Transcript Highlights:

• Removal requires single executive.
• . requirements. requirements.
• </c><01:44:45.920><c> policies</c> requires the adoption of policies requires the adoption of policies
• </c> wearing masks and no uniforms. wearing masks and no uniforms.
• ,</c> We saw individuals wearing masks, We saw individuals wearing masks, dressed<05:20:01.520><c> in

Transcript Highlights:

• The mask that they wore... Happy-go-lucky, everything was okay.
• The mask that they wore every single day was a mask that fooled us all, and it was the mask that I wore
• SB 81 requires health care...
• It is clear that better outreach is required.
• It is clear that better outreach is required.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a busy floor session with several procedural motions and bill actions. Members suspended rules to allow speeches and guests, withdrew AB 362 from Appropriations to the second reading file, and voted 41-13 to suspend the rules for that motion. The body also took up a number of items on the daily and third reading files, with several measures passed, retained, or moved to inactive file. The main policy focus was ACR 70, designating September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Assembly Member Pellerin presented the resolution with a personal account of losing her husband to suicide and urged greater use of 988, secure firearm storage, and open conversations about mental health. Many members from both parties and caucuses spoke in support, sharing personal experiences with suicide and emphasizing stigma reduction, access to care, and the importance of checking in on others. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, Senate amendments were concurred in, and suicide awareness pins were distributed to members. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 977 on Native American human remains, with unanimous support and a 68-0 vote, and to AB 1510, the Assembly PERS Committee bill, which passed 66-1. Members then adopted H.R. 65, recognizing October as Filipino American History Month, after extensive remarks celebrating Filipino American history, labor organizing, public service, and community contributions; 63 co-authors were added without objection before the voice vote. Later, the chamber passed SB 81, protecting access to health care facilities from immigration enforcement, and SB 98, requiring schools and campuses to notify communities when immigration enforcement is present; both were framed as part of a broader package to protect immigrant communities and passed on urgency votes. The session concluded with debate on SJR 9, a resolution condemning mass immigration raids and defending civil liberties, which drew sharply divided remarks from supporters and opponents, with no final action shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The actions of the federal government have statewide impacts that require every one of us to work together
• But last week, a mother in Minneapolis, Renee Nicole Good, was shot by a masked agent.
• Masks are being used to obscure identities, to escalate tensions, to stoke fears, to deny public transparency
• officers, including federal immigration agents operating in Washington, from wearing face-concealing masks
• We'll be required to spend more of our state dollars to receive less federal dollars, as outrageous as

Summary: The House convened for the opening day of the 2026 regular session of the 69th Legislature with roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, a prayer, and a tribal welcome from Squaxin Island Tribe member Chris Peters and other tribal leaders. Justice Mary Yu administered the oath of office to Representatives Hall, Obras, Thomas, Salahuddin, and Zahn. The Speaker also recognized the service of Justice Yu, the late Senator Bill Ramos, the late Speaker Emeritus Frank Chopp, and Trooper Tara Marissa Gooding. The Speaker and Republican leader Stokesbary delivered opening remarks focused on the session’s priorities and challenges, including affordability, taxes, housing, public safety, and the impact of federal policy on Washington. The House adopted several organizational resolutions and motions. House Resolution 4665, notifying the Governor that the House was organized and ready to do business, passed. House Concurrent Resolution 4406, setting the Governor’s address to the Legislature, and House Concurrent Resolution 4407, returning bills and resolutions to the normal process for consideration, both passed. Senate Concurrent Resolution 8407, establishing cutoff dates for the 2026 session, also passed. The House suspended rules to move various measures, referred introduced bills to committees, and approved House Resolution 4667 adopting the permanent House rules. The Speaker announced committee assignment changes, including new appointments for Representatives Engel, Hall, Parshley, and Zahn, and reminded members of pink slip deadlines. A House delegation then reported back from the Governor’s office, saying he welcomed the Legislature and was ready for the session. The House adjourned until the next day, with a pro forma session and the Governor’s State of the State address scheduled for the following morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas Taiwan provided more than 100,000 masks to Minnesota during COVID-19's pandemic in a gesture
• Whereas Taiwan provided more than 100,000 masks to Minnesota during COVID-19's pandemic in a gesture
• Whereas Taiwan provided more than 100,000 masks to Minnesota during COVID-19's pandemic in a gesture
• Whereas Taiwan provided more than 100,000 masks to Minnesota during COVID-19's pandemic in a gesture

Transcript Highlights:

• Real cops don't wear masks. That's just the way it works.
• Real cops don't wear masks. That's just the way it works.
• Real cops don't wear masks. That's just the way it works.
• That's just the way it wear masks.
• </c><00:11:57.519><c> thus</c><00:11:57.760><c> the</c><00:11:58.000><c> masks</c><00:11:59.120><c> uh

Summary: State legislators and farm leaders held an impromptu discussion focused on the impact of federal immigration enforcement activity, especially ICE presence in Minnesota, on agriculture and rural communities. Speakers argued that agriculture is central to the state’s economy and said fear of raids is causing legal immigrant and guest workers, including H-2A workers, to stay home, disrupting farms, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, and other parts of the food supply chain. They also linked the issue to broader federal uncertainty, including USDA funding freezes and cuts, and said the lack of transparency from federal agencies is making it difficult for state officials and producers to plan. Senator Rob Kupec and Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish said ICE activity in both the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota is creating fear, trauma, and labor shortages, with reports of workers avoiding work, lunch trips, medical appointments, and school. Wertish said the organization supports comprehensive immigration reform and called for an end to the ICE surge, while also emphasizing the need to respect local law enforcement and the rule of law. Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Andrea Vaubel said immigrants are a critical part of Minnesota’s food and agriculture workforce, warned that labor shortages could raise production costs and food prices, and said the state would not have its current food supply without immigrant workers. In response to questions, speakers said they had anecdotal reports from rural areas such as Pelican Rapids, Willmar, and Detroit Lakes, but that the situation is changing quickly and many incidents may not yet be public. They said the lack of coordination with local law enforcement and the use of masks contribute to fear and confusion. Legislators said they have no direct jurisdiction over ICE operations but see their role as documenting what is happening, communicating with constituents, and avoiding state actions that would worsen the problem. They also said the issue is not purely partisan and may be mobilizing concern across political lines, especially among farmers worried about labor availability for planting and other seasonal work.

Transcript Highlights:

• All able-bodied students were required to work in the pineapple fields once a week throughout her three
• All able-bodied students were required to work in the pineapple fields once a week throughout her three
• All able-bodied students were required to work in the pineapple fields once a week throughout her three
• All able-bodied students were required to work in the pineapple fields once a week throughout her three
• the decisions of government mask the decisions of government officials<02:18:21.120><c> 80</c><02:18

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> standards proper training requirements standards proper training requirements and<00:01:48.520><
• Then also, as far as equipment requirements, an employer needs to require the use of a buoyancy control
• Then also, as far as equipment requirements, an employer needs to require the use of a buoyancy control
• Maybe your mask gets knocked off; this teaches you how to replace your mask and clear it safely.
• Maybe your mask gets knocked off; this teaches you how to replace your mask and clear it safely.

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam President, House Bill 1533 modifies the requirements for high school graduation by adding a requirement
• for the basic choice-ready graduation requirements.
• for the basic choice-ready graduation requirements.
• At that time, it required... ...of the legislature.
• It won't require prior authorization, but what it will require is a certification program.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum call, then took up House amendments to Senate Bills 2009, 2147, and 2113. On motion, the Senate refused to concur in the House amendments and appointed conference committees for each bill. The chamber then considered several House bills, adopting amendments and passing House Bill 1556, which creates a Children's Cabinet work group to study out-of-home placement and treatment for children with behavioral health issues, and House Bill 1363, which directs development of a customizable cardiac emergency response plan template for schools and athletic events. House Bill 1533, requiring students to complete a half-unit of financial literacy for graduation, also passed after amendment. House Bill 1226, dealing with masks in public places and protest-related identification concerns, passed after the Judiciary Committee removed language about complying with law enforcement requests to unmask.

Transcript Highlights:

• In short, House Bill 3725 with the PCS that we just adopted would require all employers across the state
• Number one, this bill requires absolutely no new information to be provided by employers.
• However, I will grant that when we add requirements, there will be a time cost.
• During 2021, the federal government: wear masks, don't wear a mask; N95 masks work, they don't work;
• However, one requirement...

Bills: HB3725 , HB3260 , HB3660 , HB3369 , HB3370

Committee: House Business

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 3725, as amended by a PCS, which would require employers statewide to use E-Verify or a federal equivalent when hiring new employees. The author argued the bill would help reduce illegal immigration, protect wages and jobs for lawful workers, and impose only minimal costs because E-Verify is free and quick to use. Members raised concerns about burdens on small businesses, farms, and ranches; state versus federal authority; enforcement by the Department of Labor; identity theft and false positives; possible litigation; and what would happen if the federal system went offline or changed. The author said the bill includes good-faith protections, a trigger repeal if the federal program expands, and that he would file additional language to address shutdown-related disruptions. No motion was made, and the bill remained in committee. The committee then heard and passed several other measures without opposition. House Bill 3260 would add the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association as an approved provider for continuing education credits for funeral director license renewals, and it passed 9-0. House Bill 3660 would authorize natural organic reduction, described as transforming human remains into soil, and it also passed 9-0. House Bill 3369 would revise food truck fire code requirements by allowing portable fire extinguishers instead of an automatic suppression system and by allowing licensed plumbers, not just Oklahoma LP Gas, to inspect or install certain gas plumbing; members discussed possible conflicts with another LP gas fix and agreed to work together, and the bill passed 9-0. Finally, House Bill 3370 would extend the effective date of the food truck fire code to November 1, 2028, creating a sunset to allow more time for a broader solution. The author said he preferred another option but wanted this bill available if needed. After brief clarification, the committee passed HB 3370 9-0. The meeting ended with the chair noting there would be three meetings left in the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• talked about ICE agents and repudiated what's going on there with people, you know, they're wearing masks
• As far as the masks go, I guess my question is, you know, how do my law enforcement officers, my state
• And probably a large reason why a lot of these federal officers are wearing masks, because they have
• The governor said it needs to be constitutional amending, which would require more.
• do to balance the budget is a really bad idea, and that repealing the four-year balanced budget requirement

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a media availability on the second day of the 60-day legislative session, reacting to Governor Ferguson’s State of the State address and outlining their priorities. They said the top issue is affordability, and argued the governor and Democratic majority are responding with more taxes, regulation, and government spending rather than restraint. They criticized the prospect of a state income tax, calling it unconstitutional, politically unpopular, and likely to expand beyond high earners over time. They also said the state should avoid raiding the rainy day fund and instead look for savings through tighter budget management, reduced middle management, and a focus on core services. The leaders also discussed public safety, immigration enforcement, child care oversight, transportation, housing, and the Climate Commitment Act. On immigration, they said law enforcement coordination is essential and criticized mixed messages from state leaders about federal enforcement and sheriffs. On child care, they said allegations of fraud in subsidy programs should be investigated through audits and oversight, and rejected the idea that looking for fraud is offensive to honest providers. They said there is some bipartisan agreement on using Climate Commitment Act revenue for the Working Families Tax Credit, transportation, and wildfire prevention, but argued the tax itself is regressive and should be redirected to better uses. On the budget, Republicans said the current deficit will not be solved by a future income tax and that the state will likely need spending cuts or savings. They said there is some limited agreement with moderate Democrats against further tax increases and against using the rainy day fund as a first step. On housing and transportation, they said the real solutions are permitting reform, changes to the Growth Management Act and energy code, and more stable transportation funding, rather than more state spending on affordable housing or piecemeal fees. No votes were taken, and the event ended as a press availability with questions from reporters.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:51.920><c> agents</c> Let us be clear, armed masked agents Let us be clear, armed masked agents
• </c><00:08:42.039><c> ICE</c> That day, a group of armed masked ICE That day, a group of armed masked
• requirements, modalities, and The requirements, modalities, and accreditation<00:42:25.560><c> standards
• </c> required to order to receive food. required to order to receive food.
• </c><00:54:09.440><c> controlled</c> access to doors and requiring controlled access to doors and requiring

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Summary: The committee adopted the minutes from its February 24, 2026 meeting after a motion by Vice Chair Coulter. The hearing then focused on the impact of federal immigration enforcement, referred to throughout as Operation Metro Surge, on Minnesota college campuses. The chair said the purpose was to document alleged abuses, campus fear, and racial discrimination, and to hear from testifiers about effects on students, faculty, and staff. Representative Novotny briefly objected to the framing, saying the committee should be finding facts rather than making a predetermined presentation, and the chair responded that members should remain respectful and that questions would be held until after all presenters testified. Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow described what he called relentless and unprecedented disruption, including student stops and interrogations, family separations, and an ICE operation on campus in which armed masked agents allegedly detained a student without a warrant and pointed weapons at students and staff. He said the campus received bomb threats afterward, increased virtual learning options, and saw spikes in student support needs, housing assistance, and leaves of absence. Jenna Chernega of the Inter Faculty Organization said faculty across Minnesota State universities reported widespread student and colleague stress, increased workload, disappearing students, and a need for clearer sensitive-location protections and academic freedom guidance. Mark Grant of Minnesota State College Faculty said community conditions inevitably affect classrooms, that campuses have not yet had an ICE incident but are bracing for one, and that faculty want to support students and may need financial help if enrollment declines. Jennifer Irwin of AFSCME said fear from ICE activity extends beyond campus boundaries and is affecting attendance, work, and daily life for staff and students; she cited a member detained in St. Paul while trying to prove legal status. Student testifiers Brendan Frazier of Concordia University, St. Paul, Jonathan Fitzgerald of Minnesota State Mankato, Sudi Adow of Lead MN, and Will Luther of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities described panic, reduced attendance, food insecurity, disrupted classes, and fear of leaving home or commuting to campus. They urged stronger student privacy protections, support for international and immigrant students, emergency aid, and policies to keep campuses safe. No further committee action or votes were taken after the minutes approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it required in my amendment?
• At the legal requirements for a candidate to qualify for the ballot, what the law merely requires is
• ...requirements, they would be able to bid on Access contracts.
• Schools could be barred from excluding unvaccinated children during measles outbreaks, requiring masks
• A 2025 poll showed 77% of Arizona support school vaccine requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> personnel</c><00:23:24.960><c> and</c> masked or unidentified personnel and masked or unidentified
• But healing requires honesty.
• </c> direction and guidance and requirements direction and guidance and requirements that<02:06:07.360
• </c> community member identified and required community member identified and required by<02:06:57.760
• </c> And then the amendment would require And then the amendment would require that<03:27:34.720><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, you also got replace lines 260 through 262 on page 10 with the following: not required to repay the
• Uh, you also got replace lines 260 through 262 on page 10 with the following: not required to repay the
• Uh, you also got replace lines 260 through 262 on page 10 with the following: not required to repay the
• </c> college I may have needed four of masks college I may have needed four of masks but<00:17:06.000
• a whole lot of additional work. time and does not require a whole lot of additional work.

Bills: HF3714 , HF4399 , HF4176 , HF2544 , HF60 , HF4231 , HF4232

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: foster care, child welfare, enrollment priority, education programs, child care assistance, education, school board, elections, local governance, school district, site-governed schools, education reform, local control, autonomy, interchange, bond issuance, transportation, infrastructure funding, Sherburne County, student eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• So for most barns, it requires two lasers in order to be successful. installed on a commercial turkey
• Masks, gloves, all of that.
• Masks, gloves, all of that.
• Masks, gloves, all of that.
• Masks, gloves, all of that.

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite these existing requirements, the PUC has yet to enact meaningful enforcement actions.
• This is a medium-sized audit that would require, we estimate, 3,500 hours to complete.
• Changing requirements and uneven enforcement of policies such as lot splits.
• Suing over a mask mandate that went on longer than any other mask mandate in the entire country...”
• , while every student in every classroom in my district had to continue to mask.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Audit

Transcript Highlights:

• And that includes ending mask enforcement, roving patrols, requiring judicial warrants, mandating body
• Security does not require brutality. Enforcement does not require lawlessness.
• , putting the badges taking off the masks, putting the badges on,<02:50:52.960><c> requiring</c><02:50
• </c><03:30:00.479><c> for</c><03:30:00.800><c> DHS</c> requirement for DH a requirement for DHS requirement
• the</c><03:30:06.720><c> use</c><03:30:06.880><c> of</c> require require reporting on the use of require

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite these existing requirements, the PUC has yet to enact meaningful enforcement actions.
• This is a medium-sized audit that would require, we estimate, 3,500 hours to complete.
• It rejected a lower independent appraisal and continued to alter the requirements.
• Suing over a mask mandate that went on longer than any other mask mandate in the entire country.
• , while every student in every classroom in my district had to continue to mask.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee because quorum was initially lacking, and the state auditor gave an update on his office’s workload, including several JALAC audits in progress, other statutory audits, staffing growth, and capacity to begin additional audits. Members also announced that one audit request on Prop. 28 was being held and that the PUC request would be moved off consent for presentation. After quorum was later established, the committee took up and approved several audit requests, including the DMV license revocation audit on consent, the CPUC utility interconnection timeliness audit, and the Caltrans SR 710 extension project audit. The fusion centers audit was approved on call, while the Orange County Board of Education audit was still being discussed when the transcript ended. Senator Cervantes presented the fusion centers audit request, arguing that California’s fusion centers operate with little public oversight and may collect, share, and retain sensitive information without adequate legal authority, privacy protections, or accountability. Supporters, including former FBI agent Mike German and an ACLU representative, said the centers function as opaque intelligence-sharing hubs and have a history of inaccurate or biased reporting. The state auditor said the audit would examine the State Threat Assessment Center and two local fusion centers, focusing on oversight, legal authority, data quality, disclosure controls, use of private vendors, funding, and performance metrics, while noting possible access and public disclosure limits because of intelligence-related information. The request drew sharp criticism from one member, who called it politicized and unnecessary, but it ultimately advanced on call. Senator Allen’s CPUC audit request focused on the commission’s enforcement of Rule 21 interconnection timelines for customer-sited solar and storage projects. Supporters said utilities routinely miss deadlines, causing delays and added costs for schools, nonprofits, businesses, and homeowners, while CPUC staff said the commission has public reporting, workshops, and an active proceeding to address the issue. The auditor said the review would examine CPUC monitoring, enforcement tools, and data on why utilities struggle to comply, estimating about 3,500 hours of work. The committee approved the request after discussion about whether an audit or legislative oversight would be the best tool. Senator Perez and Assembly Member Fong presented the Caltrans 710 corridor audit request, describing tenant complaints about mold, pests, deferred maintenance, inconsistent pricing, unclear communications, and delays in the affordable sales program created under the Roberti Act. Caltrans said it had completed many sales, was moving additional properties, and remained committed to transparency and compliance. The auditor said the review would examine whether Caltrans is complying with the Roberti Act, how it sets affordable prices, appraisal and appeal practices, communications with buyers, rent accounting, property maintenance, and follow-up on prior audit recommendations. The committee also heard Senator Umberg’s request to audit the Orange County Board of Education over transparency, contracting, litigation spending, charter oversight, and whistleblower issues; supporters argued the board’s actions warranted scrutiny, while board representatives said there was no factual basis for an audit and that complaints, enforcement actions, and legal challenges were minimal or absent.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's<00:14:52.880><c> required</c><00:14:53.600><c> now</c><00:14:54.240><c> to</c><00:14:54.480
• ><c> be</c><00:14:54.800><c> four</c><00:14:55.040><c> grams</c><00:14:55.839><c> for</c> that's required
• now to be four grams for that's required now to be four grams for trafficking.<00:14:57.360><c> If</

Bills: SB309 , HB192 , SB178 , SB179 , SB237 , HB10 , HB107 , HB189 , HB37 , HB226 , SB309 , HB192 , SB178 , SB179 , SB237 , HB10 , HB107 , HB189 , HB37 , HB226

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: automated driving systems, oversized vehicles, transportation, regulations, permits, HB192, international wire transfer, wire transfer fee, remittance fee, money transmission business, Alabama Securities Commission, Department of Revenue, Education Trust Fund, ELL instructors, English Language Learner, ESL teachers, income tax credit, remittances, international money transfer, migrant families

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite these existing requirements, the PUC has yet to enact meaningful enforcement actions.
• This is a medium-sized audit that would require, we estimate, 3,500 hours to complete.
• Changing requirements and uneven enforcement of policies such as lot splits.
• Suing over a mask mandate that went on longer than any other mask mandate in the entire country.
• Well, every student in every classroom in my district had to continue to mask.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee for much of the hearing because it initially lacked a quorum, then later established one and began taking votes. The state auditor gave a status update on ongoing audits, including several JALAC-requested audits in progress, other statutory audits, staffing growth in his office, and the number of new JALAC audits his office could start in the coming months. The committee also heard that one audit request on Prop. 28 was held, and another PUC-related request was moved off consent and heard on the regular calendar. Members then heard and discussed several audit requests. Senator Cervantes presented a request to audit California fusion centers, with witnesses from the FBI and ACLU supporting the need for transparency and oversight; opponents argued the request was politically motivated and could interfere with counterterrorism work. Senator Allen presented a request on CPUC enforcement of Rule 21 interconnection timelines for solar and storage projects, supported by industry and school representatives who described long delays and financial harm, while CPUC staff said the issue was being addressed through workshops and a formal proceeding. Senator Perez presented a request to audit Caltrans’ administration of the former SR 710 extension properties and affordable sales program, citing tenant complaints about maintenance, pricing, and transparency; Caltrans said it was working to complete sales and improve administration. Senator Umberg presented a request to audit the Orange County Board of Education over transparency, contracting, litigation spending, charter oversight, and whistleblower issues, while board representatives said there was no factual basis for an audit and that existing legal remedies had not been invoked. After quorum was established, the committee approved the consent-calendar DMV license revocation audit and then approved the PUC utility timeliness audit and the Caltrans SR 710 audit. The fusion center audit was left on call after a split vote, and the Orange County Board of Education audit continued with testimony from the board’s representatives after the committee had already moved on to other business.