Transcript Highlights:

• Rent control in the state and prevents local regulations on occupancy, eviction, and condo conversions
• More common in recent years is controlling units after a certain period of occupancy, so controlling
• The initiative would exempt buildings within 10 years of a certificate of occupancy.
• The initiative would exempt buildings within 10 years of a certificate of occupancy.
• New construction would be exempt for the first 10 years of occupancy, which is a little bit of a short

Bills: H5008

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: rent control, housing stability, tenants rights, affordability crisis, consumer protection

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-21, House Bill 508, an act to protect tenants by limiting rent increases. The chair explained the ballot process under Article 48 and outlined the hearing structure. The first witness, a Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies researcher, described Massachusetts’ worsening rental affordability, explained how rent regulation policies are typically designed, and reviewed research suggesting rent regulation can slow rent growth and improve tenant stability, while also noting concerns about reduced supply, quality, and implementation details. She compared the proposal to other state and local rent-stabilization laws and said the measure would cap increases at the lower of CPI or 5%, exempt certain housing types, and apply to new tenants as well as current tenants because it would not allow vacancy decontrol. Supporters of the petition argued that rent stabilization is needed to address displacement and immediate affordability pressures while broader housing production continues. The proponent from Homes for All Massachusetts said the policy is a grassroots response to corporate rent hikes and cited examples of tenants facing steep increases. A tenant from Arlington described a long dispute after a building was purchased by an investment firm and rents were raised sharply, saying the experience showed how rent increases can function as eviction. A union leader said high rents are forcing workers out of the communities they serve, and two experts testified that rent stabilization can reduce displacement and provide broad, immediate benefits. Committee members asked about the proposal’s exemptions, the 10-year new-construction carveout, vacancy decontrol, and whether the policy could discourage development; supporters said the bill targets large landlords, preserves room for small owners, and should be viewed as a complement to new housing production. Opponents, including small property owners, a chamber of commerce representative, a union official, and a landlord, argued the measure would hurt small landlords, reduce investment, and slow housing production. They said operating costs such as taxes, insurance, and maintenance rise faster than the proposed cap, and warned that capping rents would lower property values and tax revenues. Several opponents emphasized that many housing providers are not large corporations but local “mom-and-pop” owners, and one said the proposal would discourage pension funds and other investors from financing new projects. Committee members pressed opponents on what alternatives they would support for affordability, and opponents pointed to increased housing production and other housing policies instead of rent control. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it's very similar to the whole idea of requiring owner occupancy, only worse.
• Um, it's very similar to the whole idea of requiring owner occupancy, only worse.
• When we get down to owner occupancy of one unit, absolutely not.
• When we get down to owner occupancy of one unit, absolutely not.
• </c> of the negative impacts that occupants of the negative impacts that occupants of<03:42:53.359><c

Committee: House Housing

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on HB 1065, a housing bill that would clarify when multifamily and mixed-use housing may be allowed on commercially zoned land, define infrastructure standards, and preserve municipal discretion over where such development can occur. Prime sponsor Representative David Priest said the bill is intended to help address the housing shortage by using already developed commercial areas without overriding local planning. The New Hampshire Municipal Association, through Brody Dees, said it supports the bill and views it as a priority, but noted it is still discussing related language with stakeholders and wants clearer definitions for multifamily development, infrastructure, and adaptive reuse while preserving local control over commercial land use. Testimony was mixed. Ivy Van, a certified planner, opposed the bill because she said the infrastructure language is too restrictive and could exclude properties served by private utilities or septic systems. Chris Freeman, a housing provider, was generally supportive but recommended technical changes, arguing the infrastructure definition may be too broad and that the adaptive reuse language could unintentionally block useful building modifications. He said the bill should be clarified so it does not discourage reuse projects. The committee then moved to discussion of an accessory dwelling unit bill, with Representative Turkot describing changes that would shift some ADU approvals from a matter of right to conditional use or special exception, allow municipalities more control over attached versus detached units, set parking standards tied to single-family dwellings, and adjust size limits. He argued the bill would restore local discretion and prevent ADUs from becoming primarily rental units. Representative Reed pushed back, saying detached ADUs can help meet housing needs and provide opportunities for small landlords, while other members questioned how the bill would affect existing detached structures and breezeways. No votes were taken in the excerpt, and the chair also noted a recess and time limits for later testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rieu requires the owner of a self-service storage facility to provide a rental agreement to the occupant
• by both email and first-class mail when the occupant has provided the owner with an email address.
• -608 by Representative Walen requires the owner of a self-service storage facility to provide an occupant
• this requires the owner of a self-service storage facility to provide a rental agreement to the occupant
• by both email and first-class mail when the occupant has provided the owner with an email address.

Bills: HB2483 , HB2477 , HB2274 , HB2394 , HB2624 , HB2240

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: data broker, registry, consumer protection, privacy, data regulation, real estate, appraisal, business operations, regulatory compliance, email regulation, commercial communications, data privacy, electronic mail, public safety, insurance fraud, law enforcement, crime, penalties, real estate transactions, nonprofit

Transcript Highlights:

• answer any questions that you might have on behalf of the Fire Protection Licensing Board and our occupational
• Moving on to item E, which is a review of reports from occupational authorization entities, the Arkansas
• We appreciate the opportunity to be here and present our occupational licensing report for this cycle
• So ADH started Opportunity to be here and present our occupational licensing report for this cycle.

Committee: All ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The committee met and first recognized a visiting student cohort from Arkansas State University’s Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences program. It then suspended the rules and approved a supplemental report, which was reviewed without objection. Members reviewed the Arkansas Fire Protection and Licensing Board’s occupational report. Department of Labor and Licensing counsel Lacey Kirchner answered questions and confirmed there were no fee increases. The report was then accepted as reviewed. The committee next heard from the Arkansas Department of Health’s Radiation Control Section. Officials Craig Smith, Charles Thompson, and Shane David explained the radiologic technologist licensing program, including full and limited-scope licensure, unchanged fees since 1999, and a current deficit covered through cost allocation from other programs. They also noted compliance with automatic licensure provisions for service members and said apprenticeship provisions already exist in the rules if such programs become available. The report was accepted as reviewed. Finally, the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy presented its report. Staff described the board’s structure, licensing and complaint functions, compact participation, and growth in licensees. Members asked about the board’s $200,000 scholarship program, which provides awards to 10 recipients per year, and about low fees and a $1.1 million balance. Officials said recent fee reductions and the scholarship program are intended to return funds to licensees. The report was also accepted as reviewed, and the committee moved to other business.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the reason for that is when you look at hotel occupancy rates, we have seen occupancy rates soften
• rates, we have seen hotel occupancy rates, we have seen occupancy<00:31:35.919><c> rates</c><00:31:36.399
• </c> that reduction in the occupancy rates. that reduction in the occupancy rates.
• So I to shore up those occupancy rates.
• But we saw again reductions in occupancy in hotels.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on SB 63, a bill described by Senator Tim Lang and other supporters as a technical correction to the rooms and meals tax distribution formula. Lang said the bill would clarify that the Division of Travel and Tourism’s 3.15% promotional allocation is taken from gross rooms-and-meals revenue before the 30% municipal reimbursement fund is calculated, which he argued restores the intended 2009/2021 structure and avoids an unintended loss to tourism marketing. Committee members raised questions about whether the bill actually changes section one or instead addresses DRA’s interpretation, and whether the measure could be affected by the budget process or HB 2. Jessica Keeler of Ski New Hampshire testified in strong support, saying the bill would preserve the promotional budget formula that had been in place since 2009 and that the 2019 revision effectively reduced the promotional allocation by placing the municipal share first. She said tourism promotion has helped increase visitation, revenues, and jobs, and warned that without a fix, the joint promotional program and other tourism efforts could be cut in future budgets. She also said the bill would not change the current year’s tourism budget but would matter for future cycles. Mike Summers of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association also supported SB 63, calling it a correction to the 2021 changes and arguing that state tourism marketing is essential because small businesses cannot reach distant markets on their own. He said the industry has benefited from state promotion, especially after COVID, but is now facing softer occupancy rates, lower Canadian visitation, and financial strain from debt and operating costs. Summers said the industry cannot make up for major tourism budget cuts on its own and urged maintaining or increasing travel and tourism funding. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Licensing and Occupations Committee has met and reports House Bill 36 should pass through Rules as
• It's related to psychologist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, social
• It's related to psychologist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, social
• ,</c><00:49:20.280><c> reassigned</c><00:49:20.880><c> to</c> Licensing and Occupations, reassigned to
• , Occupations, Occupations, and<00:49:28.080><c> reassigned</c><00:49:28.760><c> to</c><00:49:28.960>

Transcript Highlights:

• Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners. The chair calls Kelsey Sims of the.
• I'll be presenting the summary recommendations and occupational therapy examiners.
• As it relates to occupational therapy, we have about 20,000 active OTs and OTPs.
• Does anybody at Planned Parenthood have awareness of your occupational background? No. They don't?
• Executive Council of Physical and Occupational Health. patient therapy examiners.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• Design, the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board, the Board of Occupational
• The next item on our agenda today is the Board of Occupational Therapy.
• Occupational Therapy Practice Act.
• Since then, the board has grown to regulate approximately 17,000 licensed occupational therapists and
• 4,000 licensed occupational therapy assistants.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, representative, it does not because it's single occupancy restroom. Ms.
• That is what single occupancy restrooms the definition is.
• Eaton: It does not because it's single occupancy restroom.
• That is what single occupancy restrooms the definition is.
• That is what single occupancy restrooms the definition is.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• real estate broker, except as reasonably necessary to protect the health or safety of the owner or occupant
• Omdall's staff in front of you as Senate Bill 6200, an act relating to renters and the local home occupants
• Occupants' ability to install portable cooling devices.
• It does ensure that the city... ...inspection or a certificate of occupancy.
• They need to report their occupancy data and participate in a statewide database of available units.

Bills: SB6091 , SB6096 , SB6153 , SB6200

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: SB 6091, Washington real estate, real estate broker, residential property, home listings, exclusive listing, limited marketing, open marketing, fair housing, brokerage law, consumer protection, housing access, MLS, seller disclosure, buyer representation, dual agency, designated broker, managing broker, short sale, real estate pamphlet

Transcript Highlights:

• As well as Social Worker Month, it is Occupational Therapy Month, and I have the pleasure—yes, right,
• As has already been mentioned, we have our occupational therapists in for Hill Day today.
• To my left and your right, we have four students from our Missouri State Occupational Therapy Program
• As has already been mentioned, we have our occupational therapists in for Hill Day today.
• To my left and your right, we have four students from our Missouri State Occupational Therapy Program

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the previous day’s journal by a 122-0 vote, and numerous introductions of special guests, including Special Olympics participants, occupational therapy and social work students and professionals, teachers, social workers, local officials, and community groups visiting for Hill Day and other advocacy events. Members also made announcements about committee meetings before the chamber recessed until 2 p.m. On the floor, House Bill 2974 was perfected and printed with little debate. Supporters said it would codify telehealth access in Missouri’s licensure reciprocity framework, helping seniors and rural residents continue to receive care. House Bill 2934, a bipartisan St. Louis convention center governance measure, also advanced after adoption of an amendment changing governor-appointed board seats to two city, two county, and one at-large member. The bill would merge existing entities managing the convention center and Dome, create a new board structure, and authorize a convention district tax framework and related financing rules; members discussed local control, revenue use, and the length of agreements under the bill. House Bill 2057, a technical fix for Osage Beach entertainment district authority, was adopted and perfected and printed. Supporters said it corrects an error from a prior bill and would allow Osage Beach to create an entertainment district similar to those in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Branson to support tourism and economic development. The chamber also took up House Bill 1839 and related bills on age verification for pornographic websites. Proponents argued the measure is needed to protect minors from online pornography and exploitation, citing the Supreme Court’s upholding of a similar Texas law and Missouri’s existing attorney general enforcement efforts; opponents raised privacy, enforcement, and unintended-consequences concerns, including whether less-scrupulous sites could become more accessible. After a motion for the previous question, the House adopted the committee substitute and perfected and printed House Bill 1839 by a 104-16 vote with 20 present.

Transcript Highlights:

• To understand more about the difference between local and national wages, staff looked at the occupations
• These occupations have median annual wages of nearly $170,000.
• These occupations have median annual wages of nearly $170,000.
• Nationally, travel agents are the leading occupation and represent one quarter of jobs, with higher paid
• DOR has not consistently received the notices of occupancy from developers.

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Summary: The Citizens Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on August 6, 2025, established a quorum, approved the May 7, 2025 minutes, and welcomed new commissioner Scott Edwards. Staff also noted the September meeting was moved to September 22 at 10 a.m. to accommodate his schedule, with written comments due beforehand for the October meeting. JLARC staff then presented preliminary 2025 tax preference performance reviews covering nine tax preferences. For natural gas used as transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction goals because fewer vehicles and vessels converted to natural gas than anticipated; the auditor recommended continuing the utility and use tax exemptions, modifying reporting requirements, and continuing the marine-use exemption while considering a Department of Revenue work group’s recommendations. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preferences provide tax relief but that savings and beneficiary counts are shifting toward larger firms; the auditor recommended continuing the small-business rate with added objectives and metrics, and reviewing the higher rate for larger beneficiaries. For nonprofit low-income housing development, staff concluded the preference helps build homes for low-income households but that the current spending-based metric does not align well with the objective and reporting is inconsistent; the auditor recommended the legislature decide whether to continue it and, if so, consider a better metric and annual renewal. For multipurpose senior centers, staff said the preference meets its objective and recommended continuing it, with possible consideration of making it permanent. For disabled veteran adapted housing, staff said very few eligible veterans claim the remittance and recommended continuing it but modifying it, in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to improve use. For trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, and agricultural crop protection products, staff recommended continuation, with some clarification or revised metrics where appropriate. For energy sales to a silicon smelter, staff said the preferences were unused because the facility was never built in Washington and recommended allowing them to expire. Commissioners asked several questions about the housing, senior center, and veteran-related preferences, focusing on reporting problems, the effect of grants and timing on housing metrics, and whether the veteran remittance is underused because federal grants already cover the tax. The commission also reviewed the public testimony questions to be used at the September meeting, where testimony on the preliminary reports will be heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• This compact is similar to other occupational licensing compacts that West Virginia has already enacted
• It adds two permissible uses to the list of purposes for which hotel occupancy funds may be expended.
• to use the portion of the funds that they receive, which is a maximum of 50% of the total hotel occupancy
• to use the portion of the funds that they receive, which is a maximum of 50% of the total hotel occupancy
• the use of criminal records and determinations to allow an individual to practice a profession or occupation

Committee: Senate Government Organization

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, I ask for your support on this occupational licensing reform consolidation legislation.
• Senator Lakey has asked for your support on this occupational licensing reform consolidation legislation
• This is the temporary and pending rules of the Idaho Department of Insurance, the Division of Occupational
• Also, there was a whole docket on the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, rules for the
• licensure of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up on the agenda is RS 32853, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.
• I'm the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Bureau Chief of the Division of Occupational and Professional
• I'm the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Chief of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
• My name is Nikki Chopsky, and I am the Health Professions Bureau Chief at the Division of Occupational

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• top occupations in demand.
• top occupations in demand.
• top occupations in demand.
• top occupations in demand.
• </c> have I believe it's called occupations have I believe it's called occupations in<00:51:37.680><c

Bills: HF2440

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: labor market, employment, economic development, funding, data analysis

Transcript Highlights:

• So it was mentioned by one of the other testifiers that dentistry doesn't really view the occupation
• So it was mentioned by one of the other testifiers that dentistry doesn't really view the occupation
• So it was mentioned by one of the other testifiers that dentistry doesn't really view the occupation
• We appreciate the work of the bill sponsor and the Department of Occupational and Professional Licenses
• The Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, we don't want to increase the barrier to entry

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• If an occupant does not sign a delivered rental agreement, but they continue to use the storage space
• The rental agreement may contain a provision notifying the occupant of the owner's right to dispose of
• Also, an occupant may not use a self-service storage facility after the owner has delivered a written
• The occupant must be given at least 15 days after receipt of the notice to remove all personal property
• No occupant may use a self-storage facility for residential purposes.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee heard public hearings on several bills related to real estate, self-storage, and consumer disclosures. House Bill 2477 would shorten the time to bring claims against appraisers arising from appraisal reports to two years from discovery or five years from signing, except fraud claims, and would limit liability to specified clients and intended users. The sponsor and appraiser witnesses said the bill would reduce long-tail liability, lower insurance and recordkeeping burdens, and help attract new appraisers; no opposition testimony was heard in the excerpt. House Bill 2512 would prohibit real estate brokers from marketing residential properties to exclusive groups unless the property is also publicly marketed. Supporters, including Washington Realtors, Zillow, Habitat for Humanity, Windermere, and others, said it would promote transparency, competition, and fair housing; opponents argued it could limit homeowner privacy and autonomy, and the Attorney General’s office said the Washington Law Against Discrimination already covers discrimination concerns and objected to placing enforcement in that statute. House Bill 2240 would modernize self-storage rental agreements by allowing electronic execution, deeming continued use after notice as acceptance, and setting notice and disposal rules after termination or nonrenewal; storage industry witnesses supported the bill as clarifying safety and notice procedures, while an advocacy witness opposed it as harmful to unhoused people and others who rely on storage units. House Bill 2465 would require a water recreation safety guide for short-term rentals with pools or similar facilities; the sponsor and hospitality industry supported it as a low-cost safety measure, while cities raised implementation concerns and asked for an amendment on where the guide would be posted. House Bill 2501 would update a seller disclosure notice to reflect the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency’s shift from a no-cost insurance program to a loan-and-grant remediation program, and it drew support as a technical correction. House Bill 2624 would exempt public entities, tribes, and nonprofit land conservancies from the 2025 “solicited real estate transactions” appraisal and notice requirements; conservation groups and the Department of Natural Resources supported it as necessary to preserve land acquisition and grant funding, and the sponsor described it as a cleanup bill. The committee then moved into executive session and took action on two liquor-related bills. House Bill 2536, allowing wineries to hold a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license or beer/wine restaurant license at one location, was moved out of committee with a due pass recommendation by a 14-1 vote. House Bill 2476, modifying the spirits, beer, and wine theater license, was amended via a proposed substitute that restored the 120-seat-per-screen limit except for theaters admitting only patrons 21 and older; the substitute was reported out with a due pass recommendation by a 13-2 vote. Members discussed the balance between business flexibility and concerns about alcohol access in family settings and recovery communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we have an occupancy problem, we don't have to refund until we're, frankly, good and ready.
• If we have an occupancy problem, we don't have to refund until we're, frankly, good and ready.
• The only time it puts it at risk is when you drop below a certain percentage of occupancy, are there
• And especially now with occupancy and the demand so high, we don't have a problem.
• , is there more that... ...and you have adequate reserves and you have good occupancy, is there more

Summary: The commission met to review its draft final report on continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), with most of the discussion focused on whether recommendations required unanimous consensus and how to handle disagreements in the report. Members agreed that consensus meant no stated opposition, and several participants argued that unresolved issues should still be described in the report rather than omitted. The chairs said the report would include agreed-upon recommendations, note areas without consensus, and preserve written comments or dissent letters submitted by members. The draft report’s findings and slides were reviewed charge by charge, including CCRC definitions, financial condition, entrance fee refunds, regulatory oversight, advertising practices, and closure/change-of-ownership procedures. Members suggested several factual and wording edits, including clarifying financial data sources, correcting a presenter’s name, refining language about entrance fee use and refund timing, and revising statements about Attorney General authority and CCRC advertising. There was also discussion about the need to distinguish nonprofit and for-profit CCRCs and to better explain how different care levels and licensing structures are described. On recommendations, the commission kept the proposal to advance the disclosure bill (S. 478) and update the consumer guide, but removed a recommendation for annual open board meetings after objections that it was inadequate. The group spent considerable time debating whether to recommend resident representation on CCRC boards, timely refund requirements for entrance fees, and possible state registration or definition changes for CCRCs, but no consensus was reached on those items. The chairs said the final report would be completed by the statutory August 1 deadline, with final written comments due before then and the report and meeting materials posted on the legislature website.

Transcript Highlights:

• to wear a mask or hood in public places with a few exceptions, such as for holiday costumes or occupational
• to wear a mask or hood in public places with a few exceptions, such as for holiday costumes or occupational
• in public with the intent to conceal one's identity, except for religious purposes, safety and occupations
• Maybe we should add occupational safety gear.
• And certainly you could include occupational safety in that list and still have it be a brief list, just

Bills: HCR3028

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard and acted on several measures related to human trafficking, criminal procedure, and child protection. It first took up House Concurrent Resolution 3028, which would direct a legislative study of human trafficking victim services and re-entry programs. The sponsor and supporters emphasized helping victims rebuild basic life and workforce skills and better understanding existing services; YouthWorks and the North Dakota Catholic Conference described current programs and the trauma victims face. The committee discussed overlap with other interim studies, then voted unanimously to give the resolution a due pass, with Senator Braunberger designated to carry it. The committee then considered House Bill 1263, concerning sealing criminal records, and moved it forward without changing the House version after members noted the House had removed presumption language and reduced the waiting period. That bill also received a due pass recommendation. Next, House Bill 1226, which revises the state’s mask law for public places, drew testimony from the sponsor and an expert witness who argued that masking to conceal identity during group criminal conduct undermines public safety and law enforcement. Members debated the House-added requirement that law enforcement request unmasking; the committee adopted an amendment to remove that language, then passed the bill as amended, with Senator Luick to carry it. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1410, a study resolution on criminal conduct against children, including child sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and the use of artificial intelligence in exploitation crimes. Supporters from the Child Sexual Assault Prevention Task Force, YouthWorks, and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Dakota said the study would help update outdated terminology, review AI-related issues, and improve investigation and prosecution tools. The committee approved the resolution with a due pass recommendation, and Senator Cory was assigned to carry it. The committee also received a brief report that, in a quick review, there were 82 active studies introduced, including 10 shall studies and 35 shall-consider studies, with limited overlap identified beyond the trafficking-related measures.