Transcript Highlights:

• <01:14:45.200> were definitions were definitions were uh<01:14:46.240> were<01:14:46.360
• I definitely don't >> I completely agree.
• >> definitely review these things. Yes. >> definitely review these things. Yes.
• <02:29:13.840> of it just narrows the definition of it just narrows the definition of employee
• ,<02:45:03.200> but through, has varied the definitions, but through, has varied the definitions

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 5 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with an invocation by Dr. Ryan Wade and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then handled routine business by dispensing with the reading of the journal and committee reports. Several guests were recognized, including Leadership Jackson County, Farm Bureau members, a doctor of the day, adult educators, and other visitors in the gallery. Senator Brumfield also announced support efforts for Senator Warren Barnett, asking members to contribute to him through Ms. Anita Jackson. The chamber then considered a series of House bills, most of them taken up with strike-all amendments and passed by use of the morning roll call. Measures included HB 1390 on personal services funding allocations, HB 1571 on ARPA funds and unexpended balances, HB 1655 on the State Aid Road Construction director’s personnel status, HB 1650 on dormant state accounts and pooled investments, HB 1651 on state agencies using other agencies’ facilities and charging 50% of fair market value, HB 1345 on administrative forfeiture of illegal cigarette and vaping products, HB 1386 on allowing sidewalks as an eligible use of municipal infrastructure funds, HB 671 on alcoholic beverage delivery responsibility ending when retailers transfer possession to delivery services, and HB 1385 on eliminating paper-original homestead exemption submissions. Members asked questions on several bills, especially about whether the fairgrounds language in HB 1651 would affect youth livestock shows and whether HB 1386 or other measures would change county revenue; sponsors generally said the bills were intended to address state-agency use, municipal reporting, or administrative efficiency rather than alter those programs. The Senate also advanced HB 898, creating a sales tax diversion study committee to review misallocated municipal sales tax revenues, assess impacts, examine technology and oversight, and recommend reforms by the 2027 session; Senator Hill questioned whether counties should be included, but the sponsor said that would be a separate policy decision. Later, the Senate reconsidered HB 1265, the Mississippi Debt Management Services Act extended repealer, adopted an amendment to remove the repealer instead of extending it, and then passed the bill. The body also took up SB 2632, the local governments disaster recovery emergency loan program, and voted not to concur and to invite conference. Finally, HB 1142 on bench warrant notices was called up; the sponsor explained a strike-all that would replace certified mail with personal service or electronic transmission and include a reverse repealer for further conference work.

Transcript Highlights:

• of what's in the changing the definition of what's in the beverage beverage beverage just<00:38:28.079
• for one single changing definitions for one single purpose<00:38:36.680> so<00:38:36.839>
• So I definitely want to keep working on that, and I've shared that my intention with the industry and
• still have some you know definitely still have some concerns<01:03:06.240> about<01:03:07.240
• uh of batteries on uh some definition uh of batteries on the<01:21:52.440> back<01:21:52.639>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, first we have a bunch of different definitions that occur within the bill.
• Definition of agrivoltaics, some other definitions that revolve around issues of...
• So, first we have a bunch of different definitions that occur within the bill.
• Definition of agrivoltaics, some other definitions that revolve around issues of...
• > with<00:45:51.480> the Definitions again that align with the Definitions again that align

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• changing that to correlate with the 518B.01 definition of family or household members.
• I know there's been some discussion about underlying definitions and other areas of law.
• What is your definition of what a conspicuous marking is? Representative Finke.
• <01:35:39.640> So definitely not to hide the ball here.
• So definitely not to hide the ball here.

Bills: HF3771, HF3658, HF3453, HF3358, HF1775

Keywords: disaster assistance, contingency account, Minnesota emergency management, public safety, state disaster aid, FEMA, federal cost-share, emergency relief, natural disaster, budget report, appropriations report, management and budget, local governments, utility cooperatives, public works, infrastructure repair, chapter 12B, chapter 12A, emergency management, disaster recovery

Transcript Highlights:

• It passed the law, passed definitions of SGU veterans.
• So rather definitions of SGU veterans.
• <00:05:06.440> Minnesota it added a new definition Minnesota it added a new definition Minnesota
• :31:07.320> registrars definitely hit the deputy registrars definitely hit the deputy registrars
• <01:52:16.920> of<01:52:17.120> capacity meet the definition of capacity meet the definition

Bills: HF3919, HF1335, HF3864, HF3916, HF3728

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, electronic license, driver's license, digital credential, transportation, data privacy, authentication, license plates, vehicle registration, validation stickers, Minnesota statutes, transportation policy, aeronautics, transponder, aircraft safety

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:55:19.119> of the medic uh the Medicaid definition of the medic uh the Medicaid definition
• . definitions. definitions.
• <00:56:30.880> of Medicaid covered service definition of Medicaid covered service definition
• I'm definitely in the wrong business.
• Um but definitely in the wrong business.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission to study special education costs under SB 57 met for its second meeting, with members introducing themselves and reviewing background materials on New Hampshire special education identification rates, NAEP results, and a Wall Street Journal article about the rise in autism diagnoses. The chair explained that the commission is examining special education aid formulas, including how New Hampshire’s current catastrophic aid threshold works and how changes to that threshold might affect school districts, but noted that the needed data on how many students would shift into the aid system at lower thresholds is not yet available. The main testimony came from Henry Litman of HHS on Medicaid reimbursement in schools. He explained that school-based Medicaid funding is tied to health-related services, not all special education services, and that federal rules are changing in state fiscal year 2027. Under the new approach, schools will move away from an in-kind methodology to a certified public expenditure model that may also allow recovery of some overhead costs, such as support staff time. He said the state won a federal grant to help build the new system, hired a vendor, and is setting up training and a help center for districts. Members asked about why Medicaid claims have declined and whether districts are leaving money on the table. Litman said claims are down about 25% from pre-pandemic levels, with declines tied to federal and state rule changes, documentation requirements, provider qualification rules, and the end of temporary pandemic flexibilities. He said some districts adapted better than others depending on local medical-provider access and administrative capacity. He also said the new federal legislation does not directly affect schools, while New Hampshire’s return to pre-pandemic eligibility rules has reduced enrollment somewhat. No votes were taken, and the discussion ended with agreement that the commission needs better data to determine how much special education spending is truly Medicaid-eligible and whether additional legislation is needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, as a reminder, these are good tenants by definition.
• Definitely not. kick good tenants out. Definitely not.
• And the amendment clarifies the definition of digital asset exchange.
• And the amendment clarifies the definition of digital asset exchange.
• modifying the definition of ADUs. modifying the definition of ADUs.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:05:25.960> want yeah we would we would definitely want yeah we would we would definitely
• um of family and assistance definition um of family and the<01:36:43.520> definition<01:36:43.920
• > of<01:36:44.080> relative<01:36:44.639> kin the definition of relative kin the
• <01:37:05.360> definition<01:37:05.719> of<01:37:05.880> relative welfare to
• the definition of relative welfare to the definition of relative for<01:37:06.719> background

Bills: HF1367, HF2732, HF1897, HF1424, HF1383, HF2728, HF2863, HF1685, HF2929

Keywords: child maltreatment, child abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, human trafficking, child protection, local welfare agency, county social services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, judicial review, district court appeal, venue, out-of-state abuse, cross-border investigation, Minnesota child welfare, family assessment, maltreatment determination

Transcript Highlights:

• 144.5 to 111.56, and the definition of a nursing home employer references chapter 256R that outlines
• 144.5 to 111.56, and the definition of a nursing home employer references chapter 256R that outlines
• of a nursing to clarify the definition of a nursing home<00:25:35.200> based<00:25:35.440>
• <00:25:51.720> of<00:25:51.840> a 144.5 to 1 11.56 and the definition of a 144.5 to
• 1 11.56 and the definition of a nursing<00:25:52.440> home<00:25:52.799> employer<00:25

Bills: HF339, HF1272, HF2121, HF2122, HF1216, HF1003, HF2319

Keywords: HF339, Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, nursing homes, long-term care, elder care, workforce standards, certified worker organizations, labor funding, general fund appropriation, worker grants, Minnesota labor law, nursing home staffing, caregiver workforce, section 181.214, HF1272, nursing home, boarding care home, nursing home workers, labor standards, Medicaid-certified facility

Transcript Highlights:

• So to walk through it, subdivision one is about definitions.
• So to walk through it, subdivision one is about definitions.
• So to walk through it, subdivision one is about definitions.
• section um as a um in the definition section um as a reminder<01:04:29.960> this<01:04:30.119
• Otherwise, we definitely can keep moving. My testimony applies to both bills.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Representative Mhler, that is definitely one of the solutions.
• <01:05:00.279> used governs the doc and the definition used governs the doc and the definition
• So it's definitely filling a need and a void for that.
• So it's definitely filling a need and a void for that.
• It's definitely filling a need and a void for that.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• a question about the governor, and that's where it lands in this bill; that's just part of the definition
• a question about the governor, and that's where it lands in this bill; that's just part of the definition
• yep since you're looking definition yep since you're looking right<00:09:09.240> at me<00:09:
• This is under definitions, yeah, but then throughout the document it calls out a person or country of
• this is under this is under definition this is under definitions<00:14:31.399> yeah<00:14:32.040

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 733-FN, a bill concerning third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors funding lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, increases litigation abuse, and contributes to higher insurance and consumer costs. He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with guardrails and reporting requirements on specified pages of the bill. He also noted a couple of drafting fixes, including adding the word “knowingly” and incorporating a missing section later. Members raised questions about the bill’s foreign-entity language, especially the provision allowing a governor or the Department of Safety to designate a country as a threat to critical infrastructure. Representative Cole said he would have lawyers review that issue. Another member asked whether the bill would prohibit a party from obtaining outside funding for a lawsuit; Cole clarified that the bill is intended as a reporting measure, not a ban, and that disclosure would be required. He also said the bill is aimed at American citizens rather than foreign-backed financing, and that some states had considered caps on such arrangements, though this bill does not. Brandon Gratz of the Attorney General’s office testified that the enforcement language appears too limited, because it would allow only civil penalties and not broader Consumer Protection Act remedies such as injunctions or restitution. He suggested the Attorney General may not have meaningful authority under the bill as written and raised possible insurance-law issues. Commissioner D.J. Benton-Court of the Insurance Department said the disclosure could help insurers better assess risk and potentially soften the hard insurance market by improving transparency, competition, underwriting, innovation, and claims management. He also said the bill likely needs further work on jurisdiction and enforcement, and that the committee may need to coordinate with the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and possibly banking regulators. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• now, and that's definitely concerning for us.
• now, and that's definitely concerning for us.
• now, and that's definitely concerning for us. ...that's affected.
• now, and that's definitely concerning for us.
• it is right now uh and that's definitely it is right now uh and that's definitely concerning<01:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This would exempt it from conveyance tax, definitely exempt the property itself when it's sold.
• tax so it it would exempt definitely tax so it it would exempt definitely exempt<00:50:04.599>
• would be considered under the definition would be considered under the definition of<01:06:25.720
• But definitely note your concerns there and appreciate them.
• <02:18:42.040> of within the larger definition of within the larger definition of transportive

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing and moved quickly through a long agenda, beginning with HB 606 on the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. DHHL and several community testifiers strongly supported the bill, describing it as a way to fulfill long-standing promises to Native Hawaiians, reduce the DHHL waitlist, keep families in Hawaii, and support housing production and the broader economy. Testifiers emphasized the cultural and economic importance of stable housing and noted the large number of people still waiting for DHHL homes. The committee then heard HB 1086, also relating to DHHL, which would allow the department to use a $75 million appropriation from the dwelling unit revolving fund as collateral for loans. DHHL, HHFDC, and other supporters said the measure would help DHHL obtain better loan terms and preserve trust funds for other uses. Members asked detailed questions about how the collateral would work, whether other agencies use similar structures, and what would happen if the collateral were drawn upon; staff explained that the funds would be encumbered for the loan and that a similar model had been used for a HUD-backed project. The committee also heard HB 739, which would create the COM homes program to fund counties to buy voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or buyers. Supporters said the program could help keep local workers in Hawaii by using existing housing stock and cited examples from places like Aspen and Vail. The Attorney General’s office recommended amendments to remove duration requirements to avoid right-to-travel concerns, and the Tax Foundation suggested clarifying the conveyance tax exemption so it also covers the instrument imposing the restriction. Members asked whether tax dollars would be used to buy homes, who would be eligible, and how enforcement would work; supporters said the program is voluntary and income-blind, with restrictions tied to living and working in the state. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:48:28.119> of I'm curious uh lack a good definition of I'm curious uh lack a good definition
• <01:10:07.480> of awkward it's medical uh definitions of awkward it's medical uh definitions
• Um, I would also like to say how this fits into the definition of genocide.
• Do you have a definition of what you feel is age appropriate?
• Do you have a definition of what you feel is age appropriate?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, what it does is it removes the term from the definition of electioneer.
• It sort of streamlines the definitions and then um includes organizing or conducting surveys.
• > um<00:45:46.520> includes definitions and then um includes definitions and then um includes
• It’s not definitive.
• Um but, in our definition construction.

Keywords: 9:00am HB 158 9:10am HB 281 9:20am HB 317 9:30am HB 340 9:40am HB 1062 9:50am HB 1187 10:00am HB 1234 10:10am HB 1300 10:20am HB 1306 10:30am HB 1381 10:40am HB 1541, 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference first resolved House Bill 158, which concerns public inspection of absentee ballot lists. The Senate explained a revised approach that removed the broader bill language and instead directed the Secretary of State to review absentee ballot data after each general election for patterns such as common addresses and to report findings to the committees of jurisdiction. The House agreed to the Senate position, and the conference committee voted unanimously to concur. The committee then took up House Bill 281, dealing with a sortable electronic voter checklist. Members debated the Senate’s removal of language that would have included the absentee ballot mailing address when different from the voter’s registration address. Concerns were raised that releasing mailing addresses could expose where voters are not home and could affect overseas and military voters. The committee also discussed a related form for election officials who personally know a voter, including how long the form would be retained and whether it would be subject to public records law. After further discussion, the House agreed to the Senate changes with an additional requirement that the form be signed, and the committee voted to proceed with the amended Senate position. House Bill 317, concerning verification of a person’s identity by a supervisor of the checklist without identification, was also discussed at length. The Senate’s version preserved the ability for election officials to identify people they know, but required a signed form under penalty of perjury and added a nursing home-related provision. Members described the measure as balancing community-based identification with tighter documentation, and a House witness described local problems with inconsistent ID checks and concerns about voting in nursing homes. The House sought one additional change requiring the nursing home verification form to be signed, and the Senate accepted that addition; the committee then voted to move the bill forward on the consent calendar. The conference committee next considered House Bill 340 on electioneering by public employees. The chair presented a replace-all amendment that tied the definition of electioneering to existing law, added a prohibition on expressly or primarily political surveys, and created a civil penalty of up to $1,000 alongside the misdemeanor penalty. Members discussed clarifying when the misdemeanor versus civil penalty would apply and which categories of public employees were covered. After caucus, the Senate agreed to the House’s replace-all approach with the clarifying changes, and the bill was closed. The committee also resolved House Bill 1062 by agreeing to strike a sunset clause from the Senate version authorizing random audits of citizenship qualifications, and it began discussion of House Bill 1187 on the filing window for special-election candidates, where the House proposed requiring local election officials to arrange a filing time on the same day or next business day after being contacted.

Transcript Highlights:

• I definitely want to thank the chair for inviting me to be a part of such an important discussion.
• But the war has definitely destroyed 5% to 6% of that cushion.
• The war has definitely destroyed five to six percent of that cushion.
• This question is definitely going to sound familiar to you, because I asked it at least two times in
• So that's definitely something we are observing.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on the impact of the Iran conflict and global oil supply disruption on California fuel markets. Committee members and administration witnesses from the California Energy Commission and the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight described California’s heavy reliance on imported crude and refined products, the state’s shrinking refining base, current inventory levels, and how global supply tightness is affecting gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel prices. CEC officials said near-term supply looked adequate for roughly the next six weeks, but warned that continued disruption would likely raise prices further and increase competition for imports. DPMO said the conflict is a real supply shock, but also emphasized a separate, longstanding problem of unusually high California retail gasoline prices, especially among major branded stations. Witnesses and members debated the causes of high prices and the state’s longer-term fuel strategy. Professor Severin Borenstein argued that much of the price gap beyond taxes and environmental costs comes from a “mystery gasoline surcharge” downstream of refineries, while also noting that California’s shrinking number of refineries creates market-power and supply-resilience concerns. Western States Petroleum Association CEO Jody Mueller argued that state policies have weakened California’s refining system and made it more vulnerable to global shocks, urging the state to protect remaining refining capacity and improve infrastructure for imports. United Steelworkers Local 675 Vice President Norman Rogers stressed the need for safe, reliable refinery operations and adequate staffing. Several members pressed witnesses on whether California should rely more on imports, how to manage inventories and port/storage capacity, and whether the state needs clearer authority and better data collection to coordinate fuel policy. Discussion also covered branded versus unbranded gasoline pricing, the role of California fuel specifications, and whether a floating gas tax or other policy tools could buffer consumers from global price spikes. No formal votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, hate speech has no definition in California or federal law.
• The Cal Cities witness definitely covered a lot of the same concerns that CSAC has, too.
• So I think we definitely agree there.
• I know they definitely have relationships with local governments.
• I know they definitely have relationships with local governments.

Summary: The committee heard several local government-related bills, with testimony focused on permitting, transportation funding, EV infrastructure, and commercial revitalization. AB 1578 by Assembly Member Jackson would require elected local and state officials to take anti-hate speech training through existing sexual harassment training. Supporters said elected officials should understand the impact of their words on hate and democracy; opponents argued the bill lacked a definition of hate speech and could chill protected speech, especially around sex-based issues. AB 2083, also by Jackson, would authorize a regional child care special district serving Moreno Valley and Paris to expand child care facilities and programs for five years. The California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions opposed the bill’s mechanism but said it was working with the author. AB 1693 by Assembly Member Suber would streamline retail tenant improvement permits by extending a process similar to a prior restaurant permitting law, with qualified professional certification and tighter local review timelines. It drew broad support from retail, business, and property groups and no opposition. Assembly Member Gonzalez presented AB 1679, which would create a temporary commercial activation permit for pop-up businesses to operate in vacant storefronts for up to 120 days. Supporters said it would help fill vacancies and lower barriers for small businesses; there was no opposition, and the bill advanced. Gonzalez also presented AB 2418, which would set timelines for nonresidential plan checks and inspections and allow private plan checkers after excessive delay. Business groups supported it as a way to reduce costly delays, while local government groups had no position but continued discussions with the author; the bill advanced with amendments. Assembly Member Shevlin presented AB 1820, which would cap local permit fees for EV charging installations and create a statewide fee schedule. Supporters said fees vary too widely and can deter charger deployment, while cities and counties argued existing law already requires reasonable cost recovery and that the bill could undercut local budgets and public safety review. Assembly Member DeMaio presented AB 1783, which would prohibit state and local mileage taxes or road user charges. Supporters framed it as a defense against a new tax burden, while opponents said studying road user charges is necessary to address declining gas tax revenue and future transportation funding needs. AB 1693, AB 1679, and AB 2418 were moved forward with motions and roll calls; AB 1783 was taken up with a motion and roll call left open, and AB 1820 remained under discussion at the end of the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, so yes, we definitely need this.
• of soon but that's what we've definition of soon but that's what we've been<01:06:54.720> hearing
• We'll remove the phrase "at least" from the definition of in-demand industry sector or occupation, and
• We'll remove the phrase "at least" from the definition of in-demand industry sector or occupation, and
• of in demand industry the definition of in demand industry sector<01:25:56.560> or<01:25:56.800

Bills: SB2198, SB2140, SB3055, SB3090, SB3091, SB3092, SB2761

Keywords: workforce development, craftspersons, skilled trades, artisan, craftsmanship, trade recognition, award program, DLIR, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, vocational education, career pathways, cultural preservation, workforce excellence, apprenticeship, Hawaii trades, economic diversification, public nominations, governor awards, historically significant venue

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's definitely something we need to really look at and consider the disposal process.
• I don't want to get too ratchet on the actual ownership definitions.
• Chair, members of the committee, I definitely am super excited to be able to speak today.
• Most definitely. I don't know if there's an agency that lets it go to that question.
• We definitely have it. We're tweaking some stuff on our end. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Keywords: 996, all