Transcript Highlights:

• Our export promotion programs from a federal level, MAP and FMD, are vitally important, and then Laura
• Our export promotion programs from a federal level, MAP and FMD, are vitally important, and then Laura

Summary: The House Ag Affairs Committee approved the minutes from its March 16, 2026 meeting and then took up House Bill 879, which Representative John Scheris described as a pared-down version of an earlier industrial hemp bill. He said the measure would bring retail hemp product establishments under the Idaho Department of Agriculture’s oversight to address loopholes involving the sale of THC products such as Delta-8 and Delta-9, while avoiding overregulation of hemp seed, powder, and other legitimate products. Braden Jensen of the Idaho Farm Bureau supported the bill, saying it reflected stakeholder work and would help ensure retail products comply with state law. Representative McCann moved to send HB 879 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation and to place it on second reading, and the committee agreed. The committee then received an update from Laura Wilder of the Idaho Barley Commission. She reviewed the commission’s funding, goals, and programs, and reported that Idaho remained the nation’s leading barley producer, growing 39% of the U.S. crop in 2025 on about 490,000 harvested acres. She highlighted research, market development, and education efforts, including work that has improved yields over time, reduced unnecessary input costs, and supported domestic and foreign market development. Wilder also noted current market softness, including expected declines in malt barley acres and flat prices, but said long-term demand remains promising because of brewing, feed, and food applications. Maya Landa of the Idaho Grain Producers Association followed with a broader overview of the grain economy. She said growers are facing low commodity prices, rising input costs, weather and water risks, trade uncertainty, and policy changes, while noting that wheat and barley remain major Idaho crops and that exports are critical to profitability. She discussed the importance of federal programs, the Farm Bill, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, water infrastructure, workforce issues, and commodity commissions. Committee members asked about dam breaching concerns affecting the Columbia-Snake river system and about the stalled Farm Workforce Modernization Act; Landa emphasized the need for continued engagement on those issues. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico has actually, we are on the map.
• But this bill says, gives the parameters of saying we're going to use data map towards that.

Summary: The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee met and first heard House Bill 30, which would update New Mexico’s teacher residency program. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would raise and index residency stipends to a percentage of a level-one teacher salary, better align pay with teacher compensation over time, and loosen post-residency service rules so residents could teach anywhere in New Mexico rather than being tied to one district. Testimony from educators, school boards, unions, and teacher-preparation groups emphasized that year-long residencies improve classroom readiness, help recruit career changers and special education teachers, and increase retention, especially in rural areas. Members asked about the stipend calculation and funding impacts; the bill was described as using existing grow funding and possibly requiring tradeoffs in future years. The committee approved HB 30 on a do-pass vote. The committee then considered House Bill 43, a PERA cleanup bill. PERA staff explained that the measure makes technical corrections, resolves ambiguities, and aligns the statute with current administrative practice without making major policy changes. Supporters from AFSCME and the Educational Retirement Board said the bill would help administer retirement benefits more clearly, reduce litigation risk, and improve reciprocity for members with both PERA and ERB service credit. Committee questions focused on liability for overpayments, disability-retiree earnings limits, and survivor benefits for volunteer firefighters; staff said the changes were intended to broaden and modernize the language and mirror other retirement plans. HB 43 also received a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 255, which would consolidate separate public safety workforce funding streams into a single nonreverting public safety workforce capacity building fund. The sponsor and Department of Finance and Administration witnesses said the new fund would create a more durable, flexible way to support recruitment, retention, relocation assistance, training, equipment, and other workforce needs for police, corrections, firefighters, and related public safety personnel. Supporters from the State Police, counties, labor, and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber said vacancies and short staffing are severe and that a stable grant program would help fill positions and improve public safety and economic stability. After brief questions about the fund structure and uses, the committee passed HB 255 on a do-pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• They rely on communities of interest being separated geographically and on carefully drawn maps, which
• A map based around single-member districts would not guarantee that people of color, for example, could

Bills: HB1662, HB1683

Keywords: education agencies, administrative independence, superintendent, education reform, agency authority, education, school boards, district adjustments, administrative boundaries, educational governance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They rely on communities of interest being separated geographically and on carefully drawn maps, which
• A map based around single-member districts would not guarantee that people of color, for example, could

Summary: The House Education Committee held public hearings on two bills. House Bill 1662 would move several education-related boards and commissions—the State Board of Education, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, and the Charter School Commission—toward operational independence from OSPI by July 1, 2027, including separate administrative services, asset and employee transfers, and transition planning by OFM. The prime sponsor and supporters said the bill would improve transparency, fiscal accountability, and agency flexibility, while OSPI-related testimony emphasized that small agencies need more nimble administrative support. No one testified in opposition; the hearing record noted 2 pro, 1 con, and 5 other sign-ins, and members were told the bill was substantively the same as the version passed the prior year except for date changes. The committee then heard House Bill 1683, which would require most school districts with 2,000 or more students to elect at least some school board members from director districts rather than entirely at-large, with larger districts needing more district-based seats and districts under 2,000 students exempt. The sponsor and supporters argued the change would improve geographic and demographic representation, especially for lower-income communities and communities of color, and would help ensure school boards reflect the students and families they serve. Opponents, including a school directors association representative, said the bill would be an unfunded mandate, reduce local control, and create added election costs and recruitment challenges; one witness also suggested the bill should consider broader proportional-representation options. Staff noted that 23 districts would currently be out of compliance, and the hearing record showed 12 pro, 163 con, and 2 other sign-ins. No executive action was taken on either bill during this portion of the meeting. At the end of the hearing, the chair reminded members that several bills heard that week would be on next Thursday’s executive session agenda, urged prompt amendment requests, and announced that the committee would adjourn to caucuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• we're done with that, once we finish that, we're gonna come back to me and I will give kind of a road map
• So we heard the map of why we're here and what we're going to do.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would require a comprehensive fiscal map of Minnesota's child welfare streams to help DCF,
• This bill would require a comprehensive fiscal map of Minnesota's child welfare streams to help DCF,
• This bill would require a comprehensive fiscal map of Minnesota's child welfare streams to help DCF,
• This bill would require a comprehensive fiscal map of Minnesota's child welfare streams to help DCF,
• There's going to be a map on your screen.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we were to look at a map about how some of these providers operate in their regions, that's what we're
• If we were to look<00:24:51.840><c> at</c><00:24:52.000><c> a</c><00:24:52.159><c> map</c><00:24:52.480
• ><c> how</c><00:24:52.960><c> some</c><00:24:53.200><c> of</c><00:24:53.279><c> these</c> look at a map
• about how some of these look at a map about how some of these providers<00:24:54.000><c> operate</c>
• and surveying that geohysical mapping and surveying that they<01:24:39.920><c> could</c><01:24:40.080

Bills: SF0032, SF0010, SF0001, HB0001

Keywords: 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety, mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, Wyoming, budget, funding, education, wildfire prevention, healthcare, community colleges, grants, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• :58.880><c> six</c><00:10:59.200><c> towns</c> Sheridan, a couple of—I think six towns—were able to map
• effort for the inventory and mapping effort for the water<00:15:10.560><c> and</c><00:15:10.720><c>
• </c> again, it's GIS-based, so you can again, it's GIS-based, so you can spatially<00:16:16.880><c> map
• </c><00:16:18.639><c> Um,</c> spatially map all of your assets.
• Um, spatially map all of your assets.

Bills: SF0069, SF0070, SF0016, HB0078, HJ0002, HB0085, HB0086

Keywords: wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water development, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, grazing lands, subleasing, non-owned livestock, state lands, rental fees, agricultural policy, land management

Transcript Highlights:

• And I have included in your packet at the end attachments for the public health region map as well as
• the three HPSA maps that reflect primary care, mental health, and dental health in New Hampshire. key
• public health region map as well as<01:33:10.800><c> the</c><01:33:11.120><c> three</c><01:33:11.360
• ><c> HIPSA</c><01:33:11.840><c> maps</c><01:33:12.159><c> that</c><01:33:12.400><c> reflect</c> as the
• three HIPSA maps that reflect as the three HIPSA maps that reflect primary<01:33:13.679><c> care,</c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the draft minutes of its May 16, 2025 meeting, with one correction removing Representative Dry from the attendance list because she was present as a guest rather than an appointed member. The committee then received a Department of Health and Human Services update from Commissioner Lori Weaver, who focused on the rural health transformation grant process. She said the department has been gathering stakeholder input since July, issued a request for information on September 22, and is working toward an end-of-October draft and a November 3 deadline, with a grant writer request expected to go before Governor and Council at no cost to the state. The bulk of the meeting centered on federal changes affecting SNAP and Medicaid. Karen Heert explained that the federal law changes commonly referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill” or HR1 will affect SNAP eligibility and state costs, including a shift in administrative cost sharing from 50/50 to 75/25 beginning in October 2026 and a possible state share of benefits if New Hampshire’s error rate is too high. She said the program affects about 43,000 households, that New Hampshire’s federal fiscal year 2024 error rate was 7.57% versus a national rate of 10.93%, and that the state must get below 6% to avoid liability. She also said DHS is preparing remediation steps, auditing cases, and seeking technology and staffing support, including a grant for automation and training. Henry Litman then described Medicaid changes under HB2 and the new federal law. He said New Hampshire returned to pre-pandemic eligibility verification rules on July 1, including a 10% income compatibility standard and reduced ex parte renewals, which has increased manual work and contributed to a drop in enrollment from about 185,000 in late June to about 178,000 in early September. He also reviewed new child premiums, pharmacy copays, Granite Advantage premiums, and possible Medicaid work requirements, noting that DHS is working with CMS on implementation details and may use a state plan option rather than an 1115 waiver because it would be less expensive and faster. Members asked several questions about the SNAP error-rate rules, the distinction between administrative and client errors, the effect of unpaid copays, and the timing and legal risk of the Medicaid work requirement; no votes were taken on those policy issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I know when we show maps that we look at routinely, it's pretty easy to see the color codes,
• </c><00:14:37.120><c> that</c> because I I know when we show maps that because I I know when we show
• maps that we<00:14:37.519><c> look</c><00:14:37.680><c> at</c><00:14:38.240><c> routinely,</c><00:14:
• So, just looking at our ML students throughout the whole state of Kentucky, as you'll see on the map,
• Um, as you'll see on the map, that's uh Um, as you'll see on the map, that's uh a<00:45:20.079><c> representation

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity met in September 2025, established a quorum, introduced new member Larry Forester, and approved the minutes from the August 26 meeting. The main presentation came from Warren County Public Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton and Assistant Superintendent Sarah Johnson, who discussed the district’s work serving English language learners and multilingual students, including immigrant and refugee families. They said Warren County now serves roughly 5,500 multilingual students out of about 19,000 total, representing about 92 languages and 90 countries, with 57 certified multilingual teachers, a GO Center, migrant and refugee advocates, and the state’s first international high school. The presenters emphasized that the district welcomes immigrant families and that students and parents generally value public education, but they described major challenges tied to accountability and funding. They explained that multilingual students are tested after one year in the system, even though many need more time to become proficient in English and grade-level standards, and they argued that current graduation-rate rules can unfairly penalize schools when transient students enroll briefly and then leave. They also said the cost of serving this population has risen sharply, with special revenue and especially general-fund spending increasing substantially over the past decade, prompting the district to reallocate resources from EL teacher assistants toward translation technology and additional certified staff. Committee members asked questions about how long-term multilingual students compare with the general student body and whether the district’s data show similar graduation outcomes. Clayton said he did not have the specific comparison data at hand but believed students who stay K-12 generally reach proficiency. He and Johnson asked legislators to consider giving students more time before accountability measures apply and to shift some graduation accountability from individual schools to the district level for highly transient populations, while still maintaining accountability. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the current<00:25:07.679><c> map</c><00:25:08.000><c> of</c><00:25:08.240><c> states</c><00:25
• of states that have a state current map of states that have a state tax<00:25:10.559><c> credit</c><
• printed report, and we presented it in more depth, you know, last time we have the county-by-county maps
• 01:04:17.599><c> and</c><01:04:18.000><c> all</c><01:04:18.160><c> of</c> have the county bycounty maps
• and all of have the county bycounty maps and all of the<01:04:18.480><c> gaps</c><01:04:18.799><c> as

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:15 Roll Call 00:00:45 Discussion of Pro-Growth Housing Policies 00:02:33 Adjournment 01:17:15, 958, all

Summary: The Housing Task Force 2.0 reconvened with several new members and heard a presentation from Kentucky Housing Corporation Executive Director Winston Miller and Deputy Executive Director Wendy Smith. They framed the task force’s work as a practical effort to address Kentucky’s housing shortage, update members on the current housing landscape, summarize existing state and federal resources, and suggest areas for the task force to focus on over the coming year. KHC said its 2024 housing supply gap analysis found Kentucky is short about 206,000 housing units, split roughly evenly between rental and homeownership, and projected the gap could grow to 287,000 units by 2029 if current trends continue. They emphasized that every county in Kentucky needs more housing, that the 2008 housing crisis and loss of construction capacity remain major causes of the shortage, and that current pressures include high interest rates, rising insurance and tax costs, construction cost inflation, and housing prices and rents growing faster than incomes. KHC also said homelessness has risen in Kentucky, with point-in-time counts showing double-digit increases in recent years. The presenters reviewed existing resources, including federal programs, the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the rural housing trust fund, KHC mortgage and down payment assistance programs, and the state mortgage interest deduction. They said these resources are important but insufficient to close the gap, and noted that a proposed federal FY2026 budget would cut HUD programs by 44%, potentially removing about $286 million from Kentucky housing resources, though no action has been taken yet. They urged the task force to consider stronger, more flexible tools such as a revolving loan fund, a state affordable housing tax credit, and economic development and employer-assisted housing incentives, and pointed to Indiana’s housing infrastructure and regional development funds as examples. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what's unfortunate is the way the zoning map is laid out.
• If you follow the zoning map and the zoning ordinance where it's identified as congregate housing in
• </c><01:53:12.639><c> is</c><01:53:12.840><c> laid</c> zoning map is laid zoning map is laid out<01:53
• </c><01:53:17.159><c> and</c><01:53:17.639><c> and</c> out if you follow the zoning map and and out if
• you follow the zoning map and and the<01:53:18.079><c> zoning</c><01:53:18.520><c> ordinance</c><01:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the mapping team.
• regulated facilities, emergency services planning, helping citizens find local resources, and then mapping
• Sources and then mapping of an underserved area as an example of that is working with our friends on
• an entire, you know, the promise is they could look at these entire legacy applications, be able to map
• What that will be, I think we need to be thoughtful at this point and really map it out in terms of what

Summary: The subcommittee held an informational hearing on the Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) within the Office of Administration, with no quorum present and no formal action taken. Chair Voss said the purpose was to review ITSD’s programs, budget needs, and future plans, and members emphasized the value of an informed appropriator. Representative Riggs cautioned that the state should avoid jeopardizing federal broadband funding and asked that AI-related work remain consistent with federal expectations. ITSD leadership, including CIO John Loren and Deputy CIO Tara Damp, outlined the division’s scope and recent modernization efforts. They said ITSD supports 15 executive agencies plus the governor and lieutenant governor, manages about 1,200 production software solutions, handles roughly 35,000 help desk requests per month, and defends against billions of cyberattacks monthly. They highlighted investments in layered security, data center and network redundancy, a unified Microsoft 365 environment, modern development tools, and portal platforms. Damp reviewed the history of IT consolidation, noting budget reductions after 2007, then increased investment beginning in 2020 and especially with ARPA funds in fiscal 2023. Members asked about spending projections, subscription-based licensing, procurement modernization, and the role of non-consolidated agencies such as MoDOT and Conservation. The committee also discussed future funding needs and benchmarking. ITSD said its current spending is about $287 million, with a projected ongoing need of about $345 million to maintain and modernize services, while Gartner comparisons suggested Missouri spends less per employee and as a share of operating budget than peer states. Members asked for more detailed fiscal-year spending profiles for major initiatives and for clarification on what is and is not included in the projections, including Social Services and HR1-related work. ITSD said it would provide additional detail. A major portion of the hearing focused on AI strategy and governance. Tim Marsheski, ITSD’s director of AI and innovation, described a cautious, pilot-based approach centered on secure use, human oversight, and data governance. He cited examples such as an internal HR chatbot that reduced average response time from about 45 minutes to two minutes, pilots with DESE data transformation, and efforts to use AI for code assistance, document scanning, and workflow support. Members asked about workforce impacts, training, closed versus open models, and whether AI could help with auditing and fiscal analysis. ITSD said it is still early on workforce forecasting, but it is building governance, acceptable-use policies, and feedback loops to test tools, measure results, and scale only when they provide value and remain secure.

Transcript Highlights:

• This map is showing you that the rates of homelessness are relatively high for most of the 44 continuums
• homelessness, the places that have the highest rates, which are the darkest shades of blue on this map
• This map is showing you that the rates of homelessness are relatively high for most of the 44 continuums
• also called COCs. 44 continuums of care in California, also called COCs, with darker shades of this map
• The places that have the highest rates, which are the darkest shades of blue on this map, vary widely

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 met to hear an information-only agenda focused on homelessness. The chair and vice chair opened with remarks about affordability, accountability, and the need for flexible but effective state responses. The committee then heard an update from Dr. Ryan Finnegan of UC Berkeley’s Turner Center on homelessness trends, data limitations, and program impacts. He said homelessness remains high, with 2024 point-in-time counts showing about 187,000 people experiencing homelessness statewide, though unsheltered homelessness has declined somewhat as shelter capacity expanded. He emphasized that California’s high housing costs and shortage of affordable housing are the main drivers, while also noting persistent racial disparities, high chronic homelessness, and the importance of coordinated housing, health, and social services. He also warned that cuts or changes to federal programs and state funding streams like HAP could threaten progress. Members questioned Dr. Finnegan about the 9% decline in unsheltered homelessness, the timing and methodology of point-in-time counts, how to interpret trends over time, and the role of policy changes such as Housing First, Proposition 47, and Martin v. Boise. He explained that the 9% figure came from 30 continuums of care that had completed 2025 counts, and that HUD’s eventual statewide number would likely differ because not all regions counted that year. He also discussed how different funding sources are layered in local programs, including HAP, local funds, philanthropic support, federal funds, and CalAIM reimbursements. Several members stressed the need for clearer, more comparable measures of effectiveness and outcomes, including whether programs reduce long-term homelessness and move people toward self-sufficiency. The committee then heard from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness on statewide data systems, especially the Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS). Staff described HDIS as the first state-level integrated homelessness data system, built from local HMIS data and used to track demographics, services, outcomes, and program performance across all 44 continuums of care. They said HDIS has enabled statewide dashboards, system performance measures, and new accountability tools under AB 977 and AB 799. Cal ICH also said HAP Round 4 was highly cost-effective under the State Auditor’s methodology, estimating a cost of about $9,172 per person permanently housed, and that new AB 799 dashboards are intended to provide clearer public reporting on outcomes, fiscal data, and progress toward statewide goals. Members asked about measuring self-sufficiency, identifying the best local partners, detecting fraud, and whether the new dashboards will allow better comparisons among program types and funding uses. No votes were taken, and the one scheduled vote was postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we’ve obviously got some gaps in that map that we’d like to fill, especially in those rural areas
• We’ve had a great deal of interest, as you can see on the map, from up around Huntsville, a great deal
• can</c><00:47:53.680><c> see</c><00:47:53.760><c> on</c><00:47:54.000><c> the</c><00:47:54.160><c> map
• c><00:47:55.520><c> from</c><00:47:55.760><c> up</c><00:47:56.000><c> around</c> you can see on the map
• um from up around you can see on the map um from up around Huntsville,<00:47:57.520><c> great</c><00

Bills: SB62, HB361, HB244, HB377, HB411, HB422, HB423, HB425, SB16, HB452, HB354

Keywords: SB62, Alabama, conservation and natural resources, hunting license, fishing license, wildlife heritage license, license identification, government-issued ID, residency determination, in-state residency, student residency, tuition classification, public higher education, domicile, resident status, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR, Section 9-11-32, Section 9-11-33, Section 16-64-3

Transcript Highlights:

• Program mapping is now complete, revealing strong synergies across the two campuses and across disciplines
• Curriculum mapping is underway, guided by a unified academic senate that earlier this year approved the
• Program mapping is now complete, revealing with care and intention.
• Program mapping is now complete, revealing strong synergies across the two campuses and across disciplines
• Curriculum mapping is underway, guided by a unified academic senate earlier this year approved the integration

Summary: The joint Assembly Higher Education and Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the future of the California State University system, with opening remarks emphasizing CSU’s major role in California’s economy, workforce, and degree production. Chairs and members said the hearing was intended to inform 2026 budget decisions and to examine three main issues: declining enrollment at some campuses, cost controls and possible consolidation, and oversight of recent state investments at campuses such as Humboldt and Sonoma. The meeting was briefly delayed by microphone and sound problems before reconvening. The first panel featured CSU Academic Senate Chair Dr. Elizabeth Boyd and Cal State Student Association Vice President Katie Karam. Boyd urged the Legislature to protect academic freedom, strengthen faculty governance, provide stable ongoing funding, end unfunded mandates, support student food and housing security, fund flexible course schedules, improve transfer systems such as ASSIST, avoid over-centralizing academic programs, protect immigrant students, and expand intersegmental collaboration. Karam said students are feeling the effects of budget shortfalls through fewer course sections, reduced advising and services, longer time to degree, and tuition pressure, and she called for transparency, meaningful student involvement in budget decisions, and sustained state investment rather than cuts that harm the student experience. The second panel covered enrollment management and included CSU Chancellor’s Office and campus administrators from Chico State, Cal State L.A., and San Diego State. Dr. Delcy Perez said CSU Forward and the new systemwide enrollment plan are aimed at expanding access, aligning programs with workforce needs, and increasing resident enrollment; she reported systemwide enrollment gains and strong application numbers, including a direct-admissions pilot that expanded from Riverside to more campuses. Campus representatives described local recruitment and retention strategies, including early outreach to high school students, community college partnerships, guaranteed admission programs, and expanded advising and student support. San Diego State highlighted record enrollment and high demand, while Cal State L.A. described efforts to recover from impaction and rebuild enrollment. Members pressed CSU officials on the accuracy of enrollment data, the gap between funded targets and actual enrollment, and the system’s reallocation formula. CSU staff explained that campuses below target will see a 5% ongoing reallocation beginning in 2026-27, with one-time reserve funding also being directed to campuses that can grow, and that fiscal health reviews have been completed for 21 of 22 campuses. Legislators also asked about turnaround plans required by the budget act; CSU said those plans are being developed and will be shared in the spring after campus consultation. No formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• a company that you had, Quality Homes, that unfortunately you lost the lease on this very same tax map
• a company that you had, Quality Homes, that unfortunately you lost the lease on this very same tax map
• a company that you had, Quality Homes, that unfortunately you lost the lease on this very same tax map
• a company that you had, Quality Homes, that unfortunately you lost the lease on this very same tax map
• a company that you had, Quality Homes, that unfortunately you lost the lease on this very same tax map

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing focused primarily on Senate Bill 1409, which would cap county user fees charged to Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supported the measure, arguing it would reduce monthly housing-related costs for lower-income beneficiaries and help make homesteading more affordable. Several testifiers, including the Tax Foundation of Hawaii and some individuals, also submitted comments or support. County and city water and sewer agencies, including the County of Kauai Department of Water, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Facility Maintenance, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and the City and County Department of Environmental Services, strongly opposed the bill, saying it would shift substantial costs to other ratepayers, create lost revenue, and could force fee increases for everyone else. They also raised concerns about the bill’s cap structure and potential misuse, while noting their systems are funded by user fees rather than taxes. During committee discussion, Honolulu Board of Water Supply officials estimated about 4,500 DHHL customers on Oʻahu and projected lost revenue of roughly $30 million to $36 million over five years, with larger cumulative impacts over time; they said any waiver would be absorbed by other customers. The County of Hawaiʻi representative estimated nearly 2,000 DHHL customers on the Big Island and about $2.4 million in annual lost revenue. DHHL responded that it is pursuing revenue-generating projects on unused lands, but members questioned whether the department should do more to generate its own revenue and suggested looking at other affordability mechanisms, including market rent on commercial properties or a similar cap on other beneficiary fees. After hearing the testimony and discussion, the committee chair announced the recommendation to defer SB 1409 indefinitely, and the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs agreed with that decision. The hearing then moved to Senate Bill 1408, a housekeeping measure. DHHL testified in support, saying the bill was part of an effort to lower housing costs through a modular manufacturing approach. DHHL described plans to use an unused hangar at Kalaeloa for a potential modular housing manufacturing plant, including discussions with the University of Hawaiʻi and a Denver-based company, and said it was also exploring a pilot project with Habitat for Humanity on Maui. No vote or final action on SB 1408 was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• maps of schools to be shared with the<00:32:23.279><c> various</c><00:32:23.600><c> agencies</c><00:
• </c> coordinate a centralized set of maps coordinate a centralized set of maps that<00:32:44.320><c>
• They should all have the same map and be able to talk to each other about what's going on where.
• So I see that this is not an FN bill, but it is asking for critical incident mapping technology.
• And so we have that request for proposal out to do this mapping of schools statewide.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um the map,<00:07:37.039><c> those</c><00:07:37.360><c> slides,</c><00:07:37.840><c> those</c><00:07:
• 38.319><c> uh</c><00:07:39.039><c> uh</c> map, those slides, those uh uh map, those slides, those uh
• and that will be embedded in mapping and that will be embedded in terms<00:47:08.400><c> of</c><00:47
• </c><00:47:18.960><c> um</c><00:47:19.920><c> um</c> order to have a good mapping um um order to have
• a good mapping um um tracking<00:47:20.640><c> mechanism</c><00:47:21.040><c> so</c><00:47:21.200><c

Keywords: During the committee meeting live stream, portion of the video was lost due to network issues. There were also some technical difficulties with content and the incorrect background image being used. The lost footage was recovered from backup, and the other issues corrected in post production editing. 1. 00:00:41 Call to Order 2. 00:01:02 Roll Call 3. 00:02:54 Approval of Minutes 4. 00:05:06 Statutory Reports and Data Requests 5. 00:35:14 2025 and 2026 Session Update 6. 01:03:10 Board Structure Updates and Subcommittees 7. 01:05:20 Public Comment 8. 02:23:14 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Board meeting opened with quorum, approval of the March 9 and March 16, 2026 minutes, and a welcome to new member Representative Willner. The board then heard a presentation from the Department of Medicaid Services on several statutory reports: the quarterly budget analysis (LRC) report, the quarterly MCO report, the provider tax and assessment report, the enrollee demographic report, the annual behavioral health/substance use disorder utilization report, and the Medicaid pharmaceutical rebate fund. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Bechal explained the reports and answered questions. On spending, DMS said the quarterly budget analysis report should be read using the summary tabs because the first tab reflects only traditional Medicaid and does not include all populations. Lee said the first three quarters of fiscal year 2026 showed about $191 million more in waiver spending than the same period last year, about $250 million more in other categories such as nursing facilities, CCBHCs, and FQHCs, and roughly $450 million more in total fee-for-service spending. She also noted that Medicare Part D premiums are 100% state funds and estimated the state-fund increase at about $140 million. For managed care, DMS said pharmacy, inpatient hospital, and outpatient hospital spending made up about 66% of MCO payments so far this fiscal year. Members asked about administrative costs, provider tax impacts, citizenship-status categories, medical loss ratio, and whether the reports could be expanded to show recoupments and citizenship-based spending. DMS clarified that the spending figures discussed were benefit costs only, not administrative costs, and said administrative match rates vary. On the provider tax and directed payments report, Lee said the new CMS proposed rule would allow separate payment terms to continue through the grandfathering period, but that the impact would be substantial for providers even if the administrative effect was minimal. She also said DMS was still reviewing unusual citizenship categories such as “other” and “unspecified,” and would provide more information on medical loss ratio and recoupments if available. Auditor Ball raised concerns about alleged waste, duplicate Social Security numbers, ineligible enrollees, and high error rates in other programs. Lee responded that Medicaid focuses on fraud, waste, and abuse, but said the cited $800 million figure was not factual because it did not account for people enrolled in more than one Medicaid program at the same time. She said DMS is reviewing eligibility systems, including changes tied to community engagement requirements, and is working with the cabinet’s eligibility staff and ombudsman division on error rates. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Here's a map of North Dakota's active coal mines. You'll see up in McLean County the Falkirk Mine.
• I like this map, and it addresses a question from earlier.
• I like this map, and it addresses a question from earlier.
• So I thought that map kind of helps portray how those situations can occur.
• There's a map available.

Summary: The committee met at the Coteau Freedom Mine in Mercer County, approved the June 2 minutes, and heard an overview of the mine from Coteau Properties president Andrew Hawbaker. He described the Freedom Mine’s production history, customer mix, safety record, reclamation practices, workforce, community involvement, and economic impact. Members asked about how long land stays in production before reclamation, how quickly it returns to agriculture, labor shortages, groundwater impacts, and which skilled trades are hardest to fill. Hawbaker said the mine typically disturbs land for three to five years, reclamation returns much of the land to agricultural use, and the biggest hiring challenges are electricians, welders, mechanics, operators, engineers, and accountants. The committee then heard from Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christman on coal mining reclamation. He reviewed the history of North Dakota and federal reclamation laws, the PSC’s permitting and inspection authority, bonding requirements, contemporaneous reclamation standards, and how the state handles topsoil, subsoil, drainage, and revegetation. He emphasized that North Dakota’s program is well regarded, with frequent inspections and no corrective-action issues in recent federal reviews. Christman also discussed problems caused by federal coal ownership that can delay mine plans, and he answered questions about reclamation timing, wildlife easements, wind and pipeline reclamation, and whether similar bonding concepts could apply to data centers. In the afternoon, the committee received an update from Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jonathan Fortner on the lignite industry. He highlighted the industry’s long-term role in providing reliable electricity, jobs, and tax revenue, along with North Dakota’s low electricity rates and strong grid reliability. Fortner discussed severance and conversion tax revenues, federal regulatory changes, litigation over EPA rules, carbon capture, critical minerals, and the potential for large-load customers such as data centers to support new coal generation. He said the industry sees a window of opportunity for growth and expressed support for new large-load development, while noting that diversified energy companies are also pursuing natural gas and other resources. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning for the tour.