Transcript Highlights:

• This section has six requests from the Division of Workforce Services.
• I'm Stephen Geesey, CFO with Division of Workforce Services.
• Most of the positions are coming out of the Division of Workforce Services and Workforce Policy and Innovation
• So we're going to be ready to have competitive bid before this ends?
• I’m ready to move forward with a solicitation for a bid.

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Terrasas is now ready. All right, Mr.
• Is there also a workforce issue for you to get this work done?
• How's the workforce treating you to get these projects completed? Mr.
• They've got tons of work out there but can't get enough workforce to do it.
• So workforce is kind of an issue. Thank you for your comments, both of you.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you’re ready to go, you’d like to go first? Okay, sure.”
• We prioritize them based on their readiness for cleanup.
• shipment is ready, WIPP will prioritize shipments from LANL.
• projects, if you think of that versus shovel-ready, drill-ready projects, that allows us to actually
• Can I get that ready? Yeah, you can change your mind if you want.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Environment Department on PFAS contamination in private wells in La Cienega, Santa Fe County. Staff said the plume likely came from historic use of firefighting foam associated with airport and National Guard fire-training activities, with possible additional contribution from septic systems and consumer products. They described the contamination as affecting about 200 private wells, the short-term response of providing residential filters through a $2 million legislative appropriation, and ongoing work to define the plume’s full extent, identify responsible parties, and consider longer-term regional water solutions. Members asked about filter costs, replacement schedules, disposal of used cartridges, follow-up testing, health studies, and whether cleanup or containment had begun; the department said cleanup would follow once the plume is fully mapped and that DOH is soliciting interest in a blood study. The committee also discussed the need to track disposal of PFAS filters and the possibility of broader statewide capacity for similar work. The committee then took up abandoned uranium mine cleanup. NMED and EMNRD staff reviewed the new uranium mine reclamation program created by HB 164, the state dashboard tracking sites, and the FY26 appropriation of $20 million for neglected contaminated sites, of which $12 million is being used for neglected uranium mines and the remainder for other contaminated sites. They said six contractors were hired, three priority sites in Grant County are moving forward quickly, and additional sites are being prepared for possible FY27 work. Members pressed for details on how funds are spent, why the revolving fund remains unfunded, how federal, state, tribal, and landowner requirements are coordinated, where contaminated material will be moved, and whether cleanup could also address homes built with contaminated materials. Staff said the work is governed by multiple regulatory layers, that the state is seeking an additional $25 million for FY27-FY28 plus a time extension, and that partnerships with tribes would require longer-term agreements. The committee also discussed federal cleanup efforts and the new Good Samaritan law, with members urging stronger advocacy for New Mexico sites, including tribal lands, and asking whether the Attorney General should pursue legal action against federal parties responsible for legacy contamination. Staff explained that some sites are already covered by settlement funds tied to responsible parties, while neglected sites are those with no responsible party and no other cleanup program. The committee then heard from EMNRD on Class VI carbon sequestration primacy. Staff said New Mexico currently has no operating Class VI wells, about 27 Class II acid-gas injection wells are operating, and only a small number might be candidates for conversion. They explained that the state’s primacy application would require more public outreach than federal rules alone, and that cost estimates for post-injection site care are based on long planning horizons, with some costs borne by operators and some by the state after closure. No votes were taken on the substantive items discussed; the committee approved the prior meeting minutes and took a brief recess between presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our state is strongest when we embrace both the opportunity and the responsibility, and I am ready to
• It means recognizing some of our greatest challenges, whether it is workforce shortages, infrastructure
• I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work side by side with each one of you.
• challenges whether it is Workforce challenges whether it is Workforce shortages shortages shortages
• to roll up my responsibility I'm ready to roll up my sleeves<00:34:01.600> and<00:34:01.799><

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House met to elect a Speaker. Representative Baker nominated Lisa Demuth on behalf of the Republican caucus, emphasizing civility, trust, inclusiveness, bipartisanship, and the need to unify a divided chamber. Representative Igo seconded the nomination, praising Demuth’s experience, integrity, consensus-building, and focus on affordability, safety, and future planning. On behalf of the DFL caucus, Representative Mhler nominated Melissa Hortman, describing her leadership in football metaphors and highlighting her work since 2019, including the Minnesota Values Project, her handling of major crises, and her willingness to put the institution and state above personal interests. Representative Hollands seconded Hortman’s nomination, stressing her mentorship, willingness to collaborate across differences, and sacrifice for the greater good. Nominations were then closed, and the clerk pro tem called the roll for the Speaker election. After the roll call, the results were announced as 67 votes for Representative D. Dibble and 65 votes for Representative Hortman. The presiding officer declared Representative D. Dibble duly elected Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives for the 2025-2026 session. Members were appointed to escort the speaker-elect to the rostrum, and Senator Bobby Joe Champion administered the oath of office. In remarks after taking the oath and receiving the gavel, the new Speaker thanked family, supporters, voters, and colleagues, said the office was an honor and a responsibility, and pledged to lead with integrity, respect, collaboration, and accountability. The Speaker said the House should focus on real results for Minnesotans, maintain civility, keep government efficient and accountable, and work across party lines on issues such as public safety, schools, workforce shortages, infrastructure, and support for farmers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, I'm ready.
• You know this is the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act.
• What we're missing in housing in rural Arizona is the missing middle for our workforce.
• You know this is the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act.
• Thank you. ...supply, you're contributing to the economy and the workforce.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and then spent much of the opening portion of the session recognizing administrative assistants and other guests in the gallery, including a doctor of the day and a visiting robotics team. Members repeatedly thanked their staff for keeping offices and the chamber running, and one member also welcomed civic leaders from Buckeye and a foreign delegation connected to a circular economy forum. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole on a series of Senate bills. SB 1060, concerning voting eligibility for certain overseas-born children of service members, drew opposition from one member who argued it would disenfranchise military families; the bill still received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1093, described by opponents as an anti-protest bill, also received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1162 and SB 1270 were both advanced as amended after committee and floor/subfloor amendments, and SB 1814, dealing with substance use disorder-related issues, was amended with a friendly change and advanced with comments about the need for broader study and bipartisan work on fraud, waste, and abuse in that area. The House then entered an additional Committee of the Whole for SB 1345 and SB 1401. SB 1345 was amended to focus on licensure timing and DHS collaboration, then advanced. SB 1401, the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act, was amended after debate over affordability standards and public benefit; supporters said it would speed permitting and reduce housing costs, while critics wanted stronger affordability requirements. The bill was ultimately advanced as amended. The House also took up third reading on SB 1041, a health care institutions bill, where members explained yes votes by citing a recent abuse case in assisted living and arguing the measure would help protect vulnerable adults. The transcript ends during vote explanations on SB 1041.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:55:17.000> capacity informatics and other workforce capacity informatics and other workforce
• And we are ready to serve the mental health needs of our community.
• We are ready to serve the mental health needs of our community.
• Minnesota counties are willing and ready to work with you as you craft this final budget.
• Minnesota counties are willing and ready to work with you as you craft this final budget.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that—I'm just trying to get this because it's part of workforce, isn't it?
• Yes, it's part of Workforce Connections.
• Is that—I'm just trying to get this because it's part of Workforce Connections, isn't it?
• Yes, it's part of Workforce Connections.
• Second quarter was ready, so we’ve put both of them in there.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is provided by the Department of Commerce, the Division of Workforce Services, for the elimination
• The positions eliminated come from the Division of Workforce Services, or, excuse me, Services for the
• I'm just trying to get this... because it's part of Workforce, isn't it? Yes, it's...
• Yeah, because it's part of Workforce, isn't it? Yes, it's part of Workforce Connections.
• The second quarter was ready, so we've put both of them in there.

Summary: The committee first considered a Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism request to swap three administrative coordinator positions for one park superintendent, one maintenance supervisor, and one park manager for Blanchard Springs State Park. Members were told the change would be funded by conservation tax special revenues, would not increase total positions, and had OPM’s support. The item was reviewed and approved without objection. Members then approved two special compensation plans: one from the Department of Commerce for lump-sum bonuses of up to $5,000 for employees involved in the unemployment insurance system migration to a cloud-based platform, and one from the Department of Veterans Affairs for $2,000 recruitment bonuses for certified nursing assistants at the Fayetteville and North Little Rock State Veterans Homes. The Department of Health also received approval to reinstate a previously frozen fiscal support manager position for the State Medical Board, with the agency noting the position was already authorized and would not increase total staffing. The committee spent substantial time on a Commerce reduction-in-force affecting the Division of Services for the Blind and related workforce operations. Secretary Hugh McDonald said the layoffs were driven by over-obligated federal funds, lack of fiscal planning, and a need to realign operations; he said the RIF would be permanent and that 56 employees remained furloughed, with 17 positions slated for elimination. Senators questioned the division’s accountability structure, the role of the board and governor, and whether the cuts disproportionately affected African American employees; Commerce was asked to provide racial composition data for the workforce and the RIF. The committee also reviewed quarterly employment and overtime reports. Members asked about overtime levels at DHS, Corrections, and Transportation, and whether higher staffing levels and the new pay plan were reducing overtime. OPM said overtime was being monitored, that direct-care positions are exempt from the hiring freeze, and that the state had hired more than 1,200 employees at DHS since the new system went live. No further action was taken on the report items, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You ready? The seat points up to you. Oh, yeah. Yes, please. Yes, please. I'm glad you're... Yep.
• Incredible state workforce. >> [Applause] I'd like to extend a very special welcome to our sovereign
• to connect workforce development to connect Minnesotans<00:36:18.840> of<00:36:19.040> every
• I'm asking you to join me in getting our state ready for an economy of the future.
• But we're ready to move beyond. Beyond this season of grief.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The joint convention opened with the House and Senate assembling, a prayer by Reverend Mariah Furness-Tollgard, and roll call establishing a quorum. The chamber then welcomed the Minnesota Supreme Court, constitutional officers, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, and Governor Tim Walz before the governor delivered his final State of the State address. The convention later adjourned by motion. In his address, Governor Walz reflected on recent tragedies and political violence, including the deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman, the Annunciation Church shooting, and the federal immigration operation he described as causing fear and disruption. He said Minnesota remained strong because of its people and highlighted accomplishments over the past seven years, especially in education, child care, free school meals, workforce development, housing, infrastructure, clean energy, climate initiatives, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ protections, voting rights, workers’ rights, paid family leave, and public safety measures. Walz also proposed new actions for the current session, including a significant expansion of the dependent care tax credit, a $907 million bonding bill, support for sustainable aviation fuel, a social media tax on big tech companies, a governor’s council on the future of the AI economy, additional gun violence prevention measures, and a stronger anti-fraud and human services oversight system. He urged legislators to pass the fraud and oversight bills and said he would sign them immediately. The House then voted to adjourn until April 30, 2026, after the joint convention ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• You may begin when you're ready. Thank you, Chair.
• You may begin when you're ready. Thank you, Chair.
• Maybe again when you're ready. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members, and staff.
• Maybe it may begin when you're ready. Maybe again when you're ready.
• And you may begin when you're ready.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on the Governor’s May Revision, with no votes taken. The first major discussion focused on child care and early education, including proposed reductions tied to federal Child Care and Development Fund and Proposition 64 revenue changes, the shift of reductions from general child care to the California Alternative Payment Program, the end of funding for prospective pay implementation, a 2.01% cost-of-living adjustment, child care infrastructure grants, and a proposal to increase administrative funding for alternative payment agencies. The Legislative Analyst’s Office generally supported removing prospective pay funding and urged caution on the administrative-rate shift, while also recommending more justification for the slot reduction approach and more detail on infrastructure grant alignment. Committee members strongly objected to eliminating about 6,000 child care slots, arguing the Legislature should preserve and expand child care access. The Department of Education supported the preschool QRIS block grant increase and the COLA but raised concerns about rate alignment for three- and four-year-olds and the lack of funding to maintain enrollment growth. The committee then reviewed trailer bill language affecting child care, including codifying age-based reimbursement categories, expanding documentation for enhanced inclusion rates, clarifying CalWORKs child care eligibility, aligning health and safety standards with federal requirements, coordinating disaster-related infrastructure funding, and updating oversight language. Administration officials said the proposals were intended to support the single reimbursement rate structure, improve safety compliance, and coordinate disaster recovery funding. LAO said it had no major initial concerns with the trailer bill language but would continue reviewing it. The hearing then turned to CalFresh and nutrition programs. CDSS described projected caseload declines, a one-time augmentation for county administration to implement federal H.R. 1 changes, a proposed reassessment schedule for county administrative funding, and updated estimates that H.R. 1 could cut CalFresh funding by $2.3 billion to $3.7 billion annually and affect about 500,000 people. Members pressed the administration on the impact of H.R. 1, the “chilling effect” on immigrant households, county workload, and whether the state should backfill federal cuts, especially for families with children subject to new work requirements. The committee also discussed a one-time CalFood augmentation, state administrative expense funding, staffing for H.R. 1 implementation, and a small increase to the CACFP meal reimbursement rate. Finally, the committee began IHSS items, including the impact of reinstating the Medi-Cal asset limit, automatic IHSS termination tied to Medi-Cal loss, and related savings and caseload estimates, with the administration explaining that these proposals would reduce eligibility and that there is no broad substitute for IHSS for many recipients.

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully ask for your support and stand ready for your questions.
• I mean, to have that workforce that's coming out, to be plugged into the whole system.
• workforce.
• There are lots of industry partnerships that UTSA has at the ready. to work with quickly.
• Very quickly, what would it cost to go out and build the skiff that you have ready to go?

Bills: HB146, HB150, HB1500, HB1545, HB1562, HB2067, HB2520, HB2818, HB3214, HB3250, HB3466, HB3512, HB3623, HB4063, HB4395, HB4464, HB4668, HB4690, HB5331, HB3833, HB146, HB150

Keywords: HB 146, Texas Capitol, State Capitol, State Preservation Board, Congress Avenue, Travis County, traffic lanes, lane closure, road closure, municipal authority, local control, Capitol area, downtown Austin, special events, construction traffic plan, pedestrian safety, public works, transportation policy, government code chapter 443, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:47.880> to promise you this when a Bill's ready to promise you this when a Bill's ready
• All right, seeing none, I think we're ready to put it on.
• with the infrastructure, workforce, and planning.
• like Becker and others that are ready like Becker and others that are ready with<00:38:28.960>
• with the infrastructure Workforce and with the infrastructure Workforce and planning<00:38:32.200>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's office is always ready to help.
• Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for the question?

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Message from the Senate, Madam Speaker: I have the honor to inform the House that the Senate is ready
• In 2026, we're ready to expand that to other estate planning documents other than wills.
• active participation for the workforce. active participation for the workforce.
• And the only way they have to raise money to double that workforce for SNAP financial checks tomorrow
• And the only way they have to raise money to double that workforce for SNAP financial checks tomorrow

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of the previous day’s journal. The chamber received Senate messages announcing a joint convention for the governor’s message and transmitting Senate Files 1251, 3769, and 3868. The House also introduced House Files 4868 through 4933 and adopted committee reports and comparison report motions without objection. The Rules Committee placed several bills on the calendar and required pre-filing of amendments for specified measures. On the calendar, the House passed Senate File 3602, which enacts the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act and expands electronic signing to estate planning documents beyond wills. Supporters said it would help people who are homebound, hospitalized, or in rural areas and reduce uncertainty for banks and hospitals about electronically signed powers of attorney and health care directives. The bill passed 134-0. The House also passed House File 3516, a Board of Dentistry policy bill that updates licensure language, allows retired dentists to serve low-income uninsured patients, and increases the number of dental hygienists a dentist may collaborate with from four to eight; it passed 134-0. The House then passed House File 3528, a technical barbering bill that reduces training and retesting burdens, gives the board more testing flexibility, repeals duplicative rules, clarifies that waxing is not barbering, and makes other fee and registration changes; it passed 134-0. House File 3718, updating veterinary medicine and veterinary technology statutes, was amended to restore board seal language and then passed 134-0 as amended. Supporters said it modernizes definitions and standards, recognizes licensed veterinary technicians, and may help address veterinary shortages, especially in greater Minnesota. Finally, the House passed Senate File 3402, which broadens who may serve as a medical consultant for Community Health Boards to include additional licensed professionals such as DOs, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses; it passed 134-0. The chamber also considered several motions to move bills between committees, including referrals involving veterans, education, health, and psilocybin-related legislation. A motion to suspend the rules for House File 4487 was presented, and the bill was described as providing a one-time $1 billion property tax rebate or credit, but the transcript cuts off during extended debate on that motion before any final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the health care workforce initiative funding.
• Thank you for the health care workforce initiative funding.
• We are also launching a four-plus-one program for students that aren't quite ready.
• So maybe those would be factors you'd put in here for a desired workforce fund this time.
• thing—like hoping that those people stay in our state to fulfill workforce?

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Committee met to discuss possible changes to North Dakota’s higher education funding formula, with a particular focus on separating the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences MD program from the general formula. Dr. Jenkins outlined several options for the MD program, including a fixed-funding model, a hybrid model, or keeping it in the formula, and emphasized the need to preserve strong support for medical education while making future funding clearer. He also discussed efforts to increase the share of North Dakota students in the MD program through ND85, expanded recruiting, early acceptance pathways, MCAT prep, a four-plus-one program, and the Primary Care Accelerated Track, along with future cost pressures such as AI licensing and residency growth. The committee then reviewed a simplified funding model from the University System Office that would base funding more heavily on student FTE, credentials awarded, and a few incentive factors such as small institution and research adjustments. Members questioned the use of placeholder numbers, the lack of a clear methodology for the small institution and research factors, and whether the model would adequately account for differences among institutions, high-cost programs, and graduate education. Several members raised concerns that arbitrary factors would be hard to defend politically and could distort funding or create competition between schools, while others said the exercise was useful as a starting point for discussion. Alex presented a second alternative that kept the current SIP-code structure but increased CTE weighting, added a progressive economic size factor, and separated out the MD program. His model also added an on-campus face-to-face headcount component and a credentials component, with the intent of rewarding in-person enrollment and completions. Members questioned the use of headcount instead of FTE, how hybrid, online, dual-credit, and off-campus students would be treated, and why face-to-face enrollment was weighted more heavily than completion. No formal votes or final actions were taken; the committee instead continued discussion and asked members to provide direction on which elements, if any, should be developed further.

Transcript Highlights:

• They've seen workforce productivity drop.
• But the workforce challenge is a big part of it.
• They're ready to discharge.
• workforce shortage.
• That workforce to assist us there.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm still going to look for people that might be ready to retire from another agency.
• Thank you for considering House Bill 4993, the Texas Military Force Health and Readiness Act.
• But readiness requires more than courage. It requires health, fitness, and resilience.
• His recent statement underscores the importance of physical readiness and national security.
• Sheriff, are you ready?

Bills: SB 36

Keywords: transportation, regional authorities, mobility, infrastructure, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• And that’s something we have to focus on: our future workforce.
• That investment in a stronger, more educated workforce.
• That really is meeting the needs of their regional workforce, the state's workforce, as well as student
• So, that is another pathway we're looking at and also mapping the workforce.
• And yet, we are team players, and we are standing ready to assist with the budget deficit.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I'll stand ready for any questions that you might have.
• Uh, I certainly would, uh, be ready to answer any questions you may have, uh, and reserve the right to
• Um, we know parental leave programs are incredibly crucial to not only families but, uh, our workforce
• leaving or avoiding the profession, providing a secure environment that supports both healthcare workforce
• Align the county with other major counties in Texas and support public safety, workforce retention, and

Transcript Highlights:

• I will move House File 912, and I do not see an amendment, so it looks like we're ready to go.
• shares a common theme with another bill that will be heard before the committee today, the Mobile Workforce
• Mobile workforce... Legislation, as Mr.
• House File 950 promotes workforce mobility while exempting non-residents who work in Minnesota 30 days
• It is essential to recognize the increasing mobility of today's workforce.

Bills: HF2048, HF2360, HF2006, HF950, HF912, HF3140, HF2931

Keywords: individual income tax, retirement contributions, tax corrections, annuity contracts, tax year attribution, tax credit, economic development, community investment, data disclosure, Minnesota regulations, tax increment financing, municipal authority, job creation, transferred increment, public hearing, nonresident employees, income tax exemption, Minnesota taxation, employment duties, tax withholding