Transcript Highlights:

• 34.879><c> challengesc><00:34:35.440><c> forc><00:34:36.000><c> thisc><00:34:36.240><c> typec
• ><00:34:36.399><c> ofc><00:34:36.560><c> workc> but the challenges for this type of work but the
• challenges for this type of work is<00:34:37.040><c> veryc><00:34:37.359><c> specialized.
• c><01:19:49.360><c> thesec><01:19:49.760><c> typesc><01:19:50.080><c> ofc><01:19:50.320><c> locations
• c> um demarking these types of locations. um demarking these types of locations.

Bills: SB2603, SB2083, SB2341, SB2306, SB2782, SB2756, SB2161, SB2477

Keywords: Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, state funding, public performances, educational programs, cultural arts funding, historic properties, preservation, inheritance, working group, public-private partnerships, sustainable funding, historic preservation, Hawaii Revised Statutes, construction, state review, burial sites, cultural artifacts, development review, phased review, administrative fees

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2603, which would designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the state orchestra of Hawaii. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the Attorney General’s office, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Symphony, the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association, and others. Supporters emphasized the bill’s value to arts education, cultural vitality, and the visitor economy. The chair noted there were also many written testimonies submitted, and the bill was left without questions or action in the excerpt. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2083, which would create a state-owned historic properties preservation plan working group within DNR. The State Historic Preservation Division supported the bill and said it would help create a statewide database and better planning for state-owned historic properties, while noting its current review work is reactive and project-by-project. The committee asked about duplication and existing consultation processes; SHPD said it already reviews state projects under existing law and has in-house architectural staff. The measure was then set aside after brief discussion, with no vote shown in the excerpt. Next was Senate Bill 2341, which would authorize phased review of certain private-property projects and change SHPD’s review deadlines. SHPD and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the bill, saying it could encourage more proactive, programmatic review and that the current average review time for simple projects is about 56 days. Several opponents, including Sierra Club of Hawaii, Bianca Isaki, Malama Kane Lua, and Tara Roas, argued phased review would delay projects, create conflict, and weaken historic preservation protections, especially for iwi kūpuna and burial sites. Committee members raised concerns about whether the bill conflicted with prior court decisions and asked SHPD for its view; SHPD said it was not a legal question for them and suggested a programmatic alternative. The bill was not voted on in the excerpt. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 2306 on administrative fees for the Bureau of Conveyances. HGEA opposed the measure, focusing on a provision allowing the special fund to be used for qualified contractors, while the Bureau of Conveyances supported the bill as a fee correction that would equalize recording fees between systems. The bureau said specialized technical work sometimes requires outside contracting and that it could consider a contract period; the chair and members discussed the HGEA concern and asked whether the issue could be addressed. No final action was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> andc><00:01:53.640><c> Homec><00:01:53.880><c> Ownershipc> programs<00:01:59.360><c> thec>
• dependsc><00:15:01.560><c> onc><00:15:01.759><c> thec><00:15:02.000><c> typec><00:15:02.320>
• the type of unit for a really depends on the type of unit for a highrise<00:15:03.920><c> isc><00:
• ><c> forc><00:48:50.920><c> thisc><00:48:51.079><c> typec><00:48:51.240><c> ofc> much would the
• rent be for this type of much would the rent be for this type of project<00:48:52.200><c> uhc><00:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:03:36.080><c> Soc><00:03:36.720><c> umc><00:03:37.360><c> asc><00:03:37.680><c> thatc
• ><c> fourc><00:20:54.159><c> typec> does not have access to level four type does not have access
• to level four type educational<00:20:55.200><c> setting.
• There's a bit of momentum<01:09:41.199><c> aroundc><01:09:41.440><c> thosec><01:09:41.600><c> types
• types of things in momentum around those types of things in terms<01:09:42.799><c> ofc><01:09:42.960

Bills: HF4680, HF4047, HF4590, HF3757, HF3569, HF4507, HF4426, HF4927, HF4788, HF4757, HF4747, HF3561, HF4014, HF4013, HF4689, HF4766, HF4589

Keywords: wastewater treatment, improvements, capital investment, Greenfield, bonds, water treatment, infrastructure, municipal funding, state bonds, public utilities, HF4590, Tamarack, municipal infrastructure, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, Public Facilities Authority, sewer system, collection system, street reconstruction, local infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> thec><00:36:34.800><c> differentc><00:36:35.079><c> typesc><00:36:35.280><c> ofc><00:36:
• 35.560><c> operationsc><00:36:36.000><c> arec> of the different types of operations are of the different
• types of operations are necessary<00:36:37.000><c> Cityc><00:36:37.240><c> andc><00:36:37.400><c
• the affordability of uh connectivity and the affordability of uh interactive<01:31:03.679><c> typec
• c> interactive type of devices so again interactive type of devices so again having<01:31:05.360><c

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several transportation and consumer-related bills. HB 496, relating to mamaki tea labeling, drew support from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Weights and Measures, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, which said the bill would help protect a culturally important crop and the Hawaii brand. Members questioned Agriculture about staffing and whether the bill was being used to reopen a package-labeling inspection branch; the department said it currently has no Oahu inspectors for that function but has a place for an additional inspector. No opposition was registered on the measure. HB 978, relating to electric utilities, and HB 1316, relating to DLNR/park reservations, were also heard. HB 1316 received support from State Parks, and members discussed where reservation fees would go and whether the statewide reservation system for three parks would cover its costs; the committee indicated a change would be made so fees go to the special fund. HB 914, relating to water carriers, drew support or comments from the PUC, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Young Brothers, and the Hawaii Harbor Users Group. The main discussion focused on the proposed automatic rate-adjustment mechanism tied to the GDP price index, with members asking for alternative index ideas and questioning whether the PUC already had authority to adopt such a mechanism. Young Brothers said the measure would provide clarity and help recover inflationary costs, while the chair raised concerns about repeated rate increases and asked for further testimony on possible alternative indices. HB 1161, relating to transportation and road usage charges, received support from the Insurance Division, DOT, and the State Energy Office, with comments from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Hawaii Food Industry Association. Members asked whether counties need state authorization to adopt mileage-based charges and why the bill included funding for implementation; DOT said it is helping counties build the data collection and billing system and that Honolulu is handling much of the collection work. A question was also raised about whether plug-in hybrids would be covered, and DOT said vehicles under the federal electric-vehicle definition would be included. HB 1301, relating to transportation network companies, drew opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice, Lyft, and Uber, all arguing that classifying TNCs as common carriers and changing liability rules would raise costs, reduce access, and disrupt the current statewide framework. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• As oftentimes happens to people in<00:54:36.640><c> thisc><00:54:36.800><c> typec><00:54:36.960><
• type of profession because they in this type of profession because they see<00:54:38.400><c> people<
• And I<01:38:01.280><c> thinkc><01:38:01.920><c> thesec><01:38:02.239><c> typesc><01:38:02.480><
• c> ofc><01:38:02.639><c> details,c><01:38:03.119><c> thesec> I think these types of details, these
• I think these types of details, these standards<01:38:03.840><c> matter,c><01:38:04.159><c> andc

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :37:39.560><c> specificc><00:37:39.920><c> typesc><00:37:40.119><c> ofc><00:37:40.280><c> work<
• /c><00:37:40.599><c> thatc><00:37:40.720><c> werec> on specific types of work that were on specific
• the damages would go way down<00:47:49.000><c> inc><00:47:49.240><c> allc><00:47:49.599><c> types
• c><00:47:49.800><c> ofc><00:47:49.920><c> drillingc><00:47:50.280><c> andc> down in all types
• c><01:02:40.960><c> typesc><01:02:41.200><c> ofc><01:02:41.359><c> zooc> zaa those are two different

Bills: HF47, HF434, HF1503, HF1702

Keywords: telecommunications, installation, certification, safety, underground utilities, HF434, cervidae, deer, elk, moose, chronic wasting disease, CWD, wildlife importation, animal health, biosecurity, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA, USDA exhibitor, species survival plan

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:01:07.280><c> Soc><00:01:07.520><c> wec><00:01:07.760><c> willc><00:01:08.000><c> start
• c><00:01:12.479><c> Havman,c><00:01:12.960><c> andc><00:01:13.119><c> Missc><00:01:13.280><c>
• c><00:01:56.799><c> Soc><00:01:57.520><c> umc><00:01:57.840><c> soc><00:01:58.079><c> Ic><00
• Those are two very different<01:29:43.199><c> typesc><01:29:43.440><c> ofc><01:29:43.600><c> allegations
• c><01:29:44.719><c> Um,c> different types of allegations. Um, different types of allegations.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Seclusion Working Group approved the minutes from its previous meeting by motion and vote. Members then began discussing a set of proposed recommendations submitted by Woodward, Havman, and Hull aimed at addressing concerns about the use of seclusion in special education settings. The recommendations focused on several areas: requiring a mental health professional on the IEP team before seclusion is added to a student’s plan; replacing passive parental consent with explicit written consent in the parent’s native language; limiting seclusion to students receiving setting 3 or setting 4 services; requiring annual review of seclusion frequency and duration data by the IEP team; and creating stronger monitoring and accountability through a reporting system modeled on Minnesota’s existing disproportionality process. The group also proposed mandatory annual staff training, more preventive crisis-intervention supports such as CPI and Ukeru, direct funding and technical assistance for districts, and incorporating restraint/seclusion data into disproportionality calculations. Members discussed how the proposed accountability system might work in practice, including whether a third party or parent reporting mechanism should be added. Woodward explained Minnesota’s current disproportionality framework, including year 1, year 2, and year 3 notifications and the possibility of required coordinated early intervening services if problems persist. Participants also raised concerns about whether schools should track law-enforcement involvement as an alternative or related response to student behavior; some noted that such data is already collected in certain district reporting systems and could be useful to monitor alongside seclusion data. The discussion remained ongoing, with no final action taken on the recommendations during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• billc><01:07:01.760><c> leavec><01:07:02.079><c> anyc><01:07:02.319><c> typec><01:07:02.480>
• <c> ofc><01:07:02.760><c> exemptionc> this bill leave any type of exemption this bill leave any type
• ><c> typec><01:08:39.000><c> ofc><01:08:39.199><c> ac><01:08:39.600><c> umc><01:08:40.199><c>
• :36:01.640><c> illegalc><02:36:02.080><c> massagec><02:36:03.080><c> typec> uh opening an illegal
• massage type uh opening an illegal massage type business<02:36:04.479><c> umc><02:36:05.000><c> some

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :36.399><c> certainc><02:22:36.640><c> typec><02:22:36.800><c> ofc><02:22:36.960><c> audit.
• :50.720><c> whatc><02:29:50.880><c> typec><02:29:51.120><c> ofc><02:29:51.600><c> Ic><02:29:51.840
• ><c> guessc><02:29:52.000><c> whatc><02:29:52.240><c> typec><02:29:52.399><c> ofc> >> So
• c><02:29:59.920><c> whatc><02:30:00.160><c> typec><02:30:00.319><c> ofc> And so I'm curious that
• 57:12.800><c> typec><02:57:13.040><c> ofc><02:57:13.279><c> organizationc> that only only this

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation by Rabbi Ari Goldstein, whose remarks were journalized at the request of the senator from District 33. The chamber then recognized the doctor of the day, Dr. Maryann Lamont, for her 50 years in medicine and her work in neurology and stroke care, and also thanked a legislative aide, Samantha Briggs, who is leaving for law school. The presiding officer noted a quorum was present and moved into the day’s floor work. The Senate handled several messages and committee reports, including a conference committee appointment on Senate Bill 18, which concerns provisional social work licensure. In Finance, the chamber advanced Senate Bill 246 on Health Services Cost Review Commission member terms, Senate Bill 370 on acupuncture board revisions, Senate Bill 564 creating a Division of Data Protection in the Attorney General’s office and a related work group, Senate Bill 782 on telecommunications infrastructure protections, Senate Bill 808 on health insurance provider panel requirements, Senate Bill 849 on agricultural equipment warranties, Senate Bill 867 on the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission, and Senate Bill 982 on mutual insurance holding companies converting back to mutual insurers. Most of these bills were reported favorably with technical or conforming amendments, which were adopted without objection, and each was ordered printed for third reading. The committee also considered several House bills with Senate cross-files or identical measures. These included House Bill 118 on money transmitter licensing, House Bills 339 and 512 on Anne Arundel County Board of License Commissioners compensation, House Bill 1100 on telecommunications infrastructure protections, House Bill 1395 on agricultural equipment warranties, House Bill 1473 creating Maryland’s Future Board, House Bill 226 on Department of Disabilities housing programs, House Bill 278 codifying the Longevity Ready Maryland plan, and House Bill 746 on collaborative care model coverage and cost-sharing limits. In each case, the committee reports were adopted, amendments were approved where offered, and the bills were advanced to third reading or passed for third reading, with no recorded opposition on the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:01:03.400><c> newc><01:01:03.720><c> typec><01:01:04.240><c> ofc> dispensary um creating a
• c><01:25:17.000><c> audioc><01:25:17.480><c> onlyc><01:25:18.040><c> typec><01:25:18.199><c>
• typec><02:29:31.640><c> ofc><02:29:31.840><c> thingsc><02:29:32.200><c> I'mc><02:29:32.399><
• c> askingc><02:29:32.640><c> forc><02:29:32.840><c> toc> these type of things I'm asking for to
• <02:39:04.000><c> typec><02:39:04.160><c> ofc><02:39:04.680><c> cancellationc><02:39:05.240><c>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1494 on hearing aids. Testimony was generally supportive of expanding hearing-aid coverage, with the Insurance Division raising concern about possible federal defrayment issues, SHPDA supporting the goal of hearing augmentation, DCAB strongly supporting the bill as an important access issue, and health plans and insurers asking for amendments. Kaiser Permanente and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans requested changes to add a medical-necessity standard and clarify annual notice language, while HMSA suggested the proposal should be studied by the auditor. The chair noted concerns about federal preemption and the lack of an audit, and deferred the bill in favor of a related resolution calling for a study. The committee then heard SB 1448, an emergency appropriation for the Hawaii State Hospital. DAGS and the Department of Health supported the measure, with the hospital administrator saying the funding would improve the environment of care, support cleaning, and allow a third-party review of the building. Committee members questioned the size of the request and the status of litigation against the design-builder. Administration witnesses said they were pursuing a comprehensive study involving destructive testing, had made a demand on the design-builder to fund the study, and were using different processes than before. They also said the roof work would be handled through a separate CIP request. No final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee next heard SB 1432, relating to the future responsibilities of the Department of Health and land issues at Kalaupapa after the last patient dies. DOH supported the bill in part but said its long-term role would be limited mainly to environmental cleanup, with operations expected to continue under the National Park Service and land-use decisions left to DHHL and beneficiary consultation. DHHL asked that the measure reflect that any land-use or zoning changes on homeland lands require commission approval and beneficiary consultation. Testifiers from Kalaupapa and Maui County, including Degra Vanderbilt-Papa and Council Member Keani Rollins-Fernandez, supported deferring the bill, saying there had been no meaningful community discussion about provisions affecting Kalaupapa’s future management and possible transfer of responsibilities to Maui County. The committee also read into the record written testimony from Gloria Marks emphasizing that Kalaupapa stakeholders must be included in future discussions. Finally, the committee heard SB 955 on fitness-to-proceed examinations. The Judiciary and the Public Defender’s Office both supported raising pay and standardizing expectations for private examiners, but opposed reducing felony fitness evaluations from three examiners to one and opposed expanding use of expedited reports. They argued that a single examiner would reduce reliability, create a more adversarial process, and likely increase costs and contested hearings, while expedited reports do not contain enough information for a proper fitness determination. The Department of Health also supported the bill’s intent but asked to preserve a three-examiner framework and said the goal was to reduce the number of people sent to the State Hospital, where admissions have reportedly risen about 20% year over year since Act 26. The bill remained under discussion in the excerpt, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> servicesc><00:10:55.240><c> werec> different types of services were different types of services
• 00:27:25.000><c> thatc><00:27:25.160><c> typec><00:27:25.360><c> ofc><00:27:25.480><c> thing.
• c><00:27:25.800><c> I'vec><00:27:25.960><c> alsoc><00:27:26.679><c> uhc> rehab, that type of
• :35.560><c> typesc><00:27:35.840><c> ofc><00:27:36.560><c> umc> some of those types of um some
• c> uh that type of thing.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:47:24.000><c> that'sc><00:47:24.160><c> thec><00:47:24.319><c> typec><00:47:24.480><c>
• > carec><00:51:32.800><c> uhc><00:51:33.040><c> otherc><00:51:33.599><c> typesc><00:51:33.839
• ><c> ofc> provided by other care uh other types of provided by other care uh other types of healthcare
• surgery, that are some of these other<00:51:56.000><c> typesc><00:51:56.240><c> ofc><00:51:56.319
• types of benefits to help manage other types of benefits to help manage their<00:51:57.520><c> pain<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony from State Treasurer Monica Misipelli on House Bill 1042, which would increase the contingent credit limit for the BFA. She explained that under RSA 66 the state’s debt capacity is capped at 10% of unrestricted revenue, and that guaranteed debt counts in the calculation even though it is not direct debt. She said the state currently has about 65% of its capacity used, roughly $120 million of remaining room, and that raising the BFA contingent credit limit from $200 million to $450 million would reduce that capacity. She noted the state’s debt-to-revenue ratio is about 4.2%, that the state’s credit rating is not immediately affected by the guarantee program unless the state actually has to assume the liability, and suggested unused guarantee authorizations, such as one for the Peace Development Authority, could be reviewed in the future. Members asked whether a credit guarantee affects bonding ability like actual debt, what the usual debt level is relative to the statutory cap, and whether the increase would crowd out future capital borrowing. Misipelli answered that guarantees are included in the formula and do affect available capacity, though the current ratio remains manageable. She also said she had been using a $120 million benchmark for capital budget planning and was now modeling $130 million in future state debt. When asked whether the full $250 million increase was necessary, she deferred to the BFA, saying the question should be answered by the agency. James Key Wallace, executive director of the New Hampshire BFA and interim commissioner of Business and Economic Affairs, then testified in support of the bill. He said the request was driven by larger project costs over the last several decades, with construction inflation causing guarantees to be used up in bigger chunks, and by the fact that the BFA has been close to its current cap. He said the agency does not use taxpayer funds, has never had a payout on a guarantee in nearly 35 years, and requires collateral, reserves, and an 80% loan-to-value buffer. He told members the Senate had a similar bill to raise the limit to $400 million and that the BFA considered that range acceptable. In response to questions, he said a smaller increase such as $150 million would cover known transactions but might not provide enough runway for future opportunities, and he confirmed the bill was brought at the BFA’s request. He also said businesses consider housing availability when deciding whether to locate in New Hampshire, since housing and workforce are key location factors. At the end of the work session, the chair closed House Bill 1042 and opened House Bill 241, a bill on health insurance coverage of pain management services for chronic pain. Representative Nagel began introducing the bill and asked for copies of the treasurer’s debt-capacity report, but the transcript cuts off before any further action on HB 241.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:15:18.160><c> workc><00:15:18.480><c> likec> type of like an employment work like type of
• type of<01:09:04.239><c> process.
• It ranges depending on the<01:19:12.560><c> typec><01:19:12.719><c> ofc><01:19:12.960><c> services
• c><01:19:13.360><c> thec><01:19:13.600><c> membersc> the type of services the members the type
• :15.199><c> typec><01:41:15.440><c> ofc><01:41:15.600><c> formula.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, approved the minutes from the November 10 meeting, and then approved a large agenda of contracts and related items, with the total agenda amount stated as $359,638,393.88. Most items were approved without objection, but two contracts were pulled for discussion: attorney general panel counsel contingency fee contracts and a Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission personal services contract. For the attorney general’s office, Chris Lewis explained that the contracts were panel counsel contingency fee agreements, with 14 qualified awards from 16 applicants. He said the contracts were contingency-based, so no money would be paid unless cases were successful, and that the fee structure worked out to roughly 5% under the statutory waterfall. Senators asked about the size of the contracts, whether the terms were uniform, why no Kentucky firms were among the awardees, and how the public should understand the large dollar figures. Lewis said one Kentucky firm applied but was disqualified for a late submission, other Kentucky firms had inquired but did not apply, and local firms could still work with national firms on cases. The committee then approved the contracts. The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission contract drew more extensive questioning. Commission representatives said they had previously had a contract disapproved because the proper process was not followed, so they used an RFI process posted on the state and commission websites for at least three weeks. They received one applicant, a Kentucky firm, and set the rate at $125 per hour. Members questioned whether the commission was acting beyond its ethics mission, whether staff were helping draft complaints against legislators, and whether the commission was taking on a prosecutorial or human-resources role. The commission said its role is limited to enforcing the legislative code of ethics, providing advisory guidance, and following the formal complaint process; it does not pursue matters outside that code. Members also raised concerns about the earlier procurement misstep and the commission’s credibility, and the commission apologized, said it had corrected the process, and pledged to comply going forward. The committee then approved the contract.

Transcript Highlights:

• type<01:19:44.680><c> ofc><01:19:44.840><c> ac><01:19:45.080><c> committeec><01:19:46.040><c>
• umc><01:19:46.920><c> thatc><01:19:47.720><c> looksc><01:19:48.120><c> atc> type of a committee
• um that looks at type of a committee um that looks at that,<01:19:48.640><c> butc><01:19:48.960><c
• ><c> thosec><01:40:14.800><c> typesc><01:40:15.080><c> ofc> Fischer, Drees, and those types of
• Fischer, Drees, and those types of builders,<01:40:15.960><c> theyc><01:40:16.160><c> buildc><01:

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the representation is uh<00:54:39.200><c> forc><00:54:39.600><c> thesec><00:54:39.880><c> typec
• c><00:54:41.359><c> Ic><00:54:41.480><c> don'tc> uh for these type of taxes.
• ><c> typec><00:54:50.120><c> ofc><00:54:50.280><c> taxationc> need to pay that type of taxation
• need to pay that type of taxation without<00:54:52.400><c> beingc><00:54:52.680><c> ablec><00:54
• :16:57.840><c> typec><01:16:58.160><c> ofc> mother-in-law and barely do any type of mother-in-law

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• soc><00:00:51.199><c> uhc><00:00:51.320><c> wec><00:00:51.480><c> havec><00:00:51.600><c> a<
• /c><00:00:51.760><c> bigc><00:00:52.079><c> agendac><00:00:53.079><c> wec><00:00:53.440><c> um<
• ><c> goingc><00:00:53.960><c> toc><00:00:54.039><c> hearc><00:00:54.320><c> presentationc><00
• 01:09:09.759><c> anyc><01:09:10.000><c> typec><01:09:10.159><c> ofc><01:09:10.440><c> Grantsc
• ><01:09:10.759><c> orc> support to oversee any type of Grants or support to oversee any type of Grants

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee met to hear a delayed presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on MDE’s oversight of Feeding Our Future, a report released in June 2024. The chair framed the hearing as an oversight review of how the Minnesota Department of Education handled the nonprofit’s participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program, emphasizing that the hearing was not about criminal charges against agency staff. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall and Director of Special Reviews Katherine Tyson explained that their review focused on state oversight, not the underlying federal fraud case, which involved an alleged $250 million scheme and ongoing criminal proceedings. The auditors concluded that MDE’s oversight was inadequate and created opportunities for fraud. They said MDE failed to act on warning signs before the pandemic, did not effectively use its authority to hold Feeding Our Future accountable, and was ill prepared to respond to problems. Examples included approving applications despite concerns about internal controls and staffing, failing to follow up on earlier review findings, not adequately investigating at least 30 complaints, and in one case referring a complaint back to Feeding Our Future for resolution rather than conducting an independent investigation. They also said MDE deferred serious deficiencies without enough evidence that problems had been fully corrected and approved meal claims despite records showing major inconsistencies. Tyson said MDE had made progress on all eight recommendations in the report, though one recommendation to the legislature had not yet been addressed because the session had not convened since the report’s release. The auditors recommended that the legislature establish clearer statutory criteria or give MDE rulemaking authority for sponsor applications, and that MDE strengthen verification of sponsor information, focus more on high-risk sponsors, improve complaint procedures, and emphasize program integrity if waivers reduce oversight in the future. In response to member questions, the auditors said MDE’s reported progress was partial in some areas and that further review would be needed to fully confirm implementation. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• 12.640><c> andc><00:01:12.960><c> 504c><00:01:13.520><c> plansc><00:01:13.960><c> andc><00:01
• hadc><00:03:17.800><c> movedc><00:03:18.080><c> partc><00:03:18.280><c> ofc><00:03:18.320><c
• c><00:04:57.400><c> Soc><00:04:57.560><c> Ic><00:04:57.680><c> havec><00:04:57.840><c> ac>
• where we suddenly have a a sash with all these<00:57:12.320><c> differentc><00:57:12.640><c> type<
• ,c> these different type of seals on there, these different type of seals on there, which<00:57:14.440

Bills: HF3776, HF3557, HF3585

Keywords: screen time, preschool, kindergarten, early childhood education, digital media, tablets, smartphones, educational technology, EdTech, classroom devices, publicly funded preschool, school policy, child development, special education, IEP, 504 plan, IFSP, Minnesota education law, climate literacy, education

Summary: The committee first approved the previous day’s minutes, then took up House File 3776, as amended by the A2 amendment, which clarified how the bill would apply to students with IEPs and 504 plans. The bill’s author argued that Minnesota should address screen time for preschool and kindergarten students, saying current law is too broad, that young children are especially vulnerable to developmental and attention harms from screens, and that parents and teachers should have more control over device use. The bill was laid over after discussion. Testimony on HF 3776 was split. Amanda Faye of Minnetonka Public Schools opposed the bill as drafted, saying it would conflict with existing academic standards, READ Act screening requirements, accessibility tools, and local control, and would force districts back to paper-based screening. Katherine Myers of Live More Screen Less supported the bill, citing concerns about early childhood screen exposure and arguing that screen-free time supports child development. Members raised concerns about local control, parental rights, and how to protect students who need devices for accommodations; the author and nonpartisan staff noted that schools can already adopt cell phone policies, but exceptions may be needed for certain students and uses. After laying over HF 3776, the committee began House File 3557. Representative Craft introduced the bill as a voluntary program to promote practical science education and workforce development tied to climate literacy, including a proposed Minnesota Seal of Climate Literacy for high school students. The bill was only introduced before the transcript ended, with no vote or final action recorded on HF 3557.

Transcript Highlights:

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• ><c> thatc><01:43:48.719><c> thisc><01:43:48.960><c> typec> accepting uh the standard that this
• type accepting uh the standard that this type of<01:43:49.440><c> behaviorc><01:43:49.920><c> is
• :56.320><c> typec><01:43:56.560><c> ofc><01:43:57.280><c> uhc><01:43:57.520><c> violationc><01
• :43:58.080><c> ofc><01:43:58.320><c> publicc> any type of uh violation of public any type of uh violation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• same type<00:59:38.960><c> ofc><00:59:39.680><c> improvementc><00:59:40.480><c> orc><00:59:41.119
• c><00:59:42.319><c> Itc><00:59:42.559><c> justc> type of improvement or increase.
• >> there<01:01:52.799><c> arec><01:01:52.960><c> differentc><01:01:53.200><c> typesc><01
• <c> typesc><01:01:57.359><c> ofc><01:01:57.520><c> levelsc><01:01:58.000><c> Ic> there's different
• types of levels I there's different types of levels I understand<01:01:58.640><c> thatc> understand

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ofc><00:20:07.760><c> eachc><00:20:08.080><c> typec><00:20:08.400><c> thatc><00:20:08.559><c>
• hadc><00:20:08.880><c> thatc> broken down of each type that had that broken down of each type that
• demonstratingc><00:43:30.400><c> thec><00:43:30.720><c> typec><00:43:30.880><c> ofc> infographic
• demonstrating the type of infographic demonstrating the type of assistance<00:43:31.520><c> wec><00
• c> type businesses.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all