Transcript Highlights:

• The statute then allows a non-compliant district 90 days to correct the deficiencies.
• Therefore, in December 2024... ...corrected within the 90-day period.
• So I ran a bill and Governor Hobbs signed that bill this session a few months ago, which I appreciate
• So I ran a bill and Governor Hobbs signed that bill this session a few months ago, which I appreciate
• Moving to full electronic billing, with the ability um going moving to full electronic billing um with

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Summary: The committee first heard an update on Topok Elementary School District’s long-running noncompliance with Arizona’s Uniform System of Financial Records. The Auditor General’s office explained the USFR noncompliance process and reported that Topok had made substantial progress, correcting many deficiencies in areas such as open meeting law, procurement, payroll, attendance reporting, property control, and information technology. The district’s superintendent and staff described the corrective actions they had taken, the use of outside consultants, and their plan to maintain compliance through stronger leadership, training, and consistent procedures. Members praised the district’s progress and asked about the remaining deficiencies and the status of the 3% state-aid withholding, which the Auditor General said would be addressed by the State Board of Education. The committee then considered a request for a fourth school safety special audit, tied to concerns raised by Representative Martinez about Phoenix Union High School District and school violence response practices. The Auditor General said the proposed audit would be a new topic focused on policies and procedures for responding to credible threats of violence and allegations of staff misconduct affecting student safety, and could include Phoenix Union in the sample. Representative Martinez described a fatal 2024 shooting, weapons incidents, and concerns about district oversight. The committee approved the motion 10-0. Next, staff presented the fiscal years 2027-2028 school district performance audit schedule, describing 26 randomly selected school districts and career and technical education districts, plus 84 planned follow-ups. The Auditor General said the schedule is intended to shorten the average time between audits and that the school audits division is now fully staffed. Members asked about county coverage and the inclusion of ESA accountability, but the schedule was ultimately presented for review rather than approval. The committee also heard a detailed federal compliance audit presentation on the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) administered by DES. The Auditor General reported repeated findings involving missing provider documentation, questioned costs, and FFATA reporting errors, including a 2024 sample that led to questioning $2.88 million in costs. The office recommended stronger documentation, record retention, reporting procedures, and staff training; DES concurred and said it would correct the findings in 2026. Members discussed the limits of the single-audit scope, the possibility of a broader special audit, and the federal government’s recent actions on CCDF oversight in other states. Finally, the committee considered and discussed a special audit request for CCDF that would broaden review to provider oversight, licensing, site visits, and billing accuracy across multiple state agencies, with estimated costs of $547,000 to $625,000 and a projected report date of July 31, 2027.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we legislate on House Bill 1790.
• Uh, it's a little after 11 and House Bill 1071 is now before us.
• House Bill 1071 is a little after 11 and House Bill 1071 is now<02:03:50.080><c> uh</c><02:03:50.400
• repeals</c> opposes House Bill 1071, which repeals opposes House Bill 1071, which repeals the<02:17:
• > hearing on his bill and that was House hearing on his bill and that was House Bill<04:31:20.960><c>

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So, committee, we're going to begin with Senate Bill 2012.
• And then we had passed the House bill that had a three-cent gas tax, but that was also in a completely
• This bill, the amendment, Another $70 million.
• And so I'm looking in the bill for that and I'm not seeing it.
• In the bill, in the bill, please. Well, it goes right to the DOT.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee met to consider Senate Bill 2012, the Department of Transportation budget, with Representative Brandenburg presenting a detailed House amendment package and Speaker Robin Weisz explaining the overall funding strategy. The discussion focused on restructuring transportation funding streams, including moving Prairie Dog money into a flexible transportation fund, adjusting gas tax distributions, increasing the legacy earnings transfer from 7% to 8%, and authorizing a $155 million bond for Highway 85. Members also discussed DOT operations, bridge funding, rest areas, electronic titling, and the use of funds for grants to counties, cities, and townships. A separate provision would let the DOT consider whether local ordinances or policies unreasonably restrict permitted agriculture or energy projects when scoring grant applications, which drew significant debate about local control and whether the language was punitive. Testimony from Brandenburg and Weisz emphasized that the plan was intended to provide more predictable funding, preserve the ability to match federal dollars, and direct money where needs are greatest through a grant process. Weisz said the package was designed to simplify multiple revenue buckets, ensure DOT can meet federal match requirements, and free up money for the general fund while still supporting transportation needs. Several members raised concerns about whether cities, counties, and townships would receive as much as under the prior Prairie Dog structure, whether the bridge allocation was correctly reflected in the bill, and whether the local-policy language would penalize subdivisions that oppose energy projects. Supporters argued the state needed to protect revenue tied to energy development and that local governments would still receive distributions plus additional grant opportunities. The committee adopted the House amendment to SB 2012 by a vote of 19-1-3, then rejected an amendment to remove the local-policy language on a 5-15-3 vote. The committee then passed SB 2012 as amended on a 20-0-3 vote, with Representative Brandenburg designated as the carrier. The chair announced that Senate Bill 2014 would not be taken up at that time and the committee recessed until called back.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires a 90-day notice if employment affects 10 or more employees or 10% of the employer's
• The bill requires a 90-day notice if employment affects 10 or more employees or 10% of the employer's
• The bill requires a 90-day notice if employment affects 10 or more employees or 10% of the employer's
• The bill requires a 90-day notice if employment affects 10 or more employees or 10% of the employer's
• The bill requires a 90-day notice if employment affects 10 or more employees or 10% of the employer's

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• I think I'm one of the few members on the who was here in 2019 when we did House Bill 3, a big fan of
• I also think that the legislature took a pretty big whack. at this last session with House Bill 1605.
• I mean, to some extent, y'all did some of this last session in the House Bill 1605.
• Last session, House Bill 900, which has been partially enjoined in the courts.
• The legislature passed Different House Bill 3 last session significantly added resources to TEA, 30 or

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, first bill up is SB 75, and we'll carry that bill over. Next bill up is going to be SB 294.
• Members of the committee, this is the Senate companion bill to House Bill 530 that we've already passed
• We've already passed the House version of this bill. So, I'd ask for a favorable report.
• So, your bill passes. Next up members. So, your bill passes.
• Okay, bill passes. Uh Okay, bill passes.

Committee: House State Government

Transcript Highlights:

• to House Bill 1316.
• Final vote shows 90 yeas, 1 nay. House Bill 1316... bill does the violations.
• Final vote shows 90A, 1A, House Bill 1316. The vote shows 90 yeas, 1 nay.
• Final vote shows 90 yeas, 0 nays. House Bill 1167 is declared passed.
• Final vote shows 90 yeas, 1 nay. House Bill 1278 is declared passed.

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:

• House Bill 2526 concerns prostitution.
• We will hold the hearing on House Bill 2526 open.
• So we're not going to turn to House Bill 2403.
• We will now return to the bill related to stolen property, House Bill 2209.
• We will now return to the bill related to stolen property House Bill 2209.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2209 would add 12- or 24-month sentencing enhancements for theft-related offenses when the value of stolen, possessed, or trafficked property exceeds $20,000 or $50,000, respectively. Rep. Mari Leavitt said the bill targets organized retail theft and related violence, emphasizing business losses, worker safety, and links to broader criminal activity. Supporters included prosecutors, retailers, law enforcement, and city officials who described organized retail crime as coordinated, underreported, and harmful to employees and communities. Opponents argued theft trends are declining, existing penalties are sufficient, and sentencing enhancements would worsen incarceration and racial disparities. The hearing on HB 2209 was left open for additional testimony. House Bill 2403 would revise penalties for failure to register as a sex offender or kidnapping offender, including lowering the seriousness level for second and subsequent offenses from level 2 to level 1 in the proposed substitute. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive or neutral. Proponents from the Sex Offender Policy Board, sentencing commission, public defenders, prosecutors, and sheriffs’ representatives said the bill reflects long-negotiated recommendations, better matches the offense’s administrative nature, and may improve compliance by pairing shorter prison terms with community custody and supervision. The committee then closed the public hearing on HB 2403. House Bill 1591, in a proposed substitute, would create a sentencing alternative, resentencing option, and conviction-vacation process for defendants who are verified survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking, where abuse was the primary and proximate cause of the offense. Supporters, including survivor advocates, prosecutors involved in diversion programs, and researchers, said many incarcerated women are survivors and current law often fails to account for coercion and trauma. Some witnesses urged broader eligibility and less reliance on formal documentation. Prosecutors and sheriffs’ representatives expressed concerns about discretion, potential public-safety impacts, and whether existing sentencing factors already address these cases. The committee also heard extensive testimony on House Bill 2526, which would rename patronizing a prostitute as commercial sexual exploitation, expand the offense to include providing anything of value, elevate it from a misdemeanor to a Class C felony, and increase associated fees. Supporters framed it as a response to trafficking, exploitation, and violence against women and children, while opponents—many of them sex workers or survivors—argued it would criminalize consensual adult sex work, push the industry further underground, and reduce safety and income for vulnerable people.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we will not be taking action on House Bill 2296 at this time. Thank you.
• So let's get going with a staff report from Jacob Lipson on House Bill 2537.
• We are here signing in with concerns for House Bill 2537.
• D'Olio, H-3208.1, to House Bill 2245.
• I'm here on behalf of Food Northwest today in opposition to House Bill 2537.

Bills: HB2537 , HB2245 , HB2296

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: emissions, climate commitment act, environmental regulation, trade regulation, facility compliance, consumer-owned utilities, clean energy, port districts, market customers, energy transformation, distributed energy, renewable energy, energy resources, sustainability, energy policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Next conference report, same page, is for House Bill 569. House Bill 569.
• House Bill 2011.
• House Bill 1263.
• for House Bill 110.
• Bill 1393 and House Bill 1000.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had 90% of them done within 96 hours.
• , 100% housed, or I'm sorry, 100% funded by state funds.
• But I want to state here first: FEMA is not good at housing.
• So this side here is our Hurricane Irma housing program.
• So here's our Hurricane Ian housing metrics slide.

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard two hurricane-recovery presentations focused on Florida’s response and long-term recovery efforts. Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, reviewed response and recovery operations for Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, including meals, water, sheltering, search and rescue deployments, power restoration, debris removal, flood-control efforts, and generator distribution. He also described ongoing public assistance and mitigation funding, the state’s FROC system for standardizing and speeding reimbursement documentation, and the Elevate Florida residential mitigation program, which will use about $400 million to elevate or reconstruct eligible flood-insurance properties and may expand to county-run programs. Senators asked about manufactured homes, school shelter hardening, mobile home tie-downs, reimbursement for USAR teams, debris hauling, regional sheltering, and FEMA review delays; Guthrie said the state is trying to move recovery faster and more proactively, while acknowledging some limits and federal bottlenecks. The committee then heard from Justin Domer, Deputy Secretary of Community Development at Florida Commerce, on HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery programs. He explained that Commerce administers long-term recovery funds through its Office of Long-Term Resiliency for housing, infrastructure, and economic development, with funds used as a last resort after FEMA and insurance. Domer outlined the process for the most recent $925 million allocation covering multiple disasters, including Idalia, Debby, Helene, Milton, Broward flooding, and North Florida tornadoes, and said the state currently manages about $3.4 billion in DR funds, rising to over $4 billion with the new allocation. He highlighted completed and ongoing housing programs for Hurricane Irma, Michael, and Ian, plus workforce recovery programs and subrecipient infrastructure grants. Senators asked about Broward and Fort Lauderdale funding, homeowner turnaround times, and mobile home eligibility; Domer said Broward and Fort Lauderdale will have separate HUD-directed programs, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the implementation date on the bill? It's 90 days after adjournment. What?
• Sorry, that was the wrong bill. Let me get the right bill before me.
• The House bill is running simultaneously, so I'm trying to listen to both.
• Read in the bill report for Senate Bill 6053, Domestic Workers.
• We raised similar concerns last week with the companion bill in the House.

Bills: SB6045 , SB6188 , SB6053 , SB5852

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: agriculture, collective bargaining, labor relations, public employment, agricultural employees, SB 6188, asbestos, asbestos training, asbestos certification, asbestos worker, asbestos supervisor, Department of Labor and Industries, L&I, rulemaking authority, occupational safety, workplace safety, hazardous materials, abatement, encapsulation, removal

Transcript Highlights:

• In that program, we are removing the 90-day waiting period when group health insurance has been removed
• also, of course,... ...a corresponding update to the CHIP state plan to reflect the removal of that 90
• We just clarified the license reduction, and it was just a basic cleanup bill.
• Well, folks are remodeling now and they move houses, they move the rooms around, everything.
• So we had about 90 rules that we promulgated following the 2023 session.

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Transcript Highlights:

• The first bill that we have is Chair Cleven's bill, House File 3935.
• So, the bill is laid over. Members, we have House File 2216.
• I renewed the motion that House File 2216, as amended, be laid over. The bill is laid over.
• I renewed the motion that House File 2216, as amended, be laid over. The bill is laid over.
• I renewed the motion that House File 2216, as amended, be laid over. The bill is laid over.

Bills: HF3935 , HF2216 , HF4354 , HF4210 , HF4212

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• about the housing heard many bills about the housing crisis<00:56:34.760><c> is</c><00:56:35.440><c>
• Nick Taylor, Director for Housing Action New Hampshire. We're in strong support of Senate Bill 279.
• All right, and I'm taking that out. housing fund this is my bill so I'll say housing fund this is my
• Bill 84, zoning procedures concerning residential housing. 82?
• Okay, Senate Bill 84 is the zoning procedures concerning residential housing.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• bill to House Bill 8.
• So, Senator, you mentioned House Bill 124 coming over.
• I apologize: Senate Bill 124 and House Bill 8.
• Was there the equivalent of House Bill 8 last time?
• Was there the equivalent of House Bill 8 last time?

Bills: SB194 , SB200 , SB203 , SB204 , SJR3

Committee: Senate House Education

Summary: The committee began with announcements about an upcoming Friday breakfast and presentation with the School Board Association in El Dorado, then moved through a series of education appropriation and capital-style bills. The first major item was Senate Bill 194 for Luna Community College baseball and softball fields. Senator Campos and Luna officials described the project as part of a larger athletic and community complex, emphasizing the college’s NJCAA compliance turnaround, 100% athlete graduation rate, 3.44 average GPA, and the fact that 94% of athletes are New Mexico residents. Supporters said the fields would improve recruiting, reduce annual rental costs, and add community amenities such as a walking path, soccer pitch, and wildfire resiliency training space. Several senators raised concerns that the project should go through the normal capital outlay process and questioned funding sources, ongoing operating costs, bathrooms, electricity, parking, audits, and whether the $5 million request was sufficient. Despite those concerns, the committee voted 5-3 to give the bill a due pass. The committee then heard a request for KANW educational radio funding. KANW’s general manager and staff said the station is celebrating 75 years, serves much of the state with news, cultural programming, Spanish music, and emergency alert services, and is one of the state’s primary radio stations. Supporters praised its public service and statewide reach. However, several senators objected to the funding mechanism, arguing that the request was being routed through growth funding rather than the usual capital or appropriations process and that other legislators lacked equal access to those funds. After discussion about federal funding cuts, translator opportunities, and the station’s educational mission, the committee voted 3-5 and the bill failed. Senate Bill 203, a duplicate of a previously heard Northern New Mexico State School documentary bill, was quickly tabled on motion. The committee then took up Senate Joint Resolution 3, which would ask voters to replace the current appointed Secretary of Education model with an appointed State Board of Education that would hire a state superintendent. Senator Soles argued the change would create more stability and reduce political whiplash, while supporters from the school board and superintendent associations backed the idea but noted concerns about appointment clarity. Opponents from PED, KIDS CAN, the Chamber of Commerce, charter schools, and others argued the proposal would add bureaucracy, reduce accountability, sideline the governor and voters, and repeat a failed pre-2003 system. Committee members were split along similar lines, with supporters emphasizing continuity and critics stressing accountability and local control; the transcript ends before a final vote on SJR 3 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a lot of duplication. and the bill is filed. Dan, on this bill.
• I signed up for the bill because I had I was in another house deal and I thought this was going to go
• It is a modified refile of House Bill 2893 by Representative Clardy.
• Members, in 2023, my Senate Bill 1612 and House Bill Senate Bill 3474 by Senator Hughes, established
• to a part of your bill.

Bills: SB387 , SB1650 , SB1838 , SB1839 , SB1923 , SB1940 , SB2052

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• All states would have paid at least 5% under the House bill, but the Senate bill was adopted.
• For expansion states, these would have been the most affected under the House bill.
• The tension in the House bill was to eliminate the mechanism states used to finance their share, specifically
• In the House bill, there was a revision to public law.
• It's going to be impacted by H.R. 1, the one big beautiful bill, whether it's the House version, the

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• bills... ...amended a lot of their bills into a few.
• Pennsylvania has House Bill 2359, which was referred to the Senate Finance Committee on July 10.
• This bill has passed.
• The Michigan legislature introduced House Bill 6137 and Senate Bill 1050 to require data center operators
• The Michigan legislature introduced House Bill 6137 and Senate Bill 1050 to require data center operators

Summary: The committee met at the Coteau Freedom Mine in Mercer County, approved the June 2 minutes, and heard an overview of the mine from Coteau Properties president Andrew Hawbaker. He described the Freedom Mine’s production history, customer mix, safety record, reclamation practices, workforce, community involvement, and economic impact. Members asked about how long land stays in production before reclamation, how quickly it returns to agriculture, labor shortages, groundwater impacts, and which skilled trades are hardest to fill. Hawbaker said the mine typically disturbs land for three to five years, reclamation returns much of the land to agricultural use, and the biggest hiring challenges are electricians, welders, mechanics, operators, engineers, and accountants. The committee then heard from Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christman on coal mining reclamation. He reviewed the history of North Dakota and federal reclamation laws, the PSC’s permitting and inspection authority, bonding requirements, contemporaneous reclamation standards, and how the state handles topsoil, subsoil, drainage, and revegetation. He emphasized that North Dakota’s program is well regarded, with frequent inspections and no corrective-action issues in recent federal reviews. Christman also discussed problems caused by federal coal ownership that can delay mine plans, and he answered questions about reclamation timing, wildlife easements, wind and pipeline reclamation, and whether similar bonding concepts could apply to data centers. In the afternoon, the committee received an update from Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jonathan Fortner on the lignite industry. He highlighted the industry’s long-term role in providing reliable electricity, jobs, and tax revenue, along with North Dakota’s low electricity rates and strong grid reliability. Fortner discussed severance and conversion tax revenues, federal regulatory changes, litigation over EPA rules, carbon capture, critical minerals, and the potential for large-load customers such as data centers to support new coal generation. He said the industry sees a window of opportunity for growth and expressed support for new large-load development, while noting that diversified energy companies are also pursuing natural gas and other resources. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning for the tour.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm Bill Soules, State Senator from Las Cruces.
• , which is also where we house our ELA and unit for...
• problems. housing problems.
• In ELA and reading, they should have 90 minutes.
• Currently, I heard about the 90-minute block; think about if you were in your college classes for 90