Transcript Highlights:

• attorney's fees in lawsuits brought under the Live Local Act, prevents local governments from imposing moratoriums
• It changes terminology from an act to enforce on the prohibition on Live Local moratorium to avoid unnecessary
• litigation and clarify situations in which a moratorium is allowed.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guests and groups in the gallery, including students, business groups, and university basketball coaches. The chamber then moved through a long special order calendar, taking up a series of bills on trust law, school district reporting, debt collection, service of process, lodging and food service establishments, lien waivers, public records protections for Crime Stoppers personnel, foreign ownership/health care licensure issues, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving the scene of a crash, background screening for athletic coaches, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. Several bills were temporarily postponed, and multiple House companion bills were substituted where the measures were identical or had only drafting differences. Debate focused on a few measures. Senators questioned the trust code bill’s effect on out-of-state attorneys general; the school reporting bill was described as strengthening arrest and misconduct reporting for instructional personnel; and the service-of-process and lodging bills were presented as technical and consumer-protection fixes. The fentanyl testing bill drew emotional support from the sponsor and families affected by overdose deaths. The surrendered-infant bill prompted opposition over safety, anonymity, and the limited use of baby boxes, while supporters argued it could save lives. The affordable housing bill, updating the Live Local Act, was amended to adjust parking reductions and allow certain properties to use the administrative approval process, with additional limits and exclusions added. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, including the trust code bill, school reporting, debt collection, service of process, lien waivers, public records, foreign-country business interest restrictions, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving-the-scene restitution, athletic coach background screening, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. The day’s most divided vote was on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, which drew extended debate over fluoride policy and other provisions; it passed 27-9. At the end of the session, the Senate agreed to immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House, recognized a Taiwan-related resolution for the journal, made additional announcements, and adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We passed a bill that allowed lifting some of those moratoriums to allow for water to continue to be
• and the water levels, that lawsuit that we corrected with legislation last biennium, had put a moratorium
• Access water from White Bear Lake because then there was the moratorium on that.

Transcript Highlights:

• the DPU in their collaborative meeting that their member companies voluntarily volunteered to a moratorium
• Tell me about that moratorium. That's interesting.
• The most effective approach is a combination of temperature- and date-based moratorium, such as what
• Shutoff risk then increased after the pandemic and the end of the shutoff moratorium.
• H. 3972 would provide a shutoff moratorium between May 15 and September 30 and during periods in which

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several energy-related bills, with the main focus on H. 3534/S. 2255, which would ban or sharply restrict residential third-party electric suppliers, and on related reform proposals. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, municipal and regional planning officials, environmental justice groups, consumer advocates, and city officials from Boston and Chelsea. They argued that the residential competitive supply market has produced higher bills, deceptive sales tactics, auto-renewals into higher rates, and disproportionate harm to low-income residents, seniors, communities of color, and people with limited English. Witnesses cited AG reports estimating hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges over time, described door-to-door and storefront marketing abuses, and said municipal aggregation programs have saved residents money while offering more stable rates. Several supporters said the Legislature should either ban residential competitive supply or adopt strong guardrails such as ending automatic renewals, banning incentive-based commissions, and capping rates relative to basic service. Opponents or industry representatives from the Retail Energy Advancement League, Vistra, and Constellation argued that the market can provide savings, longer-term price stability, and value-added products such as renewable options and time-of-use offerings. They said Massachusetts has already improved consumer protections through DPU proceedings, that complaints are relatively few compared with the size of the market, and that a ban would eliminate consumer choice. They also defended direct sales and commissions as normal features of a retail market, while saying they would support additional protections, licensing, bonding, and stronger oversight of bad actors. Committee members pressed both sides on whether the market truly saves money, whether automatic renewals should be banned, and whether the AG’s proposed reforms would be enough. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3972, a bill to extend utility shutoff protections during extreme heat, with Rep. Mindy Domb arguing that Massachusetts should treat extreme heat like extreme cold and protect customers facing financial hardship. Rep. Barrett also testified for H. 3450, a municipal broadband/right-of-way bill, arguing that communities need easier and cheaper access to utility poles and public rights of way to build municipal broadband. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Creem testified for S. 2239, which would bar utilities from recovering ratepayer funds for lobbying, promotions, trade association dues, and similar expenses. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is the moratorium on assisted living and nursing homes, new nursing homes?
• <00:24:27.640> Is<00:24:27.880> the<00:24:28.080> moratorium<00:24:29.000>
• Is the moratorium on You're good.
• 24:33.640> that's You know, I know that's not in here, but the thing is I don't like the moratorium
• You know, I know moratoriums are sometimes popular. They think, well, we're going to cap our cost.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill was originally... ...drafted from the moratorium, and there is a result of the moratorium that
• Representative Hewitt for leading the charge on this bill two years ago, where we were able to get the moratorium

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, it's been over a decade since the moratorium on retirement benefit enhancements was established
• Um, given the current moratorium as well as the exclusion of retirement benefits from the scope of contract
• 00:47:35.440> the it's been a over a decade since the it's been a over a decade since the moratorium
• <00:47:36.240> on<00:47:36.400> retirement<00:47:36.880> benefit moratorium on retirement
• benefit moratorium on retirement benefit enhancements<00:47:38.400> uh<00:47:38.560> was

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Labor and Technology and Public Safety and Military Affairs considered three bills. SB 2141 would reclassify certain Department of Law Enforcement leadership and employees as Class A members for retirement purposes and adjust retirement benefit calculations. DLE supported the bill, saying it would address retirement classification without enhancing benefits, while the Employees’ Retirement System said it had no formal board position but wanted key provisions preserved. The Deputy Attorney General raised a potential title/subject issue and warned the bill could be vulnerable to challenge because the reclassification, contribution changes, and benefit calculations are in separate statutory sections. After questions about the number of affected employees and possible amendments, the committees deferred the bill. SB 2593 would exempt certain Law Enforcement Standards Board positions from civil service and collective bargaining. The board’s administrator said the positions would handle sensitive and confidential information and require specialized experience, and the board chair’s representative said the bill was important to meet certification deadlines. Opposition testimony from HGA argued exempt employees are at-will and suggested civil service protections should remain, with any staffing issues handled through reclassification or other personnel tools. Committee members questioned whether the positions could instead be civil service but excluded from bargaining, and staff explained the distinction between civil service exemption and collective bargaining exclusion. The committees ultimately recommended passing SB 2593 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of January 1, 2077, and the recommendation was adopted. SB 2824 would create a bribery-related reporting duty for public servants. Supporters, including Indivisible Hawaii, said it would establish a clear duty to report known or suspected bribery and strengthen public trust. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, saying it would criminalize an affirmative duty to report another person’s misconduct. After limited discussion, both committees voted to pass SB 2824 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050, and the recommendation was adopted. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a moratorium on this particular district from issuing permits until that study is completed
• The Senate removed the moratorium, which put a two-year pause on permanent approvals for export wells
• Chairman, would you agree that a temporary moratorium on high-capacity export permits was a critical
• Removing the moratorium removes the mechanism that gives our community breathing room while the study
• So, your neighbors, by not allowing this moratorium to be in place while we figure out what the cause

Bills: SB 1, HCR 20, HR 131, HR 133, HR 135, HR 136, HR 137, HR 144, HR 145, HR 146, HR 149, HR 150, HR 151, HR 152, HR 158, HR 161, HR 162, HR 163, HR 165, HR 166, HR 168, HR 169, HR 170, HR 175, HR 178, HR 127, HR 129, HR 130, HR 132, HR 134, HR 138, HR 139, HR 140, HR 141, HR 142, HR 143, HR 153, HR 154, HR 155, HR 156, HR 159, HR 160, HR 164, HR 167, HR 172, HR 173, HR 176, SB 1, HB 8, HB 15, HB 27, SB 5

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, memorial, remembrance, legacy, condolences, community, higher education, university merger, research, public health, economic impact, healthcare, insurance, affordability, medical coverage, state regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• These sections allow the commissioner to issue a discretionary temporary licensing moratorium for up
• They outline the requirements for issuing such a moratorium and make a related technical change.
• First into 256B.04, subdivision 3, to give them an exception to the moratorium generally so that they
• First into 256B.04, subdivision 3, to give them an exception to the moratorium generally so that they
• First into 256B.04, subdivision 3, to give them an exception to the moratorium generally so that they

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The mayor decided that he wanted to put a moratorium on car dealerships, and there would be no more in
• One day decided he was going to put a moratorium, and Bear Guadalupe Comal, the county judge, and Judge

Bills: SB2215, SB2639

Keywords: zoning, municipality, municipal immunity, governmental immunity, local government, Chapter 211, Texas Local Government Code, land use, declaratory relief, injunctive relief, mandamus, attorney's fees, court costs, property rights, home rule city, code enforcement, planning and zoning, land development, municipal ordinance, historic landmark

Transcript Highlights:

• That subsection pertains to the local sales tax moratorium that was put in place in 2023.
• So that would extend the local sales tax moratorium one year, until June 30, 2026.
• The idea being that the task force would meet between now and the expiration of that moratorium.
• These would um<00:13:12.880> um<00:13:13.040> this<00:13:13.279> moratorium<00:13
• In 2023, we had the moratorium.

Bills: HF2730, HF2257, HF2768, HF1932, HF2437

Keywords: local government debt, municipal bonds, county bonds, capital improvements, public financing, bond issuance, public hearing, notice period, bond guarantee, Minnesota Public Facilities Authority, volume cap, private activity bonds, housing finance, residential rental bonds, LIHTC, low-income housing tax credits, redevelopment, courthouse financing, jail financing, law enforcement center

Transcript Highlights:

• mentioned at that hearing, and the Lieutenant Governor also did too, that maybe we need to just put a moratorium
• The bill also proposes a two-year... ...your moratorium on state incentives.
• The issues have already been studied quite recently, and an arbitrary moratorium targeting only wind
• Finally, we recommend that the language be clarified so that the moratorium on new economic incentives

Bills: HB1951, HB2715, HB3092, HB3237, HB3278, HB3511, HB3592, HB3675, HB3778, HB3782, HB3826, HB3970, HB4016, HB4049, HB4341, HB4344, HB4406, HB4427

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• the committee for working with us on amendments so that I will be accepting to make this bill's moratorium
• applicable to 2030, as well as providing for affordable... ...moratorium applicable to 2030, as well
• SB 1090, the Keep Altadena Lands and Altadena Hands Act, will impose a three-year moratorium on state

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every local moratorium. income to keep their land and the family instead of selling it off.
• Every local moratorium that blocks one of these voluntary agreements has a cost, and that cost falls
• In 2022, the county imposed a 180-day moratorium on commercial solar development.
• The county attorney warned that the moratorium was not enforceable, and the county eventually rescinded
• Every setback that eliminates a viable site and every moratorium that prices out a small landowner is

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So for 30 years, we've had a moratorium on long-term care facility bed expansion, and this has been an
• :12.760> bed breaking apart the long-term care bed breaking apart the long-term care bed moratorium
• which has been in place since moratorium which has been in place since 1995<00:04:18.000> so<
• is communitybased care the moratorium is also<00:04:42.120> important<00:04:42.800> because
• Senator Rosenwald said it would be a real mistake to start taking apart the long-term care moratorium

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• force that kind of examined the implementation of these taxes, and in the meantime there was a moratorium
• put in place on localities implementing these, and that moratorium expires June 1 of this year.
• put in place on localities implementing these, and that moratorium expires June 1 of this year.
• put in place on localities implementing these, and that moratorium expires June 1 of this year.
• <00:55:50.880> put the meantime there was a moratorium put the meantime there was a moratorium

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Tax Committee met for an organizational and orientation session. Members and staff introduced themselves, with several lawmakers noting their districts, business backgrounds, and interest in tax policy. Chair Greg Davids then opened the committee’s first substantive item: a presentation from House Research and House Fiscal staff on how the committee works and on basic tax concepts. House Research staff Sean Williams and Chris Clayman explained their roles in drafting bills and amendments, writing bill summaries, answering legal and policy questions, and modeling tax proposals. They also described the committee’s key documents, including partisan and nonpartisan bill summaries, revenue estimates, fiscal notes, and supporting materials. Their presentation covered core tax concepts such as tax bases, rates, deductions, exemptions, credits, tax revenues, and tax expenditures, emphasizing that tax expenditures function like spending through the tax code and are reviewed by a legislative commission. The staff then reviewed Minnesota’s major taxes, focusing on the individual income tax and business taxation. They explained that Minnesota’s individual income tax starts with federal adjusted gross income, then applies state additions, deductions, subtractions, and credits, and that the state’s income tax brackets and rates are set separately from federal law. They also outlined the difference between corporate franchise taxes for C corporations and individual income tax treatment for pass-through entities, and discussed how the federal SALT cap led Minnesota and other states to adopt pass-through entity taxes so businesses could preserve federal deductibility of state taxes. Members asked questions about a duplicate “marriage penalty” entry on a slide, the purpose of Minnesota’s marriage penalty credit, comparisons with other states, and the timing and effect of the pass-through entity tax; staff answered that the duplicate was a mistake, the credit offsets bracket-related marriage penalties, and the pass-through entity tax was adopted in response to the federal SALT cap.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have exceptions to the moratorium in the Phoenix AMA.
• There are exceptions to the moratorium. There are exceptions to the moratorium in the Phoenix AMA.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day and several guests in the gallery. Members also adopted a death resolution honoring former lawmaker and University of Arizona administrator George Cunningham, with remarks from colleagues and a moment of respectful silence. The House then handled several procedural motions, including committee substitutions, bill withdrawals and referrals, and a motion to rescind a prior action on HB 2758 so it could be reconsidered. The bulk of the meeting consisted of Committee of the Whole action on multiple bills. The House advanced HB 2049, HB 2090, HB 2092, HB 2179, and HB 2228; HB 2111, HB 2114, HB 2256, HCM 2007, and HR 2003; HB 2098, HB 2265, HB 2663, HB 2666, and HB 2756; and HB 2192, HB 2476, HB 2693, and HB 2877, while retaining HB 2875 on the calendar. Several amendments were adopted, including water-related amendments to HB 2758 and HB 2756, a technical amendment to HB 2265, a felony-related amendment to HB 2666, and a memorial amendment to HCM 2007. HB 2758 drew the most debate, with supporters arguing it protected water transportation and opponents calling it unfair to rural groundwater users; it ultimately advanced from committee and later passed third reading by a 32-24 vote. On third reading, the House passed HB 2089, HB 2258, HB 2322, HB 2786, HB 2758, and HB 2825, with HB 2322 drawing comments about child safety system failures and the need to protect children in state custody. Members also explained votes on HB 2758, reflecting the same split over groundwater transfers and Colorado River shortages. The chamber then read Senate messages and first-read HB 2211, and several members made personal privilege announcements, including recognitions, birthday wishes, a Black History Month reflection, and an announcement that one member plans to resign next week to focus on a congressional campaign. The House adjourned until 1:30 p.m. Monday, February 23, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is the discussion regarding the moratorium on ICF beds a part of this discussion? Mr.
• I would tell you that that assessment and the moratorium are kind of unrelated topics.
• I believe the moratorium is more in Jessica Thomason's area in Human Services.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations HR Division met with all members present to review the medical services portion of the HHS budget. Sarah Aker, Executive Director of Medical Services, walked the committee through several budget items, including HCBS cost-to-continue adjustments, the DD bed assessment, expansion of value-based purchasing, targeted rate increases for home health and QSP services, and the cross-disability waiver. Members generally supported the targeted increases for home health and QSP, and Aker explained that the cross-disability waiver funding would support startup work, service design, and infrastructure ahead of a planned July 1, 2028 implementation. The committee spent significant time on rate-setting and provider payment issues. Members discussed ambulance rate rebasing, with several senators expressing concern that the proposed increase was too high relative to peer states; the committee ultimately moved toward reducing that item to $1 million rather than zero so it could be revisited in conference committee. They also discussed a House-added critical access hospital networking grant and similarly leaned toward reducing it to $1 million. Aker explained the department’s value-based purchasing plans, including use of a vendor selected through RFP, and clarified how the department’s existing Medicaid managed care and hospital value-based programs work. A major portion of the meeting focused on long-term care and basic care payments, including a House-added extension of the $5 per day basic care add-on and a proposed shift in nursing facility incentive grants toward a withhold-based model. Senator Mathern indicated he would bring an amendment to delay or modify the withhold change, and Aker said the department would prefer language that directly addresses whether a withhold may be implemented. Members also discussed 1915(i) services, FMAP changes, the Medicaid legacy system modernization carryover, and a House-added legislative intent section on medical assistance. The committee adjourned for the morning with plans to return later to continue Human Services budget work and revisit unresolved items in conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We learned a lot about the nuclear moratorium. That was all good.
• We've done our due diligence when we look at the nuclear moratorium.

Transcript Highlights:

• that hearing and the lieutenant governor also did too that maybe we need to just, you know, put a moratorium
• Um, Bill also proposes a two-year moratorium on state incentives.
• The issues have already been studied, um, quite recently, and an arbitrary moratorium targeting only
• Um, finally, we recommend that the, the language be clarified that the moratorium on new economic incentives

Bills: HB 1951, HB 2715, HB 3092, HB 3237, HB 3278, HB 3511, HB 3592, HB 3675, HB 3778, HB 3782, HB 3826, HB 3970, HB 4016, HB 4049, HB 4341, HB 4344, HB 4406, HB 4427

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• I know some of you might prefer a moratorium. This is not a moratorium.
• I know some of you might prefer a moratorium. This is not a moratorium.
• As noted, there was another bill that was introduced, S. 205, related to a moratorium or a five-year
• Why he was voting yes for a five-year moratorium on data centers.
• Um, I was definitely not for a moratorium. So, I just didn't think that was the right approach.

Keywords: 927, senate, all