB 339 and SB 288 on criminal background check procedures in the gaming and related regulatory systems, and SB 325 on excluding certain persons from sports wagering. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 201, which would change juvenile homicide sentencing procedures, including first- and second-degree murder cases, and how reviewing courts consider parole eligibility and prior death sentences converted to life. Supporters said the bill aligns sentencing with existing Supreme Court precedent and gives courts clearer guidance; opponents from children’s rights and civil liberties groups argued it weakens the “rarest and uncommon” safeguard for juvenile life-without-parole sentences and could expand harsh sentencing beyond constitutional limits. After debate and testimony, the committee adopted an amendment and reported SB 201 favorably by a 7-3 vote, with Representatives Adams, Knox, Moore, and others voting no. The committee also heard SB 523 on clemency and sentencing considerations for defendants who are victims of domestic abuse, human trafficking, or sexual assault. Survivors’ advocates and domestic violence organizations supported the bill’s overall purpose but objected to the mandatory pre-sentence investigation language, warning it could introduce biased information and harm survivors; the Board of Pardons and Parole said its staff and trauma-informed victim assistance coordinators are trained to handle these cases. The committee adopted an amendment narrowing the bill and then reported SB 523 favorably. Finally, SB 320 on DNA detection and crime lab reporting was advanced without opposition, and SB 470 on pregnant women in custody passed after testimony from the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association and discussion of pregnancy testing, bonding options, and prohibiting shackling during delivery and postpartum periods.

Transcript Highlights:

• We issue what are called mortgage revenue bonds. That is basically the bucket of money we get.
• exempt, so we get a lower rate on those bonds.
• It's just, you know, the timing of selling those bonds.
• So we get a lower rate on those bonds.
• It's just, you know, the timing of selling those bonds.

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:

• Let's move on to bonds here quickly.
• In November 2022, Austin ISD proposed a $2.4 billion bond package, knowing that tax relief was likely
• , and possibly next year, Austin City Council may approach voters with a 1 to $2 billion climate bond
• I'm not sure if that's the largest bond in the city's history, but it's large by my measure.
• At a normal general obligation bond election and yet county officials utilize CEOs to go around that

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, again, I go back to. the terrible trio of rate hikes, bond elections, and CEOs.
• Now let's move on to bonds here quickly.
• In November 2022, Austin ISD proposed a $2.4 billion bond package.
• , and possibly next year, Austin City Council may approach. voters with a $1-2 billion climate bond to
• I'm not sure if that's the largest bond in the city's history but it's large by my measure.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What is the impact to the state bond rating with the massive level of fraud that we have?
• So, to the first question, we have, you know, we meet regularly with all of the bond rating agencies
• structure the impacts of the state bond structure the impacts of the state bond rating<00:48:01.599
• I appreciate giving us some insight on the state's bond rating with regard to fraud.
• I appreciate giving us some insight on the state's bond rating with regard to fraud.

Bills: HF3676, HF3683, HF3395

Keywords: Safe at Home, address confidentiality, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, victim privacy, survivor protection, confidential address, protected address, secret address, identity protection, residential confidentiality, program participant, nondiscrimination, court disclosure, protective order, service of process, driver's license, state ID

Summary: The committee first approved minutes from February 19 and February 26, while skipping the February 24 minutes because of a drafting error that would be corrected later. It then took up House File 3676, a Safe at Home program bill described by Rep. Nash as arising from a constituent’s dangerous identity exposure and intended to tighten protections for participants, including allowing emancipated minors to enroll. Testimony from the Secretary of State’s office explained that the bill would clarify who may apply for a minor, require proof of guardianship, strengthen court findings before a participant’s physical address can be disclosed, increase penalties for harmful disclosure, prohibit discrimination based on participation, require state agencies to designate a Safe at Home contact person, allow use of the Safe at Home card as proof of residence for certain ID purposes, and require judge training. Members raised concerns about federal compatibility, constitutionality of court-related provisions, and the need for a fiscal note on the felony penalty. Several sections were noted as being removed or modified in a later engrossment, and the committee voted to re-refer HF 3676 to the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. The committee then heard House File 3683, which would direct the state budget forecast to include the estimated cost of fraud. Rep. Nash argued that fraud is a significant but unquantified drain on state resources and said the bill would adapt existing forecast language used for inflation to track fraud costs. Minnesota Management and Budget Deputy Commissioner Anna Mingi testified that fraud is unacceptable and that the agency works to prevent and detect it, but said the twice-yearly forecast is not the right tool for this kind of retrospective analysis. She explained that if fraud is identified, the forecast would reflect reduced spending through program integrity actions rather than a separate fraud-cost line item. The bill was moved and referred to the general register after a roll call was requested.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:38.559> They're they're calling the bond. They're they're calling the bond.
• bond bond to<00:31:42.159> make<00:31:42.399> sure<00:31:42.559> that<00:31:42.720
• So the what the bond amount is.
• > you<00:32:47.840> know performance bond can be you know performance bond can be you know
• >> Yes, performance bonds.

Bills: SB2024, SB896, SB2613, SB494, SB2391, SB2125, SB2614, SB2615, SB3262, SB3325, SB3118

Keywords: charter schools, public-private partnership, school facilities, education funding, community need, education, capital improvement, reporting, transparency, technical expertise, public school land transfer, Department of Education, DOE, land conveyance, fee simple title, tax map key, TMK, Act 307, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, Act 139

Transcript Highlights:

• to the pledge of funds from excess lottery and add two new provisions to code to authorize revenue bonds
• The revenue bonds issued by the Economic Development Authority beginning July 1, 2026, effective through
• The revenue bonds are to be issued for the purpose of providing funding for paying for all or a portion
• The principal amount of the bonds issued under the new sections may not exceed $150 million for a term
• authorized by the new provisions. ...for the State Culture Center prior to the issuance of the bonds

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the prior meeting. It then reconsidered Committee Substitute for House Bill 5212, noting that an Education Committee amendment had been inadvertently omitted the day before; the vice chairman withdrew the prior motion to report the bill, and the committee returned to the bill with the technical Education Committee amendments pending. The transcript then moved through a long agenda of bills and supplemental appropriations, with the committee generally hearing brief explanations from counsel, occasional member questions, and then voting to adopt amendments and report measures to the full Senate. Among the substantive policy bills, the committee advanced House Bill 4007 on the Industrial Access Road Fund, allowing an additional possible $3 million transfer in a fiscal year, expanding eligible uses, and increasing county/municipal spending limits; House Bill 4765, which raises salaries for state police, teachers, and school service personnel and, via a strike-and-insert amendment, creates a market pay enhancement tied to county and regional income data; House Bill 5162, recodifying tax lien sale procedures and clarifying ownership and government-property tax treatment; House Bill 5382, extending the Neighborhood Investment Tax Credit Program to July 1, 2031; House Bill 5685, authorizing up to $150 million in revenue bonds backed by excess lottery funds for State Culture Center improvements; House Joint Resolution 42, placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot to raise the homestead exemption from $20,000 to $40,000; House Bill 4010, creating an airport hangar grant program and fund; House Bill 4404, increasing from $500 to $5,000 the amount volunteer fire departments may spend on training and fire prevention materials; House Bill 4592, requiring standardized campus safety mapping data for higher education institutions; House Bill 4784, extending and making retroactive a qualified opportunity zone business tax modification; and House Bill 5088, increasing retirement benefits for Division of Natural Resources police officers, with a one-time $4.25 million cash injection. The committee also reported several supplemental appropriations and originating bills, including Senate Bill 842 for the Spay Neuter Assistance Fund, Senate Bill 846 for Culture and History capital repairs, Senate Bill 872 for Natural Resources capital repairs (reduced to $10 million in committee substitute), Senate Bill 876 for Department of Health facilities, Senate Originating Bills 1 through 5 covering Culture and History, road funds, corrections IT and services, tobacco education, and the Adjutant General’s armory board transfer, respectively. Most items were adopted by voice vote; House Bill 4765’s strike-and-insert amendment was adopted after a division vote of 10-6. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill we expand some the higher edge ad facility authority to include health care facilities in bonding
• It is a revenue bond. So when they pay it off, it's revenue back to the state.
• <00:05:13.680> It<00:05:13.919> is<00:05:14.000> a care facilities in bonding
• It is a care facilities in bonding. It is a revenue<00:05:14.560> bond.
• So when they pay it off, revenue bond.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• guardian properly and cause serious loss to the guardianship estate, the damages are covered by a bond
• If the law exceeds the bond, the judge can be held personally liable for the difference.
• , uh, the required bond amount to $500,000.
• we got calls, statutory probate court judges, which are in the 10 largest metropolitan areas, our bond
• the judges actually contacted us, rural judges said, would you all please get us the same $500,000 bond

Transcript Highlights:

• If the loss exceeds the bond, the judge can be held personally liable for the difference.
• Greater than the bond provided for by the county.
• , the required bond amount to $500,000.
• Our bond is $500,000. And it doesn't cost very much. if you go in that.
• Rural judges said would you all please get us Same $500,000 bond and I said, I will talk to powers to

Bills: SB387, SB1335, HB1671, SB1760, SB1839, SB1923, HB1928, HB4942, HB5628, HB5642, HB1980

Keywords: judicial bond, guardianship, probate law, county judge, statutory county court, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, retroactive child support, parentage, genetic testing, family code, child's conception, incapacitated persons, court proceedings, guardianship fees, estate management, probate

Transcript Highlights:

• simple majority of the governing body of a taxing unit to approve a proposition for the issuance of GEO bonds
• seeks to alleviate these concerns by requiring 60% of a taxing unit's governing body to approve any GO bond
• And requiring 75% of a taxing unit's governing body to propose a GEO bond election or M&O tax reelection
• taxpayers from excessive taxation by installing common-sense safeguards around the tax rate setting and bond
• Uh, when, uh, whenever the, uh, municipality is going to, uh, go out and, uh, Uh, issue bonds for that

Transcript Highlights:

• this resolution, I think it'd be wise to research data, for example, about the general obligation bonds
• this resolution, I think it'd be wise to research data, for example, about the general obligation bonds
• this resolution, I think it'd be wise to research data, for example, about the general obligation bonds
• 11.919> obligation example about the general obligation example about the general obligation bonds
• :13.280> the<00:05:13.600> counties<00:05:14.240> and<00:05:14.479> to bonds

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on three resolutions: HCR 61, HCR 182, and HCR 183. Testimony on all three was generally supportive, with support noted from the Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, ACLU, Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Renewables Fuels Coalition, the University of Hawaii, and CARES. Angela Melody Young testified in strong support on behalf of CARES on multiple items, urging consideration of county processes, financing structures, and the need for procedures free from partisan influence. For HCR 183, the University of Hawaii said it stood on its written testimony and was available for questions. The discussion focused less on opposition and more on suggested policy considerations. Testimony on HCR 61 raised questions about how physical notes or related procedures should be administered and whether the process should be housed in a nonpartisan office. On HCR 182 and HCR 183, testimony emphasized coordinating state and county financing and planning, including references to property tax classifications, general obligation bonds, and long-term statewide projects such as Aloha Stadium. At the close of the hearing, the chair recommended taking all three resolutions together. The committee voted to pass HCR 61, HCR 182, and HCR 183 unamended, with all voting members present voting aye and two senators excused. The resolutions were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Krager, the bonding that you have, did you say it was $3 billion bonding authority? >> Mr.
• Krager, the bonding that you have, did you say it was $3 billion bonding authority? >> Mr.
• bonding authority? bonding authority?
• bonding authority. bonding authority.
• like there's bonds that go against it. like there's bonds that go against it.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sold, or 0.453% of the amount of bonds sold.
• It is an eligible bond expense, so it can be rolled into the bond, just like they roll in the investment
• Districts would have to foot the bill even if the bond failed.
• for bond counsel.
• All of that is rolled into the bond package.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:42.200> And<00:02:42.360> then of capital improvement bonds.
• And then of capital improvement bonds.
• And section capital improvement bonds.
• authority general obligation bonds. authority general obligation bonds.
• <00:50:58.520> must striking the sentence uh the bonds must striking the sentence uh the bonds

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• While we did pay off the bonds, we did not choose to follow this path, and that's fine.
• While we did pay off the bonds, we did not choose to follow this path, and that's fine.
• While we did pay off the bonds, we did not choose to follow this path, and that's fine.
• The first is for state bond debt service.
• As things stand now, with the debt service relieved, the bonds have been paid off.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all