Transcript Highlights:

• Only individuals are subject to the payment of this tax, and the first tax payments and returns would
• Our economic system, including our state's upside-down tax system, works extremely well for the already
• Second, this proposal makes our tax system fair.
• Second, this proposal makes our tax system fair.
• Our public health system never fully recovered from the Great Recession, and Washington's tax system

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a timing and a fiscal issue, so this covers payments that are made in 2025 or later.
• Distinction is the timing of the settlement payment itself.
• In 2007, FTB created its tax system modernization plan, which outlines.
• EDR 1 brought new tax processing systems and validation for our personal income tax returns.
• In short, CDFIs are part of the financial system.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this payment is from the payment.
• </c> loop system. loop system.
• </c> closed loop systems. closed loop systems.
• loop system. system. system.
• </c> loop system would use. loop system would use.

Transcript Highlights:

• system. the nominee.
• systems.
• Our existing system is twice as expensive as any other system in the industrialized world.
• We do that and we do the same thing in our school systems.
• They know about the payment issues. but they don't appreciate that the incentives around the payments

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Michael Falkender, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, IRS, taxpayer privacy, nomination process, committee hearing

Summary: The committee convened to discuss critical issues surrounding the nomination of Michael Falkender for the position of Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. This meeting included a series of remarks from committee members who expressed divergent views on Falkender's qualifications and the implications of his appointment. Senator Wyden voiced strong opposition, arguing that Falkender represents harmful policies expected to be perpetuated under the current administration, especially concerning taxpayer privacy and IRS tactics. Meanwhile, other members defended Falkender, noting his extensive experience, including a commitment to transparency in government operations if confirmed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The system of care in New Mexico now.
• We know many of the drivers for the payment error...
• Many of them are caregivers in our caregiving system, in our health care system.
• We have a new financial management system and a new case management system.
• The long-term care system is even more complicated.

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Bills: HB145 , SB37 , HB279 , HB292 , SB35 , SB48 , SB20 , SJR1 , SB38 , SB41 , SB73 , SB100 , SB111 , SB132 , SB152 , SJR7 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM39 , HM29 , HM43 , HM59 , HM30 , HM52 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB2 , HB70 , HB180 , SB151 , SB240 , SB273 , HB95 , HB247 , HB332 , HB8 , HB253 , HB4 , HB96

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education

Bills: HB145 , HR1 , HB80 , SB29 , SB37 , HB206 , SB193 , SB58 , SB64 , HB153 , HB195 , HB234 , HB248 , HB255 , HB279 , HB287 , HB292 , HB303 , HB309 , HB371 , SB30 , SB35 , SB40 , SB43 , SB48 , SB96 , SB143 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM39 , HM29 , HM43 , HM59 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation, subpoena power, public corruption, criminal activity, Zorro ranch, Santa Fe County, public accountability, government oversight, impeachment power, children and vulnerable persons, public funds

Transcript Highlights:

• as lease payments for building projects.
• The lease payments to do the bonding and structure as lease payments for building projects.
• , interest payments, Federal Reserve line access, correspondent services, bond payments, bond splits,
• Our payment rails are not fast, cheap, and integrated. Banking needs a new set of payment rails.
• So it's three years of no interest, no payments, two years of low-interest payments, and then it's due

Summary: The committee received a compliance and status update on Industrial Commission programs and the Bank of North Dakota. Staff reviewed appropriations and spending for several Industrial Commission funds and grant programs, including lignite research, oil and gas research, clean sustainable energy, grid resiliency, salt cavern analysis, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members discussed the timing of reimbursements, uncommitted balances, and the structure of the pipeline capacity and enhanced oil recovery funding. The Industrial Commission also reported on its administrative budget, grant management system project, and recent leadership transitions across several agencies. Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described active grant rounds and the status of major projects. She said the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority approved three projects in its sixth round, with remaining uncommitted cash and loan capacity still available, though no new funding was appropriated this session. She also said the Oil and Gas Research Council approved six enhanced oil recovery projects and expects additional funding after a federal Department of Energy award replaces one project’s state funding. For grid resiliency grants, she said some projects have been funded, some commitments were returned or reallocated, and some DOE funds remain pending. She also updated the committee on the salt cavern business case study, which replaced an earlier larger development proposal, and on the NDSU research park grant, where the nonmatching portion was paid and the matching portion has moved slowly because the match must be in cash. Ron Ness then gave an extended presentation on enhanced oil recovery and North Dakota oil and gas trends. He said production remains steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, especially gas takeaway and projects like the Bakken East pipeline. He argued that enhanced oil recovery using CO2, natural gas, surfactants, and other methods could extend Bakken production for decades, but that the state needs more CO2 supply, better storage, and updated tax and regulatory incentives. Members asked about lateral lengths, CO2 availability, pipeline impacts, and the role of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and Ness emphasized that the projects are intended to share technical learning across operators and attract follow-on investment. The Bank of North Dakota then presented its compliance report and strategic update. President Don Morgan said the bank’s mission remains to support North Dakota agriculture, commerce, and industry while cooperating with the state’s financial sector. He reviewed the bank’s main business lines: participation lending with community institutions, student loans, disaster lending, mission-based programs, and a new fintech-focused effort. Morgan said deposits are flattening, so the bank is managing balance sheet growth carefully, while still reporting improved net income and strong efficiency. He also introduced Rough Rider Coin as a bank-to-bank payment rail, not a public cryptocurrency, intended to speed and modernize payments within North Dakota’s banking and credit union system. Committee members asked about student loan eligibility, disaster program use, and how credit lines and liquidity would be affected if deposits shrink.

Transcript Highlights:

• payments.
• payments.
• payments.
• payments.
• payments.

Committee: Joint Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• What a storage system does when added to a solar system is it allows you to store that energy when it
• As we pull people off the system—not even off the system. I mean, it would be different, Mr.
• Chair and Madam Whip, if you have a solar system and you have a battery system, you could literally just
• payments per event.
• You just make a little less money in payments. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Money and payments.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• rather than the full payment.
• Half of the payment rather than the full payment. Is it going to maybe have an effect? Probably.
• And even the payment models or the per-pupil payment at the time was just over $9,000.
• And even the payment models or the per-pupil payment at the time was just over $9,000.
• And even the payment models or the per-pupil payment at the time was just over $9,000.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then received a lengthy DPI presentation from Stanley Schauer on statewide reading and math assessment data for students with and without disabilities. He explained the assessment systems used over time, the absence of 2019-20 data, and how North Dakota’s standards are set by educators. Members asked about alternate assessments, cohort trends, the apparent drop in proficiency in higher grades, and the new NDA+ assessment. Schauer emphasized that the biggest pattern in the data was the relative stability of students with disabilities, the post-pandemic drop and partial recovery, and the need to focus on reducing the novice category. He also said the state plans to revisit high school standard setting and that future data could be broken out by program, disability category, and schools using science-of-math or other initiatives. Public testimony from special education staff suggested that the flat performance of students with disabilities during COVID likely reflected continued services and intensive supports, and committee members discussed whether the current disparity goal is realistic and whether growth measures would be more useful than simple proficiency buckets. After the presentation, the committee took a short break and then moved into discussion of special education funding models. Chair Richter said members should contact Schauer directly with ideas for additional data views and noted that the committee would continue its work on funding and possible model changes. Brandon Bomback of Grand Forks Public Schools began a presentation arguing that the special education funding formula, especially the weighting factor, should be reconsidered if the committee wants a system that better reflects accountability and student needs. He said his comments were based on the perspective of a larger district and focused on the special education weighting factor rather than other parts of the formula. The remainder of his presentation was not included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• It supports the IT system known as New Hampshire Connections Information System.
• It supports the IT system known as New Hampshire Connections Information System.
• It supports the IT system known as New Hampshire Connections Information System.
• From initial annual payments over $1 million per year to the payment this year of $767,527.
• </c> have a system that operates this way. have a system that operates this way.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The updated notice allows all systems-related funding to be 100% federally provided, so... ...all systems-related
• And, you know, the crisis system that we've put in place, I don't... ...system that we've put in place
• We used to have the non-Medicaid system and the Medicaid system, and we've actually put them together
• So that was submitted through the new online portal system.
• So that was submitted through the new online portal system.

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee met with a quorum present and began with questions about a Rural Health Funding Task Force. Members asked who created it, what notice was given, whether it was replacing JFAC, and whether it was separate from the governor’s task force. The chair said it was created by legislative leadership rather than this committee, that JFAC would still control funding decisions, and that the task force was intended to provide structure and policy direction if the funding moves forward. The committee then received a General Fund Daily Update from Legislative Services analyst Christopher LaHosette, who noted updated revenue projections, three introduced House bills with general fund fiscal impacts, and the green sheet’s totalizing function for tracking legislation. The main presentation was from the Department of Health and Welfare on the Division of Welfare, Mental Health Services, and Psychiatric Hospitalization budgets. Alex Williamson reviewed the divisions’ roles, staffing, and five-year spending trends, and outlined the governor’s recommendations, including Medicaid eligibility system changes tied to federal law, SNAP administrative cost shifts to the state, Medicaid expansion work requirements, restoration of transfer authority, and behavioral health requests tied to the Jeff D. settlement and Idaho Behavioral Health Plan. Director Juliet Sharon said the department’s requests were largely maintenance, restoration, or compliance items, including system changes for twice-yearly Medicaid redeterminations and work requirements. Members asked about the impact of federal changes, the $5 million increase in welfare operations, vacancy levels, endowment funds, and whether the department could compare SNAP administrative costs to other states. Several questions focused on mental health cuts, the former Center of Excellence, the request to combine adult and children’s mental health budgets, and the effect of reductions on crisis services, ACT services, and mobile crisis units. Sharon and Behavioral Health Administrator Ross Edmonds said the department was trying to preserve crisis and hospital services, maintain separate tracking for children and adults, and monitor access closely while complying with legal and federal requirements. The committee also discussed Magellan’s contract, audit findings, and managed care oversight. Sharon said Magellan is reviewed through monthly, quarterly, and annual deliverables and can be placed on corrective action plans; she also said the department has processes to prevent payments for deceased or ineligible individuals. Members asked about duplication of services, the use of endowment funds at state hospitals, the need for more behavioral health workforce data, and whether the department could share equipment or contract out maintenance at the psychiatric hospitals. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after indicating it would meet again Monday morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the Texas A&N system.
• Our system was outdated. You talked earlier about 30, 40-year systems.
• look at payments, uh, there are controls in caps to prevent look at payments, but the invoice numbers
• We can recoup over payments.
• issues. and either make a payment late and accrue prompt payment interest, or they can make a payment

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:

• Second to that is the payment process.
• is issued so it's withholding payment is issued so it's withholding payment<00:20:40.520><c> uh</c><
• </c><00:21:41.880><c> process</c> uh second to that is the payment process uh second to that is the payment
• We understand that they have a place in the system.
• We understand that they have a place in the system.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 27, as amended by committee substitute, which would create a Kentucky Parkinson’s disease research registry. The sponsor said the substitute was developed with UK, U of L, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and Parkinson’s in Motion to better define a movement disorder center, add Parkinson’s experts from both universities to the advisory committee, require automated reporting, and delay implementation until 2027. Testimony emphasized the need to track diagnoses and testing while protecting confidentiality and allowing people to opt out. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted unanimously to pass SB 27 with a favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 93, dealing with hearing aid coverage for children. A parent described the high cost of hearing aids for her son and the financial burden created by insurance limits, while a pediatric audiologist explained that early identification and treatment improve language outcomes and that families can spend about $30,000 on hearing aids from birth to age 18. The committee substitute removed adults from the bill and added an in-network requirement for pediatric audiologists, along with a replacement interval consistent with Medicaid guidelines and repair/loss coverage provisions. After questions about costs, replacement timing, and insurer practices, the committee voted unanimously to pass SB 93 with a favorable expression. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 153, a transparency and due-process bill concerning Medicaid prepayment review. The sponsor and witnesses from Addiction Recovery Care and Frontier Behavioral Health said prepayment reviews can be imposed with little notice or explanation, disrupt cash flow, and burden rural and smaller providers; they argued the bill would require clearer notice, reasons, and timelines without stopping legitimate reviews. Members asked about managed care organizations, contract issues, and whether the bill would conflict with existing agreements, and the sponsor said it would not. After discussion and an explanation of vote from Senator Douglas, the committee voted to pass SB 153 with a favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Things like that, that's on the county, but if it's ballot on demand systems, voting systems, uh,
• We've got a joint budget system.
• grants that go to our universities, there's direct payments like Social Security and disability payments
• Uh, or Medicare payments on behalf of, uh, New Mexicans, um, sometimes business, uh, payments, sometimes
• Payments are starting to go out this last quarter.

Transcript Highlights:

• So then we get down to payments during appeal.
• Another part of it is the amount of payment.
• Was that systemic across? has been.
• Was that systemic across?
• If one person is gaming the system, the way our system works, someone else is making up the difference

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• As most of you know, we have eight pension systems that include 15 plans across those systems, and DRS
• those payments in 2024.
• If the Department of Retirement Systems is aware of a recipient's death before the payments for the month
• It's a systemic economic problem. It's a systemic economic problem.
• LEOFF 1 members made payments to the retirement system with their hard-earned dollars.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The committee approved the October minutes and received an update from the State Investment Board. David Schumacher described the board’s structure, its fiduciary mission to maximize return at prudent risk, the mix of funds it manages, and the factors behind its long-term performance, including broad diversification, low fees, and a long-term investment approach. Members asked about rankings, the board’s independence, climate/ESG considerations, and whether political divestment pressures affect investment decisions; Schumacher said decisions remain grounded in fiduciary duty and financial risk. The Department of Retirement Systems annual report followed. Director Catherine Leathers reviewed membership, contributions, benefit payments, the Deferred Compensation Program, employer partners, and the economic impact of pension payments across counties and legislative districts. She also highlighted staffing and training needs, improved call wait times and benefit estimate turnaround after legislative funding, cybersecurity upgrades, and the CorePAM pension administration modernization project, which is being paid from the trust fund as an administrative cost. Members asked about inactive accounts, and Leathers said DRS works to locate missing members and return benefits, including through a new link from the Department of Revenue website. The committee then closed out its study of the Left One system. Staff presented options ranging from no recommendation to recommending either the restatement/termination bill or the merger bill, with or without policy changes. After discussion, the committee first failed to reach 11 votes for a no-recommendation motion, then adopted a revised motion to submit the report without recommending either bill but also to request future analysis that disaggregates policy choices, including COLA-related impacts. The committee next heard a briefing on an ad hoc COLA for PERS/TRS Plan 1 retirees and adopted a motion to send a letter supporting the one-time COLA policy in HB 1474 or a similar Senate bill. Finally, staff briefed the committee on the month-of-death bill, which would end proration of pension payments in the month a retiree dies; no action was taken. Public testimony largely focused on support for an ad hoc or ongoing COLA for Plan 1 retirees, with some speakers urging the committee to back SB 5085 and others emphasizing the need for a bridge policy while a permanent solution is developed.

Transcript Highlights:

• small clarification on parity and payment, just to clarify that it's an in-network payment, not out-of-network
• Federal payment error analyses, for example, only assess whether the capitation payment was made correctly
• Florida currently has a SNAP payment rate, a SNAP error payment rate, of SNAP payment rate, a SNAP error
• payment rate of over 15 percent.
• So is it the same system?

Bills: S0006 , S0026 , S0206 , S0532 , S0576 , S1012 , S1110 , S1178 , S1192 , S1758 , S1760 , S7046 , S7048

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: child welfare, negligence, settlement, injury compensation, Department of Children and Families, motorcycle accident, compensation, Department of Transportation, legal claim, autism, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special education, exceptional student education, ESE, teacher preparation, educator certification, micro-credential, loan forgiveness, student loan repayment

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, that first proposal is the governor's proposal related to nursing facility payment system changes
• So, uh, that first proposal is the governor's proposal related to nursing facility payment system changes
• So, uh, that first proposal is the governor's proposal related to nursing facility payment system changes
• </c> nursing facility payment system changes. nursing facility payment system changes.
• , the essence of the system.