Video & Transcript Research : 'supervised visitation'
Page 164 of 452
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- I visit the Torrance County Detention Facility every week with a team of volunteers to provide legal
- And we do visitation at the Otero Detention Facility.
- I've had the opportunity to visit Milan and Cibola County quite often. ...visit Milan and Cibola County
- Now I can say I haven't visited the others, and of course when you hear about a death, and one, as you
- Next, I want to move to Representative Reeb's concern about her experience and visiting the facility.
Bills:
SB100
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division Apr 16th, 2025 at 02:00 pm
Appropriations - Government Operations Division
Transcript Highlights:
- We are establishing a fund as in this budget now, and I visited with Leader Hogan.
- And I know when we had that visiting, Joe, you had a handout that was really kind of convenient, and
- I know some of us had, in visiting with you guys, some of you have expressed questioning if it's going
- I am visiting with all the members of this committee.
- They asked us to hold on to it, and I haven’t heard, or I visited with our leaders, and there’s nothing
Bills:
SB2012
Summary:
The Government Operations division met to consider House Bill 1015, the OMB budget, with several amendments already in hand. A major portion of the discussion centered on Senator Mathern’s concerns about the proposed new state hospital in Jamestown. He argued the project is outdated, too expensive, and should be delayed or reduced in favor of local behavioral health services and deferred maintenance at the existing LaHogue facility. Other members questioned him about staffing, capacity, constitutional issues, and the relationship between the hospital proposal and broader mental health investments in other bills.
The committee also reviewed budget mechanics, including the transfer of up to $240 million from the Social Services Fund to the Human Services Finance Fund, a $40 million deferred maintenance fund, a $3 million deficiency appropriation for the new and vacant FTE pool, and other OMB-related items. Members discussed whether OMB should have managerial control over the Jamestown project and generally agreed that OMB oversight could help manage costs, though concerns about the hospital remained.
The committee then considered two funding items that drew the most debate: guardianship grants and a pro-life education campaign. After testimony from a representative supporting the campaign, members agreed to reduce that item by $500,000 and add $1 million for guardianship grants, while leaving the overall bill to be finalized in conference. The committee adopted Amendment Version 2006 with those changes and then passed HB 1015 as amended on a roll call vote, with all members voting aye except Senator Burckhard on the amendment vote; he later voted aye on the bill itself. The chair indicated the bill would move to conference committee.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 25, 2025 - 04:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- On the 10th visit, a test finally showed that the twins had injuries, including bone fractures.
- On the 10th visit, a test finally showed that the twins had injuries, including bone fractures, and accused
- to figuring out how to pay the $100,000 it took to fight this accusation, to, most importantly, visiting
- Prior to that, we had expressed our concerns to multiple providers in doctor visits and emergency room
- visits regarding their unusual fussiness.
Summary:
The Human Services Subcommittee considered three bills and reported all of them favorably. HB 1013, relating to crisis care coordination, would create a pilot program in Polk and Volusia counties to connect people who have had Baker Act-related crises with follow-up counseling, assessments, and outpatient services through partnerships between law enforcement and community providers. The sponsor said the program has reduced repeat Baker Act commitments in Polk County, and the committee adopted a strike-all amendment moving the pilot to a different statute, formalizing partnerships, and requiring an independent DCF evaluation due in January 2029. The bill drew support from mental health and justice advocates and passed unanimously.
The committee then heard PCS for HB 511, which addresses child protective investigations involving specific medical diagnoses. Sponsors and several parents, attorneys, and advocates described cases in which children were removed after injuries were initially treated as abuse but later linked to conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, metabolic bone disease, or other medical fragility. They argued the bill would require notice of the right to a second medical opinion, better consideration of preexisting conditions and medical records, and more coordination before reports are sent to law enforcement, while still preserving protections for abused children. Members expressed sympathy for the families and emphasized the need for fairness and accurate medical review; the bill passed 17-0.
Finally, HB 1439, based on recommendations from the 2025 Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder, was presented as a broader mental health and substance use disorder measure focused on crisis response, access to care, and workforce development. An amendment aligned the bill more closely with commission recommendations, including assessment tools, trauma-informed practices, school-based behavioral health access, telehealth, discharge planning, and long-acting injectable treatment access. The commission chair testified that the bill reflected a vetted set of recommendations from subject matter experts and commissioners, and the committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably by unanimous vote. The meeting then adjourned.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
House Chamber - Tue Feb 18, 2025, 12:00PM HST - Day 21
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- In the gallery are visiting a few friends from the continent: Anarie Graham, Barb Barnes, and Zach Barnes
- They're visiting from Washington, D.C.
- They're visiting from Ohio. Welcome to the House of Representatives.
- Welcome to your House of Representatives. and they're visiting from Ohio welcome and they're visiting
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Working Group 1/15/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Family Home Visiting, WIC, pregnancy team, etc. You have the health care access fund.
- <00:03:38.560>
Wick families um Family Home visiting Wick families um Family Home visiting - on to child and family health, these programs include things like administering grants for home visiting
- on to child and family health, these programs include things like administering grants for home visiting
- visiting visiting programs<00:31:26.600>
um <00:31:27.080>administering <00:31:27.679><
Summary:
The meeting was an informational walkthrough for the Health Finance and Policy Working Group, focused on committee structure, budget basics, and major health-related accounts and programs. Staff explained the roles of House Research and House Fiscal, then reviewed key funds used by the committee, including the general fund, government special revenue fund, federal funds, the health care access fund, remediation account, and drinking water revolving fund. They also outlined the committee’s main budget areas, noting that medical assistance is the largest general fund item and that the Department of Health is a substantial agency funded by a mix of federal, general fund, and special revenue dollars.
A major portion of the presentation covered subsidized health coverage programs. Staff described Medical Assistance (Minnesota’s Medicaid program) as an entitlement for eligible Minnesotans, with no premiums or cost sharing, and explained its managed care and fee-for-service delivery systems. MinnesotaCare was presented as a separate federal-state basic health program for people who are not eligible for MA, with income limits, premiums for adults age 21 and older, and cost-sharing requirements; staff noted that federal premium tax credit changes affect MinnesotaCare premium ranges. The presentation also summarized MNsure’s role in the individual market and in determining eligibility for premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, MinnesotaCare, and MA.
The committee also received an overview of health-related licensing boards and occupational regulation. Staff said Minnesota has 16 health-related licensing boards, funded mainly through the state government special revenue fund and subject to legislative appropriation, and explained that health occupations may be regulated by the Department of Health, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, or the boards under chapter 214. Interstate licensure compacts were briefly noted as a way to ease practice across states. No bills were debated and no votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Department of Public Safety Press Conference 2/13/26
Transcript Highlights:
- The Capitol is the most visited building on the complex.
- ,<00:03:29.519>
working, whether they're visiting, working, whether they're visiting, working - The capital is the<00:04:40.639>
most <00:04:40.800>visited <00:04:41.280>building - c><00:04:41.520>
on <00:04:41.759>the the most visited building on the the most visited- 12.560>
be <00:16:12.720>no Into the Capitol, and there should be no change in their visit - c><00:04:41.520>
Summary:
Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson and State Patrol Colonel Christina Bogey announced that weapon screening will begin Tuesday at the Minnesota State Capitol at the start of the 2026 legislative session. They said the change is based on an independent security assessment and the Axtell report’s top recommendation, and framed it as an added layer of protection rather than a weapons ban or a change in state law. Both emphasized that the Capitol will remain open, accessible, and welcoming while reducing preventable risks, citing heightened threats to public officials and the recent murders and shootings involving Minnesota lawmakers and their families.
Bogey outlined the screening plan: visitors will use four public access points, with the south ground-level entrance as the primary entry, while other exterior doors will not be open for public entry. She said the process should take only seconds for most people, with bags going through separate scanners and additional screening only if needed. The Capitol will close to the general public at 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, though accommodations will be made when hearings or floor sessions run later. She also said the entrances and screening areas are ADA accessible and that staff will be available to help guide visitors.
In questions, officials said prohibited items are defined by statute and administrative rules and referred reporters to the State Patrol website for the full list. They confirmed that lawful permit-to-carry holders may still bring firearms, but must declare the permit, show government ID, and go through screening; elected officials are exempt, while staff are not. They also said the State Patrol will fund the rollout from its own budget, with costs to be evaluated over time, and that tunnel key-card access will be restricted to everyone. The briefing ended with a plan to demonstrate the screening equipment upstairs.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appr/Sub-Natural Resources REVISED Jan 8th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- Everyone in our division is on the phone, we're doing site visits, we are building these relationships
- We'll be visiting Webers Falls 360 elderberry wine and, uh, Horham, Oklahoma, which produces Shoulder
- I'm just looking for trends in What are our visitations?
- So, there are a few different metrics that we can use because not everybody that visits a state park
- It's also why you see the decline on that goal number one where it's increasing park visitation.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 20, 2025 - 11:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- I have not visited directly with Representative Miller, and I look forward to doing so, but I did not
- I have not visited directly with Representative Miller, and I look forward to doing so, but I did not
- Dan Roe, Visit Panama City Beach. Dan Roe, Visit Panama City Beach. You're recognized.
- Cary Post, Visit Tallahassee. way with the tourist development tax.
- Cary Post, visit Tallahasse. Carrey Post, Visit Tallahassee. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr.
Summary:
The Ways and Means Committee met on March 20, 2025, and first approved HB 4025, creating the Duke Farm Stewardship District in Lee County, on a 17-0 vote. The committee then advanced HJR 1215, which proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt agricultural tangible personal property from property tax, after extended debate about the fiscal impact on counties, especially rural and fiscally constrained ones; it passed 16-1. HB 411 also passed unanimously after an amendment, extending affordable housing tax exemption treatment to certain nonprofit projects on leased land, including Habitat for Humanity projects. The committee likewise approved CS/HB 669, allowing local governments to purchase certain unrated bonds, and CS/HB 4017, codifying the Vermont Drainage District charter in Charlotte County, both without opposition.
The committee also approved HJR 1039, which would let the Legislature prevent assessed-value increases for homestead properties that are improved to mitigate flood damage, and the related implementing bill HB 1041; both passed 17-0. Public testimony on these items included some opposition to the flood-related amendment, but no floor debate changed the outcome. The final major item was CS/HB 1221 by Rep. Miller, which would require local option taxes to be renewed by voter referendum every eight years, with longer terms allowed for bonded projects. That bill drew the most extensive testimony and debate, with counties, tourism groups, and local officials warning about impacts on tourism funding, infrastructure, schools, and public safety, while supporters argued for taxpayer accountability and periodic review. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably on a 13-4 vote.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
TOU/WAL Joint Public Hearing - Thu Mar 20, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- Next week I'm going to visit Kīlauea on Moku Keawe for the first time, and I was reflecting on how the
- kleu on moku kave for I'm going to visit kleu on moku kave for the<00:23:12.760>
first <00:23: - our state needs to adopt when we visit our state needs to adopt when we visit our<00:23:20.760><
- visit our different our natural visit our different our natural resources<00:57:07.400>
but <00 - apply solely to non-resident visiting apply solely to non-resident visiting state<01:01:52.760><
Summary:
The joint hearing of the House Committees on Tourism and Water and Land was held on March 20, 2025, on SB 1396 SD3 HD1, which would raise transient accommodations tax revenues beginning in 2027, impose a $20 per-night tax on stays booked through loyalty or rewards points, and dedicate funds to DLNR for natural resource protection, management, and restoration. The Office of the Governor, DLNR, DBEDT, the Hawaii State Energy Office, Tax Department, Hawaiian Home Lands, HI-EMA, the Climate Advisory Team, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, HCDA, the Hawaii Ocean Legislative Task Force, Resource Legacy Fund, KUA, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority all testified in support or with comments, generally emphasizing the need for dedicated funding for environmental stewardship, resilience, wildfire and climate preparedness, and community-based projects. Several supporters cited polling showing broad visitor willingness to pay additional fees to protect Hawaiʻi’s resources, and DLNR and the Attorney General noted the bill aligns with broader state land-management and fire-safety priorities.
Opposition came from the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi and the Maui Chamber of Commerce, which argued the bill unnecessarily raises the TAT, places more burden on visitors and visitor-dependent businesses, and could harm Maui’s still-recovering economy. The Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaiʻi initially marked opposition but then said it had misunderstood the bill’s relationship to another measure and asked to resend testimony. Expedia Group did not oppose the TAT increase itself but raised operational concerns about the new tax on loyalty-point redemptions, calling it novel and difficult to administer. The American Hotel Lodging Association and Hawaiʻi Hotel Alliance were listed as having no comments present.
Testifiers also suggested amendments, including dedicating the revenues to a special fund, ensuring community grants, and clarifying administrative provisions. One testifier urged the bill be used to fund hurricane shelters and stronger building standards, while another emphasized that the measure should support people and disaster resilience as well as environmental protection. During questions, members asked for the polling methodology and for a breakdown of current TAT allocations; staff indicated they could share the survey memo and began identifying existing statutory remittances. No vote or final committee action was taken during the excerpted portion of the hearing.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Consumer and Public Affairs Jan 22nd, 2026 at 01:59 pm
House Consumer & Public Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Bill, I've also visited that. You have. And you know what? Thank you.
- And then in terms of the visits, Madam Chair, I mean, I have worked in schools.
- But if someone was coming to visit, that's how we got our rooms vacuumed by having the big wigs come
- to visit.
- So the fact that it looked pretty and lovely when an announced visit happens isn't reality.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- I believe also, uh, Texas has an international visiting visa, um, or international visiting certificate
- I believe also, uh, Texas has an international visiting visa, um, or international visiting certificate
- I believe also, uh, Texas has an international visiting visa, um, or international visiting certificate
- I believe also, uh, Texas has an international visiting visa, um, or international visiting certificate
- um for the J1 visa holders, the visiting um for the J1 visa holders, the visiting teachers.<02:12
Summary:
The joint Education and Higher Education committees met on February 10, 2026, first hearing HB 1676, which would create an AI and education task force, require documentation from AI vendors before procurement or use, and appropriate funds. The Department of Education, Public Charter School Commission, and University of Hawaii all supported the bill’s intent and described existing AI literacy efforts, teacher training, guidance for students and staff, and privacy/monitoring safeguards. DOE said it had already convened an AI task force, produced a report, trained over 10,000 educators, and embedded AI into computer science and broader curricular guidance. Members questioned DOE about student privacy, harmful content monitoring, personal devices, cell phone policy, teacher training, and whether AI literacy should extend beyond computer science into all subjects and across rural schools.
After discussion, the chair announced HB 1676 would be deferred to Friday, February 13, and that a HD1 draft would be prepared. The chair said the committee would revisit the task force composition and procurement standards, with possible elimination of the procurement section, and circulate the revised draft before the next hearing. The committee then recessed and later reconvened for HB 1811, a student loan repayment program for educators. Testimony from the Department of Education, Public Charter School Commission, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, HSTA, and the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus was generally supportive, with HSTA and the Teacher Standards Board emphasizing teacher recruitment and retention, student loan burden, and the need to address the teacher shortage.
In decision-making on HB 1811, the committees adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments. The main amendment collapsed the repayment structure into a single disbursement of up to $25,000 after five years of service, with technical/non-substantive changes and a corrected effective date. Both the Education and Higher Education committees voted unanimously in favor. Later in the meeting, the Education Committee began hearing HB 1561 on student meals, which drew broad support from the Public Charter School Commission, Department of Health, HSTA, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and many individuals. Appleseed requested amendments to ensure charter schools are treated the same as other public schools if eligibility expands and to address reimbursement issues for schools already participating in the federal Community Eligibility Provision; members discussed those concerns but no action was taken in the portion of the transcript provided. The committee then moved on to HB 779, on expanding student meal coverage, where DOE supported the intent but said it could not support the bill in its current form because of fiscal constraints.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- We conducted over 33 correctional facility visits, and the importance of these visits is that we go in
go importance of these visits is that we go importance of these visits is that we go in<00:04- team um we do regular facility visits team um we do regular facility visits and<00:46:27.000>
- administration building a new visitation administration building a new visitation center<00:55:04.640
- command and we the deputies and I visit command and we the deputies and I visit the<00:57:41.920
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- issue again, they still have to go every four years and see a doctor, incur the cost of that medical visit
- My neurologist released me from his care on October 2009 with no follow-up visits required.
- My neurologist released me from his care on October 2009 with no follow-up visits required.
- visits required however because<00:04:14.040>
of <00:04:14.200>the <00:04:14.319>way - and I have to take up for a office visit and I have to take up the<00:04:50.919>
valuable <00:
Summary:
On February 3, 2025, the committee first took up Senate File 483, as amended by the A2 author’s amendment, which would expand Minnesota’s medical-review exemptions for drivers with a history of loss of consciousness or seizures. The bill’s author explained that current law still requires some people who have been seizure-free for years, and off medication for years, to keep returning to a physician for paperwork even when their doctor says no further review is needed. A testifier described losing his commercial driving career after a seizure disorder, then being forced to keep paying for periodic neurologist visits despite being seizure-free since 2003 and off medication since 2009. The committee adopted the A2 amendment and then approved the bill, sending Senate File 483 to the State Government Committee.
The committee then heard Senate File 737, which would increase mandatory minimum fines for repeated school bus stop-arm violations from $500 for a first offense to $700 for a second and $950 for a third. The author and the Minnesota School Bus Operators Association argued that repeat violations remain too common and that stronger penalties, along with stop-arm cameras, would help deter dangerous driving and protect children. A State Patrol representative said 2024 saw about 2,100 stop-arm charges, roughly double two years earlier, and attributed much of the increase to cameras making violations easier to prove; he also said conviction rates on the charge are about 50 to 55 percent. Committee members asked about repeat offenders, camera coverage, and whether bus stop locations should be safer, with one member noting only 23 people had been convicted of a second offense since 2015 and one of a third offense. The discussion ended with no final vote shown in the transcript, but the bill received supportive testimony and extensive questioning about enforcement and bus-stop safety.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Right there. visiting the state capitol and honor the enduring spirit of Hardin County.
- Kauffman County Day at the Texas State Capitol and extend my best wishes to each of you during your visit
- The reservation is visited every year by thousands of people who enjoy... the wonderful opportunities
- The tribe is here visiting today their capital.
- My family is visiting Here from out of country, so welcome to Zakia and Mozambi and all that.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 16th, 2026 at 09:09 am
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- And that's the result of visitation increasing by 2.7 percent, or I'm sorry, spending increasing by 2.7
- We have seen an increase in visitation, that 2.7% percent increase in spending.
- So whenever we do our surveys to get visitation We ask people why they are here.
- We will, you know, we will visit and we will talk about the programs.
- You said you visited over 15 schools to promote financial fitness.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 02/19/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- That will involve site visits where we go out and see it with our own eyes.
- on-site visits are a big part of that. on-site visits are a big part of that.
- of that that will involve site visits of that that will involve site visits where<00:53:50.240><
- We're visiting the sites. We're working with the project managers, making sure this work gets done.
- We're visiting the sites. We're working with the project managers, making sure this work gets done.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Indian Affairs Sep 25th, 2025
House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- I get questions about this when I visit the gaming commissions, and they say, "Van, we..."
- During our yearly visits, we can reach out to people that way.
- The work is more than site visits.
- Each visit is also rooted in community voice and protocol.
- Have they visited your area this year? Yeah, the acequias...
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- We visited Seaman Paper recently.
- I believe the secretary was at one of the founders where we did visit, too.
- I know we had Secretary Augusta's visit to all our districts to visit our Housing Authority buildings
- We think that we can help improve policy, improve new therapy. visits.
- And I heard a lot of those things at this visit, right?
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public FY27 budget hearing at Barnstable Town Hall, with opening remarks emphasizing the Cape and Islands’ seasonal infrastructure, housing, transportation, workforce, and digital needs. The hearing began with testimony from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, which outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s budget priorities for job training, apprenticeship, youth employment, reentry programs, and unemployment insurance modernization. The secretary highlighted proposed funding for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, Career Technical Initiative, YouthWorks, reentry workforce development, and services for young adults with disabilities, along with a proposal to streamline youth work permits. Members also discussed the unemployment trust fund, the COVID assessment on employers, rising unemployment, and the need to improve DUA customer service and claims processing.
Committee members asked about job seeker barriers such as child care, housing, transportation, and out-migration of young workers, as well as how to keep Cape Cod graduates and seasonal workers in the region. The administration said its strategy is to pair training with broader affordability investments and to expose students to career pathways earlier, including through middle school, early childhood STEM, YouthWorks, pre-apprenticeships, and Building Pathways. Senators and representatives also raised concerns about regional funding disparities, especially for Hampshire Franklin MassHire, and the administration said it is reviewing MassHire funding and service equity through a policy committee and statewide workforce board. On unemployment assistance, officials reported major improvements in wait times and claims processing, but said they are still working through backlogs and staffing challenges while maintaining program integrity.
The committee then heard testimony from the Executive Office of Economic Development. The secretary described House 2 as a fiscally restrained budget with no new taxes or fees, while preserving core programs and using the Mass Leads Act tools to support competitiveness. EOED’s proposal included funding for the Community One Stop for Growth, rural economic development, social enterprise operating grants, regional economic development organizations, the Workforce Investment Trust Fund, Community Workforce Partnerships, Pathmaker, advanced manufacturing training, life sciences, innovation vouchers, AI initiatives, small business assistance, and tourism and live theater support. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation also testified on its FY27 request, focusing on consumer protection, licensing, banking, insurance, and public safety regulation. No votes were taken during the hearing.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate Chamber Feb 6th, 2026 at 11:27 am
New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Raoul Tejas is with the El Paso Police Department, and I took a moment to visit with him.
- She and her husband chose New Mexico after visiting us early in the 20s.
- I don't even think it's the fair board commissioner's intent at this point after visiting them.
- President, Senator Pro Tem, I have visited with the owner of the Downs at Albuquerque.
- President, I have visited with the mayor of Albuquerque.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - 02/03/25
Jobs and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- so we give back to the state of Minnesota through our programs and bringing people to the state to visit
- 03:51.760>
to um and bringing people to the state to um and bringing people to the state to visit - and and go to your communities and visit and and go to your communities and and<00:03:54.760>
spend - Minnesota um as likely to want to visit Minnesota um as you<00:08:27.879>
can <00:08:28.039>- and then you saw our ads and you visit and then you saw our ads and you decided<00:08:48.519>
that - and then you saw our ads and you visit and then you saw our ads and you decided<00:08:48.519>
Summary:
Explore Minnesota Executive Director Lauren Bennett McGinty gave the committee an agency overview focused on the state’s tourism, livability, business attraction, film, and outdoor recreation promotion work. She highlighted record 2023 tourism results, including 80.2 million visitors, $4.1 billion in economic impact, more than 180,000 hospitality jobs, and $2.3 billion in state and local taxes, and said tourism sales, hotel occupancy, and other metrics continued to improve. She also described the agency’s marketing strategy, including a new campaign centered on authentic Minnesota stories, expanded domestic and international advertising, and a strong emphasis on winter, diverse markets, and accessibility.
McGinty reviewed several one-time-funded programs launched or expanded in the last year, including Explore Minnesota for Business, the tourism recovery grant program, the first Tribal Nations Grant program, and the outdoor recreation industry partnership with IRRR, DEED, and DNR. She said the recovery grants had distributed $1.15 million to 110 grantees, the tribal grant program had spent $1.4 million with eight tribal nations, and outdoor recreation was estimated at $13.5 billion annually with 10.5% growth. She also noted strong media and social media results, including a viral Timberwolves-related campaign, high video completion rates, and increased website traffic.
In response to committee questions, McGinty said the workforce and business attraction campaign is aimed at showing why people choose to live and work in Minnesota, using stories from newer residents and businesses, and that it is performing well in markets such as Silicon Valley, Boston, and Seattle. She said the agency is investing more in winter advertising to promote Minnesota as a winter destination and is working with partners to highlight activities beyond outdoor cold-weather recreation. Members also discussed the agency’s new film program, resident retention efforts, and a planned music-themed tourism ad tied to Prince and Bob Dylan. No votes or formal actions were taken.