Video & Transcript Research : 'House Resolution 1'
Page 153 of 500
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you, Madam Chair Bennett and other members of the House Education Policy Committee.
- It started out as a 7% payroll tax, and it's already pushing 1%.
- Thank you, Chair Bennett, members of the House Education Policy Committee.
- She explained that House File 6 covers several of the education priorities of the House Republican caucus
- of the house education priorities of the house Republican<01:30:12.440>
caucus <01:30:13.440><
Summary:
The Education Policy Committee approved the minutes from January 21, 2025, and then heard testimony from several school superintendents about the financial and operational impact of recent education-related mandates. Chair Bennett framed the hearing as an opportunity to hear from districts about the effects of more than 65 new mandates and restrictions adopted in recent years. The first witnesses were Corey McIntyre of Anoka-Hennepin, Michael Thomas of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, and David Law of Minnetonka Public Schools.
The superintendents said districts are facing rising costs, flat or declining enrollment, the end of federal pandemic aid, and mandates they described as unfunded or underfunded. McIntyre cited major budget cuts in Anoka-Hennepin, including reductions in central office staff, and said the district faces continuing shortfalls tied to special education, multilingual learner costs, unemployment claims, paid leave, transportation, literacy materials, and the K-3 discipline statute. Thomas said Prior Lake-Savage is balancing growing student needs against limited revenue, and argued that mandates such as REACT and other requirements should be delayed or better funded so districts can implement them with fidelity. Law said the concerns are statewide, not just metro-based, and criticized the accumulation of expectations around food service, mental health, sick and safe time, unemployment, and family leave without corresponding resources.
Several witnesses emphasized that school budgets are heavily committed to staff costs and that new obligations create administrative burdens as well as direct expenses. They urged lawmakers to reduce, delay, or better fund mandates, adjust timelines, and provide more flexibility in local revenue tools and equalization aid. No votes were taken on legislation during this portion of the meeting beyond approval of the prior day’s minutes.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Janelle Taylor, also with House Research.
- The fund gets 19.75% of the 1% sales tax.
- chairs and the Committees um and House chairs and the Committees um and House of<00:06:59.879>
- of or one/ tenth of believe it's 1% of or one/ tenth of 1%<00:48:50.160>
um <00:48:51.040>- chair and members Mary Davis from house chair and members Mary Davis from house research<01:14:23.719
- of or one/ tenth of believe it's 1% of or one/ tenth of 1%<00:48:50.160>
Summary:
The Legacy Finance Committee held its first meeting of the session, with members and staff introducing themselves and the chair emphasizing the committee’s role in overseeing Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment funds. The committee then received an overview of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund from Mary Davis. She explained that the fund receives 19.75% of the 1% sales tax, is constitutionally limited to arts education, arts access, and preserving Minnesota history and cultural heritage, and is not a guaranteed base for prior recipients. She reviewed major recipients and statutory requirements, including the Minnesota State Arts Board’s 47% share, funding for the Historical Society, libraries, humanities and cultural organizations, public media, and the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. She also noted the 5% reserve requirement, reporting obligations, and a 2023 legislative directive to improve access through free or reduced admission and outreach to households regardless of income.
The committee next heard from Janelle Taylor on the natural resources funds, focusing on the Clean Water Fund and Parks and Trails Fund. She said the Clean Water Fund receives 33% of Legacy revenues and must be used to protect, enhance, and restore water quality and protect groundwater, with at least 5% dedicated to drinking water sources. She described the Clean Water Council’s recommendation process and said most of the money goes to Board of Water and Soil Resources projects, with additional funding for PCA and DNR monitoring. In response to a question about Hastings and PFAS contamination, she said the legislature could appropriate clean water money if the project fits the constitutional criteria and protects drinking water sources. For the Parks and Trails Fund, she explained it receives 14.25% of Legacy revenues and is allocated under the long-standing 40-40-20 split: 40% to state parks and trails, 40% to metropolitan regional parks and trails, and 20% to Greater Minnesota regional parks and trails.
House Fiscal Analysis staff then reviewed the reserve requirement and available balances, noting that each Legacy fund must keep a 5% reserve to protect against forecast changes. For the upcoming biennium, they cited approximately $327.229 million available for the Outdoor Heritage Fund, $184.73 million for the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and $133.13 million for the Parks and Trails Fund, with the Clean Water Fund total discussed earlier at about $311 million. Members briefly discussed the importance of the reserve and the zero-base nature of the funds. The committee then moved on to an overview of the Outdoor Heritage Fund and Outdoor Heritage Council from Mark Johnson and Joe Pelco, who explained that the fund was approved by voters in 2008, lasts 25 years, receives about one-third of the 3/8 of 1% sales tax, and is used to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife. They described the council’s statutory role, the small grants program for projects from $5,000 to $500,000, and the annual recommendation process, but no votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 1/22/25
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I call this meeting of the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee to order.
- <00:37:22.640>
that volume of housing you know a house that volume of housing you know a house - housing and Senior appropriate housing housing and Senior appropriate housing and<00:59:28.559><
- chairman iigo and members of the House chairman iigo and members of the House housing<01:08:59.319
- $1 billion.
Summary:
The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee approved the previous meeting’s minutes and then heard testimony from Housing First Minnesota and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities on housing supply, affordability, and land-use policy. Mark Foster of Housing First Minnesota said the state is chronically undersupplied by roughly 100,000 units, that the median new single-family home price has risen above $530,000, and that only about 27% of Twin Cities households can now afford a new home. He argued that regulatory and local approval processes, especially planned unit developments and aesthetic mandates, add significant cost and reduce the number of homes built, and he urged the committee to remove exclusionary barriers and modernize residential development approvals.
Members questioned Foster about zoning, aesthetic requirements, and homeowners associations. He said most new housing in growing metro communities is negotiated through PUDs, which he described as increasing costs and limiting supply, and gave examples such as stone exterior requirements adding thousands of dollars to a home. He also said HOAs can be useful in some cases but are often imposed when not needed. Several legislators responded positively to the Housing First Minnesota Foundation’s work, including transitional housing and veteran housing projects.
Elizabeth Wefel of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities said cities outside the metro also face a housing shortage, but their challenges differ: market failure, inadequate sewer and water infrastructure, and gaps in starter, workforce, and senior housing. She said many Greater Minnesota cities are already updating zoning, reducing lot sizes, allowing more density and ADUs, and investing local money, land, and partnerships to spur development. She asked the legislature to speed up rollout of housing funds, support infrastructure and workforce programs, and adjust housing tax credit and TIF rules, while warning against one-size-fits-all preemption of local zoning authority. Members discussed the need for tailored solutions and the differences between metro and Greater Minnesota housing markets.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 1/22/25
Elections Finance and Government Operations
Transcript Highlights:
- Usually it's just the Senate that confirms appointees, but in this case both the House and the Senate
- need to be confirmed by both the house need to be confirmed by both the house and<00:03:26.760><
- a zoning commission to approve a Housing a zoning commission to approve a Housing Development<00
- for the House, regardless of party.
- <01:34:27.000>
or providing access to stable housing or providing access to stable housing
Summary:
The committee heard testimony from Jeff Sigerson, executive director of the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, who outlined the board’s mission and core programs: campaign finance disclosure, economic interest statements, and lobbying registration/reporting. He described the board as an independent agency with six members, noted current vacancies and confirmation requirements, and said the board’s budget request was essentially flat, with a base budget of about $1.793 million and most costs tied to salaries, office space, and other fixed expenses. He also reviewed the board’s enforcement structure, emphasizing civil-only penalties, a complaint-driven process, and the availability of reports, enforcement actions, and advisory opinions on the board’s website.
Sigerson highlighted several recent and upcoming changes. Local ballot question committees for city, school district, levy, and bond issues now must register with the board if they exceed $750 in activity, and the board is preparing outreach and online registration tools to help local committees comply. He also discussed the public subsidy and political contribution refund programs, saying the board paid out about $2.12 million to 230 House candidates in 2024, that 93% of candidates signed the subsidy agreement, and that 2023 PCR refunds totaled about $447,000 for candidates and $1.616 million for party donors. He noted that the PCR maximum refund was recently increased from $50 to $75 per donation, and that payments could drop significantly in 2026 if the one-time supplement is not renewed.
A major focus of the presentation was the board’s lobbying report and related legislative recommendations. Sigerson said the board is moving from tracking marginal expenses to tracking the subjects and entities being lobbied, and that lobbying will be expanded from certain metro-area governmental units to all cities, counties, school districts, townships, and other political subdivisions, potentially adding thousands of lobbyists. He said the board held two public hearings and received 23 written comments on proposed changes. The board’s main recommendations were to broaden the expert-testimony exception so that certain paid experts at local hearings would not need to register as lobbyists, while still requiring disclosure of who testified, before whom, and on what subject, and to adjust the current lobbying definition for local government employees and officials who spend more than 50 hours a month on intergovernmental lobbying work.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 1/22/25
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So I sometimes call it the 1-800 hospital number.
- had, that's an additional $1 million loss to our bottom line.
- had, that's an additional $1 million loss to our bottom line.
- 02.839>
million have had that's an additional $1 million have had that's an additional $1 million - For every 1% increase, and now we're at 65%, every 1% increase is a million-dollar loss to our bottom
Summary:
The Health Finance and Policy Committee heard testimony from the Minnesota Hospital Association and several hospital leaders about the financial strain facing hospitals across Minnesota. The association’s CEO said hospitals are essential 24/7 safety-net providers, but rising labor, supply, technology, and drug costs are outpacing reimbursement from Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial payers. He warned that many not-for-profit hospitals are struggling, that workforce shortages remain significant, and that the committee should consider help on Medicaid rates, discharge/boarding problems, mental health services, workforce development, protecting the 340B drug discount program, and avoiding new mandates that add costs.
Relle Schultz of Winona Health described a community hospital with a 49-bed facility and long-term care services that has faced years of losses, including a $17 million loss in 2023 and $12 million in losses the following year. She said government payers now make up about 65% of the hospital’s mix, and each 1% increase in that mix costs about $1 million. She highlighted the difficulty of sustaining services such as dialysis, which was nearly closed until a local donor provided $3 million to keep it open for three years, and she emphasized the importance of 340B savings and the need for higher Medicaid payments.
Carrie Mulski of Riverview Health in Crookston said critical access hospitals are also under pressure despite their federal designation. She explained that federal support has eroded, that Medicaid and other public programs do not cover full costs, and that her hospital’s 340B savings help keep the doors open. She said Riverview opened a new hospital in 2020 but was hit by the pandemic and inflation, leading to annual losses of $5 million to $6 million and a negative operating margin of 9% to 10%. She also described bond covenant problems, low cash on hand, the prior closure of the nursing home, and the need for rapid state action to stabilize rural hospitals and preserve access to care.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 1/22/25
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The agenda for today is House File 7.
- House File 7 represents the priorities of the House Republican caucus in the public safety area.
- > the priorities of the house Republican the priorities of the house Republican caucus<00:02:06.719><
- <00:39:36.760>
file and disorder efforts such as house file and disorder efforts such as house - um there's an amendment coded uh house um there's an amendment coded uh house file<00:43:24.200>
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum present, approved the January 21, 2025 minutes by voice vote, and then took up House File 7, which was recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee. The chair also reminded attendees about decorum rules in the committee room. House File 7 was described by the author as a public safety package combining 12 provisions from prior Republican-authored bills, aimed at supporting law enforcement, reducing violent crime, and increasing accountability in the criminal justice system.
The bill’s main provisions discussed included tougher penalties for aggravated fleeing, making it a crime to be in a stolen vehicle, allowing tracking devices on stolen vehicles even when occupied, increasing penalties for blocking highways and critical infrastructure, and increasing penalties for assaulting peace officers. The author also highlighted provisions on sex trafficking, predatory offender registration, and greater public disclosure of bail payments, case dismissals, sentencing reductions, and sentencing guideline changes. Testifying in support were Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher, MPPOA President Shane Mey, and Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association Executive Director Jeff Potts, all of whom argued the bill would help officers address auto theft, fleeing suspects, and assaults on law enforcement. They cited increases in assaults on officers and high numbers of stolen vehicles and fleeing cases, and said the bill would improve safety and transparency.
Witnesses generally supported the bill’s approach but suggested some refinements, including adding language for additional aggravating factors in officer assault cases and considering similar treatment for corrections officers. Sheriff Fletcher also urged reconsideration of the recently enacted raise-the-age changes, arguing they could limit law enforcement’s ability to respond to younger offenders involved in stolen vehicles. No opposition testimony or final vote on House File 7 was recorded in the excerpt beyond the motion to pass and re-refer it.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Veterans and Military Affairs Division 1/22/25
Veterans and Military Affairs Division
Transcript Highlights:
- Jeff Dble I'm with House Research.
- Roberts from the nonpartisan House Roberts from the nonpartisan House fiscal<00:04:09.239>
staff - members Jeff dble I'm with house members Jeff dble I'm with house research<00:04:21.440>
I've - <00:14:57.240>
and activities that related to housing and activities that related to housing - <00:36:35.680>
I which is a decision made by the house I which is a decision made by the house
Summary:
The Veterans and Military Affairs Division held its first meeting with a quorum present, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, and reviewed decorum expectations and basic operating rules. Members and staff introduced themselves, and Chair Aaron Repinski emphasized that the committee would operate as a nonpartisan body focused on veterans’ issues. No minutes were approved because it was the division’s first meeting.
Nonpartisan House staff then gave an overview of the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including their missions, organizational structure, and budgets. The presentation highlighted the Minnesota National Guard, Camp Ripley, enlistment incentives, the Emergency Services Program, and the Veterans Affairs programs for veterans homes, cemeteries, benefits assistance, and state-funded benefits such as the State Soldiers Assistance Program, Minnesota GI Bill, and Post-9/11 bonus. Staff also noted housing and homelessness-related initiatives, several committee-supported outside programs, and the Support Our Troops license plate funding split between the two agencies.
The committee then heard from Trent Dils of Disabled American Veterans Minnesota on behalf of the Commander's Task Force, a coalition of congressionally chartered veterans organizations. He described the group’s unanimous legislative process and urged continuation of a separate veterans omnibus bill, arguing it has helped keep veterans issues apart from broader partisan disputes. He also began outlining the task force’s 2025 priorities, including hunting, fishing, and trapping benefits for veterans, but the transcript cuts off before the full list or any committee action on those priorities is completed.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House public safety committee approves wide-ranging crime bill, HF7 1/22/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, do you want to move the House File 7?
- House File 7 represents the priorities of the House Republican caucus and the public safety area.
- <00:20:54.280>
file in the way of handling it in house file in the way of handling it in house - damage specific to the data um house damage specific to the data um house file<00:31:39.000>
- opposed the motion prevails and house opposed the motion prevails and house file<01:10:38.320>
Summary:
The committee heard House File 7, a broad public safety package that the author said was intended to support law enforcement, keep violent offenders off the street, and increase accountability in the criminal justice system. The bill was described as combining multiple Republican-authored provisions, including tougher penalties for reckless fleeing, making it a crime to be in a stolen vehicle, allowing tracking devices on occupied or fleeing stolen vehicles, increasing penalties for blocking roads and damaging critical infrastructure, raising penalties for assaulting police officers, adding a mandatory minimum for first-degree sex trafficking, and expanding public disclosure around bail, dismissals, sentencing reductions, and sentencing guideline changes. The motion before the committee was to pass the bill and re-refer it to Ways and Means.
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher testified in support, focusing on aggravated fleeing, occupied stolen vehicles, vehicle tracking, and the impact of the state’s raised age of delinquency on younger offenders. He argued that law enforcement needs more tools to pursue and arrest repeat offenders, especially in auto theft and carjacking cases, and said the bill would help officers intervene before stolen vehicles are used in more crimes. He also urged reconsideration of the timeline for the delinquency-age change, warning that it could limit police options with 11- and 12-year-olds involved in stolen cars.
Shane Mey of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association also supported the bill, citing rising assaults on officers and the need for stronger penalties for fleeing, stolen-vehicle offenses, and assaults on peace officers and corrections officers. He said the proposed stolen-vehicle and tracking provisions would improve safety and help officers address juvenile auto theft and dangerous pursuits. Jeff Potts of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association likewise supported several sections, especially the transparency provisions, assault-on-officer penalties, fleeing penalties, the stolen-vehicle offense, and the tracking-device exception, saying the measures align with the association’s agenda and would help address rising crime and pursuit risks. No vote or final committee action was stated in the transcript excerpt.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 1/22/25
Transportation Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, this is the Minnesota House Transportation Committee. Today is January 22, 2025.
- The first bill that we have today on the agenda to consider is House File 5, Representative Jim Joy.
- Uh, we have with us, of course, our nonpartisan House fiscal staff analyst, Mr. Lee.
- Thank you for allowing me to testify today on House File 5.
- Minnesota increased by 1, Minnesota increased by 1, 144%<00:42:06.200>
between <00:42:06.520
Summary:
The Minnesota House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee met on January 22, 2025, for its first meeting and took up House File 5, introduced by Representative Jim Joy and moved to the Tax Committee. Joy said the bill would make Minnesota more affordable by eliminating the Social Security tax, repealing the motor fuels tax inflator, removing the retail delivery fee, and changing vehicle-related taxes and metro-area sales tax allocations. Committee fiscal staff reviewed the bill’s fiscal effects, including impacts on the general fund, the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund, the Transportation Advancement Account, and the split between Metropolitan Council and metropolitan counties.
Testimony was largely divided along stakeholder lines. The Minnesota Grocers Association and Minnesota Propane Association supported repealing the retail delivery fee, arguing it creates administrative burdens, requires costly software changes, and raises costs that are passed on to consumers; propane representatives said the fee is especially burdensome because most of their deliveries are exempt but still require tracking and reporting. In contrast, the League of Minnesota Cities, Minnesota Association of Small Cities, Metro Cities, and Minnesota Association of Townships emphasized the need for stable, predictable transportation funding for local roads and said they support the Transportation Advancement Account and related revenue streams, though some were neutral on the exact source of funding. The League and small cities groups said local governments need reliable annual revenue and that past funding has been inconsistent.
Committee members asked about who pays the delivery fee, its exemptions, and how much revenue it has generated versus earlier forecasts. Fiscal staff said current estimates for delivery fee revenue are below original projections, and explained the fee’s exemptions and $100 transaction threshold. Representative Joy said his intent was to keep small cities and townships whole as the bill moves forward. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the bill was heard and referred as noted at the outset.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Transportation committee approves HF5 1/22/25
Transcript Highlights:
- The first bill that we have today on the agenda to consider is House File 5.
- <00:02:39.120>
file Joy did make the motion that house file Joy did make the motion that house - <00:05:04.720>
fiscal spreadsheet from the MN House fiscal spreadsheet from the MN House fiscal - Thank you for allowing me to testify today in House File 5.
- Minnesota increased by 1, Minnesota increased by 1, 144%<00:41:44.720>
between <00:41:45.040
Summary:
House File 5 was heard in the Transportation Committee and moved by the author, Representative Jim Joy, to be referred to the Tax Committee. Joy described the bill as a package to make Minnesota more affordable by fully eliminating the Social Security tax subtraction, ending the motor fuels tax indexing, repealing the retail delivery fee, and studying vehicle registration/license taxes compared with neighboring states. Committee fiscal staff explained the bill’s fiscal effects across the general fund, highway user tax distribution fund, transportation advancement account, and metro county sales tax allocations, including that the delivery fee repeal would reduce Transportation Advancement Account revenue and that the bill would shift some revenue sources to offset losses.
Several stakeholders testified. The Minnesota Grocers Association strongly supported repealing the retail delivery fee, arguing it is costly and complex for retailers to administer, especially small businesses, and that the costs are ultimately passed on to consumers. The Minnesota Propane Association also supported repeal, saying the fee is burdensome for propane businesses, that only a small share of deliveries are actually subject to it, and that compliance costs can exceed the fee revenue collected. Fiscal staff noted that delivery fee revenue forecasts have fallen below earlier projections, and explained that the fee is imposed on sellers with several exemptions, including a $100 transaction threshold and exemptions for some sales such as bars, restaurants, nonprofits, and certain small businesses.
Opposition came from local government groups. The League of Minnesota Cities said it supported the Transportation Advancement Account and its 2023 funding sources, including the delivery fee and motor vehicle parts sales tax, and warned that the bill would prematurely alter a funding structure that cities rely on for predictable transportation revenue. The Minnesota Association of Small Cities said small cities had long lacked dedicated transportation funding and wanted a stable, ongoing revenue stream, but were neutral on the exact source as long as it was reliable. Metro Cities echoed support for stable, predictable transportation funding for metro-area cities. The committee took testimony and discussion only; no final vote was recorded in the excerpt beyond the motion to refer the bill to the Tax Committee.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 1/22/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- own children, for our parental rights, aren't included in our supervision and what happens in the house
- 10.440>
the our supervision and what happens in the our supervision and what happens in the house - so currently without that house so currently without that information<00:10:13.920>
when <00:10 - <00:24:49.159>
of third term in the House of third term in the House of Representatives<00 - The average in Minnesota, the average in America, is 4 to 1, so we certainly have a lot of homework to
Summary:
The Children and Families Committee met with a quorum, approved the January 21, 2025 minutes, and then focused on child care shortages and the pressures facing family child care providers across Minnesota, especially in Greater Minnesota. Chairing members noted the issue affects both rural and metro areas and introduced testimony from Cindy Cunningham, a St. Paul family child care provider and public policy chair for the State Association for Family Child Care.
Cunningham argued that family child care is in crisis despite state investments, saying provider numbers continue to decline and that the system is not working. She raised concerns about food reimbursement tiers, special licenses that may not qualify for the family child care food program, the need for supplemental support for lower-tier programs, and the burden of upfront grant spending and delayed reimbursement. She also said providers receive little financial benefit for their own children in care and described a recent DHS decision affecting supervision of providers’ own children as an example of poor communication. Her broader message was that unclear, inconsistent, and poorly implemented licensing rules are driving providers out of the field.
She recommended implementing the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s recommendations, improving DHS communication with both licensors and providers, updating public guidance and training materials, and considering more direct county funding and support for family child care. She also suggested reevaluating support for certified centers and other state-funded programs that she said operate under different standards. Committee members thanked her for the detailed testimony and said they wanted to follow up with her. The committee then moved on to letters and additional testimony from providers around the state, with members emphasizing the goal of identifying specific regulations that are hindering child care startup and continuation.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:04:06.000>
and like Watershed districts uh Housing and like Watershed districts uh Housing - factors so the percentage of the housing factors so the percentage of the housing stock<00:23:51.480
- So, for example, housing districts have to use their increment on housing.
- and gr financing and in all but housing and gr financing and in all but housing districts<00:57:
- and House fiscal um I want to give you and House fiscal um I want to give you the<01:00:05.640>
time
Summary:
The House Tax Committee met to hear a House Research presentation from Jared Swanson on Minnesota’s property tax system. Before the presentation, the chair announced that the committee would put the governor’s budget on hold until the department could provide the information needed for a proper hearing. The committee then approved the prior meeting minutes without objection.
Swanson gave an overview of how property taxes are structured and collected in Minnesota, explaining that the state uses a levy-based system in which local governments set levies and counties collect and distribute payments. He described the property tax cycle, the difference between referendum market value and net tax capacity, and how classification rates shift tax burdens among property types. He also outlined the state general property tax, noting it is split between commercial-industrial property and seasonal recreational property, and reviewed how Minnesota compares with other states, with residential taxes generally around the middle and commercial-industrial taxes relatively higher.
The presentation also covered major property tax relief and aid programs. Swanson explained three broad relief mechanisms: shifting burdens through exclusions and classification rates, state-paid credits and refunds, and state aid to local governments or levy reductions. He discussed local government aid (LGA), township aid, and county program aid (CPA), including their funding levels, formulas, and general-purpose nature. Members asked why some cities receive no LGA and how the funds may be used; Swanson said cities with strong tax bases often receive zero aid and that the money generally can be used for the same purposes as property tax revenue. No votes were taken on the presentation itself.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 1/22/25
Human Services Finance and Policy
Summary:
The committee approved the January 16, 2024 minutes without objection. Members then heard a presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on its December 2024 performance audit of the Department of Human Services’ outstanding provider debt in Minnesota’s Medicaid fee-for-service program. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall said the audit was launched after the office noticed a large accounts receivable balance during the state financial statement audit and became concerned that DHS did not understand the extent of the overpayments, had poor data, and planned to forgo recovery of some recoverable balances.
Deputy Legislative Auditor Lori Lyson explained that DHS had reported $51.7 million in provider debt across about 2,500 providers in fiscal year 2023, with testing focused on long-term care facilities and the largest balances. The audit concluded DHS did not comply with legal requirements and lacked adequate internal controls. Findings included that DHS had not attempted to recover more than $40 million since collection notices were last sent in 2015 and 2019; that the department planned to write off some balances under $1,000 and some older than six years despite the auditors’ view that at least some of that debt may still be recoverable; that DHS overstated accounts receivable in its financial reporting because it had not updated its allowance calculation since 2019; and that MMIS data were insufficient to verify balances, with 20 of 59 sampled providers not reconciling and many dates inaccurate.
In response to member questions, the auditors said the overpayments appeared to be routine program adjustments rather than fraud, but the department could not explain many of them because detailed data are only retained for about three years. They also said they did not know which specific DHS leader approved not collecting the debt, and that responsibility for recovery appeared split between program and finance staff, with each pointing to the other. The auditors recommended DHS recover the debt where possible, improve internal controls, retain better documentation, ensure accurate financial reporting, and work with the legislature if needed to clarify recovery authority.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Education policy panel hears HF6 1/22/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Peggy Bennett from District 23A: I move House File 6 before the committee with the intention
- House File 6 covers several of the education priorities of the House Republican caucus for education.
- House File 6 covers several of the education priorities of the House Republican caucus for education.
- Article 1 focuses on our commitment to foundational literacy skills, which we heard a lot about from
- <00:19:34.360>
file today uh the chair lays over house file today uh the chair lays over house
Summary:
The committee heard presentation on House File 6, an education omnibus-style bill advanced by Representative Peggy Bennett and other Republican members. Bennett said the bill reflects caucus priorities around literacy, parental engagement, local control, and school flexibility. She described three articles: Article 1 on revisions to the READ Act and the science of reading; Article 2 on education innovation and parent-friendly school information; and Article 3 on funding flexibility and temporary relief from several new mandates enacted in recent biennia.
On Article 3, Bennett said school boards would be allowed to transfer certain funds and delay implementation of specified mandates through the 2028-29 school year, including provisions tied to recent early childhood and education omnibus laws as well as paid family and medical leave and earned sick and safe time. She framed this as giving districts time to implement requirements carefully and with fidelity, and said such decisions would be made by local school boards in public meetings. She also argued the bill would reduce the burden of new mandates and preserve local decision-making.
Representative Mueller then presented Article 1, saying it strengthens the state’s commitment to the science of reading, ends the Department of Education’s partnership with CAREI, repeals some 2024 requirements she said were ideological, and restores expectations for teacher preparation and assessment. Representative Bakeberg presented Article 2, which would require a more user-friendly school performance report, consolidate certain innovation-related programs into a new chapter, and replace the Department’s equity/diversity/inclusion center with an Office of Achievement and Innovation focused on academic achievement. He said the office’s guidance would be advisory only and that local districts would retain final authority. The chair then laid House File 6 over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill and further consideration at a later date.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The House will come to order.
- The chief clerk will report the House files and give them their first reading: House Files 11 through
- 193 first reading house files 11 through 193 first reading house files 11 through There are 193 motions
- and resolutions.
- Representative Nisa said the resolution is an effort to get the House back in order.
Summary:
The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a personal privilege statement from a member who spoke about the fatal shooting of his cousin, U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Chrismland, in Vermont. The member described Chrismland’s military and law enforcement service and requested a moment of silence, which the House observed. A quorum was then established, and the Journal of the previous day was approved without objection. Standing committee and division reports were also adopted without objection.
The House then received first reading of House Files 11 through 193 and took up a large set of non-controversial motions and resolutions. One resolution offered by Representative Nisa addressed the absence of the 66 DFL members from the chamber and urged the Governor to enforce the law and direct the State Patrol and Sergeant at Arms to secure the absent members so the House could continue its work. Nisa said the House needed to restore order and complete the budget. Representative McDonald supported the resolution, saying Democrats needed to return so the House could do the business of Minnesotans.
The resolution was adopted by voice vote. The House then approved a motion to adjourn until 3:30 p.m. Thursday, January 23, 2025, and subsequently adjourned on that schedule.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 1/22/25
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- being elected to the House being elected to the House Representatives<00:01:53.280>
I <00: - I'm the House fiscal analyst for the agriculture committee this year.
- I'm the new House research analyst for agriculture.
- <00:04:39.120>
fiscal my name is Ken sa I'm the House fiscal my name is Ken sa I'm the House - uh I'm Jared Swanson also with house uh I'm Jared Swanson also with house research<00:05:28.400>
Summary:
The House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee met for an introductory session to begin the new legislative session. Members and staff went around the table introducing themselves and describing their agricultural backgrounds, including farming, livestock, crop production, county government, and related research or staff roles. Chair Paul Anderson emphasized agriculture’s importance to Minnesota’s budget and economy, welcomed new members and staff, and noted that the committee would have a full agenda.
The committee then heard a presentation from the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, Extension, and the Forever Green initiative on the GREE program (Agricultural Research, Education, Extension, and Technology Transfer). Testimony described GREE as a state investment created in 2015 to support agricultural productivity and growth through research, education, extension, and technology transfer. Speakers highlighted its broad focus areas, including crop and livestock genetics, soil health, water quality, nutrient management, microbial science, agroecological innovation, and technology stewardship, as well as rapid-response funding for emerging issues such as waterhemp, PRRS, and avian influenza.
University witnesses said the program has brought in faculty and extension educators, generated sponsored research awards, and leveraged state funding into additional grants and contracts. They cited a reported roughly 12-to-1 return on investment and said the state has invested about $39 million since 2015. They also noted additions such as a deep winter greenhouse program and a tribal representative on the advisory group. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 1/21/25
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I've been with the House for five years, and I'm the House Republican researcher.
- Ben Johnson, I'm with the nonpartisan House Research Department.
- <00:03:53.599>
since with the house since with the house since 2011<00:03:55.439>uh <01:43:19.159>- You don't have quorum in the House.
and dispatched and sits above the house and dispatched and sits above the house
Summary:
The Public Safety Committee held its first meeting of the session, opened with a quorum present, and reviewed basic decorum expectations and committee procedures. Members and staff introduced themselves and described their districts and backgrounds. The chair said the committee would focus on protecting victims and preventing crime, and that the first presenters would be law enforcement groups as subject-matter experts.
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association testified first, warning of serious recruitment, retention, and retirement pressures in law enforcement. The group cited survey data showing most members would not recommend the profession to family, rising assaults on officers, a shortage of roughly 1,000 officers statewide, and more than 2,000 officers nearing retirement eligibility. They also urged continued funding for POST Board training reimbursements and described broader concerns about anti-police rhetoric and public policy. The presentation was interrupted by a disruptive outburst in the room, after which the committee returned to order.
The Minnesota Sheriffs Association then outlined its 2025 priorities: expanding mental health treatment beds and revisiting the 48-hour law, making the Fandino-Castile training fund permanent, updating drone/UAV statutes for missing-person searches, training, and evidence preservation, requiring permit-to-carry holders to report name changes, expanding BCA authority for sexual assault investigations on state-owned military facilities, replacing aging public safety radios in the ARMER system, and strengthening employer background-check response requirements. Members asked questions about mental health capacity, UAV uses, and officer assaults; witnesses said the state needs more beds, staff, and support for both short-term crisis stabilization and longer-term treatment. The Minnesota Police Chiefs Association closed by echoing concerns about recruitment and retention, supporting the $6 million POST training reimbursement fund, and calling for tougher penalties for fleeing police, auto theft, and violent crime. No votes or formal actions were taken."}】【。assistant to=final 天天中彩票大奖json 天天中彩票追号json ఇలా to=final 彩神争霸快三 to=final 手机天天彩票 ்ந்து result 彩票平台招商 ્યો क्ता ંડ {
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 1/21/25
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I call this meeting of the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee to order.
- Research and House Fiscal.
- c> fiscal from house research and House fiscal from house research and House fiscal that<00:02:56.480
- Housing Stability.
- <00:37:16.240>
for housing or um owner occupied housing for housing or um owner occupied housing
Summary:
The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee met for an informational session with no bills taken up and no votes or formal actions. Members and staff introduced themselves, and Chair Speno said the committee would focus on understanding housing policy and barriers to building more homes, noting Minnesota’s housing shortage and the need to support both single-family and multifamily construction.
House Research analyst Mary Davis and House Fiscal analyst Katrina Heimark gave an overview of the committee’s jurisdiction and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency’s programs and funding streams. Davis outlined areas the committee may hear about, including real estate law, landlord-tenant law, manufactured home parks, housing cooperatives, zoning, property taxes, and MHFA programs. Heimark described MHFA’s five main budget areas—development and redevelopment, housing stability, homeownership assistance, preservation, and resident/organization support—and reviewed recent appropriations, emphasizing that much of the large 2024–25 funding was one-time money and that ongoing base funding is lower in 2026–27.
Members asked several questions about how prior appropriations were spent, whether unused funds return to the general fund, and whether funds can be repurposed. Heimark said transferred funds generally are not returned to the general fund if unspent, but are expected to be used for the purposes outlined in the appropriation; she also said she had requested more detailed expenditure information from the agency and would follow up. Questions also focused on who benefits from programs such as rental housing rehabilitation and the affordable rental investment fund, with the testifiers explaining that most MHFA programs are targeted to low- and moderate-income households and that income eligibility varies by program. The committee also discussed the new metro-area sales tax revenue dedicated to housing, with members requesting more detail on reporting, oversight, and allowable uses.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 1/21/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, so we've got 1:00. The staff can prepare the amendments.
- So that is our plan: 1:00 p.m. on the prior day to the committee hearing for any changes to any bills
- 00 the day before you will have till 1:00 the day before um<00:03:28.159>
so <00:03:28.360> - > staff<00:03:30.000>
can um so we've got 1:00 the staff can um so we've got 1:00 the staff - 00 morning so that is our plan is a 1:00 morning so that is our plan is a 1:00 p.m.<00:03:38.480>
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum but, because agency representatives did not attend, the chair said no official action would be taken and no bills would be passed at this meeting. The purpose of the session was to provide an opportunity for agencies to present an overview related to the governor’s proposed budget for Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development, but that discussion was postponed to a later date.
Most of the meeting focused on committee procedures and expectations. The chair reviewed the committee’s initial rules, emphasizing that members should speak through the chair, keep respectful order, and notify the committee administrator if they cannot attend. The chair also said the committee would try to accommodate testimony time depending on the agenda and would allow virtual participation by Zoom to ensure broader public access.
The chair explained that any proposed bill changes must be submitted by 1:00 p.m. the day before a hearing so staff can prepare amendments and share them with members. Minutes were noted as presented without a motion to approve. Near the end, members confirmed the windchill was about 37 below, and the chair announced there would be no meeting the next day, with the next meeting scheduled for Thursday. The meeting then adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informational interview with Rep. Cal Warwas (R-Clinton Township) Jan 21st, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Please start by telling us a little bit about yourself and why you decided to run for a seat in the House
- I'm a 28-year miner, and I decided to run for the State House of Representatives because of the trifecta
Summary:
The transcript is an interview with Cal Warwas, a third-generation Iron Range miner and newly elected House candidate for District 7B. He said he ran because of the state’s “trifecta” and wanted to restore balance in state government. He described the Iron Range as a scenic, recreation-rich area with low crime and friendly towns, and outlined the district as a large T-shaped area stretching across much of the range and south along the Highway 53 corridor.
Warwas said voters in the district want new mining projects to move forward, lower property taxes, and a state government that listens to the Iron Range. He emphasized his family’s long mining history, noting that his grandfather worked in natural ore, his father spent more than 31 years at U.S. Steel Minntac, and he has worked in mining for about 28 years.
The interview also touched briefly on his family life; he said he and his wife have nine children and three grandchildren. No bills were discussed and no votes or formal legislative actions were taken in the transcript.