Transcript Highlights:

• We have the lowest cost electricity.
• With the cost of construction, it makes it difficult.
• Part of these costs include costs from coerced and fraudulent debt, as well as medical costs, lost income
• What does that cost? And so, I, conceptually, okay.
• And we need to be able to keep up with the recurring costs and operational costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who was eating the costs?
• The capital cost, the facilities.
• These machines cost a lot of money.
• <01:29:16.800> They just the cost for the machine. They just the cost for the machine.
• It's currently costing us already $750,000 in unbudgeted cost to mitigate that pipe.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires that all state agencies and departments undertake an equity analysis prior to the
• All state agencies and departments would undertake an equity analysis prior to the implementation of
• DEIA programs are in fact potentially cost savings in that they can protect companies and governments
• from costs associated with workplace culture or the liability stemming from discrimination.
• This bill calls for the analysis to be led by a designated DEIA officer, further institutionalizing equity

Summary: The Governmental Organization Committee met as a subcommittee because it initially lacked a quorum, then later established quorum and heard several bills. AB 445 by Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry would grant Colusa County 10 on-sale liquor licenses to address a long-standing shortage and support local economic development; the author said she would accept committee amendments. The bill was later approved on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members before additional aye votes were added. AB 766 by Assemblymember Sharp-Collins would require state agencies and departments to conduct an equity analysis before implementing budgets or regulations, with the review performed by a DEIA coordinator or qualified equivalent. Supporters, including a college administrator and a nursing instructor, argued the bill would protect diversity, equity, inclusion, and access efforts and help address systemic barriers in education and health care. The committee voted 13-? on the measure after a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with the roll held open and later additional aye votes recorded. AB 971 by Assemblymember Alvarez would facilitate transfer of about 3.83 acres of city-owned land in San Diego to the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, contingent on affirmative action by the City of San Diego. The author and tribal witnesses described the bill as a step toward correcting historical injustices and reopening a currently closed park as a tribal-operated historical park and museum. The measure passed on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, again with the roll held open for absent members before additional votes were added.

Transcript Highlights:

• with more cost with more cost sharing<04:02:11.800> when<04:02:12.000> they<04:02:
• They have increased cost.
• They have increased costs.
• As health care costs go up, so do the costs of these plans.
• cost of the product and your age.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on House Bill 437, which would change New Hampshire law on undischarged mortgages by creating a shorter period after which certain old mortgages would be treated as unenforceable. Prime sponsor Representative Bill Boyd said the bill was developed with input from bankers, lawyers, realtors, the Attorney General’s office, and the Banking Department, and he noted a drafting correction needed on line 18. He explained that the proposal would replace current law with a new framework modeled partly on Massachusetts, including a five-year expiration after a stated maturity date and a 35-year period for mortgages without an expiration date. Supporters said the bill would help clear obsolete title defects, reduce costly quiet-title litigation, and make real estate transactions easier for consumers, attorneys, and conveyancers. Representative Mary Hakken-Phillips, Susan Cole of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, and Michelle Coffin all testified in support, describing the bill as a consumer protection measure. They said undischarged or improperly discharged mortgages often surface during title searches, causing delays, legal expenses, and failed or delayed closings. Coffin and Hakken-Phillips emphasized that many of these cases involve old, effectively obsolete mortgages and that the current process often requires expensive court action even when no one contests the title. Cole described a recent transaction in which a title defect caused a buyer to walk away and later restart the financing process, creating costs for both buyer and seller. A committee member asked about notice to mortgage holders; the response was that the lender bears responsibility for recording and extending the mortgage, and that due process rights would remain if a lender later contested the discharge. Ryan Hill of the New Hampshire Bankers Association said the banking industry had reviewed the bill and was generally comfortable with it, while requesting a delayed effective date so members would have time to adjust their recording practices. He said the bill’s January 1, 2028 effective date reflected that request. After closing the hearing on HB 437, the committee opened a hearing on House Bill 721, the Gold and Silver Legal Tender Act. Representative Juliet Harvey-Bolia introduced it as a bipartisan economic justice bill intended to recognize gold and silver as legal tender, protect against inflation, and address concerns about trust, taxes, and government taking. She argued that gold is a stable store of value and discussed tax treatment in neighboring states, federal history, and digital gold platforms. The hearing on HB 721 was still in progress when the transcript ended, with the chair limiting questions because of time.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB1904 is a Cherokee analysis bill relating to the release of a balloon and associated littering, creating
• Preventing degradation in these pristine waters is more cost-effective than attempting to restore them
• When pristine streams are impacted by nutrient pollution, sedimentation, or altered flows, the cost of
• In addition, the use of more Bicycle content can help to reduce costs in the supply chain for making
• I appreciate that data-driven analysis. Any questions, members? Okay, thank you very much.

Bills: HB1730, HB1823, HB2048, HB2266, HB2440, HB3333, HB4086, HB4271, HB4413, HB4839, HB4841, HB5151

Keywords: PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, forever chemicals, public health study, environmental regulation, drinking water, groundwater, surface water, food packaging, chemical exposure, firefighters, chemical manufacturing workers, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, Railroad Commission of Texas, Department of State Health Services, University of Houston, occupational exposure, contaminants

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS INFORMATION WAS SHARED WITH BOTH INDUSTRY AND OUR PARTNERS AND TO USE THE ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY IF
• THE CONCLUSION OF THIS ANALYSIS WAS THAT WHILE THEY WERE ALREADY PROGRAMS AVAILABLE THE ONES THAT DID
• EXAMPLE TO BRING IT HOME IF THE BOARD IS FOUND THROUGH COMPLIANCE NOT ENTERING TO HAVE DISALLOWED COST
• COSTS FOR THEIR ADULT AND DISLOCATED WORKERS AND IN THIS CASE THAT 30% OF THEIR WORKER BUDGET.
• TO THEIR COSTS IS ABOUT 14%.

Transcript Highlights:

• We received a revenue of $51,000, and so that extra $1,000 cost them about $20,000 in revenue that they
• On the analysis of the fiscal impact report, it said there were some technical issues.
• Just a warning, we will probably be visiting you in the future to up that as costs increase.
• The current cost share, the 50% cost that the legal service provider pays towards the salaries, is restricted
• This is the second time I've read that, so maybe it's just a person doing the analysis, but.

Transcript Highlights:

• Actually, based off the phase two, depending on the analysis... phase two, depending on the analysis
• of the soil and groundwater, if you encounter it, you use a risk-based analysis to determine how much
• This is a no-cost time extension for architecture work on the state capital. Any questions on what?
• consternation with this sole source necessarily is just the efficacy of going through that process with a cost
• The first one is a no-cost time extension for property closings. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that is in the cost per pupil.
• costs real life costs conal um presented costs real life costs that<02:07:20.199> were<02:07:
• know cost some costs out inadequate know cost some costs out inadequate education<03:49:14.800><
• <04:06:29.279> the<04:06:29.560> cost meet the foundation budget cost the cost meet
• I did a complete cost analysis that you... and you can't go by that.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on school funding formulas, adequacy aid, and special education aid, with the chair outlining a schedule for the next several Tuesdays and noting that the committee would likely need multiple executive sessions to narrow down the bills. Members discussed the FY 26 formula, including base cost, differentiated aid, extraordinary needs grants, hold harmless provisions, and the roughly $28 million in excess statewide education property tax (SWP) funds that are not currently returned to the state under the existing formula. The first bill discussed was HB 137, which would allow excess SWP funds to remain with the local municipality for school and municipal purposes. Representative Spilsbury argued the issue is fundamental and suggested the state should require excess funds to be remitted back to the state, while Representative Damon said the bill appears to codify current practice and may be unnecessary, especially given possible court action. The discussion then shifted to a related bill from Representative Fellas that would redefine SWP as local money rather than state money and keep the current adequacy aid numbers revenue-neutral for now. Representative Fellas explained that SWP was created in 1999 after the Claremont lawsuit as part of the state’s effort to show increased school aid, but that it effectively labeled part of the local property tax as state money without changing property tax bills. She argued the state should not be tapping local property tax revenue and said her bill would preserve the current distribution while removing the SWP tax label, with future work possible on a different measure of local capacity such as income, home values, or poverty rate. Members also referenced prior discussions of fiscal capacity aid, relief aid, and other formula changes as part of the broader effort to restructure school funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• So currently, if this is an unknown, do we know what is costing taxpayers now with the current system
• The good news is within our staff analysis, we do have a fiscal impact study that has been performed,
• However, any additional cost will be offset, at least in part, by the repeal of the Office of Lieutenant
• With a law degree to be able to make that kind of analysis.
• We don't have an analysis of what the impact would be financially of this new Florida DOGE.

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee heard several measures focused on government structure, oversight, and public policy designations. The most debated bill was HJR 1325, which proposed a constitutional amendment to create a statewide Commissioner of Government Efficiency, abolish the lieutenant governor office and the Government Efficiency Task Force, and eliminate the constitutional requirement for an Auditor General appointment. Sponsors said the new commissioner would be a watchdog over waste, fraud, and abuse across state and local government, while opponents raised concerns about cost, single-subject issues, lack of implementation details, and whether existing oversight structures were sufficient. After extensive debate, the resolution was reported favorably by a recorded vote. The committee also approved HB 575, which redesignates the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in Florida statute, and HB 1445, which requires certain state officials and agency heads to have stronger ties to Florida and, for some positions, to live in the county where their agency headquarters is located. HB 1445 drew questions about practicality and whether a proximity standard would be better than a strict county requirement, but the sponsor said he would continue working on that issue. Both bills were reported favorably, with HB 1445 passing unanimously. In addition, the committee unanimously approved HB 259, designating August 21 as Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day, with supporters emphasizing the need for public education about fentanyl overdoses. The committee also passed CS/HB 29, the public records and meetings bill linked to the social work licensure compact, which creates confidentiality and meeting exemptions needed for the compact to operate. Public testimony on that measure was supportive, and it too was reported favorably without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• or they're about so some of those cost or they're about so some of those cost based<00:10:33.720
• I know we have some analysis.
• I know we have some analysis.
• Workforce costs matter.
• Workforce costs matter.

Bills: HF1005

Keywords: health insurance, medical assistance, behavioral health, reimbursement rates, primary care services, physician fee schedule, managed care, residential services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an economic analysis.
• sure that the customers that are putting the costs on from a cost standpoint are the ones ultimately
• cost allocation.
• It collects it when it's low cost and it discharges it when it's higher cost.
• Because the dispatch cost of that generation is zero.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce convened to discuss critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, particularly focusing on Texas's power grid and associated vulnerabilities. The meeting highlighted Texas's recent ranking as 10th in electricity affordability, emphasizing the state's commitment to maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid. New committee members introduced themselves, and the agenda included testimony from ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission regarding the implementation of the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, which aims to mitigate risks posed by foreign entities to the power grid. Chad Sealy from ERCOT presented updates on the attestation process for market participants, revealing that over 1,500 entities had submitted attestations regarding their corporate structures and affiliations with designated foreign countries. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the current vetting process, particularly regarding indirect relationships with foreign adversaries. Testimonies from the PUC and the Attorney General's office underscored the challenges of enforcing compliance and the need for improved legislative measures to enhance oversight and security. The committee also heard from experts, including Dr. Emma Stewart from Idaho National Laboratory, who discussed the evolving threats to the grid from foreign adversaries and the importance of securing communication systems. Recommendations included prioritizing inspections of critical components and enhancing collaboration with national laboratories to address vulnerabilities. The discussion concluded with an acknowledgment of the balance needed between ensuring grid security and maintaining affordability for consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• there uh sums up the task force costs. there uh sums up the task force costs.
• Um, there are costs for agency staff.
• force reimbursements such as perdm cost force reimbursements such as perdm cost mileage<00:21:54.320
• <01:24:34.159> Absent funding to cover these costs. Absent funding to cover these costs.
• <01:24:36.719> would funding from the state, the cost would funding from the state, the cost

Bills: HF1048, HF1049, HF745, HF2210

Keywords: charter schools, education funding, revenue calculation, general education revenue, special education, school library aid, education finance, school districts, funding eligibility, compensatory revenue, task force, free meals, school funding, education equity, HF2210, school unemployment aid, Minnesota Department of Education, general fund appropriation, unemployment insurance, unemployment claims

Transcript Highlights:

• DOH posts data to its website, though it provides limited analysis of the data.
• DOH post data to its website, though it provides limited analysis of the data.
• Operators then pay for program costs, which include an annual fee to DOH to cover the cost of their oversight
• To cover the cost of their oversight.
• costs or if they could be trimmed a little bit?

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, when you utilize technology, there's a cost factor, and right now that cost factor, our funds
• And after that, we will issue our system-wide analysis.
• analysis and market rate survey.
• analysis of the processes... ...of cost and care and lends itself to analysis of the processes as well
• I mean, that's the full, you know, program cost that isn't the entire cost to North Dakota.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• possible. get past my desk without the highest level of evaluation analysis possible.
• So that's the final analysis that's run later to understand how it impacted fidelity.
• When we're duplicating, when we're doing all of those kinds of things, it costs us money.
• Having said that, there is literally something called an interaction term within path analysis modeling
• This costs nothing to the state. The AMIRA math, or ISIP math, is part of our state assessment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The notification that we've been talking about that the act requires, and the alternatives analysis as
• Whether the alternatives analysis is adequate, or whether the replacement plan provides at least the
• Is that supposed to be covering the costs associated?
• And would this really reflect the cost of an entity in regard to in-lieu funding?
• The fair market value funds are identified through fair market value analysis to DCAM and approved by

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight held an oversight hearing on draft regulations implementing Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution under Chapter 274 of the Acts of 2022, the Open Space Act. Chairs Cabral and Collins framed the hearing as a review of how the new process for dispositions or changes in use of Article 97 land would work, including public notice, environmental justice protections, replacement land, appraisals, and the role of the legislature. Under Secretary Stephanie Cooper and Commissioner Adam Bakke testified for EEA/DCAM, followed later by Deputy Inspector General O’Neill and Deputy Inspector General Giles on appraisal review. Much of the discussion focused on how the draft regulations would operate in practice. EEA said the regulations would require advance public notice, define “comparable location” for replacement land, and allow the Secretary to make findings on whether an action would adversely affect environmental justice communities. Members pressed for longer public comment periods, clearer notice to local officials, more frequent updates to the site evaluation tool, and a clearer definition of terms such as “limited duration” for permits and licenses. EEA said the regulations are intended to standardize a process that has been handled through policy and case-by-case review, and that the legislature still retains the final authority to approve any Article 97 disposition. Committee members also questioned whether the draft rules shift too much discretion to the Secretary and whether the proposed “proponent” process could allow private entities to drive Article 97 actions. EEA responded that non-public proponents would still need municipal support and legislative sponsorship, and that the regulations do not create a new avenue to bypass the existing home rule and legislative process. Members raised concerns about the current policy’s unanimous-vote requirements for municipal commissions, the proposed waiver provisions, whether MEPA applies, and the lack of explicit enforcement or penalty language in the act or regulations. EEA and DCAM said the act does not provide an enforcement mechanism and that disputes would generally be handled through the courts or the Attorney General. The Inspector General’s office explained its role in reviewing appraisals for special legislation, including Article 97 matters, to ensure compliance with USPAP standards and to forward its review to DCAM. The hearing did not include any votes or formal committee action; members indicated that the committee may later issue recommendations to the executive agencies based on the testimony and questions raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• type analysis.
• So the changes that happen to that statute, they clarify and note that a cost-benefit analysis only has
• to be appended to a ...clarify and note that a cost-benefit analysis only has to be appended to a health
• analysis.
• analysis, and I have to refer it to a probes.

Summary: The committee met to organize upcoming legislative session arrangements and staffing, and to review several rule and security-related items. It first approved a Joint Rule 211 change, recommended by the Employee Benefits Committee, that clarifies the deadline and statutory references for introducing health insurance mandate bills so required cost-benefit materials can be completed in time. Members noted the change would streamline the process, though it would not solve all timing and mandate-determination issues. The committee then discussed a draft bill on confidentiality protections for certain public officials and candidates, but members raised concerns about the statute’s complexity, the practical difficulty of administering it, and whether it would meaningfully improve safety; no action was taken and the topic was set aside for further discussion. The committee received an update on the new NCSL Legislator Security Fund. Staff explained that North Dakota is in process to apply for grant funding that could reimburse up to about $200 per legislator for personal security-related expenses such as home cameras, locks, lighting, or monitoring services, with reimbursement handled through Legislative Council and subject to Emergency Commission approval. Members asked about eligible expenses, timing, and whether new legislators would be included, and staff said the program would likely cover current legislators only for this round. The committee also approved the 2027 joint session schedule for the State of the State, tribal-state message, and State of the Judiciary on January 5, with the tribal and judiciary addresses in the morning and the governor’s address later in the day. The committee next approved the statutory reporting schedule for the Commerce Commissioner and agricultural commodity groups, setting the Commerce report for January 13, 2027, and the agriculture reports and pesticide container disposal update for January 14, 2027. Members questioned the usefulness of some of these recurring reports, but agreed to follow the existing statutory requirements. The largest discussion centered on Legislative Council staffing for the 2027 session: the committee approved reducing session staff to 36 Senate and 41 House employees, eliminating procedural clerk positions in standing committees in favor of permanent policy analysts, while retaining quality assurance clerks and adding a House parking lot attendant. It also approved a 3% salary increase for those staff positions, matching the increase given to state employees. Finally, the committee reviewed a revised organizational session and new legislator training agenda. Staff proposed moving some orientation content into a separate pre-session training day for new legislators on November 30, including laptop setup, mock committee and floor sessions, parliamentary procedure, and HR/benefits training, while adding more security and budgeting instruction. Members strongly supported earlier and more practical training, including follow-up reinforcement during the first week of session, and suggested using experienced or term-limited former legislators as mentors. Staff also described efforts to expand training materials into podcasts, flowcharts, and other formats, and Legislative Council leadership outlined the office’s remaining vacancies and a proposed expansion of policy analysts, program evaluators, legal staff, and training support to better serve the legislature and improve oversight of state programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• these um premium tax credits and cost these um premium tax credits and cost sharing<00:13:02.160
• <00:14:43.720> sharing ma um as for premiums and cost sharing ma um as for premiums and cost
• There's also cost-sharing requirements in MinnesotaCare.
• <00:19:59.280> sharing premiums um there's also cost sharing premiums um there's also cost
• Medical Education and Research costs Medical Education and Research costs program<00:43:01.559><

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The meeting was an informational walkthrough for the Health Finance and Policy Working Group, focused on committee structure, budget basics, and major health-related accounts and programs. Staff explained the roles of House Research and House Fiscal, then reviewed key funds used by the committee, including the general fund, government special revenue fund, federal funds, the health care access fund, remediation account, and drinking water revolving fund. They also outlined the committee’s main budget areas, noting that medical assistance is the largest general fund item and that the Department of Health is a substantial agency funded by a mix of federal, general fund, and special revenue dollars. A major portion of the presentation covered subsidized health coverage programs. Staff described Medical Assistance (Minnesota’s Medicaid program) as an entitlement for eligible Minnesotans, with no premiums or cost sharing, and explained its managed care and fee-for-service delivery systems. MinnesotaCare was presented as a separate federal-state basic health program for people who are not eligible for MA, with income limits, premiums for adults age 21 and older, and cost-sharing requirements; staff noted that federal premium tax credit changes affect MinnesotaCare premium ranges. The presentation also summarized MNsure’s role in the individual market and in determining eligibility for premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, MinnesotaCare, and MA. The committee also received an overview of health-related licensing boards and occupational regulation. Staff said Minnesota has 16 health-related licensing boards, funded mainly through the state government special revenue fund and subject to legislative appropriation, and explained that health occupations may be regulated by the Department of Health, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, or the boards under chapter 214. Interstate licensure compacts were briefly noted as a way to ease practice across states. No bills were debated and no votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you look at areas in particular like energy costs, uh, the regulatory burden and energy costs in
• And you look at areas in particular like energy costs, uh, the regulatory burden and energy costs in
• , we have high energy costs.
• energy costs.
• costs, we have high high energy costs. costs, we have high high energy costs.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all