Transcript Highlights:

• Donna, what's going on in behavioral health with vacant physicians?
• View from the east side of the property.
• On the bottom left is a view On the bottom left is a view from the north side of the property.
• The bottom right, that is a photo from the south side of the property.
• The bottom right is a photo from the south side of the property.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on health-related projects and Department of Health and Human Services budget matters. Representatives from CHI St. Alexius in Bismarck and Williston, and Altru in Grand Forks, reported progress on behavioral health expansion projects, including demolition and construction milestones, updated timelines, funding status, staffing plans, and barriers such as an unbudgeted air handler replacement in Williston. Members asked about original completion dates, use of telehealth, recruitment of psychiatrists and other staff, and whether the new beds might reduce the need for patients to travel to Jamestown State Hospital. The projects were described as on track overall, with completion expected in 2027 for the larger builds and earlier openings for some phases in Williston. The committee then heard from HHS leadership on technical line-item transfers and the Salaries and Wages Block Grant. Donna Ockland explained that recent transfers were administrative corrections to place spending in the proper budget lines and did not involve new spending, and she reviewed FTE counts and vacancies across the department. Questions focused on behavioral health staffing changes and the use of consultants in the Rural Health Transformation Program. Pat Rainer outlined the rural health program’s first-year grants and priorities, including workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community wellness initiatives, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, hospital equipment, suicide prevention training, technology, and EMS support. He said North Dakota’s plan was drawing positive national attention, but the department still needed to obligate roughly $199 million by September and was working with CMS on timing and compliance. The committee also received an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller. She said North Dakota had been accepted as a demonstration state, with certification efforts underway in Williston, North Central, Fargo, and Dickinson. Members asked about care coordination, service growth, staffing, and whether certification would expand to all clinics; the department said it was still collecting baseline data and evaluating impacts before making future recommendations. Finally, Rebecca Askins reviewed SNAP payment error rates, explaining that the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89 percent and that the department is working on training, system changes, and quality assurance steps to get below 6 percent. Members pressed on the causes of monthly variability, the performance of the SPACES system, and accountability for ongoing errors, and the department said it expects improvement over the next 6 to 12 months.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> said you have like 600 some odd vacant said you have like 600 some odd vacant positions.<00:09:56.160
• </c> development office into then the vacant development office into then the vacant space<00:19:57.360
• it went vacant.
• These positions are vacant. FTE with it. These positions are vacant.
• But at this point in it went vacant.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> property tax with a consumption tax. property tax with a consumption tax.
• And that's up a lot more property.
• </c> sections or or two pieces of property sections or or two pieces of property meet<02:44:03.040><c
• </c> world to access public property get it. world to access public property get it.
• </c><02:58:20.960><c> and</c> and that position is deemed vacant and and that position is deemed vacant

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• instead of property rental properties instead of property for<00:15:54.639><c> ownership.
• </c> insurance um uh property related claim. insurance um uh property related claim.
• We will take, uh, vacant<01:42:24.080><c> properties,</c><01:42:25.040><c> but</c><01:42:25.280><c> the
• </c><01:42:25.440><c> vacant</c> vacant properties, but the vacant vacant properties, but the vacant
• So, if it's just a vacant property<01:42:38.239><c> sitting</c><01:42:38.560><c> there</c><01:42:38.800

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• rangelands across the state equal about 54% of the state of Idaho, which is about 28 million acres of property
• And it also requires the governor to fill vacant slots in a timely manner. Questions?
• Yeah, we added the second part that requires the governor to fill vacant slots quickly.
• This bill is basically a private property bill.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard a series of routing slips and bills, mostly on property, housing, elections, state investment, and government administration. Several RSs were introduced to print without objection, including a memorial recognizing Idaho rangelands and pastoralists, a fee increase proposal to raise Idaho State Patrol trooper pay, penny-rounding guidance for cash transactions, updates to a bill involving state universities, limits on reappointing a gubernatorial appointee after Senate rejection, ADU and duplex/starter-home housing measures, a fix to the education career ladder for teachers returning from administrative roles, a private-property measure allowing farmers to gift five acres to immediate family, a partisan countywide highway district election proposal, and memorials recognizing Taiwan and Italy-related ties. One wildlife crossings memorial was flagged as incorrectly drafted in the wrong form and was not acted on pending correction. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1338, which would allow the state treasurer, with advisory board approval, to invest idle state funds in gold or silver bullion stored in a class-one vault, including possible storage in Idaho, Utah, or Texas. Supporters argued it would diversify investments and hedge inflation; some senators expressed caution but the bill advanced on a due-pass recommendation, with several senators recorded voting no. Senate Bill 1323, which would enforce gold-clause contracts involving precious metals, also advanced to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after brief discussion. Finally, Senate Bill 1299, dealing with digital ID, was discussed at length. The bill would prohibit government from requiring digital identification, preserve physical ID as valid, and bar government from requiring someone to unlock a phone for identification. Senators questioned the civil penalty language and whether the bill was proactive or would affect current Idaho practice; the sponsor said it was intended to prevent future mandates, not ban digital ID. On motion, the committee sent the bill to the 14th order for possible amendment rather than advancing it directly. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just wonder if that's available to the property owner as well as the tenant.
• So this is another problem that I think... ...property owner as well as a tenant.
• What we're talking about doing is trying to lease properties of willing landowners.
• Americans need to be able to own property. They need to invest in themselves.
• came up and asked, 'Did you want to sell your property?'

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with the most detailed discussion focused on AB 316, AB 251, AB 474, AB 1201, AB 464, and AB 614. AB 316 would prevent AI developers or deployers from arguing in civil cases that an AI system’s alleged autonomy absolves them of responsibility. Supporters framed it as a narrow guardrail to protect families, especially children, from harms like dangerous chatbots and deepfakes; opponents, including TechNet and the Chamber of Progress, raised concerns about possible strict-liability implications. The bill was moved out of committee to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 251 would let judges lower the burden of proof in elder abuse cases when a skilled nursing facility or RCFE intentionally destroys evidence. Supporters said the measure is needed because elder abuse victims are often unable to testify and records are vulnerable to spoliation, while opponents argued existing sanctions are sufficient and warned of more litigation. The bill passed, with committee members emphasizing the vulnerability of elder abuse victims. AB 474 sought to expand nonprofit home-sharing programs, including tax incentives for low-income homeowners and changes to housing law and lodger rules. Supporters said it would help older adults and low-income Californians avoid homelessness, but several members and the California Apartment Association raised concerns about removing lodger-law protections for homeowners; the author committed to keep working on the issue. The bill passed to Human Services. AB 1201 would give courts discretion to provide family reunification services to parents with certain violent felony convictions, rather than applying an automatic bypass. Supporters from Starting Over Inc. described personal experiences with permanent family separation and argued the bill would give parents a fair chance when the conviction is unrelated to child safety. Some members supported the measure but questioned whether domestic violence histories should be treated differently; the author said the bill still allows courts to deny services when reunification would endanger a child. The bill passed to Human Services. AB 464 addressed sexual abuse and retaliation in state prisons by extending reporting time after release, adding 90-day monitoring after reports, barring rehiring of confirmed abusers, and strengthening reporting and anti-retaliation rules. Survivors testified about abuse, retaliation, and failures in CDCR’s response; the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 614 would standardize the Government Claims Act filing deadline at one year for all claims. The author and supporters argued the current six-month deadline for injury and wrongful death claims is too short for victims to learn the process, find counsel, and gather evidence, while businesses often get a full year. A civil rights attorney and a family member of a deceased jail detainee testified in support, describing how the current deadline can block meritorious claims. The bill was presented for committee consideration as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said he understood that the bill is about residential property, not commercial property, and that
• The wholesale of residential real properties. He said, “Got it. Okay.
• I may want to close on that property.
• , homes needing major repairs, vacant houses, or financial pressure.
• that otherwise remain vacant or deteriorate.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The committee first deferred several bills, then took up House Bill 468 by Representative A-Bear, which would regulate wholesaling of residential real property by requiring disclosures, a right to cancel within 14 days, and other consumer protections. Representative A-Bear said the bill is meant to increase transparency without banning wholesaling, while committee members and witnesses debated whether the bill should instead focus on proof of funds or other safeguards. The committee adopted an amendment set that added disclosure of assignment fees, required a 1% earnest money deposit, and imposed a civil penalty for violations, then reported the bill favorably after hearing testimony from real estate professionals, title attorneys, and the Louisiana Real Estate Commission, many of whom supported transparency but urged changes to the rescission period and other provisions. Witnesses on HB 468 generally agreed there are bad actors in the wholesale market, especially in residential transactions involving distressed or unsophisticated sellers, but several argued the bill could interfere with legitimate local investors who close quickly and help move problem properties back into commerce. The Real Estate Commission explained that the bill creates a rebuttable presumption based on marketing activity and that the agency has enforcement tools even against unlicensed actors. Representative Jordan raised concerns about intent, assignability, and whether represented sellers need the same protections, and Representative A-Bear said he would continue working on the bill before floor debate. The committee then heard House Bill 548 by Representative Bowie, which changes CPA licensing by allowing either a master’s degree or an additional year of experience in place of the current extra undergraduate hours, while keeping the exam requirement the same. The bill also codifies board composition criteria and modernizes CPA mobility/practice privilege rules for out-of-state CPAs. After brief questions about enforcement and mobility, the committee heard support from the Louisiana Society of CPAs and others and reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 848 by Representative DeWitt on motor vehicle dealer licensing and repair facility requirements, adopted technical amendments, and then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sales tax exemption for individuals who repurchase their own property from a pawnbroker.
• When someone is reclaiming their own property, they have already paid sales tax at the time of their
• This morning, the primary witness in support is Skylar Wanacott with the California Business Properties
• Skylar Wanacott with the California Business Properties Association, as well as the Building Owners and
• This bill also creates a practical backstop so that if a unit has been vacant for too long, providers

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida Forever and a few other programs in the division that go toward acquisition of conservation properties
• Currently, the division is unable to offer merit increases or fill vacant positions at competitive rates
• or offer rates compared ...offer merit increases or fill vacant positions at competitive rates, or offer
• within the Life and Health Product Review and Financial Oversight Division, and 7 FTE within the Property
• Product Review and Financial Oversight Division, and 7 FTE within the Property and Casualty Product Review

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

Summary: The committee first took up confirmation of five water management district appointees: Ted Everett and Jerome Pate to the Northwest Florida Water Management District, Michael Romano to the Big Cypress Basin Board of the South Florida Water Management District, and Paul Bissfam, John Hall, and Virginia Johns to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Senator McClain moved confirmation, the roll was called, and the committee recommended all appointees favorably. Members then received the Governor’s Florida First budget presentations for environmental agencies. The environmental package totaled about $5.8 billion and emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, resilience, land conservation, state parks, hazardous waste cleanup, wildlife management, wildfire response, and citrus support. DEP highlighted more than $1.4 billion for water resources, including $810 million for Everglades restoration, $202 million for Resilient Florida, $150 million for Florida Forever, $70 million for state parks, and $221 million for contamination cleanup. FWC, Agriculture, and Citrus funding priorities were also outlined. Members asked about Florida Forever funding, state park wastewater and septic needs, a reduction at the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and beach renourishment funding for storm damage. The committee also heard the General Government portion of the budget, which totaled about $2.9 billion and covered DBPR, Lottery, Financial Services, Management Services, Revenue, PERC, and the Gaming Control Commission. DBPR requested funds for license processing, an animal abuse hotline, fleet replacement, and IT retention. FGCC sought new enforcement squads and an IT licensing/enforcement system. The Lottery proposed marketing, retail engagement, IT, and retention funding. DMS emphasized building modernization, fleet telematics, 911 and radio upgrades, cybersecurity, a local government cybersecurity grant program, and data interoperability. PERC described a sharp increase in labor cases and elections after SB 256 and requested staffing, election administration, and hearing officer pay increases. DFS highlighted My Safe Florida Home, fire marshal and first responder support, financial investigations, and gold and silver legal tender implementation. Revenue requested operational and IT funding and support for fiscally constrained counties. Questions focused on DBPR’s condo and HOA initiatives, cybersecurity grant reductions, and the My Safe Florida Home program’s abandoned grants and matching requirements. No additional votes were taken, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we have a large amount of vacant land that we've never invested in infrastructure.
• you think that you can't sort of invest more in high crime areas with more police or if you have vacant
• On public property.
• You're here on South on behalf of South Texans Property Rights Association and yourself, and you're for
• My name is Charles Maley, and I am advocacy director for South Texans Property Rights Association, uh

Bills: SB 231 , SB 667 , SB 689 , SB 825 , SB 965 , SB 992 , SB 1059 , SB 1220 , SB 2368 , SB 2601

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a large amount of vacant land that we've never invested in infrastructure.
• you think that you can't sort of invest more in high crime areas with more police or if you have vacant
• Additionally, the bill broadens the scope of covered damages beyond real property.
• On behalf of the South Texans Property Rights Association and yourself, you're for the bill, is that
• My name is Charles Maley, and I am advocating... ...for the South Texans Property Rights Association

Bills: SB231 , SB667 , SB689 , SB825 , SB965 , SB992 , SB1059 , SB1220 , SB2368 , SB2601

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not only the Common Schools Trust Fund, but it's also the unclaimed property position, too.
• And then we added another position, and the unclaimed property is getting more complicated.
• unclaimed properties is really getting to be a complicated process.
• They get noticed too, but they actually go out and investigate, look for unclaimed property too.
• They get noticed too, but they actually go out and investigate, look for unclaimed property too.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 2271, which would formally place adult residential facilities in code and rebase their Medicaid reimbursement rates. Sponsor Chairman Ruby and HHS staff explained that these facilities, often serving people with dementia or acquired brain injury, are reimbursed at a much lower rate than skilled nursing care and help reduce bottlenecks in higher-level facilities. Members questioned how the program differs from basic care and nursing facility memory care, and the bill was referred to the HR section for deeper review before possible action on Monday. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2396, as amended, which would authorize an independent third-party performance audit of the Department of Commerce and the North Dakota Development Fund, with findings shared with the state auditor. Sponsors said the proposal was prompted by concerns raised in testimony and that a private audit could begin faster than a state audit. The committee adopted an amendment adding an emergency clause and directing the report to the Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee, then passed the bill 20-0 with 3 absent. Next, Representative Clemine presented Senate Bills 2226, 2036, and 2037. SB 2226 would presume an incarcerated person indigent at initial appearance so counsel can be provided at that critical stage; the commission said the appropriation would fund contract attorney hours, and the bill was sent to HR for further review. SB 2036 would create procedures for determining juvenile fitness to proceed in delinquency cases, with a $500,000 appropriation for mental health evaluations, and SB 2037 would begin a juvenile criminal code framework and include a $300,000 appropriation for fitness-to-proceed evaluations; both were also referred to HR, with some concern raised about staffing and overlapping functions. After a short break, the committee heard education-related appropriations bills. SB 2234 would replace expired ESSER funding for Choice Ready grants, but members noted the program was not included in the K-12 budget and sent it to E&E for comparison with existing appropriations. SB 2286, a University of North Dakota request for a new nursing school facility, drew extensive discussion about the age and condition of the current building and the size and scope of the project; the committee ultimately adopted a do-not-pass motion 22-0. SB 2213, the “science of mathematics” bill modeled on the science of reading initiative, would fund math professional development and implementation; it was also referred to E&E for further review. The committee then briefly passed the Racing Commission budget, SB 2023, and began discussion of the Trust Lands budget, SB 2013, including a proposed retention increase for investment-related positions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those vacant positions would have been vacant for a long time. Do they need them? Yes.
• Those vacant positions would have been vacant for a long time. Do they need them? Yes.
• Those vacant positions would have been vacant for a long time. Do they need them? Yes.
• c> Capitol</c><02:49:19.359><c> property</c> property adjacent to Capitol property property adjacent
• </c><02:49:43.760><c> So</c> properties. Uh we do pursue those. So properties.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 624, Representative Rors, an act relating to vacant and abandoned property.
• 07.599><c> to</c> Representative Rors, an act relating to Representative Rors, an act relating to vacant
• <00:43:08.240><c> and</c><00:43:08.400><c> abandoned</c><00:43:08.880><c> property.
• </c><00:43:09.599><c> House</c> vacant and abandoned property. House vacant and abandoned property.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:09 Calendar/2nd Readings 05:59 Report of Committees 07:10 Orders of the Day 08:11 HJR 25 08:26 HB 66 11:58 HB 305 16:20 HB 432 22:44 HB 313 27:29 HB 44 30:26 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 34:30 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 42:07 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 43:38 ConC/Rules Report 47:26 Floor Amendments 48:25 Adjournment 48:54, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of yes, the property on Museum Hill, that property has been closed upon.
• So that building and the property is...
• On property insurance in New Mexico, we require, or most mortgage companies require, property insurance
• Same thing about property insurance.
• And so the property pilot.

Transcript Highlights:

• It establishes a property<00:02:30.040><c> tax</c><00:02:30.360><c> credit</c> property tax credit property
• </c> property taxes by doing that. property taxes by doing that.
• property tax, classified as 3A commercial, and vacant or undeveloped.
• </c><00:19:28.480><c> or</c> 3A property that's no longer vacant or 3A property that's no longer vacant
• . property. property.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The ones with checkered marks on are the vacant positions.
• So with that one vacant position in admin, I'm kind of going back and forth.
• I thought about, do we use that vacant position to do that?
• We did a couple hundred million dollars this past session for property tax relief.
• We might do a We did a couple hundred million dollars this past session for property tax relief.

Committee: Joint Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you go to look up your property title record or tax parcel record and it says you and your spouse’
• The ones with checkered marks on are the vacant positions.
• So with that one vacant position in admin, I'm kind of going back and forth.
• We did a couple hundred million dollars this past session for property tax relief. We might do a...
• Did a couple hundred million dollars this past session for property tax relief.

Summary: The Legislative Procedures and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The committee first considered and adopted a Joint Rule 211 change clarifying the deadline and statutory references for bill drafts involving health insurance mandates, after discussion that the process is still somewhat cumbersome but improved by the clarification. The committee then reviewed a revised draft addressing confidentiality protections for certain legislators and candidates, but members expressed concerns about the breadth, enforceability, and transparency implications of the proposal, and the committee chose not to advance it at this time. The committee received an informational update on the new NCSL Legislator Security Fund. Staff explained that North Dakota is applying for the grant, which could provide about $200 per legislator for home security or related safety expenses, subject to Emergency Commission approval and reimbursement procedures. Members asked about eligible expenses, administrative burden, and whether new legislators would be covered; staff said guidance would be provided if funding is approved. The committee also approved the 2027 timing for the State of the Judiciary, tribal-state relationship message, and State of the State address on January 5, and set the Commerce Department and agricultural commodity reports for January 13 and 14, respectively, as required by statute. A major portion of the meeting focused on legislative staffing and organizational planning. The committee approved a recommendation for 36 Senate staff positions and 41 House staff positions, along with a 3% compensation increase for session staff. Discussion centered on replacing some procedural clerk duties with permanent policy analyst staff, retaining quality assurance roles for now, and adding or repurposing positions in IT, program evaluation, legal, and administration. Members also discussed expanding program evaluation capacity and the need for clearer oversight of new programs, with staff noting upcoming training and model-sharing with other states. Finally, the committee reviewed a proposed new legislator orientation day on November 30 and broader organizational session training changes, including mock committee and floor sessions, security training, and more robust budget/appropriations instruction, but took no final action on the agenda items and adjourned after completing the budget-related recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• THINGS HE TALKED ABOUT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TEMPORARY PERMIT ON PROPERTY
• REQUIREMENT FOR A HOPE OPERATOR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT FOR USE OF AN UNDERUSED VACANT
• OR HOPE OPERATOR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT FOR USE OF AN UNDERUSED VACANT OR SURPLUS
• HIGH-PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOLS TO ASSUME CHARTER AND IT REMOVES THE SECTION ON RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL ON PROPERTY

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you're it's private property, right?
• </c> doing work on private property. doing work on private property.
• That creates a division between our property and their property without that access point.
• </c> back property back property without<01:14:02.200><c> going</c><01:14:02.480><c> through</c><01:14
• </c><01:14:10.560><c> that</c> property and their property without that property and their property without

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all