Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:07.600><c> important</c><00:02:07.920><c> of</c><00:02:08.160><c> the</c><00:02:08.319><c>
• :02:24.480><c> we</c><00:02:24.640><c> have</c><00:02:24.800><c> broad</c><00:02:25.200><c> access</c
• :02:34.480><c> need</c><00:02:34.640><c> to</c><00:02:34.800><c> pass</c><00:02:35.120><c> strong</c>
• 02:38.560><c> that</c><00:02:38.800><c> will</c><00:02:39.040><c> protect</c><00:02:39.360><c> our</c
• Minnesota. Minnesota.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:05.439><c> But</c><00:02:05.680><c> House</c><00:02:06.079><c> House</c><00:02:06.320><c>
• :02:08.479><c> in</c><00:02:08.720><c> front</c><00:02:08.800><c> of</c><00:02:08.959><c> us</c><00:02
• :02:16.239><c> this</c><00:02:16.480><c> bill</c><00:02:16.720><c> to</c><00:02:16.879><c> the</c><00
• :56.160><c> state</c><00:02:56.319><c> of</c><00:02:56.480><c> Minnesota</c><00:02:56.959><c> for</c>
• hospitals in the state of Minnesota for hospitals in the state of Minnesota for the<00:02:57.280><c>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 369 was the main topic, with House authors Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar, Rep. Robert Bierman, and Rep. Dave Baker arguing that the bill would give Minnesota’s 2024 340B law “teeth” by enforcing protections for nonprofit and rural hospitals’ access to the federal drug pricing program. They said the measure costs the state nothing, aligns with similar laws in more than 20 other states, and is needed before adjournment to help hospitals close funding gaps, support services like emergency care, obstetrics, behavioral health, and pharmacy access, and preserve care in remote communities. Several hospital leaders from across greater Minnesota testified that 340B revenue helps keep their facilities viable and that losing it would threaten services and, in some cases, hospital survival. Witnesses described severe financial pressure on rural hospitals, including reimbursement cuts, workforce shortages, inflation, and rising drug costs. Leaders from United Hospital District in Blue Earth, Lakewood Health System in Staples, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, Northshore Health in Grand Marais, Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet, and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby said their hospitals serve as safety-net providers and often operate with thin or negative margins. They emphasized long travel times to other hospitals, seasonal tourism pressures in some areas, and the importance of local emergency, ambulance, inpatient, and specialty services. The Minnesota Hospital Association president also criticized pharmaceutical company messaging and said nonprofit hospitals are working around the clock to maintain access. In response to questions, Zeleznikar said she had considered other enforcement approaches but now supported using the original Senate-passed bill, citing concerns about fraud and the difficulty of alternative enforcement mechanisms. She and hospital leaders distinguished this bill from a separate hospital stabilization-grant proposal, saying both are needed but serve different purposes. No vote was taken at the meeting, and the speakers repeatedly urged House leadership to bring the bill to the floor before session ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:02:48.800><c> Minnesota.
• </c><00:02:49.440><c> I've</c> District 10, Central Minnesota. I've District 10, Central Minnesota.
• Every day we help Minnesota<01:02:50.720><c> veterans</c><01:02:51.280><c> access</c><01:02:51.680><c
• > these</c><01:02:52.000><c> benefits</c> Minnesota veterans access these benefits Minnesota veterans
• in serving Minnesota<01:02:58.960><c> veterans.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting of the session with member introductions and a statement from the chair that veterans issues would remain distinct and receive separate attention. The first item was an update on the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley from Executive Director Randall Dietrich. He said the museum has operated for nearly 50 years, has outgrown its current space, and is building a new 40,000-square-foot facility with $32 million in state support plus several million more in private funding. He described construction progress, planned exhibits including restored military artifacts and the USS Ward gun, and said the museum is scheduled to open on September 12. In response to Senator Kunish, Dietrich said the museum is actively incorporating stories and flags representing women, tribal nations, and other underrepresented groups, including 11 tribal flags at the entrance, and is working to integrate those stories throughout the galleries rather than isolating them. The committee then received an update from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs on the veterans suicide prevention plan from Rachel Johnson, Veterans Committee Health Director, with John Kelly later answering questions on department impacts. Johnson said the plan is a coordinated statewide framework built with legislative support, expanding regional coordinators, veteran health navigators, data analytics, and community partnerships, including a suicide mortality review pilot in Hennepin County. She said Minnesota loses about 100 veterans a year to suicide, that firearms remain the primary mechanism, and that prevention must address community connection, economic stability, and access to care, not just clinical treatment. She also said the plan aligns with state and federal strategies and is intended as a living roadmap. In response to questions, Johnson said the department is exploring data-sharing policy issues, has not seen a direct financial impact from federal VA staffing changes, and is tracking federal proposals affecting VA advisory groups. She also said 988 data is available in general but more Minnesota-specific data on the veteran option is still being gathered. Members asked follow-up questions about trends in veteran suicide, the role of families in identifying warning signs, and the Hennepin County mortality review pilot. Johnson said the annual number has remained around 100 for about 15 years, with a dip in 2024 and a return to that level in 2025, and that the Hennepin County pilot was chosen because it offers a manageable geography and existing coalition work, with an initial review expected by May or June. The final item began a presentation from the Minnesota Association of County Veteran Service Officers. Legislative chair Larry Fonder said the group’s priorities are protecting veterans from fraud and modernizing the property tax benefit for disabled veterans, but the presentation would focus on educating the committee about the role, training, certification, and accountability of county veteran service officers. President Tom Anderson, the Winona County VSO and a Navy veteran, began describing his background and office staffing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• > at</c><00:02:16.160><c> random</c><00:02:16.599><c> times</c><00:02:16.920><c> that</c><00:02:17.040
• :02:20.360><c> would</c><00:02:20.560><c> occur</c><00:02:21.040><c> what</c><00:02:21.160><c> the</c
• ><00:02:26.680><c> so</c><00:02:27.160><c> when</c><00:02:27.319><c> we</c><00:02:27.480><c> hear</c>
• </c><00:02:28.280><c> stories</c><00:02:28.680><c> of</c><00:02:28.959><c> Amazon</c><00:02:29.360><c
• ><c> urinate</c><00:02:35.440><c> in</c><00:02:35.599><c> a</c><00:02:35.959><c> in</c><00:02:36.040>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I<00:02:07.439><c> I</c><00:02:07.840><c> want</c><00:02:08.000><c> to</c><00:02:09.039><c> give</c><
• 00:02:09.280><c> a</c><00:02:09.520><c> lot</c><00:02:09.599><c> of</c><00:02:09.759><c> credit</c><00
• And<00:02:21.599><c> I</c><00:02:21.840><c> have</c><00:02:22.080><c> colleagues</c><00:02:22.480><c>
• ><c> proud</c><00:02:56.720><c> of</c><00:02:57.040><c> Minnesota</c> colleagues and really proud of
• Minnesota colleagues and really proud of Minnesota in<00:02:58.239><c> the</c><00:02:58.400><c> way</

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota who cannot practice medicine Minnesota who cannot practice medicine right<00:02:34.120><c>
• <c> in</c> would be eligible to practice in would be eligible to practice in Minnesota<00:02:45.400><
• ><c> practice</c><00:02:57.680><c> in</c><00:02:57.800><c> Minnesota</c><00:02:58.319><c> for</c><00:
• 02:58.519><c> 2</c><00:02:58.760><c> years</c> will practice in Minnesota for 2 years will practice in
• Minnesota for 2 years in<00:02:59.159><c> a</c><00:02:59.280><c> rural</c><00:02:59.560><c> or</c><00

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:02:43.640><c> also</c><00:02:43.879><c> have</c><00:02:44.040><c> Sam</c><00:02:44.319><c> Smith
• :02:51.519><c> rein</c><00:02:52.480><c> program</c><00:02:53.480><c> um</c><00:02:53.720><c> they</c
• going</c><00:02:54.159><c> to</c><00:02:54.319><c> review</c><00:02:54.720><c> with</c><00:02:54.879>
• <00:02:56.000><c> proposal</c><00:02:56.959><c> for</c><00:02:57.200><c> funding</c><00:02:57.720><c>
• :02:36.960><c> goes</c><01:02:37.160><c> up</c><01:02:37.319><c> by</c><01:02:37.480><c> 25%</c><01:02

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• These<02:02:00.320><c> are</c><02:02:00.440><c> all</c><02:02:00.600><c> things</c><02:02:01.000><c>
• <02:02:07.680><c> doubles</c><02:02:08.160><c> every</c><02:02:08.440><c> 7</c><02:02:08.800><c> months
• We could<02:02:10.120><c> and</c><02:02:10.240><c> should</c><02:02:10.440><c> have</c><02:02:10.600>
• /c><02:03:58.400><c> Minnesota.
• ><c> for</c><02:13:03.840><c> our</c><02:13:04.240><c> greater</c><02:13:04.520><c> Minnesota</c><02:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:04.000><c> to</c><00:02:04.159><c> the</c><00:02:04.320><c> table</c><00:02:04.880><c> and
• of<00:02:12.959><c> working</c><00:02:13.280><c> together</c><00:02:13.840><c> here</c><00:02:14.000
• ><c> in</c><00:02:14.520><c> Minnesota.
• ><c> Minnesota</c><00:02:38.160><c> and</c> of what we've done here in Minnesota and of what we've done
• here in Minnesota and how<00:02:38.720><c> we've</c><00:02:38.959><c> done</c><00:02:39.120><c> it.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:10.000><c> And</c><00:02:10.119><c> up</c><00:02:10.240><c> next,</c><00:02:10.759><c> I</
• 02:11.720><c> and</c><00:02:12.440><c> partner</c><00:02:13.000><c> on</c><00:02:13.120><c> this</c>
• </c><00:02:19.040><c> My</c><00:02:19.160><c> name</c><00:02:19.360><c> is</c><00:02:19.520><c> Jay</
• And<00:02:23.560><c> I</c><00:02:23.600><c> represent</c><00:02:24.120><c> families</c><00:02:25.080>
• :02:37.959><c> the</c><00:02:38.080><c> ice</c><00:02:38.280><c> surge</c><00:02:38.600><c> hit.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House and Senate DFL lawmakers held a Capitol news conference to press for a $100 million small business relief package in response to the economic fallout from Operation Metro Surge and related ICE enforcement activity. Representatives Cedrick Frazier and Jay Xiong, along with Senator Susan Pappas and other supporters, said the enforcement surge caused widespread fear, reduced customer traffic, lost wages, and closures for immigrant-owned and other small businesses in Minneapolis-St. Paul and greater Minnesota. They argued the state has a history of providing disaster-style aid when communities are harmed through no fault of their own and said this situation warrants similar action. Business and community testimony described specific losses: a Willmar restaurant closed after both parents were detained, a North Mankato grocery store opening was delayed, The Coven reported a 33% revenue drop at two locations, and Lake Street businesses were said to have lost substantial revenue and staff. Speakers said the damage affected workers, landlords, suppliers, and neighborhood corridors statewide, and several emphasized that the relief should come as grants or forgivable loans rather than additional debt. They also criticized House Republican leaders for tying the relief to changes in paid family leave and for blocking a public hearing. In response to questions, Frazier said negotiations were ongoing through committee chairs and conference committee, with the issue still being discussed in broader leadership talks. He said the House would need only one Republican vote in committee and on the floor to advance the measure, and identified Chair Baker as a possible supporter because of harm in his district. Speakers said the Senate has already passed the relief and urged the House to act quickly before the end of session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that this<00:02:02.399><c> was</c><00:02:02.560><c> a</c><00:02:02.719><c> priority</c><00:02
• :03.200><c> that</c><00:02:03.439><c> we</c><00:02:03.680><c> had,</c><00:02:03.920><c> but</c><00:02
• You know when<00:02:31.280><c> we</c><00:02:31.520><c> look</c><00:02:31.599><c> at</c><00:02:31.760>
• </c><00:02:55.360><c> making</c><00:02:55.680><c> Minnesota</c> much more in making Minnesota much more
• in making Minnesota affordable.<00:02:56.720><c> We</c><00:02:56.879><c> are</c><00:02:57.040><c> not

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.240><c> a</c><00:02:00.439><c> century</c><00:02:00.840><c> ago</c><00:02:01.119><c> now</c><00:02
• </c><00:02:03.000><c> just</c><00:02:03.200><c> come</c><00:02:03.399><c> Leaps</c><00:02:03.719><c>
• Bounds with<00:02:04.600><c> safety</c><00:02:05.159><c> with</c><00:02:05.360><c> security</c><00:02
• current<00:02:09.479><c> nuclear</c><00:02:10.080><c> generators</c><00:02:10.840><c> that</c><00:02
• :02:33.040><c> that</c><00:02:33.560><c> uh</c><00:02:34.000><c> even</c><00:02:34.319><c> takes</c><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:06.200><c> on</c><00:02:06.360><c> their</c><00:02:06.520><c> inputs</c><00:02:07.280><c>
• Minnesota<00:02:10.039><c> businesses</c><00:02:10.640><c> pay</c><00:02:10.840><c> 48%</c><00:02:11.880
• ><c> of</c><00:02:12.000><c> our</c> Minnesota businesses pay 48% of our Minnesota businesses pay 48%
• its fair share to ensure industry pays its fair share to ensure that<00:02:32.280><c> Minnesota</c><
• ><00:02:33.680><c> public</c> that Minnesota can meet its basic public that Minnesota can meet its basic

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a press-style discussion in support of House File 4343, which would end Minnesota’s sales tax exemption for digital advertising services and physical advertising space such as billboards. Supporters said the bill would raise more than $300 million in revenue and allow the state sales tax rate to be reduced, while also modernizing the tax code to reflect a digital, service-based economy. Eric Bernstein of We Make Minnesota argued the current sales tax base is outdated, too narrow, and unfairly shifts burden onto Minnesota businesses, workers, and property taxpayers. Representative Lislegard said the bill would help fund schools, health care, infrastructure, child care, and local government, and framed it as a response to structural budget gaps and rising property taxes. She said large corporations are not paying their fair share and that the state should cut exemptions rather than reduce public services. Several speakers from labor, education, health care, and the arts backed the proposal, including a working parent who cited high child care costs, an AFSCME representative from Hennepin County Medical Center who said the revenue is needed to support the safety-net hospital, a musician who said streaming and ad-driven platforms profit from artists’ labor, and an educator who criticized social media companies’ impact on youth. The speakers repeatedly argued that major tech and advertising companies such as Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, TikTok, and Spotify should contribute more to public services, while ordinary Minnesotans already pay too much. Representative White closed by acknowledging the bill faces a difficult path but said supporters would keep fighting for it. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the portion provided, and the event ended with one question from the audience.

Transcript Highlights:

• come to officers from other states to come to Minnesota<00:02:05.600><c> we</c><00:02:05.719><c> will
• </c><00:02:05.920><c> be</c><00:02:06.039><c> able</c><00:02:06.240><c> to</c><00:02:06.520><c> retain
• </c><00:02:07.280><c> the</c> Minnesota we will be able to retain the Minnesota we will be able to retain
• does and<00:02:19.319><c> Mr</c><00:02:19.599><c> Vice</c><00:02:19.840><c> chair</c><00:02:20.040><
• </c><00:02:30.560><c> see</c><00:02:30.840><c> our</c><00:02:31.239><c> the</c><00:02:31.360><c> one<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> we</c><00:02:14.720><c> can</c><00:02:14.800><c> take</c><00:02:14.879><c> a</c><00:02:15.040><c
• But for<00:02:15.680><c> now,</c><00:02:15.920><c> we'll</c><00:02:16.160><c> go</c><00:02:16.319><c>
• Chair,</c><00:02:19.680><c> vice</c><00:02:20.000><c> chair</c><00:02:20.480><c> or</c><00:02:20.800>
• </c><00:02:24.720><c> Um,</c><00:02:25.040><c> I</c><00:02:25.200><c> would</c><00:02:25.520><c> urge
• 00:02:31.760><c> the</c><00:02:31.840><c> shape</c><00:02:32.000><c> that</c><00:02:32.160><c> the</c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:07.880><c> align</c><00:02:08.160><c> with</c><00:02:08.280><c> the</c><00:02:08.360><c> Senate
• majority<00:02:09.679><c> that</c><00:02:09.840><c> the</c><00:02:09.959><c> voters</c><00:02:10.360
• /c><00:02:13.120><c> 2022</c><00:02:13.800><c> and</c><00:02:13.959><c> affirmed</c><00:02:14.360><c>
• c> and</c><00:02:15.440><c> again</c><00:02:15.879><c> just</c><00:02:16.120><c> a</c><00:02:16.280><
• Minnesota nationally and globally our Minnesota nationally and globally our communities<00:02:59.879>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• $10.47 million uh,<00:02:09.119><c> cost</c><00:02:09.920><c> for</c><00:02:10.200><c> the</c><00:02
• Um,<00:02:24.600><c> the</c><00:02:24.720><c> provisions</c><00:02:25.320><c> that</c><00:02:25.600><
• </c><01:02:24.200><c> greater</c><01:02:24.440><c> Minnesota</c> days helps to ensure greater Minnesota
• days helps to ensure greater Minnesota projects<01:02:25.320><c> are</c><01:02:25.400><c> competitive
• > Minnesota</c><01:02:31.120><c> Housing</c> received from the Minnesota Housing received from the Minnesota

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 30.160><c> court</c><00:02:30.400><c> orders</c><00:02:30.640><c> in</c><00:02:30.879><c> Minnesota</
• c><00:02:31.200><c> in</c><00:02:31.360><c> the</c> more court orders in Minnesota in the more court
• orders in Minnesota in the opinion<00:02:31.680><c> of</c><00:02:31.840><c> of</c><00:02:32.080><c> this
• 00:02:56.400><c> in</c><00:02:56.560><c> our</c><00:02:56.959><c> uh</c><00:02:57.200><c> in</c><00:02
• </c> [clears throat] This<01:02:57.119><c> is</c><01:02:57.440><c> obviously</c> very Minnesota.

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that's</c><00:02:02.799><c> been</c><00:02:03.000><c> implemented</c><00:02:03.479><c> in</c><00:02:
• :02:21.239><c> system</c><00:02:22.239><c> and</c><00:02:22.640><c> the</c><00:02:22.760><c> men</c><
• 00:02:23.120><c> State</c> Minnesota system and the men State Minnesota system and the men State College
• 31.040><c> Minnesota</c><00:02:32.040><c> to</c><00:02:32.840><c> retain</c><00:02:33.840><c> those</
• c> state of Minnesota to retain those state of Minnesota to retain those officers<00:02:34.680><c> that

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• a</c><00:02:14.360><c> few</c><00:02:14.599><c> things</c><00:02:14.879><c> that</c><00:02:15.040><c>
• ><c> to</c><00:02:16.280><c> that</c><00:02:17.280><c> um</c><00:02:17.760><c> the</c><00:02:18.160><
• </c><00:02:19.720><c> use</c><00:02:20.000><c> and</c><00:02:20.480><c> consume</c><00:02:21.480><c>
• l number<00:02:30.319><c> of</c><00:02:30.480><c> different</c><00:02:30.800><c> Industries</c><00:02
• :32.200><c> the</c><00:02:32.360><c> amount</c><00:02:32.680><c> of</c><00:02:33.120><c> uh</c><00:02

Keywords: 1187, senate, all