Transcript Highlights:

• So the clearance rates, you know, they continue to work and they'll continue to be there.
• So the clearance rates, you know, they continue to work and they'll continue to be there.
• So the clearance rates, you know, they continue to work and they'll continue to be there.
• And we will continue the work that we're doing as long as you continue to believe in this work.
• The next issue is really a statutory modernization.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and heard several Office of the State Courts Administrator presentations. Judge Mark Mahan discussed the impact of 2023’s HB 837 litigation reforms on court operations, explaining that the law’s changes to comparative negligence, filing deadlines, collateral source evidence, premises liability, bad faith claims, attorney’s fees, and offer-of-judgment rules triggered a major March 2023 civil filing surge. He described how filings tripled statewide, with especially large increases in auto negligence and premises liability cases, and outlined how circuits responded through active case management, added resources, and workflow changes. Members asked whether the bill’s immediate effective date contributed to the surge and whether clearance rates would normalize over time; Judge Mahan said the court system viewed its response as a success and expected rates to settle as the backlog is worked through. The committee then received a presentation on problem-solving courts from Jennifer Grandal and Judge Nina Richardson. Grandal reviewed Florida’s drug courts, mental health courts, veterans courts, dependency and early childhood courts, noting statewide best-practice standards, annual reporting requirements, funding sources, and data collection systems. Judge Richardson gave a local perspective on treatment courts, emphasizing that they address underlying mental health and substance use issues, rely on judicial supervision and sanctions as well as incentives, and help participants achieve recovery and avoid reoffending. She said the programs are accountable, transparent, and effective, and thanked the Legislature for continued support. Finally, Judge Rachel Nordby and Eric McClure outlined the judicial branch’s legislative agenda. Nordby summarized the Supreme Court workgroup’s recommendations to expand Florida’s vexatious litigant law, including broader coverage, fewer qualifying adverse cases, a longer lookback period, and a public records exemption for stricken defamatory or sham material. McClure then highlighted additional agenda items: modernizing the duty-judge statute, expanding senior management retirement eligibility, authorizing additional judgeships based on workload studies, removing the statutory cap on court-ordered nonbinding arbitration compensation, protecting appellate clerks’ personal information, allowing alternative authentication for certain judicial notarizations, and creating a hearsay exception for guardian ad litem reports and testimony. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after member introductions and staff introductions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm wondering, I did quite a bit of background on the statutory language.
• And I'm wondering, I did quite a bit of background on the statutory language.
• And I'm wondering, I did quite a bit of background on the statutory language.
• And I'm wondering, I did quite a bit of background on the statutory language.
• And so, have you changed that statutory language since I looked in your bill?

Bills: SF1959, HF2444, SF2298, HF2445, SF2216, HF2443, HF2130, HF1943, HF2436, HF2442

Keywords: veterans, military affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Military Affairs, omnibus veterans bill, appropriations, National Guard, state active service, armory, State Armory Building Commission, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, county veterans service office, Minnesota GI Bill, Gold Star families, Blue Star families, Secret War in Laos, Hmong veterans, Laos veterans, special guerrilla units

Transcript Highlights:

• over, and I am committed to continued over, and I am committed to continued those<00:04:03.200><
• <00:10:44.720> conversations We'd be glad to continue conversations We'd be glad to continue
• data centers as a means to continue data centers as a means to continue fulfilling<00:18:42.000>
• statutory structure is. Thank you, Mr. statutory structure is. Thank you, Mr.
• . continue. continue.

Bills: HF2928, HF2912, HF2297

Keywords: water appropriation, data centers, environmental review, energy conservation, permit application, carbon-free energy, geothermal energy, renewable energy, Macalester College, appropriation, sustainability, solar energy, pollinator programs, license plates, agrivoltaics, environmental sustainability, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• continue to remain high and that the students in the community they serve continue to be happy with
• We're continuing to grow that pipeline. We're continuing to reach out. We've approved new schools.
• Wanted to ask about issue one, which is the issue of statutory caps.
• And I'll note that the board has asked for an increase in the statutory cap before.
• It's a good thing that you haven't needed to increase the statutory cap in the past.

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate Business and Professions sunset oversight hearing focused first on the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), with committee chairs emphasizing oversight, consumer protection, workforce access, and economic mobility. BRN leaders reported improvements since the last review, including faster licensing timelines, streamlined enforcement, higher consumer satisfaction, growth in pre-licensure enrollment, and expanded data collection. Members questioned the board about nurse practitioner scope and supervision, international and military pathways to licensure, online nursing education and clinical requirements, rural workforce shortages, and the 30-unit LVN-to-RN option. BRN staff explained California’s tiered advanced practice system, the NCLEX and certification requirements, English proficiency rules, clinical hour standards, and the board’s role in approving programs and supporting schools through nursing education consultants. Several members and the board president also discussed the need to retain new graduates, improve diversity in the workforce, and better support nontraditional students and rural placements. Public comment on the BRN sunset review was extensive and largely supportive of the board, while also urging policy changes. Nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and nursing education groups generally supported the BRN report and especially backed clarification of APRN-to-RN delegation authority under issue 13. Other commenters asked for clearer implementation of AB 890, more flexibility for clinical nurse specialists, streamlined renewals for nurse midwives, and changes to federal loan limits affecting graduate nursing education. Higher education representatives and private nursing schools raised concerns about duplicative BRN documentation, clinical placement bottlenecks, and barriers faced by out-of-state and online programs seeking to serve California students. The California Medical Association and some physician groups opposed easing transition-to-practice requirements for out-of-state nurse practitioners and cautioned against changes to specialty and delegation rules, while the California Nurses Association and others stressed the importance of community college pathways, new graduate support, and workforce retention. The hearing then moved to the Physical Therapy Board of California. Board leadership reported that the board oversees more than 41,000 active licensees, has seen about 15% growth since 2021, and continues to maintain high exam pass rates among California physical therapy and physical therapist assistant programs. The board described its mission as consumer protection through licensing, enforcement, continuing competency oversight, and stakeholder engagement. The vice president’s remote testimony encountered technical problems, so the executive officer continued with a brief overview of the board’s work and its commitment to efficient service and public protection. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• revisions may not actually need to be statutory revisions.
• With you were... without statutory approval.
• Nothing really substantive; they're just a statutory cleanup, if you will. So with that, Mr.
• Continue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• And this is a process that you guys are going to continue, as I heard you say that.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, since 1999, the total amounts deposited into the judicial fund by statutory probate courts and
• probate courts matched those of statutory county and district courts.
• I'm Guy Herman, presiding statutory probate court judge here in the state of Texas.
• counties then create new statutory probate courts, and we hope, hope are supporting this.
• Yes, this is just fraud, a continuation of more fraud. OK.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the rules do not result from statutory changes made by the Legislative Assembly.
• One of these was people coming from out of state needing continuing education.
• They had previously required 10 hours of continuing education for each year.
• For appealing an initial board decision and just corrects the statutory reference.
• Continue, Mr. Hummel. Okay.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• IS THE SPECIFIC AND STATUTORY LANGUAGE AROUND THESE VERY SPECIFIC RULES?
• THEY ARE NOT AN EXERCISE OF REGULATORY POWER THAT COULD EXCEED TO STATUTORY AUTHORITY BECAUSE THEY ARE
• THE FIRST IS THE LACK OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO ISSUE PERMITS FOR A CIGAR WHOLESALE DEALER.
• WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORKING WITH YOU.
• WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:34.000> requirements connection with statutory requirements connection with statutory
• House fiscal staff we are continually House fiscal staff we are continually monitoring<00:15:35.800
• planning years are assumed to continue planning years are assumed to continue at<00:23:05.679>
• So we are continuing to hold that assumption in our forecast.
• what I'll say is we're we're continuing what I'll say is we're we're continuing to<00:51:58.760>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met for its first 2025 meeting, with co-chairs Senator Marty and Senator Pratt opening the session and members and staff introducing themselves. No bills were heard; the meeting was focused on orientation and on reviewing the committee’s budget rules for the new biennium. Committee members and staff from both caucuses, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), and legislative fiscal offices were introduced before the presentation began. MMB fiscal staff Brian D. and committee fiscal staff explained that budget rules are a nonbinding agreement between MMB and House and Senate fiscal staff that guides how fiscal proposals are tracked and understood. They reviewed the history of the rules, noting that the current document reflects the most substantial update since the rules were first adopted in the early 2000s, and that the 2025 version was reorganized into eight sections after extensive interim work by House, Senate, and MMB staff. The presenters emphasized that the rules are updated annually, are intended to promote consistent fiscal tracking and transparent communication, and are used as guidance for budget bills rather than as law. The presentation highlighted several substantive rule areas: general tracking rules and comparison points for budget documents; appropriation drafting guidance; treatment of transfers, revenues, and inflation; planning estimates and “budget tails”; and rules for extending, canceling, or reappropriating existing appropriations. Staff also described new or revised provisions, including guidance on understanding current-law changes, using Department of Revenue estimates for tax revenue, and treating inflation in the forecast as a general pressure estimate rather than appropriated dollars. The committee was asked to review the updated rules, but no vote or formal action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the maximum the judge could do is up to the statutory maximum.
• going to impose the maximum statutory going to impose the maximum statutory penalty.<00:12:47.279
• to exceed that up to the statutory to exceed that up to the statutory maximum.<00:13:27.440>
• As do it is up to the statutory maximum.
• But the exceed the statutory maximum.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3380, a bill by Representative Hudson aimed at repeat violent felony offenders who use firearms. Hudson said the bill would require aggravated sentencing, up to the statutory maximum, for people convicted of three or more violent felonies involving firearms, with no probation, parole, early release, or work release. He argued the measure was needed because repeat offenders cycle through the system and because downward departures are too common, especially in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Dave Zimmer, a former law enforcement officer and public safety policy fellow, testified in support, saying the bill would tighten loopholes, restore consequences for repeat violent offenders, and help victims of violent crime. Representative Pinto questioned the bill’s need and structure, asking for specific examples of the problem and raising concerns about separation of powers, the breadth of the lookback into prior convictions, and whether the bill actually required a full maximum sentence or could be satisfied by only a small upward departure. He also noted that sentencing departures are public and can be challenged. Representative Mohler similarly pressed for clarification on the statistics Hudson cited, referenced sentencing guidelines data showing different departure rates across counties, and said departures can sometimes reflect victim preferences or evidentiary difficulties. Hudson responded that the bill was simple, that any ambiguity about firearm involvement would likely not count, and that the point was to ensure sentences could not go down for repeat armed violent offenders. After discussion, the chair announced that an amendment, DE2, was out of order. The committee then laid House File 3380 over, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some caveats to statutory and um constitutional statutory and um constitutional Provisions<
• /c><00:09:49.600> state Provisions so the statutory the state Provisions so the statutory the
• questions otherwise we can just continue questions otherwise we can just continue to<00:31:15.840
• to move on we're going can uh continue to move on we're going to<00:49:03.079> continue<00:49
• :03.319> to<00:49:03.440> move to continue to move to continue to move on<00:49:05.839>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Transportation Working Group met on January 15, 2025, with Chair John Kosnik opening by saying the committee expected to pass a transportation bill this year and emphasizing efficient use of transportation revenues, maintenance of roads and transit, and safety. Members and staff introduced themselves, and several representatives noted their interest in roads, bridges, and regional transportation needs. Kosnik also said he had spoken with Representative Kel about leadership arrangements and stressed that bipartisan support would be needed for a transportation bill. House Fiscal Staff’s Andrew Lee and House Research’s Matt Burus then gave an overview of transportation finance, focusing mainly on highways and transit. Burus explained Minnesota’s highway funding structure, including the constitutional Highway User Tax Distribution Fund and the related Trunk Highway Fund, County State-Aid Highway Fund, and Municipal State-Aid Street Fund. He reviewed the main revenue sources: the motor fuels tax, motor vehicle registration tax, motor vehicle sales tax, portions of the general sales tax tied to auto parts, vehicle rentals and leases, and the retail delivery fee. He noted several changes from 2023 legislation, including indexing of the gas tax, creation of the Transportation Advancement Account, and the retail delivery fee, which began in July 2024 and therefore would affect fiscal year 2025 rather than the fiscal 2024 data shown. The presentation also covered how highway dollars flow through constitutional formulas, including the 95/5 split from the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund, with the 5 percent set-aside used for town roads, town bridges, and flexible highway purposes such as turnbacks. Burus distinguished trunk highway bonds from general obligation bonds and explained that both are debt-financing tools for transportation projects, but with different repayment sources and uses. No votes or formal actions were taken at this informational meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• on K and L and M with statutory definitions.
• But my M with statutory definitions.
• We've created a statutory definition.
• <00:13:19.839> definitions does not have a statutory definitions does not have a statutory
• So my um is a statutory definition.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• [Garbled title text continues.] [Garbled title text continues.]
• [Garbled title text continues.] [Garbled title text continues.] [Garbled title text continues.]
• [Garbled title text continues.] [Garbled title text continues.] Section 81-14-14.
• The bill continues with additional retirement-related statutory references and changes.
• The roll call continues.

Bills: LB764, LB815A, LB839, LB888, LB955, LB972A, LB1029, LB1087, LB1091, LB1126A, LB1181A, LB1237A, LB1261A, LB304A, LB762, LB889, LB929, LB966, LB1022, LB1187, LR508

Keywords: law enforcement, correctional services, Department of Correctional Services, corrections officers, state prison employees, peace officer, certification, police standards, training academy, Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Nebraska Police Standards Advisory Council, criminal justice, correctional staff, conditional officer, law enforcement authority, public safety, LB815A, LB815, appropriation, appropriations bill

Transcript Highlights:

• May I continue? Continue, Representative Schauer.
• Continue on.
• Continue.
• Continue.
• So just to continue there, there's no statutory direction on the deposit of the funding at that time,

Summary: The committee convened, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received a memo summarizing major audit items. The State Auditor’s office and outside auditors then presented a series of audits, many of which were clean with unmodified opinions and no findings, including the Bank of North Dakota, the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Quality, Lake Region State College, and the Office of the Governor. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association audit was also clean overall, but it repeated findings about limited segregation of duties and auditor assistance in preparing financial statements, which the auditor said were expected to continue because of the organization’s small size. Committee members asked about out-of-state board addresses, and the association explained those members were North Dakota residents using South Dakota mailing addresses. Several audits did include findings. The Council on the Arts audit identified two issues: payroll charged to federal awards without supporting time records, and $12,825 in Cultural Endowment Fund spending that was not allowable under state law, including staff training, retreats, and executive director candidate travel. The Department of Public Instruction audit found unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, but additional testing confirmed the funds were credited properly and students completed required school district work, so no improper payments were identified. The University of North Dakota audit found a lack of documentation and transparency in School of Law admissions decisions; the auditor said the law school used a holistic process but did not keep notes or evaluation tools to show why applicants were admitted, waitlisted, or denied. UND leadership said the school is in good standing with the American Bar Association and agreed better documentation is needed, and the auditor said the issue was the missing documentation, not ABA accreditation itself. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which found four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating cap, grant conditions not being met, improper breeder fund awards, and improper procurement. The auditor said promotion fund spending exceeded the cap by $327,447 and the fund balance dropped sharply over the audit period. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson said the agency had become complacent, that grant requests were treated as routine, and that controls and documentation need to be tightened. He also explained that the breeder fund overpayments involved two horses whose ownership transfers were not properly documented before racing, and that the procurement issue stemmed from an advertising contract that proceeded without proper written procurement procedures after a misunderstanding with the State Procurement Office. The auditor said the Racing Commission will now be audited every two years because of the findings. The committee also received updates on Dakota College at Bottineau’s bank reconciliations, which Minot State University said had been brought current after an 18-month backlog, with only one account still needing cleanup; members asked for a written report on the corrective actions. The North Dakota Fair Foundation was reported to have dissolved, with remaining funds transferred to another nonprofit account for continued support of the state fair. Finally, the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, revising the earlier estimate to about $1.1 million based on incomplete district survey responses, and said the Anti-Lunch Shaming law likely increased meal debt because schools must feed students regardless of account balance. Members discussed the need for a more accurate year-end debt figure and possible future reporting at a later committee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• just maybe explain statutory could you just maybe explain statutory operating<00:20:35.120> debt<
• Kisha representative uim statutory Kisha representative uim statutory operating<00:20:41.280>
• that a school district is in statutory that a school district is in statutory operating<00:21:11.520
• charter schools that are in statutory charter schools that are in statutory operating<00:21:23.400
• <01:47:01.599> the say I like to I like to continue the say I like to I like to continue the

Bills: HF957, HF877

Keywords: education, mandate relief, school funding, local control, state laws, fund transfers, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• While specific areas of statutory confusion or statutory constraints can seem small in nature, when added
• Last year, Representative Gilman and I co-presented another bill where this builds on is continuing to
• While specific areas of statutory confusion or statutory constraints can seem small in nature, when added
• Last year, Representative Gilman and I co-presented another bill where this builds on is continuing to
• Last year, Representative Gilman and I co-presented another bill where this builds on is continuing to

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 3520, as amended by an A1 technical amendment from DHS, was heard in committee. The bill was described as a policy-only measure aimed at modernizing mental health statutes to reduce confusion, ease staffing burdens, and improve recruitment and retention in a workforce facing shortages. The author said the bill was developed with mental health stakeholders over several years, shared with DHS, and intended to have no cost unless provisions are later flagged for fiscal impact. Chris Westgard of Touchstone Mental Health testified in support and walked through the bill’s main provisions. Section 1 would exclude weekends and holidays from the 10-day deadline for completing diagnostic assessments after admission to intensive residential treatment services, which he said would reduce weekend and holiday work for limited staff. Section 2 would clarify statutory language governing the behavioral health fund’s coverage of intensive residential treatment and residential crisis stabilization services. Section 3 would update Youth ACT rules by allowing board-certified psychiatrists with relevant clinical experience to serve as prescribers, making registered nurses optional team members, and allowing teams with demonstrated experience to serve children and youth ages 8 to 20. Members raised questions about statutory wording, including the use of “notwithstanding” and the term “qualified provider.” Nonpartisan staff said the bill could be tightened with a cross-reference if it advances. There was no public testimony against the bill. The committee laid House File 3520, as amended, over for possible inclusion.

Transcript Highlights:

• May I continue? Continue, Representative Schauer.
• Continue.
• Okay, may I continue? Yes, continue.
• If I may continue. Continue.
• So just to continue there, as I said, there's no statutory direction on the deposit of the funding at

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Administrative Procedure Act presumptively governs the exercise of all statutory authority vested
• And frankly, in the end, if the agency doesn't have the statutory authority for a rule, our job is to
• Continuous review, and that was why we're here.
• There is, therefore, no statutory authority to support the language included.
• There is, therefore, no statutory authority to support the language included in the rules.

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee met for its first meeting of the year, with roll call and member introductions followed by an orientation on the committee’s role in reviewing agency rulemaking. Staff explained that JAPAC/JAPSI oversees whether agency rules stay within statutory authority, reviews proposed and existing rules under Chapter 120, and can recommend objections when rules enlarge, modify, or contravene enabling statutes. The committee also adopted its biennial rules of procedure by motion and roll-call vote. The main substantive item was staff’s recommended objections to 32 existing Agency for Health Care Administration rules. Staff said the common issue was a sunset provision added to rules, which they argued is not authorized by Chapter 120 because rules may be amended or repealed only through formal rulemaking, not allowed to expire automatically. Staff noted the sunset language could create confusion and affect interrelated rules, and recommended formal objections. The chair reported that he and the vice chair had met with the agency, which agreed to work on compliance and amend the language. No public testimony was offered. After brief committee discussion, including questions about timing, the chair said the agency would return with a compliance proposal at the next scheduled meeting, likely in February. The committee deferred further action on the 32 recommended objections until that meeting, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We look forward to continuing to work with those law enforcement partners as we go forward.
• We look forward to continuing to work with those law enforcement partners as we go forward.
• As I discussed previously, the systems' continued use may be in doubt without continued state funding
• lack of state funding may deter them from continuing to operate the systems.
• However, we continued to do our best to work with the system.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee opened with remarks about moving JLAC to a more frequent monthly schedule and spending more time on each audit. Members also recognized Melanie Chesney of the Auditor General’s office for 32 years of service, with several members praising her work and her role in school safety and other audits. The meeting then turned to the JLAC-directed Arizona School Safety Special Audit on interoperable communication systems, with the Auditor General’s office presenting the December 2025 report. The audit found that the state had allocated nearly $26 million to interoperable communication efforts, but implementation varied widely. Auditors said all 14 law enforcement agencies used the money for interoperable systems, yet four agencies allowed private or tribal schools to participate contrary to statute, and several agencies failed to submit required expenditure reports. The report also found procurement problems: nine of 14 agencies did not follow procurement requirements or lacked documentation, many contracts lacked accountability provisions, and some agencies had not planned for ongoing costs. The audit estimated ongoing annual costs for an average rural county could range from about $16,000 to $382,000, and recommended that agencies document costs, follow procurement rules, monitor vendors, and plan for future funding. It also recommended the legislature clarify whether non-public schools may participate and revisit statutory system requirements that were vague or inconsistently interpreted. Members questioned the Auditor General about vendor licensing, whether systems could be built in-house, why some functions were not configured, and whether the systems were truly usable in emergencies. The presentation explained that some systems met requirements only in part, that Mutualink had a per-user licensing model affecting access to secure text and file sharing, and that some schools were unwilling or unable to install apps or keep devices logged in. The committee also discussed the difference between the separate school safety grant program administered by ADE and this interoperability fund, and several members expressed frustration with sole-source contracting and weak documentation. In the final portion of the presentation, auditors said only two of eight observed systems demonstrated all five critical emergency functions, while four agency systems could not be tested because they were reportedly not functioning. The committee then began hearing responses from county sheriffs, starting with the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association president, who emphasized county commitment to school safety and noted that some counties had implemented systems across multiple districts, including tribal and rural schools. No votes or formal actions were taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• As someone who statutory clarity.
• :31.440> so<00:07:31.599> that consistent statutory clarity so that consistent statutory
• Clear statutory language protects Clear statutory language protects agencies,<00:08:35.919> officers
• Law enforcement in Minnesota continues Law enforcement in Minnesota continues to<00:08:43.919>
• Statutory<00:09:45.839> ambiguity Statutory ambiguity Statutory ambiguity can<00:09:48.160>

Keywords: 1183, house