Transcript Highlights:

• Legislative consent for...
• Discussion, Mr. Ghan. Yes, Mr.
• these discussions.
• We’ve had preliminary discussions, often on— ...internal discussions.
• So I look forward to hearing our recommendations come from legislative council and then us discussing

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Discussion on the lady's motion.
• Discussion on the title.
• Further discussion, gentleman from Jefferson.
• Discussion on the title.
• Further discussion on the bill. Further discussion on the bill. Gentlemen from St.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . legislator. legislator.
• Any further discussion?
• Any further discussion?
• Any further discussion?
• Discussion. Discussion. Discussion.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 3679, which would allow mandatory reports to legislative committees to be submitted electronically instead of on paper, was presented as a bipartisan efficiency measure by Representative Nash. The bill also carried an A1 amendment, adopted by voice vote, that addressed interim administrative authority for the Chief Clerk during a gap in caucus leadership and was described as a procedural fix worked out with caucus leaders. A second amendment, A2, offered by Representative Engen, sought to prohibit legislators from participating in appropriations to named nonprofit recipients that later employ or contract with them, arguing this created conflicts of interest and self-serving governance. Supporters said the amendment was needed for institutional integrity and taxpayer trust, while opponents argued it was too narrow, not well defined, and would unfairly single out certain jobs or industries; the debate included references to direct appropriations, conflict-of-interest rules, and examples involving nonprofits, law firms, farmers, teachers, and other outside employment. The A2 amendment was put to a roll call and failed on a 66-66 tie. After the amendment vote, the bill was read a third time and received broad support. Representatives Nash and Cleborne urged a green vote, and the House passed House File 3679 as amended by a vote of 132-0, with its title agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were asked to help, but we did not draft the legislation or bring the legislation to him.
• We were asked to help, but we did not draft the legislation or bring the legislation to him. Okay.
• We were a co-sponsor of legislation in California, which allows organizations to co-sponsor legislation
• Is there discussion on the bill?
• , and look at the legislation.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion is inexpedient to legislate. Is there any discussion?
• Is there any further legislate. Is there any further discussion? discussion? discussion?
• Is there any inexpedient to legislate. Is there any discussion?
• Is there any inexpedient to legislate. Is there any discussion?
• Is there any inexpedient to legislate. Is there any discussion?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , if there's no other discussion, if there's no other discussion, all<00:03:20.720> those<
• Um, an example from a study of fiscal notes in Colorado discusses how legislation to expand a personal
• legislators have been anticipating. legislators have been anticipating.
• I'd welcome a brief discussion.
• commitment to this important discussion. commitment to this important discussion.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Budget Office Oversight Commission met on January 22, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the December 17, 2025 meeting. The main presentation was by Erikica McKeler of the National Conference of State Legislatures on dynamic fiscal notes, dynamic scoring, and how they differ from static fiscal notes. She explained that dynamic analysis tries to capture broader economic and behavioral effects of policy changes, but that most states have experimented with it only briefly, often for tax bills, and many have later scaled back or abandoned the practice because it is staff-intensive, expensive, and difficult to validate. McKeler highlighted examples from Texas, Utah, and Arkansas. Texas requires dynamic fiscal impact statements for certain large tax or fee measures and for the biennial appropriations bill; Utah has done such analyses on request during the interim but only when staff time allows; and Arkansas recently began producing dynamic fiscal notes with thresholds and request limits. She noted that these states generally use REMI software, though Utah switched to IMPLAN for cost reasons. She also outlined common challenges, including the need for strong staff expertise, the sensitivity of results to assumptions, the expense of software licenses, and the difficulty of measuring accuracy over time. Members then discussed whether dynamic scoring could be useful for health and human services programs where a policy may shift costs between settings rather than create a simple new expense. Senator Marty raised a Medicaid example involving home-based blue light therapy for newborns, arguing that dynamic analysis might better capture potential savings from avoiding longer hospital stays. Legislative Budget Office and Minnesota Management and Budget staff responded that such effects may be better understood as direct program substitutions rather than true dynamic effects, and emphasized the need for reliable data and caution because savings estimates could reduce appropriations if they do not materialize. The discussion also touched on whether dynamic models would capture local government impacts, but no formal action was taken beyond the approval of minutes and receipt of the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill came through legislative review.
• This bill came through legislative review.
• Further discussion. Seeing none, the gentleman from Clay... Further discussion.
• Discussion now on House Bill 1758. Discussion now on House Bill 1758.
• Further discussion. Gentleman from St.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal, and a long series of introductions recognizing student groups, interns, visiting families, and guests, including the Tipton Lady Cardinals girls basketball state champions, FCCLA and FBLA students, Missouri Rural Water Association members, and legislative assistants. Members also highlighted Earth Day and National Arbor Day by promoting free tree seedlings from the Department of Conservation. The chamber then considered several committee reports and moved to third reading on House Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bills 3068 and 3049, a broad public safety package. Supporters described it as a vehicle for multiple bipartisan provisions, including driver’s education, human trafficking training for paramedics, psilocybin trials, intoxicated driving accountability, fire and life safety updates, AI restrictions, and protections involving explicit images of children. Opponents objected to anti-trans language and argued the bill was overly broad and constitutionally problematic. The bill passed 117-10 with 17 present. The House also passed Senate Bill 914, dealing with lateral fields and moving from perk tests to soil analysis, by a vote of 108-34 with one present, after supporters said it would help keep sewage out of rivers and drinking water. Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1142, a Secretary of State measure on certificates of good standing for series LLCs doing business in other states, passed 142-0 with one present. Members then took up House Bill 1758, a daylight saving time trigger bill. The sponsor and many supporters argued it would protect Missouri from neighboring states forcing a switch to permanent standard time, help tourism and outdoor recreation, and reduce health and safety problems associated with changing clocks. Opponents favored permanent standard time instead, citing research on circadian rhythms, health effects, school bus safety, and energy use, and some questioned the bill’s federal-law implications and state sovereignty issues. Debate was ongoing when the transcript ended, with no final vote shown on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Discussion on the title.
• Discussion on the title.
• Further discussion on the bill.
• We had a discussion earlier.
• Discussion on the title?

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Discussion on the title.
• Discussion on the title.
• "Further discussion. Seeing none, lady..." "Thank you very much. Further discussion.
• It's dominating discussion.
• For discussion? Seeing none, the lady from Carroll... Further discussion.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To all our legislative assistants, thank you.
• This bill came through legislative review.
• Further discussion. Seeing none, gentleman from Clay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further discussion.
• Discussion now on House Bill 1758. Discussion now on House Bill 1758.
• Further discussion. Gentleman from St.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal, and a long series of special guest introductions. Guests included the Tipton Lady Cardinals girls basketball state champions and coach Jason Colpepper, Clayco executives and a construction career nonprofit representative, FCCLA and FBLA students, Missouri FCCLA members, legislative interns and shadow students, Missouri Rural Water Association members, medical students from Kansas City University in Joplin, and family members of members. The chamber also recognized legislative assistants for their work and noted Earth Day/Arbor Day seedlings available in the rotunda from the Department of Conservation. Committee reports were received on several measures, and the House then took up multiple bills for third reading. House Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bills 3068 and 3049 passed after debate over its broad public-safety contents, including AI restrictions, trafficking training, psilocybin trials, DWI-related provisions, fire and life safety standards, and a disputed anti-trans provision; it passed 117-10 with 17 present. Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 914, dealing with lateral fields and soil analysis for sewage-related purposes, passed 108-34 with one present. Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1142, a Secretary of State measure on certificates of good standing for series LLCs doing business in other states, passed 142-0 with one present. The House then perfected House Bill 1758, a daylight saving time “trigger” bill. Supporters argued it would protect Missouri from neighboring states forcing a switch to permanent standard time, help tourism and outdoor recreation, and avoid the health and safety problems associated with changing clocks. Opponents argued the bill was constitutionally problematic, multi-subject, or the wrong policy choice, with some favoring permanent standard time instead. After extensive debate, the House ordered the bill perfected and printed. The session ended with announcements, including committee meeting notices, and a point of order raised over a member wearing tennis shoes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative, further discussion. Representative, further discussion.
• Well, they're in discussions with DOJ on this contractor, so some things they can't discuss.
• We can proceed to discussion. Thank you very much, Representative. We can proceed to discussion.
• Further discussion.
• We'll move to discussion. Thank you, Madam Co-Chair, again. Colleagues, we had quite a discussion.

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:

• Is there a discussion? Representative Owens. Thank you. Thank you, Senator. It's their discussion.
• Representative, further discussion. ...not in higher ed. Representative, further discussion.
• Other discussion. Further discussion.
• Further discussion.
• Is there further discussion? Thank you, Representative. Is there further discussion?

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The Emergency Board met on June 17, 2026, and approved a series of subcommittee recommendations, mostly on consent, related to federal grant applications, agency funding adjustments, and position authority. Early actions included approval of four federal grant applications from natural resources agencies, three public safety grant applications, a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, retroactive approval for an AmeriCorps volunteer-generation grant, and a $7.5 million allocation to Southern Oregon University from a special appropriation for short-term financial stability. Members supporting the SOU item emphasized the university’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and the need for a long-term higher education plan; several members voted no or raised concerns about sustainability, but the motion passed. The board also approved a federal apprenticeship expansion grant for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, a school nutrition equipment grant for the Department of Education, and an Oregon Health Authority request tied to Medicaid community engagement requirements under H.R. 1. Public safety items included funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a report on the stalled juvenile justice information system modernization project with a follow-up viability report due in 2026, and a statewide evacuation planning tool for emergency management. The evacuation tool drew strong support as a wildfire preparedness measure, with members noting it could significantly reduce alert times and save lives. A major point of debate was the Department of Justice request to add 16 permanent positions and increase other funds limitation for antitrust enforcement. Supporters argued the federal government has pulled back and Oregon needs capacity to pursue active cases and protect consumers; opponents objected to the process, the size of the expansion, and the incentive structure tied to settlements and awards. Despite those concerns, the motion passed. The board also approved Water Resources Department requests for the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement program, an assistant water master position in Washington County, and federal funding for Lower Umatilla Basin groundwater data collection. The water master item prompted questions about county cost shifts, but staff said the position would remain externally funded and would not be filled without those resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Sweeney moves inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 572. Further discussion.
• Representative Sweeney moves inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 572. Further discussion.
• Inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 619. Is there any further discussion? Yes, thank you.
• The motion before us is inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 640. Further discussion.
• The motion is inexpedient to legislate on Senate Bill 63. Is there any further discussion?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met on October 30 to act on a series of bills that had been considered during the budget process, with many being recommended for inexpedient to legislate because their funding or policy language had already been handled in House Bill 2. Early actions were largely unanimous. House Bill 54, allowing alternate treatment centers to operate for profit, was recommended ought to pass and was approved 25-0, then placed on the consent calendar because it carried no appropriation. House Bill 97, a wastewater and infrastructure appropriation, was recommended inexpedient to legislate because its funding had been replaced in HB 2; Representative Rum opposed the motion and argued the grant funding helps local taxpayers and housing development, but the committee adopted ITL 14-11, with a minority report to follow. House Bill 111, dealing with the right-to-know ombudsman, was also unanimously recommended ITL because the budget had already made related reforms. The committee then took up House Bill 164, and adopted Amendment 225-2979H, which appropriates $150,000 in FY 2027 to the Secretary of State’s Division of Archives and Records Management for a local government records manager position. The amended bill was then recommended ought to pass as amended and approved 25-0. House Bill 197, the Property Tax Relief Act, drew the most extended debate. Supporters said it would restore a state contribution to retirement costs for local employers and provide property tax relief, while opponents argued the earlier change was largely offset by employee contribution increases and other retirement-system adjustments. The committee ultimately adopted ITL 14-11, and a minority report was requested. The committee also acted on House Bill 215, a landfill-related bill. Members explained that most of its language had been included in HB 2 but was removed in conference, so the bill was retained and amended to apply more narrowly to new landfills. Amendment 2025-2970H was adopted unanimously, and the bill was then recommended ought to pass as amended by a 25-0 vote. House Bill 216, which would change retirement eligibility rules for certain workers injured on the job, was recommended inexpedient to legislate after its sponsor said the fiscal impact was too uncertain to support. Finally, House Bill 219 received Amendment 2025-2988H to change its effective date to July 1, 2027, and discussion began on the bill’s broader purpose of returning about $5.7 million annually from RPS funds to ratepayers.

Transcript Highlights:

• the legislator to push or advance the employer's legislative agenda or to oppose legislation disfavored
• Act does not prohibit a legislator from inducing, supporting, advocating, or voting for legislation
• As I directed the Legislative Ethics Board as well, not to have any ex parte communications or to discuss
• As a legislator. As a legislator.
• And is it normal for you to call legislators and ask them about legislation? Yes.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The hearing concerned a Legislative Ethics Board complaint against Representative Tara Simmons in Washington State OAH Docket 401-645. The judge outlined the process, the two issues on appeal—whether Simmons violated RCW 42.52.020 and RCW 42.52.070, and, if so, what penalty should apply—and admitted a number of exhibits by stipulation or prior ruling, while taking one exhibit under advisement pending an offer of proof. The board also moved to sequester witnesses, which was granted, and the judge deferred ruling on a motion to exclude three defense witnesses until after hearing the board staff’s case. Opening statements followed, with staff alleging Simmons used her position to benefit an outside organization and to secure special privileges, and the defense arguing the conduct was lawful, technical in nature, and consistent with prior ethics guidance. Board staff then called Kimberly Gordon, an attorney and founding board member/treasurer of American Equity and Justice Group (AEJG), as its first witness. Gordon testified that AEJG used data dashboards to make justice-system data more accessible, received state proviso funding sponsored by Simmons, and also received two donations from Simmons—$10,000 and $40,000. She said the first donation was intended to help hire Antoine Coleman, whom Simmons had recommended and who was later identified as Simmons’s romantic partner, and that AEJG returned the $10,000 and declined the $40,000 after concluding there was a potential conflict of interest. Gordon also testified that AEJG believed Simmons’s involvement in the organization and her communications about Coleman created ethical concerns. Gordon further testified about a second proviso intended to expand AEJG’s work into education data and its subcontract with Equity in Education Coalition (EEC). She said EEC did not perform the expected deliverables, prompting repeated communications with the Administrative Office of the Courts and a meeting involving Chris Stanley, where AEJG raised concerns that EEC was not complying and that Simmons had intervened in the dispute. According to Gordon, Stanley ultimately directed the parties to rewrite the subcontract and continue, but AEJG later moved forward largely without EEC’s assistance. The board staff introduced AEJG’s complaint and related timeline exhibits during her testimony. After direct examination, the hearing recessed for lunch, and cross-examination by Simmons’s counsel began when the hearing resumed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any discussion? Amendments. Is there any discussion?
• Is there any discussion?
• Is there any discussion?
• Any discussion? Representative Brandenberg. Second. Any discussion?
• Government Ops will meet at 3 o'clock, and we will be discussing legislative management and legislative

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The North Dakota House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then received a gubernatorial veto message on Senate Bill 2261. The governor vetoed the bill creating a prison industries workforce development tax credit, citing dormant Commerce Clause concerns and arguing the tax credit would create an unfair market advantage and not meaningfully help Rough Rider Industries. The House agreed to place SB 2261 on the next day’s calendar for a possible veto override. The chamber also re-referred Senate Bill 2159 to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and appointed a conference committee for Senate Bill 2133 after the Senate refused to concur with House amendments. The House then took up a series of Senate amendments and final passage votes on several bills. It concurred in amendments and passed House Bill 1140 naming the Specialist John P. Fettig, Iraq Bridge; House Bill 1241 allowing funeral home vehicles to display flashing purple lights and clarifying emergency vehicle lamp rules; House Bill 1316 imposing additional penalties for repeated violations of temporary restricted licenses; House Bill 1127 expanding Department of Financial Institutions authority and data security provisions; House Bill 1564 on Indian child welfare; House Bill 1167 requiring AI disclosure statements in political communications; House Bill 1170 on state employee annual leave; House Bill 1447 regulating virtual currency kiosks; House Bill 1278 creating a cash management board for state treasury funds; House Bill 1024, the deficiency appropriation bill; House Bill 1205 on newborn safety devices; House Bill 1204 expanding false-information rules for political ads to text messages and telephone calls; House Bill 1001, the governor’s budget; House Bill 1206 increasing penalties for DUI offenses involving a minor; House Bill 1088 on insurance penalties and restitution; and House Bill 1515 on motor vehicle warranty work compensation. Most passed with strong margins, though HB 1170 and HB 1024 drew notable opposition, and HB 1447 and HB 1204 also had several nays. The most extended debate came on Senate Concurrent Resolution 4008, which proposed a constitutional amendment to change legislative term limits from the current structure to four four-year terms and repeal a constitutional restriction on proposing such changes. Supporters argued the measure would preserve institutional knowledge, allow voters to reconsider the 2022 term-limit decision, and let the public decide on the ballot. Opponents said the people had already spoken, the measure was confusing or unnecessary, and it could distract from other ballot issues. After reconsideration was granted, the House passed SCR 4008 by a vote of 53 yeas to 39 nays. The session ended with announcements, committee meeting notices, and adjournment until April 3, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• And on that, we will end discussion. Well, is there any further discussion on the motion?
• Any discussion on this? Any discussion on the motion?
• Any further discussion? Thank you. Thank you for that point. Any further discussion?
• Respectful of what the legislation says.
• By way of background, in 2017 the legislative...

Summary: The committee met on December 3, 2025, with a quorum present and approved the September 17 minutes. Members first voted to suspend the 2026 JLARC lodging tax expenditure report for one year, based on staff’s explanation that the report is self-reported, not verified, and less useful than State Auditor accountability audits; the motion passed. The committee also approved renaming the JLARC I-900 subcommittee to the “Committee to Hear SAO Performance Audits,” while keeping the opening script noting that the performance audit process exists under Initiative 900. The committee then heard follow-up updates on two prior performance audits. The Department of Health presented a draft strategic management plan in response to findings on hospital inspections, complaints, adverse event review, and hospital data access. JLARC staff reiterated that 72% of hospital inspections were late, that DOH did not verify third-party inspection standards or review adverse event reports, and that complaint data suggested possible language-access barriers. DOH said it concurred with the recommendations, had improved on-time inspection compliance to about 49%, planned annual updates starting in July 2026, and would work on accreditation oversight, complaint-language access, and data accessibility, though members pressed for firmer deadlines and questioned the three-year timeline for language access improvements. The Liquor and Cannabis Board also reported on its cannabis market study recommendation. JLARC staff said the agency’s data were incomplete and unreliable, limiting oversight of production, recalls, tax collection, and diversion. LCB said it had improved its current CCRS system but still relied on self-reported data, and it presented a decision package for a new traceability system estimated at about $9 million over three fiscal years. LCB described a plant-tagging and serialization approach tied to production, processing, testing, and retail, but acknowledged it did not currently have sufficient staff to fully implement the system without additional funding. The committee also received briefings on JLARC’s recommendation-tracking tools and the 2024 public records reporting summary, including a high-level review of agency response rates, request volumes, costs, and litigation. Finally, JLARC presented the proposed final report on the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, concluding that OPDP meets its statutory responsibilities and has high user satisfaction, but that its mandate should be updated to better match its current capacity and focus; the committee adopted the report for distribution. The meeting then moved into the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, where JLARC staff summarized nine reviews and noted that the Citizens Commission on Tax Preference and Performance Measurement endorsed all 17 legislative auditor recommendations, with comments on seven. Early reviews discussed included natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, nonprofit low-income housing development, multipurpose senior centers, disabled veteran adaptive housing, and trade convention attendance, with staff and commissioners generally recommending continuation of some preferences, modification of others, and improved objectives or performance measures where needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any inexpedient to legislate. Is there any discussion?
• Is there any inexpedient to legislate. Is there any discussion?
• We are still discussing the motion of inexpedient to legislate.
• The motion is inexpedient to legislate. Is there any further discussion?
• Is there any further legislate. Is there any further discussion?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That discussion came about because during the legislative session there was concern about whether providers
• throughout the discussion.
• Management legislation.
• Legislative Council.
• Committee discussion. I'm going to. Committee discussion.

Summary: The committee first approved the February 11, 2026 minutes and then received an update from the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency on the interagency council on homelessness and continuum of care funding. Testimony described rising homelessness tied to tight housing markets, low incomes, aging homelessness, barriers to rental assistance and public benefits, and limited shelter and case-management capacity. Members discussed the need for more affordable housing, continued one-time funding for the North Dakota Homeless Grant and Housing Incentive Fund, better coordination with Health and Human Services on economic assistance and human service zones, landlord engagement, recovery housing, and reentry housing. The committee also heard that federal continuum of care funding remains uncertain, with possible shifts away from permanent supportive housing and housing-first models; members asked for a future update on the impact if federal rules reduce the share available for permanent housing. The committee then took testimony on accessibility of government services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Paul Olson of North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind described current screening and service delivery, including infant referrals, regional staff, short-term programs, and collaboration with vocational rehabilitation. He said the targeted screening system is working, recommended maintaining the current model, and noted ongoing challenges with staffing, public awareness, and accessible state websites and documents. Public testimony from a visually impaired resident and a deaf resident emphasized barriers such as CAPTCHAs, inaccessible PDFs, employment forms that screen out applicants based on driver’s license status, shortages of interpreters, and the need for video remote interpreting and video relay services, along with training for users and agencies. Finally, the committee heard a final report on the study of child care provider licensing from HHS Early Childhood Director Kay Larson. The report summarized provider input and committee discussion on simplifying North Dakota’s child care licensing structure, reducing administrative burden, and balancing that with health and safety standards. Key topics included licensing categories, child care assistance eligibility, food program sponsorship, staff qualifications, training requirements, ratios and group size, age bands, and preschool exemptions. The committee’s recommendations included streamlining to three provider types plus a preschool designation, revising ratio and age-band rules, and carrying forward certain preschool outdoor-space exemptions. Larson noted that any changes would require statutory changes, rulemaking, and a transition period before new licensing rules could take effect.

Transcript Highlights:

• at in our current discussion.
• That discussion came about because during the legislative session there was concern about whether providers
• throughout the discussion.
• Management legislation.
• Committee discussion. I'm going to... Committee discussion.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any discussion, any further discussion?
• Any discussion on this? Any discussion on the motion? Any discussion?
• Legislatively, legislative intent, the discussion, everything we talked about during the session said
• Are they doing it in opposition to legislative intent? Obviously, that's the discussion at hand.
• Further discussion on the motion? Further discussion?

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2401, which would require physicians to complete continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health as part of the state’s rural health transformation effort. HHS supported the bill, saying it would help physicians better address chronic disease and preserve federal grant points tied to the state’s application. A member of the public also testified in favor, arguing that better nutrition education could improve diabetes outcomes and reduce costs. The committee then adopted an amendment to add the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice to the background-check statute so the occupational therapy compact could proceed, and it passed the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee next heard House Bill 1621, which would require the Presidential Fitness Physical Fitness Test in elementary, middle, and high school physical education courses. HHS said the bill was part of the rural health transformation application and could help preserve federal funding, but members raised many questions about the test’s criteria, adaptive options for students with disabilities, equipment needs, and whether the bill should apply to non-public schools. Senator Clemens offered an amendment to limit the requirement to public schools, but it failed. Senator Hogan then offered an amendment to clarify exemptions and allow DPI to align implementation with federal guidance; that amendment passed. A further amendment adding language allowing DPI to establish criteria for and exceptions to the test also passed. The committee then approved the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee also considered House Bill 1622, which joins North Dakota to the physician assistant licensure compact. HHS said the compact would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, support military families, and help preserve rural health transformation funding. Members noted the compact had been discussed in a prior session and that many earlier concerns had been resolved. After brief discussion about the compact process and its consistency with other interstate compacts, the committee voted to do pass the bill. Finally, the committee began Senate Bill 2402, which expands pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution powers. HHS and the Board of Pharmacy supported the bill as a way to improve access to care and maintain rural health transformation funding. Senator Roers introduced a detailed amendment negotiated with the Board of Medicine and Board of Pharmacy to narrow and clarify the bill, including notification requirements, limits on certain drug categories, and patient-protection language for therapeutic substitution. The Board of Pharmacy then testified in support of the broader bill and explained the CLIA-waived testing provisions and the repeal of the older, narrower pharmacist-testing language. The hearing and amendment discussion were still underway when the transcript ended.