Transcript Highlights:

• The Inflation Reduction Act greatly increased the prescription drug cost for Medicare retirees, shifting
• The CMS changes in the Inflation Reduction Act had kind of hit, and we were still trying to wrap our

Bills: HB205 , HB226 , HB234

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, exemption, tax conformity, tangible personal property, Alabama Department of Revenue, retail tax, consumer use tax, nonresident, religious publications, church magazines, Bible class materials, Sunday school materials, tax administration, indirect tax, state revenue, HB226, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax

Transcript Highlights:

• H1 recommends $56 million for the executive office, which is a $9.7 million reduction below the FY25
• The reduction is driven by administrative and staffing reductions and reductions to grant programs, including
• My testimony raises the alarm about the reductions to civil rights and anti-discrimination protections
• As previously stated, the reductions to civil rights protections and the federal agencies that enforced
• and HUD, have already been affected by the many changes in Washington, and even more devastating reductions

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was held in Clinton Town Hall as part of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means’ budget review, with local officials welcoming legislators and noting the long agenda of many panels. The main presentation was from Secretary Terrence Reedy of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, who outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s FY26 proposal for the secretariat, including a $1.7 billion budget and a 7% increase over FY25. He described investments in emergency preparedness, hate-crime prevention, reentry programming, technology modernization, internships, and public safety training, while also noting some reductions driven by resource constraints, including cuts to certain grant programs and administrative costs. Committee members also raised concerns about federal uncertainty and how it could affect state budgets and public safety planning. A major portion of the questioning focused on the Department of Correction. Secretary Reedy and Commissioner Sean Jenkins said the biggest challenges are staffing, officer wellness, facility safety, and contraband—especially K2. They described steps taken at MCI Souza and other facilities, including reducing population at the maximum-security unit, changing management, removing metal products and free weights, improving screening and roll calls, adding a rapid response team, and increasing investigative and technological efforts to combat K2. They also discussed the closure of MCI Concord, saying it was driven by high maintenance costs and staffing needs, and explained that savings are being used to improve staffing patterns and address deferred maintenance over time rather than producing immediate large budget reductions. Members also questioned the budget’s impact on police training and community policing. The administration defended the increase in police academy tuition from $3,200 to $6,000 as reflecting true training costs and said it would still be subsidized by the state, while acknowledging the burden on small municipalities. They said the MPTC is expanding regional training and considering proposals such as Greenfield Community College’s. On community policing, officials emphasized uniform statewide training, de-escalation, and communication skills. The State Police also announced an outside review of the academy by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and said the next class will be split into two smaller groups to improve oversight and allow quicker implementation of recommendations. Other topics included ICE and federal immigration enforcement, with Reedy saying state law prohibits Massachusetts law enforcement from acting in a civil immigration capacity and that no state dollars were used in the Tufts-related ICE operation mentioned by a member. Senators and representatives also raised the upcoming FIFA World Cup, warning that it will require significant public safety resources and likely federal funding. Additional discussion covered restorative justice and juvenile diversion, health care costs in DOC, electronic health records, and the need for more diverse and culturally competent public safety staffing. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• those participating in our first panel to go over the IHSS overview in the governor's proposed reductions
• going to turn it over to Department of Finance for any additional comments on the first proposed reduction
• So, acknowledging that we'll be talking about the Governor's IHSS budget reductions proposed in a few
• Okay, so in the May revise, you're going to have updated numbers of the potential reduction in savings
• Such previous budget solutions included across-the-board provider rate reductions.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And with those reductions, we have stations that are operating at 1.5 FTE.
• And with those reductions, we have stations that are operating at 1.5 FTE. funding.
• And with those reductions, we have stations that are operating at 1.5 FTE.
• And with those reductions, we have stations that are operating at 1.5 FTE.
• ><c> we</c><00:37:15.200><c> have</c> And with those reductions, we have And with those reductions, we

Bills: SF856 , HF4482 , HF3672 , HF1234 , HF4591 , HF3554 , HF936

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Inspector General, fraud prevention, state audit, public funds, misuse, transparency, government accountability, HF4482, Minnesota Historical Society, state historic sites, historic site management, historic preservation, county historical society, local historical society, municipality, county government, admission fees, grants-in-aid, site operations, site maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> mandating spending reductions. mandating spending reductions.
• They cut education spending increases from 5.8% to 4.2%, a more than 25% reduction, to the tune of $26
• And when I look at the very clear language, you know, in some of this, that programming reduction is
• And when I look at the very clear language in some of this, that programming reduction is one way to
• The very clear language in some of this is that programming reduction is one way to cut spending.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center in support. Nicklaus Leverenz, are you present on Zoom?
• Nicklaus Leverenz with Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center.
• <01:33:46.280><c> Health</c><01:33:46.520><c> and</c><01:33:46.640><c> Harm</c><01:33:46.800><c> Reduction
• </c><01:33:47.280><c> Center</c> Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction
• Also part of the Harm Reduction Center.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up gubernatorial message nominations. Margaret Jackson was heard for reappointment to the State Council on Mental Health, where she said her lived experience with family members facing schizophrenia, houselessness, and substance use issues motivates her service. Andrew Savaiano was heard for the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council and said he wanted to continue elevating youth voice and lived experience. Tao Yan was heard for the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants and emphasized the importance of wastewater treatment to public health and the environment. The Department of Health testified in support of the nominations, and the committee later adopted chair recommendations to advise and consent to all three nominations, noting Senator Favela’s excuse and no recorded objections. The committee then heard HB 1853 relating to dementia. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state agencies, advocacy groups, caregivers, and individuals with lived experience, including a person living with Alzheimer’s and his caregiver spouse, who described the value of early diagnosis and coordinated support. Supporters said the bill would expand memory care navigation and access, especially on neighbor islands and in rural areas, and help families connect to resources earlier. One member raised concerns about the cost and scale of the proposed program, asking about the number and cost of dementia specialists and noting broader budget pressures, but the bill remained under discussion with no final action shown in the transcript. The committee also heard HB 1591 relating to health care, which would expand the preceptor tax credit to additional health professions, including physician assistant students and PAs, with testimony in support from nursing, public health, medical, and provider organizations. Supporters argued the measure would help address workforce shortages and improve training opportunities for local and economically disadvantaged students. A committee member asked about the aggregate cost of the credit and whether the existing credit had been fully utilized; the chair noted the bill was being kept narrower than broader proposals because of fiscal concerns. The transcript then moved to HB 1961 relating to health care access near facilities, with supporters arguing it protects access to legal reproductive health care and opponents saying it is unnecessary, vague, and burdensome on free speech and protest activity. No final vote on the bills appears in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The net is actually a reduction in cost. I was not here in my role when the policy went through.
• The net is actually a reduction in cost. I was not here in my role when the policy went through.
• The projections that we've seen have been about a 25% reduction in new generation being built by 2035
• in new about a 25% reduction um in new generation<01:16:04.080><c> being</c><01:16:04.400><c> built<
• And, um, uh, $1.5 billion reduction in Minnesota's GDP.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and then it has the county aids which are CPA, PILT, homeless prevention aid, AIS aid, disparity reduction
• :05:11.599><c> AIS</c><01:05:12.160><c> aid,</c><01:05:12.880><c> disparity</c><01:05:13.520><c> reduction
• </c><01:05:13.920><c> aid,</c> aid, AIS aid, disparity reduction aid, aid, AIS aid, disparity reduction
• ><c> in</c><01:16:43.040><c> our</c><01:16:43.199><c> population</c><01:16:43.679><c> and</c> reduction
• in our in our population and reduction in our in our population and it<01:16:44.080><c> it's</c><01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the Opportunity Housing Ordinance has been successful, especially in parking stall reduction
• That's one of the stall reduction. That's one of the things<00:12:10.639><c> here.
• what we have been doing<00:12:53.519><c> with</c><00:12:53.839><c> parking</c><00:12:54.240><c> reductions
• ,</c><00:12:54.959><c> with</c><00:12:55.519><c> um</c> doing with parking reductions, with um doing
• with parking reductions, with um exterior<00:12:56.639><c> facade,</c><00:12:57.519><c> with</c><00:12

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a previous appropriation in a prior bill, but the reduction in this bill is $3 million.
• Moving down further, there's a reduction for the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation of negative
• Um moving down further, there's a<00:18:49.440><c> reduction</c><00:18:49.760><c> for</c><00:18:50.000
• ><c> the</c><00:18:50.160><c> Southern</c><00:18:50.480><c> Minnesota</c> a reduction for the Southern
• Minnesota a reduction for the Southern Minnesota Initiative<00:18:51.360><c> Foundation</c><00:18:52.160

Bills: HF2446 , HF2563 , HF2444

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• of federal level for repealing this part of the<00:36:42.560><c> inflation</c><00:36:43.200><c> reduction
• c><00:36:43.800><c> act</c><00:36:44.800><c> also</c><00:36:45.200><c> because</c> the inflation reduction
• act also because the inflation reduction act also because of<00:36:45.599><c> my</c><00:36:45.839><c
• Any cuts that are out there right now,<01:22:50.400><c> any</c><01:22:51.120><c> reductions</c><01:22
• of income they talk now, any reductions of income they talk about<01:22:54.080><c> have</c><01:22:54.320

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Pioneer Home in Fergus is looking at a $2.3 million reduction.
• a $2.3 Home in Fergus is looking at a $2.3 million<01:05:05.359><c> in</c> million in million in reduction
• <c> home</c><01:05:07.520><c> in</c><01:05:08.160><c> Belgrade</c><01:05:09.160><c> believes</c> reduction
• the home in Belgrade believes reduction the home in Belgrade believes they<01:05:09.720><c> will</c>
• </c><01:39:17.760><c> reducing</c> closures or service reductions reducing closures or service reductions

Bills: HF2367 , HF2319 , HF2523 , HF1742 , HF671 , HF2331 , HF2722 , HF2406 , HF1674

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF2367, Community First Services and Supports, CFSS, personal care assistance, PCA, consumer-directed community supports, CDCS, home and community-based services, HCBS, direct support professionals, direct care workers, caregivers, support workers, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, collective bargaining agreement, retention stipend, health care cost stipend, training stipend, orientation program, retirement trust

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, the Ely Public School District is looking at approximately $460,000 in budget reductions for
• while grappling with fiscal pressures that force us to make difficult choices, such as the staff reductions
• while grappling with fiscal pressures that force us to make difficult choices, such as the staff reductions
• </c><01:38:40.320><c> of</c><01:38:40.480><c> around</c> taxes might see a reduction of around taxes
• might see a reduction of around 300<01:38:41.320><c> per</c><01:38:41.560><c> year</c><01:38:42.320><

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:36:28.800><c> there's</c><00:36:29.160><c> one</c> There are four items that backfill the reduction
• </c><00:36:47.920><c> um</c> items that backfill the reduction um items that backfill the reduction um
• It looks like there's going to be a reduction because of this bill and the proposed amendment to the
• HDF of 35 million in 2026-27 and a reduction of 102 million in 2028-29.
• There is a reduction, though, yes.

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For fiscal 26, House File 100 has an estimated revenue reduction of... ...of Revenue for House File 100
• For fiscal 26, House File 100 has an estimated revenue reduction of 390.77 million and 45.7 million in
• For fiscal 28, the estimated revenue reduction is 437.3 million, and for fiscal 29 the estimated revenue
• reduction is 456 million.
• reduction is 456 million<00:44:11.520><c> these</c><00:44:11.760><c> estimates</c><00:44:12.240><c>

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , there are two years that we looked at prior to and now a year and a half, and we've seen a 50% reduction
• We're really pleased with that 50% reduction.
• </c><00:25:20.120><c> in</c><00:25:20.399><c> cell</c> and we've seen a 50% reduction in cell and we've
• seen a 50% reduction in cell phone<00:25:21.480><c> uh</c><00:25:21.640><c> discipline</c><00:25:22.159
• </c> really pleased with that 50% reduction really pleased with that 50% reduction um<00:25:49.559><c

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Commerce has focused more on the Sustainable Buildings 2030, which is the energy use and carbon reduction
• that statute assigns responsibility for developing the guidelines to Admin and Commerce. and carbon reduction
• component of the and carbon reduction component of the guidelines<00:07:48.560><c> in</c><00:07:48.759
• </c><01:03:26.839><c> keep</c><01:03:27.039><c> hearing</c> energy C carbon reduction keep hearing energy
• C carbon reduction keep hearing it<01:03:27.880><c> Commerce</c><01:03:28.319><c> does</c><01:03:28.520

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And really, it's a reduction in value that leads to a credit benefit of sorts.
• So we call it a credit, but technically speaking, it's a reduction in valuation of the property.
• Alexander Public Schools said it already is discussing possible program reductions, leaving positions
• unfilled, and potential future reductions in staff.
• Each reported that levy reductions were made tied to the cap.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to continue its tax reform and relief study agenda, approved the December 3, 2025 minutes, and announced a new subcommittee to examine property tax statement issues with counties, auditors, and the tax office. Representative Headland was named chair, Senator Rummel vice chair, and Representatives Dressler and Dr. Dr. and Senator Patton were also assigned. The chair noted the group may need an additional meeting and thanked staff and attendees. A major portion of the meeting focused on economic development incentives. The Department of Commerce presented on the Renaissance Zone program and TIF districts, describing Renaissance Zones as locally tailored tools that combine local property tax relief with state income tax incentives. Commerce said the program has supported thousands of projects since 1999 and cited examples from Beach and Mandan showing increases in property and taxable value, business retention, housing, and downtown revitalization. Committee members raised concerns that smaller rural communities often lack the staff and expertise to apply, and Commerce said it provides outreach through conferences, office hours, and one-on-one assistance. League of Cities and local officials from Bismarck and Ellendale echoed the capacity issue, discussed how the programs have worked in their communities, and suggested possible reforms or more targeted support for small towns. Ellendale’s mayor also described two TIF districts, one for industrial infrastructure in Oaks and one for housing infrastructure tied to a data center project in Ellendale. The committee then turned to stripper oil taxation. The Tax Department gave a comparison of oil and gas tax structures in selected states, noting that most have some form of stripper or marginal well provision, while Alaska does not appear to have a specific stripper-well exemption. Members asked for more detail on definitions and North Dakota’s annual adjusted rate. The Department of Mineral Resources followed with a detailed presentation on North Dakota stripper wells, explaining the statutory thresholds, the 12-consecutive-month production test, and the fact that once a well qualifies it remains on stripper status even if production later rises. DMR said about 11,332 stripper wells are active, representing roughly 54% of wells and about 16% of state production, and emphasized that stripper status can extend well life, preserve tax revenue, and reduce orphaned wells. Committee members and industry witnesses discussed refracs, the economics of keeping marginal wells active, and the competitive disadvantage created by North Dakota’s oil price discount. No votes were taken on these informational items.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to accelerate our lack of progress towards meeting our waste reduction goals.
• We need to accelerate our lack of progress towards meeting our waste reduction goals.
• We need to accelerate our lack of progress towards meeting our waste reduction goals.
• of progress towards meeting our our lack of progress towards meeting our waste<00:24:08.159><c> reduction
• We need to figure waste reduction goals.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held a hearing on a non-germane amendment to SB 302, a Senate bill originally requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners. Representative Patenza explained that the amendment was intended to preserve and separate out language developed for the governor’s budget proposal and HB 2 concerning a solid waste facility site evaluation committee, a moratorium, and related public-benefit/site-benefit provisions, so the policy would still have a vehicle if the budget language did not advance. He said the proposal reflects extensive work by the House, the governor’s office, and DES, and he was open to further changes to align with any budget conference committee outcome. Dr. Adam Finkele testified in support of the amendment and the underlying site evaluation concept, arguing that landfill siting decisions should be based on cost-benefit analysis that includes public harms, local impacts, and regional impacts rather than only private benefits. He praised the committee process and prior legislation requiring agencies to respond substantively to public comments, and said the new language improves on the governor’s version by moving the committee’s review earlier in the process and requiring more complete application information, including alternatives and impacts on nearby wells and aquifers. He also supported a three-year moratorium on new landfill applications, saying it would give the state time to address leachate, PFAS, waste reduction, and weak siting rules. Members asked about possible conference committee changes, the value of having a separate review body, and whether the new rules would invite litigation. Dr. Finkele said he would likely sue over the rules because he считает them too weak, but also said the legislature could fix the problems through other bills such as HB 77. He acknowledged that the site evaluation committee is not a perfect solution, but said it is a useful intermediate step between the agency and the courts and likely would meet only rarely if capacity need remains the main trigger for future landfill decisions. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• That they see a reduction in their amount and it puts pressure on the rep. to do its best for all of
• To not let that reduction happen, whereas, if they just got seven out of the blue, they would have been
• this same problem with their CADS failing the comptrollers. property value study and them having a reduction
• have, I don't believe the CAT has already filled the property value study which is resulted in a reduction
• stagnant years and not only in just third grade, also across multiple grade levels, and a significant reduction

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace