Transcript Highlights:

• did that that might not be appropriate did that that might not be appropriate so<00:11:28.760>
• I would also ask folks to consider the generation component here.
• You know, what about the Attorney General?
• You know, what about the Attorney General?
• You know, what about the Attorney General?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• General of the United States.
• The Inspector General found that Mr.
• As I've argued in this committee, my Inspector General Access Act would allow the Inspector General to
• Now, and general counsels for advice.
• Vice of Offices of General Counsel.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's for $6,000 in appropriation.
• These are pay plan appropriation requests.
• These are pay plan appropriation requests.
• I think if it's about appropriation versus funding, all the requests for this month are strictly appropriation
• So strictly just an appropriation.

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of budget, appropriation, transfer, and contract items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests for several agencies, including the Auditor of State, Department of Education, and Labor and Licensing; ARPA return requests from Workforce Services; Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests for State Police and Agriculture; restricted reserve transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic stimulus; a Commerce reallocation of positions and spending authority; cash fund, budget classification, overtime, and pay plan requests; and 17 methods of finance items for universities and other agencies. Most items were approved without objection after brief explanations from staff and agencies. Several items drew questions and were held or discussed further. A Department of Human Services discretionary grant package for the RSVP program was held over after Senator Irvin raised concerns about whether the grants were an effective use of state general revenue and asked for more information on administration costs and program operations. In the contracts section, Representative Richardson questioned a DHS sole-source contract with EMS Link for document management software and a DHS contract with Presidio; the EMS Link item was held for additional answers, while the Presidio item was clarified as not sole-source and was allowed to proceed. Members also asked for more information on a Department of Education mental health referral contract with Care Solace, which officials said is a statewide concierge/referral service connecting students to Arkansas providers and telehealth options. The committee also reviewed monthly reports, including the Medicaid Trust Fund. DHS and DFA officials said the fund was currently sufficient to finish the fiscal year, though it was being drawn down and would likely require a $100 million transfer from restricted reserves in FY27, with another $100 million set aside in the governor’s budget as a backstop. Members discussed the need to define a minimum reserve level and to better account for ongoing Medicaid costs in the budget. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it receives a general fund appropriation in the base of $45 million a year.
• Um, it receives a general fund appropriation in the base of $45 million a year.
• Um, it receives a general fund appropriation in the base of $45 million a year.
• Um, it receives a general fund appropriation in the base of $45 million a year.
• Receives a general fund appropriation in the base of $45 million a year.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The meeting was an informational walkthrough for the Health Finance and Policy Working Group, focused on committee structure, budget basics, and major health-related accounts and programs. Staff explained the roles of House Research and House Fiscal, then reviewed key funds used by the committee, including the general fund, government special revenue fund, federal funds, the health care access fund, remediation account, and drinking water revolving fund. They also outlined the committee’s main budget areas, noting that medical assistance is the largest general fund item and that the Department of Health is a substantial agency funded by a mix of federal, general fund, and special revenue dollars. A major portion of the presentation covered subsidized health coverage programs. Staff described Medical Assistance (Minnesota’s Medicaid program) as an entitlement for eligible Minnesotans, with no premiums or cost sharing, and explained its managed care and fee-for-service delivery systems. MinnesotaCare was presented as a separate federal-state basic health program for people who are not eligible for MA, with income limits, premiums for adults age 21 and older, and cost-sharing requirements; staff noted that federal premium tax credit changes affect MinnesotaCare premium ranges. The presentation also summarized MNsure’s role in the individual market and in determining eligibility for premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, MinnesotaCare, and MA. The committee also received an overview of health-related licensing boards and occupational regulation. Staff said Minnesota has 16 health-related licensing boards, funded mainly through the state government special revenue fund and subject to legislative appropriation, and explained that health occupations may be regulated by the Department of Health, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, or the boards under chapter 214. Interstate licensure compacts were briefly noted as a way to ease practice across states. No bills were debated and no votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• and uh want to kind base load generation and uh want to kind of<00:04:47.039> we<00:04:47.120
• The general fund amount spent in 2024 was 10,037,000, and in 2025 the budget is 12,128,000 from the general
• <00:10:50.360> fund Utilities Commission um the general fund Utilities Commission um the general
• And these were—this was created to hold a couple of the appropriations made in recent years.
• appropriated appropriated s<00:15:58.639> Mr<00:15:59.120> chair<00:15:59.440> and<

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Committee on Energy Finance and Policy met for an informational session and quorum was present, but the chair stated no action would be taken. Members and staff introduced themselves, and Chair Chris Swedzinski outlined the committee’s broad goals of improving Minnesota’s energy system for families and businesses, with an emphasis on affordability, reliability, and development. Several members echoed those priorities, especially concerns about electric reliability, base-load generation, and the needs of rural communities, co-ops, munis, farms, and small businesses. House fiscal analyst Ashley presented a budget overview for the committee’s jurisdiction. She reviewed spending and base amounts for the Energy Resources Division, the Renewable Development Fund, the Petroleum Tank Release Cleanup Fund, and the Public Utilities Commission, and explained that the committee also oversees special revenue and other accounts. She noted that the Renewable Development Fund is supported by utility payments for spent nuclear fuel storage, the cleanup fund by a petroleum distribution fee, and that the Commerce Department receives significant federal LIHEAP and weatherization funds. Members asked about the large increase in the Climate and Economic Development Fund and the status of recent appropriations; staff explained that the 2023 session set a larger target, that about $79 million had been spent from the relevant budget, and that some funds may carry forward. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on community solar gardens. Representative Dave Baker asked for an update on the program, and staff explained that Minnesota has about 1,600 megawatts of solar, with more than 900 megawatts in community solar. Staff said 2023 legislative changes capped annual additions and created new incentives for low- and middle-income participation. Members also discussed concerns about program cost, local siting opposition, and a large interconnection queue; staff said there is a backlog of projects, including a reported 56 gigawatts in the MISO queue, and that utilities need distribution upgrades to handle new capacity. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> GENERAL COUNSEL. >> WHO IS THAT?
• >> ALL OF MY COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE GENERAL COUNSEL. >> Chair: DID GENERAL COUNSEL INFORM YOU THAT THERE
• WITH THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL I WILL CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO SEE WHAT APPROPRIATE ACTION THIS APPROPRIATE
• THAT IT WAS APPROPRIATE. THERE WAS MISSION ALIGNMENT ON THIS AS APPROPRIATE HOW IT WAS PRESCRIBED.
• GENERAL. >> I HAVE NEVER SPOKEN TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll move down to the appropriations.
• research now reducing the appropriation research now reducing the appropriation by<00:03:48.239>
• tuition uh, paid for uh, by the generous tuition uh, paid for uh, by the generous taxpayers<00:18
• The carryforward is kind of like a general amount.
• general amount. general amount. Thank<00:43:03.599> you,<00:43:03.760> Mr.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• On lines 62 and 63, $25,000 of the fiscal year 2024 appropriation from the general fund for the veterans
• On line 66, there's a $620,000 one-time general fund appropriation in the 2026-27 biennium for a misclassification
• year 24 appropriation from the general<00:31:41.200> fund<00:31:41.519> for<00:31:41.840
• <00:31:57.919> fund $620,000 one-time general fund $620,000 one-time general fund appropriation
• On lines 107 and 108, the authority for the $225,000 one-time General Fund appropriation for the single

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriate appropriate funding. funding. funding.
• It does not require us to appropriate general funds, but I do think it's significant enough that if it
• <02:00:57.840> general not require us to appropriate general not require us to appropriate
• appropriate because the motion is ideal. appropriate because the motion is ideal.
• The amendment is not appropriate. D. The amendment is not appropriate.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We feel that this is appropriate at this time.
• general fund in 2028, 29, and ongoing.
• So through CalFile or just in general? In general. I, based on the information I have, hold on.
• The May revision proposes the addition of Control Section 7.20 to appropriate $20 million General Fund
• It's not an appropriate Control Section item.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Ag Commissioner felt that that was appropriate.
• The Ag Commissioner felt that that was appropriate.
• and adds that it can be a designee of the Attorney General rather than just the Attorney General serving
• and adds that it can be a designee of the Attorney General rather than just the Attorney General serving
• as the chairment of the task force. of the Attorney General rather than just the Attorney General serving

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then moved through a series of conference committee appointments and reconsideration motions. Senator Axtman successfully moved to reconsider House Bill 1160, which had previously failed, and the chamber later passed it. HB 1160 creates a statewide bell-to-bell policy restricting personal electronic devices during instructional time; supporters argued it would reduce distractions, improve mental health and academic outcomes, and help teachers, while opponents raised local control concerns. The bill passed 42-4. The Senate also passed several other measures, including HB 1247 on protecting student victims of sexual offenses, HB 1489 consolidating civil protection orders into one chapter, HB 1032 making municipal courts courts of record and updating related procedures, HB 1487 authorizing a Minot facility for the Highway Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Investigation with a line of credit and emergency clause, HB 1469 requiring annual online statements of interest for public officials, HB 1199 creating the Missing and Indigenous People Task Force and related MMIP initiatives, HB 1169 regulating paid veterans benefits claim assistance with consumer protections, HB 1209 directing a foreign adversary threat assessment, and HB 3018 as amended to study water, wetlands, and taxation of inundated lands. Most of these passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 1169 drew substantial debate over veterans’ service options and HB 1209 passed on a narrower 40-7 vote. The chamber rejected or declined several other measures. HB 1455, which would have required the Indian Affairs Commission to review introduced legislation for tribal implications, failed 7-40 after concerns about an unfunded mandate and duplicative duties. HB 1259, which would have put North Dakota on year-round daylight saving time, was defeated 15-32 after debate over time zones, construction, recreation, and whether the issue should be left to future legislatures. HB 1555, dealing with statements of ownership for foreign organizations of concern, also failed 3-44. The Senate then moved to announcements and committee scheduling for later meetings and conference committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's for $6,000 in appropriation.
• These are pay plan appropriation requests.
• I think if it's about appropriation versus funding, all the requests for this month are strictly appropriation
• So strictly just an appropriation.
• Generally, just a sole source.

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:

• The budget includes $39 million General Fund in 2025-26 and $78 million General Fund in 2026-27 and ongoing
• In general government, the budget includes $79 million General Fund in 2025-26 to backfill insufficient
• General Fund for Bringing Families Home and $44.6 million General Fund for HDAP.
• The bill appropriates $60 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund to establish the Student Support
• It appropriates $5 million one-time general fund to the Department of Justice.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriations.
• appropriations.
• appropriation bills.
• Those are general appropriation bills. Those are the only ones we’re going to batch first.
• and commissions appropriation.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then it went to a Senate Appropriations Committee.
• The appropriation for the operation of the Gaming Commission is $25,000 from the general fund, and this
• It will be split almost evenly between the health insurance premium pool and a general appropriation.
• Second, it appropriates $15 million from the general fund to the ad fund for the 2025-27 biennium.
• I said that the appropriations for this are $99,500. Mr.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up several procedural motions, including suspending House rules for three legislative days and replacing conference committee members on Senate Bill 2282 and SCR 4007. The chamber also recognized visiting student groups from Grafton/Pleasant Valley and Shiloh School. Later, the House agreed to several conference committee reports and moved a number of measures through final passage or final disposition. House Bill 1428, which would have created a sales tax exemption for clothing sold by thrift stores or nonprofit corporations, drew extensive debate over tax policy, revenue loss, and possible conflicts with streamlined sales tax rules. Supporters argued it would help lower-income shoppers and nonprofit thrift stores, while opponents said it created an unfair advantage and could reduce state and local revenue. The conference report was adopted, but the bill ultimately failed on final vote, 37-54. House Bill 1440, relating to cigar lounges, was amended in conference and then passed 75-17. House Bill 1460, concerning adult foster care for private-pay adults, electronic monitoring, and a legislative study, was also adopted and passed overwhelmingly, 91-1. The House then passed Senate Bill 2224, which revises gaming commission structure and gaming stamp requirements, adds Attorney General enforcement provisions, and includes a $25,000 general fund appropriation, by a vote of 88-0. Senate Bill 2327, which expands uses of the agriculture diversification and development fund and appropriates $15 million to it, passed 74-17 after a member was excused from voting due to a personal interest. Senate Bill 2267, creating a regulatory framework for on-site wastewater treatment systems and shifting licensing authority to the Department of Environmental Quality, passed 82-10, and Senate Bill 2276, addressing joint water resource boards for cross-county projects, passed 90-1. The most contentious debate centered on Senate Bill 2160, which would move the state employee health plan from grandfathered status to a non-grandfathered ACA-compliant plan and appropriate about $6.6 million for the transition. Supporters said it would give the PERS board more flexibility, expand preventive and other benefits, and potentially slow premium growth without charging employees premiums. Opponents warned it could raise out-of-pocket costs, add mandated benefits, and shift costs to employees, while also arguing the bill had not been adequately studied. After extended debate, the House passed SB 2160 by a vote of 55-37. The chamber also concurred in Senate amendments to House Bill 1318, a pesticide labeling bill, and placed it on final passage, but the transcript ends before the final vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Generally Generally Generally those<00:17:37.320> exemptions those exemptions those exemptions
• Appropriations Committee. Appropriations Committee.
• appropriate by the medical director. appropriate by the medical director.
• by your House Appropriations Committee. by your House Appropriations Committee.
• appropriate staffing levels. appropriate staffing levels.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House first returned to Senate Bill 71, a consumer data privacy and online surveillance bill. Members debated a proposed amendment that would have removed language allowing companies to rely on consumer consent to sell certain sensitive data. Supporters argued consent pop-ups and terms-of-service notices are not meaningful consent and that sensitive data should be categorically protected, citing Maryland and other states. Opponents, including the committee presenter, said the bill was a carefully negotiated compromise needed to establish Vermont’s first data privacy framework and warned that adopting the amendment could jeopardize passage in the Senate or with the governor. The committee reported the amendment unfavorable on a 9-0 straw poll, the House rejected the amendment, and then approved the committee’s recommended proposal of amendment by roll call vote, 129-3. During questioning on S. 71, members discussed the bill’s applicability thresholds, with the presenter explaining that the 35,000-consumer threshold was modeled on Connecticut, while lower 3,000 thresholds for sensitive data and data sales were based on business testimony and intended to capture smaller entities such as accountants, lawyers, nonprofits, and trade associations that share or sell lists. Members also asked about the bill’s many exemptions, which were described as covering entities already regulated by state or federal law, including health care entities under HIPAA and banking and insurance sectors. The presenter and supporters emphasized that the bill still requires clear privacy notices, limits data collection to what is reasonable and disclosed, and gives consumers rights to opt out, correct, and delete data. After the roll call vote, the House ordered third reading, suspended rules to place S. 71 in all remaining stages, passed it in concurrence with proposal of amendment, and suspended rules to message the action to the Senate forthwith. The House then moved to Senate Bill 193, relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons. The committee presenter from South Burlington previewed that the bill would create a permanent forensic facility, with a separate amendment expected to address interim arrangements while the facility is being developed. The transcript ends as the House begins second reading of S. 193 and the committee reports are introduced, with further debate not shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was a supervising deputy attorney general at the time.
• I am a proud first-generation Latina student.
• And I salute the... this is an appropriate concept.
• I think this is an appropriate way to handle it.
• The motion is due pass to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Justice or Office of the Attorney General.
• Until we Lawmakers budget appropriately?
• I don't know if it's appropriate, Mr.
• That was not vetoed, so that is the appropriation remains.
• the Attorney general weaponized the Attorney General.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mandatory contracts to the Department of General Services are open to anyone.
• Mandatory contracts to the Department of General Services are open to anyone.
• With that, I respectfully ask for an I vote when it's appropriate. Thank you.
• Do pass to appropriations. Petrie-Norris? Aye. Petrie-Norris, aye.
• File item number four, SB 263, Gonzalez, do pass to appropriations. Salache? Aye. Appropriations.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact met on July 11, 2025, and heard six measures focused on small business contracting, ports and trade, local economic development, clean energy transition, tariff impacts, and infrastructure finance. SB 70 would raise the Small Business Procurement and Contract Act contract cap from $250,000 to $350,000 and index it to inflation; supporters said it would reflect current economic conditions, while opponents argued it could reduce transparency, favor larger firms, and strain small businesses’ ability to carry inventory and wait for payment. The bill was approved 7-0 to Appropriations. AJR 14 urged federal agencies to consider the effects of tariff policy on California ports, with testimony emphasizing impacts on cargo volumes, jobs, supply chains, and infrastructure needs; it passed 7-0. SB 781 would require cities and counties to adopt small business utilization plans and strengthen the California Small Business Technical Assistance Program; chambers of commerce and committee members supported it as a way to expand procurement opportunities and technical assistance, and it passed 7-0 to Local Government. SB 227 would extend and expand the Green Empowerment Zone in Contra Costa County, add environmental justice representatives, and extend authorization to 2040; it passed 7-0 to the floor. SB 263 would direct the California Transportation Agency to study the statewide impacts of tariffs, with supporters from the ports, retail, and trucking sectors arguing that better data is needed to guide budgeting and policy responses; it passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 769 would create the Golden State Infrastructure Fund to finance major infrastructure projects through a revolving public-private investment model; supporters said it would help address long-term infrastructure needs and prepare for major events, and the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations after opposition was withdrawn. All measures were reported out of committee, and the meeting adjourned at 10:39 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first few items on lines four through six are the general fund appropriations that are in the bill
• Due to the A3 amendment, there would be an appropriation to Enterprise Minnesota, which is from the general
• Then in section three, we have the appropriation from the general fund is now at $7 million instead of
• . appropriately. appropriately.
• in the initial appropriation. in the initial appropriation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all