Transcript Highlights:

• The committee legislative assistant has already noted that we have a quorum, so thank you.
• changes in 23 and 24's legislative changes in 23 and 24's legislative sessions<00:34:34.280>
• First, I'm excited to have legislation in relation to the science of reading.
• First, I'm excited to have legislation in relation to the science of reading.
• mechanisms in place for new legislation mechanisms in place for new legislation or<01:26:05.840>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee approved the minutes from January 21, 2025, and then heard testimony from several school superintendents about the financial and operational impact of recent education-related mandates. Chair Bennett framed the hearing as an opportunity to hear from districts about the effects of more than 65 new mandates and restrictions adopted in recent years. The first witnesses were Corey McIntyre of Anoka-Hennepin, Michael Thomas of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, and David Law of Minnetonka Public Schools. The superintendents said districts are facing rising costs, flat or declining enrollment, the end of federal pandemic aid, and mandates they described as unfunded or underfunded. McIntyre cited major budget cuts in Anoka-Hennepin, including reductions in central office staff, and said the district faces continuing shortfalls tied to special education, multilingual learner costs, unemployment claims, paid leave, transportation, literacy materials, and the K-3 discipline statute. Thomas said Prior Lake-Savage is balancing growing student needs against limited revenue, and argued that mandates such as REACT and other requirements should be delayed or better funded so districts can implement them with fidelity. Law said the concerns are statewide, not just metro-based, and criticized the accumulation of expectations around food service, mental health, sick and safe time, unemployment, and family leave without corresponding resources. Several witnesses emphasized that school budgets are heavily committed to staff costs and that new obligations create administrative burdens as well as direct expenses. They urged lawmakers to reduce, delay, or better fund mandates, adjust timelines, and provide more flexibility in local revenue tools and equalization aid. No votes were taken on legislation during this portion of the meeting beyond approval of the prior day’s minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this isn't just about today's legislation.
• But no piece of legislation is perfect.
• And this piece of legislation is a proposed state statute.
• Thank you for bringing this legislation forward.
• Prop. 36. ...using the legislation we passed on the floor that was a package of retail theft legislation

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, approved dispensing with the previous day’s journal, and then took up a long third-reading file. Early procedural actions included moving AB 1589 to the inactive file and continuing reconsideration items. The chamber then considered a series of bills largely focused on immigration enforcement, detention, worker protections, child care, voting access, and related public services. Several immigration-related measures passed, including AB 2393 on damages for false imprisonment/arrest, AB 1994 on an immigrant victims’ rights and resources card, AB 1929 on health plan investment disclosures, AB 1633 imposing a tax on for-profit detention facilities, AB 1650 requiring decals on rental vehicles used for enforcement, AB 1655 protecting CalWORKs benefits when a child is detained, and AB 1896 disqualifying people who participated in immigration enforcement from certain public employment. AB 2230, which would bar immigration enforcement near polling places and child care facilities, also passed after extensive debate. Supporters framed these bills as accountability and protection for vulnerable communities; opponents argued they targeted federal law enforcement, were unnecessary, or raised constitutional concerns. AB 1851 on statewide school mental-health guidance also passed unanimously. After the midday recess, the Assembly returned and continued with more bills tied to immigration impacts and child welfare. AB 2379 passed with urgency, requiring child care providers to be informed of constitutional rights and trained on protections when confronted by immigration enforcement. AB 2460 passed to update school behavioral-health referral protocols for students affected by immigration enforcement trauma. AB 2495 passed to expand prohibitions on employer immigration-related threats, and AB 2662 was presented as a way for California to monitor and document federal enforcement actions and report on their community impacts. Throughout the day, the floor featured repeated exchanges over whether the bills addressed real problems or were political messaging, but the measures that came to a vote generally advanced with majority support.

Transcript Highlights:

• SUPPORTING ROLE TO OUR PARTNERS AND SOMETIMES WE HELP TO FILL IN THE GAPS OF KNOWLEDGE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE
• THE REACH ACT WAS UNANIMOUS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION PASSED IN 2021 AND MODIFIED IN 2023.
• LOT IN THE PRESENTATION THIS IS THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT OF THE FEDERAL GUIDING LEGISLATION
• THAT LEGISLATION IS INTENDED TO HELP AMERICANS INCLUDING YOUTH AND THOSE WITH SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO
• DISRUPTIONS SUCH AS GUIDANCE TO EMPLOYERS ON COMPLIANCE WITH THE WORKER ADJUSTMENT AND RETRAINING NOTIFICATION

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Deputy Commissioner and Legislative Director for the Department of Insurance under the leadership
• afternoon, Madam Chair and members of the committee, Josephine Figueroa, Deputy Commissioner and Legislative
• It also mandates utilities to collaborate with regional emergency centers and enhances PSPS notifications
• efforts to—and this is not an aberration—our efforts to engage in productive dialogue with the legislative
• Our requests for meetings to legislative matters are hard to get.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let him finish. new legislation we haven't seen it new legislation we haven't seen it before<00:07:39.960
• <00:10:33.480> or frivolous and misguided legislation or frivolous and misguided legislation
• <00:11:07.000> that justice this includes legislation that justice this includes legislation
• > that legislation the model legislation that legislation the model legislation that we<00:28:38.200
• meant on or in this legislation meant on or in this legislation placed<00:32:28.320> on<00

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 733-FN, a bill on third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors financing lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, and contributes to litigation abuse, higher insurance costs, and what he called a “tort tax.” He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with specific references to foreign-entity restrictions, consumer-protection guardrails, and reporting requirements. He also noted a few technical fixes to the draft, including adding the word “knowingly” and restoring a section that had been omitted. Committee members questioned how the bill’s foreign-entity language would work, including whether a governor or the Department of Safety would designate countries of concern, and whether the bill would bar foreign parties from using litigation funding. Cole and others clarified that the bill was intended as a reporting measure, not a ban on litigation funding itself, and that the goal was to disclose who is funding lawsuits and to what extent. Representative Sal asked whether the bill would prevent a litigant from getting outside financing; Cole answered no, emphasizing disclosure rather than prohibition. Brandon Grat of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau testified that the bill’s enforcement provisions were too limited. He said the draft appears to give the Attorney General only a civil-penalty remedy, likely too small to deter violations, and not the broader Consumer Protection Act tools such as injunctions, restitution, or investigation authority. He also raised concerns about whether the Attorney General or Insurance Department would have proper jurisdiction, given that the product may be financial or insurance-related. Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the department sees possible benefits from transparency because disclosure of litigation funding could help insurers assess risk, improve underwriting, and potentially ease hard-market pressures, especially for nonprofits and child care providers. He also said the bill’s language likely needs further work to clarify agency authority and suggested involving the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and banking regulators. Opposition testimony came from the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association. Marissa Chase and Samantha Hering argued the bill is one-sided because it requires disclosure only on the plaintiff side and not from defendants or insurers. They said New Hampshire already has court rules and discovery procedures that cover relevant disclosures, making the bill unnecessary, and questioned whether the existence of a funding contract is even relevant in litigation. The hearing ended with the committee continuing to discuss possible revisions and enforcement options, but no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the nonpartisan legislative staff for the Senate Agriculture Committee.
• I'm the nonpartisan legislative analyst for the Senate.
• What always concerns us is probably a couple of times a week, I get like a notification from our folks
• from our uh folks like a notification from our uh folks that<00:55:40.960> there's<00:55:41.200
• and it's uh that are newer legislators and it's uh not<01:07:22.319> a<01:07:22.559> lot

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:

• :12.559> signed Fortunately, that legislation was signed Fortunately, that legislation was signed
• <00:29:10.480> to<00:29:10.640> pro legisl legislature should act to pro legisl legislature
• So this is a perfect example of why we need this legislation.
• uh need this legislation. uh need this legislation.
• <01:30:44.239> does, that this piece of legislation does, that this piece of legislation does

Bills: HF3642, HF2700, HF3615

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosks, prohibition, customer payouts, cryptocurrency regulation, consumer privacy, data privacy, health data, sensitive data, Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act, personal data, data broker, targeted advertising, geofencing, location tracking, health care privacy, patient privacy, consent, minor privacy, children's privacy

Summary: The Commerce Finance and Policy Committee met on House File 3642, which would prohibit virtual currency kiosks in Minnesota. The bill was laid over, and the committee adopted a DE1 author’s amendment. Chair Kaggel and Representative Perryman described the measure as a response to widespread scams using crypto kiosks, especially against older adults and other vulnerable people, and said they would continue working with the Department of Commerce and other stakeholders. Testimony from law enforcement and advocates strongly supported the ban. A St. Cloud police sergeant and a Woodbury detective described cases in which victims lost large sums, said the current safeguards and refund rules are being bypassed, and argued that the kiosks are difficult to investigate because funds move quickly and often overseas. An AARP Minnesota volunteer also supported the bill, saying kiosks are a preferred tool for scammers and that existing protections have not kept pace with the problem. The Department of Commerce said it strongly supports the bill and reported that it has received 120 complaints over three years involving nearly $1 million in reported losses, with 2025 the worst year so far. The main opposition came from CoinFlip’s general counsel, who argued that the problem is fraud generally, not kiosks themselves, and said Minnesota already has consumer protections, including refunds for eligible victims. He urged stronger regulation rather than a ban, citing blockchain analytics, hold periods, and 24-hour customer service as alternatives. Committee members then asked questions about how long kiosks have operated in Minnesota, how many there are, who owns them, and the scale of losses; Commerce said there are hundreds statewide, operated by a variety of companies, and that reported losses are likely undercounts.

Transcript Highlights:

• you have a bill with a legislatively you have a bill with a legislatively directed<00:00:59.280>
• were made during the 2023 legislative were made during the 2023 legislative session<00:25:48.600
• <00:42:32.160> proposal program was a legislative proposal program was a legislative proposal
• this moment without pursuing legislation this moment without pursuing legislation um<01:37:06.719
• <01:46:07.679> to other uh States and uh legislators to other uh States and uh legislators

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And legislators have listened.
• And legislators have listened.
• incredibly important pieces of legislation.
• It was an incredible piece of legislation.
• We're on to our final piece of legislation for the day. Final piece of legislation for the day.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to reproductive access, child safety online, immigration enforcement in schools, health privacy, location data, digital provenance, reparations, and age assurance. AB 54 would protect the medication abortion supply chain and shield providers and others from liability; AB 1137 would strengthen reporting and enforcement tools for child sexual abuse material on social media; AB 49 would limit ICE activity at California public schools; AB 82 would expand privacy and safety protections for gender-affirming care patients and providers; AB 1355 would restrict the collection, use, and sale of precise location data; AB 853 would expand provenance requirements for AI-generated and authentic content; AB 62 would create a pathway for restitution for racially biased eminent domain takings; and AB 1043 would create a device-based age assurance framework for online services. Supporters generally framed the bills as necessary responses to current harms: reproductive rights advocates emphasized California’s role as a safe haven; child safety witnesses described the persistence and re-victimization caused by CSAM online; immigrant rights and education advocates said schools should remain safe from immigration enforcement; health and LGBTQ+ advocates stressed privacy and safety risks tied to tracking and harassment; privacy and consumer groups backed limits on location data and stronger provenance tools; and reparations advocates said AB 62 would help address historic injustices. Opposition came from family policy, tech, business, law enforcement, and industry groups, who raised concerns about safety claims, constitutional issues, implementation burdens, transparency, law enforcement access, and the need to preserve existing privacy frameworks and voluntary standards. The committee members largely expressed support for the policy goals while noting implementation concerns on some measures. Several members asked for or were offered coauthor status on bills. AB 1137, AB 54, AB 49, AB 82, AB 1355, AB 853, and AB 62 all received do-pass votes to Appropriations, with some members voting no or not voting on certain bills. AB 1355 and AB 853 were advanced with amendments or ongoing work promised with opponents, and AB 1043 was presented with discussion of possible amendments on parental consent and age assurance details, though the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please stand for the prayer by Donna Kafer, our legislative chaplain, and remain standing for the Pledge
• Arizona State Senate legislative proclamation honoring the traditions of legislative decorum and ceremonial
• Legislative sessions, thereby honoring the rich heritage of parliamentary pageantry.
• Members, House Bill 2903 is legislation once again in search of a problem.
• I rise to read a legislative proclamation recognizing Farm Workers Day.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The public who wish to testify on legislative business may register at the kiosk outside.
• It just makes it a legislative... Oh, I apologize. Okay. Thank you. That committee substitute...
• Specifically on legislative recommendations.
• I'd like to give some background and context to this legislation.
• I'd like to give some background context to this proposed legislation.

Bills: HB1647, HB2612, HB3125, HB3158, HB3240, HB3506, HB3516, HB3707

Keywords: carbon sequestration, environmental policy, Texas, energy, climate change, regulatory council, geothermal energy, workforce development, education and training, energy industry, apprenticeship, energy production, energy policy, renewable energy, state council, administrative law, public information, transparency, government accountability, judicial process

Transcript Highlights:

• are for legislators and then their employees to do their work.
• are for legislators and then their employees to do their work.
• are for legislators and then their employees to do their work.
• So this legislation legislation legislation provides<00:35:21.200> state<00:35:21.560> agencies
• Legislative Legislative Auditors'<00:58:07.640> uh<00:58:07.960> 2021<00:58:08.680>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:26.760> report referenced a legislative auditor report referenced a legislative auditor
• I'm not here asking for new legislation.
• We had legislators.
• Uh and we knew that the legislative Uh and we knew that the legislative auditor<00:47:19.160>
• We had legislators. And then we DLI. We had legislators.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee met to discuss worker misclassification, beginning with approval of the March 4, 2026 minutes and a note that a late-posted bill would not be heard at this time. Chair Pinto opened the hearing by framing misclassification as timely and invited Lea Takapu of the Attorney General’s office to explain the issue. Takapu described misclassification as labeling workers as independent contractors when they are really employees, which can deprive workers of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other protections while also reducing tax revenue. She said the Attorney General’s office and the MEAP partnership have been working on the issue and cited estimates that Minnesota workers lose billions annually and the state loses hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars in revenue, while noting that legitimate independent contracting is not the target. Members questioned how the committee could rely on estimates when the exact number of misclassified workers is unknown. Takapu responded that the figures were based on studies and complaint data, and that underground or undocumented work makes exact counts difficult. Chair Pinto noted the numbers were estimates and referenced a 2024 Legislative Auditor finding that Minnesota lacked an adequate, coordinated approach to proper worker classification, while saying progress had been made since then. Several industry witnesses then testified in support of stronger enforcement. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA said misclassification remains rampant in parts of construction, especially drywall, stucco, thin stone, and broadband installation, and argued it is tax, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation fraud that harms law-abiding contractors and taxpayers. Matt Wollers of Braxton and Sons said his company loses bids to competitors that misclassify workers, creating a labor-cost advantage of 30% or more, and asked for meaningful enforcement rather than new legislation, including regular unannounced jobsite visits. Jesse Madison of Purple Tally Productions said misclassification is anti-competition and described examples from live events and entertainment, urging front-end checks on workers’ compensation, unemployment coverage, and W-2 versus 1099 status before work begins. The next testifier, Ben Ballou of the Minnesota Nurses Association, began his remarks as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:24.120> on In addition, uh the legislation on In addition, uh the legislation on Excuse
• need uh some of our enabling legislation need uh some of our enabling legislation changed. changed
• something as far as the legislative something as far as the legislative designation<01:06:37.520
• on you know on on on other legislation. on you know on on on other legislation.
• > forward<01:44:41.320> and bringing this legislation forward and bringing this legislation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that uh would reduce legislation that uh would reduce time<00:45:51.880> section<00:45:52.440
• here uh we're aligned in the legislation here uh we're aligned in the shared<00:59:53.359> goals<
• Pig farmers in the Minnesota Pork Producers Association look forward to engaging with legislators and
• <01:12:20.960> in<01:12:21.159> section this legislation in section this legislation
• <01:13:47.120> auditor this morning the legislative auditor this morning the legislative auditor

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:15.120> a fact, um, we did pass legislation a fact, um, we did pass legislation a number
• 00:14:24.000> are<00:14:24.240> denied, notification when variances are denied, notification
• <00:47:35.359> the<00:47:35.599> like legislative budget office and the like legislative
• 01:05:08.960> three legislation addresses this in three legislation addresses this in three critical
• legislature passed some legislation legislature passed some legislation um<01:13:27.760> uh

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We seek to protect the rights of all who participate in the legislative process.
• This is the LGBTQ Legislative Caucus Chair.
• This legislation is particularly critical for LGBTQ+ students.
• And we look forward to reaching a point where we can fully support this legislation together.
• This legislation isn't symbolic. It's not. It's meaningful.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard several Senate bills focused on student health, access, equity, and career preparation. SB 608 by Sen. Menjivar would expand access to condoms and related sexual health resources for students in grades 7–12 and direct the Department of Education to align with the California Healthy Youth Act. Supporters argued the bill would help address high STI rates among youth and remove barriers to access, while opponents raised concerns about parental authority, local control, and encouraging early sexual activity. The bill was approved on a 6-1 vote and sent to the Health Committee. SB 965 by Sen. Blakespear would prohibit libraries from requiring a parent to be physically present for a 16- or 17-year-old to obtain a library card, while still allowing libraries to require parental consent or signature. Supporters said the current rule creates unnecessary barriers for teens and school research projects, and the California Library Association said it was now neutral after amendments. The committee passed the bill 6-0 to Appropriations. SB 998 by Sen. Gonzalez would define and expand the duties of discrimination prevention coordinators in the state’s Office of Civil Rights, including adding a disability coordinator and deputy coordinators focused on anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Latino, and anti-Native American discrimination. Testimony emphasized the need to address rising hate incidents and discrimination in schools, especially for Black, LGBTQ+, AAPI, and other marginalized students. The bill was approved and sent to Judiciary with amendments to be processed there. SB 845 by Sen. Perez, which expands work-based learning and youth apprenticeship opportunities, also received broad support from education, workforce, and industry groups and passed unanimously to Labor and Employment. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills and adjourned after all items were acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE FIRST ONE OF THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
• ON THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT OTHERWISE KNOWN
• WE RECEIVE THAT NOTIFICATION. WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THEM ON THAT.
• DO YOU HAVE ANY I GUESS CONCRETE PLANS TO ADJUST THE WAITLIST LEGISLATORS GET EVERY YEAR.
• I THINK THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION YOU GAVE US MANDATES BUT YOU GAVE US TOOLS.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was something that was recommended for this legislation.
• It wasn't something that was currently being addressed in current legislation.
• Thank you all legislators and committee members. My name is Raymond Soroy.
• Thank you all legislators and committee members. My name is Raymond Soroy.
• Jack Rogers is our legislative affairs director.

Summary: The Transportation Committee took up several bills and agency priorities. SB 44, as amended, increased penalties for operating a vehicle with unauthorized red or blue lights and for obscuring a license plate, including new penalties for using, possessing, manufacturing, or selling license-plate obscuring devices. The sponsor and supporting law enforcement witnesses said the bill addresses widespread plate obstruction and enforcement problems; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 654, designating a railroad overpass in Starke as the Heroes Memorial Overpass, and SB 620, creating a Miami-Dade College specialty license plate with proceeds supporting scholarships and limited administrative/marketing costs. The committee then considered SB 594, which would allow Florida deep-water ports to seek Fish and Wildlife Commission approval for no-anchoring/no-mooring buffer zones adjacent to port channels and turning basins. An amendment clarified the application process, review timeline, rulemaking, and enforcement. Port representatives supported the bill as a way to protect channels and commerce, while several boating and cruising advocates opposed it, arguing the 5,000-foot buffer was excessive, could create safety issues, and would displace anchored vessels without adequate alternative dockage. Despite the opposition, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on its 2025 legislative priorities, including stricter proof-of-address and identification requirements for vehicle registration, changes to tank vehicle and IFTA rules, a higher crash-report damage threshold, and electronic notice options. Secretary Perdue then outlined FDOT priorities focused on workforce development, research, rural road funding, small business participation, consistent traffic-control standards, modal infrastructure, transit accountability, spaceport support, advanced air mobility, and shifting some power-consumption revenues to the Transportation Trust Fund to offset electric vehicle impacts. No votes were taken on the agency priorities, and the meeting adjourned after members recorded additional affirmative votes on SB 44 and SB 654.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every student legislation forward.
• c> This legislation strengthens responsible This legislation strengthens responsible stewardship<01:19
• legislation in the US. legislation in the US.
• the record, Megan Ariola, legislative the record, Megan Ariola, legislative policy<01:33:25.720>
• would be a task force or the legislative would be a task force or the legislative auditor<01:47:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all