Transcript Highlights:

• liability to the state to um to mitigate liability to the state both<01:23:04.960> from<01:23
• And so that financial, it originally the managed care setup was to actually mitigate financial risk to
• <01:25:45.520> was<01:25:45.840> to<01:25:46.159> actually<01:25:46.480> mitigate
• entity that can help influence it, can better enable us to influence spending in the program and mitigate
• So what our budget does is it seeks to mitigate these impacts to Minnesotans and minimize the burdens

Bills: HF4609, HF4401

Keywords: infertility, fertility treatment, fertility preservation, IVF, assisted reproductive technology, ART, oocyte retrieval, embryo transfer, egg freezing, sperm freezing, reproductive health, maternity coverage, health insurance mandate, health plan benefits, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, MinnesotaCare, family planning, oncology fertility preservation, chemotherapy

Transcript Highlights:

• These additions clarify that the Department of Ag needs to include mitigation of pesticides drifting
• efforts to preserve um and uh mitigation efforts to preserve the<00:32:48.159> the<00:32:48.480
• This bill will help mitigate concerns about gasoline affordability and supply by incentivizing retailers
• This bill will help mitigate<01:28:03.040> concerns<01:28:03.520> about<01:28:03.840>
• > gasoline mitigate concerns about gasoline mitigate concerns about gasoline affordability<01:28:

Bills: HF3898, HF3957, HF4372, HF4350, HF3692, HF4085

Keywords: pesticides, wild rice, environmental protection, agriculture, water quality, pollinators, training, management plan, fertilizer research, education grants, Minnesota Agricultural Council, technology transfer, agricultural productivity, HF4372, Minnesota agriculture, meat processing, meat processing training, retention incentive grants, grant extension, project deadline extension

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh and then I'll talk a little bit about roles and uh risk mitigation as we uh work through this program
• Uh and then I'll talk a little bit about roles and uh risk mitigation as we work through this program
• as we uh work and uh and risk mitigation as we uh work through<00:03:21.120> this<00:03:21.360
• So, moving on to a bit on the roles and the risk mitigation that we undertook as we tried to put this
• mitigate uh, what we are finding. mitigate uh, what we are finding.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met on March 4, 2026, and focused almost entirely on an update and oversight discussion of the Promise Act, including its grant and loan programs. The chair opened by explaining that the committee wanted to better understand how the 2023 law was implemented, how funds are still being deployed in greater Minnesota and the metro, and whether adjustments made in 2024 and 2025 were working as intended. The minutes from March 3 were approved at the start of the meeting. Deputy Commissioner Kevin McKinnon of DEED outlined the program’s legislative history, funding structure, eligibility rules, and oversight process. He said the grant side has about $94 million available, with $16 million going to the Minnesota Initiative Foundations and $86 million to the Neighborhood Development Center, plus administrative and technical assistance set-asides. He noted legislative changes over time, including shifting the revenue eligibility test to the prior year, adding a home-office deduction requirement for businesses using a home address, and maintaining a preference for applicants who had not received more than $10,000 in prior state assistance. McKinnon said about $22 million had been awarded to 35 businesses at the time of the update, and that the loan program has $30 million appropriated, with about $9.5 million lent so far. He also described the application, verification, audit, and payment process, emphasizing that partners handle intake and DEED conducts final review and random audits. Shahir Ahmmed of the Neighborhood Development Center described the round-one and round-two grant process in more detail. He said NDC spent about nine months building the application platform, launched round one in June 2024, received more than 3,000 applications, and later paused awards while DEED and legislators clarified the law. He reported that 651 applications were approved in the first round for just under $9 million, and that round two launched in September 2025 with a goal of distributing up to $50 million in remaining grant funds. Ahmmed also explained the step-by-step applicant process, including email confirmation, eligibility screening, document upload, identity verification through Plaid, and final DEED review. He said applicants commonly use funds for payroll, equipment or inventory, rent, and utilities. The chair indicated there would be further testimony from other program partners and then member questions, but no votes or formal actions were taken on the Promise Act itself during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• rehabilitative programming and accountability to both address that behavior at hand and also really to mitigate
• structured interventions and the right levels of supervision and engagement to ensure that we are mitigating
• structured interventions and the right levels of supervision and engagement to ensure that we are mitigating
• In regards to some of the juvenile really to mitigate future potential for re-offence.
• structured interventions and the right levels of supervision and engagement to ensure that we are mitigating

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety bills, with most of the discussion focused on AB 1650, AB 2014, AB 1886, AB 2126, AB 2624, and AB 2257. AB 1650 would require clearer identification on privately owned vehicles rented or leased to government agencies for enforcement operations; supporters framed it as a transparency and safety measure in response to ICE activity, while no opposition testified. AB 2014 would allow post-conviction habeas relief where gender bias or stereotypes were used at trial and may have affected the outcome; supporters described cases involving sexist and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes, while the California District Attorneys Association opposed the bill as overbroad and likely to restrict relevant evidence, though the author said recent amendments removed the evidence-code provisions and left only the habeas remedy. AB 1886 would extend a 12-month probation presumption to youth in out-of-home placements and those discharged from secure youth treatment facilities; youth advocates supported it as a fairness and rehabilitation measure, while judges, probation officials, and district attorneys opposed it as undoing a recent compromise and limiting individualized decisions. AB 2126 would speed hiring of peer partners in child welfare by creating a narrow exemption process for certain foster-youth-related offenses; it drew broad support and no opposition. AB 2624 would expand the Safe at Home address-confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers; supporters cited threats, doxing, and harassment, while one journalist opposed it over possible effects on reporting, and the author and committee members said the bill preserves press protections and is narrowly aimed at threats and harassment. AB 2257 would restore county authority to create a separate corrections department to run jails instead of the sheriff; supporters argued it would improve accountability and address jail deaths and fiscal problems, while sheriffs opposed it as unnecessary and said sheriffs are already subject to oversight. The committee also noted several bills pulled by their authors and adopted a consent calendar of unrelated measures. Votes were not always taken immediately because the committee was waiting for a quorum, but AB 2624 was moved on a do-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations and left on call, and the chair indicated support or favorable recommendations on several of the other measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• To mitigate this impact, Commerce is proposing a 10% penalty to those who enroll in a Medicare supplement
• To mitigate this impact, Commerce is proposing a 10% penalty to those who enroll in a Medicare supplement
• To mitigate this impact, Commerce is proposing a 10% penalty to those who enroll in a Medicare supplement
• To mitigate this impact, Commerce is proposing a 10% penalty to those who enroll in a Medicare supplement
• To mitigate this impact, Commerce is proposing a 10% penalty to those who enroll in a Medicare supplement

Bills: HF1546, HF2403, HF2389, HF2398

Keywords: fire safety, public safety, statewide fire code, code cleanup, repeal, obsolete statutes, matches, strike-anywhere matches, safety matches, match packaging, match storage, tent safety, flame resistant tents, public assembly tents, flammable materials, fire code modernization, Minnesota Statutes chapter 325F, commerce policy, financial institutions, insurance regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• before the board and provide evidence as to why the allegation is not true, or at least provide mitigating
• before the board and provide evidence as to why the allegation is not true, or at least provide mitigating
• before the board and provide evidence as to why the allegation is not true, or at least provide mitigating
• before the board and provide evidence as to why the allegation is not true, or at least provide mitigating
• before the board and provide evidence as to why the allegation is not true, or at least provide mitigating

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over many years, as we’ve collaborated with the state, we found ways to manage that, mitigate it as we
• We had no way our philanthropy can’t take that; our asks of our municipalities can’t mitigate it. um
• it um as we ways to manage that mitigate it um as we could<00:27:45.960> and<00:27:46.120>
• Municipalities, uh, can’t mitigate that.
• We believe that we are part of the impact of Mission Zero, but if we don’t have help in mitigating this

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:10:08.760> to um how how do you how do you try to um how how do you how do you try to mitigate
• 10.760> I<01:10:10.920> guess<01:10:11.239> what<01:10:11.440> point mitigate
• that and and I guess what point mitigate that and and I guess what point do<01:10:11.760> you
• He said that previous to that they had seen the electric school bus program, mitigating climate change
• As well, we have a mandate in statute to do this wetland mitigation on behalf of those local authorities

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Chair Foung Hawj opened the Environment, Climate and Legacy Committee meeting by welcoming members, agency staff, and constituents, and by outlining the committee’s shared-power arrangement for the session. Members introduced themselves and described environmental activities from the interim, including gardening, outdoor recreation, farming visits, Great Lakes work, and a tree-planting trip in Thailand that Hawj said symbolized cultural unity and environmental stewardship. Ben Stanley, the committee’s nonpartisan counsel, then explained the co-chairs’ operating agreement: Hawj would chair the meeting, Senator John Hoffman would chair the next two meetings, then Hawj would chair the following two, with the chair rotating after each pair of meetings. Agendas would be set jointly, additional meetings would require both chairs’ approval, and passing a bill out of committee would require a majority of all committee members, or seven votes. At Senator Tory Westrom’s request, the agreement was to be emailed to members in writing. Stanley also reviewed the committee’s jurisdiction, which includes environmental and natural resources bills, legacy funds, and agencies such as the Environmental Quality Board, Department of Natural Resources, Pollution Control Agency, and Board of Water and Soil Resources, along with several related councils and boards. Fiscal analyst Dan Mueller then gave a budget overview of the committee’s agencies, noting that many current biennium appropriations include one-time general fund money that drops back in the 2026-27 base budget. He highlighted funding levels for the Pollution Control Agency, DNR, Metro Parks, Conservation Corps, BWSR, the Minnesota Zoo, the Science Museum, and the Metropolitan Landfill Contingency Action Trust Account, and said the committee’s base-budget area totals about $2.2 billion. He also reviewed the Legacy funds, estimating available 2026-27 appropriations of about $327 million for Outdoor Heritage, $31.7 million for Clean Water, $133 million for Parks and Trails, and $185 million for Arts and Cultural Heritage. No votes or bill actions were taken at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the basis for our housing mitigation.
• Mitigation.
• for mitigating for mitigating workforce<01:26:01.120> housing.
• These are how we mitigate impacts.
• are how we mitigate impacts. are how we mitigate impacts.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Land Office, we support all of the Housing and Urban Development-funded disaster recovery and mitigation
• currently operating an approximate $14 billion portfolio that is serving nine separate events and one mitigation
• Similarly, the GLO has just launched for public comment a CDBG mitigation reallocation program that will
• Similarly, the GLO has just launched for public comment a CDBG mitigation reallocation program that will
• The best communities in Texas incorporate roads, utilities, drainage, detention, flood mitigation, and

Summary: The committee heard testimony first from the Texas General Land Office and School Land Board. GLO officials described the agency’s role in managing more than 13 million acres of state lands and mineral interests for the Permanent School Fund, overseeing the Alamo, coastal programs, veterans’ services, and federal disaster recovery. They said the agency has generated about $6 billion for the Permanent School Fund since Commissioner Buckingham took office, and that its disaster recovery portfolio is about $14 billion across multiple events, with more than 22,000 housing units rebuilt or reconstructed since Hurricane Harvey. Members asked about land purchases such as Brewster Ranch, rare earth mineral leasing, SpaceX-related beach access, and whether the lands are public access lands; GLO staff said the holdings are managed to maximize revenue for education, that most land is leased rather than open to public access, and that they are coordinating on coastal access and compliance. On the School Land Board, members sought clarification on the difference between GLO-managed lands and the Permanent School Fund Corporation’s investment role, and staff explained that GLO generates the revenue while the separate corporation invests it. No votes or formal actions were taken. The Board for Lease of University Lands then testified. University Lands officials explained that they steward 2.1 million acres of surface and mineral interests in West Texas for the Permanent University Fund, which supports UT and Texas A&M institutions. They said a 2025 lease sale produced about $50 million in bonus revenue from 28,000 acres, and described the Board for Lease’s role in approving lease forms, lease sales, and development agreements. Members asked about the size and use of the PUF, how distributions work through UTIMCO, whether PUF money can be used for athletics, and how the land is managed; the witness said the fund is a constitutional endowment, the land is largely leased rather than sold, and distributions are generally used for buildings, labs, and other permanent structures, with some institutions also using a portion for operations. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then took up municipal utility districts. Testimony from a law firm, the Texas Municipal League, Fort Bend County Commissioner Vincent Morales, and Johnson Development largely supported MUDs as a financing tool for infrastructure tied to growth. Witnesses said MUDs help fund water, sewer, drainage, roads, parks, and related infrastructure, allowing development to proceed without shifting costs to existing taxpayers and helping keep housing affordable. They emphasized that MUDs are created with disclosure to homebuyers, are subject to the Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act, and are overseen by TCEQ for bond issuance and related financial stress tests. Members questioned whether MUDs are taxing entities, whether they can be created inside city limits or ETJs, how much control cities and counties retain, and whether MUDs are becoming permanent local governments; witnesses acknowledged they levy taxes and debt, can exist within city limits with city consent, and often function as long-term local entities. The committee did not take any formal action during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• niche question: How does the proposal affect homestead property owners who went through the Hazard Mitigation
• Grant Program that FEMA funded, and then, as a result of those serious damages and the hazard mitigation
• So to be clear, just because a property owner went through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program that FEMA
• are about to make a tough decision, they figure out a way to not make that tough decision, or to mitigate
• the level, the level, to not make that tough decision or to mitigate the level or the degree of what

Summary: The Senate took up Committee Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 2F, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand homestead property tax relief, lower the assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limit county and municipal ad valorem tax revenues to specified uses. Senator Avila presented the measure as a major property tax reform intended to provide relief to homeowners and restrain local government spending, while opponents argued it would shift costs to fees, services, and state appropriations and could harm local budgets, public safety, schools, and other services. Several senators also raised concerns about the ballot language and the lack of a completed fiscal analysis. The chamber considered and rejected multiple amendments. Senator Sharif’s income-based “circuit breaker” amendment failed, as did Senator Smith’s sunset clause amendment and Senator Berman’s amendment to rewrite the ballot statement for greater accuracy. During questioning, Avila said the revised language was meant to preserve flexibility for local governments and that future legislatures could set implementing procedures and, if necessary, prohibit certain local expenditures by general law. He also confirmed that the proposal would not affect refinancing or portability, and said the measure would not prevent local governments from continuing to fund many services such as libraries, parks, animal control, code enforcement, mosquito control, public housing, county health departments, and elections. Debate on final passage was extensive. Supporters described the proposal as overdue relief for homeowners and a way to force local governments to prioritize spending, while critics called it a risky tax shift that could reduce local revenue by billions and force cuts or higher fees. Some senators emphasized concerns about public safety funding, mental health and social services, and the accuracy of the ballot summary; others argued the measure would give voters a chance to decide on property tax reform. After debate, the resolution was rolled over for third reading and the Senate continued discussion, but the transcript provided does not include a final vote on the joint resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• The increase of fees proposed needs to begin in the budget year and only partially mitigate the fiscal
• The increase of fees proposed needs to begin in the budget year and only partially mitigate the fiscal
• We've built in efficiencies to try to mitigate that workload by focusing on specialized program areas
• I mentioned the code enforcement unit to help mitigate that.
• And the only thing that mitigates that is competition among businesses. Thanks. Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We mitigate most of the risk during the design phase, so we see risk items, we'll design around those
• a very brief qualitative risk assessment to see what kind of risks are out there and how we can mitigate
• a very brief qualitative risk assessment to see what kind of risks are out there and how can we mitigate
• Those funds are typically administered by local air quality management districts and are used to mitigate
• to think about how the permitting and regulatory side can be reformed and changed so that we can mitigate

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from WSDOT on balancing uncertainty in capital program estimates and cash flow management. WSDOT explained the differences between design-bid-build and design-build delivery, its tiered risk-assessment process by project size, and how it uses base estimates, inflation, and risk modeling to set budgets. Staff said design-bid-build estimates are generally accurate within about 1% across the program, while design-build projects carry much wider uncertainty and are better communicated as ranges; they cited a P85 budget approach and noted that large, complex projects can be affected by market competition and long procurement timelines. Members asked about the Columbia River Bridge cost growth and about value engineering, and WSDOT said it uses value engineering but has limited scope to cut costs because of project requirements and policy mandates. Troy Swing also discussed cash flow, noting that a few large projects can significantly affect biennial funding needs, and said a risk pool would not reduce overall program risk but could help manage timing if paired with appropriation and cash-flow controls. The committee then received the final presentation in the WSDOT Project Delivery and Innovative Practices study from HKA Global. The consultant said WSDOT’s estimating practices are generally robust and recommended improving transparency by presenting budget authorizations as ranges or estimate classes, better tracking estimate growth over time, and adjusting advertisement timing to avoid competing lettings. The report also discussed surety bonding, suggesting the legislature consider restoring authority for reduced bonding on select large design-build projects or using phased bonding and alternative securities. On indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracting, the consultant said current job order contract rules are restrictive and recommended legislative changes to make such tools more usable, especially for smaller tasks and to help use unspent funds more flexibly. The committee also heard a follow-up presentation on transit-oriented development policy recommendations tied to HB 1491. The Urban Institute’s Yona Freemark said Washington has been a national leader on TOD but that housing construction, especially in the Puget Sound, has slowed sharply since 2022. He said rising construction costs, high financing costs, and local tax and rent conditions are making many TOD projects infeasible, and recommended that the state fill infrastructure funding gaps around stations, revisit MFTE affordability requirements, consider minimum rather than average density requirements near transit, and create a statewide system to track TOD outcomes such as affordability, gentrification, and transit access. Members questioned the study’s developer interviews, the role of rent control and crime, property tax assumptions, and parking needs; the presenter said the study included five private developers, that rent control was not part of the study scope, and that parking was included in the model assumptions. Finally, the committee began a presentation on regulating emissions from ocean-going vessels at berth. Staff and consultants described California-style at-berth rules, which require shore power or equivalent emissions controls so ships can shut off diesel auxiliary engines while docked. The study is examining vessel traffic, emissions reductions, implementation costs, labor and operational needs, and possible effects on port competitiveness and cargo diversion. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill takes meaningful steps to mitigate this problem by meaningfully curbing fraudulent payments
• <02:39:34.240> this meaningful steps to mitigate this meaningful steps to mitigate this problem
• This bill will help mitigate fraud in future national emergencies.
• This bill will help mitigate fraud in future national emergencies.
• This bill will help mitigate emergency.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, June 8, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• so, for the last 6-7 years, we've been trying to thread the needle between getting these flood mitigation
• 19:56.480> to,<00:19:57.040> uh,<00:19:57.360> floodwater<00:19:57.840> mitigation
• regards to, uh, floodwater mitigation regards to, uh, floodwater mitigation up<00:19:59.440>
• 00:20:46.240> flood needle between getting these flood needle between getting these flood mitigation
• projects done and making sure mitigation projects done and making sure that<00:20:49.440> we<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the public to be able to hunt, to be able to be in an environment with elk and do it in a way that mitigates
• disease, but also mitigates and supports farmers.
• the public to be able to hunt, to be able to be in an environment with elk and do it in a way that mitigates
• disease, but also mitigates and supports farmers.
• current status quo. transport, uh, much safer and overall transport, uh, much safer and overall mitigate

Bills: HF3426, HF3896, HF1426, HF3793, HF4061, HF4246

Keywords: natural resources, environment, sustainability, conservation, outdoor recreation, wild rice, watercraft regulation, environmental protection, aquatic ecosystems, HF1426, product stewardship, extended producer responsibility, EPR, electronics recycling, e-waste, battery recycling, circuit boards, printed circuit boards, electrical products, covered products

Transcript Highlights:

• as private is the correct approach to protecting individual privacy, that limited point does not mitigate
• the broader concerns does not mitigate the broader concerns raised<00:43:29.520> by<00:43:29.599
• House File 3418 seeks to mitigate some of these practices with a two-fold approach.
• House file 3418 seeks<00:53:46.079> to<00:53:46.319> mitigate<00:53:47.040> some
• <00:53:47.280> of<00:53:47.359> these seeks to mitigate some of these seeks to mitigate

Bills: HF3479, HF4205, HF3782, HF4081, HF4138

Keywords: foreclosure, mortgage, redemption period, homestead, Minnesota Statutes, automated license plate reader, ALPR, license plate recognition, vehicle surveillance, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, data privacy, government data practices, law enforcement data, surveillance technology, location data, vehicle tracking, warrant requirement, probable cause, exigent circumstances

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, maybe the environmental standards that we're trying to mitigate—maybe that's going to be a
• standards that we're trying to mitigate standards that we're trying to mitigate maybe<00:27:07.480
• You know, there’s a bill that Representative Kraft has that would actually fund that mitigation efforts
• So, fair to say, yes— Yes, so to clarify, it does include mitigation efforts on greenhouse gases and
• I also want to talk a little bit about some of the mitigation efforts as well.

Bills: HF1167, HF1242

Keywords: Northern Lights Express, NLX, Minneapolis-Duluth rail, passenger rail, intercity passenger rail, high-speed rail, Duluth, Minneapolis, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, transportation funding, rail appropriation, general fund, trunk highway fund, rail project cancellation, infrastructure spending, commercial driver training, CDL, financial assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• the building improvements to fully eliminate security vulnerabilities and ensure complete threat mitigation
• Finally, it directly mitigates data-related risks by operating on the state's network under enterprise
• Finally, it directly mitigates data-related risks by operating on the state's network under Enterprise
• by the Legislature and the administration and previously utilized by the Department of Finance to mitigate

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held a May Revise hearing focused on state administration proposals, with the chair noting no actions would be taken and all items would remain open. The committee heard presentations on a range of budget proposals, including technical adjustments for the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement and the California Workforce Development Board, security and election-related funding for the Secretary of State, modernization and loan-backfill requests for the Department of Consumer Affairs, and multiple Employment Development Department updates covering EDD Next, UI and DI/PFL benefit estimates, workforce funding, and an EMT training reappropriation. Several items drew discussion from the LAO and committee members. The LAO generally supported technical or modernization items such as PERB’s implementation requests, GoServe’s College Corps adjustment, the Secretary of State’s security and HAVA grant items, and the Board of Pharmacy modernization proposal, but raised concerns about the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s proposed $10 million General Fund backfill and interest-free loan language. For EDD, the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL benefit adjustment and the unusual structure of the document management system proposal within EDD Next, while EDD said the changes reflected higher participation and benefit levels after SB 951 and ongoing modernization needs. The Department of Industrial Relations drew the most extensive questioning. It proposed funding for legal unit reclassifications, EAMS and Cal/OSHA data modernization, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COYA reappropriation, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board timeline. Members pressed DIR on high vacancy rates, long wage theft and workers’ compensation backlogs, low collection rates for fines, and the need for clearer workload and outcome measures. DIR said the requests were intended to improve efficiency, support audits and corrective action plans, and better address emerging workplace risks, while the LAO said the workload drivers behind delays remain unclear. The hearing also included support for CalHR’s employee assistance program consolidation and CDT’s proposal to expand “Poppy,” a statewide generative AI assistant for state employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• through the results of the final report, including the recommendations, and the next steps on how to mitigate
• your instruction, legislative counsel issued an RFP for consulting services to study the ways to mitigate
• understanding on current legislators' experience to gauge whether certain strategies that might mitigate
• in the report that was just printed that one of the recommendations for the staff side for how to mitigate

Summary: The Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then took up a draft bill to make legislators’ and candidates’ residential addresses confidential in public records. Legislative Council and the Secretary of State explained the proposal was prompted by security concerns and would protect residential addresses while still allowing election officials to verify residency and keep candidate names and offices public. Members raised concerns about unintended consequences, transparency, and how the change would affect rural districts and residency enforcement. The Secretary of State suggested an amendment to end the confidentiality when a candidate’s term ends, and the committee agreed to hold the bill over for further discussion at the next meeting. The committee also reviewed follow-up materials on legislator security and best practices, including advice on situational awareness, internet hygiene, varying routines, and reporting threats, along with NCSL materials comparing capitol security practices in other states. Members discussed a recent security incident and the need to keep alert contact information current, and staff said they would continue working with the Highway Patrol on legislative-specific notifications. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to Garrity Consulting’s final report on mitigating the effects of legislative term limits. The consultants summarized survey, focus group, and stakeholder input showing concerns about loss of institutional knowledge, leadership turnover, onboarding demands, and workload pressures, while also noting public support for term limits and annual sessions. Recommendations included considering annual sessions or shifting biennial sessions to even-numbered years, restructuring organizational session and interim committee work, creating office hours and more structured orientation and mentorship, expanding ongoing training and staff support, improving public communication and virtual testimony rules, and addressing barriers to service such as employer support and travel costs. Members discussed the tension between making the legislature more effective and preserving a citizen-legislature model, and the report was received as a roadmap for future implementation rather than immediate action.