Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think that that's being responsible. for us to put in legislation.
• Senator Harold brought forward this legislation.
• They have taken a clean piece of legislation and run it off the road.
• I appreciate how you've handled yourself through this process as a new legislator.
• . legislation that I've had the honor to carry.

Bills: HB 1520, HB 1545, HJR 110, HJR 203, HB 245, HB 1465, HB 1482, HB 294, HB 793, HB 809, HB 3928, HB 334, HB 2037, HB 1973, HB 285, HB 4341, HB 4264, HB 1043, HB 837, HB 1234, HB 1193, HB 1194, HB 1646, HB 1729, HB 2498, HB 1314, HB 2295, HB 1353, HB 1531, HB 1988, HB 5398, HB 3960, HB 3923, HB 1407, HB 1764, HB 2221, HB 2214, HB 2517, HB 2518, HB 2213, HB 5008, HB 5092, HB 3421, HB 3663, HB 3748, HB 3800, HB 3756, HB 2613, HB 3782, HB 5246, HB 4344, HB 4044, HB 4066, HB 2702, HB 2807, HB 2869, HB 2898, HB 3181, HB 3250, HB 4153, HB 2091, HB 2115, HB 2542, HB 2768, HB 3349, HB 3352, HB 4406, HB 1593, HB 1899, HB 3133, HB 4432, HB 4960, HB 3214, HB 3915, HB 3508, HB 2145, SB 304, SB 608, SB 2312, SB 494, SB 530, HB 45, HB 2520, HB 35, HB 47, HB 318, HB 349, HB 554, HB 1359, HB 1373, HB 2254, HB 2259, HB 2853, HB 3073, HB 3088, HB 353, HB 355, HB 786, HB 762, HB 705, HB 932, HB 849, HB 1119, HB 3041, HB 713, HB 3104, HB 3970, HB 4042, HB 4490, HB 1731, HB 2607, HB 3689, HB 1788, HB 1612, HB 138, HB 15, HB 1971, HB 1338, HB 2989, HB 267, HB 1201, HB 2954, HB 5265, HB 1804, HB 5061, HB 1520, HB 1545, HJR 110, HJR 203, HB 1887, HB 1914, HB 2402, HB 2306, HB 1809, HB 2350, HB 3000, HB 3237, HB 3326, HB 3211, HB 1056, HB 2081, HB 2187, HB 3092, HB 3308, HB 3526, HB 3750, HB 3527, HB 4219, HB 4230, HB 4290, HB 5238, HB 4804, HB 4749, HB 245, HB 1465, HB 1482, HB 294, HB 793, HB 809, HB 3928, HB 334, HB 2037, HB 1973, HB 285, HB 4341, HB 4264, HB 1043, HB 837, HB 1234, HB 1193, HB 1194, HB 1646, HB 1729, HB 2498, HB 1314, HB 2295, HB 1353, HB 1531, HB 1988, HB 5398, HB 3960, HB 3923, HB 1407, HB 1764, HB 2221, HB 2214, HB 2517, HB 2518, HB 2213, HB 5008, HB 5092, HB 3421, HB 3663, HB 3748, HB 3800, HB 3756, HB 2613, HB 3782, HB 5246, HB 4344, HB 4044, HB 4066, HB 2702, HB 2807, HB 2869, HB 2898, HB 3181, HB 3250, HB 4153, HB 2091, HB 2115, HB 2542, HB 2768, HB 3349, HB 3352, HB 4406, HB 1593, HB 1899, HB 3133, HB 4432, HB 4960, HB 3214, HB 3915, HB 3508, HB 2145, HCR 6, HCR 12, HCR 34, HCR 50, HCR 55, HCR 58, HCR 70, HCR 71, HCR 72, HCR 74, HCR 75, HCR 78, HCR 80, HCR 93, HCR 100, HCR 107, HCR 116, HCR 117, HCR 90

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Summary: The Florida House considered multiple bills on Day 59 of the legislative session. Key legislation included CS for HB 1103 on developmental disabilities services, which expanded a pilot program statewide while maintaining current contracts. CS for SB 1730 addressed affordable housing with amendments protecting historic districts. CS for HB 443 on charter schools allowed stricter codes of conduct and virtual student athletic participation. CS for HB 209 prohibited golf courses and hotels in state parks. Lucy's Law (CS for HB 289) increased boating safety penalties and education requirements. CS for HB 1205 significantly restricted citizen ballot initiatives by requiring petition circulator registration, limiting volunteer collections to 25 signatures, adding financial impact statements, and imposing new penalties. The House also passed bills on animal cruelty databases, waste incineration restrictions, and spectrum alerts for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• No notice, no notification whatsoever.
• I think that we should probably look at these kinds of notifications.
• We have spoken, and I told you, this is a very good piece of legislation.
• This legislation also gives patients the flexibility to receive within two days.
• What problem are you attempting to solve with this legislation? You're recognized.

Summary: The committee took up a large health and human services agenda and first approved HB 711, the Spectrum Alert bill, which would create a statewide alert system for missing autistic children and require FDLE to coordinate training with state and local agencies. The measure drew a supportive waiver from the Florida Smart Justice Alliance and passed unanimously, 24-0, reported favorably. Members then considered CS for HB 229 on health facilities, which modernizes the Health Facilities Authority Act to allow additional nonprofit health system structures to use tax-exempt financing. Two amendments were adopted: one requiring advance notice, public hearings, and stakeholder notifications before a nonprofit hospital closure, and another removing a property tax exemption for a nonprofit hospital that closes and fails to maintain emergency services for 120 days, applied retroactively to January 1, 2025. The Florida Hospital Association opposed the amendments, citing workforce and nonprofit-status concerns, but the bill as amended passed 24-0. The committee also approved CS for HB 1405 on juvenile justice status offenders, expanding early truancy intervention, parent involvement, and shelter placement review timelines; it passed 24-0. CS for HB 27, joining the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, and its linked public records bill CS for HB 29 both passed unanimously after supportive testimony from several advocacy and business groups. The committee then debated HB 111 on out-of-network referrals and HB 1083 on patient access to records. HB 111 would require referring practitioners to inform patients in writing when a referral is out of network and to apply out-of-network payments to deductibles; it drew opposition from medical groups over administrative burden and patient-care concerns, but passed 17-8. HB 1083 would shorten the time for producing medical records to 14 working days and standardize access rules, with amendments clarifying portal access and delaying the effective date to January 1, 2026; despite opposition from some health information and provider groups over HIPAA and access concerns, it passed 19-7 as amended. Later, the committee approved HB 883, allowing autonomous practice for psychiatric nurse practitioners with the required credentials, after strong support from nurse practitioner groups and opposition from psychiatric and medical associations; it passed 23-3. HB 1297, which aligns Florida’s electronic prescribing exceptions with federal law and removes several state exemptions, passed 19-7 despite opposition from hospice, emergency physician, rheumatology, and medical groups concerned about paper prescriptions in emergencies and hard-to-find medications. HB 1353 on home health care services and CS for HB 989 on foster home licensure transfers both passed unanimously after supportive amendments. The committee also heard HB 1505 on parental rights, which would require written parental consent for many health care services, surveys, and biofeedback devices for minors and expand parental access to records; the bill drew extensive support testimony but also questions and concerns about confidentiality, abuse reporting, and existing exceptions, and the transcript ended before a final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rachel Ehlers with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• There's other legislative bills that have come across our desk that we have to then incorporate into
• I need to get access to those and have it be required that they provide that notification.
• Or it could be, and part of why the chairs are listed as oversight, or it could be legislation.
• Frankie Menace with the Legislative Analyst's Office. The proposal raised no concerns for us.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several budget and policy items, beginning with the DMV’s proposal for the federal state-to-state verification system and the Digital Experience Platform (DXP). DMV officials said the state-to-state system is required for Real ID compliance and functions as a pointer system that shares only limited identifying information to help states verify whether an applicant has records in another jurisdiction. Members pressed hard on privacy, access, hacking, notification, and misuse concerns, including whether other states or federal actors could use the system to target Californians. DMV said access is limited to member jurisdictions, requests are transaction-based, records are encrypted, California can see when its data is requested, and legal remedies would include working through AAMVA and the Attorney General if misuse occurred. On DXP, DMV said the project has been reset, is on its revised schedule and budget, occupational licensing is complete, vehicle registration is targeted for completion by the end of the calendar year, and the full modernization is expected by fiscal year 2028-29. The committee then took up the High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General trailer bill and AB 1608. The Inspector General said current law does not clearly authorize public reports or establish a work-paper retention and disclosure framework, and that the trailer bill and AB 1608 would codify those powers, add access to needed job classifications and purchasing authority, and require public reporting with temporary confidentiality only in limited circumstances such as pending litigation, security vulnerabilities, or fraud-detection weaknesses. Members debated how broad the confidentiality language should be, whether reports could remain confidential too long, and whether the bill should define “proposed agreements” and require notice to the Inspector General when agreements are being reviewed. The Inspector General said he had already found at least one procurement-related state law violation involving an amendment that added services not in the original contract, and members discussed the project’s large cost growth and the need for stronger oversight. No vote was taken on the item in the portion provided. Finally, Caltrans began presenting a trailer bill proposal related to workforce development under SB 150, explaining that it would amend Government Code 14017, which governs use of federal highway formula funds and related workforce development efforts. The transcript cuts off as Caltrans starts its overview, so no further discussion, vote, or action on that item is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:48.959> last meetings and drafting legislation last meetings and drafting legislation
• fix this without any legislation. fix this without any legislation.
• get in the way of good legislation.
• get in the way of good legislation.
• Uh, but we will have notifications.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened, opened with invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, called the roll, excused absent members, and approved the prior day’s journal. The clerk then reported second-reading bills, including measures on a residential safe room rebate program, planning commission membership, dual credit scholarship programs, missing persons, school transportation, and behavioral health conditional dismissal, which were referred to the Rules Committee. New bills and resolutions were also introduced, including Senate Bill 103 on prescription drugs and Senate Resolution 44 recognizing Kentucky Arts Day. The main floor debate centered on Senate Bill 7, which would allow county officials in counties without permanent regional licensing offices to handle driver’s license renewals and duplicates, including Real ID renewals, with a $25 fee on top of the existing license cost. Supporters argued the bill would reduce long drives, long lines, missed work and school, and restore local access and accountability; several members described it as a necessary but imperfect starting point and noted rural residents were especially burdened by the current system. Opponents or skeptics said the bill was only a band-aid, raised concerns about implementation and whether the executive branch should fix the issue administratively, and some noted they would prefer a stronger statewide solution. After extended debate and several questions about fees, online renewals, and the bill’s limited scope, the Senate voted on SB 7. The bill passed 34-1. Following passage, the Senate recessed briefly for Rules Committee and Committee on Committees meetings, then received committee reports referring additional bills and posting several measures for future consideration. The chamber also adopted Senate Resolution 43, honoring Graville Reed Jr., and announced it would not meet on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with the next session scheduled for Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have Rachel Cotton, who is our legislative intern there at the indigent defense system and we
• I expect in the next couple of years that I will be bringing legislation.
• by shifting from mailed letters to automated Text and email notifications will significantly reduce
• Chairman, as a follow-up to Chairman Sterling's question, the notification: how is that made, as far
• The protocol to respond to that legislator once he asked for a response, especially when it was made,

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then a parent gets a notification.”
• And then a parent get to notification.
• This is truly egregious legislation.
• That's what this legislation says.
• This is tyranny dressed up in legislative language.

Bills: SB17, SB1569, SB2420, HB5138, HJR161, HB1937, HB3334, HB5444, HB5137, HB361, HB321, HB5447, HB464, HB678, HB2294, HB4172, HB3225, HB1769, HB5394, HB1837, HB1787, HB2271, HB2440, HB5134, HB5149, HB2151, HB2073, HB2186, HB2025, HB1936, HB1777, HB1663, HB 1306, HB 1290, HB1527, HB4802, HB3462, HB2963, HB2462, HB2560, HB644, HB2725, HB2621, HB2588, HB1443, HB1403, HB3032, HB1557, HB1664, HB2811, HB2088, HB2598, HB3062, HB3134, HB3940, HB4027, HB4097, HB4862, HB4170, HB4157, HB4205, HB4279, HB4377, HB4838, HB5424, HB5294, HB4870, HB4763, HB5639, HB4112, HB2275, HB1677, HB5014, HB3848, HB3797, HB3727, HB3709, HB3177, HB3057, HB4176, HB4202, HB2180, HB3528, HB3658, HCR76, HCR127

Keywords: foreign ownership, real property, national security, criminal penalties, civil penalties, personal information, higher education, privacy protection, governing board, institutional security, software applications, mobile devices, age verification, parental consent, data protection, app store regulation, HJR 161, Texas constitutional amendment, voting rights, non-citizen voting

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received the invocation and pledges, and heard several announcements and recognitions before moving into floor action. Members honored the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team for winning a share of the 2025 President’s Cup, recognized educator Jessica Lopez, and paid memorial tribute to Jennifer Maddenly, along with recognitions for Jeanette Valdez Duran’s food pantry work, TAMACC’s 50th anniversary, and Bernardine Steptoe’s retirement from WFAA. The House also granted permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, set a local consent calendar, and suspended posting rules for a Public Health Committee hearing on SB 2721. The chamber then considered a long series of Senate and House bills, with many passing on record votes. Measures addressed local law enforcement authority (SB 906), veterans highway designation (SB 1229), foster care medical billing (SB 855), massage therapy trafficking safeguards (SB 703), tax ballot language (SB 1025), occupational licensing for people with convictions (SB 1080), lien deadlines (SB 929), liquor sales complaints (SB 1355), higher education application fee waivers (SB 2231), utility data access (SB 1877), pediatric preceptorships (SB 1998), and several House bills on bond forfeiture notice, health workforce coordination, indigent civil commitment representation, consumer transaction cancellations, bird dispersal rules, theft venue for digital property, military grant applications, AI cancer-detection grants, cybersecurity contract language, in-state tuition for military-related programs, utility capital recovery, energy waste advisory oversight, gas utility rate recovery, psychedelic therapy study, teacher retirement funding transparency, pension changes, tax payment plans, and voter registration security. Some measures drew notable debate or amendments, including HB 5247, where a ratepayer-credit amendment failed, and HB 2298, HB 4014, HB 510, HB 561, HB 1128, HB 1904, HB 30, HB 200, HB 3045, and HB 5111, which all passed after recorded votes with varying margins. A major point of contention was SB 2420, the app store age-verification bill, which prompted extended debate over whether the bill should also require app developers to verify users’ ages. Representative Bryant offered an amendment to preserve developer verification obligations, arguing the bill would otherwise shift responsibility away from app makers; the author opposed it, saying the bill’s approach was more workable and raised concerns about First Amendment issues. Multiple points of order were raised and withdrawn during the debate, and the amendment discussion remained unresolved in the excerpt. The House also postponed further consideration of SB 17, SB 552, and SB 2420 at different points, and recessed for lunch after completing a large block of third-reading votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Megan Boland with the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
• In any election, we should... ...this proposed legislation.
• It's either clear in the language or it's clear in the legislative intent, and it's written in the legislative
• I mean, so. ...and look at the legislative intent.
• Audit manager in the Office of the Legislative Auditor General.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, I cannot recall that piece of legislation.
• That's the purpose of this piece of legislation.
• Where did the mile, the one mile distance for notification. Where did that come from?
• Consistent with the legislative intent of the bill. With that, Mr.
• It's the enabling legislation for that probably within a couple of weeks.

Bills: SJR 12, SCR 39, SB 7, SB 8, SB 27, SB 29, SB 125, SB 241, SB 371, SB 396, SB 406, SB 464, SB 568, SB 578, SB 608, SB 617, SB 660, SB 689, SB 693, SB 707, SB 731, SB 732, SB 763, SB 779, SB 836, SB 854, SB 857, SB 875, SB 878, SB 879, SB 906, SB 920, SB 921, SB 922, SB 942, SB 965, SB 985, SB 996, SB 1029, SB 1035, SB 1036, SB 1059, SB 1084, SB 1098, SB 1101, SB 1185, SB 1188, SB 1321, SB 1332, SB 1366, SB 1388, SB 1396, SB 1453, SB 1484, SB 1494, SB 1536, SB 1563, SB 1596, SB 1610, SB 1619, SB 1737, SB 1738, SB 1741, SB 1816, SB 1822, SB 1841, SB 1939, SB 2155, SB 2188, SB 2230

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border, National Guard, state guard, border wall, border barriers

Summary: In this meeting, significant discussions revolved around the passage and modification of various Senate Bills, including SB1388, which pertains to family support services under the Health and Human Services Commission. Senator Kolkhorst advocated for the bill, emphasizing its focus on pro-life, family-centered care. The committee passed the bill after thorough examination, showcasing a collaborative effort among the members to ensure its alignment with successful past initiatives. In another session, Senator Hughes presented SB942, aimed at retroactive child support linked to prenatal care, which sparked a constructive dialogue reflecting bipartisan support for maternal and child welfare.

Transcript Highlights:

• Journal of the House, 94th Session, 2026. 63rd Legislative Day, St.
• <00:11:54.160> who I happened to be the only legislator who I happened to be the only legislator
• ,<00:19:34.960> between between those notifications, between between those notifications,
• <00:26:49.160> I'm important piece of the legislation.
• I'm important piece of the legislation.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a roll call establishing a quorum, approval of the prior day’s journal, adoption of committee reports, and the first readings of several House and Senate files. The chamber also received Senate File 476, which was referred to Ways and Means, and Senate File 4807, which was sent for comparison with a House file. The Speaker announced members to escort the Governor to the joint convention on April 28. The main floor action was House File 3489, an education bill establishing field trip supervision rules and creating the criminal offense of grooming. Representative Bennett described the bill as a response to survivor testimony and explained that it would prohibit staff from being alone with students in certain circumstances, create felony penalties for grooming, make grooming grounds for educator license discipline, add grooming to mandatory reporting and training, and allow the Department of Education to look back further in investigations. Bennett and several members also noted the bill’s fiscal note, including added investigative staffing and prison costs. During debate, multiple members from both parties voiced support, emphasizing student safety, mandatory reporter training, clearer field trip rules, and better communication with licensing boards. Several members thanked survivor Hannah LaPresto and Detective Chad Clausen for their work and testimony, and some members stressed that grooming is a deliberate process and that the bill is intended to protect children without vilifying educators. Representative Jordan also highlighted prevention through education about consent and grooming. No amendments were offered, and the bill was given its third reading; members repeatedly urged a green vote, though the transcript provided does not include the final roll-call result.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as legislators and also as local elected officials.
• Callie Carswell, with the Legislative Finance Committee.
• Callie Carswell, with the Legislative Finance Committee.
• And we as legislators put pressure on them. In my mind, Mr.
• That's what this legislation is about.

Bills: HB111, HB61, HB43, HB156, HB70, SB3, HB103, HB109, HB128, HB247, HJM2, HJM3, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this will make you still get that in that initial notification.
• We have a new legislative liaison, Jennifer Littleson.
• To help present, we have a new legislative liaison, Jennifer Littleson.
• We have a mandate to open an office in Taiwan based on legislation.
• So, you're addressing this through legislation. This Session, yes.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AS WE KNOW WE HAVE THE FLORIDA HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND COUNTER NOTIFICATION SERVICE WHICH CAN
• HENCE THE NEED FOR THIS LEGISLATION IN THIS ROLE.
• NOT ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE LEGISLATION AS PASSED.
• OUR LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DIRECTOR HAS CONTACT INFORMATION LISTED. >> Chair: ANY QUESTIONS?
• I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE HIV PREVENTION LEGISLATION.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is some sort of notification. Notification.
• <00:30:10.480> um<00:30:10.960> notification<00:30:11.760> is already have in
• law. um notification is already have in law. um notification is already<00:30:12.720> in<00:30
• <00:41:38.560> and<00:41:39.119> judicial um judicial notification and judicial um
• judicial notification and judicial bypass.<00:41:40.960> So<00:41:41.760> bypass<00:41:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• YOU WANT TO SCORE POINTS WITH THE TIN HAT CROWD BUT LEGISLATING BASED ON COMMENT THREADS ISN'T BRAVE,
• YOU'RE COSPLAYING ALEX JONES WITH LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY SO GO AHEAD, MAKE FUN OF US AND OUR WATER BUT
• THERE ARE SO MANY ELEMENTS NOW THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS A K THROUGH 20 PACKAGE THAT ARE HELPING US TO
• CHAIRMAN FIRST OF ALL THE LEGISLATION DOES NOT REFER TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED.
• I KNOW WHAT THE LEGISLATION WE NOTIFY FOLKS WITH A POSTCARD OR WHATEVER CAN YOU SIGN THIS PETITION.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we will not permit conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of legislative
• We've supported AI bills and bill authors in 10 states in the 2025 legislative session.
• Is there a direct correlation with legislation that's being passed or not passed, so forth?
• Additionally, my team and I are closely watching legislation in Congress.
• Additionally, my team and I are closely watching legislation in Congress that may affect the scope and

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard several bills focused on AI, immigration-related health care protections, digital financial assets, and online cannabis/hemp sales. SB 69 by Senator McNerney would create an AI-focused team within the Department of Justice to build enforcement expertise on civil rights, public safety, and legal issues tied to AI. SB 81 by Senator Arreguín would codify hospital and health facility policies limiting disclosure of patient immigration status and restricting immigration enforcement access without a judicial warrant. SB 97 by Senator Grayson would update and clarify California’s digital financial assets licensing law. SB 243 by Senator Padilla would impose guardrails on AI companion chatbots, including disclosures, anti-addictive design limits, self-harm protocols, and a private right of action. SB 378 by Senator Wiener would allow civil penalties against online marketplaces that advertise illicit intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Testimony on SB 69 emphasized that California needs in-house AI enforcement expertise at the DOJ; supporters said AG offices generally lack tech-policy specialists, while members asked about the Attorney General’s role and noted the office was neutral. SB 81 drew broad support from nurses, immigrant advocates, hospitals, labor, and community groups, who argued that hospitals should remain safe places for care regardless of immigration status; there was no opposition. SB 97 was described as a technical cleanup bill with stakeholder consensus, and the main public comment focused on ensuring blockchain-based nonfinancial products are not unintentionally swept into the law. SB 243 generated the most debate. Supporters, including the mother of a Florida teen who died by suicide after interacting with a chatbot, urged stronger protections for minors and vulnerable users. Opponents argued the bill’s definitions were too broad and could capture general-purpose AI systems, and raised concerns about privacy, cost, and a private right of action. Committee members largely supported the bill’s intent and discussed the need for guardrails without stifling innovation. SB 378 was supported by cannabis workers, retailers, and local government representatives who said online sales of untested intoxicating hemp and illegal cannabis are harming public health and the legal market; opponents from hemp and tech groups argued the bill could sweep in lawful hemp businesses and that definitions need refinement. The committee ultimately passed SB 69, SB 81, SB 97, SB 243, and SB 378, with SB 81 and SB 243 amended, and all five bills were sent onward to their next committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that legislatively set, or? Madam Chair, Mr.
• What do you see going forward from us legislators?
• We get a lot of questions about this from legislators.
• It's one that you would have seen from the legislative session.
• To legislate to the executive branch most often.

Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence for a deceased member, then approved the April minutes and heard a presentation from HHS on the Diversion Task Force and related youth services grants. Chelsea Florey described the $750,000 one-time appropriation from HB 1012, the five awarded grants, and how programs in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot are using the funds for youth diversion, including school-based groups, physical activity, and services for problematic sexual behavior. Members raised concerns about staffing shortages, family engagement, service silos, and whether diversion eligibility rules are too rigid; Florey said the task force is focused on better coordination, broader education about available services, and possible changes to diversion criteria, with the Children’s Cabinet likely to drive broader recommendations. The committee then received a North Dakota Lottery biennium report from Director Thomas Lawler, who reviewed the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, player programs, and revenue distribution. He reported about $67 million in ticket sales for the 2023-2025 biennium, about $16.2 million transferred overall, including roughly $13.6 million to the general fund, plus transfers to drug task force and compulsive gambling funds. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether it is set by statute. Next, the Department of Corrections presented on criminal justice data sharing and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that jails, courts, DOCR, HHS, and other entities use separate systems with limited interoperability, making real-time communication largely manual. He outlined possible hub or point-to-point IT solutions, but noted cost, vendor, identifier, and data-definition challenges. Robin Schmolenberger followed with an update on a Medicaid data exchange project between DOCR and HHS to suspend and reactivate inmate Medicaid coverage automatically and improve care coordination, with full bi-directional exchange expected in fall 2026. The committee also heard from county representatives on 24-7 sobriety program fees and an AG opinion allowing local sheriffs to use cheaper testing options when courts waive fees. Finally, the North Dakota Racing Commission reviewed a troubling audit. Bruce Johnson acknowledged serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, missing grant documentation, a reversed decision on breeders fund eligibility, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has begun corrective actions, including monthly tracking of the promotion fund cap, stricter grant documentation, written procurement procedures, and clearer eligibility rules in condition books. Members pressed him on how the overspending occurred, whether the commission board would impose consequences, and whether statutory clarification is needed on the promotion fund limit and related spending rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and there's a statewide notification system. I wanted to pull that out.
• Uh and there's a statewide notification<00:57:17.839> system.
• <00:57:57.440> not statewide notification system will not statewide notification system will
• c> for enhanced notification capacity for enhanced notification capacity for really<00:58:01.359>
• notification notification to<00:58:16.880> impacted<00:58:18.000> citizens.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hunt for legislation to provide accidental death benefits for the surviving spouse of Matthew Troy, a
• This legislation deals with training requirements for employees of lodging establishments.
• I want to thank the gentleman from the North End for his support of this legislation, all...
• I want to thank the gentleman from the North End for his support of this legislation.
• Madam Speaker, now is the time and I urge all members to support this legislation. Thank you.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House began with ceremonial and procedural business, including adoption of resolutions recognizing the National Asian Pacific American Caucus and several orders extending reporting deadlines for committees, all of which were adopted by suspension of the rules. The House also concurred with a Senate petition concerning accidental death benefits for the surviving spouse of a former Boston firefighter, referring it to the Committee on Public Service. The chamber then took up several Ways and Means bills and local matters, including human trafficking recognition training for certain hospitality workers, teacher benefits under the Retirement Plus program, and land/easement measures for Westford, Wellesley, and Bourne. Most of these items were advanced to third reading after amendments were adopted. The House also moved through a series of local bills on the calendar, ordering multiple measures to third reading, including bills related to Watertown digital legal notices, Newton alarm divisions, Springfield property tax assessment, Natick’s charter, Beckett conservation commission membership, and Leicester stabilization funds. Later, the House considered and passed two major bills to be engrossed by roll call vote. H. 4361, relative to benefits for teachers, was supported by members who described it as a long-sought fix to Retirement Plus enrollment problems caused by unclear implementation and communication years ago; it passed 158-0. H. 4360, requiring human trafficking recognition training for certain hospitality workers, also drew strong support from members and advocates emphasizing victim identification, hotel and motel staff training, and anti-trafficking enforcement; an amendment updating the training language was adopted, and the bill likewise passed 158-0. The House then recessed until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, this is my legislation. Don't let this volume of it scare you.
• Seeing none, this is my legislation. Don't let this volume of it scare you.
• First off to my friend on my left, there's about 15 states with a legislative term limit.
• I used to work in a state in Oklahoma where they have a 12-year lifetime legislative limit.
• I used to work in a state in Oklahoma where they have a 12-year lifetime legislative moment.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting covered a large number of bills and resolutions across education, federalism, government, health, commerce, and judiciary-related topics. In education, members heard bills on moving the statewide testing window later, allowing paper-based testing in more cases, posting school administrator compensation data, expanding who may receive student directory information, reviewing duplicative ADE reporting requirements, requiring religious excusals, creating a school fitness recognition program, and a proposed ballot measure on sex-designated school sports and private spaces. In federalism, the committee discussed banning foreign nationals from funding ballot-measure committees and a proposal to eliminate voting centers and return to precinct-based voting. Other items included memorials urging the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations and the IMF, and a government bill penalizing agencies that fail to submit financial reports on time. Health and human services bills focused on lactation care, a state certification program for lactation providers, prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors, requiring chief medical officers at state agencies to hold active licenses, clarifying air ambulance statutes, seeking a SNAP waiver to restrict non-eligible food purchases, and collecting hospital patient immigration-status data for reporting. Sponsors generally framed these as consumer protection, public health, or administrative cleanup measures, while some members raised concerns about cost, privacy, and possible legal conflicts. In commerce, the committee heard bills on digital goods disclosure, protections for child content creators, liability limits for river outfitters, landlord utility billing transparency, appraisal management company definitions, unemployment eligibility verification, and association-based health plans. Several measures were pulled from consent or flagged for amendments. The judiciary portion included bills creating a civil cause of action for violations of anti-DEI laws, expanding hate-crime-style penalties to include political affiliation and expression, adding reporting requirements for name changes by sex offenders, penalizing possession of falsified commercial driver’s licenses by unlawfully present individuals, adding penalties for mailing abortion-inducing drugs, allowing speed-limiting devices as an alternative to license suspension, extending inmate transition services, increasing penalties for sexual extortion involving older teens, requiring legislative approval to close state shooting ranges, and advancing an Article V convention resolution for congressional term limits. Several sponsors emphasized public safety, parental rights, election integrity, or government accountability, while some members raised constitutional or implementation concerns, particularly on liability, voting systems, and the term-limits resolution. Multiple bills were reported as being on consent calendars, with some pulled for amendments or further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Permit-by-notification is about half of what we do, and those are for the smaller projects.
• Well, one thing I'd add here is that with a permit-by-notification, it's a flat fee.
• Or, well, the alternative, you could have gone through the legislative process.
• “No, so that was in addition to when we were creating this permit by notification language.
• Okay, can you clarify for me when you say permit by notification, what does that mean?”

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the Department of Environmental Services on proposed changes in House Bill 2 and related technical changes in House Bill 1 tied to the governor’s permitting realignment initiative. The proposal would move environmental review staff from Fish and Game and DNCR to DES to create a more centralized “one-stop shop” for applicants needing DES permits, especially for wildlife and natural heritage reviews. DES said the goal is to speed permitting, support a 60-day review clock, and improve coordination among agencies while keeping the substantive review work in place. Members asked about staffing impacts, the scope of the transferred duties, and whether the change would create redundancy or weaken the other agencies. DES said most of the affected staff work primarily on these reviews, though Fish and Game staff also handle other state and federal reviews, which is why the proposal was adjusted to keep one of the four Fish and Game positions there and move three to DES, along with two positions from DNCR. DES also described a new supervisory position in HB 2 to manage the transferred staff within its land resources bureau. Officials said the reviews would still be done by specialists, but under DES supervision, and that the agencies would continue to coordinate recommendations on species impacts and mitigation. The committee also discussed fee increases intended to offset costs, including a 50% increase in wetlands fees and a 100% increase in alteration-of-terrain fees, with the department saying the changes would cover the new positions. Members raised concerns about impacts on private homeowners, possible incentives to work without permits, and whether fines should be used more as a revenue source or for mitigation. DES said wetlands permits are roughly split between homeowner-related and commercial projects, that permit-by-notification already creates a two-tier structure for smaller projects, and that enforcement relies partly on public complaints and online permitting systems. The department also said most fines currently go to the general fund and vary widely year to year, with about $75,000 budgeted, and that the proposal would also create permit-by-notification authority for alteration-of-terrain projects between 100,000 and 150,000 square feet, mirroring language in Senate Bill 110. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.