Transcript Highlights:

• </c> with the department of human with the department of human services.<00:04:43.479><c> Um,</c><00:
• </c> structure of the Department of Human structure of the Department of Human Services<00:10:19.440>
• </c> the department of human services. the department of human services.
• </c> commissioner for the Department of Human commissioner for the Department of Human Services.
• </c> managers were due to these concerns. managers were due to these concerns.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Human-wildlife conflict. ago to have that data go to them.
• That risks both humans and the animals.
• create the plans for how they manage and control this.
• It helps us improve our management.
• Juliana Tetlow, on behalf of San Diego Humane Society.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider a series of gubernatorial appointments, bill referrals, and two Senate Rule 26 authorship-change requests. The committee first approved, on 4-0 votes held open for absent members, a slate of appointments not required to appear, including J. Bradshaw to the Transportation Commission, Kylie Bolser to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, and several appointments to the Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, as well as Monique Moyer to the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority Board. The committee also approved bill referrals and, after a clarification that only authorship changes were before the committee, approved the Rule 26 requests involving former Assembly Member James Gallagher’s bills AB 2676 and AB 2700. After absent members arrived, those earlier actions were confirmed by 5-0 votes. The main hearing was on Megan Hurdle’s appointment as Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Hurdle emphasized a science-based, collaborative approach balancing conservation with the needs of farmers, ranchers, local governments, tribes, and communities. Senators focused on human-wildlife conflict, including wolves and mountain lions, the Western Joshua tree program and its costs for homeowners and local projects, invasive golden mussels, staffing shortages among wildlife officers, marine protected areas and 30x30, tribal co-management and land return, and oil spill prevention and response. Hurdle said the department is using data sharing, less-lethal tools, task forces, public education, and partnerships to address these issues, while also trying to improve permitting and reduce burdens where possible. The committee then heard from Caroline Thomas Jacobs, nominated to lead the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Jacobs highlighted her prior leadership roles in wildfire safety and her earlier service at Cal OES, and said her priorities include statewide preparedness, next-generation 911, recovery from the Los Angeles fires, and planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics. Senators questioned her about disaster debris clearance, public safety power shutoffs, governance for the 911 rollout, earthquake preparedness, mutual-aid equipment, and how Cal OES coordinates with local and out-of-state law enforcement for major events. Jacobs said Cal OES should show up quickly, coordinate clearly, and use lessons from past disasters to reduce delays and improve response. Both nominees received broad support from public witnesses, and each was advanced to the Senate floor by committee vote; Hurdle’s appointment was later confirmed 5-0, and Jacobs’s appointment was confirmed 5-0 after the committee reconvened.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our final one was a request by Representative Earth from the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Earth from the Department of<00:09:44.080><c> Health</c><00:09:44.399><c> and</c><00:09:44.560><c> Human
• </c><00:09:46.000><c> Uh,</c> of Health and Human Services. Uh, of Health and Human Services.
• </c> from the Department of Health and Human from the Department of Health and Human Services<00:10:05.200
• ,</c><00:18:45.440><c> participating</c> consent management, participating consent management, participating

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its June 30 meeting and then considered Capital Project 2515, a request from the Pease Development Authority Division of Ports and Harbors to spend up to $125,000 from the Harbor Dredging and Pier Maintenance Fund to replace a deteriorated 99-foot floating dock at Rye Harbor. Acting Director Richard Hartley said the dock is used for passenger loading and unloading for charters and whale-watching tours and is in poor condition. Representative Edgar moved approval, Representative Wiler seconded, and the motion carried. The committee then received several informational items, including quarterly and maintenance reports from the Department of Administrative Services, the Community College System of New Hampshire, and the Pease Development Authority. It also heard a presentation from the Department of Health and Human Services on Capital Project 2516, the Beneficiary Service Improvement project supporting closed-loop referrals and related systems. DHHS described the project as a mix of Medicaid enterprise functions and New Hampshire Care Connections tools, including provider modules, third-party liability, event notifications, and closed-loop referrals to connect health and human service providers. Officials said the project is largely federally funded, with capital funds representing only part of the overall effort. Members asked about the accounting breakdown, prior committee review, provider participation, patient experience, and public response. Representative Burr questioned whether the project had been fully presented previously and raised concerns about the scope and necessity of the $8 million effort; DHHS responded that earlier work was discussed in other committees and that the current presentation covered only capital funds. Senator Waters asked about user response and patient experience, and DHHS said feedback has been generally positive but the system is still in design and implementation. In response to questions about participation, DHHS said 84 providers are currently on the network and clarified that a “provider” generally means an individual organization or health system, not each individual clinician. The committee also set its next meeting for December 9 at 9:00 a.m. at Granite Place, Room 228, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And within case management, and North Dakota Rent Help had case management too.
• , because we know that that case management component stabilization, case management, because we know
• Management System.
• also manages our DVIMS.
• and Human Services.

Committee: Joint Human Services

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• He has wide experience managing complex financial investigations.
• I'm the new Inspector General at the Department of Human Services.
• But nobody seems to be checking up on how the managed care organizations...
• Managed care organizations also have reporting requirements.
• This information is reported to the Department of Human Services by the managed care organizations, but

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1135 will reestablish the California Wildlife Coexistence Program to manage and promote human-wildlife
• The use of non-lethal strategies to reduce wolf-livestock interactions, including human presence, managing
• attractants, physical barriers, predator-detected... ...actions, including human presence, managing
• SB 1135 is about responsible wildlife management rooted in coexistence, not crisis management.
• So once that mountain lion attacked another human and then attacked another human, that mountain lion

Summary: The committee heard SB 1135, which would reestablish the California Wildlife Coexistence Program to reduce human-wildlife conflict through nonlethal strategies such as deterrents, conflict reporting, and outreach. The author and supporters said the program had been effective but lost funding in 2024, and they argued it would help communities, ranchers, and wildlife by preventing conflicts before they escalate. Support came from conservation, animal welfare, local government, and county groups, while the California Cattlemen’s Association and California Farm Bureau opposed unless amended, saying the bill needed clearer limits on when nonlethal measures are practicable and protections so compensation funds for livestock losses are not reduced. Members discussed wolf-livestock conflicts, compensation, and the need for continued collaboration. The committee voted 2-0 on call to send the bill to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1085, which would preserve water supply assessments for large housing and development projects even when those projects are exempt from CEQA. The author and sponsor EBMUD said the bill is needed to keep water planning tied to land-use planning and avoid “paper water” problems, especially as climate and drought conditions worsen. Supporters included water agencies, environmental groups, labor, and local governments. The California Building Industry Association opposed the bill, arguing that current law already requires verified water supplies, that the bill could add unnecessary process and litigation risk, and that it could slow housing production. Members raised concerns about duplication in cities that also operate their own water systems, but the author said the goal was better coordination, not more bureaucracy. The committee voted 4-1 on call to send the bill to Local Government. The committee also heard SB 1270, which would expand the state wildfire mitigation home-hardening pilot to the top 10 counties by wildfire risk and social vulnerability, adding Riverside, Calaveras, Los Angeles, and Tehama counties and prioritizing future funds for those areas. The author said the bill responds to recent destructive fires and aims to extend home-hardening assistance to more high-risk communities. There was no opposition, and members discussed how to scale funding, whether the program should be broader than the listed counties, and how to focus on cost-effective mitigation. The committee voted 5-0 on call to send the bill to Emergency Management. Finally, the committee heard SB 895, a major science funding measure that would place a $23 billion bond on the ballot and create a California Foundation for Science and Health Research to support research in the state. The author and supporters said California’s research sector is a major economic engine and that federal funding cuts and instability threaten jobs, talent retention, and scientific progress. There was broad support from UC, CSU, labor, health, and research organizations, with no formal opposition. Some members raised concerns about the role of sponsoring unions and the potential for politicization, but the author said the new foundation would operate under California law and that the measure is meant to protect science funding and collaboration. The committee discussion continued, but the transcript excerpt ends before a final vote on SB 895.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, we're going to L2, Department of Human Services.
• Number four is Department of Human Services with UAMS.
• Number seven is Department of Human Services with UAMS.
• The contract will still be managed by DHS.
• We're paying them to manage the portfolio.

Committee: All JBC-PEER REVIEW

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thomas, General Manager; Siddique Young, General Manager.
• Young, General Manager.
• Public Human Services: HB 2335, vaccination services. HB 2336, Health and Human Services.
• Health and Human Services: HB 2439, public co-parned ... HB 2442, SNAP management.
• Health and Human Services and Appropriations: HB 2542.

Transcript Highlights:

• Human-wildlife conflict...
• That risks both humans and the animals.
• create the plans for how they manage and control this.
• It helps us improve our management.
• Juliana Tetlow, on behalf of San Diego Humane Society.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> human-driven vehicle. human-driven vehicle.
• </c> what we do as a human drivers? what we do as a human drivers?
• We are actually human beings supporting other humans.
• </c> supporting other humans. supporting other humans. Human<01:28:45.920><c> being.
• Maye Quade's bill, human opera- Senator Maye Quade's bill, human opera- human<01:45:55.400><c> operators

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I also said that I humans, right?
• :22.160><c> 2588274</c> management system 2588274 management system 2588274 573<05:09:25.040><c> I</c
• </c><05:17:58.878><c> $560,254</c> of Human Services. $560,254 of Human Services. $560,254 shall<05:18
• </c> Public School Health Services 45 D Human Public School Health Services 45 D Human Services<05:40
• </c><05:51:05.840><c> Seven</c> department of human services. Seven department of human services.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of Human Services then, MSOP is run by Human Services.
• </c> the AG's office it's just the Human the AG's office it's just the Human Services<00:24:53.559><c
• is run by Human Services msop msop is run by Human Services Governor<00:25:07.080><c> walls'</c><00:
• </c><00:25:20.640><c> Services</c> Human Services or or Not Human Services Human Services or or Not Human
• </c> nemt benefit from the state's Managed nemt benefit from the state's Managed Care<00:31:50.760><c

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:02.000><c> Resources</c> and Chief Human Resources and Chief Human Resources officer<00:04
• </c> the state's financial and human the state's financial and human resources<00:04:08.720><c> and</
• </c><00:04:29.720><c> management</c><00:04:30.120><c> of</c><00:04:30.240><c> the</c> transparent manag
• management of the transparent manag management of the state's<00:04:30.759><c> fiscal</c><00:04:31.320
• </c> asking uh asking supervisors managers asking uh asking supervisors managers directors<00:32:42.960

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:32.120><c> services</c> assistance in human services assistance in human services Finance<
• </c> each month are covered under Managed each month are covered under Managed Care<00:15:11.440><c>
• </c><00:15:20.839><c> Care</c> are required to enroll in Managed Care are required to enroll in Managed
• </c><00:15:46.360><c> Care</c> enroles those mcos or Managed Care enroles those mcos or Managed Care
• are enrolled in enrolled through manag are enrolled in manag<00:20:28.720><c> Care</c><00:20:28.919>

Transcript Highlights:

• The juvenile justice information system is essentially a case management system.
• evacuation planning and management tool.
• evacuation planning and management tool.
• The Human Services Subcommittee recommends acknowledging receipt of this report.
• Thank you, Chair. the human 4045 implementation. Senator Compost. Thank you, Chair.

Summary: The Emergency Board approved a series of consent federal grant applications from the Natural Resources and Public Safety subcommittees, along with several budget and position requests. The board approved grant applications for parks, transportation, judicial, emergency management, higher education, school nutrition, and other programs, including retroactive approvals where deadlines had passed. One member objected to the Natural Resources consent grants over concerns about future funding needs, but the motion still passed. The board also approved a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, including digital privacy protections, circuit court security, and a statewide facilities assessment. A major discussion centered on Southern Oregon University’s financial stability. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission reported on SOU’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and projected cash shortfall. The subcommittee recommended, and the board approved, allocating $7.5 million from the special appropriation for short-term stability, with a required update at the September 2026 Emergency Board meeting and a future request for the remaining funds. Members debated the broader crisis in higher education, with several saying SOU’s situation reflects systemwide enrollment and funding pressures and that long-term restructuring will be needed. The board also approved an AmeriCorps volunteer generation grant, an apprenticeship expansion grant, and a Department of Education nutrition equipment grant. In public safety, it approved funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a statewide evacuation planning tool, and a juvenile justice information system modernization report, while requiring a follow-up viability report. The Department of Justice received approval for additional antitrust positions and expenditure limitation, though several members raised concerns about the funding structure and incentives tied to settlement revenues; the motion passed despite objections. In natural resources, the board approved funding for the Water Resources Department’s well abandonment, repair and replacement grants, an assistant water master position in Washington County, groundwater data collection in the Lower Umatilla Basin, a wetlands remote sensing pilot, and parks-related grant applications for operations, maintenance, and capital improvements. Members generally supported the requests but raised concerns about geographic equity, long-term sustainability, and whether some county responsibilities were being shifted to the state. The meeting also included discussion of a Department of Emergency Management evacuation tool as an urgent wildfire preparedness measure, with members emphasizing its potential to save lives.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:53.360><c> to</c> exist and help our fellow humans to exist and help our fellow humans to
• </c><00:04:23.520><c> of</c> hibernation leaving the management of hibernation leaving the management
• 25.360><c> efforts</c><00:04:25.720><c> to</c> human leftovers and cleanup efforts to human leftovers
• You would never accept human or pet excrement on your picnic grounds.
• </c><00:05:01.759><c> and</c> members to extend management and members to extend management and protection

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:37.760><c> The</c><00:01:38.000><c> Management</c> arrive at those numbers.
• The Management arrive at those numbers.
• 00:02:08.720><c> had</c><00:02:08.880><c> to</c> the management advisory committee had to the management
• </c> of a merit plan by the director of human of a merit plan by the director of human resources<00:02
• The director of human is correct.

Committee: Senate Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Number 16, DHS DDS with Jet Management Services.
• This is for dental services at the Boonville Human Development Center for $71,000.
• For better management of a prisoner's health care? Yes or no? Yes, and may I explain?
• Is there any management of that?
• This is Amendment 2 for dental services for the Conway Human Development Center.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The committee reviewed methods of finance for 17 capital projects, including multiple university and agency projects such as UAMS renovations, ASU Jonesboro repairs, UCA track resurfacing, and other campus improvements. One item, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Food Science Research Center project, was held until Friday so members could receive more detail on the large cost increase from the original estimate; the remaining methods of finance items were approved. Members then reviewed four discretionary grants: a suicide prevention training grant for the Arkansas Crisis Center, an amended youth services grant to Right of Passage, and two Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board grants for catfish marketing. All were approved. In the services contract section, the committee approved a ratification for an Economic Development Commission grant evaluation contract, several construction-related contracts, six intergovernmental contracts, 28 out-of-state contracts, and 16 in-state contracts. Several contracts drew questions. Members asked DHS about cloud hosting for the ARIES eligibility system and about staffing support for the Medicaid backlog, and DHS said the staffing contract is intended to maintain processing capacity and allow for future surges. The Department of Education explained a $12 million tutoring contract for rural districts funded by a federal grant. The Department of Corrections discussed a medical services contract and a separate transitional housing contract, clarifying that the housing item covers five beds only and that the medical contract includes oversight and staffing-ratio penalties. The committee also reviewed large marketing and communications contracts for the Department of Health, DPS, and UAMS, and then accepted the reports before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Attorney General is empowered to oversee and manage compliance issues.
• Humans must play a central role in the management of AI, especially when AI is used in sensitive employment-related
• We want to keep the humanity in human services.
• No machine can assess safety hazards the way a trained human can.
• Management simply refused to engage in any conversation on the matter.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Summary: The committee held a hearing on several artificial intelligence bills, opening with remarks about the 9/11 anniversary and then broad statements from the co-chairs about AI’s promise and risks. Chair Farley-Bouvier and Senator Moore emphasized the need for guardrails, transparency, and worker and consumer protections, while Senator Finegold described Senate Bill 37, which would create a framework for AI model training with safety assessments, audits, incident reporting, Attorney General oversight, and workforce reporting. Members also discussed Massachusetts’ position relative to other states and the need for state action in the absence of federal regulation. A large portion of the hearing focused on the Fair Act, House 77 and Senate 35, which would limit workplace surveillance, restrict collection of biometric and location data, require notice and human review for automated employment decisions, and protect workers from retaliation. Labor leaders, including AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, SEIU, building trades, and other worker representatives, testified in support, describing harms from bossware, automated benefits denials, hiring and promotion screening, scheduling, and monitoring in workplaces ranging from health care and education to manufacturing and construction. They argued that AI systems are already affecting wages, benefits, safety, and job security, and that Massachusetts should act now to set clear rules. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 74, which would require informed consent and clear contract terms for digital replicas of voices and likenesses, with SAG-AFTRA representatives supporting the bill as a protection for performers and creators. Another major topic was Senate Bill 51 on social media algorithm accountability and transparency; child safety advocates, researchers, and a public health expert described harms from engagement-based algorithms, including exposure to harmful content, eating disorders, and youth mental health impacts, and supported independent audits and public reporting. A few industry and civil liberties witnesses supported regulation but urged balance, warning against overly burdensome rules while acknowledging the need for privacy, transparency, and accountability. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the hearing excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• trafficking and support victims of human trafficking in our state.
• There are actually two entities that are addressing human trafficking in the state.
• Then there's the human trafficking...
• Then there's the Human Trafficking Task Force.
• But North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services is not going to go away.

Summary: The conference committee on HB 1308 met to review Senate amendments related to the Human Trafficking Commission and continuing education language for regulated professions. Senator Beauchay explained that the bill would make the commission more independent and robust by changing permissive language to mandatory language, adding members from DHS/Children and Family Services, school districts, the State’s Attorneys Association, and the governor’s office, and designating the Attorney General or designee as presiding officer. The committee also discussed a new duty for the commission to provide annual human trafficking prevention and awareness education for students, with a proposed cross-reference to DPI curriculum law to avoid conflict with HB 2330. Members raised questions about the size of the commission, quorum concerns, and how the existing human trafficking task force differs from the commission. Testimony from Amy Boyd-Bomey of YouthWorks supported broader representation, especially from child welfare, schools, and tribal entities, and emphasized that trafficking of youth in North Dakota disproportionately affects Native youth. Committee members discussed the need for tribal representation, including a single representative chosen by tribal chairs, and suggested adding language to ensure that perspective. Boyd-Bomey also noted that the statute already references designees from state, local, and tribal agencies, though the committee considered making that more specific. No final action was taken. Representative Davis was asked to draft possible language changes, and the committee agreed to stand at ease and reconvene later, but ultimately the chair announced that more time would be needed and that another meeting would be scheduled.