Transcript Highlights:

• I'm appointing Senator Finchem to the Committee on Rules to temporarily replace Senator Peterson for
• I'm appointing Senator Angus to the Committee on Rules to temporarily replace Senator Farnsworth for
• And I'm appointing Senator Shope to temporarily replace... ...February 23, 2026, and I'm appointing Senator
• Shope to temporarily replace Senator Farnsworth as chairman of the Committee on Rules for Monday, February

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and routine business, including guest introductions and committee announcements. The President Pro Tem also reported several temporary committee substitutions and a referral change for Senate Bill 1267. The chamber then moved through third-reading votes on a consent calendar of bills and one memorial, with several measures relating to mental health services, special license plates, optometrists, private postsecondary education institutions, Department of Revenue matters, attorney general authority, and a technical cleanup bill on conflicting legislative text. On the consent calendar, Senate Bill 1112 failed, while Senate Bills 1153, 1242, 1023, 1097, 1210, 1401, 1430, 1452, and 1613 all passed. Senate Concurrent Memorial 1003, urging Congress to amend the Constitution to allow states to regulate and limit campaign finance, also passed after brief remarks supporting campaign finance reform and criticizing the influence of money in politics. The chamber then received House Concurrent Resolution 2060, a death resolution for former lawmaker and University of Arizona administrator George Cunningham, adopted it unanimously, and observed a moment of silence. After recess, senators and family members offered tributes to Cunningham, highlighting his public service, budget expertise, work at the University of Arizona, role in state government, and co-founding of the Grand Canyon Institute. The Senate also heard a legislative proclamation honoring Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. Finally, the body announced upcoming committee meetings, noted that some committees would not meet Monday, and adjourned until Monday, February 23, 2026, at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chairman, the amendment replaces lines 82 and 83 on page three with the following: a franchise agreement
• Uh<00:09:52.320> amendment<00:09:53.040> uh<00:09:53.440> replaces<00:09:54.000>
• line<00:09:54.399> 82<00:09:54.800> and<00:09:55.040> 83 Uh amendment uh replaces
• line 82 and 83 Uh amendment uh replaces line 82 and 83 on<00:09:55.519> page<00:09:55.839>

Bills: HB418, SB138, SB215, HB418, SB138, SB215

Keywords: financial services, banking, insurance, debanking, social credit score, ESG, environmental, social, and governance, diversity, equity, and inclusion, DEI, religious freedom, free speech, viewpoint discrimination, political discrimination, firearms, gun industry, ammunition, fossil fuels, oil and gas, mining, timber

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, everybody should have it in front of them, but what it does, it replaces line 37 on page two with
• :16.720> it in front of them, but what it does, it in front of them, but what it does, it replaces
• 05:18.400> page<00:05:18.800> two<00:05:19.680> uh<00:05:19.759> with replaces
• line 37 on page two uh with replaces line 37 on page two uh with following<00:05:20.960> uh<00

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This replaces lines 169 through 172 on page seven with the following.
• <00:04:38.320> This<00:04:38.680> replaces original omnibus bill.
• This replaces original omnibus bill.
• This replaces lines<00:04:39.560> 169<00:04:40.480> through<00:04:40.640> 172<00

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This would just uniform the dates, replace line 477 on page 18 with the following: June 1st, 2025.
• The board may not acquire or purchase by... and replace line 604 on page 22 with the following: commencing
• And replace line 607 on page 22 with the following section.

Bills: SB45, SB61, SB222, HB385

Keywords: athlete agents, commission, state regulation, Alabama, higher education, athletics, membership diversity, school psychologist, school psychology, interstate compact, licensure compact, license reciprocity, portable license, equivalent license, professional licensing, psychology board, school mental health, student services, educational services, interstate practice

Transcript Highlights:

• Under Section 407.37, the topic of shared leave, Section 407.3701, the scope of the chapter, we replaced
• The term permanent employee was replaced with regular and probationary employee.
• We replaced the term permanent employee with regular and probationary employee.
• The term serious or extraordinary was replaced with severe, extreme, or life-threatening, and we removed
• In a nutshell, it's equipment that organizations can use at their sites to replace bar staff having to

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 40-7-37.01, the scope of the chapter, we replace the term permanent employees with regular and
• The term permanent employee was replaced with regular and probationary employee.
• We replaced the term permanent employee with regular and probationary employee.
• We replaced the term permanent employee with regular and probationary employee.
• The term serious or extraordinary was replaced with severe, extreme, or life-threatening, and we removed

Summary: The committee approved the March 12, 2026 minutes and granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rule changes tied to House Bill 1620/1622, which concern North Dakota’s entry into the physician assistant licensure compact. The Board said it is waiting on compact rules, especially fee structures, before finalizing its own rules. The committee then took up extensive Office of Management and Budget personnel rule revisions, covering salary administration, recruitment, leave policies, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR practices and implement recent legislation, including new hire leave and enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions; the committee raised concerns about the subjectivity and fairness of the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but no action was taken against the rules. The North Dakota Lottery presented emergency and regular rule changes, including updates tied to the Millionaire for Life game and miscellaneous clarifications. The Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology described rule updates that add speech-language pathology assistants to the rules, ease continuing education requirements for out-of-state applicants, expand temporary licensure, and clarify supervision standards. The State Electrical Board reviewed numerous code updates, including changes to electrical and fire alarm standards, receptacle labeling, countertop receptacles, and a major new conveyance/elevator inspection program added by the Legislature; the board said it is preparing to begin inspections by August 1. The Industrial Commission’s Geological Survey Division presented new rules implementing House Bill 1459 on critical minerals in coal-bearing formations, including permit, reporting, confidentiality, and royalty-related provisions. The committee asked about confidentiality of exploration data and drilling depth. The Public Employees Retirement System outlined rule changes implementing several bills affecting defined benefit, public safety, defined contribution, insurance, deferred compensation, and retiree health credit programs, and noted possible future proposals to add state EMS or create a LOSAP-style plan. The Department of Health and Human Services presented substance use disorder voucher rules implementing House Bill 1012, including allowing individuals to apply directly and setting reimbursement procedures; the rules were expected to have a $250,000 general fund impact already included in the budget. The longest discussion involved the Gaming Commission rules. Members questioned whether the commission had authority to raise poker tournament buy-ins from $300 to $1,500, viewing it as an expansion of gaming rather than a mere clarification. After debate, the committee voted to void that specific rule section for lack of statutory authority. The rest of the gaming rules covered higher raffle limits from House Bill 1192, the change from “bar” to “alcoholic beverage establishment,” veterans’ organization proceeds, credit ticket voucher kiosks, online raffles, and advertising restrictions; the presenter said several public comments led to revisions or withdrawals of proposed language. The meeting ended with discussion of upcoming Ethics Commission travel-reporting rules and scheduling the next committee meeting in September.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 407.3701, the scope of the chapter, we replace the term permanent employees with regular and
• The term permanent employee was replaced with regular and probationary employee.
• We replaced the term permanent employee with regular and probationary employee.
• We replaced the term permanent employee with regular and probationary employee.
• The term serious or extraordinary was replaced with severe, extreme, or life-threatening, and we removed

Summary: The Administrative Rules Committee met on June 11 and first approved the March 12, 2026 minutes by voice vote. It then granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rules tied to recent legislation, including North Dakota’s participation in the physician assistant licensure compact and a new physician nutrition continuing education requirement. The Board said it was waiting on compact rules and fee information before finalizing its own changes. The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the Office of Management and Budget on broad personnel rule revisions, including salary administration, recruitment, leave, sick leave, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR language and implement recent legislation such as enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions and new hire leave. Members questioned the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but OMB and counsel said those standards come from statute, not the rules. The committee also heard and accepted rule packages from the Lottery, the Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, the State Electrical Board, the Industrial Commission, PERS, and Health and Human Services, with each agency describing mostly technical, clarifying, or statutory-conforming changes and noting the public notice and comment process. The most significant action came during the Gaming Commission rules presentation. After questioning whether the commission had authority to raise the poker tournament buy-in limit from $300 to $1,500, members moved to void Section 99-01.3-09-01 on the ground that the agency lacked statutory authority for that change. The motion passed on a roll call vote. The committee also discussed several gaming-related issues, including online raffles, kiosk use, advertising restrictions, and the broader policy question of whether charities should be allowed to own bars, but took no further formal action on those topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• Following land burn restrictions, equipment replacement mandates, energy costs, labor pressures, and
• Following land, burn restrictions, equipment replacement mandates, energy costs, labor pressures, and
• They've been big supporters of that, and they've been big supporters of the tractor replacement program
• He was replaced by Darren Filkins, who's the CEO of Harris Farms.
• He was replaced by Darren Filkins, who's the CEO of Harris Farms.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several gubernatorial appointments and a reference of bills to committee. The committee first approved or advanced a series of appointments not required to appear, including Paulette Brown Hines to the California Transportation Commission, Christopher Clark and Laura Capps to the Board of State and Community Corrections, Maggie Hallahan to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Kent Sasaki to the Building Standards Commission, and Danielle N. Munoz to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. The committee also approved the reference of bills to committees. The committee then heard from Tanya Pacheco Warner, PhD, for reappointment to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District Board. She described her public health background, her family’s experience with asthma, and her work on agricultural burning phaseouts, mobile-source emissions strategies, AB 617 community programs, and climate and air-quality education. Members questioned her about the economic impacts of air rules on agriculture, the district’s approach to mobile-source reductions amid federal uncertainty, AB 617 community outcomes, and how she communicates climate and air-quality issues. The appointment was approved and moved to the full Senate. The committee next considered three California Horse Racing Board reappointments: Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, and Thomas Hudnut, J.D. The nominees and committee members discussed horse and rider safety improvements, the sharp decline in equine fatalities, the impact of Golden Gate Fields’ closure on Northern California racing, declining interest in the sport, and possible revenue options such as racing-on-demand machines and other gambling-related changes. Public witnesses from the racing industry spoke in support. All three appointments were approved and sent to the full Senate. Finally, the committee heard from Julie Lee and Ann Patterson, J.D., for the Delta Stewardship Council. Both emphasized the Delta’s importance to statewide water supply, ecosystem protection, science-based decision-making, climate adaptation, and community engagement. Senators asked about the council’s co-equal goals, the role of science and social science, public trust, and whether the council’s mission should continue after specific projects are resolved. A public witness from the Association of California Water Agencies supported both nominees. Both appointments were approved and moved to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• You need to replace that infrastructure. It's aging.
• You<00:05:09.120> need<00:05:09.199> to<00:05:09.440> replace<00:05:09.759> that
• You need to replace that infrastructure. You need to replace that infrastructure.
• The other thing is for local governments that are now coming to us with needing help to replace their
• They could have been setting money aside, you know, having a reserve fund, having a replacement fund,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You're going to have to replace the roofs. You're going to have to replace the...
• Building inspections in the future because you're still going to have to replace the roofs.
• You're going to have to replace some.
• if they're rentals, you still, if you're renting from somebody and your AC goes, you still have to replace
• I get it, but there's a much different schedule for replacing a five-ton unit for a landlord than there

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee first heard a long-running audit finding involving Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit funds, which have exceeded the statutory limit for several years and were reported at $10.8 million in the most recent audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city has analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees over several periods, and used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation and a proposed City Hall expansion. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, raised concerns about the legality and necessity of proposed expenditures, and asked about interest earnings, truck purchases, and the lack of detailed tracking for training-facility use. The city said an Attorney General opinion allows construction of a new building for building-code functions but not purchase of an existing building, and that if the city cannot comply through permissible construction it would have to return the funds. No vote was taken, but members expressed strong frustration and urged the city to resolve the issue quickly and lawfully. The committee then received the Auditor General’s presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings covered elections and quorum issues, conflicts of interest, late or missing financial disclosure forms, related-party transactions, poor meeting notices and minutes, council involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget and accounting deficiencies, weak bank reconciliations, improper utility billing and rates, grant compliance problems tied to a grocery store project, personnel and compensation issues involving the town manager, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control problems, public records issues, and IT/fraud-policy weaknesses. The auditor said the review focused mainly on October 2022 through February 2024 but went back further for some grant-related matters. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit reflected actions of a previous administration and that the current council and staff have already adopted seven new policies to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics. They said the town has a new manager and clerk, that the former manager was terminated, and that the town referred matters to FDLE, which is investigating. Committee members asked about the manager’s salary increase, severance, P-card use, and whether the town should consider consolidation or dissolution. The mayor said the town is on a better path, that most of the prior leadership has been voted out, and that the town is working with auditors and an outside accounting firm to correct the problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• Measure Q is set to expire in 2030 unless it is renewed by voters or a new measure comes forward to replace
• Measure Q is set to expire in 2030 unless it is renewed by voters or a new measure comes forward to replace
• The proposed hemp tax wipeout will likely replace cannabis products, as noted, rather than augment the
• The proposed hemp tax wipe positive will likely replace cannabis products as noted rather than augment
• The story included quotes about not having unions, replacing American workers with their own, and building

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met as a subcommittee and heard several bills, with members explaining that measures with significant fiscal impacts would be held for suspense or taken up later. AB 761 would let the Monterey-Salinas Transit District place a local sales tax measure on the ballot with approval from two-thirds of its board rather than needing approval from each member jurisdiction; supporters said it would preserve transit funding for veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities, while an opponent argued it would make it easier to raise a regressive tax. The bill was voted out 5-2 after being called for absent members. AB 1253, which would clarify property tax treatment for wildfire reconstruction beyond substantial equivalence, drew support from the Los Angeles County Assessor and the California Assessors Association but was sent to suspense. AB 8, dealing with hemp enforcement, intoxicating hemp products, and integration of hemp cannabinoids into the cannabis supply chain and tax system, drew strong support from cannabis operators and labor groups and opposition from small cultivators and public health advocates concerned about supply, tax revenue, and voter intent; it was also sent to suspense. The committee then heard AB 1138, a major expansion and modernization of the film and television tax credit program. Supporters, including entertainment unions, workers, studios, and local officials, said the bill would help keep production and jobs in California amid competition from other states and countries; opponents criticized it as picking winners and losers and argued broader business costs were the real problem. The bill was referred to suspense. AB 829, which would create a California Parkinson’s Disease Research Fund and voluntary tax contribution program to support research and services, received unanimous support from advocates and was approved 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 474 would exempt rental income from nonprofit home-sharing programs for low-income homeowners from state income tax and protect participants’ eligibility for certain benefits; supporters said it could help older adults age in place and address housing shortages, and the bill was sent to suspense after members asked for clarification on the fiscal estimate. The committee also heard AB 376, which would exempt wildfire settlement payments from state income tax for certain disaster survivors; supporters from rural counties said the money is meant to help victims rebuild and should not be taxed, and the bill was referred to suspense. Finally, AB 480 would allow developers using low-income housing tax credits to switch from allocated to certificated state credits after an award, with supporters saying it would maximize private investment and stretch housing dollars further; it too was sent to suspense. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly emphasized the need to balance policy goals with fiscal impacts, and several bills were held or referred to suspense rather than voted out immediately.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if these systems are on a roof and that roof has to be replaced, well then the system has to come
• down, the roof replaced, and the system put back up.
• That roof has to be replaced, well then the system has to come down, the roof replaced, and the system
• back on in case of a roof needing to be replaced.
• But they do things like fire all the doctors and bring in cheaper mid-level providers to replace them

Transcript Highlights:

• The total benefits issued last year was $1.77 billion, which includes $115 million in replacements.
• In the last two months of 2024, we replaced a little over $10.2 million in benefits.
• Now we can no longer replace benefits prior to December.
• December 20th, it was in the federal budget that you could replace benefits twice a year, but that did
• We have one lady, and several others, for whom we replaced benefits twice, and they were stolen off her

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over time, that autonomy has not only eroded, but it's been replaced.
• not only eroded, but it's been replaced. not only eroded, but it's been replaced.
• <00:56:00.240> And replace the thinking of the nurse.
• And replace the thinking of the nurse.
• We just don't want it to replace tool.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:15:43.600> necessary whether the replacement necessary whether the replacement necessary
• >> No, it say repair or replace >> No, it say repair or replace >> cover<04:20
• >> No, it say repair or replacement. >> No, it say repair or replacement.
• and have it replaced. and have it replaced.
• No single prosthesis can replace all of that.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The local bridge replacement program is one of our top priorities, has traditionally been funded in the
• The current five-year bridge list includes 924 bridges with an estimated total replacement cost of over
• cost of over 762 total replacement cost of over 762 million<00:07:47.680> with<00:07:47.919><
• wetland replacement for local government<00:09:26.320> road<00:09:26.640> projects.
• <01:15:38.239> service different uh replacement service different uh replacement service municipalities

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that is people are typically replacing that is people are typically replacing it<00:30:52.960>
• it with their opioid pain replace it with their opioid pain medication<00:32:01.840> or<00:32
• On line 18, replace that with 650,000. On line 19, we would strike Department of Agriculture.
• >> Basically on page 17, we're replacing >> Basically on page 17, we're replacing the
• So the 24,000 would be replaced with of.

Bills: HB0103, HB0070, HB0091

Keywords: First Amendment, free speech, lawsuits, immunity, public participation, strategic lawsuits, foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws, civil actions, speech protection, legal jurisdiction, joint liability, artificial intelligence, social scoring, biometric data, privacy rights, government regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• He asks that we look at the amendment and replace the amendment in whole.
• deportation of immigrants he replaced deportation of immigrants he replaced that<00:47:34.880>
• he asks that we amendment and he replac he asks that we look<00:47:46.960> at<00:47:47.160>
• > the<00:47:47.280> amendment<00:47:47.720> and<00:47:47.920> replace<00:47:
• 48.400> the look at the amendment and replace the look at the amendment and replace the amendment

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 180, which concerns critical incident stress management teams. Representative Mark PR, the bill sponsor, proposed an amendment to add a definition of “team leader” and to clarify that teams may or may not be affiliated with a municipality. He argued that a certification test offered by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation is unnecessary and too expensive at $400, since team members are volunteers who already receive training and continuing education. Committee members asked about the training structure and certification language, and the sponsor explained that the teams are self-certified and that the amendment was intended to clean up the bill’s language. The committee then voted on HB 180 in executive session. Amendment 0261H was adopted 11-0, and the bill was then moved as amended and passed 11-0. The committee placed the bill on consent. Later, the committee heard House Bill 438, sponsored by Representative Timothy Horan, dealing with immigration detention and related state policy. Horan described the bill as an update to earlier legislation and said it would codify best practices, prohibit state cooperation with mass deportation efforts, bar for-profit operation of immigration detention facilities, and require Executive Council approval before the governor could deploy the National Guard for immigration deportation activities. Committee members questioned whether the bill could be read as authorizing detention facilities and discussed the relationship between the state and Strafford County Jail. An amendment presented on behalf of Representative Patrick Long was described as a technical rewrite that removed several sections and changed language, but the hearing ended before any vote was taken on HB 438.

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine that patient is discharged from an outpatient setting after getting their knee replaced, for
• every single tablet out there of opioid, or it's going to replace 50 percent, not even close, right?
• Or it's going to replace 50%, not even close, right? A percent is what we're looking at right now.
• So think knee replacement, hip replacement, hysterectomy, cancer-related procedure, other general surgery
• And a knee replacement.

Summary: The committee first approved the previous meeting minutes and then heard a detailed annual report from Dr. Thomas Arnold, chair of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, on maternal mortality trends and policy issues. He explained the committee’s review process, confidentiality protections, and national and North Dakota data showing that most maternal deaths are preventable and that mental health conditions, substance use, cardiovascular issues, infection, hemorrhage, and embolism are the leading causes. Members asked about suicide, domestic violence, midwife training, home births, and whether pregnancy testing at death scenes should be expanded; Dr. Arnold said better coroner education, more investigation of unexplained deaths, and possible post-mortem pregnancy testing could improve case identification, especially in rural areas. He also noted that deaths often occur well after 42 days postpartum and that mental health-related deaths remain a major concern. The committee then heard from State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark on cigarette reduced-ignition-propensity standards and related fire prevention issues. He recommended updating the state’s cigarette propensity law to current national standards and also raised a separate recommendation to require fast-breakaway oxygen tubing for home oxygen users, citing fatal fires linked to smoking around oxygen. Members asked about implementation, cost, insurance coverage, and whether the standards apply in tribal communities; Dr. Clark said he would provide follow-up information and was willing to help with any legislation, but no agency bill had yet been planned. Next, Christine Greff of the Department of Health and Human Services reported on the North Dakota Stroke System of Care. She described the statewide network of stroke-ready hospitals, registry-based quality improvement, and performance data showing continued improvement in stroke recognition, imaging, thrombolytic treatment, transfers, and EMS pre-notification. She highlighted new quality measures for inter-facility transfers and intracerebral hemorrhage care, and said the system remains strong but depends on continued legislative and hospital support. Committee members asked about participation by the VA hospital and were encouraged to consider outreach to include it more fully in the stroke system. Finally, the committee began a presentation on prior authorization and non-opioid pain treatment from Taha Khan of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. He argued that prior authorization can delay access to non-opioid acute pain medications, especially in the 24- to 72-hour post-discharge window when pain is most severe, and said delays can push patients toward opioids. He emphasized that prior authorization has a role in utilization management but should not create barriers in acute pain care, and he noted that current use of the company’s non-opioid product remains very low. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.