Transcript Highlights:

• Because other benefits are given to other police departments or Sheriff's departments, they can't compete
• Help them with their police department. The same we're doing every day.
• Well, guess where our Sheriff's Department recruits...
• There's an opening in the Sheriff's Department; a matter of pay.
• We know the Department of Corrections, particularly, is understaffed.

Bills: SB82 , SB78 , SB4 , SB6 , SB62 , SB66 , SB77 , SB63 , SB79 , SB53 , SB55 , HB14

Committee: House County and Municipal Government

Transcript Highlights:

• heads.
• The firemen had the head of the fish fry and got talking to some of the officials in town.
• </c><00:03:28.480><c> heads.
• </c> funding, legislature, department heads. funding, legislature, department heads.
• The firemen had the the<00:03:59.360><c> head</c><00:03:59.519><c> the</c><00:03:59.680><c> fish</c><

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Deputy Commissioner and legislative director for the Department of Insurance under the leadership
• With me today is Esteban Mendez from the California and Sustainable Branch from the department.
• I and 200 of my Head Start co-workers received layoff notices on March 15th.
• I and 200 of my Head Start co-workers received layoff notices on March 15th.
• Let's be clear: getting rid of Head Start or affordable child care is not just a budget cut.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met under suspense-file procedures, with the chair explaining limits on testimony, position letters, and that bills with fiscal impacts of $150,000 or more would generally be sent to suspense rather than voted on immediately. Several bills were pulled from hearing, and a consent calendar of committee bills later passed 4-0. AB 761 by Addis, the only item initially slated for a vote, was ultimately held over to the next hearing. The committee heard testimony on a series of tax-related proposals. AB 232 would create catastrophe savings accounts for homeowners to save pre-tax money for wildfire, flood, or earthquake-related expenses; it drew support from the Department of Insurance and the California Bankers Association, but was sent to suspense. AB 1443 would exempt tips from state income tax for five years and was supported by the California Restaurant Association and a restaurant owner, but also went to suspense. AB 1435 would provide relief to businesses and property owners facing cleanup and security costs from unauthorized encampments and illegal dumping; it received broad support from business, real estate, trucking, retail, and local government representatives, and was referred to suspense. The committee also heard AB 1428, which would create a California Affordable Child Care Fund financed by a 0.5% tax on income above $10 million; child care workers and SEIU-backed witnesses supported it, while taxpayer and business groups opposed it as harmful to competitiveness and affordability. AB 691 proposed a tax credit for adopting shelter pets and covering veterinary costs, AB 1219 proposed a middle- and low-income personal income tax cut, AB 1354 proposed a credit for increased homeowners insurance premiums, AB 19 proposed an education savings account/voucher-style program, and AB 567 proposed insurance rate stabilization and related tax/fund changes; each drew testimony for and against where present, but all were referred to suspense. The meeting ended with the committee adjourning after the held-over AB 761 item was postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Health's um former retired Department of Health's um former program<00:14:38.720><c> manager</c><
• The proposal, the amendment being put forward in this bill addresses head-on and directly the damaging
• The proposal, the amendment being put forward in this bill addresses head-on and directly the damaging
• The proposal, the amendment being put forward in this bill addresses head-on and directly the damaging
• The proposal, the amendment being put forward in this bill addresses head-on and directly the damaging

Transcript Highlights:

• They're shaking their heads.
• </c><00:21:46.720><c> of</c> budget director at the Department of budget director at the Department of
• He said they merged that department into about four other departments, and a lot of it is in MMB.
• He said they merged that department into about four other departments, and a lot of it is in MMB.
• So now the department has actually found a way to do that, and that is something that, when we head over

Bills: HF1 , HF1384

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

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><00:29:26.840><c> by</c><00:29:27.040><c> the</c> it was headed by the it was headed by the the<00
• Department of Consumer Department of Consumer Department<00:44:03.640><c> of</c><00:44:03.760><c> Commerce
• </c><00:44:04.160><c> and</c><00:44:04.320><c> Consumer</c> Department of Commerce and Consumer Department
• </c><00:49:36.320><c> of</c> comments of the Hawaii Department of comments of the Hawaii Department of
• head, right, when we have a big act head, right, when we have a big act come. come. come.

Bills: SB2603 , SB3007 , SB3019 , SB3022 , SB2795 , SB2256 , SB3250 , SB2147

Committee: House Culture & Arts

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2603 SD1, which would designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the state symphony orchestra, require annual reports to the legislature, and appropriate funds. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from the orchestra, the Hawaii Youth Symphony, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, business and arts groups, and many individuals. Supporters emphasized the orchestra’s cultural value, its role in inspiring youth and supporting arts education, and its broader community impact. No opposition or questions were raised, and the chair offered praise for the level of public engagement around the measure. The committee then took up SB 3007 SD2, relating to culture and the arts, which would create an Office of Community Culture and Innovation within the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, require annual reporting, appropriate funds, and establish a Community and Cultural Partnerships Program. The Attorney General’s office warned that section four, which separately funds preservation and relocation of artwork from Aloha Stadium, may be non-germane and should be moved to a separate bill; it also suggested the office would be more properly placed under DAGS rather than SFCA. SFCA Director Karen Ewald testified with concerns about added costs, staffing burdens, and the need for earlier communication, while also saying the agency could support the work if properly coordinated. Opposition testimony argued the bill was duplicative or unnecessary, while supporters, including Governor Abercrombie and Dean Sakamoto, said it would help communities, especially Chinatown, and could support planning and cultural revitalization. The chair noted roughly eight opposition testimonies and five in support, and questioned witnesses about coordination and the cost of relocating the Aloha Stadium artwork, which Ewald estimated could cost at least $1.2 million. The AG’s office said removing section four would substantially reduce legal risk. Finally, the committee heard SB 3019 SD2, a consumer protection measure that would cap ticket resale prices at no more than $3 above the original price for events in Hawaii and authorize DCCA to adopt enforcement rules and fines. The Office of Consumer Protection opposed the bill, arguing it would strain limited enforcement resources, push sales to less regulated channels, and likely eliminate the protections offered by established secondary platforms. Chamber of Progress also opposed the bill, saying price caps would encourage black-market sales, scams, and fraud, and that resale markets serve legitimate consumer needs. In support, the National Independent Venue Association backed the measure, though the remainder of its testimony was not fully captured in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I think, and we may need actually, some of it may be off the top of our head and some of it’s
• And we may need, actually, some of it may be off the top of our head, and some of it’s going to rely
• know of other departments in the country that are moving ahead on this.
• , local public health departments.
• I also thought, if I can just, I just want to spit out something that's in my head.

Summary: The Working Group on Education and Training of the Special Commission on Xylazine held its first meeting to begin developing findings and recommendations on education and training for first responders, the medical community, the substance use treatment community, and people who use drugs. Members discussed the need for baseline information on what xylazine is, its clinical effects and harms, signs of exposure or poisoning, wound care, and immediate response steps, while also noting that training should be tailored by audience, geography, and role. Several members emphasized that the training should be practical and action-oriented, helping people recognize xylazine exposure and know what to do next, including whether naloxone is relevant and how to reduce risk and mitigate harm. A major theme was whether the group should recommend a needs assessment or survey to identify what different audiences already know and what they still need to learn. Members suggested that BSAS, DPH, local public health departments, licensing boards, and other stakeholders could help gather this information, and that existing resources such as DPH materials, MADS data, Brandeis materials, and trainings already being funded at BMC should be reviewed. The group also discussed the importance of using plain language for non-clinical audiences while still including clinical detail for providers, and of distinguishing between clinical and non-clinical training tracks. The working group agreed to divide into subgroups: Senator Keenan will focus on first responders, Dr. Simon on the medical community, and Millie Batiya on the substance use treatment community, while Chair Domb will focus on people who use drugs. Staff will send meeting notes, an early draft PowerPoint framework, and a shared Google Drive folder for materials. Members were asked to gather sources and ideas by November 25 ahead of the December 11 public meeting. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, a second, and unanimous thanks to staff and participants.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let us all bow our heads and pray.
• Okay, so does the division or the department, or the director of the Division of Finance, does he think
• So to me, it's a process of indoctrination that will keep you headed into a process of going into the
• So to me, it's a process of indoctrination that will keep you headed into a process of going into the
• And he was banging on the wall with his head.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous journal by roll call. Members then offered personal privilege remarks honoring Dr. Penelope Martin Knox of Raytown Schools for Black History Month and introduced guests, including Adeline Overcast, who was made a page for the day, and visitors from a rural hospital in Rolla. Several new bills were first read, including measures on blind pensions, penalties for impeding first responders, and flag display in the state capitol. The chamber then took up multiple third-reading bills. House Bill 2596, dealing with multiple employee self-insured health plans for small businesses, passed unanimously after supporters said it would help small employers offer affordable health coverage. House Bill 1644, addressing franchisor liability and joint-employer issues, passed 103-45 after debate over whether it protected small businesses or limited workers’ ability to sue franchisors. House Bill 2423, increasing funding for the Division of Finance through fee authority, passed 146-0 despite concerns about higher costs being passed on to consumers. House Bill 2641, regulating intoxicating hemp-derived products and aligning state law with federal changes, drew extensive debate over a beverage carve-out, impacts on hemp businesses, and public safety; it passed 109-34. The House also passed House Bills 2498 and the combined House Bills 2637 and 3155. HB 2498, a juvenile justice reform bill shifting some referral responsibilities to prosecutors and expanding information sharing, passed 100-44 after strong debate over whether it would politicize juvenile cases and overburden treatment facilities, versus claims it would improve accountability and public safety. The combined sentencing bill, HB 2637/3155, passed 102-45 amid disagreement over whether it was truly a transparency measure or instead increased mandatory minimums and reduced judicial discretion. Finally, the House considered House Joint Resolution 154, which opponents described as an attack on Medicaid expansion tied to work requirements. Supporters argued it would encourage able-bodied recipients to work, volunteer, or attend school and reduce administrative costs, while opponents warned it would increase bureaucracy and risk coverage losses for vulnerable Missourians. The transcript ends during the procedural vote on the previous question for HJR 154, before the final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• to our administrative structure, the Chief Justice, currently Natalie Hudson, is the administrative head
• There is a chief judge of the Court of Appeals appointed by the governor, who serves as the head of that
• of the system the administrative head of the system and<00:03:44.319><c> responsible</c><00:03:44.920
• who serves as the head of that court<00:04:45.800><c> and</c><00:04:45.960><c> there</c><00:04:46.039
• Madam Chair, Representative Eric, um, I don't have that number off the top of my head.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Finance: Jamie Consolves, Department of Finance.
• Department of Finance. Jamie Gonzalez, Department of Finance.
• Department of Finance.
• Department of Finance. Jamie Consolves, Department of Finance.
• different departments.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> impact would be to the to the Department impact would be to the to the Department um<00:34:58.200
• The second page is our value statement as a department.
• ><c> have</c> given day in our department we have given day in our department we have approximately<00
• </c> the work we were doing as a department the work we were doing as a department connecting<00:52:04.599
• I listen to the commissioner of the Department of Corrections.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Commerce gets that money.
• Department of Commerce will send them that money.
• Department of Commerce does that.
• The Department of Commerce does.
• Pat me on my head. and said. ...the Department of Commerce could just go, “Thanks, thanks, appreciate

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• You also have a portion of the Department of Licensing.
• The Department of Ecology is a fairly new addition.
• And then the Traffic Safety Commission, some other small agencies, Department of Commerce, and Department
• are million coming from the Department of Transportation.
• Department of Licensing, $9.6 million.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The committee began with a transportation budget and revenue overview from Haley Gamble and Brian Moore. They reviewed the 2025-27 adopted transportation budget, noting $15.5 billion in expenditures, with the Department of Transportation making up the largest share. They said the 2025 session’s new revenues, including the fuel tax increase and other fee changes, allowed the committee to move from projected structural deficits to a balanced four-year plan, while preserving major programs such as culverts, ferry timing adjustments, highway preservation, and local maintenance funding. They also discussed updated revenue forecasts, including a modest downward revision in fuel consumption and uncertainty around some revenue sources, but said overall revenues remain stronger than previously projected. Committee members asked for more detail on dedicated funds, regional fuel tax patterns, and whether preservation needs could be supported through bonding. The committee then heard a remote presentation from Dr. Jessica Chichino of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on traffic safety trends and countermeasures. She described the group’s “30 by 30” goal to reduce traffic fatalities 30% by 2030, citing increases in deaths for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, and comparing U.S. fatality rates unfavorably with other high-income countries. Her presentation emphasized speed management, impaired driving enforcement, safer roadway design, and pedestrian protections such as lower speed limits, speed cameras, traffic calming, roundabouts, better lighting, and pedestrian beacons. She also highlighted research showing that larger vehicles increase pedestrian risk and discussed Bellevue pilot projects using smart signal technology that reduced near misses. No action was taken on the presentation. In the final work session item, Barb Chamberlain of WSDOT and Justin Leighton of the Washington State Transit Association discussed potential transit and active transportation grant programs that had been proposed but not enacted in 2025. Chamberlain explained how new grant programs require runway time, staff capacity, and clear program design, and contrasted “projects first, funding after” with “funding first, projects after” approaches. She addressed the proposed Senior Transportation Emphasis Program and regional trails/cycle highways concepts, noting questions about eligibility, scoring, and how such projects would fit with existing active transportation and preservation work. Leighton reviewed the state’s transit grant portfolio and argued that a transit safety and security grant could help agencies fund operator barriers, lighting, shelters, behavioral health support, and non-uniformed security staff. He also raised concerns about sales tax treatment of security contracts, staffing shortages, federal uncertainty, CDL non-domicile issues, and long procurement timelines for buses. The committee asked questions about definitions, program purpose, and implementation challenges, but did not take any votes or formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Housing is additionally at risk due to deep cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• But this year, the EPI department couldn't afford to offer all the classes they wanted, and they had
• Our members at the Department of Transportation are working skeleton crews trying to just maintain our
• When Seattle was thinking about taxing high-paying jobs, initially it was a head tax, and it was a tax
• We have seen many times in the state legislature the threat of jobs being relocated hung over the head

Summary: State Rep. Shaun Scott and supporters held a press event promoting the proposed Well Washington Fund, a new dedicated account intended to raise about $3 billion annually through a corporate payroll tax on wages above $125,000. Scott said the fund would help Washington respond to federal austerity policies and protect programs at risk from H.R. 1 and related Trump administration cuts, especially in housing, health care, higher education, cash assistance, and wildfire response. He also referenced related revenue ideas, including restoring wildfire mitigation funding by ending a bank tax break and allowing counties to raise corporate taxes. Several speakers testified in support of the proposal. Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance warned that federal housing policy changes could put more than 5,000 people at risk of losing housing and said the state needs progressive revenue to address evictions and homelessness. Christina Savitsky, a disabled veteran, described how Medicaid, food assistance, and housing cuts would affect her family and said recertification and work requirements would be difficult to meet. University of Washington faculty representatives said federal cuts are threatening teaching, research, nursing and public health workforce training, and hospital funding. Fatima Boxwala of Tech for Taxes and Mikey Stramskis of the Washington Federation of State Employees argued that large corporations and wealthy residents should pay more to support public services. In a question-and-answer session, Scott said the bill’s urgency could justify an emergency clause and argued that voters had already endorsed taxing the wealthy in the 2024 capital gains referendum. He rejected concerns that the tax would drive jobs away, saying corporations already shed jobs and invest in automation, while public services and affordability are what attract residents and businesses. He said he had held encouraging conversations with some lawmakers and a credit union lobbyist, but not with major corporate interests, and urged passage of the bill in the 2026 session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I can download that form from the Department of Revenue.
• They will take that form back to the Department of Revenue, and then the Department of Revenue will communicate
• Louis County Police Department.
• This deals with the Kansas City Police Department.
• Sorry, it's been a minute, so I'm trying to wrap my head around it.

Summary: The House first established a quorum, then heard a presentation from Debbie Huang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver. Huang thanked Missouri lawmakers for their annual Taiwan resolutions and described Taiwan as a democratic and economic partner of the United States, emphasizing cooperation with Missouri in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, semiconductors, and AI, while also warning about pressure from China and the need for stronger Taiwan-U.S. ties. The chamber then took up House Bill 311, which would move oversight of bail bondsmen under the existing board for private investigators and fire investigators, add bail bondsmen to that board, and increase training and oversight. Members said the bill was industry-requested, had unanimous committee support, and carried no fiscal note. The House adopted the committee substitute and perfected and printed the bill. Lawmakers also debated and adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 3009, a pharmacy bill aimed at clarifying rules for pharmacies serving low-income and underserved patients, emergency medication dispensing, and out-of-state pharmacy accreditation. Amendments were adopted to update the title and align Missouri law with national pharmacy board accreditation standards. The bill was described as a response to access problems during the 2025 St. Louis tornado and was said to have no state cost. A large block of floor action followed on a combined package of bills and amendments covering public safety, criminal law, health, and licensing. Measures discussed and adopted included changes to the sex offender registry and related corrections, an offense for impeding first responders, Mason’s Law to flag drivers with disabilities in law enforcement databases, a hands-free cell phone law update, Highway Patrol equipment purchasing authority, psilocybin language for first responders and veterans, AI-generated explicit material and child pornography provisions, gift card fraud penalties, stronger fentanyl trafficking penalties, Melanie’s Law on ignition interlock/DUI penalties, a domestic violence registry, boiler inspection and Missouri fire/life safety standards, Kansas City police retirement age corrections, and a commercial driver English proficiency bill with stronger penalties for drivers and carriers. One amendment on the sex offender registry was withdrawn after debate, and the House ultimately adopted the remaining amendments and referred the combined House Bills 368 and 3049 substitute to the Committee on Legislative Review.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other really in-depth discussion we had was relationships between the ITD department and other departments
• Their efficiency head and the governor's efficiency head are pretty much the same person.
• We work on this with our workforce partners from the Department of Commerce.
• I'm trying to think off the top of my head. Probably not going into this year.
• , just to name a few off the top of my head.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the previous minutes, and then received an update from Senator Jonathan Sickler on the Cash Management Board’s work under House Bill 1278. He said the board has been reviewing statewide cash, liquidity, and investment practices, finding that the state generally manages money well but could improve forecasting, automation, and coordination across agencies. He highlighted that the state has about $35 billion in liquid assets and investments, with most in longer-term investments, and described a change already underway replacing more than 500 six-month CDs with a special-rate savings account to reduce administrative work. Members also discussed the impact of House Bill 1176 on Legacy Fund earnings and the possibility of future legislation to avoid losing investment returns when large transfers are made all at once. The board also noted that some agencies still hold funds outside the Bank of North Dakota system, and that this is being reviewed. Representative Nathan Toman then updated the Task Force on Government Efficiency, saying the group has focused on how to measure whether programs are actually working. He said the task force has not yet proposed legislation, but the administration has agreed that new and expanding programs should answer five questions, including who is affected, what outcome is expected, whether there is another way to do it, and how success will be measured. Members discussed the need for dashboards, program evaluators, better data collection, and possible use of artificial intelligence to identify duplicate or outdated programs. Toman said the task force will continue reviewing agency workflows, with upcoming presentations from courts, the university system, the auditor, and other agencies, and that future legislation or rule changes may be needed to require performance metrics. Phil Davis of Job Service North Dakota presented labor market and program updates. He reported that North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 2.5%, labor force participation is about 68.7%, and the state continues to rank near the top nationally. He reviewed job openings, in-demand occupations, and several workforce programs, including H-2A agricultural worker inspections, the Job Placement Partnership Program with DOCR, and virtual and in-person job fairs. Davis said the DOCR partnership has shown strong results, with lower recidivism and higher earnings for participants, and he emphasized that Job Service tracks outcomes and reports them to federal and state partners. Members asked about child care subsidies, workforce participation, agency coordination, and whether more staff are needed for H-2A inspections. Finally, Allen Knutson presented the updated S&P Global revenue forecast. He said oil prices have risen sharply since the last update, making the revenue outlook more favorable but still volatile. S&P’s baseline forecast showed the current biennium’s four major tax collections about $89 million above the legislative forecast, and a much larger increase for the next biennium, though he cautioned that federal tax changes and oil market uncertainty could alter the numbers. In an alternate scenario using higher near-term oil prices, he estimated about $242 million more in oil and gas tax collections and roughly $120 million more for the Strategic Investment Fund. Members asked whether another forecast should be requested once oil markets stabilize and about changes in tribal oil production assumptions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Ag.
• Department of Ag.
• Um, Department of Ag.
• Department of Ag.
• </c> From the Department of Water Supply. From the Department of Water Supply.

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The joint committees met on March 19, 2025, to hear HB 966 HD2, which would create statewide standards for agricultural tourism in counties that adopt ag-tourism ordinances. The bill would require registration with county planning departments, require ag-tourism to remain tied to an active farming operation, and end the activity when the agricultural use stops except in limited circumstances. Testimony from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kualoa Ranch, and the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was generally supportive of the bill’s intent, with several witnesses emphasizing that agritourism can help farm viability, food security, and public education about agriculture. The Hawaii Farm Bureau and several other testifiers supported agritourism but urged strong guardrails, minimal statewide standards, and deference to county home rule. They said agriculture should remain the primary activity, warned against adding burdens to farmers and ranchers, and suggested better enforcement and agricultural expertise within county planning departments. Phil Weber and others argued for objective standards, such as minimum revenue or work-performed thresholds, annual reporting, and clearer compliance tools, and cautioned that the bill’s termination exemption could be too broad if not tightened. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on whether the bill should apply to Department of Agriculture lands, especially ag park lands, and to DLNR lands. Department of Agriculture staff explained that ag park lands currently do not allow agritourism, while non-ag park lands under Act 90 allow limited related activity tied to farm production, with revenue limits and other conditions. Members and witnesses debated how to define and measure agritourism, how to enforce county rules, and whether to exempt ag park parcels or otherwise clarify that existing DOA rules would control. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing, and the chair requested follow-up language from DOA to address possible exemptions and clarify the bill’s application.

Transcript Highlights:

• Anyway, so just a heads up on that.
• Just making sure I have my numbers correct in my head. You do. Yes. Okay.
• So it’s getting a roof over your head.
• The Department of Public Instruction is the food sponsor.
• So if we change models has the department.

Committees: Joint Human Services , Joint Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just trying to wrap my head around it.
• on a weekly basis with the Department of State.
• Any additional costs that might be borne by the Department of Highway Safety Motor Vehicles or the Department
• Now, the Department of Highway Safety Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, at the time if
• of State, which then the Department of State is giving to the supervisors.

Transcript Highlights:

• So now the department has actually found a way to do that, and that is something that, when we head over
• </c><00:10:27.720><c> of</c> in 2022 where now the Department of in 2022 where now the Department of
• </c><00:10:50.200><c> has</c> return back so now the department has return back so now the department
• that</c><00:10:52.480><c> um</c><00:10:52.600><c> when</c><00:10:52.720><c> we</c><00:10:52.920><c> head
• </c><00:10:53.079><c> over</c> is something that um when we head over is something that um when we head

Summary: The committee heard House File 1384, which would create the “Great Start Child Care Tax Credit” by expanding the existing dependent care credit for families with children under age six. The bill would raise the qualifying expense limits for young children, allow more children to qualify, and phase the credit down starting at $125,000 of earned household income until it reaches zero above roughly $400,000. The author said the proposal is intended to better address the high cost of child care, especially for middle-income families who may not qualify for other assistance programs. Claire Sanford of the Minnesota Child Care Association testified in support. She said child care providers across Minnesota have unused capacity because many families cannot afford services, and argued that making care cheaper for families is important for workforce participation and child development. She also supported the bill’s focus on children under five and its expansion of help up the income scale, saying middle-class families have received little assistance with child care costs. Members asked about how the bill differs from current law, the cap for a family with one child age five, and the fiscal impact. The author explained that a family with one child under age six would have a $10,000 cap under the proposal and said a prior fiscal note estimated the bill at about $200 million per year. The author also noted the proposal had been introduced previously and said the Department of Revenue’s new ability to make advance payments could be relevant as the bill moves forward. The author renewed the motion to re-refer HF 1384 to the Committee on Taxes. The committee approved the motion by voice vote, and the bill was sent to Taxes.