Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota's facing a shortage of marriage and family therapists, and one barrier is the difficulty in
• I think I'm reading that right. Okay. Well, Mr. Chair, thanks for that.
• I think I'm reading that right. Okay. I think I'm reading that right. Okay.
• Um, one is I keep reading articles that as the, uh, market advances, we’re seeing oral versions and the
• <01:20:01.680> what<01:20:01.880> your<01:20:02.560> um read what your um read what

Bills: HF4493, HF3133, HF4595, HF4143, HF4142, HF3756, HF4289, HF1724, HF2291, HF4568, HF4547

Keywords: opioid use disorder, OUD, medication-assisted treatment, MAT, pharmacist prescribing, pharmacy practice, controlled substances, Schedule III, Schedule IV, Schedule V, DEA registration, Board of Pharmacy, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, buprenorphine, naltrexone, harm reduction, prescription authority, pharmacist intern, Minnesota pharmacy law

Transcript Highlights:

• They are constantly having difficulty finding people, and I think given that fact, they are staffing
• He also said, like in the online testimonies that the committee received, you can read that patients
• Representative Lon: Still reading it, but yes. Representative Damus: Yes.
• <02:22:21.680> it<02:22:21.880> but still reading it but still reading it but yes yes
• > more because we tend to read things more because we tend to read things more carefully<02:26

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just, in what I’ve read so far, and once again much time, but in what I’ve read so far, having this
• :04:34.880> far, but in what I've read so far, but in what I've read so far, having<02:04:37.280
• I read it, they were written as I read it, they were written as estimated<03:35:24.880> amounts
• You've all read the bill.
• You've all read the bill. Um if up. You've all read the bill.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just reading the bill, thank you.
• <01:04:44.000> it to the point so that we could read it to the point so that we could read
• I’ll read some of this and I’ll leave the rest of it for you to read yourself, but the declaration of
• I’ll read some of this and leave the rest for you to read yourself.
• Um, and I'm not going to read it.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee met in work session on several bills, beginning with HB 153, which would require two or more law enforcement officers in each county to receive animal cruelty training. Members said the bill had been sent to the Animal Protection and Licensing Subcommittee, where Representative Kuttab is expected to schedule a meeting soon to consider possible amendments based on testimony and other ideas. The committee later returned to HB 153 and confirmed a work session was planned for February 14, with discussion also including whether to explore a task force concept raised in testimony. The committee also discussed HB 215 and HB 566, both related to landfill permitting and leachate or harm/benefit reporting. Representative Gerana said he had met with the DES director and was working on amendments that would add a preliminary screening phase for determining net public benefit and expand the list of benefits beyond capacity need to include items such as economic and infrastructure benefits. HB 566 was said to be in the same posture as HB 215, and both were slated for subcommittee review the following Tuesday morning. HB 171 was also added for subcommittee discussion, with members saying the changes would be technical rather than substantive. HB 240, which removes forfeiture penalties for non-payment of dog licenses, drew support for a simple amendment changing a statutory “shall” to “may” so municipal officials would have discretion about issuing a warrant. Representative Bixby said OLS advised that this was the cleanest way to provide flexibility, and he reported that the sponsor was agreeable to the change. The committee also discussed HB 179, concerning hazardous waste accident fees, where the sponsor proposed a revised amendment imposing a $1,000-per-day penalty after 90 days of non-payment. Members raised concerns about homeowners, hobby farmers, and whether the bill could unfairly burden people who were not negligent or whose insurance claims were delayed. The sponsor and others said the intent was to recover costs from responsible parties, especially businesses, and to protect local taxpayers and fire departments from bearing the cost of damaged hazardous materials equipment. No votes were taken; the bills were left for further subcommittee work and amendment drafting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And now we have machines that read IDs because there's fake IDs out there. Right?
• Because I haven't been able to read it that fast.
• And so here I read this thing and it's like, what the hell? China, get a lobbyist.
• When I see When he's when he read it.
• They're both in >> Did read the sentence.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're about getting kids to read.
• for us we're about getting kids to read for us we're about getting kids to read it's<00:21:29.559
• <00:48:08.640> Act express how important the read Act express how important the read Act is
• September by January he was reading at a September by January he was reading at a fifth<01:40:54.480>
• <01:42:36.080> and Essentials for teachers of reading and Essentials for teachers of reading

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Policy Committee met under a co-chair arrangement and heard opening remarks emphasizing civility, direct testimony from school leaders, and a focus on whether state policy is meeting student needs in the least intrusive and most cost-effective way. Chair Coleman asked testifiers to keep remarks brief and policy-focused, and the committee began with a series of superintendents describing local budget pressures and the cumulative impact of state mandates. Anoka-Hennepin Superintendent Corey McIntyre said the district, the state’s largest, is serving about 37,000 students and faces a roughly $26 million deficit even after major reductions, including cutting about $44 million and roughly 250 central office jobs. He cited rising costs tied to compensation, special education and multilingual cross-subsidies, unemployment, paid leave, READ Act implementation, student/staff safety and K-3 discipline requirements, and transportation, saying the district still faces about $50 million in mandate-related shortfalls and may need to reduce class size and student supports. Senator Kunesh responded that summer unemployment claims are paid from a separate state budget line, not the district general fund, and asked about paid leave costs; McIntyre and the chair clarified the district’s concern was the possibility of future costs if state funding ends. Prior Lake-Savage Superintendent Michael Thomas said district revenues are rising only about 2.5% to 3% while expenses are growing 5% or more, driven by inflation and vendor costs. He argued that the state’s inflationary funding tie should be maintained, and asked for an increase in local optional aid of $250 per pupil and more flexibility for districts that struggle to pass local levies. Minnetonka Superintendent David Law argued that schools are being asked to absorb broader community burdens, including food and mental health needs, while still being judged on academics and graduation; he said REACT funding fell short, forcing the district to shift reading funds to staff development, and urged the committee not to roll mandates forward without funding. Fergus Falls Superintendent Jeff Drake said expanded unemployment, earned sick and safe time, and paid family leave are creating staffing and budget challenges for rural districts, estimating unemployment costs could reach $240,000 annually and sick and safe time about $25,000, with added difficulty recruiting support staff and substitutes. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• My daughter last night looked on the screen and read a word. She's only three. They are also moms.
• Those aren't questions any staff member who has signed up to teach the youngest Minnesotans how to read
• to teach the youngest Minnesotans<00:03:43.920> how<00:03:44.040> to<00:03:44.200> read
• c><00:03:44.840> and<00:03:45.040> write<00:03:45.760> and Minnesotans how to read
• and write and Minnesotans how to read and write and share<00:03:46.680> and<00:03:46.800>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• liquor commission for working on language that makes this a very simple form of signage and no real difficulty
• So we might be a little rusty, so I'm just going to read those names.
• <00:23:40.159> those rusty, so I'm just going to read those rusty, so I'm just going to read
• So when I first read this, I was under the impression that it would be restaurant employees that would
• So we separated it out read on that.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Olson said there are multiple ways to read a bill.
• <01:13:15.360> it should we have it have him read it should we have it have him read it again
• You're a reading specialist over there, but you're really not a reading specialist in Wyoming based on
• Uh the way I read >> Yeah, good question.
• Uh the way I read the<01:23:51.440> bill,<01:23:52.320> no.

Bills: SF0035, SF0090, SF0072

Keywords: education, cell phones, smart devices, school policy, student conduct, school property, rental fees, youth activities, education policy, Wyoming legislature, teacher licensure, teacher mobility, interstate compact, education compact, licensure reciprocity, reciprocal certification, teacher certification, professional teaching standards board, out-of-state teachers, military spouse

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, the amendment would read on line 1.6, delete installation of and insert a water permit
• And I took time to read several of these. Again, it's not about protecting corporations.
• I<01:04:40.240> took<01:04:40.480> time<01:04:40.720> to<01:04:40.880> read
• time to read several of these.<01:04:42.319> Again,<01:04:43.280> it's<01:04:43.599>
• As we heard, the A1... ...we heard, the A1 is trying to get at some recent difficulties that egg land

Bills: HF4253, HF4257, HF3236, HF4264, HF4149, HF4019

Keywords: boat storage structures, public waters, natural resources, rule amendments, watercraft canopy, PFAS, environmental regulation, manufacturers, public health, product safety, groundwater, water appropriation, water-use permit, water permit, aquifer test, aquifer, well construction, groundwater permit, Department of Natural Resources, DNR

Transcript Highlights:

• In the unlikely event that we must abruptly end the briefing due to major technical difficulties, if
• Well, I only read the newspapers, but um, and civil too.
• I just read the newspaper article, but... But that brings me another question.
• I just read the newspaper details.
• I just read the newspaper article,<01:39:41.119> but<01:39:41.360> she<01:39:42.000>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the impact and legality of federal immigration enforcement efforts in Hawaii, with Chair Carl Rhodes framing it as the sixth and final interim briefing in a series on the rule of law and local effects of federal actions. He said the discussion would focus on due process concerns, questioning and detention of citizens and lawful immigrants, free speech issues, and pressure on state and local law enforcement, and noted the issues may be revisited in the 2026 regular session. There was no public testimony or committee vote; only invited speakers presented. Dr. Amy Agayani opened by arguing that immigrants are integral to Hawaii’s history, economy, and communities, and contrasted that with what she described as harmful narratives portraying immigrants as criminals. She cited figures that one in five Hawaii residents is foreign-born, that immigrants make up about 20% of the labor force and over 27% of entrepreneurs, and that roughly 40,000 people in Hawaii are undocumented, many of whom may have pathways to legal status but face language, information, and court barriers. She also said federal enforcement has expanded beyond undocumented immigrants to include citizens and lawful residents, and warned that attacks on birthright citizenship and visa categories could affect many families. Matina Mock of the legal clinic emphasized the complexity of immigration law and the severe lack of legal representation, noting a nationwide backlog of 11.3 million immigration-related applications and 3.4 million court cases, plus about 1,400 pending immigration cases in Honolulu with only two immigration judges. She said Hawaii has only six or seven nonprofit immigration legal service providers, and that represented clients are far more likely to obtain relief. Mock described a recent case involving a lawful student visa holder who was transferred among multiple federal facilities before being brought to Honolulu without clear notice, which she said illustrated due process violations. She also said ICE activity in Hawaii has sharply increased, with about 150 arrests from January to July 2025, a 380% increase over the same period in 2024, and that many detainees have no criminal record. Stephanie Haro Sevilla and another clinic fellow described 2025 enforcement as a major shift driven by a January executive order, the end of prior limits on arrests in sensitive locations, and arrest quotas they said require 3,000 arrests per day nationwide. They said this has led to arrests without warrants or probable cause, broader targeting of people with minor offenses or no criminal history, and the use of resources from other federal agencies and local law enforcement for civilian immigration enforcement. They also said the federal detention center in Honolulu is holding roughly 40 to 80 civilian detainees on any given day, often in conditions they characterized as prison-like, and warned that the current escalation could eventually affect lawful permanent residents and naturalized citizens. The speakers urged the public to support immigrant-rights advocates and local protective policies and funding measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• I read it.
• That's how I<00:11:46.800> read<00:11:46.959> it.
• And that's a typical um I I read it.
• There's something called the difficulty adjustment.
• From what I read, and you know, I read it a few months back, so from my recollection, that was one point

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on HB 302, which would add precious metals and digital assets as potential investment options. State Treasurer Monica Misipelli said she took no position on the bill and did not see an immediate fiscal impact or operational problem, but explained that the state’s operating funds and rainy day fund require liquidity and stability, so they would not be suitable for volatile assets like precious metals or digital assets. She said the only funds that might potentially use such investments would be certain trust funds held in perpetuity, which are managed by an outside investment advisor under a contract and investment policy. Members asked about the treasurer’s current investment practices, including the types of funds managed, the role and discretion of the investment advisor, the state’s risk profile, and whether the bill would affect existing authority. Misipelli said the office follows RSA 11 and related statutes, with different objectives ranging from conservative to aggressive depending on the fund, and that the advisor meets with the office regularly, with formal performance reviews on a quarterly basis. She also said the office recently centralized management of about 40 trust accounts totaling roughly $60 million into five combined portfolios under a five-year contract with an RFP-selected vendor. When asked whether precious metals or digital assets are already indirectly available through mutual funds, she said that was possible for some mutual funds, but she was not certain about digital assets. Representative Ammon, the bill’s sponsor, said similar legislation had passed the Oklahoma House, the Texas House and Senate, and had advanced in Arizona. He argued the bill was intended to give the treasurer more tools to help balance portfolios and hedge inflation, noting concerns about federal debt and inflation. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair ended the questioning after thanking the treasurer and asking her to remain available in case further questions arose.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I want to read a letter from my colleague who couldn't be here today, but she's been in the system
• Administrators at my college understood the IFO contract to read that community faculty, which is
• I don't think we've actually kind of read it into the record, but the total biennial is 89 million and
• I don't think we've actually kind of<01:01:52.799> read<01:01:52.960> it<01:01:53.119><
• it into the record, but the of read it into the record, but the total<01:01:55.520> bianial<01

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you can bear with me, I'm just going to read our mission, and that way it puts it in the record
• the mission so if an operation you read the mission so if you<00:23:01.960> can<00:23:02.120>
• our mission and that way it it puts read our mission and that way it it puts it<00:23:06.480> in<
• An injured worker, for whatever reason, is having difficulty getting a hold of their adjuster.
• Follow-up: unrelated, on page two, line one, as I read through this section, that confused me.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm reading the prepared testimony of my boss, President Glenn Brackett, so here it goes.
• If you’re more comfortable reading it, it’s fine. Otherwise, tell us the story.
• it's fine otherwise comfortable reading it's fine otherwise tell<00:17:56.320> us<00:17:56.480
• People don't read signs, trust me. When I had hotels, we had signs everywhere, nobody read them.
• There's some technical difficulties.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sometimes dispatchable generation, but the bill doesn't really contemplate generation planning as I read
• Mertz, I appreciate the conversation because, um, it was kind of floating around when I read this bill
• Chair, I just don't—I'm just not reading that the same way it seems like our witnesses here. >> Yeah,
• You know, some of the things I learned here this morning when I read the bill, you know, to me, a good
• I see a lot of other similar bills coming forward that, as I read them, the clerks can't do or it puts

Bills: SF0102, SF0113

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, hand count audit, ballots, election integrity, transparency, voting system, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 28.640> I<00:29:28.799> put<00:29:29.039> it Representative Bahner continued reading
• She said she wanted to make sure she was reading it correctly and noted that sometimes the issue is not
• Uh, the other part about this is that if you, uh, you know, read the Wall Street Journal article that
• if if you uh other part about this that if if you uh you<00:53:50.160> know<00:53:50.240> read
• um my my my understanding as I'm reading um my my my understanding as I'm reading the<01:05:52.160

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill fails to identify a even reads the bill fails to identify a funding<00:30:06.000> source
• I mean, isn't that difficulty and that vagueness of the term exactly why we need it?
• Okay, so if everybody will indulge me in patience so I can read my homework.
• So, after reading Senate Bill 55, I'm concerned that there's no fiscal note attached, and as a former
• my my homework okay so it can go read my my homework okay so it can go into<02:04:05.920> the

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that for a number of years, legislative counsel has, I believe, been severely understaffed and had difficulty
• But the documents in particular are pretty lengthy, but naturally some light reading tonight when Senator

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that for a number of years, Legislative Council has, I believe, been severely understaffed and had difficulty
• But the documents in particular are pretty lengthy, but naturally some light reading tonight when Senator

Summary: The committee first received a general fund and revenue update from the Office of Management and Budget. Staff reported that the state started the biennium about $176 million above prior estimates, but year-to-date revenues were now running below legislative forecast, mainly due to lower individual income tax and sales tax collections. The budget stabilization fund was above its cap, the legacy fund continued to grow, and oil revenues were slightly above forecast overall. Members also asked about federal funding uncertainty and mineral leasing variability, and OMB said agencies would be asked to address potential federal reductions case by case during budget preparation. The committee then reviewed compliance reports and trust fund analysis materials, followed by a bill draft for a fixed-route city transportation grant program. Testimony from transit officials in Fargo and Minot supported the proposal, saying state aid would help match federal transit funds and support operations, but members raised questions about the funding source, fare structures, and whether the program should be limited to the current four fixed-route cities or allow future eligible cities. Several members asked for more time to study the formula and possible funding options before moving the bill forward. Next, the committee approved a bill draft repealing obsolete language related to a proposed North Dakota-South Dakota bi-state authority. Staff explained the provision had been unused for about 30 years and that existing law likely already allowed joint powers agreements without the specific language. The committee voted to adopt the repeal bill draft. The Department of Commerce and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site then provided an update on uncrewed aircraft system initiatives, including the Vantis radar data enclave, the drone replacement program, and future revenue models. Officials said North Dakota had received FAA approval to operate the radar data pathfinder, had begun replacing non-compliant drones from restricted foreign sources, and was working on phased procurement and cost-recovery plans. Members asked about deadlines, funding, supply-chain issues, and how the system would be used; staff said the federal restrictions were already in effect and that Vantis was being positioned as infrastructure for future beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. Finally, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation presented on the design of a new minimum-security prison and on a reentry housing task force. The new facility is planned for the penitentiary grounds, with a reduced estimated cost of about $263 million, 600 beds initially, possible expansion to 732 beds, and completion projected around 2031 if funded in 2027. The reentry housing task force described a data-driven effort to identify housing needs for people leaving incarceration, with the goal of reducing homelessness and recidivism through targeted housing support and possible subsidies. Members asked about staffing, site selection, housing duration, and whether employment and transportation needs would be included in the assessment.