Transcript Highlights:

• :09.640> can<00:25:09.799> grow<00:25:10.080> over<00:25:10.279> the<00:25
• or<00:25:12.720> an<00:25:12.840> annual<00:25:13.480> um<00:25:13.600> so
• farmers<00:25:14.240> get<00:25:14.399> to<00:25:14.520> have<00:25:14.640>
• :16.159> side<00:25:17.159> the<00:25:17.320> goal<00:25:17.520> is<00:25
• 25:21.600> land<00:25:21.840> covered<00:25:22.200> all<00:25:22.480> year

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee met for an introductory session to begin the new legislative session. Members and staff went around the table introducing themselves and describing their agricultural backgrounds, including farming, livestock, crop production, county government, and related research or staff roles. Chair Paul Anderson emphasized agriculture’s importance to Minnesota’s budget and economy, welcomed new members and staff, and noted that the committee would have a full agenda. The committee then heard a presentation from the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, Extension, and the Forever Green initiative on the GREE program (Agricultural Research, Education, Extension, and Technology Transfer). Testimony described GREE as a state investment created in 2015 to support agricultural productivity and growth through research, education, extension, and technology transfer. Speakers highlighted its broad focus areas, including crop and livestock genetics, soil health, water quality, nutrient management, microbial science, agroecological innovation, and technology stewardship, as well as rapid-response funding for emerging issues such as waterhemp, PRRS, and avian influenza. University witnesses said the program has brought in faculty and extension educators, generated sponsored research awards, and leveraged state funding into additional grants and contracts. They cited a reported roughly 12-to-1 return on investment and said the state has invested about $39 million since 2015. They also noted additions such as a deep winter greenhouse program and a tribal representative on the advisory group. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Museum<00:25:10.919> as<00:25:11.080> well<00:25:11.240> as<00:25:11.440>
• from<00:25:27.320> aen<00:25:27.960> to<00:25:28.320> Zoda<00:25:29.279>
• > as<00:25:31.559> you<00:25:31.720> heard<00:25:32.000> to<00:25:32.200>
• young<00:25:52.000> people<00:25:52.399> Statewide<00:25:53.200> via<00:25:
• 00:25:58.039> are<00:25:58.320> of<00:25:58.399> our<00:25:58.559> Outreach

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this is implementation projects that are very large-scale projects on the community resilience centers
• this is implementation projects that are very large-scale projects on the community resilience centers
• And this is implementation projects that are very large-scale projects.
• We do track project outcomes.
• We've got fire projects ready to go.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plans for extreme heat mitigation and outdoor access, then took up SB 54 implementation, SB 707 textile producer responsibility, and recovery needs related to the Los Angeles fires at state parks. For the extreme heat chapter, agencies described funding for the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program, urban greening, urban forestry, fairground upgrades, and technical assistance for community-based climate programs. Witnesses emphasized that these are existing programs with strong demand, that technical assistance is important for reaching disadvantaged and tribal communities, and that the proposed funding would expand outreach and implementation capacity. Members asked for more detail on where funds have gone geographically, examples of successful projects, tree-planting totals, and how fairgrounds could better support fire staging and emergency preparedness. The LAO said the timing of the administration’s proposed funding generally made sense because the programs are already established, and no votes were taken. For outdoor access, State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources described funding for new parks in underserved communities, deferred maintenance, state lands access, and several new or pending programs. State Parks said the park development program would fund roughly 48 projects and that deferred maintenance funding would address high-priority health, safety, and access needs. Fish and Wildlife said its lands program would improve visitor amenities and access on properties that often lack basic facilities. The Natural Resources Agency also outlined three newer outdoor-access proposals: expanding recreation in disadvantaged communities, enhancing natural resource values and trail access, and a nature/climate/education facilities grant program. The LAO distinguished between existing programs, which are ready to move forward, and the newer proposals, where the Legislature may want more input before funds are allocated. Members also raised concerns about park police vacancies, the need to track outcomes for accessibility investments, and whether Prop. 4 could help with wildfire-related recovery at state parks. CalRecycle then presented on SB 54, the plastics and packaging producer responsibility law, and members pressed hard on the delay in regulations. CalRecycle said it has held workshops, formed an advisory committee, selected the producer responsibility organization, and completed required baseline and covered-material reports, but needs more time to address complex comments and novel features such as source reduction and eco-modulated fees. Members expressed frustration that a statutory deadline was missed and asked for a concrete timeline; CalRecycle said it expects regulations in place by 2026, ahead of the PRO’s January 1, 2027 plan deadline. Finance said the Beverage Container Recycling Fund is currently healthy enough to support short-term loans for implementation. The committee also reviewed SB 707, the textile EPR law, which would create the nation’s first textile producer responsibility program; staff said the proposal would add positions and loan authority, and members noted the statutory deadlines for PRO approval, needs assessment, and later regulations. The hearing ended with discussion of the January Los Angeles fires’ damage to Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, where State Parks described extensive losses, emergency response work, and ongoing damage assessment. Members asked about FEMA eligibility, state funding sources, and community engagement in rebuilding, and the department said it is still assessing costs and will work with the public on reimagining the parks.

Transcript Highlights:

• > at<00:25:04.559> u<00:25:04.799> projects<00:25:05.360> that<00:25:05.679
• looked at u projects that we can help expedite.<00:25:07.120> As<00:25:07.840> you<00:25
• As you know, we created capacity<00:25:10.559> project<00:25:11.440> bills<00:25:11.840
• c><00:25:31.840> high<00:25:32.159> project a four-lane.
• So some of our high project or<00:25:32.880> high<00:25:33.440> traffic<00:25:33.760>

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 4 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened, confirmed a quorum, received an invocation from Dr. Lenon Duncan, and led the pledge of allegiance. Routine business followed, including unanimous consent to dispense with reading the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. Several guests were introduced, including a governmental affairs representative, a doctor of the day and medical student, a county leadership group, agricultural youth council participants, a former senator’s spouse, and MSMS students. The chamber then took up several appropriations and finance measures. Senate Bill 2189, the transfer bill for state funds and agency budget setup, passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 2190 increased the Working Cash Stabilization Reserve Fund minimum balance from 10% to 15% of general fund revenue; supporters said it would strengthen the state’s fiscal position, and it passed by morning roll call after no questions. Senate Bill 2480, a capacity project bill providing $265 million from CAPEX to MDOT for highway projects in Madison and Rankin counties and initial work on Highway 90, was amended to make it effective upon passage and then passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 2832 extended the railroad tax credit repealer to 2029, and Senate Bill 2847 required state and local tax calculations to round to the nearest nickel in response to the federal penny phaseout; both passed by morning roll call. The Senate also approved Senate Bill 2191, which expands the purposes for which municipal use tax funds may be spent to include sidewalk repair and building acquisition/rehabilitation, after questions about municipal and subdivision sidewalks. Senate Bill 2885 created the Mississippi Work and Save Program, a voluntary retirement savings option for small employers and employees, with the sponsor emphasizing that participation is optional and that the program is intended to help workers without access to retirement plans; it passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 2834, the omnibus tag bill, and Senate Bill 2838, the omnibus qualified resort area bill, were each amended with committee substitutes and passed by morning roll call. Later, the Senate suspended the rules and took up a large block of resolutions and commemorative measures, including sympathy and congratulatory resolutions, arts awards, sports championships, and other recognitions, along with House concurrent resolutions and two House bills designating observances. The transcript ends while the clerk is reading the long list of titles in the block.

Transcript Highlights:

• My<00:25:28.560> special<00:25:28.960> request<00:25:29.480> to<00:25:29.560>
• <00:25:30.360> hearing<00:25:30.880> on<00:25:31.040> a<00:25:31.120> very
• <00:25:35.120> will<00:25:35.320> have<00:25:35.600> me<00:25:36.440> and
• 00:25:42.800> and<00:25:42.920> shipped<00:25:43.320> out<00:25:43.560> and
• That<00:25:50.880> has<00:25:51.080> to<00:25:51.160> do<00:25:51.280> of

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :25:03.919> the<00:25:04.080> operating<00:25:04.480> adjustments<00:25:04.880><
• ><00:25:09.200> line<00:25:09.440> 97<00:25:10.000> for<00:25:10.320> deed's<
• c> line<00:25:23.520> 97's<00:25:24.240> a<00:25:24.480> little<00:25:24.640
• <00:25:30.159> in<00:25:30.960> FY25<00:25:31.760> for<00:25:31.919> the<
• > Uh<00:25:33.039> new<00:25:33.360> spending<00:25:33.679> in<00:25:34.039>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Agriculture Conference Committee met for an initial organizational and comparison session on House File 2446, the agriculture broadband and rural development bill. Members introduced themselves, noted that no conference target had yet been set, and agreed to begin with a side-by-side review of House and Senate positions. No oral testimony was taken; instead, the chair listed written testimony submitted by a wide range of agricultural, environmental, local government, food bank, and industry groups. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the major funding differences. Both bills included some shared items such as operating adjustments, wolf and elk damage compensation, and certain technical changes, but they differed on several major appropriations. The House generally proposed larger increases for meat inspection, local food purchasing, and the Board of Animal Health, and added items such as county inspector grants, biofertilizer innovation, a biosolids/PFAS-related study, a soil health study, broadband installation study funding, an Agri Works program, an Agri Support program, a milk grant program, and several House-only transfers and grants. The Senate included items such as a climate coordinator position, biofuel-related reductions and policy changes, livestock processing funding, farm-to-school and urban agriculture changes, MARL funding, cottage foods licensing updates, and several Senate-only pass-through grants and transfers. Staff also noted differences in the agriculture emergency account transfer approach and in how the two bodies handled the Second Harvest Heartland and related food distribution provisions. House Research then reviewed the policy language differences in the bill. The House language included provisions allowing more flexible use of grant administration funds, unpaid prior-year claims, county inspector grants, and updates tied to its own policy article, while the Senate language included the climate coordinator, PFAS-related commercialization language, cooperative development grant permissive language, and other Senate policy changes. The committee did not take any votes or final actions at this meeting; the session was informational and focused on identifying differences for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:04.800> office<00:25:05.040> is<00:25:05.280> there<00:25:05.440>
• > divestiture<00:25:15.120> and<00:25:15.320> a<00:25:15.360> movement<00:25
• is<00:25:20.400> at<00:25:20.520> 51<00:25:20.920> or<00:25:21.000> 52
• other way<00:25:24.679> for<00:25:24.840> them<00:25:25.160> to<00:25:25.360>
• > pay<00:25:30.160> uh<00:25:30.280> something<00:25:30.679> to<00:25:31.080

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 2687, as amended by a DE1 amendment. The amendment narrowed the bill to prohibit private equity companies from buying single-family homes and to limit corporations and partnerships to owning no more than 50 single-family homes, with enforcement through the Attorney General’s office. The committee adopted the DE1 amendment, and the author, Representative Bajaj, described the bill as a step toward expanding homeownership and reducing corporate concentration in the housing market. Representative Bajaj and supportive testimony argued that corporate ownership of single-family homes makes it harder for first-time buyers and working families to compete, especially in lower-income neighborhoods, and can lead to absentee ownership and poor maintenance. Ellen Sahli of the Family Housing Fund cited research on single-family rentals showing that larger portfolios are associated with worse renter experiences, higher rents, and more repair problems. Rachel Ruby Jones testified in support based on her experience renting from Havenbrook, describing flooding, delayed repairs, safety concerns, and poor treatment by management, and said private equity ownership can shift risks and costs onto vulnerable tenants. Opposition focused on market effects and the bill’s scope. Mark Brunner of the Minnesota Manufactured Home Association said the language was too broad and could unintentionally affect manufactured home communities on leased land. Paul Eger of Minnesota Realtors warned that market prohibitions could create unintended consequences, especially in a cyclical housing market, and suggested alternatives such as tax incentives for sales to owner-occupants and more first-time buyer assistance. In member discussion, Representative Nash questioned whether the problem was widespread and pressed for details on enforcement and divestiture; Representative Agbaje said the current language is forward-looking, would not force existing owners below the cap, and would rely on lawsuits and remedies the Attorney General deems appropriate, with more detail to be worked out later. The chair indicated the bill would be laid over for further consideration and likely move next to Judiciary, with some discussion of whether Commerce should also be a stop.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, right now we would use a lot of GO bonds for any project.
• project project um<00:24:29.919> you<00:24:30.039> know<00:24:30.279> something
• :16.960> any<00:25:17.120> other members any other members any other questions<00:25:19.320
• > seeing<00:25:19.679> none<00:25:20.039> we<00:25:20.159> will<00:25:20.440
• we will recess and try<00:25:21.679> to<00:25:21.840> get try to get try to get Quorum

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education heard five bills and later took up one joint Housing/Higher Education measure. On SB 1146 SD1, relating to the Alaw Canal, testimony from DLNR and UH was in support of funding an action plan and pre-engineering concept plan to address debris management and water quality in the watershed; members discussed the cost burden on DLNR and the possibility of identifying upstream sources of debris. On SB 1232 SD2, relating to wastewater systems, the Department of Health, DHHL, and several advocacy groups supported a three-year pilot program at UH’s Water Resources Research Center to test new wastewater technologies, with witnesses saying it could help certify cheaper alternatives and reduce cesspool upgrade costs. On SB 119 SD1, relating to nursing, witnesses supported funding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Maui College. On SB 865 SD1, relating to agriculture, UH CTAHR, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and many island agricultural groups supported funding for a Kona Cooperative Extension position, with testimony and committee discussion favoring an extension agent over an administrative support role. On SB 1487 SD1, relating to UH revenue bonds, UH supported authorizing revenue bonds for priority capital projects, and members asked for clarification that the measure was a preliminary authorization rather than a specific spending plan. In decision-making, the committee recommended passing SB 1146 SD1, SB 1232 SD2, SB 119 SD1, SB 865 SD1, and SB 1487 SD1 with House Draft 1 amendments, mainly to change defective dates to 7/1/3000 and, for SB 865, to upgrade the position to an extension agent. Votes were unanimous in favor on the measures, with one recusal noted on SB 865 and some members excused on other votes. The committee then recessed and later reconvened for a joint House Housing/Higher Education hearing on SB 1553 SD2, relating to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. DHHL asked that the bill be deferred because due diligence was incomplete and more discussion was needed with UH and other stakeholders; UH said it was coordinating access to the property and described its current and future use. Both committees agreed to defer the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and maybe for some other projects as well.
• We would like to implement a pilot project.
• As you'll see, the projected funding need is 1.237 billion.
• You have no increase over the 25 budget, sir.
• Somewhere between a 25-28% grant rate.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:11.679> for<00:25:11.919> the<00:25:12.200> opportunity<00:25:13.120>
• /c><00:25:17.960> you<00:25:18.880> we<00:25:19.159> also<00:25:19.559> have<
• > have<00:25:33.440> many<00:25:34.440> we<00:25:34.640> had<00:25:34.880
• :25:37.520> and<00:25:37.679> one<00:25:37.880> with<00:25:38.120> comments
• ><00:25:43.880> on<00:25:44.039> this measure<00:25:47.760> see<00:25:48.039>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I<00:25:11.520> know<00:25:11.679> her<00:25:11.919> quite<00:25:12.159> well
• <00:25:18.320> great<00:25:18.559> helps<00:25:18.880> in<00:25:19.039> all
• > this<00:25:20.480> is<00:25:20.559> a<00:25:20.720> good<00:25:20.880><
• > the<00:25:22.240> right<00:25:22.480> direction<00:25:23.440> and<00:25
• >> The<00:25:32.880> clerk<00:25:33.120> will<00:25:33.360> take<00:25:33.520

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House first took up Senate File 334, a bill to modernize county human services technology used to administer programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. The author and several members described the current systems as outdated “green screen” platforms that are slow, duplicative, and difficult for workers and applicants, and argued modernization would improve service, retention, and fraud prevention. The bill would create a technology modernization fund with about $90 million over time, capped at $50 million, route funds through Minute, establish an interagency group with county representation, create a legislative working group, and provide $15 million for Office of Inspector General technology. Members from several counties spoke in strong support, citing local system failures, cyberattacks, and the need for better tools; one member noted the bill was about 20 years overdue. The bill passed third reading by a vote of 134-0, and a title was agreed to. The House then considered Senate File 4401, the cannabis bill. The author described it as a maintenance and cleanup package developed with more than 80 stakeholders over months of meetings, including business owners, labor, tribal representatives, and medical cannabis interests. The bill was presented as making noncontroversial adjustments to support small businesses, clarify statutes, improve privacy protections, adjust event and transporter rules, address good-faith errors, strengthen enforcement against unlicensed operators, and support local governments and municipal cannabis dispensaries. It also included a first step toward a medical psilocybin program and changes intended to make the medical cannabis market more sustainable, including easing the grow-and-sale ratio issue. The transcript cuts off before final action on this bill, but members speaking in support emphasized collaboration and the need for practical regulatory fixes.

Transcript Highlights:

• some of our projects.
• And so the longer we move forward, there are projects where that natural clock comes due and those projects
• And so the longer we move forward, there are projects where that natural clock comes due and those projects
• So a project could not request or receive more than a $2 million investment per project.
• It is true debt, so we loan it to projects. The projects pay us back.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee met for a series of information sessions focused on housing stabilization, rental assistance, senior housing, and heat resilience. In the first panel, OHCS and NOAA described the state’s affordable housing preservation work, including the $35 million in 2025 stabilization funding used to reduce debt and keep distressed affordable rental projects operating, plus manufactured home park preservation efforts. OHCS said the portfolio remains under strain, with about a third of projects at debt coverage ratios of 1.0 or less and rising insurance and operating costs. NOAA urged faster closings on the stabilization awards, more funding in 2027, and broader rent assistance and process reforms. Committee members asked about the gap between current appropriations and need, and OHCS explained that the new Article 11-Q bond preservation program is structured differently and requires full refinancing rather than simple cash infusions. The committee then heard a detailed discussion of the state’s eviction prevention and rental assistance program, ORDAP. OHCS said the program is administered through community action agencies, prioritizes households at imminent risk of eviction, and is now funded at a much lower level than in the prior biennium, reducing expected service to about 8,200 households this biennium. The Oregon Law Center, a county community action agency, and Multifamily Northwest all agreed the program prevents homelessness and is effective, but they differed on whether assistance should be tied so closely to eviction court. Legal aid and community action witnesses said the current system is underfunded and that eviction filings are the clearest indicator of need, while Multifamily Northwest argued the process can push people into court unnecessarily and should be moved earlier when possible. Legislators raised questions about whether a pre-eviction model could be developed and about the costs of court involvement; one member shared a personal story about how rental assistance helped keep their family housed. Next, the governor’s office, OHCS, and OHA presented on the new senior housing initiative and healthy homes work. The governor’s housing director said Oregon is making progress on homelessness and housing production, with reductions in homelessness outside Multnomah County and an estimated 50,000 future units added to the pipeline through recent state actions. OHCS outlined the senior housing programs launched in May: a debt-financing program using elderly and disabled bond authority, an older adult housing development program funded through the senior property tax deferral revolving account, and a rehousing program for older adults that will use bridge funding and services to move at least 400 unsheltered older Oregonians into housing. OHA also described its Healthy Homes Grant Program, including $24.6 million already awarded, a new $5 million grant round for seniors and people with disabilities, and examples of home repairs and weatherization that help people remain safely housed. The final information session focused on home cooling and heat resilience. OHA presented data showing rising extreme heat days, more heat-related emergency visits, and likely undercounted heat deaths, especially among older adults, people with disabilities, low-income communities, and people without access to healthy homes. ODOE reviewed implementation of Senate Bill 1536, including a cooling needs study that found 58% of surveyed households in the studied housing types needed permanent cooling, with estimated statewide costs of $582 million to $1 billion. ODOE said its rental home heat pump and community heat pump programs have supported 4,638 installations so far, with a temporary reopening planned using remaining funds. The session ended with a remote presentation from a Community Action Partnership of Oregon representative, continuing the discussion of how community action agencies help deliver energy and anti-poverty services.

Transcript Highlights:

• > who<01:25:26.199> had<01:25:26.400> the<01:25:26.600> most<01:25:26.880
• > the<01:25:30.159> the<01:25:30.280> smaller<01:25:30.639> number<01:25:
• year we're supporting 20 to 25 projects, although they're each from different years that overlap.
• > each 20 to 25 projects although they're each 20 to 25 projects although they're each from<03
• 25:04.399> our<03:25:04.520> dairy<03:25:04.800> farms<03:25:05.120> and

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held an introductory orientation for members, many of whom were new or newly assigned to the committee. Leadership emphasized that the committee is intended to operate in a nonpartisan, collaborative way, and members introduced themselves and described their backgrounds in farming, gardening, food service, environmental work, water and waste issues, veterinary work, and related fields. Several members noted personal ties to homesteading, livestock, orcharding, food security, landfill concerns, and animal welfare, while others said they were eager to learn the committee’s work. The chair then reviewed committee procedures and expectations. Members were told the committee would generally meet on Tuesdays, with hearings starting around 10 a.m. and often running until about 4:30 p.m., and that absences, substitutes for executive sessions, and email communications would be handled through House rules and the committee’s email system. The chair also covered decorum rules for live-streamed meetings, including professional dress, limiting food and drink at the table, and giving full attention to witnesses. Members were reminded that legislative emails are subject to public records laws and that the committee may soon transition to a new email domain. The chair also explained logistics such as bill folders, committee room storage, and emergency procedures for evacuation or shelter-in-place. No bills were debated or voted on in this meeting, but the chair noted that the committee already had roughly two dozen bills pending, including animal welfare, landfill, policy, and cat-and-dog related measures. Members were told to expect a broad mix of topics beyond agriculture, including solid waste and animal-related legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So public school foundations could already use this program for capital projects.
• , and it's a $25 million dollars cap for our public schools.
• I heard your response a minute ago about the $25 million dollars for each side.
• We donated to the project. I've donated many times to it. It's a great program.
• It's 25 million dollars on one side, 25 million dollars on the Other.

Bills: SB378, SB985, SB1246, HB3720, SB1500, SB1984, HB4118, SB1644, SB1546, SB483

Keywords: bail bondsman, bondsman license, multicounty agent bondsman, surety bondsman, Insurance Commissioner, bail bond regulation, bond deposit, forfeiture, deposit ratio, writing capacity, license transfer, power of attorney, surety bond, bail industry, Oklahoma insurance law, financial solvency, administrative action, Oklahoma Local Food for Schools, school meals, local food procurement

Transcript Highlights:

• going to<00:25:08.960> be<00:25:09.039> tough<00:25:09.919> so<00:25:10.480>
• I<00:25:10.720> do<00:25:10.960> think<00:25:11.120> though<00:25:11.360>
• because<00:25:18.320> it<00:25:18.559> does<00:25:18.720> it<00:25:18.960><
• > but<00:25:25.760> then<00:25:26.000> again<00:25:26.240> you<00:25:26.480>
• ><00:25:28.720> as<00:25:28.960> as<00:25:29.440> been<00:25:29.679> pointed<

Bills: HB1601, HB1828, HB1616, HB1603, HB1606, HB1604, HB1605

Keywords: biosecurity, invasive species, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Department of Land and Natural Resources, appropriation, agriculture, land use, farm dwelling, renewable energy, income qualification, solar energy, geothermal resources, hydropower, agricultural tourism, aquaculture, commercial activity, swine production, Korean natural farming, land leases, Hawaii

Transcript Highlights:

• :02.000> I<00:25:02.400> guess<00:25:02.480> I<00:25:02.799> don't<00:25:
• 02.880> know<00:25:03.039> what<00:25:03.279> else<00:25:03.440> to<00:25
• This<00:25:05.039> is<00:25:05.200> a<00:25:05.520> good<00:25:05.919> service
• <00:25:06.320> to<00:25:06.559> Wyoming<00:25:07.120> and<00:25:07.360> I
• This<00:25:50.080> is<00:25:50.159> to<00:25:50.320> keep<00:25:50.480> the

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I participated in, I think, six of these 25-year plans. They are immense efforts.
• So it's not working, it's not contributing to the—all these projects will have, the individual projects
• The Deerodon Station Modernization Project in San Jose is a leading example of the type of public project
• It's a project with great long-term environmental benefits.
• at least will start to trust these projects. ...transportation projects in those zones so that the communities

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:25:21.719> like<01:25:21.840> to<01:25:21.960> turn<01:25:22.199> your
• volume on<01:25:23.119> introduce<01:25:23.600> yourself<01:25:24.000> and<01:25
• <01:25:29.000> uh<01:25:29.159> thank<01:25:29.320> you<01:25:29.400> for
• Dr<01:25:32.639> Amber<01:25:32.960> Bruns<01:25:33.600> I<01:25:33.679>
• Clinical<01:25:34.560> Director<01:25:35.040> of<01:25:35.239> Behavioral<01:25

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Finance Committee met on January 28, 2025, to receive updates on chronic absenteeism work funded in the 2024 education finance bill. The chair introduced presentations from districts in the student attendance pilot program—Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, Chisago, and Rochester—and noted that the committee would also hear the student attendance and truancy legislative study group report and later a bill from Senator Weber. The chair also thanked educational assistants and paraprofessionals for their work in schools. Minneapolis Public Schools described common attendance challenges across pilot districts, including inconsistent attendance coding, weak family communication, difficulty identifying interventions, and uneven responses to absences. The district said pilot districts want statewide definitions for absences, tardies, and exempt codes, as well as better internal dashboards and clearer procedures. Minneapolis also highlighted strategies such as attendance teams at each school, quarterly postcards to families after five or more absences, Promise Fellows, home visits, multilingual communication through TalkingPoints, and a morning nurse line to help parents decide whether a child should stay home. The district said its main attendance goal is to raise consistent attendance from 68 percent to 80 percent by 2026. In response to committee questions, Minneapolis said its main post-COVID absenteeism reason has been illness or medical issues, followed by transportation problems, and that it does not penalize students for transportation-related absences. The district said it counts secondary absences when students miss more than three periods in a day, with truancy beginning after seven such absences, while elementary students are counted absent for the full day. Members also asked about whether reduced truancy referrals reflected more attendance or diversionary supports; the district said its approach is to focus on understanding root causes and providing support rather than quickly referring students to truancy processes. The district reported improved communication, greater parent awareness, and fewer truancy referrals so far, and said the attendance team model should be sustainable because it uses existing staff with clearer direction.

Transcript Highlights:

• It can be as much, I'm gonna say, roughly about 25%.
• to close or have already completely completed their projects.
• Because you said. you had 119 projects. I believe they are still out there.
• Most of these projects are symmetrical, 100 down, 100 up.
• They've been awarded projects in many of the other states.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

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• It<00:25:20.520> removes<00:25:21.000> the<00:25:21.080> 90-day<00:25:21.760>
• <00:25:31.840> there<00:25:32.080> is<00:25:32.240> a<00:25:32.320> need<
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• :25:40.000> move<00:25:40.280> for<00:25:40.840> passage<00:25:41.360> of

Keywords: 958, all