Transcript Highlights:

• we're back to clogging up the system we're back to clogging up the system again<00:12:41.079>
• pass SB 301 chair votes with amendments yes<00:59:53.920> I'll<00:59:54.160> vote<00:59
• :54.440> Yes yes I'll vote Yes yes I'll vote Yes and<00:59:57.359> I<00:59:57.520> vote
• Chair votes yes. Senator S. Ventura votes yes. Senators Gabbert and Chang are excused. Thank you.
• Chair votes. Senator S. Ventura votes no. Senators Gabbert and Chang are excused. Thank you.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 335 would route objections by political party officers to candidate nomination papers through the Office of Elections. The State Election Director testified that his office was not the right venue for party-membership challenges because it could create conflicts and force the Attorney General to represent the chief election officer in court; members discussed whether all objections should instead go directly to Circuit Court, but no action was taken. SB 280 would expand first-degree negligent injury to cover injuries negligently caused by intoxicated drivers. The Public Defender opposed the bill as too harsh and urged either a lower penalty or clearer statutory definitions of “under the influence,” while the Prosecuting Attorney supported it as a needed increase in accountability for drunk drivers who actually injure someone. Committee members raised concerns about overlap with existing offenses, proportionality, and whether the change would increase jury-trial volume; the prosecutor responded that the bill would apply to a smaller subset of cases involving actual injury and would help ensure more serious treatment of those cases. The committee also heard SB 292, establishing Safe Harbor protections for survivors of sexual exploitation who seek medical or law enforcement assistance, with testimony in support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, HPD, U Alliance, and others, and no opposition. SB 31, concerning an additional penalty for dog owners whose dogs destroy property on agricultural land, drew only supportive testimony. SB 356 would require restitution in the form of financial support to the minor children of victims killed or disabled by an intoxicated driver; the Public Defender opposed it as better suited to civil court and questioned enforcement after probation, while the Prosecuting Attorney supported it and said courts can issue enforceable restitution orders. Testimony also strongly supported SB 1284, a proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting discrimination based on ethnicity, age, disability, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, with supporters arguing it would strengthen protections in response to current political conditions. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The endowment passed with five no votes in the Senate, and thanks to Representative Armstrong, it passed
• I believe somebody from the state library system is here. I don't believe... ...so, okay.
• So there's some incredible things happening and building with the closed-loop referral system.
• Our law enforcement officers are doing all they can, but policing alone cannot fix this system.
• We didn't make quorum, so we will not be voting on endorsement.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><01:48:13.360> 328 vote chair voting on HB 328 vote chair voting on HB 328 HD1<01:48:16.480>
• <01:49:37.040> the chair for the vote voting on HP 773 the chair for the vote voting on HP
• This is for decision making only, and we are convening at the... vote voting on HB 968 chair's vote voting
• ><01:54:53.079> 1393 chair for the vote voting on H B 1393 chair for the vote voting on H B 1393
• ><01:55:33.960> chair's vote voting on HB 1450 chair's vote voting on HB 1450 chair's recommendation

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a nursing home provider operating under Minnesota's rate equalization policy, we have no mechanisms
• As a nursing home provider operating under Minnesota's rate equalization policy, we have no mechanisms
• As a nursing home provider operating under Minnesota's rate equalization policy, we have no mechanisms
• As a nursing home provider operating under Minnesota's rate equalization policy, we have no mechanisms
• We do intend to vote on this today.

Bills: HF1419, HF500

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 500, which would require the legislature to fund the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board’s standards before they could take effect. An author’s DE2 amendment was adopted first; the amendment was described as pausing the board’s standards unless the legislature estimates and fully pays the cost for each nursing home. The bill author argued that mandates without money create serious consequences for seniors and providers, and said the measure would keep budget authority with the legislature rather than an appointed board. Supporters, including nursing home operators and the Long-Term Care Imperative, said the board’s holiday pay and minimum wage standards would create large unfunded costs, citing estimates ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars for individual facilities and more than $200 million statewide. They argued that some facilities could face debt, reserve depletion, or reduced access to care if the standards are not funded. Opponents, including SEIU workers and union leaders, said the board has improved staffing, recruitment, morale, and worker safety, and that caregivers deserve higher wages and holiday pay. They argued the bill would weaken the board’s ability to address chronic understaffing and would shift focus away from worker protections. Members also debated whether nursing home reimbursement rates have already risen enough to cover wages and whether the problem lies with how funds are used by providers. After public testimony closed, several members spoke in opposition and support. A roll call was requested, and the committee voted 9-7 to re-refer House File 500, as amended, to the Committee on Labor and Workforce and Economic Development Finance and Policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• The most successful voucher systems.
• I just really want to stress here is that a lot of the selection that we see in voucher systems. systems
• A vote for HB3 is a vote for layoffs and economic decline in your own communities. what happens to Friday
• The very government that helped break the system, the body here for decades has helped break the system
• So when I say they broke the system.

Bills: HB3, HB3

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• The North Carver Water District was established in 2008 as a mechanism for managing a water supply system
• At a duly held town meeting, Carver voted to dissolve the North Carver Water District by a vote of 110
• The North Carver Water District was established in 2008 as a mechanism for managing a water supply system
• At a duly held town meeting, Cara voted to design by the system.
• At a duly held town meeting, Carver voted to dissolve the North Carver Ward District by a vote of 110

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a lengthy hybrid hearing of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, with testimony spanning local board training, animal welfare and enforcement, municipal charters, water district dissolution, and other home rule matters. Chairs Rausch and Lewis set strict time limits because of the large number of speakers and explained that written testimony would also be accepted. Members heard from local officials, advocates, municipal employees, and residents, with many bills receiving broad support from municipal and advocacy witnesses. Several speakers supported bills requiring or expanding training for local boards and commissions, including pre-service training for planning, zoning, and other land use boards. Supporters said training would help volunteers understand complex laws, improve consistency, reduce legal challenges, and speed up housing and development decisions. Related testimony also backed a bill to modernize historic district commissions and another to allow associate planning board members to serve more broadly when needed to maintain quorums. A major portion of the hearing focused on animal legislation. Witnesses supported bills to expand citations for cruel conditions beyond dogs, update dangerous dog procedures, improve animal health inspections and breeder oversight, strengthen tethering rules, and protect pet consumers. Animal control officers, humane organizations, and some victims of dog attacks described enforcement gaps and the need for clearer standards, while several dog trainers and the American Kennel Club opposed parts of the dangerous dog bill and tethering restrictions, arguing they would limit humane training tools and professional discretion. The committee also heard strong support for a bill to create a statewide pet shop and consumer protection framework. The committee also heard testimony on several local home rule petitions. Medford officials and residents strongly supported a new city charter that would replace the current at-large council with ward-based representation and periodic charter review. Wayland representatives supported a bill to preserve the library’s Millennium Fund as intended, Cambridge officials backed creation of an employment and job training trust, and Carver officials supported dissolving the North Carver Water District due to compliance and financial problems. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, I voted for the last bill because of that.
• Thank you, can you take the vote? A second. Nina, could you take the vote? Representative Abeyta?
• By a vote of 9-1, you have a do pass. Representative Henry, to explain his vote? Thank you, Mr.
• We are urging you to vote yes on this bill as well.
• So by a vote of 8 to 2, you have a do pass, Committee. By a vote of 8 to 2, you have a do pass.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Vote.<01:43:29.920> Closed. Vote. Closed. Vote. Closed.
• Closing vote. Vote closed. Senate File 56, 29? I to no. Vote. Close. Senate file 56 Vote. Close.
• Vote.<01:47:23.679> Closed. Vote. Closed. Vote. Closed.
• Closing<01:48:50.960> vote. Closing vote. Closing vote.
• Closing vote. Vote closed. Senate File 90, 31? I. Closing vote. Vote closed. Senate File 90, 31?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• vote okay thank<00:22:09.039> you<00:22:09.159> chair<00:22:09.440> voting<00:22
• Vice Chair, for the vote.
• Vice Chair, for the vote.
• Voting on Senate Bill 1421, recommendation of the chairs to pass with amendments. Chair votes aye.
• votes I Vice chair votes I Senator votes I Vice chair votes I Senator hashimu<01:05:35.000> hi

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several health-related measures, with most of the discussion focused on SB 1419, SB 1494, and SB 1495, which were taken out of order to accommodate ASL/Death Blind Task Force testimony. SB 1419, relating to Act 253 (Session Laws of Hawaii 2023), drew support from the Department of Human Services and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, with testimony emphasizing use of the term “low vision” and support for the program timeline. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, including technical changes and updated appropriation fiscal years, and the motion was adopted unanimously by the members present. SB 1494, concerning hearing aids, drew broad support from disability advocates and others who argued that hearing aids improve health, reduce accidents, and may help reduce dementia risk. Testifiers also urged that the bill define hearing aids as prescription hearing aids rather than including over-the-counter devices, and the Department of the Auditor and Insurance Division raised cost and coverage questions. The committee recommended passage with amendments, changing the coverage approach to optional coverage similar to vision and dental and requesting a sunrise analysis for prescription hearing aids; that recommendation was adopted. SB 1495, which exempts hearing aids from the general excise tax, also received support, while the Attorney General flagged a possible single-subject issue and the Tax Department estimated a potential $1.1 million revenue impact. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including deletion of the challenged language, technical fixes, and noting the revenue estimate; that recommendation was adopted. The committee then moved through additional measures with mostly supportive testimony. SB 1421 on medical records prompted questions about what happens when a solo practitioner dies or closes practice, and the discussion centered on ensuring patients can obtain records, including a proposed amendment requiring a successor provider to send records to the patient’s last known address. SB 1422, dealing with a special fund and vital statistics funding, was supported by the Department of Health, which said the special fund did not meet criteria and that deposits should instead go to the Vital Statistics Improvement Special Fund. SB 1423 on certificate of need exemptions for Department of Health facilities drew support, with discussion of possibly extending exemptions to dialysis and behavioral health/psychiatric services; the Department indicated it would not oppose that change. SB 1424 on credentialing of health care providers also received support, and SB 1425 on the State Emergency Medical Services Committee focused on reducing quorum requirements because many members are active first responders and cannot always attend meetings. The committee also heard support for SB 1426 on emergency medical services, SB 1431 on viral hepatitis, and SB 1433 on harm reduction, with testimony on hepatitis outreach funding and syringe access best practices; for SB 1433, the Department of Health identified a blank in the bill and recommended a six-month period for the syringe-possession exception.

Transcript Highlights:

• If there's no objection, you can go forward, or you could take a vote.
• Today we're going to start with an overview of the property tax system.
• <00:01:46.479> uh forward or you could take a vote uh forward or you could take a vote uh
• with a look at the property tax system with a look at the property tax system how<00:02:49.720><
• That system that the reform effort created really was the basis for the system that we have today.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Tax Committee met to hear a House Research presentation from Jared Swanson on Minnesota’s property tax system. Before the presentation, the chair announced that the committee would put the governor’s budget on hold until the department could provide the information needed for a proper hearing. The committee then approved the prior meeting minutes without objection. Swanson gave an overview of how property taxes are structured and collected in Minnesota, explaining that the state uses a levy-based system in which local governments set levies and counties collect and distribute payments. He described the property tax cycle, the difference between referendum market value and net tax capacity, and how classification rates shift tax burdens among property types. He also outlined the state general property tax, noting it is split between commercial-industrial property and seasonal recreational property, and reviewed how Minnesota compares with other states, with residential taxes generally around the middle and commercial-industrial taxes relatively higher. The presentation also covered major property tax relief and aid programs. Swanson explained three broad relief mechanisms: shifting burdens through exclusions and classification rates, state-paid credits and refunds, and state aid to local governments or levy reductions. He discussed local government aid (LGA), township aid, and county program aid (CPA), including their funding levels, formulas, and general-purpose nature. Members asked why some cities receive no LGA and how the funds may be used; Swanson said cities with strong tax bases often receive zero aid and that the money generally can be used for the same purposes as property tax revenue. No votes were taken on the presentation itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• > that<00:04:01.320> is Minnesotans deserve a system that is Minnesotans deserve a system
• <00:08:03.840> equipment radio communication system equipment radio communication system equipment
• funding mechanism.
• build a radio system funding mechanism. build a radio system funding mechanism.
• I renew my motion that House to vote.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Vote your machines, members. Vote your machines, members.
• Vote your machines, members.
• All those in favor of the bill will vote yes. All opposed will vote no.
• It's an act to amend Title 40 relative to public water systems to allow local governments to vote to
• governments to vote to exempt public water systems from fluoridation requirements.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Hickey votes yes. Senator Herndon votes yes. Senator Lanier votes no.
• Senator Pinto votes yes. Senator Pope votes yes. Senator Ramos votes no.
• Senator Isal voting no. Senator Gallegos voting no. Senator Isal voting no.
• Senator Gallegos voting no. Senator Woods voting no. Senator Boone voting no.
• Senator Boone voting no. Senator Wilson voting no. Senator Locke voting no.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think we've got an obligation to try to figure out the mechanics that have to work.
• I think we all know that, and if we don't put proper mechanics, then it's not going to work.
• The system will figure out somewhere along the line.
• And again, we wouldn't have gone deep diving in this, but again, the mechanics have to work if we're
• So I think those things need to be addressed a little bit before we have a final vote.

Bills: HB1329

Keywords: government spending database, public expenditure transparency, open data, government transparency, school district spending, state spending, local government finance, education finance, budget database, expenditure reporting, salary transparency, benefits data, public records, Legislative Management study, North Dakota, school board training, superintendent, principal, business manager, higher education spending

Summary: The division first discussed Senate Bill 1540 and related amendments involving implementation mechanics, procurement exemptions, and an emergency clause. Bank of North Dakota representatives explained that, based on a timeline review with DPI, the project would be very difficult to implement for the 2026-27 school year without exemptions from state purchasing and IT oversight rules and without an emergency clause; they said the normal procurement process could take about 240 days and that a 15-month implementation window would likely push the start to 2027-28 if those changes were not adopted. Members also raised a separate policy question about a criminal penalty placeholder in the bill, and the committee agreed that the sentence was unnecessary and should be removed. The committee deferred means-testing questions and fiscal-note issues to the next morning, with the understanding that the bill would be drafted in a way that made it workable if it advanced. The committee then turned to the water budget bill and reviewed the latest amended version, which included changes to the Water Topics process, Southwest Pipeline line of credit provisions, Red River supply funding, Mouse River project amounts, general water funding, studies on Missouri River intakes and water governance/finance, and a carryover/transfer adjustment. Chris Cattermas of the Department of Water Resources said most of the carryover funds were already obligated, with the largest unobligated amount in flood control. After review, Senator Thomas moved a do-pass recommendation on the bill as amended, the motion was seconded, and the committee approved it unanimously. The chair noted that other bills would be taken up the next morning, including 1013, 1014, and 1540.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will not be taking any votes today. Take a moment to thank the staff of CDCR, Ms.
• So we're looking at... that are in our system and just trying to make an estimate.
• So it's difficult with those systems.
• That's difficult to overcome with the systems as they exist in our housing. units.
• itself and how it weighs on the engineering system, the whole antiquated system that's there and how

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• John Dupnick: ...the major aquifer systems and the minor aquifer systems.
• . within the Gulf Coast aquifer system.
• A public water system, just for context, is defined by EPA as a system that has at least 15 service connections
• Maybe we could partner as drillers in another reporting system or a new reporting system or tied into
• And you're right, there are old systems.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair votes aye. Senator Ihara votes aye. Senator Moriwaki votes aye.
• If not, vice chair for the vote. Chair votes aye. >> Voting on SB 2555.
• If not, Vice Chair for the vote. Chair votes aye. >> Voting on SB 2555.
• Chair votes<00:35:10.880> I votes I votes I >> voting<00:35:11.760> on<00:35:11.920
• Anyone voting voting with reservations? Anyone voting no?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several labor-related bills. SB 2567 would allow public employers to seek temporary restraining orders against harassment of employees; the Judiciary, DHS, DOE, and others supported it, with some asking that coverage be broadened to all public employees. The Judiciary said it would not oppose expanding the bill’s scope. The chair deferred decision-making on SB 2567 to February 13, 2026, to allow further discussion with the Judiciary and Attorney General’s Office. SB 2386 would expand pay-transparency requirements for job listings and lower the small-employer exemption threshold from 50 to 25 employees. Testifiers largely supported the measure, citing transparency and retention benefits, while one opposition was noted. The committee voted to pass SB 2386 with amendments, including changing the effective date to January 1, 2077. SB 2389, the Warehouse Workers Protection Act, drew support from labor advocates but concerns from DLIR and the Attorney General’s Office about enforcement and a prosecutorial provision; after questions about quota tracking and recordkeeping, the chair deferred the bill. SB 2663 would require employers to respond in writing to workers’ compensation treatment plans within seven days and establish related penalties. DLIR opposed the bill as drafted, citing fairness and existing statutory conflicts, while injured workers and labor representatives supported it and described long delays in treatment approvals. The committee voted to pass SB 2663 with amendments, including directing fines to the special compensation fund, clarifying enforcement, and setting the effective date to January 1, 2077. SB 2555 would allow retirees to work in succession-planning positions without losing retirement benefits; ERS supported the intent but suggested an annual reporting requirement and noted existing rehire mechanisms. The committee voted to pass SB 2555 with amendments, including an annual report requirement and the same January 1, 2077 effective date. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Kahaloa votes aye. Representative Peruso votes aye.
• concerns if not Vice chair for the votee concerns if not Vice chair for the votee voting<01:48:23.280
• vote voting on House Vice chair for the vote voting on House Bill<01:58:05.520> 1362<01:58:06.520
• vote voting on House Vice chair for the vote voting on House Bill Bill Bill 1457<01:59:39.199> with
• <01:59:50.800> Garcia vote no vote from representative Garcia vote no vote from representative

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 410, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ biennium operating budget. OHA asked for a modest increase over its base budget, including $1.2 million to fund 13 new full-time positions for a strategy and implementation team tied to its long-term plan, with emphasis on housing, education, health, and economic resilience. OHA also described a broader effort to work directly with executive branch departments to improve outcomes for Native Hawaiians. Testimony was largely supportive, with several individuals speaking in favor and one testifier expressing strong frustration about Native Hawaiian rights and access to resources. The chair noted there were 38 additional written/supporting testimonies and three in opposition. Members asked about OHA’s funding sources and public land trust revenues; OHA said it is not receiving the full 20 percent share, described a public land trust working group and system issues, and said a related bill would seek funding to begin an inventory. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then considered House Bill 304, which would make the Hawaiian version of a law binding when the law was originally drafted in Hawaiian and later translated into English. The Judiciary supported the bill, saying it reinforces Hawaiian as an official language and looks to the original language for legislative intent. The Attorney General supported the intent but recommended narrowing the bill with a proviso to avoid ambiguities, limiting it to laws originally drafted in Hawaiian that were not later amended, codified, recodified, or reenacted in English. Public testimony was generally supportive, though one speaker raised broader sovereignty concerns. Members questioned how many laws would be affected and whether the proposed amendment would undercut the bill; the Attorney General said the amendment was meant to address uncertainty in interpretation. No final action was reported. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 603, which would direct OHA to administer a Native Hawaiian business marketing program to promote Native Hawaiian-owned businesses through marketing and technical assistance. OHA supported the concept, saying a label or branding program could help consumers identify and support Native Hawaiian-owned businesses, but requested that funding be redirected to a working group to study program design, implementation, enforcement, and long-term viability. The chair noted four supportive testimonies had been received, and a member asked OHA to confirm that its programs serve all Hawaiians, not only those eligible for homelands; OHA said it serves all Hawaiians in the state. The transcript ends before any vote or further action on HB 603.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:30.160> on this subcommittee to take its vote on this subcommittee to take its vote
• the executive and the judicial system the executive and the judicial system powers<00:39:22.640>
• Four votes versus three.
• Four votes versus three. So the Okay. Four votes versus three.
• So the vote is uh 6 to1 right.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee Subcommittee on Adequacy and Funding Sources opened its second meeting by reviewing four retained bills assigned to it: HB 651, HB 772, HB 491, and HB 734. The chair said the goal was to compare the bills across the board, consider whether any one of them should be the committee’s recommended vehicle, and then vote on a recommendation to the full committee. He noted the bills would move out before November 21 and be taken up on the House floor in January, while related LSRs were also being developed for the coming session. Representative Ames argued that HB 651 should be the main vehicle because it would substantially raise the adequacy base and adjust differential aid categories to better reflect real school costs, including poverty, special education, and English learner needs. He described the bill as building on court guidance and said the current funding formula is far below actual district needs. He also supported HB 491 as a study vehicle to examine revenue options, saying the legislature needs informed choices about how to pay for the changes. Representative Damon strongly backed HB 651 and HB 491, citing constitutional obligations, the Conval and Rand rulings, and large projected funding increases for districts such as Claremont, Windham, and communities in the chair’s district if HB 651 had passed earlier. Representative Fellows said he has an LSR similar to HB 491 that would study existing and new revenue options using criteria such as revenue potential, administrative cost, affected groups, implementation timeline, and implementation cost, with input from revenue administration and outside agencies. Representative Papich Muller emphasized constitutional separation-of-powers concerns, reading Article 83 and saying he was not comfortable with the broad claim that “cherish” clearly mandates a specific spending level, though he said he intends to follow Supreme Court guidance. Representative Ricky read testimony from a local school board member arguing that the state already imposes many mandates on schools while providing the least funding in the country, and that HB 651 would help restore meaningful local control. No final vote or action was taken in the portion provided, though the chair had indicated the subcommittee would vote before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the Texas A&N system.
• Our system was outdated. You talked earlier about 30, 40-year systems.
• So everyone, with the exception of the University of Texas. and A&M systems are in our system, our health
• If they cast their vote, not many do, but if they cast their vote they can do it online. we can eliminate
• Sometimes their behavior demonstrates that they run it through the system. system and it gets denied,

Keywords: 1184, house, all