Transcript Highlights:

• Their budget kicks out zero.
• So when you take the budget necessary plus the reserves and then minus all, you know, the whole budgeting
• So when you take the budget necessary plus the reserves and then minus all, you know, the whole budgeting
• But when a city submits their budget or an ambulance service submits their budget, who's responsible
• for seeing... their budget or an ambulance service submits their budget, who's responsible for saying

Summary: The committee was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer were offered, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Members then received a memo summarizing major audit items and began hearing audit presentations from the State Auditor’s Office and private auditors on a range of state agencies and organizations. Several audits were reported as clean, including the Bank of North Dakota, the North Dakota Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation’s flexible transportation fund, Lake Region State College, and the Department of Environmental Quality. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association also received an unmodified opinion, though repeat findings were noted for limited segregation of duties and financial statement preparation due to its small staff. The Council on the Arts audit found two findings: payroll charged to federal awards without adequate timekeeping records, and unallowable expenditures from a restricted cultural endowment fund. The Department of Public Instruction audit identified unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, though additional testing showed the funds were used for their intended purpose. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which identified four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating limit, grant conditions not being met, improper Breeders Fund awards, and improper procurement for advertising services. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson acknowledged complacency and weak controls, said the agency would tighten procedures, and explained that the commission had since worked with procurement and would follow the rules more closely. Auditors also explained that the commission would now be audited every two years because of the findings. Another major discussion involved the University of North Dakota School of Law, where auditors found a lack of documentation supporting admissions decisions for post-baccalaureate programs. UND officials said they remain in good standing with the American Bar Association but agreed better documentation and tools are needed; the committee pressed for more transparency and follow-up on admissions criteria. The committee also received an update on Dakota College at Bottineau, where Minot State University reported that bank reconciliations had been brought current after a significant backlog and would now be maintained through shared services. Members requested a written follow-up report on the issues and corrective actions. Finally, the North Dakota Fair Association explained that its foundation has been dissolved and remaining funds were transferred to another nonprofit for continued support of the state fair, and the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, saying the reported amount was about $1.1 million from a partial district survey and that debt remains a local issue, though it could be revisited if school meal funding changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the signature projects that he did was the oversight of the construction of the Gough Bridge at
• There are two dashboard metrics where we monitor whether we are on budget with our construction costs
• There are two dashboard metrics where we monitor are we on budget with our construction costs.
• , because you can see on this graph that about 90% of our budget goes to contract construction on the
• We have growing communities, but we also have budget constraints on our revenues.

Committee: House Transportation and Defense

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Provide access to information to parties, oversight entities, and those engaged by oversight entities
• , don't assume that they're going to either exercise the oversight... ...that has oversight.
• I said, why aren't we doing zero-based budgeting?
• I said, why aren't we doing zero-based budgeting?
• Because we should have a zero-based budget, but it would take a lot more work.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is some oversight. Yes, there is.
• Lena Conklin with the Legislative Budget Board.
• Kristen Doyle: to our Oversight Committee.
• John Posey with the Legislative Budget Board.
• Can you put a little bit of background on why that was in the budget and why it's still in the budget

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• That could be unappropriated reserve funds, funds from the Budget Stabilization Fund, etc.
• The Legislative Budget Commission.
• We need to prevent this emergency response trust fund from being used without our oversight.
• And I'd like to talk about the Legislative Budget Commission.
• I have a number of motions related to our budget rollout that I want to share with you today.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed budget totals $117.4 billion.
• The proposed budget totals $117.4 billion.
• The budget for these agencies is mostly trust-funded, meaning that their budgets are funded by dedicated
• , the budget is also a budget with reductions.
• The governor's budget does make some recommendations to the qualifications for the next budget year,

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Subcommittee Four of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee will come to order.
• Before we get into the specific budget proposals, Ms.
• However, given the current budget condition, one option. Cup in 2028 Olympics.
• And that's exactly my concern with this approach to budgeting.
• In the oversight hearing, there was a conversation about medical debt.

Summary: The subcommittee heard budget proposals for Exposition Park, the California Science Center, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), the Debt Collection Licensing Act program, and the Board of Registered Nursing. For Exposition Park, the administration requested $96.5 million for utility replacement, site improvements, code compliance, accessibility, and safety upgrades, plus $1.698 million for operational sustainability funded from the park’s improvement fund. The LAO said the proposals had merit but noted the first item could be downscaled if needed because of the state’s budget condition. Members emphasized the park’s deferred maintenance, major upcoming events, and the need to protect a statewide asset; both Exposition Park items were held open. The Science Center requested funding to open and operate the new Air and Space Center, including staffing for the facility that will display the Space Shuttle Endeavour and expand exhibit space. The LAO supported the proposal but suggested the Legislature consider alternative funding sources such as admission fees, parking fees, or private funds. Members discussed the Science Center’s public-private funding model, the importance of keeping access affordable for disadvantaged communities, and the tradeoff between free admission and long-term operating support. The item was also held open. DFPI sought continuation of expenditure authority for the California Consumer Financial Protection Law, debt collection licensing, and broker-dealer/investment adviser workloads, and the LAO recommended limited-term funding with more cumulative reporting before permanent funding is considered. Members pressed the department on whether its workload and spending are tied to measurable outcomes rather than just activity counts, and DFPI cited complaint resolution, enforcement actions, and restitution recovered as examples of impact. The Debt Collection Licensing Act item drew similar LAO comments, but members raised stronger concerns about the financing model, the gap between projected and actual licensee counts, and whether spending levels are justified; that item was held open. The Board of Registered Nursing requested $1.4 million for eight special investigators to address rising complaints, and the board said most complaints are resolved through investigation, referral, probation, or rehabilitation rather than discipline. Members asked about complaint backlogs, viral and potentially automated complaints, bias in care, and the lack of broader inspection authority; the item was also held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is some oversight. Yes.
• our oversight committee.
• It's budget of 300 million per year.
• John Posey with the Legislative Budget Board.
• and why it's still in the budget this year.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Serving on House Appropriations, we have to look at each individualized budget.
• So the bulk of the budget for House... ...budget.
• I've actually been reflecting on some of the accountability and oversight bills that...
• So this hasn't been taken into account with our full budget. Is that correct?
• First, do you have this in the budget, this appropriation?

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We realize that, as the legislature, you are tasked with budgeting for the state, and part of that is
• So I'm just exploring all sorts of options as we go into the budget year.
• So I'm just exploring all sorts of options as we go into the budget year.
• bill, where we can use the budget reserve trust fund if needed if not enough is appropriated.
• > Reserve</c> where we can use the um budget Reserve where we can use the um budget Reserve trust<00:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss the guardian ad litem system, including appointment qualifications, training, payment, and whether any changes are needed. Roll was called, the February 25, 2025 minutes were approved, and the chair emphasized that the meeting was informational only and no vote would be taken. Representatives from the Court of Justice, including Chief Justice Deborah Henry Lambert and several family and district judges, testified about how the system has evolved since concerns raised in 2019 about overappointment and fees. Court witnesses said the judiciary responded to earlier concerns by requiring open appointment lists of trained and qualified attorneys, improving training, and increasing oversight of fee orders. They reported that statewide GAL fees have fallen from a little over $14 million in 2019 to about $12 million, even as caseloads have grown, and said the average payment works out to about $650 per case, with the statutory cap for trial-level GAL fees still set at $500 since 1986. They argued that the current local appointment model works well, especially in rural areas, and warned that moving to a DPA-style regional model would create serious scheduling and conflict problems because of overlapping dockets and related criminal cases. Judges from rural districts described shortages of available attorneys, high burnout, travel burdens, and the difficulty of finding enough counsel in smaller counties. They also said the Court of Justice cannot seek certain federal Title IV-E reimbursements, but urged the legislature to encourage the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to pursue that funding through an MOU. One judge noted that some appointed attorneys are effectively underpaid relative to private rates and that better compensation would help attract and retain lawyers. The discussion also covered training standards adopted after the 2019 audit. Witnesses said Rule 37 now requires initial training and four hours of multidisciplinary continuing training every two years, with topics including child development, trauma-informed care, substance use, child welfare, forensics, ethics, and communication with clients. They said the Court of Justice has offered in-person regional trainings and remote options, and that the goal is to keep qualified attorneys on the appointment lists while improving representation for children and parents in dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination-of-parental-rights cases.

Transcript Highlights:

• Where does their budget come through?
• Increasing it, so they're their own separate budget that you'll see through the budget development process
• Yeah, I was going to say, Madam Chair, Representative, the CASA budget is actually in the court's budget
• Finally, we need to streamline and consolidate those oversight functions in developing new oversight
• Some are internal to CYFD and some are external providing that oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the budget director at the Department of Human Services.
• </c> we've seen is the house budget we've seen is the house budget resolution<00:21:47.600><c> uh</c>
• It does not go anywhere in terms of oversight by the court.
• Okay, there's no oversight over that.
• There's no oversight over that.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:12.799><c> here</c> governor's budget here governor's budget here proposes<00:24:14.919><c
• </c> we do we support the governor's budget we do we support the governor's budget as<00:26:17.039><c
• </c> so we do support the governor's budget so we do support the governor's budget and<00:26:51.799><
• 65% of the proposed cuts to a base budget that makes up roughly only 25% of the overall budget.
• budget.

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , not just the Health and Human Services budget, but the overall state budget annually due to fraud,
• It costs for budget. That's right.
• Give me what, is it this fiscal budget or is it the one prior to this fiscal budget?
• Group homes need oversight just like the state needs oversight.
• Group homes need oversight just like the state needs oversight.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, there's not a lot of oversight.
• Half of the budget goes to the national program.
• Half of the budget goes to the national program.
• They sign off on our budget every single year.
• So the budget did exceed what we, you know, our income did exceed what the budget we were projecting

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 771, which would create a licensing and inspection framework for retail hemp products and give the Idaho State Department of Agriculture authority to test products for THC. Representative Shirts said the bill was still being worked on and asked that it be held at the call of the chair. Testimony from the Idaho Farm Bureau, Boise Police Department, and the Idaho Retailers Association generally supported the goal of closing loopholes and ensuring products sold as CBD are actually THC-free, while also raising concerns about the bill’s scope and the need to narrow it so it would not unintentionally cover non-consumable hemp items such as shampoos, clothing, rope, and other retail goods. Committee members also asked about THC thresholds and enforcement, and ISDA Director Chanel T. Walt explained existing hemp and controlled-substances definitions and said the proposal would shift routine oversight from law enforcement to an administrative licensing process. The committee then voted to hold HB 771 in committee at the call of the chair. The committee next took up House Bill 772, which would clarify when hemp producers do not commit a negligent violation if their crop exceeds the THC limit under certain conditions. Representative Shirts said the bill would align Idaho’s rules with federal standards and would not change the 0.3% THC limit, but would define a negligent violation for grain or fiber hemp when the producer made a reasonable effort to comply and the crop did not exceed 1% THC. Braden Jensen of the Idaho Farm Bureau supported the bill, explaining that it would protect growers from losing licenses over THC spikes caused by heat stress or other factors outside their control. The committee voted unanimously to send HB 772 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. After the hemp bills, the committee received an informational presentation from Dairy West and the Idaho Dairy Products Commission. Dairy West CEO Steve Seppi described the organization’s regional structure, funding through producer assessments, board governance, and programs focused on marketing, research, nutrition, exports, and industry relations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah. He highlighted Idaho’s large dairy sector, continued growth in production and processing investment, and efforts to promote dairy consumption and innovation. Chairman Don Galswick added comments about the value of Dairy West’s work in countering plant-based protein competition and supporting the industry’s sustainability message. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved the minutes from February 26, 2026, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There were solutions included in that budget.
• Please, I oppose and reject that budget cut.
• I oppose the budget cuts, and I urge you to do the same.
• in accordance with the 2023 Budget Act.
• proposal that continues to be in the budget.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, and welcome to Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration.
• subcommittee, which we want to welcome our new member to this budget subcommittee, which we want to
• welcome our new member to this budget subcommittee, which we...
• Just wanted to thank you for your leadership and thank you again to the staff on your budgets for all
• That includes the proposed budget year allocation.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on State Administration held an informational hearing on whether the Employment Development Department is ready for the next recession, with a focus on EDD Next, the department’s long-running technology modernization effort. The Legislative Analyst’s Office reviewed EDD’s major benefit programs, the history of prior modernization attempts, the current Integrated Claims Management System work, and the department’s remaining risks, including continued reliance on a COBOL-era mainframe and the challenge of adapting quickly to future federal or state policy changes during a downturn. The LAO also explained that most pandemic-era fraud was tied to temporary federal unemployment programs rather than California’s core UI system, and that the state’s UI loan repayment is not largely attributable to fraud. Members raised concerns about the cost of repeated modernization efforts, paper versus online claims, appeal overturn rates, WARN notices, and legislative oversight of the project. EDD’s panel said the department has made substantial customer-service and processing improvements, including online self-service tools, improved call center features, identity verification, fraud controls, language access upgrades, and a new document management system. Officials reported that as of early 2026, about 83% to 85% of claims across programs were being processed timely within two weeks, and said paid family leave delays in 2024 were tied to the transition into the disability insurance online platform and seasonal workload patterns. They also said EDD is working with the Department of Technology on EDD Next and that the project will proceed in phases, with paid family leave and disability insurance first and unemployment insurance later. Members pressed EDD on persistent paid family leave backlogs, the share of paper applications, response times for constituents, and whether the department tracks long-running cases and WARN notice trends. EDD said its service standard is generally immediate response through phone, chat, or callback tools, while more complex cases can take longer because the department may be waiting on claimants or medical providers. The department also said it tracks call outcomes and outstanding cases, and that it can provide additional data on WARN notices. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with plans to continue discussing EDD Next and paid family leave at a later March 10 budget hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome everyone to the Budget Committee.
• So, our budget is PCB BUC 2601.
• Our total budget is a 2% increase over the current year budget.
• Budget authority in the third and fourth circuits.
• They are regularly exceeding timelines and budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• :35.760><c> of</c><00:03:35.920><c> the</c> oversight, and evaluation of the oversight, and evaluation
• </c><00:17:50.799><c> and</c> must include ongoing oversight and must include ongoing oversight and evaluation
• Uh the oversight um as approved.
• </c><00:29:38.480><c> of</c> in terms of MDE's role in oversight of in terms of MDE's role in oversight
• And we've asked that this be budget.

Bills: HF3487 , HF3421

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: anonymous reporting, school safety, education, crisis intervention, threat reporting, early literacy, reading instruction, teacher preparation, teacher candidates, teacher licensure, educator licensing, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, field experience, supervised practicum, evidence-based reading, science of reading, literacy methods, teacher training, preservice teachers

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:26:58.200><c> review</c> the interim joint budget review the interim joint budget review committee
• </c> Medicaid expenditures while the budget Medicaid expenditures while the budget is<01:11:38.680><c
• :12.160><c> for</c><01:12:12.280><c> the</c> DMS oversight and accountability for the DMS oversight and
• accountability</c><01:13:53.040><c> for</c> Uh DMS oversight and accountability for Uh DMS oversight
• You have both Oversight Advisory Board.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on January 12, 2026, to approve the December 10, 2025 minutes and continue finalizing its findings and recommendations. Members reviewed findings on administrative inefficiencies, Medicaid and workforce participation under HR 1, Medicaid budget growth, rural health transformation fund development, and provider tax/state-directed payment changes. The board approved a motion to change “pilot” to “partnership” in the workforce-related recommendation, and also adopted a technical amendment clarifying overlapping HCBS services by removing reference to adult daycare waiver services and revising the language to focus on reducing duplication, simplifying provider contracting, and standardizing processes across programs. A separate technical correction was noted to change “DMS” to “DPH” in the rural health transformation finding, to be handled in the final edits. Several findings drew discussion but no final substantive vote during the meeting. On the rural health transformation fund, Dr. Berg said Kentucky had done well in federal funding and noted limits on what could be shared publicly, while Commissioner Lee said a public website had been created and recommended the department reference be changed to the Department for Public Health. Finding five prompted extended discussion about provider taxes, state-directed payment reductions under HR 1, and whether the board should address the relationship between actuarial studies, MCO payments, and actual provider reimbursement more directly. Senator Meredith and others argued for a broader, more transparent baseline review of rates across provider groups, while Commissioner Lee said CMS will require certain fee schedule comparisons to Medicare beginning July 1, 2026, and that quarterly expenditure reports already go to LRC. The board did not finish resolving finding five during the meeting and agreed to return to it after staff prepared more explicit language. Members also discussed the possibility of an all-payers claims database as a better way to understand what is being paid across payers and services. No final vote on the full findings package was taken in the portion of the meeting provided, but the board did adopt the noted amendments and continued working through the remaining language.