Transcript Highlights:

• My question is, you may or may not be able to answer, but I'm hoping that you can just give me an idea
• well that the last couple of legislative sessions, there have been some various bill concepts and ideas
• So we are happy to engage in future ideas to meet the recommendations of this report.
• I definitely have some ideas.
• I definitely have some ideas.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee heard three State Auditor’s Office performance audits: implementation of the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act, Washington’s digital equity planning, and the Department of Commerce’s Digital Navigator Program. In the law enforcement training audit, the State Auditor found the Criminal Justice Training Commission had developed most required training content but had not developed all required topics, lacked a systematic project management approach, and had weak tools to ensure participation and compliance. Auditors said most officers had not completed the required 40 hours, patrol tactics training was a major bottleneck, and the Commission’s reporting did not clearly show statewide compliance. The Commission said it generally agreed with the recommendations and had begun implementing some changes. Committee members raised concerns about staffing, liability, incentives, and whether the law had enough enforcement “teeth.” In the digital equity audit, auditors said Washington lacked a comprehensive, unified statewide plan, a designated leader, and reliable funding for digital equity efforts. They said existing plans were fragmented, with the NTIA-approved plan the most complete but no longer fully funded after federal changes. The State Auditor recommended the legislature establish oversight authority and require a lead organization to coordinate and evaluate statewide digital equity efforts and develop a unified plan. The Department of Commerce and Office of Equity agreed with the need for clearer leadership and coordination, and a public witness described ongoing coalition and local planning work. Committee members asked about best practices from other states and whether the auditor could provide additional research on coordination models. In the Digital Navigator Program audit, the State Auditor concluded Commerce did not consistently follow core grant-management practices, including competitive award processes, vetting of grantees, clear contracts, performance monitoring, and reimbursement controls. Auditors said Commerce expanded grants without a new competition, lacked adequate documentation and reporting, and paid out millions without sufficient support; they also cited management decisions that overrode staff concerns. Commerce said it had already begun major contract-management reforms, created a new contracts and compliance structure, and was working on risk assessments, documentation standards, and staff training. Members pressed Commerce on accountability, possible recoupment of improper payments, ethics issues, and whether the agency had clear performance metrics for the program. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended after public testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, members, we heard this bill in committee, and this sounds like a great idea to set up housing hubs
• The idea that downloaded software is somehow a that downloaded software is somehow a loophole in our
• The idea was to say, well, it doesn't matter how it's delivered.
• change current to previous so that it is no longer a projection that we would have at least a better idea
• Um, part of the idea of a trip is it is meant to be responsive to practices gleaned from employers that

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You realize I have no idea what you're talking about, right? Bunkie is all of Ward 10.
• You realize I have no idea what you're talking about. So it's just...
• I didn't like that idea, but he listened to a lot of people, Representative Desotel did, and came up
• with this idea.
• them what they think about expanding the city courts, and all of them were absolutely, it's a good idea

Bills: HR2, HR37, HR61, HCR11, HCR64, HB89, HB183, HB341, HB371, HB451, HB480, HB520, HB541, HB579, HB597, HB816, HB1004, HB1064, HB1165, SB44

Keywords: transparency, accountability, Justice Department, FBI, Jeffrey Epstein, victim protection, investigation, public trust, HR37, House Resolution 37, Honduras veterans, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, military medal, veteran recognition, Congress memorialization, U.S. veterans, foreign deployment, 1981 to 1992, military service awards, combat support

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of judiciary-related bills and resolutions. It first considered HB 1165, which was substantially rewritten by substitute to create the City Courts of Marksville and Bunkie and expand their jurisdiction parishwide in Avoyelles Parish, including small claims and certain misdemeanor, civil, and juvenile matters. Supporters, including judges, said the change would improve access to justice and better use existing courts; the district attorney opposed it, arguing it would not help the criminal docket and raised constitutional, staffing, and election concerns. After questions about voting districts, appeals, and minority vote dilution, the substitute was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably HB 1064, creating a domestic violence intervention court pilot program in the 19th JDC, and HB 341, clarifying that law-enforcement officer interrogations under the bill of rights are administrative rather than criminal matters; both drew supportive testimony from court, advocacy, and law-enforcement representatives. The committee then approved HCR 64, as amended, to study behavioral health courts and expand the study to Ouachita, East Baton Rouge, and Orleans parishes, with a report due by January 1, 2027. It also reported favorably HB 579, which strengthens the sexual assault survivor bill of rights and related protections, with testimony emphasizing survivor services and access to funding. HB 1004, which would have raised the jurisdictional limit for justice of the peace courts from $5,000 to $7,500, drew substantial opposition from city court judges and others who warned of unintended consequences, including inconsistent procedures, possible attorney-representation requirements for entities, and more appeals; after debate the bill failed on a roll call vote, 5 yeas to 11 nays. Later, the committee reported favorably HB 451, allowing the Alcohol and Tobacco Control commissioner to send hearing notices electronically and removing the 30-day mailing constraint; HB 541, as a substitute, allowing in-state microdistillers producing under 100 gallons to obtain a permit for a $100 fee; HB 183, prohibiting courthouse cellphone bans in areas where fines, fees, or court costs are paid, though it faced concerns about legislative authority over local courthouses and ultimately failed on a 7-8 vote; SB 44, requiring agency approval for firearms and ammunition carried by tactical medical professionals; HR 37, memorializing Congress to award the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to veterans who served in Honduras from 1981 to 1992; and HB 89, requiring the Third Judicial District DA’s office to pay health insurance premiums for eligible retired employees from its own funds. Several other items were voluntarily deferred, and the meeting ended after the committee completed its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• But everybody has kind of the general idea that at any time an inspector could show up, and that's kind
• I have no idea why.
• Are we in that situation now, or have you got an idea? Apparently, we do have an idea. Mr.
• Just wondered if we have any idea of why the agency says it's a backlog, but that was something that

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think the idea is there, and I totally get the concern.
• I think there were some really good ideas on how we can make sure that this ultimately works for everyone
• I really like the idea and I appreciate what you're trying to achieve. Great. Thank you.
• I really don't think that's a good idea to put on them, but I think this is one of many bills that are
• code enforcement we would discuss fire safe councils doing that I I really don't think that's a good idea

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to public safety, emergency response, wildfire prevention, and environmental protection. AB 2152 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez would streamline CEQA litigation for new fire station projects and add best-practice requirements; supporters, including firefighters, said it would help communities and firefighter safety, while opponents argued the project labor agreement requirements would raise costs and limit participation for small and nonunion contractors. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2041 by Assembly Member Carrillo would expand reporting related to 911 dispatcher pre-arrival medical instructions; after amendments and stakeholder agreement, opposition groups said they would remove their opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2101 by Assembly Member Gipson would require human trafficking notices and training at disaster sites and for disaster response workers; supporters said it would protect vulnerable workers, while broadband, city, and county representatives raised implementation concerns, especially in rural disaster areas. It passed to Appropriations despite a no vote from Vice Chair Hadwick. The committee also considered AB 1805, which would require an audit and stronger oversight of the state’s Next Generation 911 project after concerns about major spending and delays. CalNENA supported the bill’s transparency and accountability provisions, and the measure passed to Appropriations. AB 1536 by Assembly Member Addis would tighten safety and public review requirements for offshore oil pipeline restarts and require decommissioning of certain spill-prone pipelines; environmental and coastal government groups supported it, while the Western States Petroleum Association warned it would threaten fuel supply and pipeline operations. The bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. AB 1964 would direct the State Fire Marshal to survey home hardening in fire-prone areas and estimate costs; it passed to Appropriations with broad support. AB 1960, also by Assembly Member Bennett, would use a portion of wildfire prevention grants to encourage community-level home hardening certification. The author said the bill would create incentives and broader public awareness, while the vice chair argued it would favor communities that can already afford hardening and divert resources from higher-need areas; the bill still passed to Appropriations. AB 1863 by Assembly Member DeMaio would clarify that people cannot be charged simply for calling 911 or when no services are rendered, while preserving fees for actual services and allowing billing for legitimate emergency response costs; it passed to the Assembly floor. The committee also took up consent item AB 2517, which passed to Appropriations. After add-on votes for absent members, the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this is a first effort at bringing forward a bill that is a novel idea that Minnesotans are begging
• You talk about being a novel idea.
• We just talked about it quick, and so I thought it was a really clever idea.
• It's a really clever idea. It's kind of like that old drug tax that we had on the illegal drugs.
• knows if it'll ever get enforced, but it can't hurt anything, and I thought it was a really clever idea

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Senator Steve Drazkowski and Representative Anderson held a press event promoting the bipartisan, bicameral “Take It Back Act,” a bill aimed at recovering taxpayer money lost to government fraud. They cited major Minnesota fraud cases, including medical assistance fraud, CCAP, and Feeding Our Future, and argued that the state has become a destination for fraud. They said the bill would impose a 100% tax or excise tax on money obtained through fraud, with proceeds deposited into a tax relief fund for income and property tax relief. The sponsors said the measure is intended to create a stronger deterrent and to recover money even when criminal restitution or prosecutions do not fully recoup losses. They discussed examples of unrecovered funds, said the Department of Revenue could use criminal findings, data analytics, and IRS-sharing data to identify fraud, and noted that the bill includes an appeal process through tax court. They also said the current draft focuses on convicted fraudsters and people or organizations determined by the commissioner to have obtained money by fraud, while trying to avoid sweeping in innocent employees or others who were unaware of wrongdoing. Anderson said the bill already has significant bipartisan support, including 11 House Democrats and Senator Rest, and that the House Tax Committee hearing is scheduled for April 30. He said the sponsors are working with the Department of Revenue on implementation and may revise the bill to make administration easier. The sponsors said they hope to move the bill through the House and Senate this session, and they closed by encouraging the press to review the fraud website they referenced, mnfraudfiles.com.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would also work with Senator Higdon if there's any ideas that he might have to improve this, but as
• I would also work with Senator Higdon if there's any ideas that he might have to improve this, but as
• Higdon if I would also work with Senator Higdon if there's<00:20:18.080> any<00:20:18.680> ideas
• c> he<00:20:19.240> might<00:20:19.480> have<00:20:19.840> to there's any ideas
• that he might have to there's any ideas that he might have to improve<00:20:20.680> this,<00:

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the actual genesis of this idea came from Mayor Billy Phelps from Morgantown, Kentucky, Butler County
• suggested, and he presented this to the Summit of Kentucky League of Cities, and they supported the idea
• 18.320> the League of Cities and they supported the League of Cities and they supported the idea
• 19.799> instead<00:04:20.320> of<00:04:20.600> a<00:04:20.880> community idea
• , was that instead of a community idea, was that instead of a community storm<00:04:22.080> shelter

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And maybe that means everybody gives a little bit, um, and has some ideas.
• So, I know at least we're open to, you know, hearing folks' ideas, uh, any suggestions you have, and
• And maybe that means everybody gives a little bit, um, and has some ideas.
• So, I know at least we're open to, you know, hearing folks' ideas, uh, any suggestions you have, and
• So, I know at least we're open to, you know, hearing folks' ideas, uh, any suggestions you have, and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to have them have a certain amount, which is fine and a noble idea, but again, there's not enough
• We want to have them have a certain amount, which is fine and a noble idea, but again, there's not enough
• certain amount, which is fine and<00:17:26.720> a<00:17:26.880> noble<00:17:27.199> idea
• <00:17:27.760> again,<00:17:28.000> there's<00:17:28.240> not and a noble idea
• , but again, there's not and a noble idea, but again, there's not enough<00:17:28.640> funding

Bills: SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233, SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233

Keywords: sex-based terminology, gender identity, male, female, man, woman, boy, girl, single-sex spaces, women's rights, privacy, safety, fairness, anti-discrimination, vital statistics, birth certificate, intersex, DSD, differences in sex development, transgender

Transcript Highlights:

• There are images of me as a child on the internet that I have no idea where they end up.
• accessible technology, there are convincing graphic images and videos of me online forever, and I have no idea
• and<00:18:22.720> I<00:18:22.960> have<00:18:23.520> no<00:18:23.919> idea
• <00:18:24.320> where<00:18:24.559> they forever, and I have no idea where they forever
• , and I have no idea where they are.<00:18:25.520> I<00:18:25.760> have<00:18:26.000>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• When we were discussing the idea of having the K-12 literacy bill, there was a discussion about the fact
• 00:09:45.519> were<00:09:45.839> discussing<00:09:46.480> the<00:09:47.360> idea
• When we were discussing the idea it did.
• When we were discussing the idea of<00:09:47.839> having<00:09:48.080> the<00:09:48.240
• Senator Brennan or Senator Rus, any ideas?

Bills: SF0014, SF0018

Keywords: literacy, education, reading assessment, intervention program, public school funding, department of education, K-12 education, part-time attendance, public schools, student enrollment, education funding, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The roads before us are not marked by trees or leaves, but by ideas, priorities, and values.
• Universal health care is not a failed idea.
• :59.279> failed Universal health care is not a failed Universal health care is not a failed idea
• 00.959> failed<00:10:01.519> is<00:10:01.760> a<00:10:02.000> privatized idea
• What has failed is a privatized idea.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Rep. Chris Keyser centered on Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” using the poem as a reflection on legislative choices, compromise, and service to the common good. After the devotional, the chamber took up a large slate of introductions, with 21 House bills read by number only after a successful motion to suspend the rules. The House also read HR12, a resolution supporting the principles behind Gov. Phil Scott’s statement regarding federal ICE and CBP activity in Minnesota, and placed it on the calendar for action the next legislative day. The House then concurred in JRS38, a joint Senate resolution setting weekend adjournment for January 30, 2026, to reconvene no later than February 3, 2026. During announcements, members recognized guests from Third Act Vermont, wished the member from Burlington a happy birthday, invited members to a Universal Health Care Caucus meeting, and promoted an evening Farmers Night performance. The House also voted to rescind journalization and expunge remarks previously entered by the member from Swanton from Friday’s House Journal. In orders of the day, the House rejected concurrence with the Senate’s further proposal of amendment to S.23, an act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections, and instead requested a committee of conference; the chair appointed Reps. Byron, Hango, and Waters Evans as conferees. The chamber then passed H532, relating to mandatory retirement of college professors. It also adopted the committee’s strike-all amendment to H270, relating to confidentiality for peer support counseling among emergency service providers, after favorable 11-0 committee action; the bill was then ordered to third reading. Finally, the House amended and ordered to third reading H516, approving amendments to the charter of the town of Essex, after discussion of charter changes including select board vacancies, moderator procedures, town appointments, accounting requirements, and related technical updates. The House then adjourned until January 29, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And certainly, we're always open to questions or ideas or thoughts that you might have.
• And for another follow-up, changing slightly right with the Idea, my understanding is that the space
• Do we have any idea what a financial benefit that might be.
• But if we need to be doing something different or if there's an idea that you might have, we're always
• of the day, people are going to be surprised what companies are in their backyard that they have no idea

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Anything that is exchanged with the idea that you would be able to receive compensation without any product
• Prior to the gentleman rolling this out, I had no idea there were so many things lacking in our bill,
• I was a yes on the bill because I really had no idea. I would like to back up and I apologize.
• Her parents had no idea what was going on, and I believe most parents are just like hers, they don't
• authority to target individuals for coding, you are opening up a ball of wax you have absolutely no idea

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's just to give the citizens a better idea.
• I'm not sure that gives them the full idea, but at least it's better than just saying it's four cents
• But I do like the idea of having a five-year bro... ...exacerbate that, but I do like the idea of having
• I like the idea of the five-year.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WE DO HAVE FOLKS WHO HAVE THAT LENS OF BEING A PARENT AND THAT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT WE MIGHT SPECIFICALLY
• POWER OF AI IF YOU COULD BREAK IT UP FOR ME A LITTLE BIT THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER NEEDS TO HAVE AN IDEA
• ANOTHER IDEA THAT HAS COME UP AS YOU CAN IMAGINE ALREADY TOOLS TO DETECT THE USE OF AI AND WE HAVE BEEN
• WE CAN REALLY USE THIS TO HELP US WITH A NEW CONCEPT WHEN NEW TOOLS FOR BRAINSTORMING AND THE IDEAS OF
• WE HAVE THE IDEAS OF WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ACTUALLY NEEDING SOME OF THE EARLY INTERVENTION ON READING

Transcript Highlights:

• today, I I fully expect somewhere in this process throughout this session that you're going to have ideas
• I think the CFO has some ideas.
• And I think some folks here may have some ideas and we will implement whatever we need to to get everyone
• And so I think we're open to any ideas for other process improvement or policy change. >> We're gonna
• We have to come up with ideas, changes every urban fund or not fund it. Just a billion dollars.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is really just to give you an idea of what retirement systems across the nation have in common
• Simply, these are just to give you an idea of the sensitivity of the impact to the retirement system
• Just to give you an idea of the relative cost of the COLA, that is the point of these numbers.
• So now that we kind of have an idea of what the current COLA cost is and where we're at today, we're
• That is something we look at to kind of give the board an idea of what risk we are currently taking on

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't believe our union was formed on the idea of being fierce ADA advocates, but it was brought to
• the trade unions in the state, so that might be a thing to pursue, and I think that's a really good idea
• So that's something we're kind of working on, but I do like the idea.
• I think that's a really good idea. Thank you for the responses.
• everyone who has a disability is going to need an urgent response to their issue, but I think the idea