Transcript Highlights:

• In short, House Bill 2194 expands the local toolbox.
• We are testifying generally in support of House Bill 1960, but suggest that two areas need further attention
• At PSC, we're weird because we're centrally assessed.
• And that concludes our testimony on House Bill 1960.
• And that concludes our testimony on House Bill 1960.

Bills: HB1960 , HB2194 , HB2089

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: HB1960, renewable energy, clean energy, solar, wind, battery storage, energy storage, excise tax, property tax exemption, local investment, county revenue sharing, local taxing districts, school districts, Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce, model ordinance, siting, permitting, tribal consultation, tribal capacity grants

Transcript Highlights:

• across all communities and communities that need this housing and housing support services.
• </c><01:21:19.880><c> this</c><01:21:20.440><c> housing</c> and communities that need this housing and
• communities that need this housing and<01:21:21.120><c> housing</c><01:21:21.480><c> support</c><01:
• House File 2647 would allow a licensed practical nurse to conduct focused assessments consistent with
• House File 2647 would allow a licensed practical nurse to conduct focused assessments consistent with

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Sve Beckel, House Fiscal.
• Um it is the assessments will 116.
• that they were um of the assessments that they were um assessed<00:08:24.879><c> in</c><00:08:25.199
• Uh we're looking at house research.
• He said the number one thing this committee needs to do in both the House and the Senate is to provide

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our entire program, from skin assessments to mobility assessments, respiratory assessments, and everything
• assessments to mobility assessments,<01:44:03.119><c> respiratory</c><01:44:03.679><c> assessments,<
• /c> assessments, respiratory assessments, assessments, respiratory assessments, and<01:44:04.480><c>
• . assessment. assessment.
• when they need it and where they need it.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair moves that House Bill 2692 as substituted be reported favorably to the full House with the
• The chair moves that House Bill 2692 as substituted be reported favorably to the full House with the
• The chair moves that House Bill 1520 be reported favorably to the full House with the recommendation
• The chair lays out as pending business House Bill 2970. House Bill 2970.
• House Bill 5560 increases the civil penalty cap that may be assessed by a court from $10,000 to $25,000

Bills: HB4530 , HB4931 , HB5559 , HB5560 , HB143

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: water rights, Texas Water Trust, water bank, environmental conservation, water quality, instream flows, aquifer, water injection, Edwards Aquifer, environmental regulation, groundwater, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water conservation, drought, utility regulation, water use restrictions, Public Utility Commission, civil penalties, drought contingency, environmental protection

Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources met with a quorum present and first took up several pending bills for reconsideration and committee substitute adoption. House Bill 2692, relating to codification and clarification of local laws concerning the San Antonio River Authority, was reported favorably to the full House and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars by an 11-0 vote. House Bills 1407, 1520, 1535, 2970, 4153, 291, 3663, and 3915 were also reconsidered or laid out as pending business, with committee substitutes adopted where needed and each bill reported favorably, generally by unanimous vote, to the full House and then to Calendars or Calendars/Calendars-related referral as applicable. The committee then heard House Bill 4530, which would expand the Texas Water Trust framework to include groundwater rights, require Texas Water Development Board review and approval of groundwater dedications, and notify local groundwater districts when groundwater rights are placed in the trust. The bill’s author and witnesses from the Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and Chispa Texas supported the measure as a conservation tool and a way to create a clear process for voluntary donations; a Texas Water Development Board witness testified neutrally. The bill was left pending. House Bill 4931, relating to an aquifer storage and recovery project in Medina County, drew support from the author, the Medina County judge, and a regional water alliance witness, who described severe stress on the Edwards Aquifer, low levels at Medina Lake, and the need for a local water-supply tool. The bill was left pending. House Bill 5559, which would clarify enforcement of drought contingency plans for investor-owned water utilities and involve the PUC in model plan development, received support from groundwater district representatives but also concerns from water company and utility witnesses about enforcement authority, approval procedures, and potential conflicts with existing obligations to provide continuous service; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. House Bill 5560, which would raise the maximum civil penalty for certain groundwater conservation district enforcement actions from $10,000 to $25,000 per violation, prompted debate over whether current law is already sufficient; supporters said the higher cap would better deter overpumping, while opponents argued existing penalties are already severe. That bill was also left pending, and the committee adjourned subject to call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• , but at least slowing down the need for an assessment.
• We need to take care of the admitted market. We need to depopulate.
• We need to take care of the admitted market. We need to depopulate.
• We need another 20.
• We need another 20.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held an oversight hearing on the California Fair Plan, focusing on its rapid growth, financial stability, rate adequacy, and role in the homeowners insurance market. Committee members described the Fair Plan as increasingly functioning as a “safety net” rather than a true insurer of last resort, while Fair Plan representatives said the plan was created by statute, is privately funded by member insurers, and is now taking on more business because of non-renewals and limited availability in the admitted market. They emphasized that the plan offers residential and commercial coverage, but not a full HO-3 homeowners policy, and said expanding into that product would require major new staffing, vendor, and claims infrastructure. A major topic was pricing and assessments. Fair Plan officials said their rates have historically lagged their projected costs, especially because reinsurance costs were not fully recoverable in rates until recently. They reviewed recent filings, including a 2023 filing that was reduced from an estimated 80% need to a 35.8% request after working with the Department of Insurance. They also discussed the plan’s reinsurance tower, a new catastrophe bond, and the $1 billion assessment triggered by the 2025 Los Angeles fires after losses exceeded available capital. They said AB 226 helped secure a $600 million line of credit to reduce assessment risk, and they thanked lawmakers for supporting that measure. Members raised constituent concerns about coverage limits, underinsurance, and misinformation from agents. Fair Plan officials said they do not deny applicants because their homes exceed the plan’s $3.3 million limit; instead, policyholders can combine Fair Plan coverage with excess insurance. They said broker training and webinars are being expanded to address misunderstandings, and they noted that raising the cap would depend on achieving actuarially sound rates and sufficient financial capacity. Members also asked about smoke claims from the 2025 fires; the Fair Plan said it has paid covered smoke claims under California law, reviewed closed claims, and removed the “sight and smell” language from its policy form after litigation and CDI action. Public commenters from the insurance industry, builders, agriculture, and nonprofit service providers largely urged faster depopulation of the Fair Plan, more adequate rates, and reforms to the clearinghouse process. Some warned that the Fair Plan is now competing with the admitted market because it can be cheaper in some areas, while others said the plan is still essential because the private market is not serving high-risk or specialized properties. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, but committee members and Fair Plan representatives agreed to continue working on rate, transparency, and depopulation issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, House Bill 2421 is laid over. Next, House File 2212.
• across all communities that need this housing and housing support.
• We need this money, and we need this to be another step forward.
• role in the assessment. assessment process by either conducting a focused assessment or participating
• To that end, House File 2647 would allow a licensed practical nurse to conduct focused assessments consistent

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And then you need to decide what information you need. You need to reach out to your contractors.
• You need to talk to me. And then you need to decide what information you need.
• You need to reach out to your contractors. Do you need to talk to maybe an IT vendor?
• is assessed at 30,000, and then someone comes in sells and someone needs a house and they buy it for
• With assessed valuations.

Summary: The subcommittee of the Tax Reform and Relief Committee met to begin its study of the feasibility and desirability of revising the content of the real estate tax statement to improve property tax transparency. Legislative Council staff reviewed the study directive under House Bill 1176 and the statutory requirements for tax statements, including required line items such as true and full value, mill levy, legislative tax relief, primary residence credit, and the Legacy Fund portion of that credit. The Tax Department then explained how the current uniform statement is prescribed and approved, and noted that changes are typically driven by statute and implemented collaboratively with counties and vendors. County officials from the North Dakota Association of Counties described the full annual tax cycle, from county budgeting and valuation notices to budget hearing notices, levy certification, cap calculations, and final tax statement mailing. They emphasized that counties and auditors do extensive coordination with taxing districts and neighboring counties, and that the process is labor-intensive and often manual. Members discussed the limited public response to budget notices and tax statements, the difficulty of explaining the legislative tax relief line, the 3% cap and valuation issues, and whether more frequent assessments or different timing would improve understanding. Several members and witnesses noted that many taxpayers only engage when they receive their final bill, and that clarity may be more important than adding more detail. NDACO also presented a rough cost survey from eight counties, estimating an average tax statement cost of about 74 cents and a statewide total near $600,000 for printing and mailing tax statements alone, with outsourcing generally cheaper than in-house printing. Witnesses noted that House Bill 1176 added other mailings and notices, increasing county workload and cost beyond the statement itself. The committee then heard from software vendors, who explained how their systems handle tax billing, budget notices, valuation notices, primary residence credit processing, and tax levy calculations, and they identified the 1600/1685 primary residence credit and discount interaction as a current programming challenge. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on gathering testimony and identifying issues for possible future recommendations or bill drafts.

Transcript Highlights:

• , they need to be identical.
• House Bill 2869, and I move that House Bill 2869 be voted do pass. Any discussion?
• We now move on to House Bill 3303, and I move that House Bill 3303 be voted do pass.
• Is that one house? It could be one house, or it could be several properties.
• Is that one, is that one house? It could be one house, or it could be several properties.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tax Reform

Summary: The Special Committee on Tax Reform met in executive session and first adopted a substitute and then gave do pass recommendations to H.J.R. 115, which would align homestead language with the Senate version by changing the acreage limit from 2.5 acres to 5 acres, and to HB 2869, which was amended to tie a $500,000 threshold to CPI and use assessed value rather than market value. The committee also voted HB 3303 do pass without amendment after brief discussion about its purpose and potential tax implications. In regular hearing, the committee heard HB 2234 from Rep. Tricia Burns, which would change how surplus proceeds from tax foreclosure sales are handled. Burns and witness Tamara Rucker explained that when a home is sold for more than the delinquent taxes owed, the surplus can currently escheat to county revenue after three years; the bill would move those funds to the unclaimed property division and improve notice to property owners or heirs. Members discussed how the process works, the lack of uniform notification and payout standards, and the amount of surplus involved in some counties. No opposition testified. The committee also heard HB 2964, another bill from Rep. Burns, to move property tax bill mailing and delinquency dates later in the year, from early December/January to late February/April. Burns said the change would ease hardship around the holidays and help seasonal residents. Testimony from the Missouri School Boards Association raised concerns that districts would need to carry an additional 60 to 90 days of reserves, or roughly 15 to 20 percent more, to bridge the delayed revenue, though the witness said the impact would vary by district. The hearing concluded with no further business, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2086 has passed the House.
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2327 has passed the House.
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2460 has passed the House.
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2660 has passed the House.
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2660 has passed the House.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of House bills with Senate amendments, with members generally indicating the sponsors intended to concur on most measures. Topics included public health and medical regulation (HB 2086 on face coverings/vaccinations, HB 2140 on gold and silver bullion investments, HB 2195 on nursing facility complaint timelines, HB 2189 on licensed health aides, HB 2932 on Access reimbursement and prior authorization, HB 2557 on medical records timing, and HB 2641 on PFAS firefighting foam), criminal justice and courts (HB 2673 creating an inmate mental health study committee, HB 2028 on community restitution for indigent homeless defendants, HB 2662 on expert testimony in parenting-time cases, HB 2440 on prisoner transition services, and HB 2594 on address confidentiality in family court), and education-related bills (HB 2830 on prenatal development instruction, HB 2249 on parents’ rights and social transitioning, HB 2481 on school district financial record compliance, HB 2482 on school construction job-order caps, HB 2895 on Native American language proficiency, HB 2423 on automatic advanced math enrollment, HB 2621 on special education and certificates of educational convenience, HB 2592 on AI rules, HB 2379 on school board training, and HB 2380 on out-of-state travel and public meeting materials). Other bills addressed transportation, development, housing, and local government issues, including HB 2909 on distracted driving, HB 2369 on photo enforcement citations, HB 2745 on legislative subpoenas, HB 2946 on development fees, HB 2999 on infrastructure finance districts, HB 2244 on eviction record sealing, HB 2342 on HOA shade structures, and HB 2752 on Commerce Authority trade offices. Several members raised concerns or asked questions on bills such as HB 2932, HB 2249, HB 2830, and HB 2028, but no formal votes were taken in the transcript; the meeting ended with adjournment after brief discussion of the final bills on Caucus Calendar 19, including HB 2248 on medical intervention requirements for businesses and schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE LOOKED AT 53 HOUSING UNITS WE DON'T HAVE STAFF FOR SO WE ARE HAVING TO MAN THOSE 53 HOUSING UNITS
• UNITS ON OVERTIME OR ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS THE FTE NEEDS TO MANAGE THE HOUSING WHICH IS A MUCH BETTER
• WAY TO DO NEEDS TO MANAGE THE HOUSING WHICH IS A MUCH BETTER WAY TO DO THAT.
• I MENTIONED ASSESSMENTS. YOUNG KIDS THAT COME INTO OUR SYSTEM. I MENTIONED ASSESSMENTS.
• IN YEARS PAST WE HAD A SEPARATE ASSESSMENT FOR KIDS IN THE DJJ THAT WAS A PRE-AND POST ASSESSMENT AND

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This particular assessment would be an addition to that assessment, and there has been some conversation
• > there</c> addition to that assessment and um there addition to that assessment and um there has<00:
• </c><00:16:37.240><c> file</c> of house file of house file 837<00:16:39.319><c> as</c><00:16:39.440><
• </c><00:21:05.760><c> as</c> and will not be assessed as and will not be assessed as significantly<00
• We oppose House File 837.

Bills: HF837

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: health insurance, premium security plan, federal funding, state innovation waiver, Minnesota, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> interest from New Hampshire Housing interest from New Hampshire Housing Finance<00:07:31.759><c>
• </c> either the town New Hampshire housing either the town New Hampshire housing finance<00:20:28.080
• </c> listing price no less than the assessed listing price no less than the assessed value<00:20:41.679
• </c><00:21:01.520><c> in</c> department has determined the need in department has determined the need
• Um, what kind of organization is needed? Alliance of organization is needed? Association?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its September 29 meeting and then took up a series of Department of Transportation and Department of Administrative Services property actions. Several DOT items involved disposal of land originally acquired for the now-dissolved Conway bypass or other highway projects, including a 445.6-acre Conway parcel proposed for sale to the town of Conway for conservation use, a 1.78-acre Chesterfield parcel for sale to an abutter, a 6.13-acre Madison parcel tied to the Conway bypass, and a bulk disposal package of 22 improved parcels in Merrimack, Litchfield, and Hudson. Members asked about appraisals, conservation easements, federal funding restrictions, tenant occupancy, and whether the state would recover its original investment; DOT said values were based on appraisal or market analysis, federal reimbursements may be required where federal funds were used, and proceeds from turnpike-related property would return to the turnpike fund. All of these disposal motions were approved. The committee also approved several DOT lease/easement items. These included a Greenfield railroad-corridor lease for equestrian use, a Lake Winnipesaukee dock lease to CE Realty Trust, a similar dock lease to Needle Eye Association, and an easement in Carroll for Industrial Wireless to build a private road and cross Mount Deception Brook for a cell tower project. Members focused on maintenance responsibilities, liability insurance, access limitations, fencing, and the relationship between the railroad corridor and adjacent uses. DOT said lessees would be responsible for maintenance, access to the railroad would be restricted, and liability insurance would be included where appropriate. The committee also approved a separate easement for Eversource in Rochester to install utility lines serving the new courthouse, with the department explaining that the easement is a narrow strip needed to complete construction. The Department of Administrative Services received approval for a use-of-premises agreement allowing Rockingham County to lease 300 square feet in the Brentwood courthouse for office space, and for a perpetual utility easement in Rochester for Eversource, with a waiver of the administrative fee. The committee also heard that the Rochester courthouse project needs the utility work to finish construction. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly asked about insurance, public access, valuation, and whether tenants or abutters would have first opportunity to buy or lease the affected properties. All motions before the committee were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> taxed</c><00:24:51.080><c> that</c> The local assessing officials taxed that The local assessing
• </c> actually made it through the house. actually made it through the house.
• Is is that a fair assessment? assessment? assessment?
• </c> My house is in my land. My house is in my land.
• to. needs to.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting opened with a quorum present and approval of the April 17 minutes. The commission then heard a presentation from attorney Jacob Rhodes of Cleveland, Waters and Bass on the history and legal basis of New Hampshire’s timber tax, explaining that timber was historically treated as part of real property, that a 1913 case confirmed that view, and that a 1949 constitutional amendment created a separate timber yield tax to discourage clear-cutting and support forest conservation. He described the tax as a tax on the yield when timber is severed, not an income tax, and noted that towns are reimbursed through a system based on Department of Revenue Administration market data and local reports of cut. Members and guests asked how “yield” is defined, how the timber tax interacts with current use, and whether carbon sequestration could be treated similarly. Testimony explained that current use generally is not affected by harvesting timber, that towns can tax standing timber under RSA 79:5 but rarely do because it is labor-intensive, and that carbon credits might be valued using a similar market-data approach. Several speakers discussed a prior bill drafted with DRA input that would have treated carbon more like timber, but noted it never fully advanced in the General Court and that the version ultimately discussed by the House differed from the earlier DRA-comfortable draft. The discussion also covered whether carbon sequestration agreements are effectively long-term leases or transfers of timber rights, with Rhodes suggesting that 99-year arrangements could be taxable transfers of real property under DRA rules, though he had not reviewed specific agreements. DRA staff said they do not currently have a timber-like survey mechanism for carbon and would likely need access to proprietary market data or a subscription service to build one. No formal vote was taken beyond approving the minutes; the commission appeared to agree to revisit the carbon/timber valuation issue and the draft bill at a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2464 comes before you, sponsored by Representative Ortiz Self, passing the House by a vote
• And we just need to see what the picture really is. We need to see the data.
• The chair said that closed the briefing on both Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2253 and House Bill 2464
• on House Bill 2464.
• That is why this bill is needed.

Bills: HB2464 , SGA9305

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: detention facilities, law enforcement, reporting requirements, incidents, private detention, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need housing. Um, and it was actually going to be single-family residential.
• , you need to addition onto your house, you need to just<02:10:08.159><c> clear</c><02:10:08.400><c>
• Uh, people need smaller housing, condos, condexes, apartment places, apartment buildings, garden-style
• I'm honored to introduce House Bill 1588, establishing special assessment districts and expanding the
• The special assessment is going to be for infrastructure within the development, and that might need

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• assessments, depending on the type of service needed.
• on the type of assessments um depending on the type of service needed<00:42:23.000><c> then</c> needed
• How are they being assessed for the financial need?
• assessed for the financial<00:52:15.880><c> need</c><00:52:16.720><c> then</c><00:52:17.160><c> are<
• programs to provide transitional housing and support services for persons in need of transitional housing

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the upper payment limit, or the hospital assessment.
• There is one in the House.
• House Bill 345 of 2025.
• And yes, we need to continue to find more.
• For the House, 9-0-0-N-A-1 absent and excused.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• housing, for more efficiencies at both agencies.
• statutes and regulations, so we need to take a look at that.
• statutes and regulations, so we need to take a look at that.
• Do we have any other votes we need to? Item number five.
• Okay, we need—sorry, we’re going to hear you, we promise.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• County needs to pay for transit.
• So we need to prioritize safety.
• And even though we need to continue it, we want that to be thoughtful and we need it to work for all
• And even though we need to continue it, we want that to be thoughtful and we need it to work for all
• You need to do both.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 748, a bill revising Minnesota’s transportation greenhouse gas and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) impact assessment requirements for trunk highway projects. The chair first moved and adopted the A2 author’s amendment and then the A3 amendment, which was described as adding implementation time and project exemptions when federal dollars are available. The bill author explained that the measure responds to concerns from stakeholders that the current law can force costly mitigation, delay or stop safety and capacity projects, and create uncertainty because key implementation details are still being developed by a technical advisory committee. Testimony was split. County and city engineers, county commissioners, the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities generally supported the bill, arguing that the current requirements can add 20% to 40% or more to project costs, are difficult to administer, and could jeopardize critical safety improvements, congestion relief, and federal funding. They cited examples such as Scott County and Trunk Highway 65, and said VMT mitigation is especially hard to quantify and fund. Opponents, including Move Minnesota and Sierra Club, argued that safety and climate goals are not in conflict, that reducing driving can save lives and reduce pollution, and that the bill would weaken an important tool for cutting transportation emissions. Members also asked about how GHG and VMT are measured, whether the required assessment was ready, and who would be responsible for mitigation assets and costs. After discussion, the committee held a roll call vote. The bill, as amended, passed 8-7 and was moved to the General Register.