Transcript Highlights:

• The small transfer of land from our state government to our tribal government is a unique opportunity
• And from our land records at the time, it was land that we believed we owned, and it wasn't until later
• county lands as well.
• appraise the land and the improvements on that land, and then do a condemnation proceeding, which is
• land and treaty lands.

Bills: HF1587, HF2293, HF2218, HF1208, HF1482

Keywords: HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty

Transcript Highlights:

• The small transfer of land from our state government to our tribal government is a unique opportunity
• members and non-tribal for tribal members and non-tribal members.<00:47:17.280><c> The</c><00:47:17.520
• other lands.
• land and their treaty lands.
• tribal land and their impacts onto their tribal land and their treaty<01:48:09.920><c> lands.

Bills: HF1587, HF2293, HF2218, HF1208, HF1482

Keywords: HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a DNR agency request bill that modernizes processes for selling land and valuable materials.
• DNR is no longer required to produce pamphlets or post lists of land for sale.
• reducing regulatory stress for producers and directs that task force to review regulations related to land

Bills: HB2104, HB2223, HB2348, HB2554, HB2619

Keywords: aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response, irrigation, district director, contracts, beneficial interests, agriculture, timber sales, land sales, process efficiency, legislation, department language, tribal rights, fishing rights, salmon management, state-tribal agreements, natural resources

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held its final meeting of the 2026 session, first briefing several bills before taking executive action on most of them. Staff summarized House Bill 2104 on aviation assurances for wildland fire response, Substitute House Bill 2199 on derelict vessels, House Bill 2223 on irrigation district director spouse employment, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2238 on statewide food security, Substitute House Bill 2343 on water quality and game farms, House Bill 2348 on timber sales efficiencies, House Bill 2554 on treaty reserve fishing rights, and House Bill 2619 creating a task force on reducing regulatory stress in agriculture. The committee also noted fiscal impacts where applicable and that several bills had passed the House with strong bipartisan support. No amendments were offered on most of the bills, though HB 2223 had a proposed amendment limiting the exemption to smaller irrigation districts. In executive session, the committee voted to advance HB 2104 to Ways and Means, SHB 2199 to Rules, ESHB 2238 to Ways and Means, HB 2348 to Rules, HB 2554 to Rules, and HB 2619 to Rules. The committee took no action on HB 2223 or SHB 2343. Members briefly thanked committee staff and acknowledged the contributions of Senators Shewmake and Saldaña as they concluded their service on the committee. The committee then held a work session with the Washington State Department of Agriculture on the local farms, workers, and food grant proviso. WSDA described its one-time overtime reimbursement grant for eligible vegetable farms, saying 24 farms received about $213,000 total and that the agency used targeted outreach, cross-agency coordination, and a simplified application process to administer the program. Members asked about lessons learned and whether the approach could inform future grant programs; WSDA said the experience reinforced the value of targeted outreach, clearer eligibility data, and streamlined administration. The meeting ended with adjournment for the 2026 session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their lands are nested in a checkerboard of private, state, and mostly federal lands.
• These fires have decimated tribal lands and driven tribal members from their homes again and again.
• neighboring federal lands as well.
• , and the fervent will of our tribal partners.
• mine, that depend on them to manage our public lands.

Bills: HB471

Keywords: forest management, wildfire prevention, public lands, Tribal jurisdiction, Fix Our Forests Act, wildfire, forest health, hazardous fuels reduction, fuels treatment, prescribed burning, mechanical thinning, mastication, fuel breaks, fire breaks, wildland-urban interface, WUI, fireshed, fireshed management area, fireshed registry, Fireshed Center

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on H.R. 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, which aims to address the ongoing crisis of wildfires exacerbated by climate change and the need for updated forest management practices. Various committee members voiced concerns about past federal management failures and emphasized the necessity for collaborative approaches involving local communities and stakeholders in forest management. As discussions unfolded, there were varying perspectives on the implications of certain provisions in the bill, particularly around regulatory changes and their likely impacts on public participation and environmental reviews.

Bills: HB1455

Keywords: tribal consultation, Indian Affairs Commission, tribal governments, tribal sovereignty, state-tribal relations, Native American, tribal nations, consultation requirement, legislative process, jurisdiction, sovereignty, North Dakota tribes, government-to-government consultation, tribal chairpersons, 908, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee took up House Bill 1489, and Victoria Christian from Legislative Council reviewed the latest 3003 version. She explained that the bill was revised to clarify language about individuals who are or were in a dating relationship, to incorporate provisions from related Senate bills, and to narrow confidentiality and hearing provisions to domestic violence and sexual assault protection order cases. She also noted a clarification on page 12 regarding certification of certain individuals under Supreme Court rules rather than by the Supreme Court itself. Members discussed the consolidation of multiple related bills into one measure. Senator Myrdal moved Amendment 3.03 to engross House Bill 1489, and the motion passed. Senator Myrdal then moved a do pass recommendation on House Bill 1489 as amended, seconded by Senator Luick. The committee voted in favor of the amended bill by roll call, with all members present voting yes, and the motion carried. Chair Larson then asked for a member to carry the bill to the floor, and it was agreed that the bill would be carried. The committee also discussed its remaining workload and planned to clear the rest of its calendar the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• At its core, this bill is about tribal consultation.
• Tribal consultation is more than just a procedural step.
• Tribal consultation is more than just a procedural step.
• and tribal neighbors. ...can inadvertently harm or exclude our tribal members and tribal neighbors.
• This could include how tribal lands are managed, policies affecting health care access for tribal members

Bills: HB1455

Keywords: tribal consultation, Indian Affairs Commission, tribal governments, tribal sovereignty, state-tribal relations, Native American, tribal nations, consultation requirement, legislative process, jurisdiction, sovereignty, North Dakota tribes, government-to-government consultation, tribal chairpersons, 908, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee first heard House Bill 1455, which would require the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission to review introduced legislation for tribal implications and conduct consultation with affected tribes. Rep. Collette Brown said the bill was intended to formalize and strengthen tribal consultation, and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe representative Ross Bell testified in support. Brad Hawk, executive director of the Indian Affairs Commission, testified neutrally, saying the office already does much of this work but that the bill would add structure; several senators raised concerns about duplication, possible future staffing costs, and whether the bill was necessary. The committee amended the bill to replace “each measure” with “all legislation,” then passed a do-not-pass recommendation on HB 1455 by recorded vote, with Sen. Luick designated as carrier. The committee then took up House Bill 1032, dealing with municipal courts, appeals, and judge qualifications. Legislative Council and court staff walked through proposed amendments, including making municipal courts courts of record on a delayed effective date, clarifying appeal procedures, and adding standards for municipal judges. Members discussed whether to use the term “ethical standards” or “judicial conduct”; after questions about definitions and enforcement, the committee settled on replacing the language with “judicial conduct” in the amended bill. The committee adopted the amendments and then passed HB 1032 as amended on a do-pass vote, with Sen. Cory to carry. Later, the committee heard House Bill 1263, which would make it easier for people with criminal records to seek sealing after a denial by allowing an appeal and reducing the waiting period for a new petition from three years to one year. Rep. Nels Christensen, Christopher Davis, Travis Fink, and Brad Peterson all supported the bill’s goal of giving people a better path to rehabilitation and employment. The main point of disagreement was whether to keep the statutory presumption that the benefit to the petitioner must outweigh the presumption of openness of criminal records; several witnesses urged removing that language, while others said it was part of the compromise that created the current law. The committee closed the hearing without taking final action and said it would review the House discussion before deciding later.

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason we specifically call out MIAC is because of the tribal nation's sovereignty, and we want to
• I do want to point out we did conduct survey work that was on land.
• We were able to do work on land, and later in the fall of 2024, we were able to do some on-water work
• Equality is the basis of the Minnesota Constitution, which is the law of the land.
• But the highest courts in the land, when asked, Justice Scalia, a conservative judge, said specifically

Bills: HF1837, HF361, HF2725, HF2566, HF2744, HF1685, HF501, HF1889, HF1389

Keywords: state policy, employment, health insurance, fossil designation, public funds, community resources, Capitol Mall, grantmaking, community vitality, livability, funding, healthy aging, aging policy, older adults, seniors, elderly, gerontology, long-term care, assisted living, nursing homes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> call out my ACT is because of the tribal call out my ACT is because of the tribal Nations<00:48:
• I do want to point out we did do survey work that was on land.
• we were able to do work that was on land we were able to do work on<00:55:31.599><c> land</c><00:55:
• Equality is the basis of the Minnesota Constitution, which is the law of the land.
• </c> this but the highest courts in the land this but the highest courts in the land when<01:36:06.960

Bills: HF1837, HF361, HF2725, HF2566, HF2744, HF1685, HF501, HF1889, HF1389

Keywords: state policy, employment, health insurance, fossil designation, public funds, community resources, Capitol Mall, grantmaking, community vitality, livability, funding, healthy aging, aging policy, older adults, seniors, elderly, gerontology, long-term care, assisted living, nursing homes

Transcript Highlights:

• decisions as we move forward as chairs, leads, and caucuses as we work together to get this thing landed
• </c><00:22:44.039><c> survey</c><00:22:44.480><c> system</c> so the public land survey system so the
• public land survey system predates<00:22:45.240><c> the</c><00:22:45.360><c> state</c><00:22:45.520><
• </c><00:23:25.840><c> Management</c> informed records for Land Management informed records for Land Management
• Management and ensuring that our uh Land Management and ensuring that our taxation<00:26:16.080><c>

Bills: HF1, HF1754, HF1809, HF1478

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> how the DNR manages these land how the DNR manages these land transfers,<00:03:17.400><c> but</c
• The Lands Bill may include amendments to statutes affecting DNR-administered state land or DNR land transactions
• The Lands Bill proposes a Lands Bill.
• </c> authorization to sell certain lands. authorization to sell certain lands.
• </c> parks, and five are proposed land sales. parks, and five are proposed land sales.

Bills: HF3643, HF3426, HF4222, HF4224

Keywords: Melissa Hortman, Mark Hortman, memorial park, state park, working group, Minnesota Historical Society, Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, Saint Paul, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Administration, Legislative Coordinating Commission, general fund appropriation, park planning, interpretive services, public engagement, state memorial, land use, natural resources, commemorative legislation, environment

Transcript Highlights:

• Please keep our water, our sacred water, and our land protected.
• One of the things that we see, mostly on tribal lands, is that we have unsustainable numbers of free-roaming
• I live in the checkerboard area with deeded land and Navajo Nation.
• I live in the checkerboard area with Deed Land and Navajo Nation.
• Wild horses on the deeded land, we're a lives there. nation.

Bills: HM45, HB276, HB300

Keywords: Taos County, Questa, produced water, treated produced water, water reuse, water quality control commission, freshwater conservation, rural communities, acequias, Indian nations, tribes, pueblos, water rights, industrial water use, data centers, artificial intelligence, AI, quantum computing, economic development, renewable energy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:03:11.039><c> governments</c><01:03:11.359><c> that</c><01:03:11.440><c> share</c> The tribal
• It just adds to this other list of entities that have to consult with tribal entities.
• It just adds to this other list of entities that have to consult with tribal entities.
• </c> that um uh have to consult with tribal that um uh have to consult with tribal entities<01:04:11.440
• governments and brings it in line tribal governments and brings it in line with<01:08:52.799><c> every

Bills: HF1470, HF1310, HF1837

Keywords: opioids, substance use, addiction recovery, mental health, state cabinet, HF1310, Office of Cannabis Management, cannabis, marijuana, tribal consultation, government-to-government relationship, Minnesota tribes, Tribal governments, state government, consultation, rulemaking, Indian affairs, cannabis regulation, tribal sovereignty, state-tribal relations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:55.360><c> owned</c> tri for their own tribally owned tri for their own tribally owned vehicles
• </c> Now, if the intent is for the tribal Now, if the intent is for the tribal government<00:04:43.040
• What's the do this with the land.
• </c> with that land in said future? with that land in said future?
• </c> funding aside if you don't have land. funding aside if you don't have land.

Bills: HB0026, HB0042, HB0067, HB0069

Keywords: tribal governments, vehicle registration, exemption, license plates, Wind River Indian Reservation, vehicle, accident, duty to stop, felony, personal injury, death, veterans property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax relief, military tax exemption, Wyoming National Guard, active duty, reserve members, surviving spouse, surviving parent

Bills: HB0026, HB0042, HB0067, HB0069

Keywords: tribal governments, vehicle registration, exemption, license plates, Wind River Indian Reservation, vehicle, accident, duty to stop, felony, personal injury, death, veterans property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax relief, military tax exemption, Wyoming National Guard, active duty, reserve members, surviving spouse, surviving parent

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, the environmentally impacted land, the purpose of it is to focus on contaminated land or
• Specifically, the environmentally impacted land.
• So that's not agriculture land. “Environmentally impacted land.” So that’s not agricultural land.
• That’s not land outside of an urban growth boundary.
• I think the underutilization of vacant, contaminated land or environmentally impacted land is another

Bills: S0218, S0380, S0936, S0948, S0962, S0984, S1020, S1180, S1434, S1444, S1612

Keywords: land use, disaster recovery, local government, federal assistance, Hurricane relief, legal notices, public accessibility, government transparency, digital publication, government agencies, temporary door locking device, emergency safety, building code, training programs, fire exit security, affordable housing, land development, starter homes, local government regulations, housing shortage

Summary: The committee took up a series of land use, housing, local government, and public notice bills, along with a firefighter cancer bill and a bill on temporary door locking devices. SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits and prevention was explained as clarifying access to death benefits and a one-time cancer payment for firefighters; it was reported favorably. SB 1612 required local governments to accept electronic payments online; it also passed favorably. SB 1180 created a recall framework for elected community development district board members and, through a strike-all amendment, also addressed synthetic turf enforcement and expanded compact urban mixed-use district definitions; the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. SB 936 allowed temporary door locking devices above the finished floor and directed the Building Commission to add standards to the Florida Building Code; it passed favorably. The committee also considered SB 380 on legal notices, which would let certain local government entities publish notices on their own websites or other designated sites instead of relying on newspapers in more cases. The Florida Press Association, Common Cause, and newspaper representatives opposed the bill, arguing it would fragment public notice access and make notices harder to find and verify, while supporters said it would modernize and reduce costs. The bill’s amendment clarified which agencies were covered, and the committee reported the bill favorably. SB 962 on affordable housing narrowed prior zoning preemption language so working farms and farm operations would not be unintentionally captured by Live Local-style rules; it passed favorably. SB 1444 on state preemption and religious expression, private clubs, and minor home construction drew support from religious freedom advocates and opposition from cities and counties, which warned of vague terms and overbroad preemption; it was reported favorably. The committee then approved SB 218, which would limit the reach of last session’s hurricane recovery land-use preemption to counties actually damaged by hurricanes and restore normal local land-use authority in unaffected counties. SB 1434 on infill redevelopment would streamline zoning and subdivision approvals for environmentally impacted parcels in certain urban counties to encourage housing on contaminated or underused land; counties and local-government groups opposed it as an overbroad preemption and raised concerns about the environmental threshold and density provisions, but the bill was reported favorably. SB 1020 on chickees prohibited local ordinances from blocking chickee construction if setback requirements are met and made unauthorized attempts to circumvent the building code a misdemeanor; it passed favorably. Finally, SB 948 on local government land development regulations and orders, as amended, proposed a statewide starter-home framework with lot-split and zoning changes to increase housing supply; local-government and planning groups warned it would function as a rigid statewide zoning code and could drive overdevelopment, while housing advocates supported it as necessary state action. The committee reported the bill favorably after extensive debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the tribal liaison to the Eastern Shoshone tribe by Governor Gordon's office.
• I get up here and, um, just reiterate that they testified at committee on our select committee on tribal
• 00:02:43.200><c> on</c> committee on our select committee on committee on our select committee on tribal
• affairs this most past month and tribal affairs this most past month and um<00:02:47.040><c> are</c>
• </c><00:49:12.559><c> I</c> of the land looks like in Wyoming. I of the land looks like in Wyoming.

Bills: SF0045, SF0058, SF0067

Keywords: pari-mutuel wagering, simulcasting, historic horse racing, HHR terminals, horse racing, gaming commission, Wyoming Gaming Commission, local control, city approval, county approval, municipal approval, permit renewal, gaming permit, wagering regulation, racetrack, live pari-mutuel event, district court appeal, public notice, land use, public safety

Bills: HB372, HB361, HB391, HB372, HB361, HB391

Keywords: Elmore County, rental tax, tax revenue, infrastructure funding, economic development, Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe, tribal police, reservation security, state-recognized tribe, law enforcement authority, certified police officer, Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission, P.O.S.T., trespass, warrantless arrest, tribal land, sovereignty, public safety, Indian tribe, reservation

Bills: SB241, HB304, HB295, HB361

Keywords: criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, crime management, Alabama law, impoundment, driver licenses, vehicle redemption, local identification cards, HB295, Alabama National Guard, military punishment, non-judicial punishment, Article 15, court-martial, special court-martial, disciplinary measures, commanding officer, Adjutant General, Governor

Transcript Highlights:

• Eventually, state and tribal leaders struck a more cooperative tone and began working together on the
• , into your forest lands, and they make up this great state.
• I'm the Director of Tribal Affairs for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• I'm also a tribal citizen. The department has signed pro on this bill.
• Our farms that we work with are facing rising costs, access to land, issues with access to land, narrowing

Bills: HB2104, HB2554, HB2619

Keywords: aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response, tribal rights, fishing rights, salmon management, state-tribal agreements, natural resources, agriculture, regulations, farming, compliance, economic impact, 904, all

Summary: The committee took up six House bills for public hearing, with staff explaining each measure and sponsors describing their purposes. ESHB 2238 on statewide food security was presented as a broad strategy for WSDA to coordinate food access, agricultural viability, and supply chain resilience, including annual data monitoring and reporting on regulatory costs; supporters from agriculture, food banks, school nutrition, counties, and advocacy groups said it would improve coordination and strengthen the food system, while some asked for broader representation in the advisory process. HB 2199 would expand the derelict vessel removal program by broadening the definition of derelict vessel and allowing earlier intervention on unregistered or hazardous vessels; ports, local officials, and environmental advocates supported it as a way to reduce pollution, safety risks, and cleanup costs. HB 2104 would remove the sunset from the Aviation Assurance Funding Program for wildland fire response, and the sponsor and fire officials said the program has been effective at enabling rapid initial attack and preventing more expensive state mobilization. HB 2554 would repeal statutory language from Initiative 456 relating to treaty fishing rights; the sponsor, Attorney General’s Office, and Department of Fish and Wildlife supported repeal as removing unconstitutional and unenforceable provisions and correcting a historical wrong. HB 2619 would create a legislative task force to review regulatory stressors in agriculture and recommend changes, with the sponsor tying it to agricultural mental health and suicide prevention; no public testimony was offered. HB 2343 would require permits and water-quality controls for publicly owned game farms, with staff noting it appears to apply to a Fish and Wildlife facility and that the fiscal note estimates about $13,000 annually for compliance. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive on the bills that drew testimony, and the chair announced all six bills would be listed for possible executive session at the committee’s next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• for energy projects on state land.
• The solar land maps rate the various trust land parcels as to their suitability for utility-scale solar
• But whatever is the maximum value of the land, that’s what the state land trust ought to be doing.
• Chair, federal lands are public lands. Those are lands for the benefit of all of us.
• trust land the Land Department Commissioner considers to be appropriate.

Bills: HB2014, HB2055, HB2145, HB2150, HB2696, HB2755, HB2763, HB2781, HB2782, HB2787, HB2795, HB2889, HB2975, HB2985, HB2986, HCM2009, HCR2020, HCR2038

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, Arizona Revised Statutes, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, state land department, mineral lease, renewals