Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Any other top priorities this session that you're looking to take on?
• Um, let's talk about your top objectives this session.
• Is that still a top issue? >> Oh, absolutely. Absolutely.
• Um, let's talk about your top solutions.
• Is that still a top issue? Is that still a top issue? >> Oh,<00:21:42.640> absolutely.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The program previewed the Minnesota Senate’s new session and featured interviews with Majority Leader Erin Murphy and Minority Leader Mark Johnson. Murphy said the DFL will focus on Capitol security, gun violence prevention, a supplemental budget, bonding/infrastructure, and continued anti-fraud work. She tied the session’s priorities to recent political violence and federal actions in Minnesota, and said she is working on legislation requiring federal agents to follow Minnesota’s rendering-aid law. She also said the Senate will pursue a bonding bill, likely a small supplemental budget bill, and additional fraud-related measures, including an independent inspector general proposal that stalled in the House. Murphy said the state’s November forecast showed a modest surplus but warned that federal policy changes could worsen the out-year budget outlook. She said the Senate would remain committed to balancing the budget and would not use infrastructure as leverage in negotiations. On fraud, she said the caucus has already passed multiple bills since 2023 and wants stronger enforcement, while expressing concern about prosecutorial capacity. She also emphasized a desire for bipartisan cooperation despite an election year and recent tragedy, saying senators should keep debates focused on policy and maintain working relationships. Johnson said Senate Republicans will emphasize fraud, affordability, infrastructure, and a broader approach to safety that includes mental health, school safety, and law enforcement training and equipment. He said the Senate has limited jurisdiction over the increased federal presence in Minnesota but can work on areas where bipartisan agreement is possible. He also said the session will be a bonding year, with attention to roads, bridges, water systems, and other capital projects, and noted that the governor’s proposed $97 million bonding bill is far below the roughly $6.5 billion in requests. On the budget, he said the legislature may have limited room to address the projected deficit this session, and he warned that retirements are changing the Senate’s makeup while also creating opportunities for new members and ideas.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, at the top, you see each fund listed.
• You can see them on the top line.
• to other top investors.
• The top 1 of members account for 37.9% of medical plan costs.
• The top 5% of members account for 64.3% of medical plan costs And the top 15% of members account for

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On top, and then the perception gap.
• I'm going to talk about the simple IT value chain here, going from bottom to top, and then talk a little
• You can build tools on top of it, and you're delivering really a consistent experience at that point
• I did call out some stuff there at the top level, kind of a description of, like I described earlier,
• And, as described at the top of the slide, there are three different methodologies we typically see.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could you give us some kind of off the top of your head know anything about that? translates to.
• of your head know anything you off top of your head know anything about<00:14:31.120> that?
• Uh, it's like the duck paddling on top of the water. You don't see the feet churning underneath.
• Uh, it's like the duck paddling on top of the water. You don't see the feet churning underneath.
• You don't see the on top of the water.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met on Transportation, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received a road fund update from Transportation Cabinet officials Mike Hancock, Sean McCernan, and Ron Rigney. McCernan reported that FY 2024-2025 road fund revenue came in $38.5 million above the enacted estimate, but was about $11 million below FY24 because of a lower motor fuels tax rate. He said motor vehicle usage tax receipts were stronger than expected, and that the road fund ended the year with a $61.6 million surplus account that, under the budget bill, must be appropriated to state construction. Members focused heavily on how declining motor fuels receipts affect the formula funds that support cities, counties, and rural/secondary roads. Hancock and McCernan explained that lower gas tax receipts reduce both the road plan and revenue sharing, while higher vehicle sales tax receipts from motor vehicle usage go directly to the road fund and do not help the formula distributions. They also said fuel efficiency, hybrid and electric vehicle trends, and the removal of a prior hybrid fee all affect revenue collections. On tolling, officials said Louisville bridge toll revenues are covering bills and commitments, but they did not have the latest collection figures in front of them and said they would provide them later. The committee also asked about project delivery delays, right-of-way acquisition, disaster recovery work, annual contract awards, cash management, and overprogramming in the highway plan. Officials said project delays often stem from right-of-way purchases, utility relocation, and the large volume of projects in the plan, and described the process as a “duck paddling” situation with substantial work happening behind the scenes. They said FY25 contract awards were already just under $998 million by the July letting and expected to exceed last year’s total, and explained that cash balances are managed so they do not fall below $100 million; the current balance was said to be about $166 million. No further votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The intent of this is to put a little frosting on top.
• The intent of this is to put a little frosting on top.
• The intent of this is to put a little frosting on top.
• So, most of it's being frosting on top.
• that we can do better by our top talent. that we can do better by our top talent.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're at the top of page three, standing committee report number 2048, 2049.
• Moving on to the top of page four. Representative Bura Oka. No vote. So ordered.
• We're at the top of page three, ordered.
• <00:21:33.600> Oh, 2050 at the top of page four. Oh, 2050 at the top of page four.
• Moving on to the top of page ordered.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment, and so beginning on page five, uh, you could see the last sentence that was added at the top
• amendment, and so beginning on page five, uh, you could see the last sentence that was added at the top
• amendment, and so beginning on page five, uh, you could see the last sentence that was added at the top
• amendment, and so beginning on page five, uh, you could see the last sentence that was added at the top
• corner but just an example of on the top corner but just an example of a<00:16:35.399> surplus

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So in that top of the would be made.
• Uh you see the the top one evaluation.
• <00:46:07.240> rows will see also on this these top rows will see also on this these top rows
• <00:48:56.160> line um again, the top line um again, the top line reflects<00:48:58.000>
• Uh you can see the top every valuation.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:00:12 Approval of Minutes: 00:01:34 Actuarial Valuation Update – KPPA: 00:02:10 Actuarial Valuation Update – TRS: 00:25:32, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, confirmation of a quorum, and approval of the prior minutes. The main presentation was from KPPA officials Ryan Barrow and Erin Saratt on the annual actuarial valuations for the retirement and insurance systems. They said the systems’ funding status improved overall, with three of five insurance funds fully funded, CERS hazardous dropping from over 100% funded to 90.9% because of premium changes, and KRS receiving $650 million in supplemental funding over the biennium. They also reported strong investment returns above assumed rates, higher payroll and membership counts, and resulting actuarial losses tied to higher salaries and premiums, especially on the insurance side. Members asked several questions about what drove the actuarial losses and whether legislation affected them. KPPA said the CERS insurance loss was driven by premium increases and Senate Bill 10, while the pension-side losses were largely due to higher payroll and benefits for Tier 1 and Tier 2 members. They explained that new Tier 3 employees are designed to add no additional unfunded liability, and that the state administers the systems but does not directly control all hiring. Questions also focused on retiree health premiums, which KPPA said rose about 15% for non-Medicare retirees and 38% for Medicare retirees, with the increase attributed to utilization, prescription costs, and the Inflation Reduction Act. The committee then heard from TRS Deputy Executive Secretary and General Counsel Beau Barnes on the 2025 TRS actuarial valuation. He reported that the Retirement Annuity Trust and Health Insurance Trust both received full funding, the retirement trust’s funded ratio improved to 61%, TRS 4 remains well funded with no liability, and the health insurance trust improved to 89.1%. Barnes said TRS is on track to fully fund legacy liabilities within the amortization period, with 2044 as the point when the system reflects 100% funding and 2046 as the last year needing additional dollars for the legacy liability. He also explained that lower assumed investment returns and updated mortality assumptions increased liabilities, but that TRS uses direct rate smoothing for budgeting purposes. At the end of the meeting, the chair circulated a proposed set of “do’s and don’ts of pensions,” emphasizing that future legislation should not create unfunded liabilities. Barnes also noted he would later discuss several legislative proposals for the 2026 session, but the transcript provided ends before that discussion or any votes on those proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• of which areas had of rose to the top of which areas had the<00:15:43.000> most<00:15:43.240>
• And the top 5% had 2,600 pounds applied.
• the top the top 25%<01:18:15.760> had<01:18:16.280> over 25% had over 25% had over
• likely to attend a school in the top likely to attend a school in the top 25%<01:18:34.840> which
• I don't believe so, off the top of my head.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: This joint informational briefing of Senate and House committees focused on restricted use pesticides in Hawaiʻi, with opening remarks framing the issue as one of health, environmental impact, and state-level regulation. The briefing reviewed the history of pesticide disclosure efforts, including prior county actions, a 2016 court ruling that shifted responsibility to the state, and Act 45, which enabled disclosure of restricted use pesticide data. Speakers highlighted 2019 reporting data showing concentrated use in parts of Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, especially near schools and communities, and identified fumigants such as 1,3-dichloropropene and metam sodium as among the heaviest-used products. Concerns were raised about potential links to cancer, respiratory illness, reproductive harms, Parkinson’s disease, and developmental effects, as well as the lack of long-term mixture studies and the need for better buffer zones, reporting, and farmer transition support. The Department of Agriculture’s pesticides program manager described the state’s regulatory framework, explaining the distinction between general use and restricted use pesticides and the department’s role under FIFRA and Hawaiʻi law. He outlined the branch’s enforcement, education/certification, registration, and laboratory functions, including inspections, complaint response, market surveillance, applicator certification, product review, groundwater protection modeling, and special registrations. He also noted staffing and resource limitations, including the absence of an in-house toxicologist and long-term monitoring capacity, and compared Hawaiʻi’s resources to California’s much larger pesticide regulatory program. He said the department supports Act 231, which was passed the previous year and is moving forward this session. A pediatrician speaking for the Hawaiʻi chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasized concerns about chronic low-level pesticide exposure in children, citing AAP policy statements and technical reports that associate exposure with cancer, leukemia, birth defects, neurobehavioral issues, and asthma. Drawing on work with the Kauaʻi Joint Fact Finding Task Force, the speaker said the group found the west side of the island to be an unhealthy community but could not prove causation because of missing drift, geospatial, and biomarker data. The testimony pointed to elevated cancer mortality, pneumonia admissions, obesity, dialysis, and developmental delay indicators, and described concerns about pesticide drift near schools and homes, including reports of children becoming ill after nearby spraying and low levels of chlorpyrifos detected in dust samples. An environmental health scientist from the University of Hawaiʻi described a pilot project using restricted use pesticide data in a public health context. She said the project began after seeing maps of Central Oʻahu pesticide use and aimed to pair GIS data with health and ethnicity data, while also conducting community focus groups. Preliminary focus group themes included calls to action, voting and policymaker awareness, concern about pesticide use near homes and fields, lack of community consent, and a desire to stay engaged. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section one is the same as the current bill that we had before us on the top of page two.
• That's all the same. ...on the top of page 2. That's all the same down to line 24.
• If we flip to the top of page four, we put back in there the area about change of ownership in the previous
• If you flip to page 5 at the top of the page through line 12, that's all the same as the current bill
• Page 8 is the same as the current bill, except at the top of page 8.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee reconvened to hear a revised version of Senate Bill 2385, with Representative Casper walking through changes made in consultation with the bill sponsor and agency counsel. He explained that the amendments restored language on change of ownership and license transfer for mobile home parks, recreational vehicle parks, and campgrounds; removed a proposed $5,000 civil penalty and returned the violation penalty to an infraction; extended the correction period before disciplinary action to 30 days with possible additional time for good-faith compliance; and removed the tenant right of first refusal, leaving park sales to willing buyers and sellers. Casper said the changes simplified the bill and addressed concerns raised earlier in committee. Members asked about how licenses would work after a sale, and Casper said a transferred license would continue for the current year, but the new owner would need to reapply annually. He also said all participating parties and the Attorney General’s counsel were amenable to the amendments. The committee adopted the Casper amendments by voice vote and then moved to a do pass as amended recommendation. The first roll call on the amended bill was confusing because several members were absent, and the committee briefly discussed whether to wait for Representative Ruby and whether votes should be repeated. Members explained their earlier no votes, with Representative Koppelman saying he had intended to vote against the amendment rather than the bill, and Representative Schauer citing concerns about provisions affecting park owners and evictions. After waiting briefly, the committee retook the vote and approved SB 2385 as amended on a 7-3-4 roll call. Representative Casper was asked to carry the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:13.919> of want to compete and live um on top of want to compete and live um on top
• And we could go on top of that, then I think we'd be successful. >> Okay. Thank you.
• But the scholarships on top of the $5 million, though.
• It might be half of that on top. number. It might be half of that on top.
• Um and and then on top is is very loved.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House-Senate higher education briefing focused on how the University of Hawaii athletics department plans to remain competitive in the NIL era, especially as the House settlement and related changes allow new forms of athlete compensation. Chair and Senator Kim opened by framing the issue as balancing competitiveness, sustainability, compliance, and UH’s educational mission. Coaches Laura Beeman and Timmy Chang described how NIL and the transfer portal are already affecting recruiting and retention, with Beeman saying women’s basketball has lost six to 10 recruits because UH cannot yet match offers, and Chang citing examples of players being courted with large sums and the need to retain proven local and out-of-state athletes. Both emphasized that student-athletes should still prioritize education, culture, and team values, while also receiving support that helps them stay at UH. Athletic Director Matt Elliott then outlined UH’s broader strategy. He said the department’s vision is to create an outstanding student-athlete experience, recruit and retain elite athletes, compete at the highest level of the Mountain West, and strengthen the bond with the community. He described NIL as having moved from a largely unregulated period to a new phase in which institutions can directly control some NIL payments, while outside deals still must be reviewed for fair market value. Elliott said UH wants to use NIL to help athletes cover basic needs and build financial stability, while also keeping them academically on track. He noted the department is pursuing fundraising, including a “Boost the Bose” account, corporate sponsorships, and licensing deals, to support NIL opportunities. In response to questions from Senator Kim, Elliott clarified that UH’s approach involves both institution-controlled payments and outside NIL deals: internal payments can be structured at the department’s discretion within the cap, while external sponsor deals must go through NIL Go and meet market-value standards. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Children who get stuck boarding are children whose top risk factors include aggression, self-harm, and
• <00:02:38.040> are<00:02:38.160> children<00:02:38.520> whose<00:02:38.680> top
• <00:02:39.000> risk boarding are children whose top risk boarding are children whose top risk
• in the top five worst trails in the top in the top five worst trails in the state<00:47:49.000> as
• <01:02:49.960> bonding to present Ramsey County top bonding to present Ramsey County top bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• top of their licensure and training. top of their licensure and training.
• I don't have the answer to that off the top of my head. I'm happy to get you an answer.
• I don't have the answer to that off the top of my head. I'm happy to get you an answer.
• <01:15:01.360> nursing the top nursing the top nursing folks<01:15:02.880> in<01:15
• <01:16:09.240> of that they're not working at the top of that they're not working at the top

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, some very promising things is the supporting wages, the top-tier benefits, no college debt, and of
• Um, some very promising things is the supporting wages, the top-tier benefits, no college debt, and of
• Um, some very promising things is the supporting wages, the top-tier benefits, no college debt, and of
• Um, some very promising things is the supporting wages, the top-tier benefits, no college debt, and of
• Um, some very promising things is the supporting wages, the top-tier benefits, no college debt, and of

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:38.520> represent The top two purple sections represent The top two purple sections
• I do not have that number off the top of my head.
• And Hennepin has been like the top flyer in this area.
• And Hennepin has been like the top flyer in this area.
• know, property taxes obviously are top know, property taxes obviously are top of<01:08:14.640>

Transcript Highlights:

• remember off the top of my head,<00:14:12.960> but<00:14:13.080> I<00:14:13.160> do
• Whereas the top population decile has 10% of the households, but has 43% of the income.
• <00:36:20.320> in<00:36:20.560> in the top 10% of income in the top in in the top 10%
• of income in the top in in the<00:36:20.960> 10th<00:36:21.280> decile.
• The top bar is the top 1% of household income.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is our request for this year: the R.A.V.E. app, the one at the top.
• So, Really, I'll point out the top probably 4 or 5 areas where a bulk of our people are.
• trooper and I hit 10 years and I could vest and go do 20 at an agency that's going to pay me 3% and top
• I can't remember off the top of my head what that fee is right now, but that will remain.
• And we came up with an average to put our agents not to the top but somewhere in the middle to where

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AND DEMAND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN FLORIDA AS WE SEEK TO HELP FLORIDA RETAIN TOP TALENT AND
• HOW DO WE CONTINUE THAT TO YOU STUDENTS TO GET INTO THE RN PROGRAM WHICH IS THE TOP IN THE HEALTHCARE
• ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES MOVING FORWARD IS TO INCREASE STUDENT ENROLLMENT BY 25%.
• IN SO DOING RETAINING TOP FLORIDA TALENT HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
• TOP TALENT WE HAVE CREATED THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR PROGRAM.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• plaintiffs for generations, but rather as a result of auto insurance reforms in Florida and several of the top
• plaintiffs for generations, but rather as a result of auto insurance reforms in Florida and several of the top
• So I did a deeper dive, and just for us alone to give you the flavor for it, we're a top writer.
• So I did a deeper dive, and just for us alone to give you the flavor for it, we're a top writer.
• For us alone to give you the flavor for it, we're a top writer.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Financial Services Committee heard testimony on several insurance, transportation, and labor-related bills. Senator Edwards supported bills addressing app-based delivery workers, arguing that food-delivery drivers should be treated as employees with protections and mileage reimbursement, and that a small surcharge on app-based deliveries could raise revenue for the Commonwealth and localities. Kevin Brousseau of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO also backed the delivery-worker bill, saying it would preserve employee status, add data transparency, and create a process for challenging deactivations. MAPC supported a bill to change transportation network company fees from a flat per-ride charge to a percentage-based assessment, saying the current fee is outdated and that a higher fee could raise more transportation revenue and help address congestion and emissions. A large portion of the hearing focused on auto insurance and collision repair issues. Insurance industry witnesses supported a bill to limit attorney’s fees in PIP cases by giving insurers 30 days after a complaint is served to pay amounts due without fee exposure, arguing that PIP litigation has surged, is clogging courts, and is being driven by out-of-state firms. They also opposed auto body labor-rate bills, saying the market is already adjusting and that a statutory floor is unnecessary. In contrast, auto body shop representatives and the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts urged favorable action on bills to raise and regularly update collision repair labor rates, saying current reimbursement levels are far below market, have not kept pace with inflation or vehicle technology, and are making it hard to retain workers and keep small shops open. One witness also supported a bill to limit insurance surcharge points for low-damage accidents or minor moving violations. Committee members asked questions about deactivation rights for delivery workers, the mechanics of the PIP litigation issue, and the gap between body-shop and mechanical labor rates. Testimony emphasized that current auto body reimbursement rates are around the mid-$40s per hour, while mechanical work can be reimbursed at much higher rates, and that advisory-board discussions have produced only limited progress. At the end of the hearing, the chairs asked if anyone else wished to testify, then moved to close the hearing; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• of just scholarship scholarship PDM top of just scholarship scholarship PDM stipen<00:21:49.600>
• But then they will be able to educate us: this is what I need on top of that, and if the dollars that
• I I can number off the top of my head. I I can find<01:10:21.840> out. find out. find out.
• It might be half of that on top. number. It might be half of that on top.
• Um, and and then on top of that, loved.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: A joint informational briefing of the House and Senate higher education committees focused on how the University of Hawaiʻi athletics department plans to remain competitive in the new NIL era, including the effects of the House v. NCAA settlement, direct institutional payments, and the need to balance competitiveness with the university’s educational mission. Senators and committee members introduced themselves, and the briefing featured remarks from women’s basketball coach Laura Beeman, football coach Timmy Chang, and Athletic Director Matt Elliott. Coach Beeman said NIL has already affected recruiting and retention in women’s basketball, estimating the program has lost six to 10 student-athletes because it lacks the funding to keep comparable talent. She emphasized that the issue is not greed but retention, culture, and keeping student-athletes who value the university and community, while also using NIL as a way to teach financial literacy, privacy, and adult responsibilities. Coach Chang described similar pressures in football, including transfer portal volatility and competing offers from other programs, and gave examples of players whose personal and family circumstances made NIL support important for staying at Hawaiʻi. Athletic Director Elliott said the department’s vision is to create an outstanding student-athlete experience, recruit and retain elite athletes, compete at the top of the Mountain West, and strengthen community ties. He said the department wants to preserve the educational focus while adapting to a system in which student-athletes can share in revenue. Elliott explained that UH is seeking a $5 million annual NIL fund, is fundraising through the community and the “Boost the Bose” account, and is also pursuing individual NIL deals, corporate sponsorship-related deals, and licensing opportunities. In response to Senator Kim’s question, he said NIL compensation can come through two tracks: institutional payments within the department’s discretion and outside deals that must be reviewed for market value under the new reporting system. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting was informational only.