Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The Minnesota Senate Labor Committee is called to order.
• Senate File 2373 is our proposal for the Labor Committee Finance and Policy Bill.
• oppose Senate File 2373 the committee to oppose Senate File 2373 as<00:15:22.320> amended<00:
• Okay, so Senator Kupec moves that Senate File 4640 be re-referred from the table to the Committee on
• Senator Kupec moves that Senate File 4640 be taken from the table and re-referred to the Committee on

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Abeler: Yes. Senator Boldon: Aye. Senator Fateh: Yes. Senator Koran: Yes.
• c><00:31:30.080> Senator Senator Wickland Madam Chair Senator Senator Wickland Madam Chair Senator
• Senator Eagler, yes. Senator Boldon, yes. Senator Fateh, yes. Senator Green, yes.
• Senator Utke? No. Senator Abeler? Yes. Senator Boldon? Yes. Senator Fateh? Yes. Senator Koran? No.
• Senator Kupec? Senator Kupec? Senator Kupec? Senator Latzky? No. Senator Latzky? No. Senator Port?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Once again, in front of the committee today is Senate File 1119, Senator Maye Quade.
• or discussion by the committee. >> Senator Rasmusson.
• And this is uh Senate File 1119 before the committee. Um thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Madam Chair and Senator Rest, remember, we did hear this in the form of a bill in this committee.
• Senator Klein: Um, Madam Chair and Senator Duckworth, uh, we did hear this in the committee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Taxes Committee, and thank you to Senator Miller.
• Welcome to the committee, Senator Johnson.
• Um welcome to the committee, Senator Johnson.
• Um, welcome to the committee, Senator Johnson.
• for hearing Senate the tax committee for hearing Senate File<01:51:41.920> 2754.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Capital Investment Committee will come to order.
• Welcome to the committee, Senator Drazkowski. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• And Senator Johnson, this is not your first committee. You were in health.
• And Senator Johnson, this is not your first<01:14:40.560> committee.
• c> a<01:14:48.480> late in the Senate Rules Committee as a late in the Senate Rules Committee

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• being on this committee? being on this committee?
• Senator Watters. Thank you very much. Um, three of us on this committee serve...
• Senator Watters. >> Yeah. Senator Watters.
• <01:24:22.680> serve Senator Watters: Um, three of us on this committee serve on Finance.
• Senator<01:27:01.200> Watters. Senator Watters. Senator Watters.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Reardon moves consent. Seconded by Senator Abbas.
• Moved by Senator Reardon, seconded by Senator Abbas.
• So moved by Senator Altschiller, seconded by Senator Riordan.
• Thank you, Senator. Senator. Senator.
• So, yes, Senator. All right. So, yes, Senator.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A quorum is present, and this is the Minnesota Senate Education Finance Committee.
• Senator Swadzinski and Senator Rarick. Senator Swadzinski and Senator Rarick.
• Senator Clark said, “Thank you, Chair, and thank you, committee.
• I move that Senate File 3551, as amended, be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee
• Thank you Senator Senator Gustafson.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate will come to order. Senator Murphy. Mr. President, I impose a call of the Senate.
• Senator Murphy for motion to adopt the committee reports. Port, and Senator Utke.
• Senator Murphy for motion to adopt the committee<00:09:29.200> reports.
• I move Senate File 4125 be withdrawn from the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety and re-referred
• Senator Pratt moves that Senate File No. 4125 be withdrawn from the Committee on Judiciary and Public

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon and welcome to the slightly smaller committee of Senate Health and Human Services.
• Are you good,<00:12:08.880> Senator? good, Senator? good, Senator?
• So Senator Lang, Senator Pearl, Senator Avard, and Senator Rashardy, um, they were all part of this to
• questions from the committee? questions from the committee?
• <00:46:38.319> Uh of the committee. Uh of the committee.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Evard to the committee. Senator Evard. Thank you, Madam President.
• Senator Evard to the committee. Senator Evard. Thank you, Madam President.
• <00:33:37.480> Senator Senator Evard to the committee.
• Senator Senator Evard to the committee.
• Senator Pearl for the committee. Senator Pearl. Thank you, Madam President.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, in the Senate we have a rule we can do a committee amendment, which basically, on the fly, we can
• Senator<00:19:09.400> Along. Senator Along. Senator Along.
• committee amendment. committee amendment.
• <00:23:42.840> All committee amendment say I. I. All committee amendment say I. I.
• <00:24:31.040> is I think I think what the senator is I think I think what the senator is

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Transcript Highlights:

• Recognize the senator from Franklin District for the report of the Committee on Judiciary.
• I would like to recognize the Senator from Franklin for the report of the Committee on Appropriations
• Uh, H. 410 went through your Senate Appropriations Committee, and we deemed this to be de minimis.
• President, the Senate Education Committee will meet at 1:30. Are there any further announcements?
• Senate Education Committee will meet at<00:19:10.320> 1:30.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator McNerning. Senator McNerning. Well, thank you, Chair.
• Senator McNerney. Yeah.
• Great question, thank you, Senator.
• Yeah, that's a great point, Senator.
• Senator McNerney. Yeah.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard overviews and budget proposals from the California Conservation Corps (CCC) and Cal Fire, with no votes taken and all items held open for a future hearing. On the CCC side, Director J.P. Patton highlighted the program’s 50th anniversary, its role in conservation, disaster response, and workforce development, and described proposals for the Greenwood Residential Center, a seven-day wildfire readiness schedule for Cal Fire hand crews, deferred maintenance, vehicle replacement, and Proposition 4 funding for local corps and tribal workforce projects. Members praised the program and asked about funding sources, recruitment, retention, follow-up with alumni, and the use of fee-for-service reimbursements; the LAO suggested the Legislature consider lower-cost alternatives for some proposals, including fewer new corps members or delaying Greenwood’s opening. Discussion then focused on Cal Fire’s wildfire readiness and staffing. Cal Fire officials described the need to align CCC hand crews with Cal Fire’s year-round fire operations, noting staffing gaps in the current model and the decline in incarcerated hand crews, which they attributed to broader criminal justice reforms and eligibility changes. Members asked about the role of goats and other grazing animals in fuel reduction, and staff said grazing can help with prevention but cannot replace hand crews for suppression. Cal Fire also presented its department overview, emphasizing its expanded workforce, year-round operations, use of technology, partnerships with federal and local agencies, and concerns about federal reorganization and reimbursement for work on federal lands. The committee also heard proposals to make defensible space inspections permanent and to increase fixed-wing pilot and mechanic contracts. Cal Fire said permanent staffing is needed to maintain roughly 250,000 annual defensible space inspections and meet AB 38 and future Zone Zero-related workload, while the LAO suggested possible modifications such as more GGRF support, a reinstated SRA fee, or one-time funding. On aviation, Cal Fire said year-round fire conditions and a larger, more complex fleet require more pilots and mechanics, and the LAO supported the proposal as addressing near-term health and safety needs. Members questioned contract costs, the value of owning versus contracting aircraft services, and how effective aircraft are in extreme wind conditions; Cal Fire said aircraft are highly effective in initial attack but limited when winds and fire behavior are severe. No actions were taken on any item.

Transcript Highlights:

• Questions or comments from committee members? Senator Smallwood-Quivas. Thank you.
• Questions or comments from committee members? Senator Smallwood-Quivas. Thank you.
• Questions or comments from committee members? Go ahead, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.
• Questions from committee members? Vice Chair? No. Senator Cabaldon or Senator Smallwood-Cuevas? No.
• Okay, do we have questions or comments from committee members? Senator Cabaldon.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard informational updates and budget requests from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz), the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), and the California Film Commission. Go-Biz Director D.D. Myers described the California Jobs First strategy, including regional economic planning, sector working groups, and investments in priority industries such as ag-tech, space and defense, life sciences, semiconductors, and microelectronics. She also outlined budget proposals for a five-year extension of the CalCompetes tax credit, support for export promotion, additional staffing for the film tax credit program, innovation and emerging technologies work, and the new California brand campaign. Senators questioned the campaign’s purpose, its relationship to tourism promotion, and whether it could obscure regulatory and business-climate concerns; Myers said it was intended to counter misinformation, promote California’s economic strengths, and support business attraction and retention, not to shut down debate about policy challenges. CalOSBA Deputy Director Claire Whitmer and program partners reported on the California RISE program, the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund, and technical assistance/capital infusion programs. CalOSBA said RISE’s first cohort awarded $16.9 million to 61 employment social enterprises, which collectively expanded operations and employment for people facing barriers to work; a second round is being launched with updated services and a new grant administrator. The Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund fully distributed $11.6 million to 100 recipients, but witnesses said demand far exceeded available funding and that the sector remains fragile after the pandemic and AB 5-related cost increases. The technical assistance and capital programs were described as serving more than 112,000 businesses in the last year, helping start 3,780 new businesses and leverage significant loan and equity capital, with emphasis on outreach to women-, minority-, veteran-, rural-, and low-wealth-owned firms. Committee members focused on whether these programs produce durable outcomes and reach underserved communities. One senator asked for longitudinal data on employment social enterprises and whether jobs created through incentives persist over time; CalOSBA said it would provide prior studies and future tracking. Another senator pressed for more outreach and support for small businesses at different stages of development, especially those in disadvantaged communities that may struggle to access capital. The California Film Commission then presented a request for three permanent positions and ongoing funding to administer the expanded film and television tax credit program. Commissioners said the program is tracking demographic and career-pathway data, with about 90% of productions opting into new diversity provisions and reporting due to the Legislature in 2027. The LAO supported the film commission staffing request given the larger program size and expanded applicant pool. No votes were taken; the items were informational or budget requests under review.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator.
• Thank you, Senator. Rules Committee on March 25th with a 5-0 vote.
• Senate Concurrent Resolution 152 by Senator Reyes relative to Dolores Huerta Day.
• Thank you, Senator. Senator Blakespear, you are recognized. Thank you.
• Thank you, Senator.

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Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then proceeded through appointments, resolutions, and consent items. Three gubernatorial appointments were confirmed: Irena Ortega to the Public Employment Relations Board, Monica Erickson as director of the Department of Human Services, Armin Mayor as senior deputy commissioner in the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and Uca Dunkay to the California State Lottery Commission. All four confirmations passed by wide margins after brief presentations from Senator Grove. The chamber then took up several commemorative resolutions. SCR 152, by Senator Reyes, designated April 10, 2026 as Dolores Huerta Day; multiple senators spoke in support, highlighting Huerta’s farmworker organizing, civil rights work, and continued activism, and the resolution was adopted unanimously. SR 91 recognized Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week, and SCR 149 marked World Autism Awareness Day; both were adopted unanimously. SCR 150, honoring National Librarian Day, also passed unanimously after remarks emphasizing librarians’ role in access to information and public service. SR 98, recognizing Heat Pump Week in California, passed on a 29-5 vote. The Senate also considered SB 1078 by Senator Laird, an urgency measure allowing Santa Cruz County voters to consider a local tax increase above the 2% threshold to help fund services, including medical services. The bill passed 29-9, with the urgency clause and the bill itself both approved. The consent calendar and special consent calendar were then adopted without objection, covering numerous additional bills and resolutions. The session concluded with committee announcements and an adjournment in memory of Deanna Mooney, a nurse and community leader, before the Senate recessed until its next meeting on Monday, April 20, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Richardson. President. Senator Darazzo. Senator Searto.
• Thank you, Senator DeRazzo. Ms.
• Good morning, Senator Richardson. Senator Lurasa, it's a pleasure to be with you today.
• Thank you, Senator Richardson, Senator Durazo, for the opportunity to speak with you today.
• The $400 million request by Senator Blake Spare and Senator Nguyen for Proposition 36 implementation,

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee heard presentations on the Office of the State Public Defender, statewide public defense workloads, legal aid funding, and Judicial Branch operations. OSPD requested permanent funding for positions that had been temporarily funded to implement the Racial Justice Act, explaining that the workload has become ongoing and now includes additional Supreme Court briefing, habeas proceedings, investigations, expert analysis, and data work. The State Public Defender also presented findings from the California Public Defense Workload and Staffing Report, which concluded that county public defense systems are structurally understaffed, lack sufficient investigators and support staff, and operate without statewide standards; members discussed the need for phased state funding, rural recruitment, and the impact of recent policy changes such as Prop. 36. In the legal aid panel, advocates and a Los Angeles Superior Court judge described severe unmet civil legal needs, especially in eviction defense, homelessness prevention, domestic violence, and immigration detention cases, and requested a $50 million increase to the Equal Access Fund, $20 million to restart homelessness prevention services, and $10 million for health care access services, along with additional targeted investments from the California Access to Justice Commission. The committee also asked for follow-up information on services, outreach, and funding losses, including reduced federal support and the scale of the justice gap. For the Judicial Branch, the Judicial Council and trial court representatives supported the Governor’s proposed budget, including a $70 million increase for trial court operations, $21.7 million for employee health and retirement costs, additional funding for appellate counsel and case processing, and courthouse construction and facilities funding. They said the money is needed to offset inflation, supply costs, and staffing retention problems, and to preserve access to justice through timely case processing and remote proceedings. Senators raised concerns about interpreter shortages, the difficulty of hiring staff interpreters for less common languages, and the lack of a midyear process for courts to request more language-access funding; Judicial Council staff said they reallocate interpreter funds among courts and continue to work on recruitment. The committee also pressed the branch and the Department of Finance on courthouse facilities needs, noting that the long-term backlog is far larger than the current budget can address; Finance said the estimated need discussed previously was about $22.5 billion to start 68 projects and $29.4 billion to complete the remaining projects. No votes were taken during the hearing, but members requested follow-up materials and additional budget information.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Murphy, for a motion to adopt committee<00:07:00.240> reports.
• Members, Senator Hauschild moved that Senate File 4634 be withdrawn from the Committee on Jobs and Economic
• President, should go to Senator Dibble and brought back in his committee because there is work that has
• President, should go to Senator Dibble and brought back in his committee because there is work that has
• and brought back in his Senator Dibble and brought back in his committee<00:12:13.240> because

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met under call, established a quorum, and adopted the printed committee reports, except those relating to Senate Concurrent Resolution 6. It then gave second reading to Senate File 4282 and several House files, and later handled motions including re-referring Senate File 4634 from Jobs and Economic Development to Taxes. The chamber also designated special orders for immediate consideration. On special order, Senate File 4339, relating to the excavation notice system and utility locating, was presented as a safe-digging measure requiring electronic positive responses from utility operators and updated contact information for locators. The bill was read a third time and passed 64-0. The Senate then took up House File 3718, which modernizes the Board of Veterinary Medicine, updates definitions and licensing rules, expands scope of practice and telemedicine provisions, changes board composition, and adds a background check requirement; after questions from Senator Green about the bill’s sponsor, background checks, and board size, it passed 52-13. The Senate next considered Senate File 4455, concerning the Lake City and Red Wing port authorities. An A2 amendment was adopted to address municipal public utilities commission voter ratification language, and the bill as amended passed 65-0. The session ended with announcements, including a lighthearted note about “Steak on a Stick Eve,” excusing Senators Webber and Miller, and adjournment until Thursday, April 16 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Dziedzic? Uh, thanks, Mark.
• Senator more affordable for Minnesotans. Senator Dziedzic?
• Thank you, Senator Dziedzic. Thank you, Senator Dziedzic.
• back over to Senator Johnson. back over to Senator Johnson.
• County engineers, city engineers, State Senator former State Senator Carla Bigham testified how bad this

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Republican senators held a Tax Day press event focused on affordability, arguing that DFL control has led to overspending, higher taxes, and reduced competitiveness in Minnesota. They criticized recent state tax increases and proposed new taxes, including taxes on social media and advertising, extending sales tax to legal and accounting services, a higher income tax tier, a statewide property tax, and a housing-related sales tax amendment. They also contrasted Minnesota policy with federal tax relief, saying Minnesotans need spending restraint, fraud reduction, and a smaller, more efficient state government instead of additional revenue measures. Senator Dziedzic focused on transportation costs, especially high license tab fees, saying residents are overwhelmed by taxes and fees and that the state should fund roads and bridges with existing money rather than raising fees. He cited a House proposal to quintuple tab fees and said Minnesota’s vehicle ownership costs are far higher than neighboring states. Senator Kunesh focused on property taxes, saying homeownership is becoming unaffordable because of state spending and unfunded mandates passed on to local governments. He argued that Democrats’ 2023 spending drove up property taxes and warned that a proposed statewide property tax would worsen the housing crisis and hurt families, seniors, and first-time buyers. In response to questions, the senators said their caucus is open to companion bills and some targeted tax relief measures, including conformity with federal changes such as tax treatment of tips and overtime and Section 179 business provisions. They said they support transportation investment but want it funded through existing resources and better prioritization, not new taxes or fees. They also discussed possible bonding negotiations and said they are still evaluating proposals related to HCMC and a one-time property tax rebate, which they described as insufficient compared with the need for permanent relief. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a way you could get this to the committee still? Yeah, yeah, I think so.
• > excused,<00:19:37.440> all With Senator Favela as excused, all With Senator Favela as excused
• With Senator not, advise and consent.
• Noting Senator Favela as consent.
• With Senator 790 advise and consent.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard several governor’s message nominations for health-related boards and commissions. Kanwardeep Kaleka was considered for the Substance Abuse Kauai Service Area Board; he said his work as a psychiatrist and family physician on Kauai motivates him to improve mental health and addiction services. Kunani Dryer was considered for the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances; he emphasized 26 years of personal recovery, harm reduction experience, and representation of rural, LGBTQIA+, and Native Hawaiian communities. Olivia Kim was considered for the Center for Nursing Advisory Board; testimony highlighted her experience in nursing leadership, long-term care, and LPN workforce issues. Trisha Lynn Yamashita was considered for the Kauai Subarea Health Planning Council; she described her hospice leadership, public health and palliative care background, and focus on data-informed, community-centered planning. Emily Dong was considered for the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel Wastewater Treatment Plants; she stressed wastewater’s public health importance and the need to strengthen the operator workforce pipeline. Testimony in support came from the Department of Health and several organizations and individuals, including the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hina Mauka, the Kauai mayor, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and others. Committee members generally praised the nominees’ credentials and community ties, and repeatedly noted the value of lived experience, rural perspective, and workforce expertise. One nominee, Olivia Kim, was not present and was deferred to a later meeting for decision-making. At the end of the hearing, the committee took up the governor’s messages and recommended advise and consent for GM707, GM537, GM545, GM724, and GM790, with Senator Fevella excused and no objections recorded. GM662 was deferred to Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 3:20 p.m. in Room 225 because the nominee could not attend. The committee then adjourned.