Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senator McQuade. >> Senator McQuade.
• Oh, Senator Gusson. Anyone else? Oh, Senator Gusson.
• >> Senator<01:00:23.359> Clerk, >> Senator Clerk, >> Senator Clerk, >>
• Thank you, Senator. Um, it varies >> Yeah. Thank you, Senator.
• Senator Omar Feben.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Happy to take input, including the applause from Senator Wesland.
• Senator Nelson. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair.
• You have the floor. >> Senator Friends, members of the commission, uh, I do realize that I'm the last
• >> So, Representative Driscoll, Senator >> So, Representative Driscoll, Senator France
• Senator Seabour is excused tonight. She has mandatory firefighter training.

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Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senator<00:09:31.680> Rasp. >> Senator Rasp. >> Senator Rasp.
• Next up, we have Senator Latz, Senate File 3545. and sent to the Senate floor.
• >> You<00:21:32.240> senator >> You senator >> You senator Senator<00:21:34.080
• Senator France. the committee. Senator France.
• To your amendment, Senator<00:32:30.399> France. Senator France. Senator France.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome back, Senator Ric. Senator Ric who is back on the labor committee.
• Senator Dornink.
• follow up Senator. follow up Senator.
• Senator Papus. what they need. Senator Papus.
• item, Senate File 3720. item, Senate File 3720.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Bradley: Senator Burton: Senator Calatayud: Senator Davis: Senator Gaetz: Senator Jones: Senator
• Leek: Senator Mayfield: Senator Passidomo: Senator Rodriguez: Senator Simon: Senator Truenow: Senator
• Senator Bradley: Senator Burton: Senator Calatayud: Senator Davis: Senator Gaetz: Senator Jones: Senator
• Leek: Senator Mayfield: Senator Passidomo: Senator Rodriguez: Senator Simon: Senator Truenow: Senator
• Senator Burton? Senator Calatayud? Senator Davis? Senator Gaetz? Senator Jones? Senator Leek?

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Transcript Highlights:

• Will the Senate please come to order? Will the Senate please come to order?
• Washington, Senator Perchick. Washington, Senator Perchick.
• Senator from Chitten Central. Senator from Chitten Central.
• Uh, Senate Economic Development and Housing and General Affairs will be addressing this resolution at
• Senator from Windham. Senate Institutions will meet at 1. Senator from Bennington. Mr.

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• Uh, Senator Rob Coop, Senate District 4, uh, Clay and Becker counties. >> Uh, Senator Nate Weenberg's
• Uh Senator Rob Coop, Senate Thanks.
• :02:47.440> uh<00:02:47.599> Senate >> Uh Senator Nate Weenberg's uh Senate >&
• >> Senator<00:11:05.120> Kunish. >> Senator Kunish. >> Senator Kunish.
• >> Senator, >> Senator, >> Senator, >> thank<00:30:37.760> you,<00:30:

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Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting of the session with member introductions and a statement from the chair that veterans issues would remain distinct and receive separate attention. The first item was an update on the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley from Executive Director Randall Dietrich. He said the museum has operated for nearly 50 years, has outgrown its current space, and is building a new 40,000-square-foot facility with $32 million in state support plus several million more in private funding. He described construction progress, planned exhibits including restored military artifacts and the USS Ward gun, and said the museum is scheduled to open on September 12. In response to Senator Kunish, Dietrich said the museum is actively incorporating stories and flags representing women, tribal nations, and other underrepresented groups, including 11 tribal flags at the entrance, and is working to integrate those stories throughout the galleries rather than isolating them. The committee then received an update from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs on the veterans suicide prevention plan from Rachel Johnson, Veterans Committee Health Director, with John Kelly later answering questions on department impacts. Johnson said the plan is a coordinated statewide framework built with legislative support, expanding regional coordinators, veteran health navigators, data analytics, and community partnerships, including a suicide mortality review pilot in Hennepin County. She said Minnesota loses about 100 veterans a year to suicide, that firearms remain the primary mechanism, and that prevention must address community connection, economic stability, and access to care, not just clinical treatment. She also said the plan aligns with state and federal strategies and is intended as a living roadmap. In response to questions, Johnson said the department is exploring data-sharing policy issues, has not seen a direct financial impact from federal VA staffing changes, and is tracking federal proposals affecting VA advisory groups. She also said 988 data is available in general but more Minnesota-specific data on the veteran option is still being gathered. Members asked follow-up questions about trends in veteran suicide, the role of families in identifying warning signs, and the Hennepin County mortality review pilot. Johnson said the annual number has remained around 100 for about 15 years, with a dip in 2024 and a return to that level in 2025, and that the Hennepin County pilot was chosen because it offers a manageable geography and existing coalition work, with an initial review expected by May or June. The final item began a presentation from the Minnesota Association of County Veteran Service Officers. Legislative chair Larry Fonder said the group’s priorities are protecting veterans from fraud and modernizing the property tax benefit for disabled veterans, but the presentation would focus on educating the committee about the role, training, certification, and accountability of county veteran service officers. President Tom Anderson, the Winona County VSO and a Navy veteran, began describing his background and office staffing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators Murphy, Johnson, and Champion introduced Senate Resolution 62, a Senate resolution recognizing
• Senators Murphy, Johnson, and Champion introduce Senate Resolution 63, a Senate resolution recognizing
• adopt Senate Resolution number 62. adopt Senate Resolution number 62.
• Senate resolution number 63. Senate resolution number 63.
• adopt Senate Resolution number 63. adopt Senate Resolution number 63.

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Summary: The Senate opened with a motion to dispense with further roll call proceedings and bring in absent members, then heard a prayer and pledge. A quorum was established, with Senator Carlson noted as voting remotely. The chamber adopted the printed committee reports, except those relating to appointments, which were laid on the table. Several new bills were introduced and given first reading, including SF 3733, SF 3734, SF 3755, and SF 3780, all referred to human services or health and human services committees as announced. Under motions and resolutions, Senator Kunesh added Senator Housley as a co-author to SF 3593 and SF 3594, and SF 2909 was stricken from the calendar. Senator Fate successfully moved SF 3629 from Judiciary and Public Safety to State and Local Government. Senate Resolutions 60 and 61 were referred to Rules and Administration without action. The Senate then adopted SR 62 and SR 63, both recognizing Senate employees for years of dedicated service; Senator Murphy explained that the resolutions honored staff service milestones and, in SR 63, session-only staff. Later, Senator Hley offered a brief announcement celebrating Minnesota connections to recent Olympic hockey results, highlighting women’s and men’s gold-medal teams and naming several Minnesota players. The session concluded with a motion by Senator Murphy to adjourn until Thursday, February 26 at 11:00 a.m., which was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Nelson. doing that. Senator Nelson.
• Senator Nelson. Senator Nelson.
• Senator Muhammad. Senator Muhammad.
• >> Senator<01:14:20.960> Jan. >> Senator Jan. >> Senator Jan.
• to Senator Nelson. to Senator Nelson.

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• Senate Committee. Senate Committee.
• Thank you, Senator<00:15:39.040> Kupec. Senator Kupec. Senator Kupec.
• Senator Pappas. >> No. >> Senator Siebenaler. >> No. >> Senator Westlin?
• Limmer. >> Senator Limmer. >> Yes. >> Senator Clark. >> No. >> Senator Holmstrom. >> Yes. >> Senator
• . >> No. >> Senator Clark. >> Yes. >> Senator Holmstrom. >> No. >> Senator Kreun. >> No. >> Senator Pappas

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• Senator<00:31:13.200> Abler, Senator Abler, Senator Abler, >> thank<00:31:15.440>
• Thank you, Senator Moren. it then. Thank you, Senator Moren. Senator<00:37:35.920> Coleman.
• Senator? Senator?
• Senator Mann to your bill. adopted. Senator Mann to your bill.
• Our >> Thank you, Senator Senator McUade.

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Transcript Highlights:

• {ROLL CALL} Chair: Senator Berman is excused.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator<00:20:44.159> Green. Senator Green. Senator Green.
• Um, I see Senator Dibble, then we'll go to Senator Green. >> Um, Senator Rarick and then Senator Gustafson
• Senator Dibble. Senator Green. Senator Rarick. Senator Gruenhagen. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair.
• I believe we have Senator Green, then Senator Rarick, then Senator Gruenhagen. Senator Green.
• Senator<01:29:50.960> Grunhagen. Senator Grunhagen. Senator Grunhagen.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Utke.
• Uh<00:41:33.240> Senator. Uh Senator. Uh Senator.
• Senator...
• . resolution. resolution.
• Senator. Senator. Senator.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Uh Senator Coleman. All right. Uh Senator Coleman.
• Senator Johnson Stewart, Dibble and Senator Johnson Stewart, mostly<00:43:51.400> Senator<00:
• visiting Senator up. visiting Senator up.
• Senator<01:11:33.000> Limmer. Senator Limmer. Senator Limmer.
• Senate Senate and<01:46:43.640> Ms.

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Transcript Highlights:

• to the Senate floor.
• Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight. >> Thank you.
• to the Senate floor.
• Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight. >> Thank you.
• Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight. Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight.

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Summary: The program opened the 2026 Senate session with tributes to Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and others lost or injured during the interim, including Senator John Hoffman, who returned to the floor after surviving an attack. Senators repeatedly framed the session around courage, grief, civil discourse, and a commitment to govern despite heightened fear and political violence. The Capitol itself has changed in response, with locked doors, new security systems, more law enforcement presence, and new visitor guidelines. A major segment focused on Capitol security. Senator Bonnie Westlin said the Axtell report, commissioned by the Department of Public Safety, was the basis for new screening measures and identified weapon screening as the top priority. She said the goal is to create a safer perimeter for members, staff, and the thousands of annual visitors, while keeping access workable through single entry points and Evolv screening machines. She also discussed Senate restrictions on guns in the gallery, possible future legislation to ban guns on the Capitol complex, encrypted badges, internal access controls, and behavioral threat assessments. She noted some recommendations will require funding, with the Department of Administration seeking about $41 million. The program also highlighted the Senate fiscal review, described as a nonpartisan summary of the enacted budget that is being moved toward a more interactive web format. Another segment featured Senator Eric Lucero on affordable housing and home ownership. He said the Minnesota Housing workforce and affordable home ownership program is intended to increase owner-occupied housing supply, but argued that 123 homes built statewide is not enough to address the shortage. Lucero blamed regulation and permitting delays for higher costs, said Minnesota homes can cost $50,000 to $150,000 more than comparable homes in neighboring states, and said he will continue pushing for regulatory rollbacks to make home ownership more attainable.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight. >> Thank you.
• So, the Senate office building, our gallery, our floor.
• <00:04:36.160> to<00:04:36.800> make The Senate has the capacity to make The Senate
• So, the Senate office our scope.
• <00:04:52.720> that um on the floor of the Senate that um on the floor of the Senate that

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Summary: The interview focused on changes to security at the Minnesota Capitol complex in response to rising political violence and recent attacks on public officials, including the June 14 assassinations of Melissa and Mark Hartman and the attempted assassination of Senator Hoffman and his wife. The senator said those events, along with broader threats against elected officials, created urgency to strengthen protections for members, staff, and visitors. The discussion centered on the Axtell report, a Department of Public Safety security assessment of four priority buildings: the Capitol, Centennial Office Building, Judicial Center, and Minnesota Senate Building. The report included a public executive summary and a confidential detailed analysis. Its top recommendation was weapon screening, which the advisory committee adopted as the highest-impact measure to prevent weapons or other dangerous items from entering the buildings. The senator described visible changes such as screening at entrances, single-entry points, Evolv machines, and X-ray screening for bags, as well as a Senate rule barring guns in the gallery after concerns about member safety. She argued these measures do not significantly reduce access because most state capitols already screen visitors, and said restrictions on firearms in government buildings are consistent with constitutional limits in sensitive places. She also noted that permit holders may still enter with firearms for now, but said she plans to introduce a bill to ban guns on the Capitol complex entirely. Additional recommendations discussed included encrypted staff badges, more consistent access controls across buildings, and behavioral threat assessment training. The senator said some proposals will require legislative action and funding, citing an estimated $41 million request from the Department of Administration, while other measures could be implemented administratively from the non-public security report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, thank you for being here.
• You are one of the senators they specifically mention in this report.
• Senator, great conversation. Thank you so much for being here today.
• >> Senator,<00:07:21.599> great<00:07:21.919> conversation.
• Thank you >> Senator, great conversation.

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Summary: The discussion focused on Minnesota’s affordable housing and workforce homeownership development program, which aims to increase the supply of owner-occupied single-family and multifamily housing. The senator said his connection to the issue comes from his background as a real estate agent and his role as the Republican lead on the Senate housing committee, and he framed the goal as making homeownership more affordable across the state. Asked about the annual report, he said it showed some progress, including 123 homes built through the program, but argued that the number was far too small to address Minnesota’s broader housing shortage or rising costs. He said housing prices are climbing for both renters and buyers, and that government funding alone cannot solve the problem. The senator attributed much of the affordability problem to government regulation, including permitting delays and building code requirements, which he said make homes in Minnesota $50,000 to $150,000 more expensive than comparable homes in neighboring states. He said the state should roll back regulatory barriers so the free market can increase supply and lower prices, and he emphasized that homeownership is important for family stability, education, work, and preserving the American dream. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the exchange.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator<00:03:15.280> Rasmmanson. Senator Rasmmanson. Senator Rasmmanson.
• Senator Rasmmanson. Senator Rasmmanson.
• >> Senator<01:03:19.039> Mc. >> Senator Mc. >> Senator Mc.
• Senator<01:45:07.520> Nelson, Senator Nelson, Senator Nelson, Senator Utke, and Senator Karan
• Uh, Senator >> Thank you, Senator McUade. Uh, Senator Man. Man. Man.

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Summary: The Senate Rules and Administration Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability met on February 20, 2026, to hear from Minnesota Management and Budget State Budget Director Anna Mingi about federal funding changes affecting the state budget. Before testimony began, Senator Rasmusson objected to a draft committee report that had been prepared in advance of the hearing, arguing it was inappropriate to summarize testimony before it occurred. The chair responded that nonpartisan staff had prepared the draft from Mingi’s submitted presentation and could revise it after the hearing if needed. Director Mingi explained that federal dollars make up more than one-third of state spending and support about 650 federal awards totaling over $23 billion this year, with more than $15 billion supporting state entitlement programs. She said the federal funding environment had changed significantly since January 2025 through executive orders, pauses, terminations, new grant conditions, delayed awards, and the July 2025 passage of H.R. 1, the federal reconciliation bill. Her main focus was H.R. 1’s effects on health care and food assistance, including work requirements for some adults, changes to eligibility for legal non-citizens, limits on retroactive Medicaid coverage and directed payments, new limits on provider taxes, and SNAP changes that shift some benefit and administrative costs to the state and counties. She estimated H.R. 1 would reduce federal funds to state-administered programs by about $327 million in the current biennium and $1.6 billion in the next, with additional costs to hospitals, counties, and other partners beyond the budget horizon. Members asked follow-up questions about whether the estimates were relative to the forecast and whether federal Medicaid funding would still rise over time. Mingi said the estimates were based on the November forecast baseline and that Medicaid federal dollars would likely continue growing overall, though the law still creates significant losses relative to prior projections. Senator Rasmusson emphasized that point in remarks to the committee. The discussion then shifted to federal grant pauses and cancellations: MMB’s tracker showed about six awards on hold totaling roughly $491 million, 13 confirmed cancellations across areas including clean energy, education, food assistance, and public health, and additional threatened or litigated cuts not included in those totals. Mingi identified two canceled violence-prevention-related grants, including a FEMA public safety grant and a justice reinvestment grant, and noted that CDC had recently moved to cancel or seek cancellation of several Minnesota public health grants, including a $65 million public health infrastructure award.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Lee, Senator Enoi, Senator Lamasau. >> Uh, my name is Bernie Bae.
• 29.360> Senator Senator Lee, Senator Enoi, Senator Senator Lee, Senator Enoi, Senator Lamasau.
• Senator Chang excused. Senator Lamau. >> Hi. >> And Senator Dort. >> Hi. >> Okay. Measures adopted.
• Senator Chang is excused. Senator Lamosawa. Senator Dort. Hi. Measure is adopted. Mr. Chair.
• <02:25:41.439> Senator Senator Chang is excused. Senator Senator Chang is excused.

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Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 3019, which would cap ticket resale prices at face value for events in Hawaii and authorize DCCA to enforce violations. DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection opposed the bill and said it preferred a ticket transparency approach focused on upfront disclosure of fees, while supporters argued the measure would curb scalping, bots, and extreme markups. Testimony from the National Independent Venue Association and a concert promoter emphasized that resale does not add inventory and said the bill would protect consumers; committee members questioned DCCA about enforcement and cited examples of very high resale prices for local concerts. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair said the measure would be moved along for further consideration. The committee then heard Senate Bill 3311, which would create the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within DLNR to fund fire-mitigation grants for residential property owners. DLNR supported the bill, saying the need is immediate and that the program is modeled on successful mainland efforts, though the department said it ultimately belongs under the State Fire Marshal once that office has capacity. DCCA’s Insurance Division submitted written comments only. The measure was received without further action in the excerpt. Senate Bill 2979, authorizing DLNR and community-based organizations to enter community co-management agreements for state lands, drew broad support from OHA, community groups, and several individuals, who said the bill would formalize partnerships, strengthen shared responsibility, and help community stewardship efforts. Testifiers clarified that the bill does not require 65-year agreements and said the term should be left to DLNR’s discretion. The committee then moved on without questions or a vote shown in the excerpt. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2351 on the state park special fund, which would allow DLNR to use fund monies for environmental protection programs. DLNR’s state parks administrator opposed the bill, saying the special fund is already fully committed to urgent maintenance and infrastructure needs across an aging park system, and warned that diverting money would weaken the fund’s ability to support parks. The Tax Foundation also submitted written testimony, and a community witness opposed the measure for similar reasons. The excerpt ends as the committee begins Senate Bill 2918, which would require HCDA to establish a community action center in Chinatown; HCDA’s executive director expressed concern about jurisdiction and said the city and county should continue leading that work.