Transcript Highlights:

• Is there anyone else present testimony.
• Um, thank you so much for your testimony.
• your testimony. your testimony.
• >> Thank you for your testimony. >> Thank you for your testimony.
• Schweizer, for your testimony.

Bills: HF4234, HF3697, HF1183, HF4738

Keywords: HF4234, Minnesota private activity bonds, tax-exempt bonds, bond cap, aggregate bond limitation, residential rental projects, multifamily housing, affordable housing finance, housing bonds, public finance, bond allocation, private activity bond cap, Minnesota Statutes 474A.02, tax committee, tax refund, Minnesota Statutes, time limit, claims, tax overpayment, taxation

Summary: The committee first adopted the April 14, 2026 minutes as amended, correcting a misspelling in the reference to Chair Davids. It then heard House File 4234, a tax-exempt bonding/affordable housing bill from Representative Rey Rower, and adopted a technical A1 amendment before laying the bill over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill. The bill would conform Minnesota law to recent federal changes to low-income housing tax credit rules by lowering the amount of tax-exempt bonds needed for projects to qualify, with the stated goal of spreading bond allocations across more projects and increasing affordable housing production without additional state funds. Testimony in support came from the bill author, the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, and Mary Tingerthal, who said the change would increase efficiency in the use of federal bond authority and could raise the number of funded housing projects from about 16 to 25 per year, bringing in roughly $120 million more annually for housing. Members discussed where the benefits would be felt statewide, including greater Minnesota and larger metro areas, and the author said the bill would help address shortages in affordable and senior housing. The committee took no final vote on the bill, instead laying it over. The committee next heard House File 3697 from Vice Chair Norris, which would change Minnesota’s tax refund claim timelines to better align with federal law and most other states. The author and a tax attorney testifier said the bill would reduce confusion and help taxpayers, especially vulnerable individuals who may overpay or be overassessed and then miss the current deadline to seek refunds. The Department of Revenue said it had no concerns with the language and did not oppose the bill, and the committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill. Finally, the committee began hearing House File 4738 from Representative Keeler, a Safe Harbor funding proposal for victims of sex trafficking and sexually exploited youth. The author described Safe Harbor as a statewide program serving youth across Minnesota and said the committee should consider creative funding options, but Chair Davids stated the proposed funding source would not work because it would take money from women’s sports scholarships. Testifiers from Lake House in Duluth and a former Safe Harbor youth described the program’s impact on homeless and trafficked youth, including shelter, mental health services, education, and transition to adulthood. The hearing continued with testimony, but no action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• as you get started with your testimony. as you get started with your testimony.
• Paula >> thank you for your testimony.
• I would invite testimony and a discussion by members.
• I would invite testimony thrust of 3913.
• Thank you very much for your testimony.

Bills: HF4119, HF3959, HF3792, HF3913, HF3752

Keywords: property tax, renter credits, co-pay, housing affordability, tax relief, homestead, tax refund, Minnesota, tax increase, financial relief, homeowners, AmeriCorps, taxation, individual income tax, living allowances, stipends, national service, tax compliance, revenue, analytics

Transcript Highlights:

• Um one one thank you for this testimony.
• >> Thank you all for your testimony. >> Thank you all for your testimony.
• Chairman. >> Thank you all for your testimony.
• Uh, I'm going to for your testimony.
• We have one more individual testimony.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education opened its first meeting with roll call, member introductions, and introductions of numerous interns from Kentucky colleges and universities. The chair reviewed committee rules for the 2026 session, including witness oaths, sign-up procedures, limits on testimony, and the deadline for submitting committee substitutes and amendments. The committee then took up House Bill 96, sponsored by Chair Tipton, which would revise the membership and timing of the performance-based funding work group. Tipton said the bill would expand legislative participation from one House and one Senate member to five from each chamber, keep university and KCTCS presidents on the group, make the CPE president a nonvoting chair, and change the work group’s schedule from a fiscal year to a calendar year. He argued the changes would build institutional knowledge, allow university leaders to meet without creating quorum/open-meeting issues, and help the group develop recommendations for the next General Assembly. Members raised concerns about politicization and the even-numbered membership, while Tipton said he wanted consensus rather than a tied vote. The committee approved HB 96 on a roll call vote, with most members voting yes and Representative Willner voting no but saying she might change her vote later on the House floor. The committee also heard House Bill 94 for discussion only, so no vote was taken. Representative Vanessa Gracel and CPE counsel Travis Pal described the bill as a transfer-pathways measure aimed at making two-year-to-four-year and four-year-to-four-year transfers more seamless in high-demand programs. They said the proposal would require CPE, public universities, and KCTCS to collaborate on statewide transfer pathways based on student and workforce demand, with institutions able to opt in or out of specific pathways but required to disclose nontransferable courses for transparency. Gracel argued the bill would reduce credit loss, lower time and cost to degree, improve completion rates, and help students and families understand transfer options; she also criticized some universities for not engaging in the process. No action was taken on HB 94 at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:41.679> Anyone much for your testimony. Anyone much for your testimony.
• <00:51:52.480> Does for your testimony. Thank you. Does for your testimony. Thank you.
• Uh, on page two of my testimony, I will provide copies.
• Uh on page two of my testimony, I House.
• Thank you for your testimony. Appreciate it.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much for your testimony; that actually helps.
• <01:24:50.600> next Thank you for your testimony.
• All right, thank you for your testimony. Is that it?
• Right, thank you for your testimony.
• This bill really is here today because with... your testimony is there anyone else in your testimony

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Bruce, for your testimony.
• Bruce, for your testimony.
• People are afraid to come and give public testimony.
• Bruce's testimony.
• <00:58:15.160> from acts asks us to uh take testimony from acts asks us to uh take testimony

Bills: HF23, HF1355

Keywords: whistleblower, whistleblower protections, public employees, state employees, retaliation, reporting fraud, misuse of authority, personal gain, state government, state services, state programs, legislative auditor, constitutional officer, public corruption, fraud reporting, government accountability, employee rights, labor law, Minnesota Statutes 181.931, Minnesota Statutes 181.932

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for hearing my testimony and considering this bill. I urge your support.
• give us your two minutes of testimony give us your two minutes of testimony thank<00:37:49.000><
• All right, go ahead and give us your two minutes of testimony. Sounds great.
• testimony and then I can ask you the question, which gives you a little more time.
• Kill, for your testimony, but also thank you to you, Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have Dave Fischer here from Clean Elections Minnesota, who can kick us off with our testimony.
• Dave Fischer here from Clean Elections Minnesota, who can kick us off with our testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Elections Committee met on February 6, 2025, and first considered the reappointment of Steven Swanson to the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Swanson described his background in legal aid, lobbying, judging, and international rule-of-law work, and said he wanted to continue serving the public. Committee members praised his experience and discussed the importance of campaign finance oversight, including preventing corporate participation in Minnesota elections. Senator Wosinski moved to recommend Swanson’s confirmation, and the motion was adopted. The committee then heard Senate File 529, a proposed constitutional amendment to state that elections shall be free, fair, and equal, and that no civil or military power may interfere with the free exercise of the right to vote. Senator Dibble presented the bill as a way to strengthen voting rights and provide a constitutional basis to challenge voter suppression, gerrymandering, and unfair campaign practices. Testimony in support came from David Fischer of Clean Elections Minnesota and Jean Massie of Fair Vote Minnesota, both of whom argued the amendment would protect access to voting, increase confidence in elections, and align Minnesota with other states that have similar language. Members discussed whether the amendment’s broad language could invite judicial interpretation or affect future election laws. Senator Koran questioned how the proposal would improve Minnesota’s already high turnout, while Senator Grant raised concerns that the terms “free, fair, and equal” were undefined and could shift power to the courts. Senator Lucero proposed an oral amendment to add “ensuring one eligible citizen, one vote” after the word “equal,” saying it would address concerns about future voter ID laws. The amendment was restated by counsel and discussed, with Senator Dibble saying it did not significantly harm the bill but suggesting it might imply a requirement he did not intend. The transcript ends during discussion of that oral amendment, and no final vote on the bill itself is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• guidelines of five to six minutes for their testimony.
• Anyway, and thank you for your testimony.
• This time we'll open public testimony.
• Thank you for that testimony. Senator Koukors.
• As was noted earlier with the testimony...

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Labor Committee we heard some testimony Labor Committee we heard some testimony from<00:03:03.040
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• <00:51:34.200> uh Thank you for your testimony uh Thank you for your testimony uh on<00:51
• . testimony. testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will not be taking public testimony.
• Under Senate rule testimony under oath. The complaintants testimony under oath.
• We will not be taking public<00:05:22.520> testimony.
• <00:05:23.520> After<00:05:23.919> testimony<00:05:24.560> is public testimony
• After testimony is public testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um members, any questions or testimony.
• Um thank you Senator testimony too.
• testimony. Welcome to the committee. testimony. Welcome to the committee.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• <01:14:56.480> Uh Thank you for your testimony. Uh Thank you for your testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um House Bill 1723 stems from testimony.
• you very much for your testimony. you very much for your testimony.
• your testimony. your testimony.
• >> Thank you for your testimony, John. >> Thank you for your testimony, John.
• >> thank you for your testimony. >> thank you for your testimony.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I will close public testimony committee. I will close public testimony committee.
• All right, I will close public testimony All right, I will close public testimony committee<01:00
• Appreciate all the testimony on that.
• close public testimony. close public testimony.
• Any other public testimony?

Bills: SF0102, SF0123, SF0021, SF0099

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, energy, funding, grants, loans, coal, natural gas, mineral processing, economic development, stable token, liquidity, trust account, Wyoming, fund distribution, financial regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• We have over 20 testifiers testimony.
• And fourth, the uh in the testimony.
• Thank and proceed with your testimony.
• record and proceed with your testimony. record and proceed with your testimony.
• Um our next the testimony on time.

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:05:07.600> Um, testimony.
• Um, testimony.
• We'll go through testimony first. Okay. Thank you for your testimony.
• We'll go through testimony Questions? We'll go through testimony first.<00:07:17.440> Okay.
• Thank you for your testimony, Miss Brun. Thank you for your testimony, Miss Brun.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, and we are being given the two handouts right now, so go ahead with your testimony.
• Don’t read your testimony; summarize it. Thank you very much for the opportunity. I am grateful.
• The PFN has also submitted written testimony as well, which I had handed out.
• The PFN has also submitted written testimony as well, which I had handed out.
• The PFN has also submitted written testimony as well, which I had handed out.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. >> Thank you for your testimony.
• and proceed with your testimony. and proceed with your testimony.
• not be taking any additional testimony. not be taking any additional testimony.
• Seeing none, I will close public testimony and move on to member testimony and member discussion.
• testimony, we'll go to member questions. testimony, we'll go to member questions.

Bills: HF4277, HF3819, HF3489, HF4408, HF3901, HF4316

Keywords: child care, child care center, day care, licensed child care, video security cameras, surveillance, security cameras, maltreatment, child abuse, child safety, public and shared areas, camera mandate, child care assistance program, CCAP, Great Start Compensation Support, early learning scholarships, licensed provider, Minnesota Statutes 142B.68, Harvey's Law, privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:45.360> My testimony. Thank you, Madam Chair. My testimony.
• Please see our written testimony for full remarks.
• Thank you. the record and begin your testimony. the record and begin your testimony.
• That concludes the testimony. That concludes the testimony. Members, do you have questions?
• testimony today. testimony today.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• work and thank you for your testimony work and thank you for your testimony today. today. today.
• begin your testimony. begin your testimony.
• . testimony. testimony.
• Thank you very much for your testimony. Thank you very much for your testimony.
• Thank you for the opportunity to share my testimony. Thank you very much for your testimony today.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all