Transcript Highlights:

• Howard for a truly distinguished career in public service and public power.
• Randy, thank you so much for your lifetime of service.
• Vaisakhi is also a time of service. Sikh communities Vaisakhi is also a time of service.
• It's all about public service.
• Yet it was his service beyond his profession that truly defined his legacy.

Summary: The Assembly convened without a quorum, then quorum was established and the chamber proceeded with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and a series of procedural motions. Members approved multiple unanimous-consent requests to suspend rules, re-refer bills to committees, and allow committees to notice bills pending re-referral. The day also included several guest introductions recognizing student leaders, public power executive Randy Howard, a family member of Assemblymember Gallagher, higher education leaders, Leadership Torrance, and the Vacaville PAL program. On the floor, the Assembly adopted several resolutions and heard extensive remarks in support of them. ACR 160, proclaiming April 2026 as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, was adopted by voice vote after co-authors were added. H.R. 98, designating California Holocaust Memorial Day, received broad bipartisan support and was adopted after 76 co-authors were added. H.R. 100, recognizing Vaisakhi, also passed by voice vote after 73 co-authors were added, with members highlighting Sikh history, service, and cultural contributions. The Assembly then took up several bills on the third-reading file. AB 1977, relating to online notarization and notaries public, passed 69-5. AB 1987, which would direct wildlife-area fees back to operation and maintenance of state wildlife areas, passed 69-0. Other items on the second- and third-reading files were passed and retained, continued, or placed on the consent calendar as noted by the presiding officer. The session concluded with adjournment-in-memory tributes for La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven, community organizer Cynthia Brantley Pierce, coach John Beam, and Ralph Cavallo. The Assembly then adjourned until Thursday, April 16, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meaning the Public Service Commission would have a lot to say over that.
• after that as an interesting concept, but maybe you do the processing and you put the money in the bank
• Maybe you allow the processing and you put the money in the bank and then determine who gets it later
• Billions of dollars to get this market serviceable.
• Holvitt from the Bank of North Dakota also answered some of your questions.

Bills: SB2339

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Summary: The Energy and Natural Resources Committee continued work on House Bill 1459, which concerns rare earth and critical mineral recovery from North Dakota lignite coal. Testimony from UND researcher Dan Ludo and industry representative David Straely focused on the urgency of developing the process quickly, the technical differences between extracting minerals from coal versus ash, and the potential value of elements such as terbium, dysprosium, gallium, germanium, and synthetic graphite. Straely argued the bill is constitutional, limited to minerals within the coal seam, and needed to avoid years of quiet title litigation and provide certainty for development and compensation to royalty owners. Committee members raised questions about landowner rights, compensation levels, possible amendments from the Department of Trust Lands, and whether the bill should be modified to address constitutional concerns or sunset provisions. No final action was taken on HB 1459; the chair said parties could work on language until Monday before the committee revisits it. The committee then returned to House Bill 1579, a high-load study bill with a possible energy infrastructure investment amendment. Jody Smith of the Retirement and Investment Office presented updated language adding guardrails for in-state infrastructure investing, including requiring approved projects to be underwritten and managed by a qualified investment manager or financial institution and to follow the Legacy Fund investment policy. Members discussed whether the amendment had been shared with the House sponsor and noted that the related bill 1330 was still pending, so HB 1579 was being held for the time being. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 1566, which had an amendment from the Agriculture Commissioner’s office. The committee adopted the amendment 7-0, then passed a due-pass motion on the amended bill and referred it to Appropriations, also by a 7-0 vote. Members discussed the bill’s fiscal impact, including an estimated $580,000 for two FTEs over two years, and clarified that the study component remains in the bill. Senator Gerhardt was assigned to carry the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• five persons, that would also be an acceptable use for those residential congregate-type living services
• services.
• We force them to call the 800 number, and the 800 number is what's used to get people to services.
• And we put money aside for addiction services. No one's asking for it now.
• account um for still sitting in a bank account um for Addiction<00:30:45.120><c> Services</c><00:30:

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:03:54.640><c> and</c> Heartland, Channel One Food Bank, and Heartland, Channel One Food Bank
• ,</c><00:03:56.959><c> the</c> the North Country Food Bank, the the North Country Food Bank, the Minnesota
• </c> um the Main Street Veterinary Service um the Main Street Veterinary Service and<00:04:16.160><c>
• </c> division to the protection services division to the protection services division.<00:07:17.120><
• </c> office work 8 to 4:30 and service those. office work 8 to 4:30 and service those.

Summary: The Agriculture Conference Committee met for an initial organizational and comparison session on House File 2446, the agriculture broadband and rural development bill. Members introduced themselves, noted that no conference target had yet been set, and agreed to begin with a side-by-side review of House and Senate positions. No oral testimony was taken; instead, the chair listed written testimony submitted by a wide range of agricultural, environmental, local government, food bank, and industry groups. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the major funding differences. Both bills included some shared items such as operating adjustments, wolf and elk damage compensation, and certain technical changes, but they differed on several major appropriations. The House generally proposed larger increases for meat inspection, local food purchasing, and the Board of Animal Health, and added items such as county inspector grants, biofertilizer innovation, a biosolids/PFAS-related study, a soil health study, broadband installation study funding, an Agri Works program, an Agri Support program, a milk grant program, and several House-only transfers and grants. The Senate included items such as a climate coordinator position, biofuel-related reductions and policy changes, livestock processing funding, farm-to-school and urban agriculture changes, MARL funding, cottage foods licensing updates, and several Senate-only pass-through grants and transfers. Staff also noted differences in the agriculture emergency account transfer approach and in how the two bodies handled the Second Harvest Heartland and related food distribution provisions. House Research then reviewed the policy language differences in the bill. The House language included provisions allowing more flexible use of grant administration funds, unpaid prior-year claims, county inspector grants, and updates tied to its own policy article, while the Senate language included the climate coordinator, PFAS-related commercialization language, cooperative development grant permissive language, and other Senate policy changes. The committee did not take any votes or final actions at this meeting; the session was informational and focused on identifying differences for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the only that would be reimbursable would be the warrant service model under the House version
• This bill moves towards solving an issue, making sure our streaming services do not pay franchise fees
• you put surface water into a groundwater aquifer and bank it. there so that it doesn't evaporate and
• then pull out only as much as you put into the water bank.
• Thank you for answering my questions. for your work on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee

Bills: HB4 , HB20 , HB40 , HB46 , HB 101 , HB 112 , HB 117 , HB 121 , HB 127 , HB146 , HB150 , HB186 , HB229 , HB426 , HB521 , HB541 , HB549 , HB632 , HB713 , HB796 , HB 1052 , HB 1106 , HB 1135 , HB 1234 , HB 1306 , HB1403 , HB1523 , HB1532 , HB1690 , HB1960 , HB2035 , HB2217 , HB2399 , HB2488 , HB2517 , HB2594 , HB2655 , HB2686 , HB2731 , HB2757 , HB2820 , HB2963 , HB3005 , HB3053 , HB3073 , HB3225 , HB3320 , HB3333 , HB3336 , HB3441 , HB3483 , HB3516 , HB3520 , HB3697 , HB3748 , HB3793 , HB3848 , HB4099 , HB4134 , HB4144 , HB4158 , HB4233 , HB4236 , HB4285 , HB4350 , HB4359 , HB4464 , HB4580 , HB4690 , HB4730 , HB4848 , HB4904 , HB4995 , HB5196 , HB5294 , HB5381 , HB5435 , HB5437 , HB5509 , HB5606 , HB5646 , HB5658 , HB5661 , HB5663 , HB5666 , HB5672 , HCR40 , HCR59 , SB867 , SB2919 , SJR5 , SJR27 , SB4 , SB6 , SB7 , SB9 , SB13 , SB15 , SB23 , SB27 , SB30 , SB40 , SB57 , SB66 , SB140 , SB268 , SB293 , SB331 , SB413 , SB447 , SB457 , SB467 , SB506 , SB510 , SB512 , SB571 , SB650 , SB763 , SB777 , SB785 , SB800 , SB850 , SB863 , SB865 , SB973 , SB974 , SB1191 , SB1281 , SB1300 , SB1362 , SB1494 , SB1522 , SB1540 , SB1567 , SB1579 , SB1580 , SB1610 , SB1660 , SB1723 , SB1760 , SB1838 , SB1923 , SB1946 , SB1957 , SB1964 , SB2018 , SB2024 , SB2121 , SB2167 , SB2217 , SB2221 , SB2321 , SB2337 , SB2368 , SB2373 , SB2407 , SB2431 , SB2477 , SB2587 , SB2615 , SB2753 , SB2807 , SB2900 , SB2965 , SB2972 , SB2986 , SB3039 , SB3047 , SB3059 , SB3070 , SB1 , SB17 , SB21 , SB260 , SB379 , SB509 , SB1198 , SB1405 , SB1506 , SB1637 , SB1833 , SB2155 , SB2308 , SB2601 , SB2778 , HB300 , HB2011 , HB2525 , HB5246 , HB 100 , HB 101 , HB 119 , HB227 , HB252 , HB322 , HB346 , HB654 , HB705 , HB718 , HB721 , HB824 , HB 1094 , HB 1234 , HB 1306 , HB1506 , HB1523 , HB1629 , HB1690 , HB1868 , HB1960 , HB1973 , HB2012 , HB2035 , HB2037 , HB2078 , HB2128 , HB2213 , HB2240 , HB2348 , HB2520 , HB2598 , HB2686 , HB2694 , HB2820 , HB3005 , HB3057 , HB3092 , HB3112 , HB3171 , HB3181 , HB3185 , HB3333 , HB3388 , HB3516 , HB3546 , HB3619 , HB3623 , HB3629 , HB3642 , HB3686 , HB3697 , HB3749 , HB3793 , HB3812 , HB3815 , HB3848 , HB3909 , HB4081 , HB4145 , HB4157 , HB4158 , HB4170 , HB4202 , HB4211 , HB4214 , HB4233 , HB4285 , HB4350 , HB4361 , HB4463 , HB4464 , HB4466 , HB4559 , HB4630 , HB4748 , HB4765 , HB4848 , HB4894 , HB4904 , HB4995 , HB5093 , HB5196 , HB5320 , HB5437 , HB5624 , HB5650 , HB5651 , HB5652 , HB5654 , HB5655 , HB5656 , HB5658 , HB5661 , HB5662 , HB5664 , HB5665 , HB5666 , HB5670 , HB5672 , HB5674 , HB5677 , HB5679 , HB5682 , HB5689 , HB5690 , HB5694 , HB5695 , HB5698 , HB5699 , HCR46 , HCR76 , HCR81 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR111 , HB748 , HB5652 , HB3395 , HB180 , HB 1306 , HB5650 , HB4894 , HB1629 , HB5698 , HB3171 , HB2694 , HB5664 , HB4690 , HB4464 , HB3623 , HB2520 , HB2213 , HB252 , HB146 , HB5596 , HB3619 , HB5320 , HB5651 , HB5670 , HB5665 , HB5437 , HB5679 , HB5661 , HB5662 , HB5654 , HB5672 , HB5656 , HB2035 , HB721 , HB346 , HB5695 , HB5694 , HB5674 , HB3185 , HB2348 , HB 1135 , HB 101 , HB5666 , HB5677 , HB5682 , HB5658 , HB4144 , HB3642 , HB3815 , HB2686 , HB2012 , HB1960 , HB227 , HB654 , HB4158 , HB4630 , HB1523 , HB1973 , HB3333 , HB3697 , HB3546 , HB3225 , HB2820 , HB186 , HB 119 , HB4466 , HB4170 , HB3909 , HB4081 , HB4145 , HB4285 , HB4463 , HB4995 , HB5624 , HB1449 , HB2598 , HB3629 , HB4361 , HB824 , HB1868 , HB4848 , HB40 , HB 117 , HB3686 , HB3793 , HB 112 , HB 104 , HB718 , HB4904 , HB4202 , HB4765 , HB4559 , HB4350 , HB4214 , HB3388 , HB3112 , HB5196 , HB3516 , HB3092 , HB4233 , HB 1094 , HB2037 , HB3005 , HB3848 , HB 121 , HB3336 , HB5294 , HB5646 , HB4236 , HB 1052 , HB5509 , HB5435 , HB3520 , HB3320 , HB2517 , HB2488 , HB5663 , HB2731 , HB3073 , HB2655 , HB2399 , HB541 , HB4099 , HB 111 , HB1532 , HB3483 , HB2963 , HB4580 , HB3748 , HB713 , HB632 , HB426 , HB4730 , HB 127 , HB5690 , HB5689 , HB5655 , HB3385 , HB2757 , HB4359 , HB5381 , HB20 , HB 123 , HB549 , HB5606 , HB2217 , HB2594 , HB796 , HB 1057 , HB3664 , HCR141 , HCR40 , HCR59 , HCR76 , HCR81 , HCR46 , HCR111 , HCR83 , HCR84 , SJR36 , SJR50 , SJR63 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SB2023 , SB62 , SB666 , SB847 , SB284 , SB854 , SB810 , SB1505 , SB583 , SB507 , SB1434 , SB1772 , SB2016 , SB1122 , SB731 , SB397 , SB508 , SB1436 , SB287 , SB1882 , SB393 , SB1791 , SB209 , SB2429 , SB1085 , SB1975 , SB2717 , SB1262 , SB636 , SB2056 , SB884 , SB1200 , SB1845 , SB2458 , SB801 , SB3014 , SB3013 , SB758 , SB2797 , SB2076 , SB2876 , SB1640 , SB1449 , SB1181 , SB1234 , SB2926 , SB2841 , SB1528 , SB1854 , SB317 , SB1250 , SB2082 , SB1237 , SB2819 , SB629 , SB2608 , SB1602 , SB2009 , SB867 , SB640 , SB1698 , SB2680 , SB913 , SB1071 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1483 , SB1444 , SB1553 , SB1556 , SB1703 , SB2133 , SB2297 , SB2298 , SB2622 , SB2955 , SB2334 , SB1367 , SB2044 , SB2363 , SB2565 , SB1888 , SB3036 , SB3057 , SB3043 , SB3063 , SB3035 , SB203 , SB2688 , SB2522 , SB2459 , SB2655 , SB2251 , SB1884 , SB2928 , SB2566 , SB2549 , SB2553 , SB2919 , SB1944 , SB1232 , SB1798 , SB2603 , SB2607 , SB2683 , SB1319 , SB3045 , SB3071 , HB40 , HB 117 , HB 121 , HB426 , HB541 , HB713 , HB 1052 , HB1532 , HB2217 , HB2488 , HB2517 , HB2655 , HB2757 , HB2963 , HB3073 , HB3697 , HB4099 , HB4144 , HB4158 , HB4236 , HB4285 , HB4848 , HB5435 , HB5437 , HB5509 , HB5646 , HB5666 , HB14 , HB 1240 , HB796 , HB1523 , HB5294 , SR559 , SR587 , SR614 , SCR53 , SJR59 , SB10 , SB22 , SB25 , SB34 , SB36 , SB38 , SB261 , SB777 , SB924 , SB1188 , SB1318 , SB1333 , SB1398 , SB1448 , SB1621 , SB1862 , SB2405 , SB2406 , SB8 , SB12 , SB37 , SB441 , SB1566 , SB2878 , HB300 , HB2011 , HB5246 , HB 101 , HB 119 , HB227 , HB252 , HB346 , HB654 , HB718 , HB721 , HB824 , HB 1306 , HB1629 , HB1868 , HB1960 , HB1973 , HB2012 , HB2035 , HB2037 , HB2213 , HB2348 , HB2520 , HB2598 , HB2686 , HB2694 , HB2820 , HB3005 , HB3092 , HB3112 , HB3185 , HB3333 , HB3388 , HB3516 , HB3546 , HB3619 , HB3623 , HB3629 , HB3642 , HB3686 , HB3815 , HB3848 , HB3909 , HB4081 , HB4145 , HB4170 , HB4202 , HB4214 , HB4350 , HB4361 , HB4463 , HB4464 , HB4466 , HB4559 , HB4630 , HB4765 , HB4894 , HB4904 , HB4995 , HB5196 , HB5320 , HB5624 , HB5650 , HB5651 , HB5652 , HB5654 , HB5655 , HB5656 , HB5658 , HB5661 , HB5662 , HB5664 , HB5665 , HB5670 , HB5672 , HB5674 , HB5677 , HB5679 , HB5682 , HB5695 , HB5698 , HCR46 , HCR76 , HCR81 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR111 , HB 1094 , HB3171 , HB3793 , HB4233 , HB5689 , HB5690 , HB5694

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, we the just guidelines for children, services councils allowing the governor to greater
• And might my 2 colleagues went before me 5 years ago after 17 years as an in-house counsel, the bank,
• I realize that being a bank attorney is more difficult to get into having been a wealthy person.
• I am the deputy director children's legal services at the Department of Children and Families.
• We then have the obligation to secure either legal services, but they're paid or volunteer services,

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2470, Arambula, domestic violence services, holding committee.
• AB 2243, Haney, State Bank Act, holding committee.
• AB 2243 Haney, State Bank Act holding committee.
• AB 1638, Tau, County Veterans Service Officers, held in committee.
• AB 1671, Tangipa, rural medical services grants, held in committee.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the main services that we really need, and social services as well.
• or depreciate the services that we actually have.
• or depreciate the services that we actually have.
• So what are you going to tell a bank? I don't know.
• So what are you going to tell a bank?

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes held its first meeting with opening remarks from the co-chairs and ranking member framing the committee’s task as developing property tax legislation for next session. Staff then gave a high-level overview of Florida property taxes, explaining how ad valorem taxes work, the roles of property appraisers, tax collectors, taxing authorities, value adjustment boards, and the Department of Revenue, and reviewing key concepts such as just value, assessed value, exemptions, taxable value, millage rates, homestead exemptions, Save Our Homes, and portability. The presentation also emphasized that property tax law is largely rooted in the Florida Constitution and that local governments choose millage rates, which affects collections. No public comment was taken. The committee then discussed five Speaker-proposed concepts. Proposal 1 would require cities, counties, and special districts to hold a referendum on eliminating property taxes on homestead properties; members raised concerns about local funding, public safety, special districts, renters, and the need for extensive voter education, with some suggesting countywide elections or town halls instead. Proposal 2 would create a new $500,000 homestead exemption for non-school taxes and a $1 million exemption for seniors 65+ or long-term homesteaders; members split between seeing it as meaningful relief for seniors and warning it could devastate local tax bases, especially in lower-value or rural counties, while also potentially trapping older homeowners in place. Proposal 3 would authorize the Legislature to raise homestead exemptions by general law; some liked the flexibility, but others worried about statewide one-size-fits-all impacts, political difficulty in reversing changes, and the need for local revenue replacement. Proposal 4 would change assessment caps for homestead and non-homestead property; several members said it would not provide enough relief and could shift burdens to rental properties and non-homestead owners. Proposal 5, eliminating foreclosure on homestead property for tax liens, drew the strongest opposition, with members saying it would undermine lien priority, mortgage and title systems, and incentives to pay taxes. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly stressed the need to understand local fiscal impacts, including police, fire, infrastructure, and other services funded by property taxes, and to consider alternative revenue sources or offsets if taxes are reduced. The co-chairs said the committee is still in the information-gathering stage, that all ideas remain on the table, and that members should do “homework” by meeting with local taxing authorities and learning how property taxes are set and spent in their districts. The meeting ended with no votes on the proposals and adjournment after a motion to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, today in the North Gallery, we are welcoming members of the Public Service Company of Oklahoma
• Banks use this credit, but they cannot use it because they don't have an income tax or corporate tax.
• Banks use this credit, but they cannot use it because they don't have an income tax or corporate tax.
• Nothing's changing in the bill except we're including Section 2370, which is the privilege tax that banks
• Right now, the banks don't pay a corporate tax or an income tax.

Bills: HB1427 , SB1403 , SB1448 , SB1489 , SB1546 , SB1557 , SB1614 , SB1377 , SB1990 , SB1439 , SB1630 , SB1632 , SB1696 , SB1796 , SB1824 , SB1362 , SB1849 , SB2066 , SB2071 , SB2104 , SB933 , SB1633 , SB1224 , SB1246 , SB1280 , SB1303 , SB1346

Summary: The Senate took up a long series of bills, mostly on third reading, with several unanimous or near-unanimous votes and a few more contested measures. Early action included House Bill 1427, which was substituted to add the bank privilege tax section to an existing clean-burning motor vehicle fuel tax credit without changing the cap or creating a fiscal impact; it advanced 45-0. Senate Bill 1403, an IEC recommendation affecting Quality Jobs incentives by requiring rebate claims within one year and eliminating the statewide wage threshold, passed 32-15. Senate Bill 1448, narrowing exclusions under the Consumer Protection Act to improve enforcement, passed 47-0. Senate Bill 1489, codifying IDEA-related procedures in state law and adding principal training and parent participation provisions, was amended on the floor, debated at length about implementation and special education services, and then passed 47-0 as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1546 renamed and expanded the teacher scholarship program to Next Ed, increasing scholarship amounts while keeping the service commitment, and passed 37-10 as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1557 transferred behavior analyst licensure duties from DHS to the State Board of Psychologists and passed 47-0. Senate Bill 1614 closed a loophole allowing adjunct teachers to teach early elementary reading and math and passed 46-0 as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1377, requiring DHS to provide foster children with duffel bags and essentials, passed 46-0 as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1990 strengthened the incentive evaluation report by requiring analysis of whether incentives actually changed business behavior, and passed 47-0. Senate Bill 1439, with amendments, barred certain climate-change-related lawsuits against fossil fuel entities operating within the law, and passed 40-7. Senate Bill 1630 allowed limited virtual instruction days during statewide testing and passed 47-0 as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1632 moved career readiness assessment authority to the State Department of Education and clarified college-credit translation, passing 46-0 as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1696, a local recruitment grant program to attract new residents to Oklahoma, failed 17-30, with notice of possible reconsideration. Senate Bill 1796 shortened the time for informal foster care arrangements from seven days to 72 hours and added guardrails, passing 46-0. Senate Bill 1824 updated the corporation and LLC statutes and passed 46-0. Senate Bill 1362 standardized in-person early voting hours across election types and passed 36-9. Senate Bill 1849 allowed the Podiatric Medical Examiners Board to approve certain medical marijuana continuing education for credit and passed 44-0. Senate Bill 2066 relaxed recording margin requirements for documents filed in multiple counties and passed 45-0 as an emergency measure. The final major item, Senate Bill 2071, a Department of Agriculture request bill updating milk regulation to cover all hooved mammals and align with federal authority, drew extensive debate over an amendment to remove the fee increase and over concerns that the bill would harm a small donkey dairy’s ability to advertise; the fee amendment was laid over, a motion to suspend the rules for an untimely amendment failed, and the bill itself was then advanced for further consideration after lengthy questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill I presented last week and this one, we removed the definition of artificial intelligence services
• There was one section where it did not have the line that offers any online services, products, or features
• I work for the Legislative Council Service.
• So let's say the bank auctions it and...
• I read it yesterday that once the bank auctions it, then the new owner...

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Another matter from the Orders of the Day, same posture: House No. 4962, sick leave bank.
• Third reading of the bill, an act establishing a sick leave bank for Sally DeRosia, an employee of the
• brother Joe's motorcycle and was involved in a serious accident that ultimately ended his military service

Transcript Highlights:

• Public service is not about titles. Public service is not about titles or about recognition.
• , service people you'll find anywhere.
• The true measure of our worth is always the value of our service, especially our service to others.
• The true measure of our worth is always the value of our service, especially our service to others.
• unique disabilities, including residential services, adult training, and school services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would lead to the loss of safety services on campus if that were to happen.
• I would have to go over to the East Bank, and they have that long bridge.
• I would have to go over to the East Bank, and they have that long bridge.
• I would have to go over to the East Bank, and they have that long bridge.
• But I just want to thank you so very much for all the service.

Transcript Highlights:

• Service system boss, the charitable Bingo licensing and accounting application, and the Bingo service
• We hand that information off to Bank of America and Bank of America issues the payment to the player.
• and customer service support.
• what I'm going to call support services or services to our vocation rehabilitation customers.
• . services in TWC's budget.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Senate Spotlight is produced by the Minnesota Senate and Senate Media Services. >> There's cost
• And in Minnesota, we wanted to give banking institutions, as well as folks that have accounts at banks
• So, regarding this bill, if a bank were to see something that seemed to be potentially fraudulent and
• the bill allows the owner of that account to also name somebody else that can be contacted by the bank
• to then notify that person and the bank to then notify that person and say,<00:20:22.000><c> "We</c>

Summary: The program focused first on Minnesota’s energy and affordability agenda, with Senator Nick Frentz discussing the state’s clean-energy leadership, rising electricity demand, and the Senate’s 100% clean energy framework. He said Minnesota’s clean energy growth supports jobs, lowers costs for ratepayers, and includes recent wins such as sustainable aviation fuel tax treatment in the supplemental budget. Frentz also said the Senate passed an energy omnibus bill that continues clean-energy permitting reforms, promotes conservation and demand response, and includes a nuclear study rather than lifting the nuclear moratorium. Frentz spent much of the interview defending data centers as both a challenge and an opportunity. He said large hyperscale projects can create major construction jobs and substantial local property-tax revenue, while a 2025 law requires data-center companies to contribute to low-income energy assistance and report water use. He pointed to the Google data center planned for Pine Island as an example, saying it is air-cooled, will pay $5 million a year, and will fund 1,600 MW of clean energy at its own expense, which he argued could save Xcel ratepayers money over time. He also said climate change is already driving higher costs through homeowners insurance and storm damage. The second segment highlighted Senator Zach Duckworth’s housing and banking bills. Duckworth said Senate File 4168 would make it easier to finance investment properties by giving buyers more flexibility to roll closing costs and lender fees into payments, while keeping strong protections in place for primary residences. He emphasized that the bill is not about predatory lending and is intended to expand options for informed investors. He also described Senate File 4652 as an anti-fraud, no-cost measure that lets bank customers name a trusted contact so banks can alert someone if suspicious activity is detected. Duckworth said both bills passed unanimously in both chambers, and he credited quick action and good working relationships across the aisle for their success. The program closed with a broader reflection on the end of session and the Senate’s political climate. It noted that 15 senators are retiring and two are leaving for higher office, and that final floor votes often split along party lines, including one bill passing 34-33. Several retiring senators used farewell speeches to urge civility, compromise, and putting people first, while the segment emphasized that despite partisan conflict, quiet bipartisan cooperation still produced much of the session’s enacted legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're entitled to ask for their services.
• Powers' bank, for some reason, does not allow ACH.
• And that’s why I have a service dog, who is, I think, the first legislative service dog as well.
• And that’s why I have a service animal.
• “Having my service animal has been really helpful.

Summary: The hearing resumed on day two of the Legislative Ethics Board fact-finding matter involving Representative Tara Simmons. After opening remarks and confirmation that board members had not engaged in outside research or ex parte communications, Simmons’s counsel moved to dismiss two allegations at the close of the board staff’s case: that Simmons pressured the Administrative Office of the Courts to alter a contract in favor of her employer, and that she improperly combined a legislative proviso for AEJG with a personal donation to the organization. Board staff opposed the motion, arguing the evidence showed Simmons’s legislative and private conduct were intertwined and that the board had enough evidence to require a defense. After deliberation, the board denied the motion to dismiss and proceeded to hear defense testimony. The first defense witness, Sharon Navas, testified that she met Simmons through advocacy work, later hired her at the Equity and Education Coalition (EEC), and maintained written employment policies intended to separate Simmons’s legislative role from her work for EEC. Navas said Simmons was never compensated for lobbying or legislative acts, that EEC paid her from unrestricted funds, and that Simmons did not work on the AEJG dashboard project or participate in the contract dispute with Anthony Powers and Chris Stanley. Navas described the proviso request and later contract issues as separate from Simmons’s legislative duties, and said she continued to pay invoices while the project was being completed. Simmons then testified about her background, legislative career, disability accommodations, and extensive efforts to seek ethics advice before taking outside employment or pursuing provisos. She said she repeatedly consulted House ethics counsel and reviewed prior board decisions to ensure her outside work and legislative actions were separated. Simmons described her relationship with Anthony Powers, the dashboard project, the proviso process, and her understanding that the work was distinct from her legislative role. The hearing paused for lunch after part of Simmons’s direct examination, with testimony set to continue after the break.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no longer banking adjustment.
• adjustments and the goal of the banking adjustments and the goal of the banking<00:43:49.200><c> adjustment
• </c> that banking adjustment going forward. that banking adjustment going forward.
• Now it third period banking adjustment.
• What that longer banking adjustment.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• industry and I don't think we put in statute how to bills for the insurance and banking industry and
• House Bill 2792 specifies that the primary residence of a veteran with a service-connected disability
• House Bill 2792 specifies that the primary residence of a veteran with a service-connected disability
• I wanted to make sure that we're focusing on service-connected veterans, yes, right?
• What happens right now when a 100% service connected?

Committee: House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee heard several tax-related bills. House Bill 2261, sponsored by Representative Griffin, would rename and clarify the agricultural real property classification statute and codify the income-based valuation approach for agricultural lands, especially permanent crops such as orchards and vineyards. Griffin and farm/ranch supporters said the bill simply reflects recent court rulings and would avoid further litigation costs, while county assessors and the Arizona Association of Counties opposed it, urging the committee to wait for the pending Arizona Supreme Court case. After discussion about the tax court and appellate rulings, the committee voted 5-3 with one absent to return HB 2261 with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2173, sponsored by Representative Livingston, would allow tax officers to accept and send certain notices electronically unless certified mail is required. County assessors supported the measure as a modernization that would reduce delays, postage, and paper use, and there was discussion about how to handle outdated email addresses. The committee voted 7-0 with one absent to return HB 2173 with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2120 would add the Social Security Administration to the definition of competent medical authority for property tax disability determinations; it was described as reducing the need for duplicate documentation. The committee approved HB 2120 on a 6-1 vote with one present and one absent. House Bill 2786 would extend a tax deduction for bookstore textbook rentals to include textbooks required by state universities or community colleges, including digital rentals as clarified in testimony from the University of Arizona. Members said it would provide relief to students, and the committee returned the bill with a do pass recommendation on an 8-0 vote with one absent. House Bill 2792, a cleanup bill related to the 100% property tax exemption for veterans with service-connected disabilities, was supported by assessors as necessary to resolve conflicting language and implement the exemption correctly. The committee voted 8-0 with one absent to return HB 2792 with a do pass recommendation, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• continued that financial institutions should support the bill because students would learn about banking
• systems, responsible use of financial services, and safe, responsible credit usage.
• She said the bill would build future informed customers, support community banks and local financial
• Missouri's small business economy, more responsible borrowing, and lending benefits for Missouri's banking

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and approved House Bill 2863 by a 14-0 vote. It then took up House Bill 2967, adopted a committee amendment that removed a fixed one-third allocation and allowed funds to be allocated by the body as needed, rolled the amendment into a substitute, and passed the House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2967 by a 15-0 vote. Members discussed how the bill related to another expungement-fund measure already passed by the House, and were told the two bills were intended to mirror each other and would not conflict. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2303 and the mirrored House Bill 2867, both aimed at expanding Missouri’s personal finance education requirements. Sponsor testimony said the bills would require a half-credit in personal finance for graduation beginning in 2027-28, broaden instruction to include budgeting, credit, investing, fraud prevention, taxes, contracts, and major purchases, and create a DESE work group with industry and educator input to update standards every seven years. Sponsors and supporters said the goal was to better prepare students for real-world financial decisions, reduce debt traps, and improve workforce readiness. Witnesses from the Missouri Bankers Association, mortgage bankers, consumer credit groups, financial advisors, and individual advocates testified in support, emphasizing the need for updated, practical financial literacy instruction and regular curriculum review as financial products change. Committee members asked about the bill’s interaction with existing personal finance requirements, whether it would apply to public, private, homeschool, and GED pathways, and how early course completion waivers would work. Members also suggested adding insurance and gambling/probability topics to the curriculum discussion. No opposition testimony was offered, and House Bill 2119 was postponed to a future hearing before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then there's batteries that are participating in ancillary services that are distributed.
• It was actually a convenient thing for me, a service.
• In this case, we should ask ourselves if this is a service that the taxpayers need to fund.
• And isn't this just a service we're providing these employees?
• We don't have to set up credit card transactions or complete bank drafts or deposits.

Bills: SB75 , SB715 , SB776 , SB1299 , SB1405 , SB1968 , SB2021 , SB2077 , SB2148 , SB2321 , SB2330 , SB2411

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce