Video & Transcript Research : 'big tech'
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee Dec 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We have many people from our tech sector.
- Pretty much all of the big ones have at least one lawsuit against them.
- So right now, I think we see this very big heterogeneity.
- This would draw on international precedent like the responses to market failures around big tech and
- tech companies, because it’s difficult.
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary Committee and Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing at Stanford on the intersection of artificial intelligence, copyright, transparency, and California’s creative economy. Chairs and members emphasized that the hearing was not on a specific bill and no vote would be taken. Opening remarks framed the issue as balancing protection for artists and other rights holders with the need to keep AI innovation and related economic activity thriving in California, while noting that federal action is unlikely and that state policy may influence national standards.
The first panel featured Professor Pamela Samuelson and Stanford researcher Rishi Bommasani. Samuelson reviewed the current copyright litigation landscape, including dozens of lawsuits over AI training, and explained the fair use framework, the Google Books precedent, and the uncertainty around newer theories such as market dilution. She said states can likely regulate transparency, deepfakes, privacy, and safety, but warned that some proposals may be preempted by federal copyright law. Bommasani described widespread opacity around training data among major California AI companies, discussed AB 2013 and the EU AI Act as transparency models, and identified gaps in disclosure design, enforcement, and whether transparency alone can address copyright and IP concerns. Members asked about open-source models, opt-outs, machine unlearning, user data, and state options for protecting creators.
The second panel included SAG-AFTRA board member Jason George, Animation Guild president Danny Lynn, and OpenAI copyright counsel Mark Gray. George and Lynn argued that AI training on performers’ and artists’ work without consent or compensation threatens jobs, bargaining power, and reputations, and they supported stronger transparency and licensing requirements so creators can identify when their work is used. Gray said AI is already being used as a productivity tool and highlighted partnerships between AI companies and publishers, record labels, and studios, while arguing that specific harmful uses such as deepfakes should be regulated directly rather than restricting general-purpose AI development. Committee members discussed labeling and watermarking of AI-generated content, transparency around model use, and whether state law should require more detailed disclosure of training data; no formal action was taken.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Education (10-15-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- As you can see, there's a big uptick there.
- So a big part of remaining salaries.
- We didn't have time to add 24 to this chart, but this tells us the big picture.
- Month that more than half of all tech jobs now require AI skills.
- And it is not just about the tech industry.
Summary:
The Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met without a quorum, so the minutes were not approved. The main presentation was from retired economics professors John Garren and Dr. Kums, who discussed their Bluegrass Institute research on teacher compensation in Kentucky since the Kentucky Education Reform Act era. They said teacher base salaries, adjusted for inflation, have declined over the last decade, while state-paid “on-behalf” benefits such as pension and health insurance contributions have risen sharply; they argued total teacher compensation has increased modestly overall, but less than per-pupil funding. They also presented broader context on staffing growth, declining average daily attendance, Kentucky’s low share of teachers among total school staff, and flat or weak NAEP and ACT performance trends, including widening white-Black score gaps on NAEP.
Members questioned the methodology and interpretation of the compensation figures. Representative Bojanowski argued the on-behalf calculations may overstate teacher compensation because they include insurance and pension costs that also benefit classified employees and retirees, and he asked for clarification on the denominator used to derive the per-teacher amount. Representative Truit said the presentation could be misleading if it implies teachers earn $94,000 in salary, and he objected to framing pension stabilization payments as teacher pay. The presenters responded that they were using total compensation, not salary alone, said they had divided total personnel-related on-behalf payments by the relevant staff count, and promised to review and send a technical explanation.
Representative Truit and Chairman Typton both emphasized that compensation should be viewed as salary plus benefits, not salary alone, and noted that pension contributions are part of the cost of employing teachers. The presenters said their intent was to show the full compensation package and its relevance to labor supply and teacher shortages, not to claim that individual teachers earn the total compensation figure as salary. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond the decision to revisit the minutes at a later meeting due to the lack of quorum.
UT
Utah 2025 Regular Session
Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee - November 19, 2025
Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- And in my former life, I used to do estimates for big projects and calculate costs.
- , they're probably not from tech if they're asking you for personal information.
- Thanks. ...big ones. Okay. Thank you so much. I appreciate that answer. All right.
- It was just this Monday that both High Tech Solutions...
- It was just this Monday that both High Tech Solutions and Whole Tech International announced a partnership
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Oct 8th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- The first is for career dual enrollment, which takes place on the Florida College System side, the tech
- , we've had over 44,605 students who have benefited from this in both our school districts and our tech
- colleges and tech centers, as well as our Florida College System institutions.
- our workforce growth that we've had over time, looking at both the Florida College System and our tech
- My question might be a little bit beyond the specific scope of this presentation, but the big idea of
Summary:
The Higher Education Appropriations Committee met for its first session of the year, took roll, welcomed new member Senator Bracey Davis, and had members briefly describe their backgrounds and interest in higher education. Chair Harrell framed the committee’s focus on maintaining Florida’s top national ranking in higher education and workforce development, with an emphasis on funding decisions tied to student success, workforce needs, and the state college system.
Senior Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell presented the Department of Education’s workforce and Florida College System budget requests and data. He described requested increases for adult education, Florida College System program funding, workforce development, and several grant programs, including workforce capitalization, apprenticeship/teacher apprenticeship, Open Door, and CAPE industry certifications. He highlighted record enrollment and completion growth across Florida’s colleges and technical centers, major gains in career dual enrollment, and expansion in programs such as nursing, AI, cybersecurity, welding, HVAC, and manufacturing. Members asked about labor-market demand, the impact of artificial intelligence on future job training, teacher apprenticeship details, mission creep and duplication in CTE programs, student placement and wages after graduation, and articulation between technical college clock hours and college credit.
South Florida State College President Fred Hawkins testified about challenges facing a rural college, including low local college-going rates, long travel distances, limited faculty recruitment due to salaries, and the need for more operational funding to expand capacity. He cited strong job placement and licensure outcomes in nursing, dental hygiene, EMT/paramedic, and radiography, and said the college is exploring AI tools to improve student services and reduce staffing pressure. Pinellas Technical College Executive Director Mark Hunter described strong dual enrollment, high job placement, employer partnerships, and a reported 400% return on investment, while also warning that many programs have waiting lists because of staffing and equipment constraints. He explained how technical college coursework is aligned with state college credit through content-based articulation agreements. The committee then opened the floor for public comment, but no additional business was taken up, and the meeting adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Jul 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Have there been other tech advocacy or privacy groups that...
- Again, I want to align my comments to tech equity.
- brother watching and big tech taking your data when, you know, Both of their websites are targets.
- brother watching and big tech taking your data when, you know, You know, big brother watching and big
- I've watched your career for many years now, and you take really big bites out of big problems, and you
Summary:
The committee heard several bills focused on artificial intelligence, child safety, mental health, and privacy. SB 574 by Senator Umberg would require transparency and human oversight when attorneys, judges, and court neutrals use AI; it drew support from privacy advocates and committee members, with no opposition. SB 1276, the End Child Exploitation Act, would update child sexual exploitation laws to cover live-streamed and AI-generated abuse material and clarify that viewing such content can be criminally punishable; prosecutors, child advocacy groups, and others supported it, while no one appeared in opposition despite opposition on file. SB 813 would create a California AI standards and safety commission and a voluntary two-tier certification framework for AI safety standards; supporters said it would create scalable, independent oversight, while TechNet and CalChamber opposed it as duplicative, under-defined, and likely to create a de facto mandate. The committee discussed market pressure, federal preemption concerns, and the role of voluntary standards, but no final vote was taken in the excerpt.
Senator Padilla also presented SB 300, which would strengthen protections for minors from sexually explicit chatbot content by moving from a reasonableness standard to an affirmative duty to prevent such exposure and to prohibit facilitation. Supporters said new evidence showed greater risks and that companies can and should build stronger safeguards; opponents, including TechNet and CCIA, argued the bill was premature because SB 243 had only recently taken effect and warned it could create strict-liability-like exposure. Padilla then presented SB 903, which would bar AI chatbots from being advertised as therapists, require licensed clinician oversight and informed consent for AI use in psychotherapy, and protect patient confidentiality; it received broad support from mental health professionals and labor groups, while industry and health associations were opposed unless amended over triage and crisis-detection language. The committee members emphasized the need for human judgment in mental health care and noted ongoing negotiations on amendments.
The committee also heard SB 1119, a companion to AB 2020, which would require annual risk assessments, crisis-response protocols, default child settings, parental controls, limits on data use, public incident reporting, and third-party audits for chatbots used by children. Supporters argued the bill would address documented harms and improve transparency, while industry groups objected to ambiguous standards, liability exposure, and the private right of action. A roll call vote was taken on SB 1119 after quorum was established; the motion to pass to Appropriations succeeded on a 5-1 vote, with one no vote and the measure left on call for absent members. Finally, SB 354, a privacy bill for insurance consumers, would modernize outdated insurance privacy rules, bar sale of personal information, and expand consumer rights to know, correct, and delete data. Supporters said it would implement Proposition 24’s privacy mandate, while a large coalition of insurers, agents, brokers, and related businesses opposed unless amended, mainly seeking a small-business exemption and narrower treatment of publicly available information; members and the author said negotiations were ongoing and the bill had already been substantially revised.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- because we have a couple of really big because we have a couple of really big upcoming<00:23:19.799
- And then with that, you can do big things, right? So that's the thought, right?
- And then with that, you can do big things, right? So that's the thought, right?
- The recommendation is to pass out with an effective date of July 1, 3000, and tech.
- We're going to be changing the effective date and tech. Any discussion? House Bill 1414.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 24th, 2025
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay, so I have Spaceport America and I have New Mexico Tech.
- You may or may not be techie, but it is a huge thing in the tech world.
- If we need to expand that conversation later, why is there such a big discrepancy?
- If you'd like, I can go P code by P code, but those are the big differences.
- It's a big budget, a $125 million budget.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
AEN-PSM, AEN, AEN DEFER, AEN DEFER Public Hearings 02-07-2025
Agriculture and Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- I know Senator Richards got his prize horse stolen on the Big Island.
- villains, because Big Island, they're super hobos.
- I know Senator Richards got his prize horse stolen on the Big Island.
- villains, because Big Island, they're super hobos.
- villains, because Big Island, they're super hobos.
Summary:
The joint AEN-PSM hearing on February 7, 2025 focused primarily on three agriculture-related measures and one animal welfare bill, with additional discussion of pesticide drift monitoring, coffee labeling, and a gas-pump labeling bill. SB 762 would create an Agricultural Crimes Council and authorize agricultural crime investigators; testimony from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Law Enforcement, the Attorney General’s office, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and several members of the public was generally supportive, with repeated calls for stronger enforcement, community involvement, and in some cases allowing investigators to be armed. Some testifiers also urged changes to the appointment process for council members, preferring neighborhood boards or local officials over gubernatorial appointments. The committee discussed combining related agricultural crime bills and noted concerns about investigator safety in remote areas.
SB 763 would establish an agriculture enforcement program within the Department of Law Enforcement and a special fund. Testimony was strongly supportive from state agencies and farm groups, with speakers emphasizing the need for more effective response to agricultural theft, poaching, and related crimes. Several public testifiers linked the bill to broader community safety and asked for clearer funding, training, coordination, performance metrics, and technology use. The committee also heard SB 1022, which would prohibit leaving pets in dangerous conditions in vehicles and allow officers, firefighters, animal control, and in some cases private citizens to rescue animals; the Attorney General said existing cruelty statutes may already cover the conduct and suggested amendments, while HPD opposed the bill. Members asked about liability for rescuers and whether the proposal might affect property-crime enforcement.
The committee also heard SB 1304 on pesticide drift monitoring funding, with the Department of Agriculture supporting the measure and explaining it was needed to complete a required project under an EPA-related agreement. A Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action representative raised concerns about the methodology of prior studies, and a public testifier described a recent odor incident near a roadway and school. SB 1015, requiring labels on gas dispensing equipment warning about fossil fuel impacts, drew support from the Department of Agriculture and the Public Utilities Commission but opposition from the Hawaii Energy Marketers Association. SB 500 on coffee labeling and regional origin was also heard, with the Department of Agriculture in support. In decision-making, the committees adopted recommendations to pass SB 762 with amendments, SB 763 with amendments, SB 1022 with technical amendments, SB 1304 with technical amendments, and SB 1015 as is; SB 500 was not acted on in the portion provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - 03/02/26
Jobs and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- or is it is it more of a tech type job? or is it is it more of a tech type job?
- But you asked if there's a big leap.
- It's not just the big tech workers. >> Uh, let me ask this question before I go to Senator Nelson.
- It's not just not just<01:23:35.760>
the <01:23:36.000>big <01:23:36.239>tech <01 - just the big tech workers. just the big tech workers.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Dec 8th, 2025 at 09:45 am
Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- You might have said this at the beginning, Jonas, how big of a spill is this? A big one area.
- So you're dealing with a big set of issues.
- My husband started as a rad tech; he went from being a truck driver to a rad tech to a nuclear engineer
- Botech gave him a position to be a rad tech, and he started as a rad tech.
- I'm a big supporter of LANL.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Reading of a joint resolution honoring the lives and service of Melissa and Mark Hortman 2/17/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- worked for a decade for John's Auto Parts, the Hopsuk family business, and had a fruitful career in the tech
- children, Colin and Sophie. business had a fruitful career in the business had a fruitful career in the tech
- 42.479>
most <00:01:42.720>recently <00:01:43.200>working <00:01:43.439>for tech - industry. most recently working for tech industry. most recently working for Envent.<00:01:44.880>
memory is to do something, whether big memory is to do something, whether big or<00:04:40.000>
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- Let's give them a big hand. members. Let's give them a big hand.
- job and I feel that it would be a a big job and I feel that it would be a a big burden<02:39:46.560
- >> I was just curious if those career tech >> I was just curious if those career tech
- separate career tech school. separate career tech school. >> Yes. >> Yes.
- <04:40:31.840>
It homeschool, defining career tech. It homeschool, defining career tech.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 115 May 8th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It is painfully obvious that a chair and a microphone were readily available for big tech. referrals
- <02:57:57.960>
tech Big tech, big tech, and it is infiltrating the halls of our capital while - This is a big deal. This is a big deal.
- The tech companies themselves. The tech companies themselves.
- the tech the tech companies.
Summary:
The Senate was in session with a quorum present, approved the journal, and received several committee and House messages before moving through a long third-reading calendar. The chamber also paused for multiple personal privilege recognitions, including welcoming community guests and students, and a lighthearted update that Senator Sullivan’s missing stuffed “Chip” had been found. The majority leader later moved to lay over the remaining third-reading bills until later in the day, and the Senate also laid over special-order second reading bills until after third reading.
On third reading, the Senate passed Senate Bill 185 and a series of House bills, including HB 1342 on bear-luring behavior, HB 1269 on transit access, HB 1225 on distributed energy resources, HB 1233 on property tax procedures for nonresidential property, HB 1414 on medical records held by certain health care entities, HB 1256 on release procedures from the Department of Corrections, HB 1004 on a child care income tax credit, HB 1014 extending the Colorado Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit, HB 1111 creating a pesticide product disposal and container recycling program, and HB 1287 continuing certain Division of Real Estate regulatory functions. HB 1206 was laid over to Monday, and SB 193 was laid over to the bottom of the calendar. Several of these bills passed with notable no votes from minority members, while others passed with broad support.
The Committee of the Whole then took up House Bill 1276, a bill concerning protections for immigrants in Colorado and related appropriations. Senator Weisman explained and the committee adopted two amendments: one extending the deadline for peace officer training from July 1 to December 31, 2027, and another clarifying that a certification requirement would not apply to the judicial branch’s e-filing system but would continue to apply to other judicial data systems. Senator Judah spoke strongly in support of the bill, arguing it was about government accountability, privacy, and conditions in detention facilities. The committee adopted both amendments and then adopted HB 1276.
The committee also considered House Bill 1419, dealing with the overall refund amount for state revenues above the TABOR spending limit. Senator Bridges presented the committee report, and Senator Kirkmeyer spoke in opposition, arguing the bill was an unnecessary maneuver to retroactively alter accounting and TABOR refund calculations despite prior compliance and a clean audit opinion. After debate, the committee report was adopted and the bill was taken up for further discussion, with the transcript ending amid that debate.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informational interview with Rep. Shelley Buck (DFL-Maplewood) Feb 9th, 2026
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Um gun safety was a big thing.
- <00:02:07.040>
And <00:02:07.200>then Um gun safety was a big thing. - And then Um gun safety was a big thing.
- I think it's kind of tech college.
- one that gets occupation will be a big one that gets worked<00:03:57.519>
on.
Summary:
The transcript is an interview with Shelley Buck, a newly elected Minnesota House member for District 47A, who introduced herself as Dakota, a member of the Prairie Island Indian Community, and president of a nonprofit working to restore land at Owámni/St. Anthony Falls. She said her prior 12 years on tribal council, including six as president, motivated her to run because she wants to help people and bring that same kind of service to her new district.
Buck said constituents in her district emphasized affordability, especially housing and health care, along with environmental protection, clean water, PFAS concerns, gun safety, and the impact of the current ICE occupation. She described herself as a champion for working families and the environment, citing her own working-class, single-parent upbringing and the importance of postsecondary education and state support programs.
On policy priorities, Buck said she wants to focus first on the ICE occupation issue, while also addressing affordability, health care, housing, and environmental protection. She framed her environmental views through a Dakota worldview that treats plants, animals, land, and water as relatives and stressed protecting the Boundary Waters and other natural areas.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Chair, members of the committee, what this bill does is it makes an appropriation to New Mexico Tech
- We are the state geological survey and a research division of New Mexico Tech.
- And so we are kind of intimately, also intimately related to the academic mission of New Mexico Tech.
- I'm a city councilor and also known as Grandpa Joe, but I understand the importance of a strong tech,
- And we actually, New Mexico Tech is leading the way in geothermal.
Keywords:
SB29, math requirements for teaching license, teacher licensure, teacher endorsement, mathematics methods, elementary education, secondary education, special education, early childhood education, reciprocity, Public Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Act, mathematics instructional leadership framework, professional learning plan, K-3 screening, mathematics screening assessment, mathematics difficulty, support plan, multilevel support, intervention
VA
Virginia 2026 Regular Session
House Select Committee on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care Jun 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It's thinking about health tech startups.
- So, for example, the Tech Innovation Fund—that's our health tech startup, that's really our entrepreneurship
- And then consumer tech—consumer tech is really our patient consumer-facing technology… Consumer tech
- And local health districts are a big part of that. Thank you.
- So critical, and local health districts are a big part of that. Thank you.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Aug 20th, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So, New Mexico Tech and the Bureau of Geology are working on that investigation.
- We really appreciate the partnerships with New Mexico Tech on these issues.
- I would just, again, compliment the work that's going on at New Mexico Tech.
- We were planning to put a big fire station there, and we couldn't because of the leak.
- So when the suggestion is made, well, ag is the elephant in the room, or the big.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations - Room 210; 14 January, 2026: 3:30 PM
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- to write curriculum for career tech to write curriculum for career tech programs.<00:35:16.000><
- I mean, that was in your big number.
- big buildings, but we got to take the ones we got.
- I mean we we're big facilities. Opponents of R&R.
- I mean we we're big facilities.
Summary:
MDES presented its FY27 budget request, describing the agency as a special fund workforce agency focused on helping Mississippians get jobs through employment services, labor market information, and unemployment insurance. Executive Director Bill Ashley said the revised request seeks level spending authority similar to FY26, with line-item changes driven mainly by higher salaries and fringe benefits and lower contractual services. He said MDES currently has 406 employees, 28 active recruitments, and six additional planned positions, for a requested total of 440 positions, down from 453 authorized last year. The request also includes $1.4 million for the State Longitudinal Data System and $400,000 for Accelerate Mississippi fiscal support. Committee members asked about the SLDS pass-through funding, whether it is recurring, and the staffing/pin changes; MDES explained the SLDS is a recurring annual pass-through and that the staffing request reflects turnover and recruitment needs rather than a net expansion.
Accelerate Mississippi then outlined its FY27 request and program updates. Officials said the office is requesting level funding overall, with some salary adjustments tied to benefits and two new positions, including one for Talent Solutions and one systems administrator. They described workforce initiatives such as Encore, a recruiter/instructor program; Facet, a partnership with Northwest Mississippi Community College to strengthen instructor preparation; Power Path, a K-12 advanced manufacturing credential model; and expanded career coach activity, reporting 204 coaches serving 209 schools and more than 22,000 unique student interactions. They also reviewed funding streams for workforce enhancement training, Mississippi Works, Equip Mississippi, and ARPA, saying ARPA funds are on track to be fully spent by the September 30 reimbursement deadline and that monthly check-ins are being used to ensure funds are drawn down. Members asked about the budget changes, the use of contractual services, and the career coach program; the office said it was shifting some audit and monitoring costs to the funds being monitored and was not requesting an increase for career coach funding.
The Mississippi community college presidents and the Community College Board also presented their budget priorities. They reported that Mississippi community colleges served 88,600 students in academic year 2023 and said the system’s graduation rate is about 42 percent, with a goal of reaching 55 percent. Their FY27 request includes a 6 percent salary increase for employees, increased basic operations funding, and continued support for CTE Advantage programs, totaling $61.5 million in general support. On facilities, they requested $150 million after receiving no facilities funding last year, citing roughly $413 million in identified needs across capital improvements, repairs and renovations, and pre-planning. The Community College Board requested restoration of $310,000 in general fund cuts and a new $2 million appropriation for adult education, noting that an estimated 300,000 to 330,000 Mississippians lack a high school diploma. No votes were taken during the presentations.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine reforming SBIR-STTR for the 21st century. Mar 5th, 2025 at 01:30 pm
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- That's a big issue.
- This whole idea of the big companies, like Microsoft just swiped the browser idea.
- Big companies actually don't make breakthroughs. It's just a joke.
- And here there's not a big profit, but there's a big problem that has to get solved by the Defense Department
- The market is just not big enough to attract those investments.
Keywords:
SBIR, STTR, Innovate Act, small business, innovation, legislative reforms, economic growth, funding, technology transfer
Summary:
The meeting focused on the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR-STTR), emphasizing the critical reforms necessary to enhance their effectiveness. Chair Ernst introduced the Innovate Act to streamline processes, ensuring funding is awarded based on merit and addressing existing abuses within the system. The discussion was robust, with numerous members expressing concerns about phase transitions and the need for targeted funding to support impactful technological innovations. The conversation also highlighted the program's importance in fostering economic growth, particularly for small businesses in rural areas, and the urgency for legislative changes as the program's authorization approaches expiration.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 3/3/26
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Transcript Highlights:
- There's no standards around the quality of the tech.
- There's no standards around the quality of the tech.
- Um, not a big fan of the uh, input.
- putting some guard rails around that big putting some guard rails around that big brother<00:36:
- That big brother society would be great.
Keywords:
facial recognition, privacy, government surveillance, public safety, data protection, civil liberties, disability rights, discrimination, accommodations, employment, housing, public services, education, civil action, failure to render aid, damages, Minnesota Statutes, legal liability, trespass, civil immigration enforcement
Summary:
The committee approved the minutes from February 24 and February 26. It then took up House File 3661, a bill originally authored by Representative Gomez and presented by Representative Feist, which would ban government use of facial recognition technology and be re-referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. The committee adopted the A1 amendment, described as a technical amendment based on House Research recommendations, before hearing testimony on the bill.
Representative Feist said the bill is aimed at preventing serious privacy and civil-liberties harms, including secretive surveillance, racial and gender bias, and the lack of statewide rules governing government use of facial recognition. Supportive testimony came from Chad Marlo of the ACLU, who argued the issue is bipartisan, the technology has accuracy problems, and government use is expanding against vulnerable groups. Chris Wayland of Restore the Fourth Minnesota also supported a ban, emphasizing the inability to opt out of facial recognition and the lack of standards, disclosure, and community input. Rich Newmeister urged stronger transparency measures, including agency policies and public notice in buildings using the technology.
Major Spencer Baky of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office opposed an outright ban, saying facial recognition is used only as an investigative lead, not for positive identification or real-time surveillance, and that results are corroborated before use. He said the office has used the tool in hundreds of investigations and supports a statutory framework with safeguards instead of a ban. In member discussion, Representative Hudson argued a blanket ban was too broad and suggested a more targeted evidentiary approach, while Representative Moller and Representative Kurr expressed concern about misuse and the federal government's use of the technology. Representative Durant asked whether there was a current Minnesota problem and whether stakeholders and law enforcement had been involved in drafting the bill. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided, beyond adoption of the amendment and the committee’s continued consideration of HF 3661.