Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate that, but, you know, I'm just doing a little bit of quick math here, and it's, you know,
• little bit of you know I'm just doing a little bit of of<00:21:33.039> quick<00:21:33.279> math
• > and<00:21:34.120> it's<00:21:34.799> you<00:21:34.919> know of quick math
• here and it's you know of quick math here and it's you know we're<00:21:35.240> extending<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me do some other math and thinking and try to get a figure, but that's kind of my gut. price point
• <00:47:18.920> do<00:47:19.040> some<00:47:19.200> other<00:47:19.440> math
• <00:47:19.640> and um let me do some other math and um let me do some other math and thinking

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• What we do have to do is welcome children in our schools as they are and educate them in English, math
• will honor that request. they are and educate them in English they are and educate them in English Math
• :44.400> Studies<01:31:45.320> Etc<01:31:46.320> sure<01:31:46.920> um Math
• Science Social Studies Etc sure um Math Science Social Studies Etc sure um who<01:31:47.280> determines

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard Senate Bill 659, which would exempt the Department of Education from the electronic procurement system for purchases of fresh local agricultural products and local value-added processed agricultural or food products up to $100,000, and require geographic preference guidelines for locally sourced products. The Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and State Procurement Office all testified in support or support of the intent. DOE said the bill would give it short-term flexibility to buy local items not currently on the vendor list, such as poi and limu, while procurement staff said they would provide written comments and a corrected version of their testimony. Committee members questioned why the bill was needed, why the threshold would rise from the current $24,999 small-purchase limit to $100,000, and whether the department should instead amend its vendor list or RFP process. Members raised concerns about efficiency, administrative burden, whether the bill was a temporary fix for procurement planning gaps, and whether purchases would remain compliant with federal USDA rules if federal school-lunch funds were used. DOE responded that the measure would help it expand local purchasing, support farmers, and allow purchases of products not currently available through existing distributors, and said it was working with partners on food-safety certification and federal compliance. The committees then voted to pass SB 659 with amendments. The Joint Committee on Education approved it 3-2, and the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Environment later approved the amended measure 4-0. The chair noted an amendment and a deferred effective date, and the motion was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• superintendent was working on this project, a national fad, their children are scoring around 30% in math
• <01:22:17.080> in children are scoring around 30% in children are scoring around 30% in math
• 19.159> only<01:22:19.440> believe<01:22:19.840> that<01:22:20.000> an math
• I can only believe that an math I can only believe that an additional<01:22:20.719> tutor<01:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the moments where intervention matters most and where this law is doing its job.
• 05:12.920> the<00:05:13.040> moments<00:05:13.560> where<00:05:13.720> intervention
• Those are the moments where intervention Those are the moments where intervention matters<00:05:

Bills: HF3771, HF3658, HF3453, HF3358, HF1775

Keywords: disaster assistance, contingency account, Minnesota emergency management, public safety, state disaster aid, FEMA, federal cost-share, emergency relief, natural disaster, budget report, appropriations report, management and budget, local governments, utility cooperatives, public works, infrastructure repair, chapter 12B, chapter 12A, emergency management, disaster recovery

Transcript Highlights:

• And what is there any kind of intervention that needs to happen with regard to, well, we don't want to
• c><01:27:17.679> any<01:27:18.000> kind<01:27:18.159> of<01:27:18.400> intervention
• uh and is there any kind of intervention uh and is there any kind of intervention that<01:27:20.159

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The decisions made about patient care, treatments, and interventions impact real lives, including everybody
• treatments,<01:09:14.000> and patient care, treatments, and patient care, treatments, and interventions
• <01:09:14.640> impact<01:09:15.040> real<01:09:15.359> lives, interventions impact
• real lives, interventions impact real lives, including<01:09:16.480> everybody<01:09:16.799><

Bills: HF357, HF3389, HF1434, HF2500, HF1606

Keywords: HF357, hasenpfeffer, card games, social skill game, Minnesota gambling law, tournament, contest, prize limit, low-stakes gaming, card game exemption, gambling exemption, cribbage, bridge, euchre, pinochle, Texas hold'em, whist, skat, sheepshead, gin

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm doing the suicide prevention and intervention policy and that was the only clarification.
• I'm doing the suicide prevention and intervention<01:10:59.280> policy<01:10:59.840> and
• ><01:11:00.080> that<01:11:00.239> was<01:11:00.320> the intervention policy and
• that was the intervention policy and that was the only<01:11:00.640> clarification.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• covered when they're participating in the implementation of a child's IEP, when the nature of that intervention
• child's IEP when the nature<00:55:15.680> of<00:55:15.839> that<00:55:16.079> intervention
• <00:55:16.559> fits<00:55:16.880> within nature of that intervention fits within nature
• of that intervention fits within the<00:55:17.440> medic<00:55:17.920> uh<00:55:18.000

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission to study special education costs under SB 57 met for its second meeting, with members introducing themselves and reviewing background materials on New Hampshire special education identification rates, NAEP results, and a Wall Street Journal article about the rise in autism diagnoses. The chair explained that the commission is examining special education aid formulas, including how New Hampshire’s current catastrophic aid threshold works and how changes to that threshold might affect school districts, but noted that the needed data on how many students would shift into the aid system at lower thresholds is not yet available. The main testimony came from Henry Litman of HHS on Medicaid reimbursement in schools. He explained that school-based Medicaid funding is tied to health-related services, not all special education services, and that federal rules are changing in state fiscal year 2027. Under the new approach, schools will move away from an in-kind methodology to a certified public expenditure model that may also allow recovery of some overhead costs, such as support staff time. He said the state won a federal grant to help build the new system, hired a vendor, and is setting up training and a help center for districts. Members asked about why Medicaid claims have declined and whether districts are leaving money on the table. Litman said claims are down about 25% from pre-pandemic levels, with declines tied to federal and state rule changes, documentation requirements, provider qualification rules, and the end of temporary pandemic flexibilities. He said some districts adapted better than others depending on local medical-provider access and administrative capacity. He also said the new federal legislation does not directly affect schools, while New Hampshire’s return to pre-pandemic eligibility rules has reduced enrollment somewhat. No votes were taken, and the discussion ended with agreement that the commission needs better data to determine how much special education spending is truly Medicaid-eligible and whether additional legislation is needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• it's skill building and behavior change, and that is more likely over a multisection program or intervention
• likely over a multiseession program more likely over a multiseession program or<01:07:24.240> intervention
• 26.160> we<01:07:26.400> had<01:07:26.960> uh<01:07:27.839> 4,500 or intervention
• So here we had uh 4,500 or intervention.

Keywords: This meeting was pulled from back ups and uploaded in it's entirety due to technical issues., 958, all

Summary: The Make America Healthy Kentucky Task Force met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then heard a presentation on the state’s “food is medicine” work from Kentucky Hospital Association and Kentucky Department of Agriculture leaders, including Jim Muser, Holly Harris, and Commissioner Jonathan Shell. The chair framed the discussion around personal wellness, injury prevention, and the broader goal of improving health through better sleep, nutrition, and activity, then asked the presenters to describe current initiatives and any policy changes needed. The witnesses described a partnership linking hospitals and Kentucky farmers to improve health outcomes while supporting rural agriculture. They said the effort has moved beyond the pilot stage and now includes more than 40 hospitals statewide, with programs such as healthier hospital cafeterias, grab-and-go options, farmers markets at hospital sites, subsidized CSA boxes for employees, and medically tailored meals or groceries for patients with chronic conditions. ARH was highlighted as a leading model, with local food procurement, employee wellness efforts, and measurable outcome pilots, including a Russell County Hospital project focused on diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. They also emphasized barriers to scaling the model, including fragmented short-term funding, lack of reimbursement for food-as-medicine programs, and burdensome procurement and testing requirements that can make it difficult for small farmers to participate. The presenters said hospitals are using their own funds or temporary grants to sustain programs and argued that policy changes are needed to simplify sourcing, expand reimbursement pathways, and support clinical measurement of outcomes. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 12 is the IAAP program, the intervention for college attendance, and it remains at the $2.284 million
• /c><00:03:29.599> the Line 12 is the IAAP program, the Line 12 is the IAAP program, the intervention
• for<00:03:30.480> college<00:03:30.760> attendance,<00:03:31.760> and intervention
• for college attendance, and intervention for college attendance, and it<00:03:32.239> remains

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 12 is the IAAP program, the intervention for college attendance program, and it remains at the $2.284
• Line 12 is the IAAP program, the intervention<00:04:32.800> for<00:04:33.040> college<00
• :04:33.320> attendance<00:04:34.320> and intervention for college attendance and intervention

Bills: HF2312

Keywords: higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct

Transcript Highlights:

• And what this does is give us an earlier intervention so that we before that we have to use payment withholds
• <00:24:39.120> us<00:24:39.360> an<00:24:39.600> earlier<00:24:40.240> intervention
• <00:24:41.200> so is give us an earlier intervention so is give us an earlier intervention

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• New Hampshire has always valued personal freedom and limited government intervention in private life.
• <01:16:06.679> government freedom and limited government freedom and limited government intervention
• > private<01:16:09.159> life<01:16:10.040> this<01:16:10.280> bill intervention
• in private life this bill intervention in private life this bill Honors<01:16:11.679> that<01

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and that schools use those dollars based on local context and local student and family needs for intervention
• <01:04:24.960> be those dollars and so it could be those dollars and so it could be intervention
• supports<01:04:26.240> you<01:04:26.359> know<01:04:26.520> academic intervention
• supports you know academic intervention supports you know academic supports<01:04:27.279> for

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But really, it's a fantastic public policy intervention, I believe, in terms of addressing Title IX issues
• fantastic um uh really it's it's a fantastic um uh public<01:36:40.080> policy<01:36:40.440> intervention
• <01:36:41.119> I<01:36:41.239> believe<01:36:41.639> in public policy intervention
• I believe in public policy intervention I believe in terms<01:36:42.040> of<01:36:42.600>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Minnesota Department of Administration on the governor’s capital budget requests. Commissioner Tamara Grundal described the state’s deferred maintenance backlog, saying Minnesota owns more than 4,800 buildings across 19 agencies, with an estimated replacement value of $11.2 billion and about $2.2 billion in deferred maintenance. She urged continued bonding support for asset preservation, CAPRA emergency repair funding, Capitol Complex security upgrades recommended by the ACAS advisory committee, and a budget-neutral account to help leverage federal funds for renewable energy storage and electric vehicle projects at state facilities. Members asked follow-up questions about prior security spending and CAPRA use. The commissioner said some 2018 security funds were used for items such as bollards, projectile-resistant glass, key card readers, and security kiosks, but specific details would be provided offline. On CAPRA, staff said recent projects included public safety upgrades, correctional facility repairs, water main and sewer work, roof repairs, lift station repairs, and boiler and steam trap replacements. The commissioner said the account has recently been used heavily, with about $1.9 million remaining, and estimated a typical target range of roughly $3 million to $5 million based on past spending and expected emergencies. A staffer said they did not know whether bonds had been issued ahead of time to fund the reserve and would follow up. The committee then heard from the Department of Public Safety on BCA capital projects. Commissioner Bob Jacobson and Superintendent Drew Evans said the governor’s proposal includes a new Southern BCA regional office and laboratory in Mankato, expansion of BCA regional office and lab space, and a new Minnesota State Patrol headquarters using trunk highway cash. Evans said the Mankato project is needed because of growth in DNA analysis, digital evidence, controlled substances, cyber tips, and sexual assault kit testing, and because the current St. Paul facility is over capacity. He said the new regional facility would improve turnaround times, reduce travel for scientists and law enforcement, support training, and improve evidence intake and crime scene response in southern Minnesota. Senator Pappas questioned the increase in the Mankato project cost from about $48 million to $68.6 million. Evans said the increase was driven by rising construction costs and additional specialized laboratory and support-space needs identified during design work with the Department of Administration. No votes or formal actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe it's going to have to be some federal intervention to incentivize reinsurers to come back into
• I believe it's going to have to be some federal intervention to incentivize reinsurers to come back into
• I believe it's going to have to be some federal intervention to incentivize reinsurers to come back into
• I believe it's going to have to be some federal intervention to incentivize reinsurers to come back into

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee approved the previous meeting’s minutes and then heard testimony from Housing First Minnesota and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities on housing supply, affordability, and land-use policy. Mark Foster of Housing First Minnesota said the state is chronically undersupplied by roughly 100,000 units, that the median new single-family home price has risen above $530,000, and that only about 27% of Twin Cities households can now afford a new home. He argued that regulatory and local approval processes, especially planned unit developments and aesthetic mandates, add significant cost and reduce the number of homes built, and he urged the committee to remove exclusionary barriers and modernize residential development approvals. Members questioned Foster about zoning, aesthetic requirements, and homeowners associations. He said most new housing in growing metro communities is negotiated through PUDs, which he described as increasing costs and limiting supply, and gave examples such as stone exterior requirements adding thousands of dollars to a home. He also said HOAs can be useful in some cases but are often imposed when not needed. Several legislators responded positively to the Housing First Minnesota Foundation’s work, including transitional housing and veteran housing projects. Elizabeth Wefel of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities said cities outside the metro also face a housing shortage, but their challenges differ: market failure, inadequate sewer and water infrastructure, and gaps in starter, workforce, and senior housing. She said many Greater Minnesota cities are already updating zoning, reducing lot sizes, allowing more density and ADUs, and investing local money, land, and partnerships to spur development. She asked the legislature to speed up rollout of housing funds, support infrastructure and workforce programs, and adjust housing tax credit and TIF rules, while warning against one-size-fits-all preemption of local zoning authority. Members discussed the need for tailored solutions and the differences between metro and Greater Minnesota housing markets.

Transcript Highlights:

• They tell us what the property values are for their town, and then we do the math to get to the tax rate
• They tell us what the property values are for their town, and then we do the math to get to the tax rate
• then<00:20:24.640> we<00:20:25.520> do<00:20:25.760> the<00:20:25.919> math
• to<00:20:27.120> get<00:20:27.520> to<00:20:27.840> the and then we do the math
• to get to the and then we do the math to get to the tax<00:20:28.559> rate.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• statement, and it's basically you have to take the numbers, put them into a spreadsheet, and do new math
• At the same time, swipe fees at the national level have more than doubled, and that math is punishing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met for its second hearing to study the future of credit card payments and sales transactions and their impacts on small businesses. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurants, and payment-industry representatives on interchange fees, processing fees, fraud, chargebacks, rewards programs, and the ability of businesses to pass fees on to customers. Several witnesses argued that swipe fees have risen sharply, are especially burdensome for restaurants and other small businesses, and are charged on taxes and tips that are merely pass-through amounts. They urged state action to prohibit fees on tax and tip portions, improve transparency, and allow surcharging or convenience fees, while opponents warned that state regulation could reduce fraud protections, increase compliance costs, and threaten consumer rewards programs. Business owners and trade groups described thin margins, rising costs, and the difficulty of understanding merchant statements or negotiating with processors. Restaurant witnesses said card-not-present and online transactions create the greatest fraud and chargeback risk, with money often removed immediately from merchants’ accounts and disputes rarely resolved in their favor. Retail witnesses gave examples of rising effective rates, higher fees on rewards cards, and the burden of processing fees on low-value transactions. A representative from the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and others said restaurants are effectively paying fees on meals tax and gratuities, which they argued should not be subject to interchange charges. On the other side, the Cooperative Credit Union Association said interchange revenue helps credit unions fund fraud prevention, rapid card replacement, and member protections, and warned that state limits on interchange could weaken those safeguards and lead to higher consumer costs or reduced services. Airlines for America testified that airline credit card rewards are popular, support travel and jobs in Massachusetts, and could be harmed by interchange reform. The National Restaurant Association and a payments-policy attorney countered that interchange fees are set by card networks rather than competitive markets, that banks remain highly profitable even with rewards, and that states can act after recent court decisions. No votes were taken; the hearing consisted of testimony and questions from commissioners.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was checking her math, adding up the sales tax that she had to remit.
• I was checking her math, adding up the sales tax that she had to remit.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held an informational hearing focused on the conditions facing small and micro businesses in Massachusetts and the state programs intended to support them. Chairs Andy Vargas and Adam Gomez opened by emphasizing equitable economic development, the importance of CDFIs, and the need to help underserved entrepreneurs, especially women, minorities, veterans, immigrants, and other groups facing barriers. Committee members noted the hearing would not take up bills, and testimony was limited to 10 minutes per organization. State and quasi-public agency witnesses described current programs and funding. Dico Gibral of the Executive Office of Economic Development highlighted the Business Front Door, multilingual access, small business office hours in Gateway Cities, and funding in the Mass Leads Act, including support for CDFIs, small business technology, and capital grants. Tom Hooper of Commonwealth Corporation described workforce training programs such as the Workforce Training Fund, Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, and Career Technical Initiative, saying they help small businesses train workers, fill labor shortages, and support returning citizens and people with disabilities. Committee members asked about federal funding uncertainty, workforce migration, training schedules, and program uptake. Business and advocacy groups focused on cost pressures and regulatory burdens. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association urged continuation of outdoor dining and takeout alcohol sales, and pressed for relief from high credit card swipe fees, support for surcharging, and streamlining municipal licensing. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts cited survey results showing inflation, utility costs, payroll taxes, health insurance, and interchange fees as major concerns, and said many members might sell or close within five years; it also backed ending the state prohibition on surcharging and creating an Office of Main Streets Massachusetts. MACDC, BECKMA, and the Coalition for an Equitable Economy emphasized the need for more technical assistance, CDFI and small business funding, and protections against rising costs, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and immigration enforcement impacts on immigrant-heavy business districts. No votes were taken.