Transcript Highlights:

• language that we have before us. language that we have before us.
• the federal language?
• the federal language?
• . language. language.
• language that that same kind of language language that that same kind of language with<00:53:58.000

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this incorporates not only Senator Pearl's updated language, but also the additional language that
• <00:26:27.919> that same um into the the same language that same um into the the same language
• , but also the additional language, but also the additional language<00:26:54.559> that<00:26:
• 54.880> Director<00:26:55.320> Whimsat language that Director Whimsat language that Director
• Pearl's language and director Whimset's<00:28:26.520> language<00:28:27.520> or<00:28:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Environment and Agriculture Committee met in executive session on SB 302, a bill requiring background checks for solid waste facility owners. The chair announced a staffing change, noting Representative Comtois was no longer vice chair and Representative Barber would serve in that role. The chair then explained that the committee had before it an amendment incorporating Senator Pearl’s updated language and additional technical changes requested by DEES Director Whimsat for FBI background-check requirements, and a separate amendment offered by Representative Patenza that would add language from the budget bill relating to a site evaluation committee, moratorium provisions, and harms-and-benefits language. Representative Patenza argued that the governor’s solid waste and site evaluation language had been developed over years with the committee, the governor’s office, and DEES, and should be moved into a standalone bill so it would not be lost if the budget failed. She said she had been told by Senator Roseford that the budget language would be placed into a separate House bill, and several members supported having a standalone vehicle as a backup. Representative Bixby, Haskins, Gruber, and others said they favored keeping the work alive in a separate bill, while Representative Scully said he disliked non-germane amendments and would vote only for the base bill and the chair’s amendment. Representative Barber asked for clarification on why the amendment was considered non-germane, and the chair and Representative Patenza explained that the budget-related policy had not had a separate public hearing. Members discussed legislative procedure, including whether the committee should recess to allow a hearing on the non-germane amendment and then return to act on SB 302. After discussion, the committee took a show of hands and overwhelmingly favored recessing the executive session to Tuesday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m. in LOB room 301-303, so a separate hearing could be held on Representative Patenza’s amendment before further action on SB 302.

Transcript Highlights:

• the language as it's written in here? the language as it's written in here?
• Um, to me that's I only know I've looked at the language in here.
• , quote placeholder with actual language, quote placeholder with actual language, we<00:08:02.479
• It's 9 million a year language in here.
• that was implemented into language that was implemented into language because<00:10:28.320> I

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And in the House... the the uh<00:04:41.040> the<00:04:41.360> language uh the language
• um additional year, but the language um additional year, but the language that<00:04:54.320>
• Uh there is some additional language Uh there is some additional language that<00:05:29.440>
• 34.079> authorize addition, the language would authorize addition, the language would authorize
• includes the clarifying language includes the clarifying language requested<00:12:10.720> by<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so if a family chooses to work to develop language in sign language and total communication, then
• and develop language in sign language and develop language in sign language and total<00:42:54.120
• development being in a language-rich home but yet receiving little to none of that language input.
• development being in a language-rich home but yet receiving little to none of that language input.
• on that language rich environment. on that language rich environment.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:10 SB 6 Discussion 00:40 SB 6 Vote 00:13:30 Cochlear Implants 00:16:25, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee heard Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers, which would create an endowed research fund to support collaborative university research in Kentucky. Stivers described the bill as an extension of earlier higher-education research efforts, arguing that Kentucky should build research “hubs” by requiring or encouraging partnerships among universities and outside entities, with potential focus areas including health care, engineering, aerospace, agriculture, and other emerging fields. He said the proposal would establish five research tranches over five years and sought a $30 million endowment for each, generating annual interest to fund consortium-based research and leverage additional private and federal dollars. Senators Frommeyer, Neal, Givens, Boswell, and Richardson spoke in support, emphasizing economic development, job creation, and examples from other research clusters such as Boston and North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The committee voted 12-0 to report the bill favorably to the Senate floor. The committee then received a presentation from Dr. Matthew Bush of the University of Kentucky on pediatric hearing loss and cochlear implants. Bush explained that early hearing detection and intervention is critical because hearing loss in newborns is a neurocognitive emergency that affects language, literacy, and long-term outcomes. He outlined national screening benchmarks, Kentucky’s incidence of childhood hearing loss, and the high educational and societal costs of untreated hearing loss. Bush also highlighted disparities in rural and western Kentucky, where children face delayed diagnosis, longer waits for hearing aids or cochlear implants, and more difficulty accessing follow-up care. He described cochlear implants, the multidisciplinary care they require, and research showing improved language development, quality of life, and cost savings when children are treated early.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:19.160> was expansion not all of the language was expansion not all of the language
• that had issues with particular language that had issues with particular language um<00:05:48.520
• <00:29:27.760> is records and so for us that language is records and so for us that language
• Dr Cassie yakle who's whose uh language Dr Cassie yakle who's whose uh language um<00:37:38.839>
• <00:38:35.160> for with Dr Cassie aaki on the language for with Dr Cassie aaki on the language

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And Jessica has that language.
• has that language. has that language.
• Um we have put statutory language.
• That's different<00:21:17.039> language. different language. different language.
• That's different language<00:21:21.039> than language than language than >> what<00:21:24.159

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Johnson to language. If I could ask Mr.
• language.
• language.
• language.
• The House language, you adopt all of the identical language and you adopt the appropriation.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, the pathways and language.
• language with that amendment. language with that amendment.
• committee adopted the senate language. committee adopted the senate language.
• at lines 89.15 and 16, I believe, striking the new language and reinstating the prior language.
• partnership language. Thank you, Mr. partnership language. Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:47.760> you're referenced in the language you're referenced in the language you're
• My question is, this language says shall, your language says may about the interactive process.
• My question is, this language says shall, your language says may about the interactive process.
• My question is, this language says shall, your language says may about the interactive process.
• :10:42.480> about<00:10:42.800> the your language says may about the your language says

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House debated Representative Hicks’ motion to place Senate File 3210 first on the calendar for the next day. Hicks said the bill, which concerns disability accommodations, had been on the general register since March 9 and had passed the Senate 46-18. Supporters argued it would strengthen the process for requesting accommodations and should be heard on the floor without further delay. Representative Niska opposed the motion, arguing the bill was poorly drafted, had not received enough committee work, and could create ambiguity in the Minnesota Human Rights Act. He focused on the bill’s use of “may” in describing failure to engage in the accommodation process and questioned how the proposal would affect existing law in employment, housing, public accommodations, and education. Hicks responded that the bill addresses the process for reasonable accommodations, not the underlying accommodation standards, and said disability advocates and the Department of Human Rights supported the language. Several members spoke in favor of calendaring the bill, emphasizing that it was bipartisan, had already moved through committee, and was important to people with disabilities. Some supporters described the accommodation process as difficult and said the bill would help ensure good-faith engagement between employers and individuals seeking accommodations. The exchange ended with the motion still under debate, with members indicating the bill would likely be taken up on the floor the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• It didn't have the appropriate markup language where it did have some of the language adding the words
• I know language stuff.
• Is it clear what the language is?
• <00:25:16.360> we're makes a difference the language we're makes a difference the language
• I I know language stuff.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Conference Committee on House Bill 244 met to resolve remaining drafting issues in the bill updating and recodifying municipal enforcement of building and fire codes. The chair explained that the measure is largely a technical recodification, moving statutory references and correcting broken cross-references after review by the subcommittee, the Senate, AI-assisted checking, and the Building Code Review Board. Members emphasized that Amendment 2026-1923H contains no policy changes, only reference updates and language cleanup to ensure the bill points to the correct current RSA sections. The committee then discussed a few specific drafting questions, including a reference on page one and language on page two concerning the phrase “remove the prohibition on a building permit.” Some members questioned whether that wording should instead describe a variance or exception, but the chair and Representative Darji explained that the language is intended to allow an applicant to return to the zoning board to remove a prohibition attached to a specific building permit, not to broadly eliminate the underlying rule. The committee also noted a corrected reference to current statutory language because the underlying law had changed since the bill was introduced. After the explanation, the House receded from its position of non-concurrence and concurred with the Senate amendment as further amended by 2026-1923H. Members agreed to place the measure on the House consent calendar, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just um some language that um also.
• Is that new language, or is that language that's in this bill and I'm just missing it?
• the motion to adopt House Language the motion to adopt House Language Article<00:33:10.399> 1
• House language. Although I used to be in House language.
• this uh compromised language? Okay. this uh compromised language? Okay.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• language uh about rebuttable presumption language uh about the<00:10:44.720> fact<00:10:44.880
• The language that was amended in committee is the same language now we have before us to help others
• :19:28.160> in<00:19:28.480> committee language that was amended in committee language
• Um the bill uh um that language.
• MCA ran this new language past them. MCA ran this new language past them.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:13:07.240> would E DHS, if you feel this language would E DHS, if you feel this language
• seeing that language in in this<00:26:58.120> proposed<00:26:58.640> language.
• this proposed language. this proposed language.
• <00:31:06.200> on to the language on to the language on in<00:31:07.400> paragraph<
• from the governor's language. from the governor's language.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It deletes the new language proposed in line in page three line two. Very good.
• So just a couple of things about this language that you have here.
• So just a couple of things about this language that you have here.
• So just a couple of things about this language that you have here.
• <00:40:55.880> that<00:40:56.079> ensures language that ensures language that ensures that

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 768, sponsored by Vice Chair Hudson, was heard with an author’s amendment (A4) adopted to remove a technical section and put the bill in the intended form. Hudson described the bill as a response to concerns about government monitoring of protected speech, saying it would bar the Minnesota Department of Human Rights from creating or maintaining a database of constitutionally protected speech while preserving the department’s ability to investigate actual discrimination, harassment, threats, or illegal conduct. He emphasized First Amendment protections and argued the state should not track speech simply because it is controversial or unpopular. The main testimony in support came from Ran Lee of Americans for Prosperity, who echoed the free-speech concerns and said databases of bias incidents can capture lawful speech and create a chilling effect. Representative Rest said she generally supported the free-speech goal but wanted to preserve the Department of Human Rights’ ability to produce biennial reports and analyze de-identified trend data on civil rights incidents, including emerging threats or hateful rhetoric, so lawmakers can respond to patterns without recording individuals’ protected speech. Representative Curran raised concerns that speech trends can relate to public safety and argued that attacks on human rights often begin as speech. Hudson responded that the Department of Human Rights is not a law enforcement agency and that the bill would not impede criminal investigations. He argued that trying to monitor “trends in thought” would be constitutionally problematic and produce unreliable data, and he distinguished protected speech from criminal conduct. Representative Feist said the department’s existing report already uses aggregate, non-investigative data and suggested there may be room to refine the bill’s language. The bill was laid over for further consideration, with Hudson indicating he was open to continued discussion and possible language changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has been the same language we've had for about a year now, and it is the same language that passed
• we arrived at this compromise language. we arrived at this compromise language.
• <00:03:53.520> we've Um, it has been the same language we've Um, it has been the same language
• The original language and then the DE language, and I notice in the original you had some—essentially
• is language of the DE, the um language is language of the DE, the um language is strong<00:46

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 2614 was heard with a delete-everything amendment adopted at the outset. The bill, as explained by the authors, would prevent local governments from requiring amenities or common property that effectively force the creation of a homeowners association, while still allowing developers to create HOAs voluntarily when needed. The authors said the language was negotiated with stakeholders, including the League of Minnesota Cities, and was intended to be moved on to the Housing Committee for further discussion. Supportive testimony came from Housing First Minnesota and the Minnesota Homeownership Center. They argued that unnecessary HOA mandates can raise housing costs, reduce homebuyer choice, and shift public infrastructure costs onto homeowners through dues in addition to property taxes. Testifiers cited examples involving single-family developments, a Burnsville case involving a large roof assessment and disputed ACH withdrawal, and the Heritage Park development in Minneapolis, where an HOA was required but later became difficult to dissolve. They said the bill would preserve HOAs where they are genuinely needed, such as townhomes or shared-amenity developments. Members raised questions about the removal of county-specific language in the amendment, the meaning of the bill’s references to services and common property, and whether the bill would still allow neighborhood signs or other developer-requested features. A major point of concern was stormwater ponds and drainage infrastructure: one member argued that prohibiting cities from requiring HOA maintenance of such facilities could shift costs to taxpayers, while the authors responded that the bill was meant to stop cities from mandating discretionary amenities and that maintenance issues had been partly addressed in the amendment. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion provided, but the amendment was adopted and the bill was discussed for referral onward.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's some of the... uh use the House language to define uh use the House language to define pregnancy
• you can look at the Senate language you can look at the Senate language and<00:22:38.400> what
• the additional Senate language the additional Senate language clarifying<00:27:41.039> that
• <00:44:58.720> um portion of the the Senate language um portion of the the Senate language
• You know, and a lot of language does include, um, up to, I guess, the language up to.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We removed the language related to 54-06-14.
• You'll see throughout, we added speech-language pathology assistants to the language.
• We do license speech-language pathology assistants.
• You'll see throughout, we added speech-language pathology assistants to the language.
• We do license speech-language pathology assistants.

Summary: The committee approved the March 12, 2026 minutes and granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rule changes tied to House Bill 1620/1622, which concern North Dakota’s entry into the physician assistant licensure compact. The Board said it is waiting on compact rules, especially fee structures, before finalizing its own rules. The committee then took up extensive Office of Management and Budget personnel rule revisions, covering salary administration, recruitment, leave policies, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR practices and implement recent legislation, including new hire leave and enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions; the committee raised concerns about the subjectivity and fairness of the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but no action was taken against the rules. The North Dakota Lottery presented emergency and regular rule changes, including updates tied to the Millionaire for Life game and miscellaneous clarifications. The Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology described rule updates that add speech-language pathology assistants to the rules, ease continuing education requirements for out-of-state applicants, expand temporary licensure, and clarify supervision standards. The State Electrical Board reviewed numerous code updates, including changes to electrical and fire alarm standards, receptacle labeling, countertop receptacles, and a major new conveyance/elevator inspection program added by the Legislature; the board said it is preparing to begin inspections by August 1. The Industrial Commission’s Geological Survey Division presented new rules implementing House Bill 1459 on critical minerals in coal-bearing formations, including permit, reporting, confidentiality, and royalty-related provisions. The committee asked about confidentiality of exploration data and drilling depth. The Public Employees Retirement System outlined rule changes implementing several bills affecting defined benefit, public safety, defined contribution, insurance, deferred compensation, and retiree health credit programs, and noted possible future proposals to add state EMS or create a LOSAP-style plan. The Department of Health and Human Services presented substance use disorder voucher rules implementing House Bill 1012, including allowing individuals to apply directly and setting reimbursement procedures; the rules were expected to have a $250,000 general fund impact already included in the budget. The longest discussion involved the Gaming Commission rules. Members questioned whether the commission had authority to raise poker tournament buy-ins from $300 to $1,500, viewing it as an expansion of gaming rather than a mere clarification. After debate, the committee voted to void that specific rule section for lack of statutory authority. The rest of the gaming rules covered higher raffle limits from House Bill 1192, the change from “bar” to “alcoholic beverage establishment,” veterans’ organization proceeds, credit ticket voucher kiosks, online raffles, and advertising restrictions; the presenter said several public comments led to revisions or withdrawals of proposed language. The meeting ended with discussion of upcoming Ethics Commission travel-reporting rules and scheduling the next committee meeting in September.

Transcript Highlights:

• We adopted the language.
• I don't think that language should be in there.
• So, Chairman, I'm just looking at the language here.
• I think that deal probably should go back to the old language, the language of law.
• No, it would keep the language, and the language hasn't been vetoed in the past.

Bills: SB241, SB145

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• language as the bill moves forward. language as the bill moves forward.
• removes the the exception language. removes the the exception language.
• language from another bill? language from another bill?
• You got that language? language? language?
• It's the EVV language. Human Services. It's the EVV language.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all