Transcript Highlights:

• the bill to amend section 1365 to<00:19:42.840> clarify<00:19:43.840> the<00:19:44.000
• <00:47:20.599> so Practices Act that might be amended so Practices Act that might be amended
• <00:47:31.760> uh they might suggest um uh amendments uh they might suggest um uh amendments
• individual to include whether to amend individual to include we<01:07:34.720> do<01:07:34.920
• Nobody's hiding the contracts that exist between our office and NYU.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There is also a new writer for unexpended balances and interagency contracts within the biennium and
• Contract rate is set by the legislature, but then fleshed out in individual contracts that we get based
• An international contract agency as opposed to a GR program.
• Contracts funds which we've included in recommendations.
• We haven't had encouraging responses, and it's going well, and we will have a contract.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um that's the amendment. I'll stand for questions on the amendment. "Thank you, Senator Boner.
• I'll stand for questions on amendment. I'll stand for questions on the<00:29:44.559> amendment.
• the amendment. the amendment.
• Uh, they, um, as promised, remember on third reading we had an amended amendment come in late.
• Uh, they, um, as promised, remember on third reading we had an amended amendment come in late.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . amendment. amendment.
• . amendment. amendment.
• . amendment. amendment.
• amendment as amended?
• to the amendment. amendment. amendment.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand there's an amendment. Yes, Mr. Chair.
• Chair Carroll moves amendment A1. Any discussion to the amendment?
• Uh, so Chair Aim now to your bill as amended.
• And I see that there's an author's amendment. Um, would you like to move the amendment?
• The motion prevails and the amendment is adopted.

Bills: HF3458, HF3777, HF3778, HF3912

Keywords: electric utilities, service areas, Tribal lands, Minnesota statute, energy regulation, utility rates, public utilities, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, ratepayer, consumer protection, affordable energy, energy affordability, ability to pay, just and reasonable rates, rate regulation, electric rates, natural gas rates, energy conservation, renewable energy

Summary: The committee approved the March 5, 2026 minutes and then took up House File 3458, as amended, which would exempt tribes from utility exclusive rights and assigned service areas. The bill’s author and the Upper Sioux community chairman said the measure was prompted by a dispute over a solar project at the tribal casino and argued the issue is really about tribal sovereignty, not solar, citing tribal civil regulatory authority and prior court cases. The amendment A1 was adopted before testimony. Testimony was split. Chairman Kevin Jensel of the Upper Sioux community strongly supported the bill, saying the tribe should not be forced to follow utility service territories and that the state should correct a long-standing omission in law. Derek Mo of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association opposed the bill, warning it would undermine the regulatory compact, reliability, long-term planning, and financing for electric service, especially in tribal areas. Justin Johns of East Central Energy also opposed the bill, but emphasized that many cooperatives have productive tribal partnerships and said his co-op has worked successfully with the Mille Lacs Band on solar, resilience, and workforce efforts; he cautioned that removing service obligations could leave difficult-to-serve areas underinvested. Members discussed whether the Public Utilities Commission process already underway should be allowed to resolve the dispute and whether the bill’s scope could extend beyond the current solar issue. The chair responded that the bill was a legislative approach to a problem that had not been resolved and said the amendment addressed concerns about removing the obligation to serve. A roll call was requested, and the committee voted to re-refer House File 3458, as amended, to the General Register.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, other testing companies have not bid on the contract.
• Did you look at the contract requirements and bid qualifications for the testing program as to whether
• We did look at the contract.
• We also kind of looked broadly at the idea of what that contract is able to do for the state.
• So we focused on that reform, and the potential to move away from the Prometric contract.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on the Restoring Quality Home Care Initiative (I-1163), which created home care aide certification requirements, FBI background checks, and an abuse/neglect registry. Auditors said some requirements likely improve safety, especially background checks and training, but the state lacked pre-2011 data to measure outcomes directly. They also found Washington has a long-term care workforce shortage, though its workforce supply ranks better than many states, and that more stringent entry requirements do not appear to reduce workforce participation compared with other states. The audit’s main concern was that the certification process is slow and burdensome. Auditors reported that most applicants never finish certification, that only about one-third of fiscal year 2025 applicants were certified within the 200-day legal deadline, and that the average time to certification was 463 days. They identified delays between training and testing, limited testing access in some areas, and redundant Department of Health verification of FBI background checks as key causes. The audit recommended streamlining the process by accepting applications later in the process, expanding testing within training programs, and eliminating the redundant background-check verification. Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services staff largely agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations. They said they have already made improvements, including moving exams into more than 110 training programs, increasing credentialing staff, and reducing barriers through rule changes. DSHS noted testing is offered in 13 languages. Committee members asked about testing contract incentives, language access, and whether the agencies would seek statutory or budget changes to implement the recommendations. No public testimony was offered, and the meeting adjourned without any vote or formal action by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, Apex focuses on DOD contracting, but they do all other manner of government contracting
• So these are the contracts: elevator contracts, fire alarm contracts, carpentry contracts, all of the
• plowing, fire extinguishers, monthly main contracts, or other work contracts.
• When does that contract end?
• But you said that the contract goes through 2027, correct? So MetLife's contract, yeah?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs’ budget, with testimony from division leadership on staffing, funding sources, and program changes. Early discussion focused on vacant positions in the agency, including a senior planner tied to FEMA requirements, a federally funded program assistant, a program specialist to be reclassified during a planning reorganization, and two Housing Champions positions that were authorized but not funded in the current biennium and are requested for 2026-27. The witnesses also explained that temporary welcome center positions are filled as funds allow, and that the agency’s requested general fund increase is driven largely by the Division of Travel and Tourism Development and its formula-based funding. Members then reviewed rest areas, welcome centers, outdoor recreation, economic development, procurement, and workforce opportunity lines. The department said there are 12 rest areas, with 5.8 million foot counts in FY 24, and that welcome centers are generally open year-round, though Sutton is currently closed and staffing relies on a mix of full-time and temporary employees. The outdoor recreation position is federally funded through USDA and supports business outreach, trade shows, and industry promotion. In economic development, the agency said increased dues reflect participation in the Northern Borders Regional Commission, and that a marketing line item is intended to support recruitment and promotion of growth industries such as advanced manufacturing and life sciences. The Apex Accelerator Program was described as a state-federal partnership requiring a state match and providing government contracting assistance to businesses, while the Office of Workforce Opportunity was explained as a federally funded WIOA-related effort administered through multiple agencies and subrecipients. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which members said had generated significant public concern. The department described SBDC as a highly effective technical assistance program for new and small businesses, but said the cut was one of the few places it felt it had room to reduce funding. Members asked about federal support and matching requirements for various programs, and the department said less than half of its overall budget is generally funded by the state and that some programs require state match. The committee also discussed travel and tourism marketing and the Joint Promotional Program, with the department saying those funds support broader advertising campaigns and grants to chambers and trade associations for events such as Bike Week, Restaurant Week, and the Seafood Festival. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a housekeeping amendment.
• sponsor of the bill brought an amendment sponsor of the bill brought an amendment that that that
• by that amendment.
• Chair, yes. is ought to pass with Amendment on House is ought to pass with Amendment on House Bill<01
• Okay, give us the amendment number, please. Oh, thank you very much. Amendment 0496.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first took up House Bill 702, which would change how extra or special duty pay for retired police officers is treated for retirement and work-limit purposes. Supporters argued the bill would let retirees work more special-duty hours, helping municipalities fill traffic-detail and similar assignments without added state cost, and said it would not prohibit retirees from working but would simply stop those hours from counting toward the return-to-work threshold. Opponents argued the change would be inconsistent with the retirement system’s 2011 reforms, could increase pension liabilities, and would treat the same compensation differently for active employees and retirees. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect current and future retirees, the role of municipalities, and whether the policy amounted to “policing for profit.” The subcommittee ultimately voted 3-2 to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL) on HB 702, sending it to the full committee with that recommendation. The committee then discussed House Bill 581, which would create a Group Three retirement plan for new state employees hired after the bill’s effective date. The chair outlined a housekeeping amendment to delay implementation, moving the effective date to January 1, 2026, and noted a sponsor amendment addressing health insurance group inclusion and medical and surgical benefits so those benefits would not be put at risk for the new group. Testimony and discussion focused on the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution, with supporters citing Michigan examples and arguing the bill would help recruit and retain employees while giving them more flexibility. Opponents said the change could weaken retirement security and increase unfunded liability, though supporters responded that the bill still requires employer contributions toward accrued liability and is intended to keep the state on track to pay off its unfunded liability by 2039. The transcript ends with continued discussion of the bill and no final vote shown on HB 581.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor, um A3 amendment.
• <00:47:21.280> Uh original bill and the amendment. Uh original bill and the amendment.
• <01:05:52.960> And full-time and contract positions.
• And full-time and contract positions.
• um the um the contracts um the um the contracts um<01:15:45.840> would<01:15:46.159> include

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:09.360> to brought in a replace all amendment to brought in a replace all amendment
• Uh we'd suggest an amendment<00:02:04.799> administratively<00:02:05.600> attaching amendment
• I am passing out an amendment.
• Yes, I would move ought to pass as amended by amendment 2025605H on House Senate Bill 18.
• Hampshire hospitals contract with. This Hampshire hospitals contract with.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:07.160> be<00:10:07.400> amended Senate proposal of amendment be amended Senate
• <00:15:42.640> be<00:15:42.840> amended Senate proposal of amendment be amended Senate
• The amendment has failed. The amendment has failed.
• particular amendment down. particular amendment down.
• be amended as proposal of amendment be amended as offered offered offered by<00:58:15.000> Senator

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill and we do have an amendment Bill and we do have an amendment members<00:23:07.159> so
• Representative Witte now moves the H1352 A1 amendment. Is the H1352 A1 amendment yours?
• Okay, to the bill as amended. the uh is the h135 2a1 amendment yours the uh is the h135 2a1 amendment
• The motion prevails. amendment so you know can we move two amendment so you know can we move two bills
• <00:52:16.599> any schinski moves the 0618 A1 Amendment any schinski moves the 0618 A1 Amendment

Bills: HF1698, HF632, HF1352, HF2197, HF618, HF1248, HF1697

Keywords: property tax, exemption, leased land, public use, commercial property, HF632, Minnesota property tax, conservation easement, conservation restriction, assessed value, property valuation, tax assessment, real property, land conservation, farmland preservation, natural areas, riparian buffer, water quality, water quantity, county assessor

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair: QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT? APPEARANCE FORMS ON THE AMENDMENT? DEBATE ON THE AMENDMENT?
• IS THERE DEBATE ON THIS AMENDMENT? DEBATE ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
• ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT? APPEARANCE FORMS ON THE AMENDMENT? DEBATE ON THE AMENDMENT?
• THIS AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. WERE BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. QUESTIONS ON THE BILLS AMENDED?
• THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. WE'RE BACK ON THE BILL IS AMENDED. QUESTIONS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• am here to support the amendment.
• Any other debate on the amendment? Any other debate on the amendment?
• Members, by your vote, the amendment is adopted. We are back on the bill as amended.
• We have those types of contracts out there.
• We have those type of contracts out there.

Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum and considered three bills. House Bill 1145 by Representative Shoaf would clarify that public charter schools may participate in the CAP grant program and expand the number of eligible programs under the money-back guarantee workforce education provision from three to six. Supporters said it would broaden access and encourage outcomes-focused training; members asked about fiscal impact and repayment concerns. The bill passed 16-0 and was reported favorably. House Bill 127 by Representative Kendall addressed exceptional student education and workforce credentialing. A strike-all amendment broadened the bill to include all students with disabilities, use the term micro-credential, involve the Department of Education, the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities, and OSHA, and add validation by special education staff and an IEP team member. Public testimony included support from Goodwill and others, while one witness raised concerns about IDEA compliance, voluntariness, and funding. Members debated those issues, with supporters emphasizing that the bill was not mandatory and would help transition students into work; the amendment was adopted and the bill then passed 15-0. House Bill 571 by Representative Kendall would expand career planning and work-based learning opportunities for students, require the Articulation Coordinating Committee to evaluate apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs for postsecondary credit, allow more flexible work-based learning, provide career days for students age 16 and up, guarantee transfer of certain credits to the Florida College System, and require annual review of personalized academic and career plans. Several industry and education groups appeared in support, no one spoke in opposition, and the bill passed 15-0 and was reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and is to pass with amendments.
• Chair and vice chair vote amendments.
• the This measure would amend the This measure would amend the prohibitions<01:02:13.400> on
• <01:21:05.920> some hinted at maybe needing to amend some hinted at maybe needing to amend some
• <01:21:40.040> you know specifically what amendments you know specifically what amendments

Bills: SB3326

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Labor heard SB 3326, a bill concerning a study of separating transmission from generation in Hawaii’s electric system. Testimony was largely opposed. Life of the Land argued that true separation on an isolated island grid has not been shown to work anywhere and said the bill would waste taxpayer money. Hawaiian Electric and the Public Utilities Commission also opposed the measure, saying Hawaii already uses competitive bidding for new generation, that the bill would add cost, complexity, and reliability risks, and that a new study would duplicate prior work. In response to questions, the PUC explained its existing competitive bidding framework and said it had not seen an island system fully restructure in this way. The chair then amended the bill’s intent to require the PUC to open a proceeding for an independent, comprehensive analysis of the state’s energy pathways, including cost reduction, financial risk, state energy goals, and reliability, rather than narrowly focusing on separation. Both committees voted to pass SB 3326 SD2 with amendments, with the Energy committee adopting the recommendation unanimously and the Labor committee adopting it with one reservation and two no votes. The Energy and Environmental Protection Committee then took up SB 2497 SD2, which would require electric utilities other than cooperatives to provide transparent, publicly accessible customer bill impact analyses and annual reports to the PUC. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the PUC offered comments, with the PUC supporting the intent. Life of the Land said the proposed disclosure requirements would be too complex for most ratepayers to use meaningfully, while Hawaiian Electric said the bill could raise costs and slow projects, though it acknowledged some of the language changes and said much of the information is already available through existing planning and regulatory processes. Hawaii Clean Power Alliance and one individual testified in support. No vote was taken on SB 2497 SD2 during the excerpt. The committee also heard SB 3183 SD2, which would bar higher-income taxpayers from claiming the renewable energy technologies income tax credit for certain residential solar systems and would change refundability rules. The Department of Taxation, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Tax Foundation offered comments, while the Hawaii Solar Energy Association and numerous companies and individuals opposed the bill. Opponents raised concerns about impacts on financing models and the solar market. Members asked the Department of Taxation for data on how credits are claimed by homeowners versus third-party owners and on the refundability of the credit; the department said it did not have the information immediately available but would follow up. The chair indicated decision-making would likely be deferred to allow further review, and no vote was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh so this amendment came about Codelli.
• so uh that's why we have that amendment so uh that's why we have that amendment and<00:03:06.480
• um and was uh amended um and was uh amended with<01:34:09.840> uh<01:34:10.639> section
• Human Service contracts Human Service contracts um<01:34:23.360> shall<01:34:23.840> include
• I was looking at the amendment that you introduced.

Keywords: 9:30am HB 557 11am HB 71, 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference first discussed House Bill 557, which concerns information on the school budget ballot. The main issue was how to define and calculate the “average cost per pupil.” House members favored a simple calculation dividing the operating budget by enrollment, arguing that it is clearer to the public and matches how taxpayers think about school costs. Senate members preferred the existing RSA-based definition for consistency across statutes and noted that the current definition was about to take effect. Members also debated whether the ballot language should specify the figure as being for the “preceding year,” and some House members ultimately agreed to that clarification while one member did not. After discussion, the Senate declined to move off its position on the calculation method, but agreed to a compromise amendment adding “for the preceding year” to the Senate language so it would align with the rest of the ballot information. The committee then agreed to draft the report with that amendment. The committee then turned to House Bill 71, dealing with restrictions on using public school and higher education facilities to shelter certain migrants, along with a Senate-added provision requiring DHHS contracts to comply with the patient bill of rights. Members generally said they supported the base policy of the bill, but Representative Noble raised a drafting concern about a repeal section that appeared to undo the new contract requirement; the group discussed removing that repeal language and adjusting effective dates. The committee also reviewed Senate-added language creating a donation fund for a proposed accessible pier at Hampton Beach. Supporters said the project would be privately funded through donations, with the state park division managing the fund and any remaining balance eventually transferring to an existing state park donations account if the pier is not built. Members questioned maintenance costs, fundraising responsibility, and whether the account was necessary, but the Senate explained the fund was intended to provide a mechanism for private fundraising and future maintenance support.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an introduced legislation, so that's either an engrossed bill, an amendment, just anything that
• It's an introduced legislation, so that's either an engrossed bill, an amendment, just anything that
• Oftentimes they get inactivated because language gets amended, things of that nature.
• procurement for the uh for Contracting procurement for the uh for Contracting with<00:52:33.520> the
• <00:53:32.440> uh it's given us again some contract uh it's given us again some contract uh

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as stated, the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology is proposing statutory amendments to update and clarify
• They're calling it a derivative or a swap contract under the financial statutes.
• or a swap contract uh under the<00:19:38.240> financial<00:19:38.640> statutes.
• But yes, prediction market companies are offering wagers or derivative swap contracts, as they would
• ,<00:25:45.880> as wagers or derivative swap contracts, as wagers or derivative swap contracts

Keywords: 00:00 CALL TO ORDER 00:05 ROLL CALL 01:03 HB 566 DISCUSSION 03:05 HB 566 VOTE 05:10 HB 885 DISCUSSION 08:03 HB 885 VOTE 09:55 HB 904 DISCUSSION 33:10 HB 904 VOTE 34:28 ADJOURNMENT, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• floor amendment 13 to House Bill 500. floor amendment 13 to House Bill 500.
• So file your floor amendments. pay for. So file your floor amendments.
• amendment 10 to House Bill 500. amendment 10 to House Bill 500.
• amendment 11 to House Bill 500. amendment 11 to House Bill 500.
• :48:52.640> amendment<02:48:53.120> to amendment six, the title amendment to amendment

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into committee and floor reports. Several measures received favorable committee reports and were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar, including Current Resolution 9, Senate Joint Resolution 23, House Bill 145, House Bill 567, and House Bill 506 with House Committee Substitute 1. The chamber also noted that House Bills 500 and 504 had already received two readings and were sent to the Rules Committee before House Bill 500 was brought up for final consideration. Most of the discussion focused on House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill. Members described it as a “good first draft” and emphasized a budget process they said was more transparent than in prior years. The bill was presented as a restrained two-year operating budget with spending growth kept at a little under 2% annually, while setting aside about 2% of projected revenues, or roughly $614 million, in the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for future needs. The budget also used base reductions in some areas while exempting others such as Medicaid benefits, SEEK, corrections, behavioral health, and veterans programs. Subcommittee chairs then outlined major spending areas. Education provisions included a 2% annual increase in base SEEK funding, transportation funding held flat, equalization for recallable nickel funding, continued retirement contributions, and major support for postsecondary access, dual credit, asset preservation, and workforce training. Health and family services provisions held Medicaid steady while adding waiver slots, behavioral health and substance use support, public health investments, and funding for rural health and laboratory capacity. Other sections covered personnel and pensions, veterans services, infrastructure, public safety, economic development, tourism, and environmental projects. The only recorded action on the floor was adoption of House Committee Substitute 1 to House Bill 500, followed by a motion for final passage of the bill as amended. The transcript ends as discussion on final passage begins, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill had an amendment added in the House that raises some concerns.
• At the time, I was unable to apply to contract with one of the major VBM companies called EyeMed.
• I testified before this committee at an interim hearing in May 2024 that I was unable to contract with
• I am still working toward agreeable contract terms to join the panel.
• I wanted to amend this bill for the House to offer a substitute because the bill did not address the

Bills: HB 107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655

Keywords: sickle cell disease, registry, health data, confidentiality, healthcare access, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, cancer, female firefighters, health study, state health services, fire protection, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health records

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of health and human services bills and left each one pending after public testimony. HB 4655 would expand financial literacy instruction for youth aging out of foster care to include credit scores, predatory lending, scams, banking, budgeting, and related consumer topics; the sponsor and Buckner International described the need to protect foster youth from financial pitfalls. HB 923 would add three public members and one physician to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel; supporters said it would improve informed consent and patient voice, while a witness raised concerns about a House amendment requiring a physician majority for decisions and senators questioned scope-of-practice limits. HHSC said the panel is an independent body and the bill expressly bars it from changing scope of practice.