Transcript Highlights:

• and the Senate bill that... ...the two bills that were in play, the House bill and the Senate bill that
• It is a complex bill.
• , Senate Bill 5085 and House Bill 2034.
• , Senate Bill 5085 and House Bill 2034.
• , Senate Bill 5085 and House Bill 2034. ...off where we would look at those other two bills, Senate Bill

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy executive committee met to approve the November minutes, which were adopted by voice vote. The committee then received an update from the Attorney General’s Office on two ongoing cases, Fowler and Joel Lynn, with briefing and oral argument timelines still pending. Michael Harbour of the Office of the State Actuary provided an actuarial update focused on ESSB 5357, explaining that the bill raised the assumed investment return from 7% to 7.25%, suspended UAL contribution rates for four years, and changed amortization for past benefit improvements; members asked for clarification on how those changes would affect long-term funding and contribution rates, especially for Plan 1 systems. A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to committee discussion of interim priorities and the need for more analysis of recent pension legislation. Members emphasized the importance of understanding the fiscal impacts of ESSB 5357 and related pension changes before the September economic experience study, and several asked staff to provide a more preliminary walkthrough of the bill’s effects. The committee also discussed the LEOFF 1 study and broader questions about overfunding, including when a plan should be considered overfunded and whether overfunding should be addressed through merger or closure proposals. One member suggested reviewing the operating budget’s excess compensation proviso during the interim as well. Staff reviewed the draft 2025 interim work plan, proposing June topics including election of officers, a presentation on SB 5357 and its actuarial implications, and an initial LEOFF 1 study kickoff based on SB 5085 and HB 2034. The committee also placed excess compensation and demographic experience study items in a parking lot for possible later scheduling. The June agenda was adopted by roll call vote, with three ayes and three members absent or excused, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The subcommittee could make any sort of recommendations or bring a request for a bill draft.
• And there would be opportunities to bring forward any bill drafts or proposals or recommendations at
• And if you'd rather have individual legislators take a crack at a bill draft, that's fine as well.
• Take a crack at a bill draft. That's fine as well.
• I don't need us, or I'm not asking for us to reconvene as a subcommittee and come up with a bill draft

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Government Finance Transportation Study Subcommittee met to review fixed-route transit systems and related funding needs. After approving the prior meeting minutes, the committee heard presentations from Cities Area Transit in Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, Bisman Transit in Bismarck-Mandan, and MATBUS/Fargo, along with comments from North Dakota Protection & Advocacy. The transit agencies described their routes, paratransit services, ridership trends, fare structures, fleet replacement needs, and rising operating costs, emphasizing that transit supports access to work, school, medical care, and other essential services. Testimony also noted that ridership fell during the pandemic and has been recovering, while vehicle and maintenance costs have risen sharply. Grand Forks transit reported 17 routes, a recent fare increase, and operating costs that exceed fare revenue, with paratransit service extending beyond the federal minimum service area. Bisman Transit outlined its fixed-route and paratransit operations, recent service expansions, local mill levies, sales tax support, and federal grant structure, and said it is seeking more stable funding and flexibility beyond paratransit-only support. Minot’s transit superintendent explained the state’s existing transit aid formula, the use of refurbished buses, and the challenges of driver recruitment and electric bus infrastructure. Fargo asked for additional state support for fixed-route urban transit. Committee members discussed whether ride-share services could replace transit, the cost per trip, local match requirements, and whether a separate state funding source should be recommended for the four urban fixed-route systems. The subcommittee ultimately approved a motion to have Legislative Council prepare a summary of its activities for inclusion in the full Government Finance Committee report, and members indicated they would seek more detailed funding figures from the transit agencies before making any specific recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things that it did was direct the United States Postal Service to draft and implement rules
• I'll talk about these in a little bit more detail in a moment, but one thing to know is that the draft
• public comment on those draft rules.
• There are a few other bills that have been floated or are in various places in the process.
• We've drafted a process for receiving requests, displaying requests, and processing requests.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this bill is just rates are set.
• committee. tax bill. when our budget was passed, tax bill. when our budget was passed, uh,<00:06:38.080
• <00:07:18.560> the to confirm we did help draft the to confirm we did help draft the amendment
• into executive session on House Bill into executive session on House Bill 123.<00:07:58.479>
• <00:08:12.879> generally reason why we have this bill generally reason why we have this bill

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's some artful legislative drafting to make the two bills work together, requiring the housing staff
• legislative drafting to make the two<00:54:41.359> bills<00:54:41.839> work<00:54:42.079
• The issue in drafting this While their utility bills are still due, their mortgages are still due, all
• c> um we could easily draft a uh bill, put um we could easily draft a uh bill, put it<01:10:00.560>
• Senator Pratt: If I may, to that point, then, we could easily draft a bill, put it through the Rules

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pillars of good government and this bill pillars of good government and this bill ensures<00:04:
• the bill under.
• The member said their assumption, although they were not involved in drafting the bill, is that it was
• <00:38:33.240> my in drafting this bill but um my in drafting this bill but um my assumption
• This bill does not do that.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it makes it a good bill.
• It's not growing through this bill.
• It's not growing through this bill.
• It's not growing through this bill.
• Okay, well, not a hard stop—that's a stop—but we have one bill remaining, which is Cate Bill 295.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . and we did any questions about the bill. and we did have<00:54:15.119> a<00:54:15.280> draft
• I drafted a bill, and we were able to actually get Stratford for the first time ever to elect their commissioners
• I I drafted uh a bill and changed that.
• I I drafted uh a bill and we<01:15:55.679> were<01:15:55.840> able<01:15:56.000> to<
• bill? bill?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the and the Commission in drafting and the and the Commission in drafting those<00:02:15.760
• That's all the bill is.
• wouldn't there's nothing in this bill wouldn't there's nothing in this bill that<00:14:20.360>
• yesterday was in opposition to the bill yesterday was in opposition to the bill was<00:21:31.480
• hb22 that ends all of the house bills hb22 that ends all of the house bills from<00:23:58.919>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is ordered to a third reading. The question comes on passing the bill to be engrossed.
• The bill is ordered to a third time.
• Durant moves to amend the bill by substituting a new draft. Mr.
• Durant moves to amend the bill by substituting a new draft with the same title, Senate No. 2958.
• Its title having been changed by the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, the bill is ordered to

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up several local bills out of the orders of the day and advanced them through third reading and engrossment. These included a bill for Arlington allowing a town ballot question to increase off-premises liquor licenses, a Brookfield land conveyance bill amended by a substitute draft, a Beckett bill authorizing alternative members for the Conservation Commission, and a Swampscott bill authorizing a fall annual town meeting. The Senate also ordered to a third reading and then engrossed a bill clarifying call firefighter rights, after accepting a third-reading committee report recommending a new draft. The chamber also acted on a House bill concerning teacher preparation and student literacy. After the House disagreed with a Senate amendment, the Senate insisted on its amendment and agreed to a conference committee, naming Senators DiDomenico, Lewis, and O'Connor as conferees. In addition, the Senate suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several concurrent Senate petitions to committees, including a House petition on manufactured housing community accommodations in Attleboro, which was sent to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. The Senate adopted resolutions congratulating Owen Kirby and Jonathan Rothwell on attaining Eagle Scout rank. Later, the Senate gave final passage to two bills: the Agawam charter amendment striking a reference to the Board of Appeals, and the Arlington liquor-license bill. The session ended with adoption of an order to reconvene the following Thursday at 11 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• What about the bills? Are we going to...
• If an executive message comes down without a 202 number and says we're waiting for the bill and drafting
• Because then we've got bills that had 202 numbers and bills that didn't have 202 numbers.
• So, you know, I've got bills in drafting.
• I think it's important to just reiterate that Senate Bills 12 and 13 are tax bills, and I think we kind

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, tell us about your bill. So, tell us about your bill.
• The bill does three things.
• The bill does three things.
• The bill does three things.
• to speak on this bill. to speak on this bill.

Bills: SB169, SB180, SB203, SB87, SB195, SB192, SB169, SB180, SB203, SB87, SB195, SB192, HB132, HB37, HB13, HB54, HB126, HB7, SB30, HB188, HB189, HB26, HB264, HB288, HB248, HB249, HB227, HB228

Keywords: Lieutenant Governor, vacancy, governor appointment, Alabama Constitution, state government, media monitoring, government contracts, state agencies, local agencies, media regulations, transparency, dental insurance, medical loss ratio, premium regulation, insurance commissioner, rebate, consumer protection, midwifery, licensed midwives, State Board of Midwifery

Transcript Highlights:

• I've already got it drafted.
• about what the intent of the bill was?
• in the bill.
• It was my bill. I was the House sponsor, but I knew what the intent was.
• They're still drafting their clinical guidelines.

Summary: The Arkansas Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a large slate of agency rules and related reports. The chair announced that several items were stricken from the agenda and that the maternal health providers and remote monitoring rules were pulled by the agency. The committee filed reports on emergency rules, ALC subcommittee rule reviews, and administrative directives, then moved through agency rules from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce/Insurance, Department of Corrections, and multiple divisions of the Department of Human Services. Most rules were explained as technical updates or implementations of 2025 legislation and were approved without objection. Examples included repeal of obsolete equine ID-chip rules, updates to agriculture financing and pesticide rules, removal of duplicative workers’ compensation plan language, a unified visitation rule for correctional facilities, DHS marketing rules for PASS programs, a comprehensive DCFS policy manual revision, Medicaid-related changes for fictive kin, ABLE accounts, presumptive eligibility for pregnant women, SNAP work requirements and alien eligibility, coverage for certain incarcerated youth, nurse aide training updates, and permanent rules for state employee insurance and procurement. The committee also approved requests to exclude the Insurance Department from rulemaking requirements for Act 772 on forced organ harvesting and for restorative reproductive medicine, with the department saying it would issue rules later when more guidance is available. The most extended discussion concerned DHS’s dental Medicaid rate rule under Act 1025. Members and witnesses debated whether the statute’s language covered only oral surgeons or also general dentists performing oral surgery procedures, and whether the rate increase should apply more broadly to the services rather than the provider title. DHS said it was following the black-letter language of the law and could not confirm a broader interpretation without further approvals and funding, while legislators and a Dental Association representative said the intent was to increase payment for the services, especially in rural areas. Members also discussed the possibility of fixing the language in a future session or through a new rule if approvals and CMS review allow. Despite the concerns, the committee approved the rule. The meeting ended with approval of rule review reports and monthly updates, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It makes minor changes to the bill to correct cross-references and drafting errors.
• We support the bill.
• Do you want to do that one first or Senate Bill 75? Senate Bill 75. Okay.
• Senate Bill 75 is out. ...and recognizes Senator Hall to explain the bill.
• It dovetails perfectly with the bill I just laid out, Senate Bill 75 and Senate Bill 2148.

Bills: SB75, SB715, SB776, SB1299, SB1405, SB1968, SB2021, SB2077, SB2148, SB2321, SB2330, SB2411

Keywords: electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Carter, please move House Bill 2074. Mr.
• Chairman, I move House Bill 2074 as constitutional and in proper form.
• We've been reviewing House Bill 2074 before. That's an abortion regulation measure.
• This bill is an attempt to overturn the will of the people.
• You've recommended House Bill 2074 as constitutional and in proper form. Mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Rules Committee met to consider House Bill 2074, an abortion regulation measure that would add a reporting requirement and make failure to comply a class two misdemeanor. The Rules Attorney said the bill is in proper form but flagged possible constitutional issues in light of Arizona’s 2024 Prop. 139, which established a fundamental right to abortion and bars laws that deny, restrict, or interfere with that right. Members questioned the penalty and whether similar reporting requirements exist for other fundamental rights. The bill was recommended as constitutional and in proper form by a 5-3 vote, with opponents arguing it would criminalize providers and volunteers and conflict with the voters’ constitutional amendment. The committee then took up a mass motion covering numerous other bills and memorials. The Rules Attorney said the measures were in proper form, and offered a specific comment on House Bill 2110, which concerns prayer at school board meetings. He noted that courts are split on whether such prayer is permissible and said the sponsor was working with the office on a floor amendment to address potential legal concerns. After no further questions, the committee approved the mass motion by an 8-0 vote, recommending the listed measures as constitutional and in proper form. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill.
• As I said on August 15, I reintroduced Senate Bill 4, which was identical to the bill that the full Senate
• matters with regard To when a companion bill catches up with the bill filed before the Senate.
• 4 as compared to Senate Bill 4.
• House Bill 4.

Summary: The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting met to lay out House Bill 4, the House companion to Senate Bill 4, and no public testimony was taken at this hearing. Senator King explained that HB 4 was based on the House’s revised congressional map, which he said made only minor changes from SB 4 while aiming to comply with law, improve Republican political performance, and keep districts compact. He noted changes affecting several districts, including moving Fort Bliss into CD 16, placing all of Navarro County into CD 6, and moving Liberty County into CD 9, and said counsel had reviewed the map and found it legally compliant. Several senators criticized the process and the substance of the map. Senators Alvarado, Miles, and Hinojosa objected that the House substitute had not been subject to a public hearing and argued that communities in Houston, El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, and South Texas were being split or paired with unrelated areas. They also questioned the compactness of the districts and raised concerns about racial effects, including changes in Black voting-age population in CD 9 and CD 18. Senator King responded that the committee had already heard extensive testimony on redistricting, that the Senate was following its usual companion-bill process, and that he had not relied on racial data but on historical voting patterns and legal review. After debate, Senator Parker moved to report HB 4 favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be ordered not printed. The committee approved the motion by a 5-3 vote, with one absent, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the work groups that we asked them to convene in House Bill 2236, as well as in House Bill 1167
• Legislative modifications: there were two bills that modified it.
• The bill also required that any of the meetings were done remotely.
• Based on the updated legislation, our internal drafting and partners' drafting timeline has the report
• We had a bill several years ago; I can't remember now.

Summary: The House Education Committee received status updates on career and technical education (CTE), including OSPI’s work under 2024 legislation on allied health pathways and a statewide CTE task force, an update from Core Plus Maritime, and findings from an Education Northwest longitudinal study of Washington CTE access and outcomes. OSPI described development of allied health guidance such as a home care aide to nursing assistant bridge, model curricula, updated course equivalency frameworks, and coordination with health agencies and employers. It also reviewed Core Plus framework work, task force expansion under later legislation, and the timeline for recommendations due in November 2026. Committee members asked about health profession outreach, equitable access for rural districts, data updates, and employer support for local programs; OSPI said it continues to work with agency and industry partners and that local labor-market alignment varies by region. Core Plus Maritime presenters described expanding maritime career exploration into middle school through low-cost ROV curriculum, student visits to ferries and vessels, Sea Scouts partnerships, and ship-based safety and welding experiences. Industry representatives from the Northwest Marine Trade Association, American Seafoods, and Vigor Marine Group emphasized the maritime sector’s economic importance, aging workforce, and need for hands-on training to build the pipeline for family-wage jobs. A teacher from South Kitsap High School said the program gives students a clear pathway and has helped connect them to careers in shipyards, fishing, and related trades. Vigor also noted support for a student welding competition and equipment donations for a Rainier Beach shop. Dr. Sam Riggs of Education Northwest presented a longitudinal study using state data from 2013-14 through 2023-24. The study found CTE access has been relatively steady statewide, but offerings vary by school size, locale, and income, with rural and lower-income schools generally offering fewer pathways. Participation is high: nearly all students earn at least some CTE credit, and more students are accumulating multiple credits over time, though fewer go deep within a single pathway. Students who earned more CTE credits, especially within pathways such as agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and construction, were more likely to graduate on time and later had stronger postsecondary certificate attainment and earnings. Riggs recommended addressing local barriers to participation, considering whether the CTE graduation requirement should better encourage depth while preserving flexibility, and aligning offerings more closely with labor-market needs. Committee members asked about COVID-era trends, student motivation, early workforce entry, delivery settings such as skill centers, and how to interpret the comparison groups used in the analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• Institute in strong support of this bill Institute in strong support of this bill uh<00:11:22.839
• in about the multiple a a crime Bills in about the multiple a a crime Bills moving<00:26:21.200>
• <00:39:17.920> it previously which was a great bill it previously which was a great bill it
• <00:40:10.680> with Educators in the term in the bill with Educators in the term in the bill
• <00:50:35.720> or none of these agreements were drafted or none of these agreements were drafted

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees considered a large number of Senate bills, with many measures advanced either unamended or with technical or substantive amendments. Early action included SB 88 and SB 11 SD1, both passed unamended, and SB 562 SD1 and SB 642 SD1, which were passed with amendments reflecting agency testimony. SB 1133 SD1 was amended to remove duplicative county requirements and clarify tax credit carry-forward eligibility, while SB 1569 SD1 on sports wagering was deferred. Later, SB 933 on nonprofit/federal funding support drew strong testimony from nonprofit and health advocates emphasizing the risk of federal funding freezes and the importance of protecting services such as early learning, domestic violence support, housing, and workforce supports; the committee recommended amendments to define eligible organizations, require reporting, and include the Judiciary. SB 934 and SB 935 were also amended, with SB 934 tying mass transit funding to Honolulu project milestones and SB 935 revising retirement-system language to change “fewer than five years” to “five or more years.” The committees then took up additional measures with targeted amendments. SB 1033 was amended to clarify that the bill applies to legal entities, not individuals, though members noted concerns about closely held family corporations and asked that the issue be reflected in the committee report. SB 1166, SB 1249, and SB 1256 were advanced with amendments or committee-report notes reflecting concerns from the Attorney General, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and Hawaii Farmers Union United, respectively. SB 1432 and SB 137, both relating to electric utilities, were amended to require retention of covered employees after mergers or acquisitions and to direct the PUC to consider whether proposed transactions further state policy goals. SB 157 on antitrust was narrowed to focus on coordinator conduct in rental housing markets, SB 252 on invasive species received a defective effective date, and SB 336 on defense of state employers and employees passed unamended. SB 536 on the Hawaii Community Development Authority was deferred to a later hearing, and SB 1064 on medical cannabis was heavily amended to authorize cultivator licenses with limits on canopy size, license counts, physician fees, and a special-fund appropriation for enforcement. In the Ways and Means portion, the committee passed several bills unamended, including SB 19, SB 124, SB 264, SB 345, SB 422, and SB 741 and SB 747 later in the agenda. SB 361 was amended to remove references to the attorney general and delete an appropriation section, SB 438 was amended to redefine buffer zones and landfill-unit language, and SB 441 and SB 494 were amended to blank appropriations and, in SB 494, assign charter-school audit responsibility to the state auditor. SB 659 was substantially amended to promote local procurement, including county-level geographic preferences and higher thresholds for locally sourced purchases, and SB 732 was amended to adjust film tax credit provisions, including the streaming-platform definition and sunset-related language. SB 819 was amended to replace references to “educators” with “teachers.” Throughout, most measures were adopted without recorded opposition, though several members noted reservations on particular bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second bill on the agenda is House File 1566. The plan is to move this bill over.
• This bill is a very important and it is a bipartisan bill.
• Many of both parties have signed up on this bill, uh, and because they care about this bill.
• drafted this bill.
• and uh I understand why you've drafted and uh I understand why you've drafted this this this bill

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• > number bill.
• It's a good bill. Vote green. bill. I recognize a member from Blue bill.
• good bill. Vote green. good bill. Vote green.
• <00:19:24.480> that<00:19:24.640> we're bills, one thing on each bill that we're bills
• Take this bill up.

Keywords: 1183, house