Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senator<00:10:37.440> Crew. >> Senator Crew. >> Senator Crew.
• Senator Kun moves that Senate<00:23:29.360> File<00:23:29.760> 4747 Senate File 4747 Senate
• Senator<01:21:46.320> Krum. Senator Krum. Senator Krum.
• Go to Senator Holmstrom and then Senator Limmer.
• Senator Lur moves that Senate File 3946.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Spotlight is produced by the Minnesota Senate and Senate Media Services.
• Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight. Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight.
• Senate File 4379.
• and Senate File 4379. and Senate File 4379.
• Senate<00:26:41.440> File<00:26:41.760> 4296 Senate File 4296 Senate File 4296 requires

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senate will come to order.
• senator from Chittna Southeast. senator from Chittna Southeast.
• Senate Finance will meet at 1:00. >> Senator from Rutland. >> Government Operations will also meet at
• Senator<00:06:31.280> from<00:06:31.520> Washington. Senator from Washington.
• >> Senator from Rutland. >> Senator from Rutland.

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• Members will now proceed to the Senate resolutions number 73 to 75.
• And remaining under motions and resolutions, I'll now call on Senator Murphy to designate special orders
• Senator Port votes I. Senator Port votes I. And Senator Latz votes I. And Senator Latz votes I.
• Senator<00:41:10.480> Klein. Senator Klein. Senator Klein.
• >> Senator Senator Klein. >> Senator Senator Klein.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, pledge, and roll call, confirmed a quorum, and then moved through routine business including first reading and referral of Senate File 5019 to the Health and Human Services Committee, along with referral of Senate resolutions 73 to 75 to Rules and Administration. Senator Westrom’s motion to withdraw Senate File 3893 from Finance, give it a second reading, and place it on general orders was adopted. The chamber then took up House File 3556, which renames Minnesota’s Community Solar Garden Program as the Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program. Senator Hoffman presented the bill as a tribute to Speaker Melissa Hortman’s role in creating and advancing community solar in Minnesota, with Senator Marty and others supporting the recognition. The bill was read a third time and passed on final passage by a vote of 59-7, with the title agreed to. Senate File 1251 followed, a bipartisan bill to remove the June 2026 sunset on crossbow use during archery season and make the allowance permanent. Senator Pa and supporters cited a DNR study showing no negative impact on deer or turkey populations and argued the change would improve participation among women, youth, and older hunters. An A3 technical amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 67-0. The Senate then considered Senate File 3868, a bill to ban cryptocurrency kiosks in Minnesota due to fraud concerns. The author and supporters described widespread scams targeting seniors and others, citing losses in Minnesota and national fraud data. An A2 amendment requiring lawful-presence verification for foreign remittance transfers was ruled not germane, and the chair’s ruling was upheld on a 34-33 appeal. Debate then began on an A3 amendment related to cash transfers through airports, with members arguing over germaneness and the scope of the fraud-prevention bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are going to be taking up Senate File 2373.
• Uh, Senator Rarick. Uh, thank you, Madam Chair.
• Uh, Senator Rarick. Uh, thank you, Madam Chair.
• Uh thank you Madam Uh Senator Rarick.
• That is exactly what I was uh Senator.

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• Senator Green.
• Senator Green. question from members? Senator Green.
• Senator Green. Then also Mr. Chair. Senator Green.
• Senator<01:02:16.600> Kupec. Senator Kupec. Senator Kupec.
• Senator<01:17:41.920> Latz. Senator Latz. Senator Latz.

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• Senator Bahr. No. Senator Swedzinski. No. Senator Drazkowski. No. Senator Fateh. Yes.
• Senator Swedzinski. Senator Bar. No. Senator Swedzinski.
• Senator<00:25:48.640> Bar. Senator Bar. Senator Bar.
• Senator Bahr: no. Senator Wattenburg: aye. Senator Driskowski: no. Senator Fateh: aye.
• <01:30:31.800> Senator Senator Fateh? Yes. Senator Senator Fateh? Yes.

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Transcript Highlights:

• I know Senator... not Senator. Um, Mr.
• I know Senator... not Senator. Um, Mr.
• I know Senator... not Senator. Um, Mr.
• I know Senator bill uh forward. I know Senator not<00:30:50.280> Senator.
• Um, Senator Rarick. Uh, Senator Westlin.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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• We will next move to Senate File 4909, Senator Abeler.
• Senator Abeler. Just uh Uh Madam Chair. Senator Abeler.
• Any uh<00:36:50.880> Senator<00:36:51.120> Clark. uh Senator Clark. uh Senator Clark.
• Senator Pha. No. Senator Clark. Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Senator Pha, and thank you.
• Senator<01:13:18.240> Pha. Senator Pha. Senator Pha.

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Keywords: 1191, senate, all

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• Um, Senator Karan, Senate File 4724. >> Thank you, Senator Kriscowski.
• :09:05.040> Senator >> Thank you, Senator Dibble, Senator >> Thank you, Senator Dibble
• Senator Senate file 4705 and thank you Senator Senate file 4705 and thank you very<01:30:22.400> much
• Senator Rest, yes. Senator Hauschild, yes. Senator Weber, no.
• But um Senator um uh Senator bill.

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• This relates to Senate File 4481 by Senator Omer Fateh.
• This relates to Senate File 4481 by Senator Omer Fateh.
• That is Senate File 3584 by Senator Putnam.
• That is Senate File 3584 by Senator Putnam.
• by um Senator Putnam. by um Senator Putnam.

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• Senator<00:46:58.400> Eichler. Senator Eichler. Senator Eichler.
• Um Senator Eken. Thank you. Um Senator Eken.
• Senators Senators Senators question. question. question. Seeing<01:52:07.160> none.
• Senator Senator mental health services?
• Senator<01:53:46.520> Utke. Senator Utke. Senator Utke.

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Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Cole Forrest. Here. Senator Perry. Senator Hall. Senator Miles. Senator Hughes.
• Senator Blanco. Senator Sparks. Senator Cook. Thank you, members.
• Senator Hall, Senator Hughes, and then back to Senator Miles.
• Certainly, Senator.
• Senator Hall.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Koran. Senate File 4026 is before us.
• Senator<00:19:24.679> Koran. Senator Koran. Senator Koran.
• Senator<00:27:50.440> Kunesh. Senator Kunesh. Senator Kunesh.
• Senator Putnam, Senate File 4560. Thank you very much, Senator. Uh, Mr. Chair.
• Chair, thank you, Senator. Senator. Senator.

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Summary: The committee heard an introductory presentation from Sam Daily of Believe It Canine Service Partners, a nonprofit that trains service dogs free of charge for disabled veterans. Daily described the organization’s work with veterans, including placements with MACV and a service dog at Veteran Village in Eagan, and said the group has placed 80 teams so far. Senator Howe asked whether the organization had pursued Support Our Troops grants, and Daily said it had received two SOS grants. The first bill taken up was Senate File 4172, as amended, which would expand eligibility for burial in Minnesota state veterans cemeteries to honorably discharged reservists, National Guard members, and Air National Guard members, and would allow some honor guard use for eligible people. Senator Howe said the bill corrects an inequity for Guard and reserve members who served honorably but are not currently eligible. Glenn Pence testified in support, saying the bill recognizes National Guard service and should allow those veterans to be buried with others they served alongside. MDVA’s David Swantek supported the concept but warned that expanded eligibility would increase demand, especially at Little Falls, and could shorten its projected capacity timeline from about 48 years to about 30 years. The committee adopted the A1 amendment and then laid the bill over for inclusion in the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance Omnibus Bill. The committee then heard Senate File 4026, which sets standards for MDVA competitive grants and adds accountability and residency requirements. Senator Koran said the bill would help the department review grants and ensure funds serve Minnesota veterans and families. MDVA chief of staff Dave Belfi supported the bill, saying it reflects agency feedback, aligns with existing residency rules, and does not affect CVSO, VSO, or Support Our Troops grants. The A1 amendment was adopted, and the bill was laid over for inclusion in the omnibus bill. Next, Senate File 4807 was heard, a bill to update pay for National Guard soldiers and airmen called to state active duty. MDVA and National Guard officials said the bill would simplify statute language and raise the minimum base pay for lower ranks to the E5 level, with future adjustments tied to federal pay tables. Senator Kunesh asked about funding, and staff explained the cost would come through an open general-fund emergency appropriation, estimated at about $30,000 annually but varying with activations. The committee adopted amendments to incorporate SF 4172 and SF 4026 into SF 4807, made technical corrections, and then recommended SF 4807, as amended, to pass and be referred to the full committee. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 3603, which would create a program allowing school districts to issue high school diplomas to Minnesota veterans who left school to serve during the Korean conflict or Vietnam War. Senator Rasmussen said the bill recognizes veterans who interrupted their education for service. MDVA’s John Kelly supported the bill, noting it reflects input from MDVA and the Department of Education and that similar programs exist in other states. The committee voted to recommend the bill to pass and refer it to the full committee. The meeting also began discussion of Senate File 4560, which would formalize the Commander's Task Force, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• My apologies, Senator DeCoite.
• Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, and Senator Faga.
• But anyway, I just couldn't let questions for Senator Wakai.
• Senator Fukunaga: Aye. Senator Kim and Fevella are excused. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.
• Senator Fukunaga: Aye. Senator Kim and Fevella are excused. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard several governor’s nominations for advisory and regulatory boards. The first group included William Smith, Michelle Ige, and Kayana Neman for the Community-Based Economic Development Advisory Council; Leland Park and Cynthia Hobson for the Small Business Regulatory Review Board; and Nicole Kacal for the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation board. DBEDT and related witnesses testified in support of all nominees, and each nominee described experience in small business, finance, community engagement, or technology. Much of the discussion focused on strengthening Hawaiʻi’s economy through small business support, financial literacy, and better access to capital and grants. Committee members questioned nominees about priorities for Hawaiʻi Island and the state more broadly. Topics included agricultural infrastructure, value-added food production, shared processing facilities and commercial kitchens, workforce housing, and ways government and nonprofits can partner to help small businesses navigate permitting, licensing, and grant processes. Several nominees emphasized community impact, measurable outcomes, and practical regulatory reform. Nicole Kacal also discussed diversifying the economy beyond tourism, expanding technology and AI opportunities, and creating locally governed training and research pathways so workers can adapt to changing jobs. At the end of the hearing, the committee voted to recommend advice and consent for all nominees. The nominations for GM 608, GM 609, GM 612, and GM 613 were adopted by voice vote, with Senators Kim and Fevella excused. The committee then voted separately on GM 794 for Nicole Kacal, and that recommendation was also adopted. The hearing concluded with adjournment.