Transcript Highlights:

• time for the report in those prior periods where there was any of those contributions, then those fees
• Cosmetology Board for eight years until July 1, 2034, and reduces the statutory caps on certain board fees
• in the least expensive manner possible, with a preference for electronic copies, and public records fees
• Additionally, it authorizes a landlord to charge an administrative fee associated with submetering of
• Madam Witt, members, Senate Bill 1402 requires the court to impose a fee on probationers who are on electronic

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long agenda of Senate bills across elections, commerce, education, government, health and human services, judiciary, public safety, transportation, rural development, and ways and means. Many measures were described as consent or third-read consent items, including bills on campaign finance termination statements and late-report penalties, AI provenance data for media, adjuster/contractor conduct during emergencies, Industrial Commission changes, association meeting closures, banking and remittance rules, central bank digital currency, public safety parity funding, barbering and cosmetology board continuation, digital asset reserve management, contractor licensing, gaming and racing commission continuation, school AED instruction, classroom removal procedures, school safety reporting, special education complaint transparency, foreign influence and land ownership restrictions, DCS and DES process changes, health care licensing and reimbursement rules, EMS compact adoption, and multiple tax, housing, and transportation measures. Staff repeatedly summarized each bill and answered questions, with several bills noted as mirror or identical to House measures or as strike-everything amendments from committees. A few bills drew discussion. On SB 2874, staff explained that the Senate amendment would limit penalties for untimely campaign finance reports when a committee certifies it received no contributions and made no expenditures, but the sponsor did not concur. SB 1074 prompted questions about whether parental notification changed; staff said it did not and that the bill was aimed at improving communication between teachers and principals about discipline. SB 1175, requiring DCS caseworkers to photograph children at each interaction in abuse or neglect cases, drew concern about the scope of the photos, while supporters said it would improve continuity and documentation. SB 1180 also drew comment because the sponsor and committee chair disagreed over an amendment, though the bill was advanced for further work. The most extended debate came on SB 1751, which would allow death-row inmates to choose firing squad, lethal injection, or lethal gas if voters approve the related constitutional measure. One member strongly opposed the bill on moral and personal grounds, another argued it could be a more humane option if the state is going to carry out executions, and a third raised concern that it could be used against Second Amendment rights. The bill remained on the third-read consent calendar despite the objections. The caucus concluded after moving through the remaining agenda items, with no formal votes recorded in the transcript beyond committee status and consent-calendar placement.

Transcript Highlights:

• For 45 years, community television has been funded by cable franchise fees and... PEG fees.
• Our Commission has relied on these franchise fees paid through the use of the public right-of-way.
• So, Representative Nadeau and the rest of us who are here, I propose that we look into franchise fees
• I've been paying franchise fees on my cable bill for, I don't know how long; it could be decades.
• We can find a way to put it in statutes that cities can collect a franchise fee, which we're already

Bills: HF1679, HF1019, HF2321, HF1740, HF2278

Keywords: public television, funding, grants, arts and culture, Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, arts education, cultural heritage, community engagement, public radio, community radio, educational grants, community cable, public access, programming funding, civic engagement, ethnic media, public access television, Minnesota Humanities Center, funding appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 219, an act relating to deferred deposit transaction fees imposed by the commissioner.
• Senate Bill 219, an act relating to deferred deposit transaction fees imposed by the commissioner.
• <00:10:42.880> to<00:10:42.959> a offices and amends the filing fee to a offices and
• amends the filing fee to a fat<00:10:43.440> flat<00:10:43.760> rate<00:10:44.399>
• <00:10:48.560> for<00:10:48.800> the court to collect the filing fee for the court

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and approved the journal. The clerk reported House-passed bills and Senate bills received from the House, and several Senate bills were read a second time and sent to the Rules Committee. Committee reports recommended passage of multiple measures, including bills from Appropriations and Revenue, Health Services, Natural Resources and Energy, State and Local Government, and Transportation. The chamber then moved to orders of the day and took up Senate Bill 50 and Senate Bill 191, while Senate Bill 137 and Senate Joint Resolution 54 were passed over and retained in the orders of the day. Senate Bill 50, relating to the disposition of property, was explained as a broad update to trust, probate, and intestacy law. Supporters said it would streamline probate when there are no disputes, add privacy protections for decedents’ estate information, give courts more flexibility, set retention and filing-fee rules for wills, recognize electronic wills and other uniform-law concepts, and allow transfer-on-death designation for motor vehicles. A floor amendment removed inheritance-tax provisions and corrected technical issues; it was adopted, and the bill passed 35-1 after debate in favor from several senators and no substantive opposition. Senate Bill 191, creating the Kentucky Kindergarten Readiness Performance-based Child Care Incentive Pilot Program, was also amended and passed. The bill would establish a three-year pilot administered by the University of Kentucky College of Education, providing a one-time $2,000 per child incentive payment or refundable tax credit to child care providers and low-income families when children are assessed as kindergarten ready. A floor amendment clarified that the study and recommendations must comply with federal child care regulations; it was adopted, and the bill passed 35-1 after a senator changed a vote from no to yes. The Senate then recessed for Rules and Committee on Committees meetings, after which the rules committee posted additional bills to future orders and the committee on committees referred several bills and resolutions to standing committees. Several members also made announcements about upcoming committee meetings, a legislative breakfast, a fish fry, and condolences for a community member.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we also have a fee-for-service for a certain population, which is quite a bit smaller than Medicaid
• And then again, as I had said earlier, there's the fee-for-service category.
• If it's fee-for-service, which Indian Health Service is fee-for-service... service, then we pay whatever
• It's a special rate for them, so we pay them on a fee-for-service rate for whatever they're coming in
• It might have been 6% or 7% for our administrative fees.

Transcript Highlights:

• With respect to their comments on allowing permit fees, it's going in part two of Chapter 150A.
• Sections 7.5 and 7.6 of that chapter would allow HDOA to charge for any permit fees.
• :36:34.560> with<00:36:35.040> allowing<00:36:35.440> permit<00:36:35.839> fees
• ,<00:36:36.160> it's<00:36:36.400> going um with allowing permit fees, it's going um
• <00:36:45.520> the to charge for any permit fees. the to charge for any permit fees. the language

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce heard testimony on several measures. SB 1402, relating to vessels in state commercial harbors, drew opposition from Captain Andy Sailing Incorporated, and later the committee agreed to amend the bill to exempt tour boat operators before passing it. SB 1411, relating to Medicaid third-party liability, received strong support from the Department of Human Services, which asked that the effective date be restored to upon approval. SB 1438, relating to home care agencies, was supported by the Department of Health and one individual testifier, with the department arguing that unlicensed personnel performing skilled nursing services puts kupuna at risk. The committee later moved that bill forward with a clean date. SB 1449, relating to prior authorization of health care services, drew support from the Hawaii Medical Association and comments from the Hawaii Association of Health Plans and HMSA. Health plans asked that reporting requirements align with upcoming CMS regulations, and HMSA noted the work of the stakeholder process. The committee discussed the bill as consumer-focused and adopted amendments to add laboratory and diagnostic tests and to require the working group’s first report before the 2026 session and before each session thereafter. SB 1291, relating to certified public accountants, received support from the Board of Public Accountancy, the Hawaii Society of CPAs, Hong Consulting LLC, and Ron Heler, who said it was substantially the same as a previously passed House bill and would help increase the CPA pipeline in Hawaii. The committee also heard SB 752, relating to insurance, with opposition and comments from the Hawaii Insurance Council and Liberty Mutual, which requested amendments on non-payment of premiums, material misrepresentation, and limiting the bill to homeowners insurance. Greg Mskian testified in support but urged clearer notice and denial explanations for homeowners. SB 385, relating to condominiums, drew support from Hawaii Realtors and detailed comments from Ray Tenno and Greg Mskian about making governing documents available online or by email to owners and agents, with discussion of website costs and access. Finally, SB 140, relating to invasive species, received support from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and CAPS, while the Department of Agriculture offered comments and proposed streamlining language; supporters emphasized firewood treatment standards and the need to prevent invasive pests. After a brief recess, the committee took votes on several measures, adopting the chair’s recommendations on SB 1402, SB 1411, SB 1438, SB 1449, and SB 1291.

Transcript Highlights:

• 25.560> developer tax cut July 1 2024 we cap developer tax cut July 1 2024 we cap developer fees
• um which was another fees um which was another uh<00:08:31.280> significant<00:08:31.879>
• The cap to gaming fees and the very small tax cuts that were passed were not sufficient.
• So instead of a tax, it's a fee. P-tabs are calculated at 1.15 per, with a cap of 16,000 annually.
• But we paid $57,000 in taxes and in fees.

Bills: HF169, HF195, HF194, HF1756, HF2133

Keywords: HF169, Minnesota insurance, health plan, summary of benefits and coverage, SBC, patient assistance program, deductible, health insurer, consumer disclosure, out-of-pocket costs, medical assistance funds, copay assistance, health coverage transparency, chapter 62Q, enrollee, HF195, Fairmont, street reconstruction, bonding bill, capital investment

Transcript Highlights:

• The other part is, by buying this, part of the 50-cent fee we currently have right now goes to cover
• we currently have right now Cent fee we currently have right now goes<00:13:17.560> to<00:13:
• <00:15:32.399> and there were what other other fees and there were what other other fees and
• They're more of a user-associated fee. specific cup part which is a very easy specific cup part which
• the cup fees just purchasing them<00:46:45.160> and<00:46:45.280> the<00:46:45.400>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're also working on an athletics fee right now currently, so, you know, we'll make it work
• I think we're also working on an athletics fee right now currently, so, you know, we'll make it work
• I think we're also working on an athletics fee right now currently, so, you know, we'll make it work
• This bill is relating to the University of Hawaii resident tuition fee.
• They recently waived their application fee.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Bachman Hall and heard testimony on several UH-related bills. HB 542 would expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to provide unmet-need scholarships at four-year UH campuses. UH system officials, the UH Student Caucus, and a Honolulu Community College student testified in support, emphasizing college affordability, student retention, and workforce needs. Committee members asked about current program data, eligibility, transfer patterns, and cost; UH said it had data available, noted about 10% of current Hawaiʻi Promise students transfer to four-year campuses, and estimated the full expansion would cost about $12 million. UH also suggested a possible alternative of focusing on transfer opportunities from two-year to four-year campuses. The committee then heard HB 840, which concerns athletics appropriations for UH. UH Mānoa and UH Hilo supported the bill. UH officials said the funding would help cover recurring athletics operating costs, women’s sports travel and recruiting, Austin Awards, and a new nutrition fueling station, while Hilo said the money would help with travel, per diem, and conference-related costs. Members asked about the history of the athletics funding, the difference between Austin Awards and special talent waivers, NIL planning, and whether the appropriation should be restored to the base budget. UH explained that a $4 million athletics appropriation was originally made in 2018 or 2019, later removed from the base, and has been reappropriated annually since then. Finally, the committee heard HB 842, which would fund three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions at UH Mānoa’s Counseling and Student Development Center. UH supported the bill, and Academic Labor United and a high school student testified in favor, citing student stress, overwork, and the need for more counseling access. In questions, members discussed the current counselor-to-student ratio, recruitment challenges in a tight labor market, and strategies for hiring, including looking at candidates on soft-money grants who may be seeking stable employment. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• are these going to be solely for administrative costs, or are they going towards ensuring that the fee
• Support the implementation of the fee schedule. There was a general fund that was used initially.
• That the managed care plan or, under the fee-for-service system, we would pay the provider associated
• But is it more capitated, or does it be fee-for-service?
• So when they, if on the fee for... Service delivery system. It's pretty simple.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Wirth, are you still Chair: with us at page 29, line 24, 25, striking attorney's fees?
• The American rule - prevailing party does not get their attorneys' fees as a matter of general course
• Most often parties bear Committee Member: their own attorneys' fees.
• Chair, in fact, the commission has never levied fees on any state.
• And if we need additional monies, let's increase the fee on the doctors.

Transcript Highlights:

• and guardian ad litem fees.
• Will you folks be able to raise fees?
• and guardian ad court appointed fees and guardian ad fees<00:18:58.840> but<00:18:59.039>
• but I heard that you folks didn't fees but I heard that you folks didn't implement<00:19:01.200>
• It was $2.3 million to increase the fees there.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Judiciary heard the Judiciary’s budget presentation from Brandon Kimura and other court administrators. The Judiciary outlined its mission and access-to-justice programs, including specialty courts, self-help centers, online small claims dispute resolution, and e-reminders. It requested an operating budget of $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027, along with 17 permanent and one temporary position, and described a series of staffing and program requests tied to specialty courts, district court operations, technology, and public guardianship. Major program requests included making women’s court permanent by converting seven temporary positions to permanent and adding a substance use counselor; expanding truancy court and the Early Education Intervention Program on Oahu; and making the driving while impaired court permanent. The Judiciary also sought staffing and funding for the new Wahiawa District Court, including security, janitorial, IT, clerical, bailiff, and social worker support, plus an additional district court judge and staff in Kona. Technology requests included cybersecurity tools and a cybersecurity unit, enhanced email protection, and replacement of aging network switches. Other operating requests included continued funding for the Criminal Justice Research Institute, restoration of 12 positions cut during the pandemic, and added support for the Office of the Public Guardian. For capital improvement projects, the Judiciary’s top priorities were $4 million to design a new South Kohala District Court, $900,000 to replace an aging AC chiller on Kauai, and $5 million for lump-sum facility preservation work. Members asked questions about purchase-of-service contract rates, implementation of court-appointed fee increases, federal grant dependence, specialty court effectiveness, truancy court outcomes, and the condition of the Ewa District Court site. Judiciary witnesses said they were working to raise provider rates through contracts and a separate bill, cited low recidivism and reduced petitions as evidence that specialty courts and truancy efforts are working, and said the Ewa site has significant foundation issues that may require further assessment or a different location.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, what this does is it just updates the permits and fees for oversized, overweight loads.
• It just updates the permits and fees for oversized, overweight loads.
• I I don't know that these fees are actually in admin rules.
• I think these fees are actually in statute. That's the reason we're amending them here. Okay.

Bills: HB3443, HB2123, HB3757, HB2445

Keywords: transportation, oversize permit, overweight permit, permit fees, motor carrier, commercial trucking, heavy haul, wide load, special combination vehicle, manufactured home transport, portable building transport, utility poles, rural electric cooperative, farm equipment, agricultural hauling, bridge formula, load limits, weight limits, road funding, highway construction

Transcript Highlights:

• Um protectant fee with PILT. Um wetland. Um protectant fee with PILT.
• Protect and fee making a PILT payment. Protect and fee without<00:18:39.679> PILt.
• total average fee title acres acquired was<00:19:37.919> 9,830.
• projects that where you're doing fee projects that where you're doing fee title<00:37:23.280>
• Um, and we fee title or easement land.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the 14 high-risk services on the fee-for-service side of the program, also reviewing and revalidating
• And in both the<00:36:15.119> fee<00:36:15.359> for<00:36:15.520> service<00:36:
• for service side and in the MCO the fee for service side and in the MCO side,<00:36:17.119> we
• They are BCBAs in EID in the fee<00:37:03.440> for<00:37:03.599> service<00:37:04.000><
• for service and at the MCOs that are fee for service and at the MCOs that are paid<00:37:05.760>

Bills: HF3378

Keywords: human services, Optum reports, data privacy, transparency, legislative oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• On page two, beginning at 2.4, paragraph B, this establishes a maximum tuition and fee amount for the
• On page two, beginning at 2.4, paragraph B, this establishes a maximum tuition and fee amount for the
• establishes a maximum tuition and fee establishes a maximum tuition and fee amount<00:26:34.960>
• One of the primary changes made, though, are increases in fees paid by these institutions.
• <00:37:15.839> paid made though are increases in fees paid made though are increases in fees

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2022, people were assessed $13.8 million in supervision fees, but only $6.4 million were collected
• They have never told us to burden their clients with excessive fees they cannot pay. Thank you.
• In 2022, $13.8 million in supervision fees were assessed, but only $6.4 million were collected.
• They have never told us to burden their clients with excessive fees they cannot pay. Thank you.
• <00:34:42.520> are don't think that supervision fees are don't think that supervision fees

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• so um there's 55 $155 dispensing fee so um there's 55 lines<00:54:37.960> on<00:54:38.079>
• Currently, the Medicaid fee-for-service payment rates for inpatient care are 68% of 2019 cost.
• <01:29:35.040> for pandemic currently the Medicaid fee for pandemic currently the Medicaid
• fee for service<01:29:35.840> payment<01:29:36.239> rates<01:29:36.719> for<01:
• can any of the funds either the the fees can any of the funds either the the fees on<01:35:07.719

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Members, this bill relates to the exemption of tuition and laboratory fees at public institutions
• Members, this bill relates to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for
• It provides for the recovery of attorneys' fees if a claim is without merit, making the recovery of fees
• of what we're doing to try to address that to start with is the, the two-way recovery of attorneys' fees

Transcript Highlights:

• RELATING TO STUDENT FEES, FAU DIDN'T ALWAYS LIMIT DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE FEE TO THE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL
• IT SEMINOLE AND PENSACOLA DID NOT ALWAYS EVIDENCE THE LAB FEES WERE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTE.
• THEY USED STUDENT ACTIVITY AND SERVICE FEES THAT WERE NOT ALWAYS IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.
• THAT THAT IS A FINDING THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE CONTRACT WITH CRI RELATED TO BUILDING PERMIT FEES

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . $150,000 is for statutory damages and $100,000 is for attorney's fees.
• The motion was granted and hearing fees.
• <00:21:13.840> The $15,000 is for attorney's fees. The $15,000 is for attorney's fees.
• Sailors, in the claim here, it says uh there's $15,000 for attorney's fees.
• Sailors, in the claim here, it says uh there's $15,000 for attorney's fees.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Joint House and Senate Subcommittee on Claims convened on April 30, first without quorum and then with quorum, at which point the committee corrected and approved the prior minutes. Members then reviewed several claims held over for informational purposes, including injury claims for Fraser, Larson, Schmidt, Stuart, and Washington, and property claims for Lidberg, Robecky, and Young, with no action taken on those items. The committee dismissed a claim by Ms. Prevally seeking reimbursement for funds liquidated from irrevocable trusts after hearing that the matter had already been litigated in court and that subcommittee rules bar claims for public assistance compensation. The panel then approved two exoneration claims: James Jovan Davis, whose murder conviction was vacated after postconviction proceedings and who settled for $250,000, and Clayton Douglas Groves, whose sexual-conduct convictions were vacated after evidence of prior false accusations was admitted and who settled for $350,000. Testimony from counsel for both claimants emphasized wrongful conviction, the length of incarceration, and negotiated settlement amounts, with members asking about the basis for the compensation and attorney-fee allocations. The final exoneration claim, Marvin Haynes, was also approved. The committee heard that Haynes was convicted as a teenager, later exonerated after new evidence showed false evidence and suggestive eyewitness identification, and that the state and claimant had reached a $4.5 million settlement. The committee then turned to Department of Corrections injury claims, denying Arnold Baker’s claim for lack of evidence of a compensable permanent injury, and approving Mark Carroll’s claim for a $4,570.40 award after he suffered a compensable ankle fracture while working. In property claims, the committee discussed Anthony Edwards’s claim for food, a JPay tablet, and shoes. After testimony from Department of Corrections counsel about property inventory procedures and the lack of a current replacement tablet program, members agreed to compensate Edwards $70 for the missing shoes, deny the food claim, and deny the tablet claim because the tablet had been returned and any malfunction was reported outside the department’s reporting window.