Transcript Highlights:

• >> Chair: THE IT BUDGET AND POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE WILL NOW COME TO ORDER. >> REPRESENTATIVE MCFARLAND.
• WELCOME TO THE IT POLICY AND BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE. I AM NOT JOHN SNYDER.
• THIS IS A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF POLICY AND BUDGET ONLY FOR I.T.
• IN THE PAST YEARS THE BUDGET PROCESS HAS LOOKED VERTICALLY AT WHAT EACH AGENCY WANTS.
• WE ARE A BUDGET AND POLICY COMMITTEE AND WE WILL HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS.

Transcript Highlights:

• pleased to announce the Senate accepts the House revisions to our offer on Pre-K-12 education, both budgets
• education capital outlay proviso, and back of the bill, and Health and Human Services, health care budget
• back of the bill, an implementing bill, criminal and civil justice, ...and services, health care budget
• back of the bill, and implementing bill, criminal and civil justice, justice budget, and projects, and
• The House has accepted the budget offer from the Senate with the addition of one item on row 25A, where

Summary: The conference committee on appropriations met on June 12, 2025 and exchanged offers on several budget areas, including Pre-K-12 education, Health and Human Services/health care, criminal and civil justice, administered funds, and transportation/tourism/economic development/infrastructure. The House announced acceptance of the Senate’s revisions on Pre-K-12 education budgets and projects, and the Senate accepted the House’s offers on several education and health care items, with no public testimony offered on those presentations. The House then explained its remaining offers, including a Pre-K-12 back-of-the-bill change, a health care package that added $10 million in non-recurring general revenue for intestinal transplant support and revised Medicaid quality incentive and other implementing-bill language, a modified criminal and civil justice position, and administered-funds changes tied to state employee pay, health insurance, debt reduction, and the budget stabilization fund. The Senate also presented bump offers on Pre-K-12 education (SB 2510), criminal and civil justice items including judge-conforming language and additional judgeships, and transportation/tourism/economic development items with supplemental attachments. No public testimony was taken on the offers. The chair noted that another conference meeting was likely not expected that evening, but more meetings could occur the next day, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota Management and Budget shares Minnesota's economic forecast.
• Minnesota Management and Budget says the state's budget and economic forecast is strong, but not exactly
• Federal funds are a very important piece of the state budget.
• Federal funds are a very important piece of the state budget.
• </c> important piece of the state budget. important piece of the state budget.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The program covered three main topics: Minnesota’s February economic forecast, gun violence prevention efforts, and the growing debate over data centers. Minnesota Management and Budget reported a stronger-than-expected outlook, replacing a projected deficit with a $3.7 billion surplus for FY 2026-27 and a projected positive balance for FY 2028-29, though officials warned the state still faces a structural imbalance and possible federal funding losses tied to Medicaid reimbursements and fraud-related federal actions. Lawmakers also discussed affordability concerns, with Senate Republicans promoting a tax-relief package focused on property taxes, vehicle tab fees, and ending taxes on tips and overtime. A lengthy segment focused on gun violence prevention, including a Capitol rally by Annunciation Catholic Church families, students, and advocates. Senator Ron Latz said an interim working group he co-led with Senator Zeinab Mohamed gathered public and expert input and helped shape ideas for the session. He said there is no single solution, but cited measures such as red flag laws, universal background checks, an assault weapons ban, high-capacity magazine limits, safe-storage requirements, ghost gun and binary trigger bans, and more school counseling and wraparound mental health supports. Latz emphasized that he sees these as compatible with the Second Amendment and said he hopes to build bipartisan support, especially around school counseling and other “common-sense” measures. Latz said the short session and narrow margins mean compromise will be necessary, and that if a package does not pass this year, lawmakers will return to the issue next session while voters should hold legislators accountable in future elections. The final segment introduced the data center discussion, with Senator Bill Liske describing how data centers have grown from small server rooms into large industrial facilities and noting that some communities are considering moratoriums or restrictions because of neighborhood impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of things with the actual budget of things with the actual budget request,<00:02:46.160><c> you<
• </c> we don't typically put in our budget we don't typically put in our budget request.<00:12:37.839>
• </c><00:15:17.760><c> committee</c> legislative budget committee legislative budget committee recommendation
• Then the next slide just is our current FY26 budget.
• You can see how that's FY26 budget.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 29 January, 2026: 8:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to jump right into the, uh, Uh, the budget part of the testimony.
• Um, I will be, my name is Chloe Powers with the Legislative Budget Board.
• Land bolding legislative budget board.
• Uh, I would like to think we have a very simple budget.
• Leanne Bolding, Legislative Budget board. I think this is the final presentation here.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Justice Budget Committee will come to order.
• The governor has released his legislative budget request, a freedom budget, and that obviously will be
• And sometimes I get asked about the budget, you know, knowing that this is a budget committee, I will
• I know that there was budgeted for three new DJJ facilities.
• request, and the governor supported that budget request.

Summary: The Justice Budget Committee heard detailed presentations from the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections on staffing, services, and budget needs. DJJ Secretary Hall emphasized that the agency’s main public safety strategy is education, along with prevention and recidivism reduction. He described major staffing improvements after pay increases for probation, detention, residential care, and prevention workers, and outlined DJJ’s mental health, aftercare, and education continuum, including the Florida Scholars Academy and Florida Youth College. He said the new statewide education model is showing early gains in progress monitoring, high school graduation, and postsecondary enrollment, while also noting ongoing operational issues such as IT connectivity, rural staffing gaps, and the need for geographic pay adjustments for teachers. He also discussed detention center replacement plans in Hillsborough, Broward, and Palm Beach, and said DJJ would transition the Broward JAC to a security contractor after the sheriff’s office pulls sworn officers from the site. Members asked about campus performance differences, teacher pay, detention education quality, and concerns about the rollout and leadership of the Scholars Academy. Hall said some campuses face rural access and infrastructure problems, but the blended learning model provides continuity when internet or staffing issues arise. He defended the superintendent’s qualifications and said early problems with inappropriate online content were addressed. Representative Porras raised concerns about educational quality and the superintendent’s past disciplinary history, while Representative Barrera urged more mentorship and fatherhood-focused programming in juvenile facilities. DOC Secretary Dixon said the prison system is under pressure from rising inmate populations, staffing shortages, and overtime costs. He argued that the system needs funded posts for every functioning housing unit, noting that the department has added housing units without enough staff and now relies heavily on overtime, mobile officer deployments, and shift conversions to keep facilities operating safely. He highlighted that many officers are new, that outside-hospital transports have risen sharply, and that mental health units require additional staffing. DOC’s mental health chief described a large and growing treatment system with outpatient, inpatient, intensive outpatient, and court-ordered services, saying about a quarter of the prison population has a diagnosed mental illness. Community corrections staff described treatment programs, employment specialists, mobile probation and reentry units, and a new mental health first aid training initiative. Reentry staff reported expanded substance abuse, education, CTE, chaplaincy, and digital learning programs, including Edovo and a forthcoming Work Bay platform. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that we passed in the budget. that we passed in the budget.
• that we haven't budgeted.
• We need that number starting from the governor's budget, the House budget, and the Senate budget to maybe
• we haven't from the budget that we haven't budgeted. budgeted. budgeted.
• c> and</c> governor's budget, the house budget, and governor's budget, the house budget, and the<00:39

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first adopted the September 5 minutes and then approved the remaining consent calendar items after removing several bills for separate consideration, including 25-252, 25-248, 25-251, and 25-253. The committee then took up 25-252 from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, where members asked about the arts tax credit program, staffing, and volunteer coordination. Department representatives said the program had recently been authorized, forms had been finalized, three of six laid-off staff had been rehired through a federal grant, and the agency was now trying to recruit participants. Members also discussed whether tax-credit-raised funds could count as federal match; the department said they could not, because federal rules require state dollars. The item was adopted. The committee next considered 25-248 from the Department of Safety, which was described as a technical correction moving funds from equipment to hardware and software after consultation with the Department of Administrative Services. A member asked about “buy American” waivers, and the department said it would follow up with more information. The item was adopted. The committee then approved 25-251 from the Department of Administrative Services, which included discussion of ongoing problems with Anthem’s retiree health plan mail-order pharmacy. Department staff said many issues were tied to implementation changes and prescription renewal rules, that some complaints were being resolved through the vendor and the retiree health office, and that the contract would be rebid in the coming year, likely causing further changes. On 25-253 from the Department of Health and Human Services, members questioned the department’s September 5 health alert and whether it diverged from CDC guidance. DHHS said the alert was an annual evidence-based guideline for respiratory virus season and immunizations, largely aligned with CDC recommendations, and that some differences reflected timing and population-specific guidance. The item was adopted. The committee then heard 25-237 from the Department of Justice on the annual litigation fund request. Attorney General John Formela said the request was about $4.3 million, roughly 40% below last year and below the five-year average, with major costs tied to YDC civil and criminal litigation and some DHHS class actions. A member criticized the large increase over the budgeted $350,000 and said the budgeting approach should be corrected in the next cycle. Another member asked about YDC settlement reductions; the attorney general said confidentiality limited specifics, but explained that under the new statute the office had accepted well over half of administrator awards, rejected some, and negotiated lower amounts in others while still resolving most cases. The item remained under discussion at the end of the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then, um, my understanding of the proposed budget from the governor is that jury trials are cut back,
• </c><00:10:57.519><c> I</c> system on that portion of the budget I system on that portion of the budget
• Subdivisions would be able to predict and budget for reserve money and to hold it on their budget and
• </c><02:03:46.280><c> um</c> find it within its operating budget um find it within its operating budget
• Would be 2% or a 3% contribution that would go through the next budget cycle, if I may.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no increase in the base budget and no housing infrastructure bonds in the governor's budget,
• There's no increase in the base budget and no housing infrastructure bonds in the governor's budget,
• There's no increase in the base budget and no housing infrastructure bonds in the governor's budget,
• The governor's budget doesn't include a single dollar more in the base budget for housing, given the
• There's no increase in the base budget and no housing infrastructure bonds in the governor's budget,

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires the SAU budget to be a separate warrant article.
• </c> bill, they don't have a lobbying budget bill, they don't have a lobbying budget like<00:54:44.800
• budgets and funding unrelated<01:09:36.719><c> expenditures.
• Hampshire's bienium budget went into Hampshire's bienium budget went into effect. effect. effect.
• back of the budget cut they already<01:35:38.560><c> have.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their budget.
• >> Representative Burton. to even in this budget um not give them to even in this budget um not give
• And so, uh, whether we have a program budget or a budget is built upon the dollar, um, we have to find
• And so, uh, whether we have a program budget or a budget is built upon the dollar, um, we have to find
• I'm not anywhere the budget it's in.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> can provide you with a budget. can provide you with a budget.
• </c> priorities in the executive budget. priorities in the executive budget.
• </c> the budget. Long overdue, much needed. the budget. Long overdue, much needed.
• </c> at the executive budget very closely. at the executive budget very closely.
• </c> um budget um budget number<01:35:57.120><c> so</c><01:35:57.280><c> that</c><01:35:57.600><c> we

Bills: HB1518, HB1699, HB1747, HB1705, HB1565, HB1801, HB1645, HB2115, HB2114

Keywords: HB1518, Hawaii SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, food stamps, Department of Human Services, DHS, pre-release SNAP, pre-release application process, incarcerated individuals, prisoner reentry, reentry services, formerly incarcerated, jail release, prison release, recidivism, food security, benefits eligibility, controlled substance felony, drug felony, drug conviction

Summary: The committee opened its first meeting of the 2020 session and heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 1518, which would allow people incarcerated and nearing release to apply for SNAP benefits before release. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Human Services said they support the bill and are already piloting a pre-release application process at two facilities, with plans to expand it. The Attorney General’s Office supported the intent but noted a technical issue: one section of the bill appears to affect TANF as well as SNAP, while the title refers only to SNAP. A wide range of advocates, including Catholic Charities, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Hunger Action Network, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, ACLU of Hawaii, and others, testified in strong support, emphasizing food insecurity after release, reentry stability, and reduced recidivism. The committee did not take a vote during the hearing. The committee then heard HB 1747, which would direct the Department of Human Services to seek federal waivers or extensions related to restricting certain SNAP purchases, including sugary drinks. DHS said it had already been approved for a narrow demonstration waiver and was working with retailers on implementation, with a target date of August 1. Supporters of the measure argued it would promote healthier choices, while opponents, including Hawaii Appleseed, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, said such restrictions are ineffective, stigmatize low-income residents, create burdens for retailers and DHS, and may be difficult to implement. Members asked DHS to clarify the scope of the waiver and confirmed it applies to sugary drinks and beverages containing more than 10 grams of sugar. Finally, the committee took up HB 1705, which would allow licensed mental health counselors to serve as child custody evaluators, but there was no testimony from the relevant agencies and the item was quickly set aside. The committee also heard HB 1565, which would establish a judiciary working group to improve family court processes and legal representation for youth in the child welfare system. The Attorney General’s Office offered minor technical amendments, and supporters from the Office of Wellness and Resilience, High Hopes Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and a social work student described the need for legal representation, citing better reunification and stability outcomes and the importance of youth voice in court proceedings. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> particularly this important budget particularly this important budget subcommittee<00:01:31.040>
• Nothing I say is budget for prosecutors.
• In the end, it parts of the budget bill.
• </c> How would you manage the budget How would you manage the budget differently?
• And I'm just thinking about all of that you presented and how a budget and budget line items are really

Keywords: 0:00:04 Call to Order 0:00:50 Dept for Public Advocacy 0:51:31 Life Learning Center 1:21:06 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary heard testimony from the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) on attorney compensation and alternatives to incarceration. Because the committee lacked a quorum, the chair skipped formal roll call and minutes approval, then invited DPA Public Advocate Damon Preston, Deputy Public Advocate Melanie Lowe, and alternative sentencing worker Cena/Tina Mills to present. Preston said DPA is fully state-funded, has 698 funded positions, and was near full staffing with 673 filled positions and 42 new law graduates expected to join in August. He argued that DPA’s resources lag behind those of prosecutors, noting that local prosecutorial offices receive substantially more total funding and have additional revenue sources beyond the state budget. Preston focused on salary disparities and turnover. He said DPA trial-office attorneys total about $26 million in salaries, compared with about $41.9 million for prosecutors on publicly listed state funding, and estimated that more than 100 additional prosecutors are paid through other sources, bringing total prosecutor compensation to a little over $50 million versus DPA’s $26 million. He said starting DPA attorney pay is $58,200, experienced attorney pay averages about $73,000, and that these levels are too low given law school debt and the state’s constitutional obligation to provide defense counsel. He also said DPA attorney turnover is about 20%, median service time before separation was 15 months in 2024, and exit interviews often cite salary as the main reason for leaving. He gave examples of former DPA attorneys moving to prosecutor offices for raises ranging from 12% to 50%. Committee members asked about how often defendants are represented by private counsel versus DPA and how that affects workload. Preston said a 2017 study found about 50% of misdemeanor cases and about 75% of circuit court cases were handled by DPA, with DPA handling most of the most labor-intensive cases. He said DPA will step aside when a defendant hires private counsel or is found ineligible, and he acknowledged the system historically erred by denying counsel in some cases, though he said the current concern is whether DPA is now appointed too broadly. Members requested updated trend data on appointments over the past decade. Preston also described DPA’s pay scale and said the agency’s compensation structure makes retention difficult. Mills then described DPA’s alternative sentencing worker program, which she said has operated for about 20 years and has received national recognition. She shared a case example involving a client named Patrick, who faced a prison sentence on a possession charge and was referred to a horse-based treatment and certification program in Shelbyville. She said the client wanted treatment and a fresh start, a bed became available, and she and the client’s attorney presented an alternative sentencing plan to the court. The presentation was interrupted briefly by a technical issue, but the testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, this is the largest part of our state budget.
• She said every committee has a budget, and the Education Policy Committee has a budget that could take
• . committee has a budget the this the committee has a budget the this the education<00:11:51.200><c>
• </c><00:13:21.000><c> does</c> pay for mileage and what budget does pay for mileage and what budget does
• </c> realize that you don't have the budget realize that you don't have the budget to<00:31:25.559><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If they were in the state budget, that would bring rates down substantially.
• But so on that note, I'm not asking you to make sort of a budget projection.
• Our budget is set independently of the commissions.
• We do come before the legislature with budget change proposals.
• Budget. Utilities should have to do the same.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, wildfire costs, and the California Public Utilities Commission’s role. Chair and members framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while maintaining reliability and keeping bills affordable. The hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and the Public Advocates Office, with testimony from Professor Severin Borenstein and CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds. Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining that generation is largely deregulated while transmission and distribution remain regulated, and that most rate-setting follows cost-of-service regulation. He emphasized that the hardest issue is setting the allowed return on equity: too high can raise bills and encourage capital-heavy spending, while too low can deter investment and harm reliability. He argued there is no silver bullet, said performance-based regulation and price caps have limits, and suggested some costs now charged through electric bills—such as climate programs, low-income subsidies, and wildfire-related public policy costs—might more appropriately be paid through the state budget. Reynolds described the CPUC’s oversight role, saying the commission reviews utility spending through general rate cases, balancing accounts, and other proceedings, and that affordability is addressed through front-end scrutiny, post-spend accountability, and legislative direction. She highlighted wildfire mitigation as a major driver of rate increases, noted recent progress on clean energy procurement and battery storage, and said the CPUC is working on return-on-equity decisions, FERC advocacy on transmission costs, and implementation of SB 254 and other statutes. Members pressed on a range of issues, including wildfire securitization, load growth from EVs and data centers, gas-system stranded assets, balancing accounts, and a water-service dispute in Keene involving Union Pacific. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up commitments from the CPUC to provide data and updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a great budget that we're working with. We got Act 15 done.
• We have to consider the budget.
• We're negotiating a budget, so don't raise this stuff. Okay, fine. We're in a budget negotiation.
• , current budget, 5% shortly after another 2%.
• I think that we worked very hard in the last budget.

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; Let<00:20:08.960><c> the</c><00:20:09.200><c> budgeters</c> &gt;&gt; Let the budgeters &gt;&
• </c> &gt;&gt; some of it in the budget &gt;&gt; some of it in the budget for<00:23:09.760><c> loan</c
• ,</c> appropriated in the GF budget, appropriated in the GF budget, &gt;&gt; right?
• if that's where you did &gt;&gt; in the budget if that's where you did it. it. it.
• </c> maintenance budget maintenance budget for<01:01:13.359><c> a</c><01:01:13.599><c> long</c><01:01

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the September 24 and September 27 meetings unanimously. It then reviewed a spreadsheet and draft report tracking the status of various dedicated funds, with members deciding which items should be kept active, removed, or flagged for follow-up next year. Several funds were identified as no longer needing action because they had been repealed, terminated, or were already handled elsewhere, including mosquito-related funding, child care licensing, and the prescription drug affordability board item. In other cases, members agreed to keep the fund on the list but remove question marks and add notes for future review or for another committee to address. A number of funds drew more detailed discussion. Members agreed that the Fish and Game fee increase issue should not be handled by this committee directly, but that staff should notify the relevant sponsor/department that a legislative change would be needed. They also discussed a medical cannabis fund that was running down significantly; the committee agreed to keep it active, note the concern, and send a letter to the department and Representative McDonald suggesting that HHS review whether fees or another revenue source should be changed, with the possibility of a late bill if needed. The lead poisoning prevention fund was also kept, with a note that the department should take action if it wants changes, and the committee discussed a grants-and-aid escrow-related item, concluding it should remain active and be kept on the list. Members also discussed several legacy or special-purpose funds. They agreed to recommend deleting the broodstock reference, to keep the emergency fund while asking for a better explanation of its funding source, and to retain the building maintenance fund as active. The Recovery Monument fund was identified as inactive and likely eligible for transfer of its remaining $1,000 to the addiction treatment and prevention fund. The Matthew Elliott Trust Fund prompted the most extended discussion; members concluded it should not continue as-is and agreed to draft a letter to the Attorney General recommending that the fund be closed through probate court and the remaining $5,657 transferred to Fund 122, or otherwise handled as unclaimed property if appropriate. The committee also discussed a firemen’s association-related transfer and agreed it should remain, while noting that any broader change would require legislation and a sponsor in the relevant policy committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Until we Lawmakers budget appropriately?
• Can you just briefly tell us where that is in the budget? And Mr.
• Is it just budget requests that you're looking at or will you get with this? Position Mr.
• needs would be to help them and assist them with the budget proposal.
• Uh, legislation and budget. Uh, thank you, Madam Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last budget cycle, Governor Healey proposed increasing the Reggie Lewis Center's annual appropriation
• While many legislators fought admirably to keep this increase throughout the budget cycle, it was not
• included in the final state budget.
• I respectfully request that when we begin the FY 27 budget review, we continue supporting an increase
• in the final state budget I respectfully request that when we begin the FY 27 budget review we continue

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on a wide range of bills touching student access, campus safety, and institutional support. Early testimony focused on H. 4544, which would create a state Hispanic-serving institution designation to replace a lost federal designation and potentially allow future funding. Representative Kushmerek and Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge described Fitchburg’s growing Latino student population, the university’s local commitments such as the Fitchburg Promise, and argued the bill would help the institution better serve its community. Committee members asked about how the tuition-free local program is financed, and the bill was described as having no immediate funding request but allowing for future appropriations. The committee also heard support for H. 1421, a proposed John F. Kennedy Service Scholarship Program for Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Commonwealth Corps alumni, with Representative Arena DeRosa arguing that student debt discourages service and that the program would help make citizen service more accessible to lower- and moderate-income students. Members raised questions about cost, take-up, and whether the program should be capped. H. 1449, dealing with transcript withholding, drew support from Representative LeBoeuf and USPyre’s Demi Stoltz, who said withholding transcripts over small balances or non-academic fees traps students and harms workforce participation; members discussed how schools could still collect debts without blocking transcripts. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to improve study-abroad safety reporting, with Carrie Pascarello urging a centralized data system after multiple student deaths and serious incidents abroad, and members asking about how other states handle similar transparency measures. Another major topic was H. 4113 on higher education sexual misconduct. Laura G. and Ashley Freeman supported a proposal aimed at preventing “passing the harasser” by requiring disclosure of substantiated findings or departures during open investigations in hiring processes. They said the bill would improve transparency and campus safety while preserving due process, and noted Washington State has a similar law. Members discussed whether the bill should be expanded to K-12 settings and asked about the Washington model’s effectiveness. The committee also heard from Mike Canavan of AFT Massachusetts in support of a bill to create a grant program for librarians to earn a master’s in library science, noting the credential is required for the profession but is not offered by any public institution in Massachusetts. No votes were taken, and the hearing concluded after all scheduled witnesses testified.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last night, we announced our budget deal, if you caught that, for this year's supplemental budget, and
• Last night, we<00:02:29.840><c> announced</c><00:02:30.280><c> our</c><00:02:30.440><c> budget</c><00
• </c><00:04:33.520><c> So,</c> about a $48 million county budget.
• So, about a $48 million county budget.
• You know, what is it currently costing us, or how are those costs manifesting in our budgets?

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The interview focused on Minnesota’s clean energy policy, energy affordability, and the state’s path toward its 100% clean electricity goal. The senator said Minnesota’s clean energy reputation comes from environmental concern, job creation, and lower long-term costs, noting that wind is now the lowest-cost generation source and that solar costs have fallen sharply. He said rising electricity demand has led to some increased coal use, but argued the state can still meet its 2040 clean energy target through continued renewable buildout, permitting reform, conservation, and demand response. A major topic was data centers. The senator emphasized both concerns and benefits, saying hyperscale data centers can bring substantial construction jobs, property tax revenue, and, under the 2025 law, payments to low-income energy assistance. He cited the Pine Island Google data center as air-cooled, with no water concerns, and said it will pay $5 million annually while funding 1,600 MW of wind, solar, and battery resources at its own expense. He also said Xcel’s filing projected a $1.1 billion ratepayer savings over 10 years, while urging the public to weigh both pros and cons, especially around water use and local tax impacts. The discussion also covered nuclear power and climate costs. The senator said the Senate has passed a nuclear study three years in a row and expects it to advance, while the moratorium on new nuclear plants remains tied to the Prairie Island Indian Community and unresolved nuclear waste storage. He argued Minnesota likely cannot reach its emissions goals without nuclear in the mix, though he acknowledged current nuclear is not cost-competitive and said future advanced or small modular nuclear could change that. On affordability, he pointed to climate-driven costs such as higher homeowners insurance and storm damage, and described Senate energy omnibus provisions including conservation, plug-in solar, and renewable development account projects such as a Como Zoo clean energy project. No votes were taken in the interview itself, but the senator referenced the recently announced budget deal and said he still needed to negotiate a renewable development account agreement between the House and Senate.