Transcript Highlights:

• Public Safety Initiative, and we already did our 130, which was the Juvenile Justice Evaluation Report status
• In some counties, a large proportion of referrals consisted of status offenses or misdemeanors, while
• A lot of states have moved to remove status offenses from the delinquency system so that young people
• It doesn't change the status. It doesn't change what they could do in their community.
• , truancy and other status offenses should be handled outside of the juvenile justice system.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I served eight years on active duty status in units such as the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Joint Special
• Catherine Squire, on behalf of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, in support
• Catherine Squire, on behalf of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, in support
• But, you know, I'd be remiss if not reflecting that, you know, while, yes, we can think about status
• changes in the future, they shouldn't have had to go through that status change to begin with.

Summary: The Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard four bills, with AB 1616 (Davies) and AB 1638 (Ta) placed on consent and later approved unanimously. The committee then heard AB 1775 (Ward), which would provide state support for veterans affected by the federal executive order targeting transgender service members, including prioritizing them for discharge-upgrade assistance, housing support, and expedited professional licensing. Supporters described the bill as a response to abrupt separations, loss of benefits, housing instability, and employment harm; there was no formal opposition. Members raised questions about how the state would verify eligibility and avoid unintended coverage of discharges based on other reasons, and the author said applicants would need a DD-214 and supplemental documentation showing the discharge was solely due to the executive order. AB 1775 was passed on a due-pass motion and referred to the Committee on Business and Professions. The committee also heard AB 2022 (Gonzalez), which would provide a full property tax exemption for the primary residences of veterans who are 100% service-connected disabled, and extend the exemption to unmarried surviving spouses. The author and supporters said the bill is intended to prevent homelessness and help severely disabled veterans remain in their homes amid California’s high housing costs. Committee discussion focused on the size of the eligible population and the fiscal impact, with the author noting the measure applies to a much smaller group than all disabled veterans and that he would provide more cost information later. AB 2022 was approved as amended and referred to the Committee on Revenue and Taxation. By the end of the hearing, all bills on the agenda were reported out 8-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• And a few years ago, when I did Senate Bill 258, that prioritized special status within the Older Americans
• And it includes HIV status in that as well. And then one difficult question.
• So SB 258 updated the definition for social factors to include HIV status, adding to existing factors
• , sexual orientation, social isolation caused by racial and ethnic status, sexual orientation, gender
• Well, there are 13 of the 33 that you said, I don't know, weren't in the same status where 20 had it

Summary: The Select Committee on Older LGBTQ Californians held an inaugural hearing focused on the health care and support landscape for older LGBTQ Californians, including people aging with HIV and transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex seniors. Opening remarks emphasized the long history of discrimination faced by older LGBTQ adults, the growth of the aging LGBTQ population, and the need to translate existing state commitments into concrete services. Senators highlighted concerns about nursing home vulnerability, the aging of people living with HIV, and the impact of federal actions and Medicaid cuts on California’s safety net. The first panel featured Justice in Aging, CalHHS, the Department of Aging, and the Aging and HIV Institute. Testimony described widespread inequities, including discrimination, social isolation, economic insecurity, and gaps in culturally competent care. State officials outlined the Master Plan for Aging, the first statewide survey of LGBTQIA older adults, gender-affirming care protections in Medi-Cal, and efforts to improve coordination across departments. Advocates argued the state has been too slow to respond to federal threats and that services are often hard to find or fragmented. Committee members pressed the departments on how survey findings are being turned into action, how rural and underserved communities are being reached, and whether more formal stakeholder coordination or “no wrong door” access systems are needed. The second panel focused on seniors living with HIV. A long-term survivor gave emotional testimony about the “survivorship penalty,” loss of benefits, housing insecurity, and the need for legal and navigation support, housing assistance, and protection from outdated disability standards. The Department of Aging reported on implementation of SB 258, which added HIV status to the definition of greatest social need for area agencies on aging; it said 20 of 33 area plans now identify HIV as a target population and many include specific strategies, such as LGBTQIA mental health connections programs. The Office of AIDS described Project Cornerstone, Ryan White, ADAP, HOPWA, the Medi-Cal waiver, and PrEP-AP, noting these programs serve thousands of older clients and rely on whole-person case management. Case management testimony underscored persistent needs for medication subsidies, transportation, food, and housing. Committee members questioned how ADAP rebate funds might be used, how SB 258 is enforced across local agencies, and how to reduce administrative barriers and auto-connect eligible people to benefits. The final panel began with the Department of Social Services outlining protections for TGI seniors in licensed care facilities, including SB 219’s nondiscrimination requirements and related provider notices and resident rights materials. The hearing remained focused on identifying service gaps, improving coordination across aging, health, and social service systems, and ensuring state programs better reflect the lived experience of older LGBTQ Californians.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also reduces bureaucratic barriers, making it easier for parents to verify their status and maintain
• eligibility to reflect temporary medical needs, and making it easier for families to verify their status
• Recently, federal legislation has targeted the status of nonprofits serving vulnerable populations.
• Recently, federal legislation has targeted the status of nonprofits serving vulnerable populations.
• or their federal 501(c)(3) status.

Summary: The committee heard a series of child care, social services, immigrant support, disability services, and language access bills, with many measures drawing strong support and no opposition. Early in the hearing, AB 450 proposed a Department of Aging task force to study and recommend policies for undocumented adults age 55 and older; AB 593 would let CDSS identify data-sharing opportunities to improve CalFresh administration and participation; and AB 904 would clarify child care subsidy eligibility so families do not lose care during pregnancy leave, family leave, caregiving, or job search periods. All three were presented as ways to reduce barriers and improve access to essential services, and AB 904 was moved out on a 1-0 call after support testimony from child care advocates and a member of the public. AB 617, which would expand and standardize respite care access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by requiring licensing and registry participation, drew both support and significant opposition from respite providers and disability service organizations concerned about added regulation, cost, and possible delays; the author said she would continue working with opponents, and the bill was moved out on a 2-0 call. The committee also heard AB 1220, which would require regional centers to document denials, notices of action, and appeals in individual program plans and include that data in annual reports to improve transparency and equity in developmental services. The bill drew extensive public support from parents, advocates, and disability organizations, with no opposition, and passed 5-0. AB 752 would make child care centers by right in certain residential zones when co-located with multifamily housing or institutional uses, and supporters argued it would reduce zoning barriers and help expand child care capacity; it also passed 5-0. AB 1242 would create a CalHHS language access director, require human review of machine translation, and improve language coverage determinations for state and local agencies; supporters emphasized health equity and the need for better access for limited-English communities, and the bill was moved out on a 4-0 call. Later, AB 548 would continue and expand the Asylee and Vulnerable Non-Citizen Program, which provides case management and integration services for asylees and certain visa holders; supporters said the program had been effective but had run out of funding, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, would strengthen family safety planning for immigrant families, standardize acceptance of caregiver authorization affidavits, and create a joint guardianship process for temporary separations; testimony focused on fear of family separation and the need for clear school and medical procedures, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 1357 would exclude guaranteed income payments from being counted as income for state public assistance eligibility, with supporters arguing it would prevent recipients from falling off the “benefits cliff”; it passed 4-1. Finally, AB 1201, the Reunity Act, was introduced to require individualized court assessments before denying reunification services to parents with certain violent felony convictions after a five-year period, with the author and a witness describing the bill as a trauma-informed approach to family reunification.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> In a joint status report, they did not object to the folks that were chosen to draw the map. >> Who
• I'm going to point you to joint status report in this case of Alabama State Conference...
• >> In a joint status report, they did not object to the folks that were chosen to draw the map. >> Who
• I'm going to point you to the joint status report in this case of Alabama State Conference...
• </c><00:49:11.240><c> report</c> joint status report joint status report in<00:49:13.040><c> this</c>

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First item on the agenda is the fiscal status statement. All right. Your mics are on.
• Status statement and five-year baseline summary projection this morning.
• Likewise, there have been no changes made to page two of the fiscal status statement.
• Seeing no questions, Speaker to VA makes a motion to approve the fiscal status statement.
• Seeing no objection, the fiscal status statement is approved.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget met on February 19, 2026, and first received an unchanged fiscal status statement and five-year baseline projection from the Office of Planning and Budget. Members approved the fiscal status statement, and the baseline budget was noted as unchanged from the prior month. The committee also approved Facility Planning and Control’s request to add five higher education deferred maintenance projects to the Act 751 eligible list, and reviewed four change orders over $50,000 for informational purposes. The committee then approved the Louisiana Lottery Corporation’s fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget. Lottery officials reported $610 million in projected gross revenue, emphasized 29 consecutive years without legislative auditor findings or management comments, and noted the corporation’s long-running transfers to the MFP and State General Fund. Members also approved the 2026-2027 operating budgets for LASERS, TRSL, the School Employees’ Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System en bloc. The retirement systems described modest budget increases or decreases, strong investment performance, and continued progress in reducing unfunded liabilities; members discussed COLA prospects, UAL paydown, and the impact of surplus dollars on retirement debt reduction. The committee approved prior-year deputy sheriff supplemental pay expenditures of $20,262.32 and then approved several legislative intent clarifications for prior appropriations, including items for Tangipahoa Parish, Harahan, Allen Parish, Morgan City, and DeSoto Parish. It also approved the Water Sector Commission’s recommendation for an additional $2.8 million for four ongoing water and sewer projects. Several contract items were reviewed without action, including DEQ’s extension with RTI International, Tourism’s marketing contract amendments, and the Office of Risk Management’s Sedgwick claims administration amendment. The meeting concluded with adjournment after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have one on uh you you mentioned on the uh project status report that the fourth column is the one
• All right, we have, uh, next on the agenda for informational purposes, project status report.
• I want to begin with a brief definition and history of the project status report, uh, first defining
• Jason Galna for some additional details and production uh statuses of the updated uh pro uh project status
• I'll give you a prime example as we progress and provide you with the maintenance program status report

Transcript Highlights:

• And a few years ago, when I did Senate Bill 258, that prioritized special status within the Older Americans
• So SB 258 updated the definition for social factors to include HIV status, adding to existing factors
• , sexual orientation, social isolation caused by racial and ethnic status, sexual orientation, gender
• Well, there are 13 of the 33 that you said weren't in the same status where 20 had it in their plans
• When we do receive a complaint based on discrimination or other harassment based on LGBTQ status, we

Summary: The committee held an inaugural hearing on the health care and support needs of older LGBTQ Californians, with members and witnesses emphasizing that this population has made major gains in rights and longevity but still faces discrimination, isolation, economic insecurity, and gaps in services. Opening remarks highlighted concerns about older LGBTQ people entering nursing homes and feeling forced back into the closet, as well as the growing number of Californians aging with HIV. The hearing was structured into three panels, with public testimony considered if time allowed. The first panel focused on the overall health and support landscape. Justice in Aging described survey findings showing discrimination, poor health, difficulty with errands, and economic insecurity among older LGBTQ Californians, and warned that federal Medicaid cuts and broader federal actions could worsen access to home- and community-based services and culturally competent care. CalHHS and the Department of Aging described the Master Plan for Aging, the first statewide LGBTQIA older adult survey, and efforts to support gender-affirming care, PACE, care management, and community supports. Witnesses stressed the need for better outreach, data collection, and a “no wrong door” approach so people can more easily find and access services. The chair and senators pressed the departments on how survey findings are being translated into concrete action and how state agencies are coordinating across silos. The second panel addressed health care for seniors living with HIV. A longtime survivor described severe financial and benefits consequences from a federal clawback and argued that California needs stronger legal, navigation, and housing supports, including HIV-specific housing funding. The Department of Aging reported on implementation of SB 258, saying it has educated area agencies on aging, added HIV data to planning tools, and found that 20 of 33 area agencies identified HIV as a target population, with 16 including specific strategies. The Office of AIDS outlined Project Cornerstone, Ryan White, ADAP, HOPWA, a Medi-Cal waiver, and PrEP-AP, noting these programs serve thousands of older clients and that local case managers are expected to coordinate whole-person care. Case managers and advocates said housing, food, transportation, mental health, and premium assistance remain major needs, and senators asked whether future ADAP rebate funds could support navigation, housing, and other gap-filling services. The final panel turned to transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex seniors. The Department of Social Services described protections under SB 219, including nondiscrimination notices, resident rights postings, required records for preferred names and pronouns, and annual inspections of licensed facilities. The Department of Public Health and a TransLatin Coalition leader were introduced to discuss additional supports for TGI seniors. Across the hearing, members repeatedly returned to the themes of visibility, coordination, and implementation, asking departments to follow up on how they will better connect services, improve outreach, and ensure that existing laws and programs are actually reaching the people they are meant to serve.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are not able to cut back on our faculty because of their tenured status.
• Are students that come in as residents when they are on their parents' visa status or refugee status
• , and they would have a new immigration status.
• Students can't... ...and they would have a new immigration status.
• Students can choose to seek international student status at that point.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so we are here to provide a brief update of the status of the ongoing performance audits and I will
• And that is it for the status of ongoing performance audits.
• And that is it for the status of ongoing performance audits. Thank you.
• And that is it for the status of ongoing performance audits. Thank you.
• And that is it for the status of ongoing performance audits. Thank you.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee organized itself by electing Representative Griffin as chair and a senator as vice chair, then approved the prior meeting minutes. Director Young then gave status updates on several ongoing performance audits. The New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights audit was reported complete, with presentations already made to the fiscal committee and House Judiciary. The special education oversight audit is still in progress, with 17 observations already sent to the department, responses received on 14, partial concurrence on 12, and a full draft report expected in late summer or early fall. The education freedom accounts audit is also underway, with fieldwork focused on eligibility controls and expenses; staffing shortages at the department have slowed the work, and a draft report is hoped for in the fall. The Doorway program audit is in the planning phase, with a report targeted for the end of the year. Members then discussed whether the committee should do more follow-up on completed audits. Several members said audits often identify issues that remain unresolved for years, and suggested a more active review process, similar to the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee, where agencies would return to report on what audit findings have been fixed and what remains outstanding. Staff noted that any such follow-up would take time away from new audit work, but said they were willing to consider the committee’s direction. Members also discussed using Transparency New Hampshire updates and agency self-reporting to help track progress, and there was general agreement to move toward a system of periodic follow-up on recent audits. The committee also reviewed suspended and potential audit topics. Two Department of Health and Human Services audits, involving the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services and out-of-date placements, remain suspended because of ongoing litigation. Two other DHS topics, contract management and the Bureau of Developmental Services, remain on the potential audit list. A member raised a possible Fish and Game topic based on constituent concerns, but agreed to wait after speaking with the new director. The committee concluded by agreeing that the audit division should compile a list of audits completed in the last 10 years, with members to identify which ones they want to revisit first.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many have families who have legal status experience racial profiling regardless of their legal status
• Many have families who have legal status experience racial profiling regardless of their legal status
• Many have families who have legal status experience racial profiling regardless of their legal status
• There's a lot of assumptions on people's legal status, and so I think a strong message for our districts
• There's a lot of assumptions on people's legal status, and so I think a strong message for our districts

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> housing uh due to their veteran status. housing uh due to their veteran status.
• So, they wouldn't they wouldn't status.
• Massachusetts has status of a veteran in the unlawful discrimination statute.
• Ohio has military status in unlawful discriminatory practices.
• veteran or military status in the Discrimination Human Rights Commission.

Bills: HF3540 , HF3522 , HF3544

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: veterans rights, employment discrimination, human rights, Minnesota laws, protected classes, veterans, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans affairs, Secret War in Laos, SGU veteran, Hmong veterans, Laotian veterans, honor guard, military funeral honors, state veterans cemetery, burial eligibility, veterans home, temporary closure, state active service, National Guard

Transcript Highlights:

• I remember—I pray that they remember that we all, all together, regardless of health status or race or
• class or immigration status or political affiliation, in every district across the state, that we all
• all, all together, regardless<00:04:27.400><c> of</c><00:04:27.520><c> health</c><00:04:27.840><c> status
• c><00:04:28.400><c> or</c><00:04:28.560><c> race</c><00:04:28.960><c> or</c> regardless of health status
• status or political class or immigration status or political affiliation,<00:04:32.960><c> in</c><00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• oppose this bill because we oppose treating people differently based solely on their immigration status
• It is entirely inappropriate to raise state criminal penalties based on immigration status alone.
• Furthermore, it's going to be costly, time-consuming, and difficult to put immigration status into the
• They might be on a visa one day and then that expires, but then they might get some kind of new status
• because she did not maintain her status.

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence met with a quorum and heard a series of Senate bills, generally receiving sponsor explanations and, in most cases, no public testimony. SB 2595 would create a Class B misdemeanor for harassing, threatening, or intimidating someone while intentionally concealing identity with a mask, with broad affirmative defenses for legitimate mask use; SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers and add related presumptions and interference protections; and SB 1896 would require magistrates to issue emergency protective orders in certain family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and aggravated cases, with law enforcement required to provide needed information. All three were left pending. The committee also heard SB 955, which increases trafficking of persons from a second-degree to a first-degree felony when the victim was recruited from a correctional facility, and SB 614, which would let the Texas Forensic Science Commission refer dismissed complaints to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs when they reference a prior FSC report; both were left pending. Members then heard several forensic and criminal procedure bills. SB 1372 would resolve a discovery/access conflict involving the DPS crime lab portal by limiting portal access to defense attorneys rather than defendants directly, prompting questions from members about access for pro se defendants; DPS’s chief crime lab witness testified neutrally. SB 1936 would change the LSD “abuse unit” definition for unmarked/unperforated paper from a square-measurement method to a 10-milligram weight standard, and SB 1937 would require a subject matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence to help identify viable testing and conserve resources. SB 2580 would lower the population threshold for sheriff’s departments to independently use tracking equipment and access certain communications from 3.3 million to 500,000, expanding the authority beyond Harris County; it was described as a public safety and emergency response measure and left pending. The committee also considered SB 2798, which would extend the statute of limitations for certain financial crimes from three years to seven years, with testimony from a Montgomery County assistant district attorney supporting the change because fraud is often discovered late. SB 1099 would increase penalties for felony offenses committed by undocumented or unauthorized aliens, but drew strong opposition from the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued immigration is a federal matter and that the bill would create difficult and potentially unfair status determinations for local courts; members raised concerns about the lack of an expert-testimony requirement. SB 1278 would create an affirmative defense to prostitution prosecution for trafficking victims compelled by their traffickers to commit the conduct, and testimony from advocates and a member’s personal account emphasized the coercive, traumatic nature of trafficking; members discussed whether the defense should be narrower or framed as mitigation, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 127 would extend the statute of limitations for failure to report or conceal child abuse, with members discussing mandatory reporting duties and the need to allow more time for delayed discovery of cover-ups; it too was left pending before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• options, which allow them to put their licenses in a military status or an active status when they leave
• options, which allow them to put their licenses in a military status or an active status when they leave
• Is there any verification of their status, or is it just taken?
• Is there any verification of their status, or is it just taken on their word?
• We are very concerned about the disconnect between, and there's a status flexibility issue here, where

Summary: The committee heard updates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Navy Region Northwest, Fairchild Air Force Base, the Coast Guard, state licensing agencies, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the Washington National Guard, and a veterans behavioral health presenter. Across the military briefings, common themes were readiness, infrastructure, and quality-of-life issues for service members and families, especially child care, housing, food insecurity, medical and dental access, and military spouse employment. JBLM highlighted its role in Indo-Pacific readiness, ongoing PFAS cleanup, 212 new family housing units under construction, efforts to expand child care, and continued work to keep the Lewis Army Museum open. Navy Region Northwest discussed its major installations and economic impact, the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan, future carrier and submarine homeporting needs, and asked the legislature to continue support for licensure compacts, educational stability for military children, housing, and medical access. Fairchild emphasized its tanker and survival missions, child care shortages, food insecurity, aging housing, and concerns about wind turbine development near flight paths, while the Coast Guard focused on rebuilding Base Seattle for new icebreakers and on rural access to housing, medical care, and child care at dispersed stations like Neah Bay. Members repeatedly raised food insecurity and asked for follow-up on solutions. JBLM and Fairchild both described increased demand for food assistance during the shutdown, and committee members noted progress in getting mobile food vans onto JBLM. The presenters also praised state action on military spouse licensure and child care, including Senate Bill 5545 and related compact and portability efforts. The Department of Licensing reported about 9,000 self-identified military members or spouses licensed, with average time-to-license just under nine days, and said applications are prioritized when military status is self-identified. The Department of Health said its military-to-civilian crosswalk now covers more than 35 health professions, that temporary practice permits and expedited processing are in place, and that 1,300 credentials were issued to military spouses and domestic partners and 129 to military-trained health professionals in the last fiscal year, all within 30 days. The Professional Educator Standards Board explained that military spouses and service members can receive expedited teacher certification with reduced documentation, and that they are moved to the front of the review queue when they self-identify. Members asked about verification, and staff said the process relies on attestation with investigatory safeguards if needed. The Washington National Guard briefed on its dual state and federal mission, the impact of the recent shutdown on nearly 700 employees who worked without pay, and policy and budget requests including youth academy protections, alignment of the Washington Code of Military Justice with the UCMJ, making Civil Air Patrol a division of the Military Department, 911 funding, disaster assistance, and capital funding for headquarters and readiness facilities. The Guard also warned about drone threats and said it wants authority to identify, track, and monitor suspicious drones. A veterans behavioral health presenter, an Army combat veteran and clinical social worker, described high suicide risk, barriers to care, and the need for more culturally competent services, especially for women veterans and caregivers. He said Washington veterans’ suicide rate remains above the national average and emphasized that childcare, transportation, and provider shortages can prevent timely treatment. Members generally responded supportively throughout, asked for follow-up on food security and other issues, and encouraged agencies to bring forward legislative ideas for future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:43:17.359><c> It's</c> a new status that says license. It's a new status that says license.
• </c> because we don't have a legal status. because we don't have a legal status.
• And by clarifying that legal status will help.
• We would ask that clarifying in status.
• And that has standing or legal status.

Committee: Joint Education

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They said they did, and that veteran status was not covered under that.
• or military status as a protected class under their state-level non-discrimination statutes.
• status or military status added veteran status or military status as<01:07:14.079><c> a</c><01:07:14.240
• ,</c><01:20:01.199><c> but</c> against them based on their status, but against them based on their status
• ,</c> discrimination based on their status, discrimination based on their status, but<01:20:20.800><c

Bills: HF3560 , HF3295 , HF2937 , HF3540

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: electronic signatures, estate planning, uniform law, legal documents, Minnesota statutes, open meeting law, transparency, public engagement, social media, government accountability, parenting consultant, parenting time, custody, family court, family law, neutral third party, alternative dispute resolution, child custody, visitation, parenting coordinator

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we'll go into the presentation by the Petroleum Council regarding the status and outlook of oil
• By the Petroleum Council regarding the status and outlook of oil and gas activity in the state. Mr.
• This is the production forecast that Justin puts out, as you can see, all things status quo.
• You asked me to report to you on the status of the state fiscal recovery funds.
• So we include the status of all of the different loan authorizations.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes. The committee first heard an update from the Petroleum Council on oil and gas activity in North Dakota. Ron Ness said production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with efficiency gains and longer laterals helping offset lower rig counts. He discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, northward movement of drilling activity, and the importance of new infrastructure and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) pilots. Members asked about gas taxation, natural gas liquids, pipeline impacts, and the outlook for Continental and other operators. Ness said the industry is likely to remain steady rather than see a major ramp-up or decline. Matt Pearl of the State Tax Department then explained the federal “big beautiful bill” and its effect on North Dakota income tax collections. He said the law extends or makes permanent several federal provisions and creates temporary deductions for seniors, tips, overtime, and auto loan interest, with the biggest state impact coming from the standard deduction increase and business tax changes. He revised earlier estimates downward, saying the net cash impact on state collections is likely in the $30 million to $35 million range after accounting for business prepayments and one-time FY25 oilfield transaction effects. Committee members asked which provisions apply to standard versus itemized returns. OMB staff gave a detailed update on major capital projects and facility funding. Topics included Capitol grounds improvements such as 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding, seating, lighting, tree management, and restroom and lobby upgrades; security work at the governor’s residence, which has been delayed by the discovery of human remains; and space reconfiguration efforts in Bismarck-Mandan to reduce leases and create shared offices and conference rooms. They also reported on the State Facility Maintenance Fund, including roof, window, boiler, and kitchen projects at state facilities, and on the state hospital project in Jamestown, which remains on budget and on schedule for substantial completion in winter 2027 and opening in spring 2028. OMB also updated the committee on the Minot North Central State Office Building, the use of federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds, and the status of legislative intent and trust fund reports, including school aid turnback, the school construction loan program, the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund, the Legacy Fund, and the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund. The committee ended by discussing future agenda items, including government efficiency, cash management, Bank of North Dakota lines of credit, and the rural health transformation program, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And she also has a statue dedicated to her in St. Louis at Kiener Plaza. So that's all I have.
• Will that celebration be near her statue? More than likely. Yeah. That's a neat...
• We were looking at statues.
• Will that celebration be near her statue? More than likely. Yeah. That's a neat...
• We were looking at statues.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We even have to change our online status if we get up to go to the bathroom.
• of your employee think the mental status of your employee is<00:57:42.359><c> and</c><00:57:42.520><
• , your health status, your religious or political beliefs, in order to make any other determinations
• status, your health status,<01:18:57.400><c> your</c><01:18:57.760><c> religious</c><01:18:58.120><c
• > or</c><01:18:58.160><c> political</c> status, your religious or political status, your religious or

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all