Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Neighbors, if you would come forward, we will at this time call House Bill 3.
• House Bill 3.
• Chairman and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to once again present House Bill 3.
• House Bill 3 does pass with favorable expression. Same on the House floor.
• Bill 3 does pass with favorable expression.<00:03:15.680><c> Same</c><00:03:16.159><c> on</c><00:03:

Committee: House Banking & Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill addresses issues in five straightforward sections.
• First, it straightforward sections.
• 2/3 it that I had in my testimony here?
• Um 3/4 of in Henipin Ramsey County.
• </c> the judge in for this particular section the judge in for this particular section must<00:13:15.600

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 3.2.
• If it is approved by the House in accordance with Rule 6, Section 16F, Section 2. put and take requirement
• Section 3, 2.
• The rule is effective if it is approved by the House in accordance with Rule 6, Section Section 2.
• Section 5, in-block consideration of amendments to be placed in...

Bills: HJR1 , HJR2 , HB9 , HB22 , HB908 , HB1392 , HB195 , HB 13 , HB143 , HB135 , HJR1 , HJR2 , HB9 , HB22 , HB908 , HB1392

Keywords: constitutional amendment, property tax, ad valorem tax, tax exemption, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, equipment exemption, machinery, local government finance, school district revenue, county taxes, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, tax relief, commercial property, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• Time is 3 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3rd.
• I have the privilege of presenting docket number 3-0102-2501.
• Sections that were also rewritten for taxpayers' ease and compliance.
• Page 10, the added section 8 will have a hyperlink that The added section 8 will have a hyperlink that
• Which section? It is section 12, subsection 8. And the red is the hyperlink? Is that correct?

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• It's 3:20 p.m. in Conference Room 224.
• 20</c> Uh, can we roll it to tomorrow at U 3:20 Uh, can we roll it to tomorrow at U 3:20 p.m.<00:19:27.440
• 3:2 4 and we are conference room 3:2 4 and we are conference room 224.<00:20:13.919><c> At</c><00:20:
• Uh, Wednesday, 3:20, Room 224. Okay. Tomorrow the 23rd and 3:20. Thank you. All right. Thank you.
• </c> 3:20. Thank you. All right. Thank you. 3:20. Thank you. All right. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I was curious, I was looking at, let's see, I think it's Section 113, page 42.
• You can find that in Section 22 of the bill. Follow-up. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Is this anticipated to be a recurring or base cost to U-HAT for $3 million ongoing?
• I am, I'm looking on Section 98, the... Thank you.
• But do you know anything about what's going on as far as Senate Bill 3?

Bills: SB1177

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met to consider Senate Bill 1177, the general appropriation bill. The chair and budget authors explained that the proposal was built to balance the budget using a mix of general revenue, cash sweeps, and other fund transfers, including money from unclaimed property, revenue stabilization, and other statutory funds. Members also discussed a proposed $35 million OWRB revolving loan fund tied to ARPA interest and a $200 million transfer from the Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Taxpayer Endowment Trust Fund as part of a long-term savings strategy. A number of agency-specific items drew questions. Members reviewed the OPEB employer contribution reduction, rent coverage for state agencies, child care and Head Start funding, Department of Corrections revenue from ICE-related agreements, sheriff grant funding, and education funding, including about $99 million in additional formula funding, a $2,000 teacher pay raise, and reading-related appropriations such as Strong Readers and Just Right Reader. The committee also discussed mental health funding, including a $30 million consent decree line, a proposed privatization of CCBHC services with an estimated $10 million savings, and related reduction-in-force costs. Other topics included Attorney General transfers and litigation funding, higher education allocations, Langston University extension funding, historical society requests that were not funded, and a biosolids pilot program. During debate, supporters argued the bill fulfilled the constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget and highlighted increases for education, health care, and water infrastructure. Opponents criticized the use of one-time cash, tax cuts, and what they described as special-project spending, while raising concerns about transparency and underfunded services such as child care and transportation. After debate, the committee voted 18-5 to pass Senate Bill 1177.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the ones that we have in front of us, section 11 and section 57.
• And that's under Section 57-15-35.
• The next section relates to committee... you kind of a general overview in this section.
• The remainder of that section, the next section relates to the state auditor, the role of the state auditor
• That's in this next section.

Committee: Joint Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee

Summary: The committee convened, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received a memo summarizing major audit items. The State Auditor’s office and outside auditors then presented a series of audits, many of which were clean with unmodified opinions and no findings, including the Bank of North Dakota, the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Quality, Lake Region State College, and the Office of the Governor. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association audit was also clean overall, but it repeated findings about limited segregation of duties and auditor assistance in preparing financial statements, which the auditor said were expected to continue because of the organization’s small size. Committee members asked about out-of-state board addresses, and the association explained those members were North Dakota residents using South Dakota mailing addresses. Several audits did include findings. The Council on the Arts audit identified two issues: payroll charged to federal awards without supporting time records, and $12,825 in Cultural Endowment Fund spending that was not allowable under state law, including staff training, retreats, and executive director candidate travel. The Department of Public Instruction audit found unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, but additional testing confirmed the funds were credited properly and students completed required school district work, so no improper payments were identified. The University of North Dakota audit found a lack of documentation and transparency in School of Law admissions decisions; the auditor said the law school used a holistic process but did not keep notes or evaluation tools to show why applicants were admitted, waitlisted, or denied. UND leadership said the school is in good standing with the American Bar Association and agreed better documentation is needed, and the auditor said the issue was the missing documentation, not ABA accreditation itself. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which found four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating cap, grant conditions not being met, improper breeder fund awards, and improper procurement. The auditor said promotion fund spending exceeded the cap by $327,447 and the fund balance dropped sharply over the audit period. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson said the agency had become complacent, that grant requests were treated as routine, and that controls and documentation need to be tightened. He also explained that the breeder fund overpayments involved two horses whose ownership transfers were not properly documented before racing, and that the procurement issue stemmed from an advertising contract that proceeded without proper written procurement procedures after a misunderstanding with the State Procurement Office. The auditor said the Racing Commission will now be audited every two years because of the findings. The committee also received updates on Dakota College at Bottineau’s bank reconciliations, which Minot State University said had been brought current after an 18-month backlog, with only one account still needing cleanup; members asked for a written report on the corrective actions. The North Dakota Fair Foundation was reported to have dissolved, with remaining funds transferred to another nonprofit account for continued support of the state fair. Finally, the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, revising the earlier estimate to about $1.1 million based on incomplete district survey responses, and said the Anti-Lunch Shaming law likely increased meal debt because schools must feed students regardless of account balance. Members discussed the need for a more accurate year-end debt figure and possible future reporting at a later committee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 3 updates the charter amendment process, and Section 4 allows state-chartered banks to make investments
• So that's just bringing code sections forward on section five. No changes there.
• </c><02:39:44.479><c> No</c> sections forward on section five. No sections forward on section five.
• That was the autopsy sections, &gt;&gt; Okay. That was the autopsy sections, correct? correct?
• </c> bringing forth these uh code sections. bringing forth these uh code sections.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a section that you? No, I can get back to you if there's a specific.
• Similarly, Section 10 bars state contracting related to the state.
• And now, senators, we will take up Tabs 3 through 26.
• Now, senators, we will take up Tabs 3 through 26.
• If not, you see the appointees before you in Tabs 3 through 26.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 1178, the Foreign Interference Restriction and Enforcement Act. Senator Grohl explained that the bill expands state restrictions and disclosure requirements related to foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations, including foreign-agent registration, gift bans for public officials, ethics training, procurement limits for IT and critical infrastructure, restrictions on sister-city/sister-state affiliations, changes to linkage institutes and in-state tuition provisions, and new criminal penalties for certain offenses committed to benefit foreign governments or terrorist organizations. Senator Polsky raised questions about higher education, election technology, federal FARA overlap, and whether the bill would affect candidates or events involving CARE; the sponsor responded that the bill focuses on foreign countries of concern, ownership/control, and gifts, and does not prohibit speaking at events. An amendment clarifying definitions, willful violations, and ethics-training content was adopted, and after supportive testimony from Kelly Curry and Robert Pierce, the committee reported CS for SB 1178 favorably. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1622, which provides a one-time waiver of the automatic fine for a late-filed financial disclosure if the filing is made before the maximum fine accrues and the filer has not previously received such a waiver or accrued the maximum fine in prior years. Carrie Stillman of the Commission on Ethics testified that the bill supports transparency and makes the fine and appeals process more efficient, noting it was a commission recommendation. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee held confirmation hearings on appointments in Tabs 3 through 26. No senator requested separate votes on any appointee, no public testimony was offered, and the block of appointments was approved and recommended favorably to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a section that you? No, I can get back to you if there's a specific.
• And third, I'll be discussing the procurement and technology sections of this bill.
• And now, senators, we will take up Tabs 3 through 26.
• Now, senators, we will take up Tabs 3 through 26.
• If not, you see the appointees before you in Tabs 3 through 26.

Bills: S1622 , S1178

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Keywords: financial disclosure, statement of financial interests, ethics, late filing, late-filed disclosure, automatic fine, waiver, Florida Commission on Ethics, public officials, state officers, local officers, state employees, ethics enforcement, government transparency, sunshine law, reporting persons, penalty reduction, first-time offender, election ethics, general revenue fund

Transcript Highlights:

• after she graduates from high school are to join the Army as an E-3 to become a nurse.
• According to the first section of this, I have to run that through my bank before I can do that.
• It'll be at 3 o'clock today. Further announcements, gentlemen, 13. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• It'll be at 3 o'clock today. Further announcements, gentlemen, 13. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• It'll be at 3 o'clock today. Further announcements, gentlemen, 13. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't think they're going to need that. 27 is moved to a new section.
• There's a lot of these that are broken out into just new sections.
• And again, it's just if the supplemental touches a section for which there was language for that section
• The lady has moved for the adoption of House Amendment 3. You care to explain?
• You have adopted House Amendment 3. Further discussion. I don't know.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• And at the very end of the bill, Section 3, this act applies to health benefit plans that are delivered
• That's in this, I believe that's Section 2 of the bill. Okay.
• The additional amendment with Section 4 is specific to PERS.
• As far as Section 3 and how that impacts private insurers, I would not be the best one to answer that
• Discussion on the amendment: Senator Dever pointed out that the language in Section 3 is only slightly

Bills: SB2271 , HB1216

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and took up three bills. House Bill 1216, dealing with prescription drug expense co-pay accumulators in health plans, was presented by Rep. Karen Carl’s, who explained it would prevent insurers from refusing to count third-party assistance toward deductibles for patients using high-cost, non-generic drugs. An amendment was offered to clarify effective dates, including a delayed January 1, 2026 start for PERS coverage. PERS testified that the amendment would align with its calendar-year benefit structure and likely reduce the fiscal note. The amendment was adopted 16-0, and the bill was set aside for further discussion later. House Bill 1199, creating a criminal justice data-sharing system and missing persons/missing Indigenous people task force, was introduced with a committee amendment changing the Attorney General reference to the Attorney General or designee. The committee noted the bill includes a $250,000 general fund appropriation for ongoing costs. The amendment passed 16-0, and the amended bill received a do pass recommendation by a 15-1 vote, with one no vote from Senator Magrum. House Bill 1531, appropriating $75,000 for an irrigation expansion study by the Agriculture Commissioner, was supported as a way to update older economic-impact studies on irrigation and assess opportunities for expansion. Members discussed its relationship to broader study pauses and the history of irrigation development in the state, including Garrison Diversion and remaining authorized acres. The bill passed 16-0. The committee then discussed scheduling for the coming week, noting a heavy bill load and plans for daily morning meetings before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 8, Section 3, B, line 12, strike seven and replace it with three.
• Page 11, Section 4, A, line 15. Okay, Senator, just a second.
• Page 8, Section 3, paragraph B, line 12, strike seven and replace with three.
• Page 8, line 12: strike 7 and replace it with 3. Page 11, line 15: strike 7 and replace it with 3.
• Page 12, Section 4, C. Section 4, C, line 24: strike 7 and replace it with 3.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 20, a prior-authorization and step-therapy measure, on a committee substitute that had already incorporated many stakeholder changes. The sponsor and agency witnesses described revisions to definitions of chronic health condition and serious mental illness, shorter prior-authorization periods, and limits on reporting requirements. Supporters, including a nurse practitioner and disability advocates, said the bill would reduce barriers to needed medications and urged broader protections for chronic and behavioral health conditions. Health insurance and pharmacy benefit management representatives remained opposed, arguing prior authorization is an important patient-safety tool and objecting to the bill’s limits on its use. Senator Hickey offered two amendments: one to conform electronic prior-authorization response times to existing law by changing seven days to three, and one to restore the prior-authorization period from 12 months to three years. The first amendment was accepted; the second passed on a 5-4 vote. The committee then approved the amended substitute 6-3. The committee next heard Senate Bill 111, which would expand the confidentiality of personal information held by the Motor Vehicle Division to include sex, gender identity, national origin, and immigration status. Tax and Revenue officials explained that the bill would not change what documents MVD collects, but would limit disclosure of sensitive information contained in scanned records unless a statutory exception applies. Members asked about what appears on licenses, what is stored in MVD’s system, and whether law enforcement access would change; officials said criminal law enforcement exceptions would remain in place and that the bill mainly affects public disclosure requests. The committee voted 8-1 to give the bill a do-pass recommendation. Senate Bill 218, funding a Los Alamos Emergency Operations Center, was presented as a regional disaster-response and training facility for northern New Mexico. Los Alamos County witnesses said the project would support emergency management training and coordination across the region and requested $5 million. Several senators questioned whether the county had explored bonding, intergovernmental agreements, or regional cost-sharing, and raised concerns about Los Alamos’s debt capacity and whether the project was truly regional. Supporters said the county has a long capital backlog and that the center would serve communities from Santa Fe north. The committee ultimately voted 9-1 to advance the bill. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 14, a major health professional loan-repayment proposal. Senator Hickey described it as an effort to recruit and retain physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals by increasing repayment amounts, prioritizing physicians and doctors of osteopathic medicine for 50% of the fund, and allowing service commitments with some flexibility, including part-time work. Supporters from medical, nursing, and behavioral health groups said the bill would help address workforce shortages and make New Mexico more competitive. Committee members asked about the inclusion of physician assistants, the 90-day start requirement, anti-donation concerns, tax treatment, tribal and IHS providers, and whether the 50% physician set-aside would leave enough for other professions. After discussion, the committee voted 10-0 to send the bill forward with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So roughly 3%. Right.
• So roughly 3%. Right.
• Moving to Item 3, court staffing.
• . and 1, 2, and 3.
• That concludes this section.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• in the green section...
• in the green section.
• It can be up to 3%. All cities and towns that collect the tax have opted to do the maximum 3%.
• boxes in the green section.
• It can be up to 3%. All cities and towns that collect the tax do have opted to do the maximum 3%.

Bills: H5005

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: environment, water conservation, natural resources, public funding, environmental justice

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a hearing on Initiative Petition 25-10 / House Bill 5002, “An act to restore a sensible marijuana policy,” which would repeal Massachusetts’ adult-use cannabis legalization framework. The chair explained the Article 48 initiative process and noted that, if the Legislature does not enact the measure as written, additional signatures would be needed for it to qualify for the 2026 ballot. The committee heard testimony from an expert, proponents of the petition, opponents, and members of the public, and accepted written testimony through March 27 at 5 p.m. Jessica Trow of MassBudget testified first, focusing on cannabis revenue and spending in Massachusetts. She said legalization has generated nearly $2 billion for the Commonwealth and municipalities since FY 2018, including excise tax, sales tax, local option taxes, fees, and community impact fees. She described how revenues are distributed to public health, the Cannabis Control Commission’s social equity efforts, the cannabis social equity fund, the MBTA, the School Building Authority, the general fund, and local budgets, and argued the industry has supported social equity and community investments. Opponents of the petition argued that repeal would harm public health, consumer safety, jobs, tax revenue, and social equity programs. Wendy Wakeman, speaking for the ballot committee, said legalization has increased potency, addiction, and mental health concerns, and that the state lacks sufficient data on harms. In contrast, business owners, clinicians, and advocates including Caroline Pino, Kristen Rogers, Drudus Ledbetter, Armani White, Lucas Thayer, and Jeff Rawson said the regulated market provides tested products, jobs, tax revenue, and pathways for people harmed by prohibition, while repeal would push consumers back to the illicit market and undermine equity goals. Committee members questioned witnesses about the evidence base, the role of out-of-state funding, the petition’s impact on existing businesses, and whether narrower regulatory fixes might address concerns instead of repeal. No vote was taken; the hearing was closed after testimony ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the concept being set forth in Section B at the beginning on line 54 in Senate Amendment 3.
• The next section of Senate Amendment 3 addresses the point at which the facility can begin operation,
• That's the concept being set forth in Section B at the beginning on line 54 in Senate Amendment 3.
• The next section of Senate Amendment 3, address. Let's see, let me back up. Nope.
• The next section of Senate Amendment 3 addresses the point at which the facility can begin operation,

Summary: The Senate received communications from the House on numerous measures, including several bills and resolutions passed with amendments, committee reports on bills such as large energy use facilities, campaign finance, voting rights, and appropriations, and a list of pre-file legislation. The chamber then moved through a long floor session with confirmations, bill readings, and roll-call votes, ultimately confirming the nomination of Morgan T. Zern to the Delaware Supreme Court by a 21-0 vote. Among the major policy items considered were property tax and school tax measures tied to the statewide reassessment. The Senate passed House Bill 460, clarifying monthly municipal permit-data reporting to New Castle County; House Bill 461, granting temporary authority for New Castle County school districts to reset school tax rates for one cycle; and House Bill 462, making the split school tax rate permanent with a lower nonresidential cap. Members discussed the fiscal effects at length, including testimony from a school district finance officer that HB 461 would allow revenue-neutral rate setting and offset the fiscal note on HB 462. The Senate also passed House Bill 365 creating a Delaware Indigenous Affairs Commission, House Bill 458 on backflow requirements for low-hazard buildings, Senate Bill 27 establishing the Office of New Americans with a sunset and interagency coordination, and Senate Bill 315 on the Delaware Technical Innovation Program. The chamber also approved Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 300, a firearms dealer regulation bill, after extensive debate over amendments, confidentiality, background checks, and the balance between public safety and burdens on lawful dealers. Several members raised constitutional and practical objections, while supporters argued the bill would reduce trafficking, straw purchases, and theft from dealers. In addition, the Senate passed House Bill 305 creating a diabetes wellness pilot program, with supporters emphasizing the state’s diabetes burden and the program’s federal funding, and House Concurrent Resolution 157, which asks the State Lottery Office to report on iLottery’s impact on small businesses. Senate Bill 325, a fire prevention/background-check bill, was laid on the table after concerns about a late House amendment and requests for more time to consult stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• to compile it in a common section where it's all easily identifiable.
• Section nine schools are no longer able to use Title II funds.
• Could you give me a little more explanation of going from 3 to five years?
• Representative Fleming: So, on section one, on page four, you talk about going from five to three, 3
• Representative Camuel said her other question was about Section 4, the new section dealing with the posting

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 44, “Landon’s Law,” sponsored by Rep. Candy Massaroni. The bill would allow schools to keep anti-choking devices such as LifeVac on hand while limiting liability. Testimony from Equal First Aid and LifeVac emphasized that choking is a leading cause of death for children, that the devices are noninvasive and FDA-registered, and that updated Red Cross guidance allows their use when standard rescue protocols fail or are not feasible. Lauren McCubbins, Landon McCubbin’s mother, gave emotional testimony about her 8-year-old son’s death from choking at school and urged the committee to give schools an added rescue option. Members asked questions about how the device works, whether the Heimlich maneuver remains part of the protocol, and whether the bill is limited to LifeVac or applies to similar devices. The bill was reported favorably, with a roll call vote showing unanimous support from members present. The committee then heard a bill sponsored by Rep. J. Baker aimed at reducing administrative burdens in schools and supporting teacher recruitment and retention. The measure would lengthen the required evaluation cycle for tenured teachers from every three years to every five years, provide teachers a copy of their employment contract upon request, streamline professional development provisions, update continuous school improvement plan filing requirements, restore schools’ ability to use Title II funds for certain programs after an unintended consequence of prior legislation, and require KDE to review reporting requirements and eliminate those not required by law. Rep. Baker said the bill was developed with teachers and administrators through a working group and is intended to reduce “check-the-box” tasks so educators can focus on instruction. Amanda Butler of Spencer County Schools and other educators testified that the changes would save time, preserve funding for mentor and induction programs, and reduce repetitive paperwork. Rep. Fleming asked for clarification on the longer evaluation cycle, and an educator witness explained that each evaluation involves pre-observation, observation, and post-observation time and that districts would still retain flexibility to evaluate more often if needed. No final vote on this bill was included in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative on on the bill, right underneath the section 3 under new law, it says when the speaker
• In section 3, lines 6 and 7, it says when the Speaker of the house or the pro tempore of the senate or
• Agriculture committee will be delayed till 3:15 or at least until we have a Quorum so 3:15 on the ag
• committee that is delayed from 3 o'clock.
• The Elections and Ethics Committee will meet at approximately 3:15. Also, at 3:15, Mr.

Bills: HB2975 , HB3405 , HB3406 , HB3728 , HB3902 , HB3977 , SB397 , HB1161 , HB2938 , HB2939 , HB3306 , HB3722 , HB4113 , HB4123 , HB2293 , HB3176 , HB3545 , HB3546

Keywords: poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, agriculture, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, noxious weeds, poison hemlock, kudzu, landowner responsibilities, environmental control, public nuisance, eradication, burn bans, fire danger, drought conditions, emergency declaration, scrap metal, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• We've now entered the review section of the agenda. Section G is cash fund appropriation requests.
• Section G is cash fund appropriation requests.
• On the next page, we're on page 4 in Section K.
• We're in Section L. These are discretionary grants.
• Chair, that's all of M-3 intergovernmental contracts. Any questions on M-3 from anybody?

Committee: All JBC-PEER REVIEW