Transcript Highlights:

• And it no longer will ever be used as a church or a congregation space for that congregation.
• Our current plan envisions 100 to 130 affordable housing units, various community-serving spaces, and
• a smaller worship space.
• We want to show other congregations and developers how we can reimagine sacred spaces to meet urgent
• I have received the tax credit since it launched in 2022.

Bills: HB1717 , HB1859

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: affordable housing, sales tax, housing programs, tax incentives, economic development, religious organizations, development, housing opportunities, land use

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm in the health care space. Right?
• probably significant types of leadership and expertise that we couldn't recruit or get timely enough to launch
• <00:59:21.400><c> timely</c><00:59:21.720><c> enough</c><00:59:22.000><c> to</c><00:59:22.160><c> launch
• </c><00:59:22.440><c> this</c> and or get timely enough to launch this and or get timely enough to launch
• c> I can't make a decision within this I can't make a decision within this narrow<01:03:33.440><c> space

Summary: The committee first approved a motion and then deferred a large batch of 246 contracts totaling about $187.8 million until the April 2026 meeting. It then moved through the agenda and reviewed several pulled items, beginning with four Attorney General contingent-fee contracts. Committee members questioned why the contracts were new, what the $20 million maximums meant, and how the fees would work; the AG’s office explained they were new awards from a September RFP, that the $20 million was an outside estimate tied to a full recovery, and that one contract would require a $380 million recovery to pay out the maximum. The committee voted to consider those contracts reviewed without objection. The Department of Highways then explained an “alternative delivery support” contract, describing it as a procurement method different from the usual design-bid-build model and noting it can help with innovation, speed, timeliness, or cost reduction. After that explanation, the committee again voted to consider the contract reviewed without objection. The Kentucky Horse Park/Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation presented eight legal services contracts; members focused on differing hourly rates and retroactive approval. The corporation said it had selected four firms through an RFP to maintain flexibility and avoid conflicts, would use in-house counsel first, and did not expect to use the maximum rates. Senator Thomas argued the committee’s statutory hourly rate cap is outdated and should be revisited. The committee then approved the contracts. One Transportation Office of the Secretary contract was deferred to the April meeting, consistent with the agency’s prior request. The committee then reviewed Cabinet for Health and Family Services items from the Department of Community Based Services: three contract amendments and one memorandum of agreement. Members asked about funding sources, service outcomes, and whether the programs reduce future need; the agency said one amendment was a $55,000 increase offset by reductions elsewhere, that the total contract amount with the agency did not change, and that follow-up data show over 90% of children remain in the home after services. The committee approved those items. Finally, the committee reviewed a LIHEAP contract amendment from the Division of Family Support, which the agency said used federal funds, not state general funds, to add newly appropriated federal money for low-income home energy assistance and crisis heating support. Members asked about future funding and were told that continuation depends on Congress. The committee approved that item. It then began reviewing Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities memoranda of agreement tied to Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center staffing; members asked for a count of personnel, and the agency said it would provide that information, after which the discussion continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT WE AREN'T CURRENTLY RUNNING THROUGH 2026 WITH THE TWO PROGRAMS NOW THAT WE AREN'T ANTICIPATING LAUNCHING
• THIS IS THE GRANT PROGRAM WE HAVE NOT LAUNCHED YET BUT WE ANTICIPATE LAUNCHING SOON IN THE NEXT COUPLE
• AS MENTIONED, WE ANTICIPATE LAUNCHING THIS PROGRAM THIS EARLY THIS YEAR.
• THE LAST SLIDE IS THE TIMELINE I MENTION WITH US DEPLOYING THE PROGRAM AND LAUNCHING THE WEBINARS THAT
• WE SHARE WITH THEM THE PROGRESS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE PROGRAMS AND DEPLOYING THE PROGRAM AND LAUNCHING

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:31:22.000><c> We</c> for the full launch in January. We for the full launch in January.
• </c><00:40:56.640><c> Auto</c> launch of the prism system. Auto launch of the prism system.
• During the soft launch period, between.
• We were flagged during the soft launch.
• And correction before the hard launch.

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Three of our... to workforce space nationwide with to workforce space nationwide with California<00:42
• </c> workforce spaces and the money follows. workforce spaces and the money follows.
• </c> first round of grants in this space first round of grants in this space totaling<00:43:24.319><c
• I mean, so I am someone who has been working kind of adjacent to the space because of my interest and
• into their careers in a better launch into their careers in a better way.<01:19:29.760><c> Um</c><01

Bills: HF3650 , HF1791 , HF3489 , HF4231 , HF4232 , HF4269 , HF4270 , HF3490

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I remain committed to doing work in that space as well. I see in the room childcare providers.
• So grateful to see that work in that space as well.
• So grateful to see that work in that space as well.
• We appreciate the 22,770 new child care spaces in the Legislature's state budget proposal.
• It's a safe place and a trusted space where children learn and feel safe.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the 2026 Budget Act, which leaders said was the negotiated compromise with the Senate and was expected to move to the floor that evening. Opening remarks emphasized that the plan balances the budget over two years, reduces the structural deficit, and builds reserves, while also protecting core services in the face of federal cuts. Jason Sisney outlined the legislative budget framework and the likely floor bills, including AB 109, SB 110, SB 122, and SB 125. Department of Finance representative Eric Khali said the administration appreciated the two-year balanced approach and supported the modification in SB 122, while noting the package uses additional revenues and new spending to soften or reject some proposed cuts. Most of the discussion focused on major spending areas. Members and subcommittee chairs highlighted protections and additions for health care and human services, including rejecting the proposed Medi-Cal asset limit change, delaying premium increases, restoring clinic and dental funding, supporting distressed hospitals and county indigent care, and expanding county eligibility staffing to handle H.R. 1-related workload. Education members described record or expanded support for TK-12 schools, child care, special education, community colleges, teacher recruitment, and higher education, including a change to extend Cal Grant eligibility to age 30 for some community college students. Housing and homelessness funding was increased for HAP, multifamily housing, and the low-income housing tax credit, while public safety members pointed to investments in victims’ services, restorative justice, and prison closure savings. Several members also raised concerns or priorities tied to the budget deal. Some praised the package as a moral document that protects vulnerable Californians, immigrant communities, LGBTQ residents, seniors, and people with disabilities. Others noted unresolved issues, including the MCO tax’s impact on districts, the need for more support for local journalism, arts, biotech R&D incentives, transit and GGRF-related concerns, and the need for continued work on Prop. 98 and long-term fiscal resilience. The vice chair cautioned that despite the current progress, the state remains vulnerable to revenue volatility and warned that the budget should build more resilience against a possible downturn. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the committee was preparing the budget package for floor action and final negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• it has been my honor and privilege to work with over too many years advocating across all of the spaces
• it has been my honor and privilege to work with over too many years advocating across all of the spaces
• Instead, they launch what they call a fair and timely compensation program that requires survivors to
• Instead, they launch what they call a fair and timely compensation program that requires survivors to
• I think from being engaged in these spaces since the fires in 2017 and seeing how utilities and all of

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on the California Earthquake Authority’s SB 254 report and broader options for reforming California’s utility wildfire recovery system. The chair framed the discussion around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the scale of wildfire-related costs on utility bills, and the need to weigh trade-offs among survivors, ratepayers, utilities, insurers, and taxpayers. The first panel featured wildfire survivors William Abrams and Joy Chen, who described long delays in compensation, housing insecurity, and what they viewed as a system that protects utility shareholders more than victims. They urged greater transparency, clearer accountability for utility spending and safety performance, faster and fuller compensation for survivors, and reforms such as independent audits and better alignment of utility incentives with wildfire prevention and restitution. The second panel began with Tom Welsh of the California Earthquake Authority, who explained that the SB 254 report was intended as a broad inventory of policy pathways rather than recommendations. He described the report’s process, including stakeholder submissions, workstreams, and a convergence process, and outlined the current wildfire fund structure: utilities remain liable, the fund reimburses eligible claims after a covered wildfire, and the CPUC later determines prudency and possible reimbursement back to the fund. RAND’s Lloyd Dixon summarized compensation data, saying utilities paid about $38 billion between 2017 and 2024, with major shares going to injured parties, insurers, and public entities, while litigation costs and survivors’ own losses remain substantial. He noted that legal fees and delays reduce the amount survivors ultimately receive. Utility and public-interest witnesses offered differing views on the report’s pathways. PG&E’s Tyson Smith said the report shows inaction is the worst outcome and argued for community wildfire risk reduction, equitable allocation of catastrophe costs, and state-led resilience tools. LADWP’s Fernando Valero emphasized the vulnerability of municipal utilities and cities, and supported inverse condemnation reform, a state-sponsored liability insurance framework, damages and subrogation limits, and stronger insurance access. Consumer Attorneys of California’s John Fisk argued that IOU-caused fires are not natural disasters but the result of negligence and sometimes criminal conduct, and opposed reducing utility liability while supporting stronger oversight and audits. The Public Advocates Office’s Nathaniel Skinner focused on affordability, saying ratepayers already bear large and growing wildfire costs and warning against shifting more costs onto bills without measurable risk reduction and tighter accountability. Committee members then began questioning witnesses about what counts as measurable mitigation, how to define full and fair compensation, and how any fast-pay process should work.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we were working on our housing navigation program and launched that in 2016, PPIH has always had
• We launched with our community partners—SENCA, CAPLP, Salvation Army, lots of our amazing partners—and
• who maybe doesn't... ...to loosen up that space for somebody who maybe does need it.
• We are, candidly, getting ready to launch our 2026 needs assessment in just a matter of... ...days.
• In 2018, we started renting hotel space for a lot of the homeless people, and we worked through it.

Committee: Joint Human Services

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> in</c><00:13:49.760><c> early</c> initial launch took place in early initial launch took place in
• </c> team as we prepared for the full launch team as we prepared for the full launch of<00:14:29.440>
• :20:30.159><c> heard</c><00:20:30.400><c> feedback</c> we launched uh we heard feedback we launched uh
• We're also launched a search function.
• </c> program launched on January 1, right? program launched on January 1, right?

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• He then moved to Arkansas Launch.
• to the launch system.
• Arkansas Launch, there were some questions around Arkansas Launch.
• McGoo and others, but launch for job seekers is live, launch for employers is live, but still has some
• And we’re tying that into Launch.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• teachers, and just community members about the impact of technology and the way in which this unregulated space
• are wondering why a state like New Mexico would take such an aggressive posture in regulating the space
• And I think it is an example of the kind of behavior you can expect from an unregulated space like artificial
• No pumpkin launching. I already do that. No pumpkin launching. I really do that. But, Mr.

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Secretary of State, the State Land Office, the Attorney General, and the State Auditor. The Secretary of State said its requested general fund budget of $15.88 million was intended to maintain baseline operations, replace lost federal cyber and election support, and address a 12% vacancy rate. Officials warned that the House recommendation still left major gaps for election security, tabulator replacement, campaign finance system upgrades, overseas and military ballot services, ballot tracking, and a new tax lien filing system. Senators pressed about the election fund, county burdens, and the risk of underfunding election administration; the office said the House had provided $15 million for the election fund for the primary and another $15 million for the general election, but not enough for operations or all capital needs. The State Land Office said it was satisfied with the House budget action and had no additional request. Staff described the office’s record revenues, low vacancy rate, clean audits, and proposed new positions tied to forestry, economic development, petroleum, geothermal, and royalty compliance work. Senators asked about long-term revenue trends, forest thinning and biomass opportunities, and bookkeeping around the land maintenance fund; the office said the new positions were intended to generate revenue and support land management, including fire mitigation. The Attorney General’s office presented a budget built around a 0% general fund increase, greater use of the Consumer Settlement Fund, and $4.5 million in special/extraordinary litigation funding. The AG emphasized active litigation and investigations involving consumer fraud, Medicaid fraud, federal funding cuts, Meta and other technology platforms, AI and child safety, gaming compacts, tobacco, and possible litigation over abandoned uranium mine cleanup. Senators asked about scam enforcement, the structure of settlement funds, and whether the office could take on uranium-related litigation; the AG said the office could prepare a litigation budget but warned such efforts would require sustained funding. The State Auditor said the House budget added only modest increases while the office faced about a 40% vacancy rate, difficulty recruiting auditors, and a shrinking pool of public accounting firms, creating risks for constitutional audit responsibilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was a huge part of our efforts in the last 17 months: to launch behavioral health pilot projects
• Finally, in this budget—and this is my longest request here—we've had to rent a little bit more office space
• We've had to rent a little more space for our behavioral health staff as we've staffed up.
• We only need one way, but we kind of end up in this funny in-between space.
• We have a behavioral health court, we have the competency diversion program, and we just launched our

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> support</c> Since launching its virtual support Since launching its virtual support services<02:
• And veterans and military are used to space available.
• And veterans and is space available.
• </c> military are used to space available. military are used to space available.
• Dingell: Space allows, regardless of where care is provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• a federal appropriation, and that work really helps to foster additional work in the ag technology space
• Valley, but to really think about the technology and innovation that's happening in the interior spaces
• And in less than nine months, Out how he could use his space technology to think about water moisture
• You know, we're not intending to have our own test spaces. We leverage other test spaces.
• We leverage, you know, Grand Farm and Farm... ...test spaces. We leverage other test spaces.

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and opening remarks from NDSU President David Stewart, who emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission of statewide service through teaching, research, and extension. He highlighted the university’s role in agriculture, water, soil health, and community outreach, and pointed to examples of research commercialization such as Lilac Agriculture’s work on nitrogen-fixing microbes for crops. He also said he is still early in his tenure and intends to spend time listening and learning across the state. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study estimated that North Dakota could develop about 1.3 million additional irrigated acres, with major potential in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau. Testimony stressed the economic benefits of irrigation for crop yields, value-added processing, dairy, and potato production, while members also discussed water availability, aquifers, downstream water use, and the need for more flexible permitting. The drainage portion of the study found significant economic benefits from legal drains, and staff explained that the impacts were calculated through increased productivity and related input purchases. Greg Lardy then gave NDSU’s required agriculture update, saying agriculture accounts for more than $41 billion in annual economic activity, one in five jobs, and about 25 percent of state GDP. He reviewed the role of SBAR, the statewide research-extension network, new crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI and weather-network tools, and Extension’s county partnerships and youth programs. He also outlined NDSU’s priorities for the next session: restoring proposed budget cuts, increasing operating support, and addressing deferred maintenance. Members asked about storage shed construction, NDSU’s relationship with Grand Farm, and whether NDSU could help with water-related research tied to drainage and aquifers. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor on water and data centers, who described graduate fellowships, a water workforce certificate program, and research on data center cooling, water use, and “Legendary Harvest” concepts that would reuse waste heat for greenhouse or aquaculture production. Questions focused on whether the cooling systems were closed-loop, who would own any related production facilities, and whether the project was still only a feasibility study. Finally, North Dakota AgTech described its NSF-funded “engine” project, saying it has brought millions in federal investment to the state, supported startups and on-farm trials, and is focused on commercialization, workforce development, and helping producers lower input costs and improve profitability.

Transcript Highlights:

• difference between about 500 meals that I might be able to get out versus 9,000 in a day, just the space
• alone and the capacity to do the space alone and the capacity to do that<00:13:18.480><c> so</c><00:
• Right now, with the space that we have, I have two rows in a warehouse, so our capacity to be ready—I
• Right now, with the space that we have, I have two rows in a warehouse, so our capacity to be ready—I
• this critical agency so during launch this critical agency so during the<01:29:11.760><c> summer</c>

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, this is part of the reason why we saw a pilot program like this be launched in L.A.
• have worked to remove the inaccurate, inappropriate word accident from our language and our laws, launching
• And if the space was... ...broad enough, it could say vehicular homicide.
• would argue that more and more, especially since the pandemic, so much has changed in the restaurant space

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health heard several bills focused on Medi-Cal access, HIV prevention, death certificate amendments, caregiver certification, advance care planning, and sugar-sweetened beverage labeling. SB 1422 by Senator Durazo would restore Medi-Cal access for income-eligible undocumented adults beginning January 1, 2027. The author and many supporters argued the enrollment freeze shifts costs to counties and hospitals, worsens health outcomes, and undermines California’s prior coverage gains. County, labor, health, immigrant-rights, and provider groups testified in support; there was no opposition. Committee members generally expressed support but also raised concerns about funding and the need for new revenue sources. The bill was discussed while the committee lacked quorum, so no vote was taken at that time. The committee also heard SB 1023 on PrEP access, SB 1071 on death certificate amendments after homicide findings, SB 1057 on criminal-history review for CNA and home health aide certification, and SB 1088 on POLST and advance care planning updates. SB 1023 would require insurers that cover injectable PrEP under the medical benefit to also cover it through the pharmacy benefit; supporters said this would reduce administrative barriers and improve access, while health plans and insurers opposed it as an unnecessary mandate that could blur benefit design lines. SB 1071 would allow next of kin to amend a death certificate’s manner of death to homicide after a final court determination; families and law enforcement supported it as a matter of truth and closure, while coroners opposed it as blurring medical and legal findings and potentially distorting public health data. SB 1057 would replace automatic denial with individualized review for certain convictions in CNA and home health aide certification, and SB 1088 would modernize POLST/DNR rules, including electronic signatures, out-of-state recognition, and clarifying who may sign; both drew support, though clinical nurse specialists opposed SB 1088 because they were not included as authorized signers. Several of these bills were heard without quorum, so no votes were taken during the discussion. After quorum was established, the committee heard SB 869 by Senator Weber-Pierce, which would require large chain restaurants to display a clear added-sugar icon next to beverages exceeding 50% of the daily recommended limit. The author and supporters, including the American Diabetes Association and an emergency physician, said consumers need simple, visible information at the point of purchase to better understand health risks tied to sugary drinks. The bill was framed as a public health transparency measure aimed at diabetes, obesity, and other chronic disease prevention. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 869, before any final committee action or vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• hospitals facing sudden threats like disasters or payroll shortages, an innovation grant for hospitals launching
• Labor and delivery is a 24-hour service that requires specialized staff, equipment, and space.
• takes a compassionate step towards honoring infant loss by providing grieving families with the time, space
• As a result, youth who could otherwise rely on these funds to launch into their transition into adulthood

Bills: HB18 , HB37 , HB 116 , HB388 , HB879 , HB913 , HB 1151 , HB2216 , HB2358 , HB2809 , SB577 , SB1590 , SB1782 , SB1887 , SB2744 , HB18 , HB37 , HB116

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Amazon computational space.
• I assume that they're dorm spaces with multiple beds in some cases.
• program is a certificate program through our Division of Extended Studies, and UC San Diego will launch
• UCLA is also launching an innovative Associate's Degree for Transfer (ADT) pilot that will prioritize

Transcript Highlights:

• The department last year said we're about to launch a new online driveway permit process, and you're
• a new online U driveway about to launch a new online U driveway permit<00:10:34.640><c> process</c><
• It treats the space as any parking space that is specially designated with appropriate signage using
• If the space is reserved, someone who parks there gets a $62 fine.
• </c><00:43:42.640><c> so</c> as if it's any parking space so as if it's any parking space so designated

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:12.640><c> to</c> improve our animal holding spaces to improve our animal holding spaces to
• space and how we space and and virtual space and how we maximize<01:54:02.320><c> that</c><01:54:02.599
• </c> to my colleague David kellerer to launch to my colleague David kellerer to launch into<01:55:12.719
• /c><02:03:42.360><c> What</c> were able to see unfinished space What were able to see unfinished space
• </c> than 30 years ago to create that space than 30 years ago to create that space in<02:03:47.840><c

Committee: Senate Capital Investment