Transcript Highlights:

• A larger space will allow us to decrease food waste. It will decrease our food cost.
• It will decrease our food food waste.
• Uh, I'll just close by saying, you know, we waste so much food in our country, as Chair Kativis Watun
• </c><01:46:39.360><c> so</c><01:46:39.520><c> much</c> by saying, you know, we waste so much by saying
• It could go to people that go to waste. It could go to people that are<01:46:53.119><c> hungry.

Bills: HF2078 , HF777 , HF841 , HF1112 , HF1098 , HF1926

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• million annually given to local GDP. ...generally chemicals, fuels, and electricity for industrial waste
• has to be purchased every four years, and so I’m curious what typically happens to that electronic waste
• I think we do have a problem with electronic waste in Minnesota generally.
• taxpayers and runs counter to efforts being made by this legislature and administration to combat waste
• <00:47:34.640><c> Fraud</c><00:47:35.240><c> and</c> Waste, fraud, and abuse.

Bills: HF1277 , HF1006

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• uh it's anti-science and it's<00:35:41.200><c> simply</c><00:35:41.520><c> a</c><00:35:41.640><c> waste
• money</c><00:35:43.000><c> so</c><00:35:43.160><c> I</c><00:35:43.280><c> think</c> it's simply a waste
• of money so I think it's simply a waste of money so I think you're<00:35:43.560><c> going</c><00:35:
• </c> you have my Pledge on questions of waste you have my Pledge on questions of waste and<01:02:08.799
• money on this other stuff so you wasting money on this other stuff so you can<01:35:29.600><c> respond

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• is having the resources for the agency to complete critical oversight functions to eliminate fraud, waste
• is having the resources for the agency to complete critical oversight functions to eliminate fraud, waste
• is having the resources for the agency to complete critical oversight functions to eliminate fraud, waste
• I'm worried that we're going to have a ton of waste or a lot of plates that now are going to go to waste
• I'm worried that we're going to have a ton of waste or a lot of plates that now are going to go to waste

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• $350 million wasted.
• It almost... ...$350 million wasted, almost $1 million spent on veneer for what?

Committee: All JBC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee met and took several budget-related items out of order. It first approved a revised Auditor’s Office letter and amendment that reduced requested salary and match increases to 10 percent for operations and UCP, and then approved a revised Lieutenant Governor’s Office request that kept positions at line-item maximums while revising regular salary and match appropriations to a total increase of $99,876. Both items passed without objection. The committee then considered a member amendment from Senator Rice to Senate Bill 30 affecting the Governor’s Office. The amendment would eliminate one Governor senior advisor position, reducing authorized positions from 59 to 58 and cutting regular salaries and matching funds by a total of $264,895. Senator Rice argued the change was warranted because of concerns about former Corrections Secretary Joe Profury’s conduct, transparency, and refusal to appear before Joint Performance Review. Members debated the relevance of the amendment to current duties, whether the governor could still hire the individual in another role, and whether a Board of Corrections member could speak. After discussion, the committee rejected the amendment on a roll call vote. Under regular business, the committee approved an OPM request to reinstate a labor market rate at the crime lab so it can recruit two medical examiners, with pay up to $300,000 for those positions. Members also approved Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for 11 positions tied to the new veterinary medicine school, including clinic, lab, communications, mental health, and administrative roles. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're wasting money. We are absolutely a waste of money. We're giving them away free money.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a bill that requires the state to develop additional solid waste disposal capacity.
• I'm the administrator of the solid waste management bureau at DEES. for the agency, but um actually this
• </c> the administrator of the solid waste the administrator of the solid waste management<01:15:47.520
• </c><01:55:20.159><c> going</c> so that there isn't a lot of waste going so that there isn't a lot of
• time going to and we don't have to waste time going to lunch<01:55:47.760><c> and</c><01:55:47.920><

Summary: The committee began a work session on House Bill 1600, concerning access to the centralized voter registration database on election days. Secretary of State David Scanlan testified that the state already has a new statewide voter registration system connected to town clerks and supervisors of the checklist, and that the bill was probably unnecessary but acceptable if the legislature wanted it. He raised concern about language that could require direct electronic access in every polling place, noting that some polling locations lack reliable internet or cell service and that municipalities can change polling locations, which could make a rigid requirement expensive and impractical. Members discussed whether the bill should be clarified to allow direct or indirect access, including use of a phone-based workaround, and the secretary said that would address his concern. The committee then voted on HB 1600. Representative Maguire moved ought to pass with an amendment adding “direct or indirect access” on page one, line seven, and the motion was seconded. The amendment was adopted 9-0 by voice vote, and the committee then voted 9-0 to OTP the bill. The chair stated that HB 1600 would be placed on consent. The committee next took up House Bill 1197F FN, a technical correction to insurance laws. Members noted it had already passed the House with amendment and that the fiscal note was effectively indeterminate but would not affect the general fund because the insurance agency is self-funded. The committee voted 9-0 to OTP the bill; the chair said consent calendar placement would be decided by the full committee. Finally, the committee opened a work session on House Bill 11:30 FN regarding judicial performance evaluations. Representative Lynn, the bill’s sponsor, argued that the fiscal note overstated the immediate cost and said the judicial branch could likely manage through the current biennium while implementing the new system. He also supported making judges’ names public and said the bill’s anonymity provisions were aimed at protecting the identities of questionnaire respondents, not the judges being evaluated. Members asked about public disclosure, internal access to evaluation materials, and the removal of language allowing the governor and executive council to receive evaluations on request; discussion continued on those points, but no final vote on HB 11:30 FN was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their job would be to investigate and combat fraud, misuse, I call it misuse rather than waste and abuse
• because misuse is a little more definable than waste, and other public funds in state government, and
• </c><00:03:04.440><c> and</c> call it misuse rather than waste and call it misuse rather than waste and
• um and other definable uh than waste um and other public<00:03:11.360><c> funds</c><00:03:11.680><c>
• We have tax dollars that are being wasted.

Bills: HF1 , HF1384

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Do Senator Lucero asked whether there are any pre- and post-metrics on the amount of waste schools would
• He said it would be interesting to know whether waste levels have increased.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, and thanks for coming in today, Assistant Commissioner. levels of waste have
• increased uh so levels of waste have increased uh so again<00:17:14.240><c> thank</c><00:17:14.360><c
• by being responsive to decreases waste by being responsive to our<00:34:14.359><c> students</c><00:34

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• exposing occupants to hazardous living conditions and creating broader public health risks, like improper waste
• living in squalor just because it's a motor home that's a dilapidated motor home with the trash and waste
• posed by a lapsed 602 letter, current law also poses indirect risks due to administrative costs and wasted
• posed by a lapse 602 letter, current law also poses indirect risks due to administrative costs and wasted
• property owners who are frustrated with repeated trespassing, which often results in trash, bodily waste

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• So we definitely haven't wasted any work that has been done. We can still build off of it.
• I wouldn't say waste, and I wouldn't say that we're behind schedule.
• They do it to protect against fraud or waste of public dollars. Can I respond to that? Yes.
• They do to protect against fraud or waste of public dollars. Can I respond to that? Yes.
• So, in the A waste of public dollars. And I'm going to... Can I respond to that one? Yes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Noam Elroy, on behalf of Rethink Waste, the California Compost Coalition, and People, Food
• Good morning, Noam Elroy, on behalf of Rethink Waste, the California Compost Coalition, and People, Food
• , wildfire resilience, clean transportation, and climate adaptation, including support for organic waste
• , wildfire resilience, clean transportation, and climate adaptation, including support for organic waste
• million for zero-emission heavy-duty and medium-duty vehicles, as well as $29 million for organic waste

Transcript Highlights:

• Not only have millions of taxpayer dollars been wasted in the name of DEI, this philosophy has fostered
• Much of the division of our peoples and wasted money is occurring To do.
• Much of the division of our peoples and wasted money is occurring in municipal and county government.
• DEI has become a wasteful, bureaucratic boondoggle.
• Uses like this are about saving money, not wasting it. I hope we can also agree on this.

Summary: The subcommittee first took up HB 387 on ADS-B airport billing. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would stop airports and third-party vendors from using federally required automatic dependent surveillance broadcast data to calculate landing or touch-and-go fees, arguing the technology was intended for safety and collision avoidance, not invoicing. An amendment clarifying touch-and-go landings and other fee calculations was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably 15-0. Members then heard several local and policy bills. CS/HB 803 on private-provider building permits and inspections drew broad support from industry groups and was reported favorably 14-1. HB 451 and HB 4053, local fire-district assessment bills, were presented as relief for homeowners and churches facing higher non-ad valorem assessments; both were reported favorably after amendments, with testimony emphasizing impacts on houses of worship and local communities. PCS/HB 1329 on local government spending transparency prompted extensive debate over searchable budget formats, posting requirements, and possible unfunded mandates; supporters framed it as taxpayer access and accountability, while opponents argued many local governments already provide this information and that the bill could impose costs. It was reported favorably 8-4. The committee also advanced PCS/HB 927 on local land planning and development, which would allow qualified professionals to assist with pre-application reviews; local government representatives raised concerns about preemption and environmental restrictions, but the bill was reported favorably 13-2. HB 929 on chickee huts, PCS/HB 4081 on expanding a local water and sewer district by referendum, and HB 489 conveying the Trenton Train Depot to the city and county all passed unanimously or near-unanimously. HB 1211, a Department of Military Affairs bill updating leave and assistance-program provisions, was amended and reported favorably. HB 1041, creating business incentives for veteran- and military spouse-owned businesses, also passed 13-0 after amendment and supportive testimony from members and veterans. The final item shown was HB 1001, a bill restricting county and municipal DEI-related actions and contracting; the sponsor described it as a response to division and waste, and members began questioning its definitions, scope, and potential effects on training and civil actions, but the transcript cuts off before any vote or final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• pipelines, that don't have... ...we can generate right here that don't need pipelines, that don't have waste
• One other thing that hasn't been mentioned is the waste and storage of the waste.
• And if you took all the nuclear waste in the entire country for the last 70 years... ...you will not
• And if you took all the nuclear waste in the entire country for the last 70 years, 70 years, you will
• I'm not sure that we have a true process for how we deal with the waste associated with that stuff.

Bills: HB2014 , HB2113 , HB2145 , HB2331 , HB2340 , HB2389 , HB2400 , HB2401 , HB2428 , HB2494 , HB2696 , HB2756 , HB2795 , HB2955 , HCM2008

Committee: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Transcript Highlights:

• And I oppose the waste of my money and my tax dollars.
• And wasting that money on doing this type of legislation is unacceptable to me.
• And I believe it's a waste of time, and I don't understand how you guys can be in favor.
• And it's a huge waste of money.
• How do we have this kind of money to waste at a time like this in California when so much is getting

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• To reverse course now would not only be devastating, it would waste the months of time and resources
• taxpayers money to detect to detect waste fraud and abuse? Yeah, the controller has an audit plan.
• one the electron is related to the collection of the covered battery embedded fiend the electronic waste
• recycling act of requires a consumer to pay a covered electronic waste recycling fee or an e-waste fee
• The Marketplace Facility act requires a marketplace facilitator to collect the e-waste fee on purchases

Transcript Highlights:

• When you do things like convert organic waste to energy, you increase energy reliability.
• I'm with Californians Against Waste.
• On behalf of the California Compost Coalition, Rethink Waste, and CR in our Environmental Services, I
• would like to echo the sentiments of Californians Against Waste made earlier.
• would like to echo the sentiments of Californians against waste made earlier.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee No. 4 hearing focused on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and cap-and-trade reauthorization, with members and panelists discussing how to balance climate goals, affordability, and legislative oversight. The chair emphasized the hearing as a broad review of past GGRF spending and future options, while the LAO outlined how GGRF revenues are generated, how variable they have been, and the tradeoffs between continuous appropriations and annual budget control. Two academic panelists, Dr. Kyle Meng and Danny Cullen Ward, argued that cap-and-trade remains an effective climate policy, but stressed that future revenue will depend heavily on market design, allowance allocation, and price levels. They also raised the idea that GGRF could be used more directly for affordability, especially by lowering electricity costs, and for targeted investments in technologies that the market would not otherwise support. Committee members pressed the panelists on where revenues come from, how much has actually been spent, and whether continuous appropriations reduce oversight. CARB staff said more than $33 billion has been generated to date and a little over $11–12 billion has been spent, with the rest committed or in process, and noted that project timelines can be lengthy. Members also asked about ways to lower electricity rates, reduce wildfire-related utility liabilities, and support electrification. The panelists said transportation fuels are the largest source of GGRF revenue, that industrial emitters receive a smaller share of free allowances, and that reducing wildfire liability and investing in grid-scale batteries could help lower costs and speed decarbonization. Public commenters largely urged the Legislature to preserve or expand continuous appropriations for specific climate programs. Speakers supported funding for nature-based solutions, natural and working lands, urban greening, agricultural climate solutions, waste and composting programs, clean transportation, AB 617 community air protection, clean cars, transit, affordable housing near transit, and dairy digesters. Several groups argued these programs are cost-effective, provide public health and affordability benefits, and should receive dedicated shares of GGRF. Others urged reducing free allowances and using more GGRF revenue to directly lower energy costs for households. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• remain focused on affordability, it's essential that we take action to lower energy costs, reduce waste
• remain focused on affordability, it's essential that we take action to lower energy costs, reduce waste
• I understand managing budgets is difficult, but this is not wasteful spending.
• ACEEE is a nonprofit research organization that develops policies to reduce energy waste and combat climate

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming

Summary: The hearing focused on the value of Mass Save, with committee members and witnesses largely emphasizing that the program lowers energy bills, reduces peak demand, supports climate goals, and delivers benefits beyond direct participants. The chair opened by noting Mass Save’s long-term savings, its role in weatherization and heat pump deployment, and recent statutory changes directing the program toward emissions reductions, low- and moderate-income households, and fossil-fuel restrictions. Elizabeth Mahoney of the Department of Energy Resources said the program has evolved to broaden access and control costs, citing large weatherization totals, heat pump installations, avoided emissions, and budget controls that removed $500 million from the approved plan. She also said the governor’s proposal to have only electric utilities administer Mass Save was intended to reduce administrative and procurement costs, and she explained that outreach to low- and moderate-income communities is counted within marketing spending. Several witnesses addressed the program’s workforce and business impacts. Dave Betcher of Abode Energy Management and Rick Taglienti of Rogers Insulation said Mass Save sustains small businesses, contractors, and thousands of jobs by creating stable demand for energy-efficiency work, while warning that sharp budget cuts would lead to layoffs and discourage investment in training, equipment, and hiring. Committee members pressed them on who administers the program, and both said the program administrators and utilities collaborate, with day-to-day contractor oversight and customer work largely delegated to private vendors and community partners. Other witnesses, including Brian Biot and James Collins of the low-income network, described the “quarterbacking” model used for income-eligible customers, where community action agencies provide full project management, technical support, and wraparound services to help households access fuel assistance, discount rates, weatherization, and electrification measures. A major theme was cost-effectiveness and system-wide savings. Anna Johnson of ACEEE and Kyle Murray of Acadia Center said Mass Save returns more than it costs, reduces peak demand, and lowers prices for all ratepayers, including those who do not participate directly. They cited avoided costs in the billions, strong state rankings, and examples of peak-hour savings that avoid expensive generation and infrastructure. Amy Boyd-Rabin of the Environmental League of Massachusetts argued that energy efficiency is the cheapest way to achieve greenhouse gas reductions and that cutting the program would force more expensive power plants to run. Bronte Payne of Sunrun and Ben Sondaga of Highland Electric Fleets highlighted Connected Solutions, a Mass Save-funded virtual power plant program, saying it saves ratepayers money and can use home batteries and electric school buses to reduce peak demand and support grid reliability. Equity and affordable housing witnesses, including Mary Wampo and Barney Heath, said Mass Save has become more responsive to renters, low-income households, and designated equity communities, while also helping affordable housing projects meet passive house and electrification standards; no votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Kathy, so you're saying that this is no longer going to be classified as a waste of sugar cane
• that this is no longer going to be classified as a waste of sugar cane, correct? Right.
• photographs, and I'm sure they would make no representation that this large stockpile of hazardous waste
• that this large and I'm sure they would make no representation that this large stockpile of hazardous waste

Bills: HCR65 , HB512 , HB1194 , SCR23 , SB502

Committees: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development , House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture & Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• drive operational changes, starting with strengthening our financial integrity and preventing fraud, waste
• drive operational changes, starting with strengthening our financial integrity and preventing fraud, waste
• We have our integrity and preventing fraud waste and abuse we have already put our new protocols to the
• I'd love to be able to promise that we would never have an instance of fraud, waste, and abuse again,

Committee: Senate Director Nominations