Transcript Highlights:

• Will the Senator yield? Senator yields. Thank you.
• Senator yield. Senator yield. Senator yield.
• Questions on the adoption of the resolution. Junior Senator from the 16th: Thank you, Mr.
• President, I urge adoption of the resolution. Junior Senator from the 16th: Thank you, Mr.
• If not, the question is on the adoption of the resolution. Senator from the 17th: Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills on third reading, with several title amendments and a few effective-date motions adopted. Early in the session, members passed HB 4452 removing acreage limits on land owned by church or religious trustees, HB 4577 creating reciprocal driver’s license recognition agreements with Ireland and Japan, HB 4588 authorizing West Virginia participation in a federal tax credit scholarship program, and HB 4592 requiring higher education institutions to create coordinated campus safety maps. HB 4602 was amended to align with a prior Senate child welfare pilot program, and members discussed its projected cost and implementation timeline before passing it. HB 4603 created a pre-adjudicatory alternative disposition process in abuse and neglect cases, and HB 4606 narrowed bail rules by requiring consideration of residency and community ties while prohibiting personal recognizance bonds for violent felony offenses after an adopted amendment. The Senate also passed HB 4710 changing the party-registration deadline for candidates from 60 to 180 days before an election, with debate over its impact on independents, and made it effective January 1, 2027. HB 4712, known as Bailey’s Law, increased penalties for DUI causing death and related conduct, with emotional testimony from members about the victim and similar tragedies. HB 4765 established a pay raise for teachers, school personnel, and state police and added a market-pay enhancement system based on county cost-of-living differences; an amendment to the amendment capped county differentials and guaranteed at least a 1% increase in every county. HB 4865 created an optional program for high school and homeschool students to serve as election official trainees, and HB 4869 established narrow guaranteed-issue rights for Medicare supplement policies. Later bills included HB 4995, which strengthened video/audio recording rules in special education classrooms and was passed, then reconsidered and passed again; HB 4996 creating a new crime for making threats of violence against schools or children; HB 5048 guaranteeing virtual instruction for foster children in temporary placement; HB 5065 adding recordkeeping and geolocation requirements for hotel marketplace facilitators to ensure proper hotel tax remittance; and HB 5074 reallocating medical cannabis fund revenues to child protection, homeless services, research, law enforcement, and other purposes. The Senate also passed HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which increased penalties for domestic violence offenses and adjusted bail provisions, after amending it to conform with the earlier bail bill. Additional measures passed included HB 5166 requiring notice before political committees are fined for filing violations and allowing limited extensions, HB 5168 directing $12 million in lottery funds to EMS first responders and county EMS support, HB 5182 authorizing certain state treasurer security personnel to carry concealed firearms, HB 5212 streamlining higher-education financial aid rules, HB 5214 allowing court-ordered drug testing of parents before reunification in abuse and neglect cases, HB 5353 regulating virtual currency kiosks with licensing, disclosures, and transaction limits, and HB 5366 exempting J-LAP records from FOIA to protect confidentiality for lawyers and judges seeking assistance. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 5074 and HB 5353 drew some dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Resolution 63, designating March... None. Unfinished business.
• Senate Resolution 63, designating March 13th, 2026, as Veterans Visibility Day.
• Senate Resolution 64, opposing China's misuse of U.N. Resolution 2758.
• Senate Resolution 64, opposing China's misuse of U.N. Resolution 2758. Senator from Jefferson.
• Clerk will read the resolution. Senate Resolution 64, opposing China's misuse of U.N.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Spotlight is produced by the Minnesota Senate and Senate Media Services.
• And Senator, how did we get here? And Senator, how did we get here?
• <00:09:54.840> Senator<00:09:55.240> Julia Senator Julia Coleman's bill, Senate File
• >> Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight. >> Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight.
• seat in the Senate? seat in the Senate?

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The segment focused heavily on affordability and fraud prevention in the Minnesota Senate. Senator Michael Kreun discussed his proposal to cap city and county property tax growth at the rate of inflation, with a small allowance for population growth, and to require voter approval by referendum for increases above the cap. He said property taxes rose by nearly $1 billion statewide last year, blamed part of the increase on unfunded state mandates, and said the bill would curb surprise double-digit hikes. Kreun said the proposal has been well received by constituents and homeowners, while cities and counties are concerned about losing revenue; he also said relief could begin as soon as the next property tax statement if the bill passes this year. He noted related affordability ideas, including increasing disabled-veteran exemptions and deferring property taxes for seniors, and said he is open to bipartisan work on other measures such as ending taxes on tips and overtime and reducing tab fees. The program also highlighted climate and infrastructure funding. Senator Ann Johnson Stewart argued that worsening weather is driving costly infrastructure damage and said a proposed climate superfund would shift some of those costs from taxpayers to major polluters. She said the fund could support storm sewer upgrades, pavement reinforcement, and erosion prevention, and noted that Senate File 4126 is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee. On fraud prevention, Senator Julia Coleman’s bipartisan bill would require at least one unannounced, on-site inspection for state grants over $10,000, with recurring check-ins for grants lasting more than a year. The bill is pending in the Senate State and Local Government Committee. Senator Heather Gustafson then discussed her push for an independent Office of Inspector General, saying it would provide oversight over any public or private entity receiving public dollars. She said the Senate previously backed the idea with 60 votes, that the governor’s coordinated council is only an interim step, and that she has not yet seen a Republican fraud package to review. The segment also noted that the Senate unanimously passed Senator Johnson Stewart’s school bus safety bill, Senate File 3623, by a 67-0 vote, clarifying that drivers must stop when school bus lights flash even if the stop arm is only partially extended; the bill now awaits House action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight. Thank you. And I guess welcome to the Senate in general.
• to the Senate next door.
• in the Senate or give you an edge? in the Senate or give you an edge?
• really prepared me well for the Senate. really prepared me well for the Senate.
• Senate. Senate.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Senator Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger discussed her path from science and genetics into politics, saying her lab work showed her that research was not always translating into effective policy. She described getting involved through her union, helping pass paid parental leave for state employees, and then moving into elected office after opportunities opened up in 2022. She also said her House experience helped prepare her for the Senate by teaching her the legislative process, committee work, and relationship-building. On policy priorities, she said her district is focused on affordable health care, climate change, education, PFAS contamination and drinking water, and concerns about federal actions. She framed her agenda this session as “protect, respond, and recover,” including protecting existing laws such as paid Minnesota leave, responding to possible Medicaid and SNAP cuts, child care costs, and tariffs affecting groceries, and helping the community recover from recent ICE activity that she said disrupted public safety, businesses, and residents. She identified one specific bill effort: continuing work to ban cryptocurrency kiosk machines, which she said are being used to scam seniors. She said the idea came from the Woodbury Police Department and that she is working with House and Senate colleagues on it. She also described herself as a thoughtful, data-driven “scientist at heart” and said her butterfly earrings symbolize pollinators, native plants, and hope, as well as her own journey and the arrival of spring.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then there's our property taxes, but Senator Michael Kreun says when it comes to improving affordability
• across the state, he can help with housing. >> Senator, it's a pleasure to have you here.
• So that's why I put the bill together to address it. >> And Senator, how did we get here?
• <00:07:05.840> Gustoson efforts. your work with Senator Gustoson efforts. your work with Senator
• >> Senator, thank you for your time. >> Thanks for having me. >> Absolutely.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The discussion focused on Minnesota affordability pressures, especially rising property taxes, gas, and grocery costs. Senator Michael Kreun said property taxes rose by nearly $1 billion statewide in the last year, about 7%, and argued that many constituents are worried about being able to stay in their homes. He attributed much of the increase to unfunded state mandates on cities and counties and said mandate relief should be part of the solution. Kreun described a bill that would cap city and county property tax growth at the rate of inflation, with an additional allowance tied to population growth. Under his example, if inflation were 3% and a city grew, property taxes could rise 3.5%; anything above that would require voter approval through a referendum. He said the proposal would not apply to school districts, which already have a separate cap. He also mentioned other relief ideas, including increasing the disabled veterans property tax exemption and allowing seniors to defer property tax increases until they sell their homes. Kreun said the proposal has been mostly well received by constituents and homeowners, while local governments are concerned about losing revenue if state mandates continue. He said relief could begin as soon as the next property tax statement if the bill passes this year. He also noted broader affordability ideas in his caucus, including eliminating taxes on tips and overtime and reducing tab fees, but said he was not aware of current bipartisan efforts on property taxes specifically and remained open to working across the aisle on affordability measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, and thank you, Senator. Senator. Senator.
• Senator Clark: no. Senator Holmstrom: no. Senator Kreun: no. Senator Pappas: yes.
• Senator<01:25:52.159> Watz. Senator Watz. Senator Watz.
• Senator<02:23:58.479> Leur. Senator Leur. Senator Leur.
• Senator<03:10:58.640> Papis. Senator Papis. Senator Papis.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senator Limer moves that Senate File >> Senator Limer moves that Senate File 3648<00:08
• Senator Limmer: No. Senator Clark: Yes. Senator Holmstrom: No.
• Senator Westlin: Yes. Senator Westrom: No.
• Senator Papus and then Senator Mover. Senator Papus and then Senator Mover.
• Senator Clark. language. Senator Clark.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > own Senate Republicans have their own Senate Republicans have their own package<00:02:53.280
• have our fraud package and the Senate have our fraud package and the Senate DFL.<00:03:30.879>
• > Kun<00:03:54.000> work watching you and Senator Kun work watching you and Senator Kun
• able to do when I came to the Senate. able to do when I came to the Senate.
• , >> And you were successful in the Senate, >> And you were successful in the Senate,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Resolutions. Senator from Summers: Thank you, Mr. President.
• Clerk: Read the resolution. Senate Resolution 65, recognizing West Virginia.
• Senator from Summers: Clerk will read the resolution.
• Senator, Senator from Raleigh, we need to do the resolution before we go to that part of the business
• Senator, Senator from Raleck, we need to do the resolution before we go to that part of the business.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first suspended Rule 54 to allow guests on the floor, then took up and adopted Senate Resolution 65. The resolution recognized West Virginia as a global hub for critical mineral processing and encouraged lawful private-sector dialogue and commercial engagement between West Virginia businesses and rare earth/critical mineral institutions abroad, beginning with institutions in Somalia. The sponsor emphasized that the measure was nonbinding and intended to open conversation about minerals, processing, and advanced materials, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote. The chamber then recessed briefly to receive and introduce a visiting delegation from Somalia, including the deputy prime minister, ministers of petroleum/mineral resources and commerce/industry, parliamentary leadership, and diplomatic representatives, along with other guests involved in the visit. After the recess, the Senate received several Finance Committee reports and advanced multiple House bills on first reading: HB 4004 creating the Recharge West Virginia program; HB 4006 creating the West Virginia Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Growth Act; HB 2009 creating the Portable Benefit Account Act; HB 5412, the Future Ready Education Act; HB 5453 modifying the school aid funding formula; and HB 5510 removing the acreage/location requirement for private wedding venues. Each bill was reported as amended by Finance and taken up immediately without objection. During remarks, a senator from Randolph spoke about the death of Riley Wingfield in a side-by-side accident and praised students and administrators at Buckhannon-Upshur High School and Tucker County High School for wearing orange and black in solidarity with grieving Elkins High School students. The remarks were ordered placed in the Journal appendix. The Senate then announced adjournment until the next day at 10 a.m., with the Rules Committee scheduled to meet at 9:45 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Resolutions. Senator from Summers: Thank you, Mr. President.
• Clerk: Read the resolution. Senate Resolution 65, recognizing West Virginia.
• Senator from Summers: Clerk will read the resolution.
• Senator from Raleigh, we need to do the resolution before we go to that part of the business.
• I declare the resolution adopted. Senator from Lewis: Thank you, Mr. President.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate bid ease. Thank you. Senator from Lewis. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Senator from Jefferson. Senator from Jefferson. Thank you.
• Senator from Jefferson. Thank you. Senator from Jefferson. Thank you.
• Senator from Mason.
• Senator from Wood.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator yields. Senior Senator yields. Would yield. Yes, Senator yields.
• Senator is recognized.
• Thank you, Senator. Are there questions regarding the Senator from Mason’s amendment?
• Senator from Mason, I’m sorry.
• , that is 95 and 5.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then took up several House bills with strike-and-insert amendments. House Bill 5510 was amended to incorporate provisions from Senate Bills 1065 and 928, modernizing Alcohol Beverage Control licensing and adding rules for low-proof spirit alcohol products, including a $1.25 per gallon tax; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 5453 on school funding. After discussion of a proposed block-grant system and supplemental aid for special education, the committee adopted an amendment replacing much of the bill with weighted funding for level two and level three special education students, exempting those funds from block grant rules and limiting their use to direct instruction. The committee also adopted a clarification to extend the special education funding to charter school students and reported the amended bill to the Senate. House Bill 5412, dealing with multi-year technology licensing contracts for local fiscal bodies and science-of-reading training for K-5 teachers, was amended to clarify contract language, delay implementation dates, change “endorsement” to “training,” and require charter school teachers to participate; it was then reported. The committee next amended and reported House Bill 4006, which creates aerospace development and workforce grant programs, changing the funding mechanism to use Department of Commerce reporting and personal income tax proceeds rather than direct employee withholdings. It also took up House Bill 4009, combining voluntary portable benefits for independent contractors with microcredentialing and an expanded apprenticeship tax credit, adopted the Finance Committee amendment, and reported it. Finally, House Bill 4004 creating the Recharge West Virginia training reimbursement program was amended to raise the annual employer reimbursement cap from $50,000 to $100,000 while keeping the $10,000 per-employee limit, and the committee reported the bill. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senior Senator from the 13th.
• Senator yields. Senior Senator yields. Senior Senator from the 8th. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Senator yields. Senior Senator yields. Senator yields.
• Senator from Harrison.
• Senator from Harrison.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to call this meeting of the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee to order.
• I would like to call this meeting of the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee to order.
• Bill 669, which previously passed the Senate.
• Chairman, I move that engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 4012 be reported to the full Senate
• is on the motion that engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 4012 be reported to the full Senate

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee met, established a quorum, and approved the minutes from the March 9 and March 11 meetings. The committee then took up an engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 4012, which as explained by counsel would limit the Public Service Commission’s ability to approve rate increases and certain utility-related approvals unless the costs to ratepayers are shown to be proportionate to the benefits, with written justification required for approved increases. The bill also addressed PSC approval of certain electric transmission lines and related service commitments. The committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment that removed most of the House bill’s provisions and inserted the contents of engrossed committee substitute for Senate Bill 669, which had previously passed the Senate, while retaining only the portion related to certificates of public convenience and necessity for certain transmission lines. After the amendment was adopted, the committee voted to report House Bill 4012, as amended, to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. The committee also adopted a title amendment and then adjourned. No opposition votes were recorded on the motions described in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to call this meeting of the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee to order.
• I would like to call this meeting of the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee to order.
• as I previously described, and it inserts the provisions of the engrossed committee substitute for Senate
• Bill 669, which previously passed the Senate.
• on the motion that the engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 4012 be reported to the full Senate

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, Senator Kubek's Senate File 3832, and then Senator Hurd's 3857.
• and the Senate. and the Senate.
• Senator Murphy. Senator Murphy: Thank you, Mr.
• <00:30:52.360> Democrats the Senate and the the Senate Democrats the Senate and the the Senate
• <00:42:20.680> McEwen Senator Patton and also Senator McEwen Senator Patton and also Senator

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:11:46.440> file Senator Jasinski and third Senate file Senator Jasinski and third Senate
• >> .5.
• File<00:21:52.440> 3601 Senator Westlund, and Senate File 3601 Senator Westlund, and Senate
• Senator<00:30:38.560> Johnson Senator Dziedzic, Senator Johnson Senator Dziedzic, Senator
• or Senator Housley? or Senator Housley?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Abeler: Yes. Senator Boldon: Yes. Senator Fateh: Yes. Senator Koran: No.
• Senator Boldon. Yes. Senator Fateh. Yes. Senator Boldon. Yes. Senator Fateh. Yes.
• Senator Kupec. Yes. Senator Latzky. No. Senator Kupec. Yes. Senator Latzky. No.
• Senator Utke: No. Senator Abeler: Yes. Senator Boldon: Yes. Senator Fateh: Yes. Senator Koran: Yes.
• Senator Kupec. Yes. Senator Latzky. No. Senator Kupec. Yes. Senator Latzky. No.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all