Transcript Highlights:

• We need to nominate a secretary for the committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• I would move that the committee nominate Senator Brian Rhodes [member_6655] to be the education committee
• And if there are no other nominations, I would move that the nominations be closed and Senator Rhodes
• Okay, nominations are closed. Senator Rhodes is nominated for the education committee secretary.

Committee: Joint Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Sheila, you're, looks like John nominated you. Okay, Mr.
• Sheila, you're, looks like John nominated you. Okay, Mr.

Committee: House Appropriations - Government Operations Division

Summary: The House Appropriations Government Operations Division met to consider House amendments to Senate Bill 2001, the budget for the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly. Representative Meyer and Legislative Council staff reviewed the House changes, which included higher lodging funding tied to a prior bill, an increase for North Dakota legislators’ forum dues, a transfer of $290,000 for public printing from the Secretary of State to Legislative Council, a $650,000 reduction tied to the nuclear energy study because that funding was already provided elsewhere, and a new section allowing legislative space on the 15th floor of the Capitol to be used for additional Legislative Council employees. John Bjornson explained the 15th-floor space proposal and said staff would work with Facility Management and CTE to address relocation needs and timing, with CTE’s move potentially delayed until after its busy school-year period if necessary. The committee then reviewed the Senate version of the bill in more detail. Staff walked through the Legislative Assembly budget items, including per diem and compensation adjustments, lodging and mileage estimates, IT and audio/video funding, and dues increases for national and state legislative organizations. Members asked about mileage assumptions and the emergency clause, and staff said the emergency language is standard and allows flexibility for transfers, carryovers, and other budget actions. The committee also reviewed the Legislative Council budget, including funding for 25 new FTEs, interim travel, IT costs, professional services, public printing, and one-time items such as equipment and term limits consulting, while the advanced nuclear energy consulting item was removed in the House version. After discussion, the committee adopted the House amendment to Senate Bill 2001 and then voted to do pass the bill as amended. Both motions passed on roll call, and the amended bill was sent to the full Appropriations Committee. Near the end of the meeting, Representative Paula gave notice that she would bring a separate amendment later on the Industrial Commission budget related to homelessness grant funding, noting it would not use SIF or general fund dollars.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's over 900 billion in transactions in the U.S. alone in 2025.
• 04:29:17.600><c> 900</c><04:29:18.080><c> billion</c><04:29:18.399><c> in</c><04:29:18.640><c> transactions
• </c><04:29:19.279><c> in</c> It's over 900 billion in transactions in It's over 900 billion in transactions

Transcript Highlights:

• I think one of our number one jobs as legislators is the job we have to interview and nominate, and for
• number, one of our number one jobs as legislators is to, is the job we have is to interview and nominate
• And for you, to interview and nominate and for you all to appoint judges.
• know I think Randy Rowlett is here to speak for me, and at least by video, he was the person that nominated
• Melissa, and I will echo many of the things that she said, because I did have the privilege of nominating

Committee: House Courts of Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• Executive nominations? Thank you, Mr. President.
• Colleagues, the Executive Nominations will be meeting on Monday at 5:00.
• Excellent.<01:09:02.040><c> Executive</c><01:09:02.480><c> nominations?
• Executive nominations? Uh Excellent. Executive nominations?
• </c><01:09:06.319><c> be</c> the Executive Nominations will be the Executive Nominations will be meeting

Transcript Highlights:

• We have received over 20 different submissions through our topic nomination process for biomarkers. .
• tests for coverage in the very near future. ...very near future, and we continue to receive topic nominations
• I know we have taken an expedited approach to our standard topic nomination process.

Bills: HB813 , HB1680 , HB3569 , HB4074 , HB4635 , HB5178 , SB527 , SB1307 , SB1822

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: autism, health insurance, coverage, medical treatment, health benefit plan, HIV prevention, prescription drug, prior authorization, health benefits, insurance coverage, insurance, contract termination, property and casualty, insurance agents, discrimination, appraiser, umpire, licensing requirements, continuing education, admin penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriations that you see across the different programs... ...where some programs started off with a nominal
• And in just 2025, we directly facilitated $1.7 million in CalFresh and Market Match transactions at just

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriations that you see across the different programs, where some programs started off with a nominal
• And in just 2025, we directly facilitated $1.7 million in CalFresh and Market Match transactions at just

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of budget presentations from the Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), and related agencies. CDFA discussed its overall budget, ongoing support for the Farm to School program and climate-smart agriculture, and a proposed climate bond expenditure plan. Members focused heavily on whether the Farm to School proposal should become ongoing, how schools and suppliers are selected, whether the program is reaching disadvantaged and food-insecure communities, and whether the trailer bill language creates new duties. The LAO recommended rejecting the ongoing Farm to School proposal as presented, suggesting the Legislature consider Prop. 98 funding instead, while CDFA argued the program supports children, farmers, and local economies and helps build long-term supply-chain infrastructure. Several members also questioned the bond plan’s timing, program metrics, and workforce impacts, while LAO said the bond plan was generally reasonable and should be guided by legislative input. The committee also discussed CDFA’s proposal to eliminate vacant positions; the department said the positions were largely long-vacant or unfunded and could be reclassified if needed, while LAO recommended retaining the special-fund positions and weighing the General Fund positions on their merits. CDFA’s IT support request for additional ongoing funding and four positions was presented as necessary to address staffing shortages, legacy systems, and cybersecurity risks, and LAO had no concerns. The committee then took public comment and voted to approve items 9 through 13, including CDFA dog importation and carcass disposal items, a Gambling Control Commission IT item and tribal grant fund item, and an ABC office relocation item. DCC presented a request to strengthen enforcement against the illicit cannabis market by opening a North State office in Redding and adding sworn and non-sworn staff. The department said most cannabis consumed in California still comes from the illicit market, that it receives about 1,500 complaints annually but can close only about 400 cases, and that it has a backlog of roughly 4,000 cases. DCC argued that a northern office would reduce travel time, improve coordination with local agencies, and help target cross-county and cross-border criminal networks. Finance supported the request as a targeted investment, and LAO had no comment. Members asked about public safety, office security, and whether a North State presence would increase complaints or referrals; DCC said safety is considered in every office opening and that a local presence would likely improve case development. The director also described the broader regulatory strategy as balancing consumer safety, illicit-market enforcement, consumer awareness, and reducing friction for legal operators. The discussion continued into broader concerns about the size of the illicit market and the long-term goals for the cannabis program.

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriations that you see across the different programs, where some programs started off with a nominal
• And in just 2025, we directly facilitated $1.7 million in CalFresh and Market Match transactions at just

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of Department of Food and Agriculture budget proposals, beginning with ongoing funding and trailer bill language for the Farm to School program and related climate-smart agriculture work. CDFA described the program’s goals of linking California producers with schools, expanding access to local and nutritious food, and supporting underserved farmers through technical assistance and outreach. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal as presented because of the state’s budget condition and suggested that some activities might instead be supported through Proposition 98. Members questioned whether the program is reaching the schools and communities with the greatest need, how grants are scored, and whether the proposal’s goals are measurable enough to justify ongoing funding. The item was held open. The committee also discussed CDFA’s climate bond expenditure plan, which would allocate remaining Proposition 4 funds to existing programs such as SWEEP, Healthy Soils, urban agriculture, fairground emergency response upgrades, and invasive species work, as well as new or developing programs including year-round certified farmers markets, mobile farmers markets, regional farm equipment sharing, and tribal food sovereignty. CDFA said the funds would be released in stages based on program readiness, with audits and performance metrics tied to each program. The LAO found the plan reasonable and consistent with bond requirements. Members asked about audit responsibility, performance tracking, and whether the bond programs should be front-loaded or spread over a longer period. A third CDFA item addressed the elimination of vacant positions under prior budget reductions. CDFA and the Department of Finance explained that the positions were selected because they had been vacant for long periods or were hard to fill, and that departments identified the positions based on their own operational knowledge. The LAO supported retaining the special-fund positions and suggested the General Fund positions be weighed on their merits. Members raised concerns about the impact on core functions such as audits, investigations, milk marketing, and grape pricing reports, and asked for follow-up on how the department determined which positions could be removed. The committee then heard a CDFA IT proposal to add funding and four positions for information technology operations; the LAO had no concerns, and members discussed cybersecurity, legacy systems, and future risks such as AI and quantum threats. The committee took public comment and then voted to approve items 9 through 13, which included CDFA dog importation certificates, livestock carcass disposal, Gambling Control Commission IT support and tribal grant funding, and an ABC district office relocation. The hearing then moved to the Department of Cannabis Control, which presented a request to strengthen enforcement against the illicit cannabis market by adding a North State field office in Redding and three non-sworn support positions. DCC said the illicit market remains far larger than the legal market, with a large backlog of cases and significant public safety and environmental concerns. Finance supported the targeted expansion, the LAO had no comment, and members asked about regional coverage, officer safety, and whether a larger, more transformational enforcement effort might be warranted in the future.

Transcript Highlights:

• ring rule would basically create a neutral rounding and incidental difference, and it's on cash transactions
• So, if they wanted to offset some of those costs, if they wanted to add a nominal cost on that, is that

Bills: HB3329 , HR1039 , HR1040 , HB3413 , HB3414 , HB3415 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3418 , HB3419 , HB3420 , HB3706 , HB3711 , HB4139 , HB1268 , HB3660 , HJR1023 , HB3298 , HB3056 , HJR1084 , HB3934 , HB3919 , HB4118 , HB4119 , HB3791 , HB4260 , HB4178 , HB4215 , HB4324 , HB3270 , HB4352 , HB4305 , HB2955 , HB3315 , HB3066 , HB1245 , HB4125 , HB3075 , HB3129 , HB3239 , HB4153 , HB3265 , HB4491 , SB680 , HB4263 , HB4268 , HB1675 , HB3885 , HB2984 , HB3697 , HB2959 , HB3671 , HB3852 , HB2933 , HB3057 , HB3802 , HB4294 , HB4285 , HB3708 , HB3979 , HB3977 , HB3986 , HB3985 , HB3588 , HB3742 , HB3845 , HJR1070 , HB3590 , HB3595 , HB3391 , HB3183 , HB3764 , HB3765 , HB1002 , HB4434 , HJR1086 , HB4060 , HB3881 , HB3500 , HB4408 , HB3648 , HB3127 , HB3606

Keywords: long-term care, advisory board, sunset legislation, mental health, psychologists, University of Oklahoma, gymnastics, NCAA, congratulations, sports excellence, recognition, honor, athletics, Joseph Castiglione, leadership, education, sports management, HB3413, public finance, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 1374. 4 by Assemblymember Berman and others, an act relating to rental passenger vehicle transactions
• For a nominal fee, anyone can challenge the validity of a SQL analysis for years and years and years

Transcript Highlights:

• The report also shows 30,344 approved claims. for fraudulent snap transactions, the total value of the
• should as many times I've read it if the The governor appoints somebody that's formally called a nomination

Bills: SB240 , SB1183 , SB1184 , SB1577 , SB2043 , SB2051 , SCR42 , SJR68

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The report also shows 30,344 approved claims. for fraudulent snap transactions, the total value of the
• should as many times I've read it if the The governor appoints somebody that's formally called a nomination

Bills: SB240 , SB1183 , SB1184 , SB1577 , SB2043 , SB2051 , SCR42 , SJR68

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Representative Murphy, I remember working on corporate transactions, and when you looked at indemnity
• because they have sovereignty, you would have to make a separate service agreement with them and nominally

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, it clarifies and aligns HOA election nomination notices with all other HOA notices at 30 days
• with annual worldwide gross receipts of over $100 million verify and search its records for any transactions
• an annual worldwide gross receipts of over $100 million verify and search its records for any transactions
• wealth to the state to be held in a public digital archive. ...and search its records for any transactions

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• And I love that our friendship has not been transactional, but it has been one of deep care.
• driver's license program so that your digital driver's license may never communicate your location or transaction
• accepts a digital driver's license can only retain the information that's strictly necessary for that transaction
• Senator Thomas Eagleton of Missouri was nominated as the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The language in the bill is a nominal change at best as long as we have an abortion ban in this state
• passed Senate Bill 22 by Senator Campbell, prohibiting governmental entities from engaging in transactions
• passed Senate Bill 22 by Senator Campbell, prohibiting governmental entities from engaging in transactions
• Establishing a process to pre-assess director independence before transactions take place.

Bills: SB31 , SB33 , SB510 , SB871 , SB1868 , SB2024 , SB2166 , SB2309 , SB2880 , SJR27 , SJR39 , SJR40 , SB 31 , SB 33

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• successful industry-supported self-assessments, including voluntary sector-specific participation, nominal
• Turning to the UTC's responsibilities, the UTC may not approve any transaction of a water system that
• result in a person acquiring a controlling interest in a water company without finding that the transaction

Summary: The committee took up executive action on the capital budget, Proposed Substitute Senate Bill 6003, and several policy bills. Staff described amendments to the capital budget that shifted funding among behavioral health, local/community projects, irrigation projects, and juvenile rehabilitation capacity, plus a technical fix to the water pollution control revolving program. The committee adopted Senator Dozier’s budget-neutral amendment and a technical amendment, then advanced the amended capital budget to the Rules Committee. It also moved House Bills 2441, 2124, 2471, 2133, 2610, and 2338 forward with due-pass recommendations, and advanced Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251 on Climate Commitment Act accounts to the Transportation Committee after adopting two amendments and withdrawing three others. A major public hearing focused on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, which would terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1 in 2029, transfer surplus assets, and direct portions to the Climate Commitment Account and the pension funding stabilization account. Staff said the plan is currently about 160% funded and explained the bill’s IRS-review process, statute of limitations, and estimated implementation costs. Testimony was sharply divided: some retirees, firefighters, counties, and cities opposed the bill as an improper use of pension assets and urged benefit enhancements or protection of local medical obligations, while others supported using the surplus for broader public purposes. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2179 on PERS coverage for certain port workers, with ports and the Washington Public Ports Association supporting clarification for railroad employees covered by the federal railroad retirement system. House Bill 1069, allowing Department of Corrections employees to bargain over supplemental retirement benefits, drew support from Teamsters and corrections workers, while House Bill 2091, expanding employee-information sharing with bargaining representatives, drew union support and privacy objections from Washington Policy Center. Finally, Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1210 on targeted urban area tax preferences drew support from labor, local governments, and project proponents, and opposition from contractor groups and environmental advocates over project labor agreement requirements and nuclear-related concerns; Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408 on community preservation and development authorities and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1974 on land bank authorities for affordable housing were also heard, with both receiving supportive testimony from community and housing advocates.

Transcript Highlights:

• fee, excuse me, of $50, and the easement application fee of $100 have been deleted, because these nominal
• fees do not cover administrative costs, and removing nominal fees simplifies things for right-of-way

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• extraordinary on so many levels, but I think I've provided enough information to earn your support for his nomination
• . ...so many levels, but I think I've provided enough information to earn your support for his nomination