Transcript Highlights:

• Subdivisions post those reports online.
• HB1804 also directs the Texas Ethics Commission to monitor whether political subdivisions are making
• If a political subdivision does not post reports online, TEC may assess up to...

Bills: HB346, HB1360, HB1510, HB1606, HB1804, HB1805, HB2156, HB2391, HB2767, HB3022, HB3044, HB3272, HB3293, HB3493, HB3809, HB3824, HJR110, HB2463

Keywords: expedited service, business records, veteran-owned businesses, franchise tax, fee schedule, Texas Ethics Commission, election reporting, campaign finance, violation categorization, penalties, public disclosure, Texas Utilities Code, electric utility, retail electric provider, municipally owned utility, electric cooperative, vegetation management, tree trimming, line clearance, transmission line

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just one section instructing the revisor to renumber a subdivision on public accounting and reporting
• Section 11 provides that this subdivision doesn't authorize reducing or pausing state or federal aid
• Section 14 provides that this subdivision of the OIG statute does not authorize withholding payments

Bills: HF1306

Keywords: education, school policy, teacher training, student health, emergency response, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we're reallocating it out to help other political subdivisions. And I'm all for that.
• Those subdivisions that are being built, they're built to accommodate all that, and they go into that
• There's a lot of moving parts, but yes, there will be some, and the subdivisions around Bismarck are
• And the subdivisions around Bismarck are usually built to handle that.
• But around this town, it's a lot of subdivisions. Well, thank you. Any other questions?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, but I've been told stories that when they merged these 154 political subdivisions into the NRDs
• And then we're reallocating it out to help other political subdivisions. And I'm all for that.
• Those subdivisions that are being built, they're built to accommodate all that, and they go into that
• And the subdivisions around Bismarck are usually built to handle that.
• But around this town, it's a lot of subdivisions. Well, thank you. Any other questions?

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met with a quorum and received updates from the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Commission, followed by presentations from Deloitte on two legislative studies required by House Bill 1020. Director Reese Haas reviewed major project and budget updates, including the Northwest Area Water Supply and Southwest Pipeline projects, Resources Trust Fund balances, carryover spending, project prioritization, bid conditions, regional water system coverage, and department process improvements. Members also discussed how the commission prioritizes projects, maintenance expectations, and the impact of limited municipal water supply funding. No formal committee action was taken during the DWR update; the commission’s municipal funding decisions were described as pending its April 8 meeting. Deloitte then presented the cost-share policy study, which found that under current policy and forecasted revenues, North Dakota faces an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall over 14 years, with a near-term gap of about $1.8 billion through 2031. The firm outlined seven recommended options, including tighter definitions and a 25% cost share for eligible replacement projects, caps and financing strategies for the Mouse River and Red River Valley projects, aligning cost share with commission priority guidance, delaying lower-priority projects, using available lines of credit, and adjusting reimbursement timing for revolving loan funds. Committee members questioned inflation assumptions, affordability, user fees, and the use of legacy fund earnings for bonding, but no decisions were made. In the governance and finance study, Deloitte said final recommendations are still being refined, with a final report due May 29. The study examined the Southwest Pipeline, NAWS, and Red River Valley systems using governance and finance criteria such as decision authority, transparency, affordability, risk, and access to funding. For Southwest, Deloitte outlined options ranging from improved state-authority coordination to transferring ownership to the Southwest Water Authority; for NAWS, options focused on strengthening the authority’s role and potentially transitioning operations and maintenance; and for Red River, options ranged from enhanced facilitation to formal state oversight or state ownership. Members asked follow-up questions about ownership transfer, capital repayment streams, and why NAWS was not considered for transfer, and Deloitte said NAWS’s limited organizational maturity made that option less viable in the near term.

Transcript Highlights:

• one-vote doctrine. with no advantage over the current system and its consideration by political subdivisions
• point at which, well, what I'm trying to say is the lower the election, the of the geopolitical subdivision
• requires most elections to be held on a Tuesday with a few exceptions. and requires political subdivisions
• Right now many political subdivisions... students elect their officers in May, and then proceed to adopt
• What this proposal suggests is that we the script, and we would require political subdivisions to first

Bills: SB16, SB76, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB827, SB964, SB1209, SB1210, SB1386, SB1470, SB2035, SJR37, SB 16

Keywords: voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, transportation, infrastructure, funding, public safety, state regulation, election, polling places, voter access, state oversight, electronic voting, voting, polling place, elections, countywide program, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• to—I see that, um, Representative Clardy in her bill, you know, had a provision: nothing in the subdivision
• know, had a provision nothing<01:08:38.799> in<01:08:39.040> the<01:08:39.199> subdivision
• <01:08:39.759> subdivision nothing in the subdivision subdivision nothing in the subdivision
• subdivision allows<01:08:40.560> a<01:08:40.799> district<01:08:40.960> to<01:08

Bills: HF630, HF1435, HF1607

Keywords: short-call substitute, substitute teacher, substitute teaching license, pilot program, teacher shortage, education workforce, school district, charter school, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, background check, paraprofessional, education support personnel, temporary license, substitute training, retaliation, teacher pay, daily substitute pay, Minnesota education law, education innovation

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill, the commission is subject to chapter 13 and chapter 13D, the open meetings law, so that subdivision
• the bill, the commission is subject to chapter 13 and chapter 13D, the open meetings law, so that subdivision
• the bill, the commission is subject to chapter 13 and chapter 13D, the open meetings law, so that subdivision
• <00:03:50.879> is<00:03:51.159> the meetings law so that subdivision is the meetings
• law so that subdivision is the the<00:03:51.680> main<00:03:52.680> purview<00:03:53.040

Bills: HF390, HF1202, HF550

Keywords: government data, data practices, record keeping, penalties, legal enforcement, public meetings, transparency, government accountability, interagency groups, Minnesota Statutes, redistricting, Bipartisan Commission, Minnesota Constitution, census, legislative districts, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Section three amends a law, 116D.04, subdivision 2, that prevents a final decision on projects subject
• section three amends a law uh<00:54:28.119> 116d<00:54:29.119> point4<00:54:30.079> subdivision
• <00:54:30.760> 2<00:54:31.240> 04 uh 116d point4 subdivision 2 04 uh 116d point4 subdivision
• 2 04 subdivision<00:54:32.720> 2<00:54:33.520> that<00:54:33.720> prevents<00:54
• :34.079> a<00:54:34.359> final subdivision 2 that prevents a final subdivision 2 that prevents

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• New Hampshire law allows a political subdivision of the state whose legislative body raises and appropriates
• of the state whose subdivision of the state whose legislative<00:12:03.839> body<00:12:04.279
• House Bill 200 would align all other political subdivisions with cities regarding overriding a tax cap
• This bill enables local political subdivisions that have adopted the official ballot referendum form
• new commercial properties subdivisions new commercial properties subdivisions to<06:18:09.320>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :10.800> the<02:30:10.880> state<02:30:11.280> if<02:30:11.600> the subdivision
• of the state if the subdivision of the state if the compensation<02:30:12.560> is<02:30:12.680
• > of<02:30:45.000> the<02:30:45.080> state<02:30:45.560> and political subdivision
• of the state and political subdivision of the state and the<02:30:46.480> individual<02:30:47.000
• political subdivision of the state. political subdivision of the state.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first handled routine announcements, including welcoming a new group of pages and noting donations of donuts and chicken from local businesses, along with a citation planned for Mr. Herman’s Bakery, which is closing after 103 years. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 858, establishing a Department of Budget and Management Audit and Finance Compliance Unit. A senator moved to send the bill back to second reading to add an amendment, which was adopted without objection, and the bill was reprinted for third reading. The Finance Committee then reported several bills. Senate Bill 84, concerning collective bargaining for graduate assistants at UMCP and UMBC, was laid over after questions about whether graduate assistants are employees or students. Senate Bill 455, creating a transformational project financing program tied to tax increment financing districts, had two committee amendments adopted and was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 623, creating a premium cigar lounge alcoholic beverage license, also received two committee amendments and was ordered up, but a later Howard County amendment was proposed and the bill was laid over. Senate Bill 777, directing workforce development support in hospital closures and related events, was adopted and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 831, addressing child labor penalties, private-sector labor relations, and state labor standards, was adopted with two amendments and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 932, requiring social media platforms to display users’ general geographic location, was laid over after questions. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 340, requiring at least $2 million annually for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman office, with two amendments adopted and the bill sent to third reading. Senate Bill 489, creating a limited license pathway for physicians trained abroad and repealing the fifth pathway program, was adopted with two amendments and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 496, expanding Medicaid coverage for obesity treatment, prompted extended debate over the fiscal note and who would bear the costs; the sponsor argued the estimate was overstated and did not account for likely lower utilization or health-care savings, while an opponent pressed concerns about the state share and structural deficit. The discussion continued without a final vote in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• in that they're actually a subdivision in that they're actually a subdivision of<02:37:55.359>
• <02:38:34.160> that taking over a political subdivision that taking over a political subdivision
• Does that differentiate between political subdivisions who account on a calendar year versus a fiscal
• who account on a calendar subdivisions who account on a calendar year<02:52:47.680> versus<02
• I would hope that SAUs and political subdivisions would adopt processes for transporting ballots back

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Education Policy and Administration Committee met to hear a non-germane amendment to House Bill 131, which concerns bullying and cyberbullying prevention. Representative Glenn Cordelli, the prime sponsor, said the amendment was intended to revise and improve language from last year’s SB 210 and to incorporate measures from a cyberbullying bill previously passed by the House. He described changes to school communication requirements, mandatory reporting of bullying and retaliation, stronger investigation and collaboration requirements for cross-district cases, added safety and remediation language, a required conference with the alleged perpetrator and parents if available, updated reporting deadlines, and disciplinary consequences for harassment, intimidation, retaliation, and false reports. He also noted a later amendment would be needed to insert the words “the perpetrator” in one section, and he explained that some changes were meant to align with prior legislation and legislative drafting suggestions. Committee members raised several concerns. Representative Murray questioned the treatment of private and parochial schools, the change from gross negligence to negligence, and the removal of a definition of bullying based on imbalance of power and perceived characteristics. Representative Damon also objected to deleting that definition, arguing it would narrow the scope of bullying too much. Representative Han spoke in opposition, saying the amendment was too broad, unnecessary in parts, and not ready for final action; he criticized the removal of the imbalance-of-power language, the conference requirement when parents may not participate, and the reporting obligations for bus drivers and others. Cordelli responded that some issues were already addressed in prior law or SB 210 and that private schools have their own policies. Michelle Wongran of New Hampshire Legal Assistance testified in opposition, saying the bill was being heard without enough notice and that it does far more than the committee analysis suggests. She said the amendment adds undefined retaliation language, imposes reporting duties on school vendors and contractors, may conflict with FERPA and other federal privacy rules, and includes provisions that could have serious implications for schools and students. She said she supports parental involvement and some conference provisions in concept, but urged the committee to reject the amendment or at least send it through the normal legislative process for fuller review. No vote was taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• any state, county, or municipal government agency or department, or any governmental or political subdivision
• department or any governmental or department or any governmental or political<00:38:13.440> subdivision
• <00:38:14.320> that<00:38:14.640> exceeds political subdivision that exceeds political
• subdivision that exceeds $100,000<00:38:16.720> in<00:38:17.040> value<00:38:17.839>

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• shapes within a city or town that are used as the building blocks for census tracts, for political subdivisions
• shapes within a city or town that are used as the building blocks for census tracts, for political subdivisions
• low-income housing that may be, you know, from some of the subsidized housing—there's a whole new subdivision
• A whole new subdivision is going up in a part near North Cambridge.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census held a hearing on September 22, 2025 focused on preparations for the 2030 census, with an emphasis on Massachusetts’ role in building a complete address list and improving local participation in census-related address review programs. Chair Brownsberger and witnesses from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office, the UMass Donahue Institute, Watertown, and MassGIS described the importance of accurate address data for congressional apportionment, federal funding, and state and local planning. They also discussed the first major upcoming step, the Block Boundary Suggestion Project, and the later Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) process, both of which rely on municipalities reviewing and correcting census geography and address files. John Rosenberry of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office said outreach to cities and towns is beginning now, with a likely December start for the block boundary process based on the 2020 cycle. He stressed that local officials, clerks, building inspectors, housing authorities, and GIS staff should be engaged early, especially to capture new development and conversions created under the state’s housing policies. Susan Strait of UMass Donahue explained that LUCA allows local governments to compare their address lists with the Census Bureau’s master address file, and that Massachusetts had very high participation in 2020; she cited examples where local review added hidden or newly built housing units and noted that Boston later corrected a group-quarters undercount of about 6,000 students through a post-census review program. In response to questions, she clarified that those corrections affected annual estimates and funding formulas, but not the 2020 apportionment count. Watertown City Manager George Proakis described how local address review is complicated by accessory dwelling units, single-family to two-family conversions, and large multifamily projects, and urged continued state support for local governments doing this work. Dan Marrier of MassGIS then outlined the Massachusetts Master Address Database, explaining that it combines multiple sources, including E911, assessor, voter, and municipal data, to create a standardized residential address repository used for census preparation and other state functions. He said the database has helped improve census accuracy, including by updating more than one million Census Bureau address-point locations before 2020, and noted that local municipalities remain the final authority on addresses even as MassGIS standardizes and reconciles variants across the Commonwealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the A4 amendment, page two looks like subdivision four 2.3 to 2.25.
• With the A4 amendment page two looks With the A4 amendment page two looks like<00:16:00.520> subdivision
• <00:16:01.440> four like subdivision four like subdivision four 2.3<00:16:03.160> to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Subdivision 26 provides that municipalities have the power to regulate parking lots and parking meters
• towns, cities, and incorporated towns, cities, and incorporated villages.<00:36:32.200> Subdivision
• Subdivision 26 provides that villages.
• Subdivision 26 provides that municipality<00:36:35.600> municipalities<00:36:36.400> have

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Rabbi Toby Weisman, who spoke about Passover, the obligation to remember liberation from slavery, and the Torah’s repeated command to love the stranger. He connected that theme to immigrants and the need for community, courage, and small acts of kindness. After the devotional, the chamber took up three Senate bills for first reading and referral: S. 179 on the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act to Judiciary, S. 212 on potable water supply and wastewater system connections to Environment, and S. 227 on immigration protocols in Vermont schools to Education. The House also referred H. 558, relating to the Medicaid School-Based Services Program, to Appropriations, and H. 937, reported favorably by Ways and Means, was also sent to Appropriations under House Rule 35a. The House adopted JRS 45, a joint resolution on weekend adjournment for March 20, 2026, by voice vote. It also read and adopted several concurrent resolutions, including HCR 187 congratulating Village Garage Distillery of Bennington for a silver medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, HCR 213 recognizing March 2026 as Social Work Month in Vermont, and HCR 224 congratulating Vermont athletes at the 2025 National Senior Games and designating March 18, 2026, as Vermont Senior Games Day at the State House. Members made remarks in support of the resolutions, including praise for the distillery, social workers, and senior athletes, and guests in the gallery were recognized. The House then took up H. 887, which would amend the Fair Employment Practices Act to align documentation rules for crime victims with the protections already available to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking under the safe leave law. The committee and sponsor described it as a modest but important fix to ensure survivors can access both leave and anti-discrimination protections without conflicting paperwork requirements. The House agreed to the committee amendment and ordered the bill to third reading. Next, the chamber began H. 917, an omnibus military affairs bill combining several measures: correcting the Adjutant General title, defining Gold Star family member, creating a hiring preference for military spouses in state government, and providing free parking for disabled veterans. The sponsor outlined the bill’s purpose and sections, and discussion began on the title correction and related provisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our authorities lie in 136A.01, subdivision 2, under our responsibilities.
• Our authorities lie in 136A.01, subdivision 2, under our responsibilities.
• the language currently reads: “be either one, a resident student as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision
• The language currently reads: “be either one, a resident student as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and Senator Klein, I would simply guide the committee to subdivision two on page four and on page
• 00:50:41.920> uh simply uh guide the committee to uh simply uh guide the committee to uh subdivision
• :43.520> four<00:50:43.840> and<00:50:44.040> on<00:50:44.200> page subdivision
• two on page four and on page subdivision two on page four and on page five<00:50:44.760> that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've personally experienced what obstinate political subdivisions can do to stymie legislative requests
• And the only way that we could get information requests out of these political subdivisions is to file
• This typically is not done by political subdivisions.
• out of a state of 7.5 million, and you're saying that we can't get records from the political subdivisions

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and recognition of Arizona School Board Association members and local school board representatives visiting the Capitol for Advocacy Day. Members also honored the House Doctor of the Day, Dr. Heather Serran, and approved the journal and attendance. The chamber then moved through a large number of Senate messages and House calendar items, including committee assignments and first and second readings of many bills. A major floor action was the unanimous adoption of SCR 1054 honoring former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, followed by remarks remembering his public service and consumer-protection work. The House also agreed to return SB 1278 to the Senate for reconsideration and referred several House bills to an additional Committee of the Whole for further amendment. In Committee of the Whole, members considered and advanced numerous bills, including HB 2055, 2150, 2426, 2456, 2457, 2728, 2755, 2918, and 2923, with several floor amendments adopted. HB 2728 drew the most debate over Department of Economic Security continuation and added policy changes affecting SNAP, unemployment, and eligibility verification; after a divided question and recorded vote, it received a do-pass recommendation by 32-25. The House also advanced HB 2134, 2142, 2289, 2290, 2331, 2379, 2397, 4026, and 4033 in later Committee of the Whole sessions, with discussion focused on school safety funding and governance, school board training, HOA disclosure reforms, tax sourcing clarity, and bond disclosure language. Several bills were retained on the calendar, including HB 4041, HB 2444, HB 4018, and HB 4070. In final third-reading votes, HB 2053, HB 2327, and HB 2416 passed; HB 2175 and HB 2492 failed; and HB 2805, which would make school board races partisan, was under debate at the end of the transcript amid strong arguments both for and against increasing partisanship in school board elections.

Transcript Highlights:

• not having that conversation and what the state could be doing in partnership with our political subdivisions
• Would that help if I amended the bill to disproportionately impact other political subdivisions?
• what you mean by that versus—should I amend the bill to disproportionately impact other political subdivisions
• Would that help if I harass other political subdivisions? Let the guest answer. Mr. Chair, Mr.

Bills: HB2056, HB2202, HB2207, HB2224, HB2303, HB2344, HB2532, HB2759, HB2798

Keywords: brackish water, groundwater, desalination, water resources, feasibility study, environmental impact, dementia care, telementoring, healthcare education, rural communities, grant funding, braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion, produce incentive, agriculture, economic support, funding

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met on January 28 and heard several bills, beginning with member and staff introductions and a reminder about amendment deadlines. HB 2056 would appropriate $100,000 to the Arizona Department of Water Resources for a feasibility study of brackish groundwater desalination sites; the sponsor said Arizona should explore potential water supplies amid Colorado River concerns. A witness opposed the bill, and members debated whether brackish groundwater should be treated as a resource or a threat to aquifers. The committee approved HB 2056 on an 11-6 vote, with one member not voting. The committee then considered HB 2798, as amended, which would provide $100,000 to the University of Arizona/Arizona Geological Survey to compile data on materials related to nuclear energy, including thorium and other non-uranium fuels. The sponsor framed the bill as an economic development and national security effort, while opponents questioned whether Arizona has enough of the material to justify public spending. The University of Arizona supported the work as within the Geological Survey’s mission. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 11-5, with one member present and one not voting. HB 2303 would codify investment rules for the State Treasurer, requiring safety and principal preservation ahead of return and prohibiting speculative investments and insider-benefit conduct. The Treasurer’s Office said the bill reflects current policy and ethics rules already in place, and members asked about how “speculative” would be defined and whether the bill would affect other investment-related statutes. The committee passed the bill 15-0, with two members present and one not voting. HB 2344 would require the Treasurer to manage the local government investment pool and allow a third-party backup only in emergencies; the Treasurer’s Office argued this preserves a low-cost, high-liquidity service for local governments, while some members questioned whether it limited future Treasurers’ discretion. The committee passed HB 2344 12-2, with three present and one not voting. Later, the committee heard HB 2759, which would appropriate $500,000 to the Department of Veterans’ Services to partner with an educational institution in Yavapai County for veteran programs. A retired Navy SEAL and campus veterans coordinator described emergency housing, equipment, and professional-development needs for student veterans at Embry-Riddle, while several members supported the effort and others objected to using state funds for a private institution or a county-specific program. The bill passed 11-6, with one not voting. The committee also passed HB 2207, appropriating $300,000 for the prison Braille transcription program, after testimony that the program trains inmates in a skilled trade and has had no recidivism among released participants; it passed 17-0, with one not voting. Finally, HB 2224, as amended to reduce the appropriation from $2 million to $1 million, would fund the Double Up Food Bucks produce incentive program through SNAP. Supporters said it helps families, farmers, and local economies and can improve health outcomes, while members discussed budget constraints; the committee approved the amended bill after testimony from program advocates and farmers.

Transcript Highlights:

• ordinances, orders, rules, or regulations enacted by a county, municipality, or other political subdivision
• So if a municipality, a county, any political subdivision, wants to do something related to setbacks
• You know, I don't know if we're going to get everybody regionally, all the political subdivisions, to
• Kansas, and I don't think you would ever see one standard there because I think each political subdivision

Keywords: 959, house, all