Transcript Highlights:

• The economy is a 2025 priority for the Minnesota Chamber Federation, and I'm pleased you've heard from
• Because House File 2634 and House File 2241 would achieve these goals, the Chamber Federation urges your
• The Chamber Federation is looking forward to working with members of this committee to retain a strong
• Minnesota is behind in attracting federal investment, and we have an opportunity to do this together.
• For a $9 million annual investment, the federal dollars we are pursuing are significant. hundreds of

Bills: HF2634 , HF2241 , HF2649 , HF2520 , HF2610

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: North Star Promise, scholarship, higher education, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in-demand jobs, workforce development, career training, job market, high-demand occupations, high-demand industries, college aid, state financial aid, FAFSA, student eligibility, program of study, degree program, certificate program, community college, university, labor market data

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of Federation urges your support. of Federation urges your support.
• :43.839><c> forward</c><00:14:44.079><c> to</c> Chamber Federation is looking forward to Chamber Federation
• And for $9 million a year, the federal dollars that we're chasing are in hundreds of millions.
• And for $9 million a year, the federal dollars that we're chasing are in hundreds of millions.
• </c> year for the investment the federal year for the investment the federal dollars<01:30:39.120><c>

Bills: HF2634 , HF2241 , HF2649 , HF2520 , HF2610

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: North Star Promise, scholarship, higher education, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in-demand jobs, workforce development, career training, job market, high-demand occupations, high-demand industries, college aid, state financial aid, FAFSA, student eligibility, program of study, degree program, certificate program, community college, university, labor market data

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the government shutdown, the government shutdown that was caused by our very own U.S.
• The federal government has the money to do this, and in most shutdowns, they have used this authority
• We should separate this food aid issue from the shutdown.
• But let's not go pointing the blame when this shutdown or not.
• It is a firewall between the federal dysfunction and New Mexico families.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every now and then we know that our government has shutdowns, federal government has shutdowns, and the
• Every now and then we know that our government has shutdowns, federal government has shutdowns, and government
• has shutdowns.
• Federal government has shutdowns.
• that is as extensive as the last shutdown.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs Committee heard and advanced a series of local and statewide measures. SB 430 would renew, every 12 years by voter approval, the Shreveport-Bossier hotel occupancy tax that supports tourism and sports-related entities; SB 286 updates the New Orleans Downtown Development District statute by clarifying its status as a political subdivision, streamlining tax collection, removing staggered board terms, and clarifying bond-election boundaries; SB 198 requires government projects in historic districts to follow local historic district guidelines for new construction; and SB 172 expands a planning-commission provision so smaller municipalities can waive certain subdivision formalities and costly studies in limited family land-split situations. Each of these bills was described as largely technical or permissive, with supporters emphasizing efficiency, local control, or reduced costs. The committee also advanced SB 439 to add pre-screening for esophageal/Barrett’s esophageal cancer for firefighters and fire service employees, with firefighters’ representatives explaining the test can detect pre-cancerous cells and prevent later, more serious cancer. SB 458 would allow a local tax for a proposed St. Tammany Parish Inspector General/ethics entity to be allocated and, if excess remains, transferred to the district attorney’s office; members discussed the parish-wide referendum process and the connection to state-required funding obligations. SB 447 changes Bossier City Police Department promotional seniority and civil service classification from competitive seniority to promotional seniority, and SB 281 expands the Baker Economic Development District boundary to include additional commercial areas near the airport and support blight removal and growth. Additional measures moved favorably included SB 385, which changes appointments to the New Orleans City Park Improvement Association board and allows City Park to opt out of certain state insurance coverage because it carries private insurance; HR 84, which urges Shreveport to create an interest-free loan program for TSA agents at the regional airport during federal shutdowns; and SB 417, which adds two members to the St. Mary Parish Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 2A board. In each case, the committee heard brief testimony from sponsors and local officials or advocates, asked clarifying questions, and then approved the bills without objection. One member, Representative Murray, recused himself from the City Park bill because of his board membership. The committee then took a short recess, noting a few remaining bills would be deferred if sponsors did not appear.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another downside risk is sort of around federal planning, sorry, federal employment and spending.
• Now it's a reality, so we're two weeks into the shutdown.
• Another downside risk is sort of around federal planning, sorry, federal employment and spending.
• Now it's a reality, so we're two weeks into the shutdown.
• Those numbers are actuals from the federal government.

Summary: The committee first received a presentation from Dr. Reich on the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC), including how the council’s joint executive-legislative forecasting process works, the main state revenue sources, and recent economic conditions. He said Washington’s economy is slowing, with weak employment growth, softer taxable sales, and uncertainty from tariffs, federal spending, and the federal shutdown. He also noted that the September forecast was reduced, mainly because of lower sales tax and real estate excise tax collections, and that the state still expects modest growth rather than a recession. Members asked about whether Washington tends to lag national downturns and how forecast information should affect budgeting; Dr. Reich said the forecast is a revenue tool, not a budgeting decision, and that spending choices remain with elected officials. The Department of Revenue then presented on Washington’s sales and use tax structure and the implementation of Senate Bill 5814, which expands retail sales tax to several services effective October 1, 2025. Steve Ewing explained how sales and use tax are sourced, how reseller permits and the multiple points of use exemption work, and how the new law applies to live presentations, temporary staffing, investigations and security services, IT services, custom website development, advertising services, and custom software. He said DOR held listening sessions, issued interim guidance, and set up a centralized landing page and outreach efforts to help taxpayers understand the changes. He also described a six-month grace period for certain pre-existing contracts through March 31, 2026, but said penalties and interest still apply under the statute. Committee members raised concerns about how businesses and individuals will know when a service is taxable, who is responsible for collecting and remitting tax, and how sourcing will work for services delivered across multiple locations or online. DOR staff walked through examples involving accounting services, live lectures, virtual events, advertising campaigns, and search engine marketing, including the use of reasonable allocation and pool codes when exact sourcing data is unavailable. Members also questioned the administrative burden on small businesses and professionals newly subject to tax, and whether additional legislative fixes or relief from penalties and interest may be needed. No votes or formal actions were taken in the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so rather than coming back this week after our shutdown, the longest shutdown in history, to address
• AND SO RATHER THAN COMING BACK THIS WEEK AFTER OUR SHUTDOWN, THE LONGEST SHUTDOWN IN HISTORY, TO ADDRESS
• It lays the groundwork for a more unified and prepared federal approach.
• We just ended the Republican government shutdown, and this is our first order of business?
• WE JUST ENDED THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND THIS IS OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS?

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, November 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In this very moment, we're entering a federal government shutdown that will cut services and leave thousands
• </c> government shutdown. government shutdown.
• the federal the state or is that the federal government?
• </c> federal cuts and the program changes. federal cuts and the program changes.
• , which is where we are right now with that federal government shutdown. constituents following and saying

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every now and then we know that our government has shutdowns, federal government has shutdowns, and..
• Every now and then we know that our government has shutdowns, federal government has shutdowns, and The
• federal government has shutdowns.
• something good for my city to do and to implement for our TSA workers if we were to ever have a shutdown
• as extensive as the last shutdown.

Summary: The House Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs Committee met and advanced a series of local bills, mostly by unanimous voice vote after brief questions. SB 430 by Sen. Jenkins renewed the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau’s 1.5% hotel occupancy tax for 12-year periods by voter approval, with discussion about continued planning and coordination among tourism entities. SB 286 by Sen. Duplessis updated the New Orleans Downtown Development District statute by clarifying its status as a political subdivision, streamlining tax collection, removing staggered board terms, and clarifying bond renewal voting boundaries. The committee also favorably reported SB 198 by Sen. Mizell, requiring government projects in historic districts to follow local historic district rules for new construction; SB 172 by Sen. Luneau, expanding a planning-commission waiver process for certain property divisions to municipalities below 150,000 population; and SB 439 by Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, adding pre-screening for esophageal/Barrett’s cancer for firefighters and fire service employees. Testimony on the firefighter bill emphasized the health risks from carcinogen exposure and the value of early detection, and members expressed strong support. Additional bills advanced included SB 458 by Sen. McMath, creating a mechanism for local ethics-entity tax revenues in St. Tammany Parish to be transferred to the district attorney’s office if an inspector general office is created; SB 447 by Sen. Bass, changing Bossier City Police Department promotions from competitive to promotional seniority; SB 281 by Sen. Barrow, expanding the Baker Economic Development District boundaries to include additional commercial areas; SB 385 by Sen. Harris, changing appointments to the City Park Improvement Association board and allowing City Park to opt out of certain ORM insurance coverage; HR 84 by Rep. Walters, urging Shreveport to create an interest-free loan program for TSA workers during federal shutdowns; and SB 417 by Sen. Allain, adding two members to the St. Mary Parish drainage district board. All of these measures were reported favorably, with one member recusing himself from the City Park bill due to board membership. The committee then recessed briefly, noting several remaining bills would be deferred if sponsors did not arrive soon.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> designed</c> Visas are federal protections designed Visas are federal protections designed to<00
• Hawaii, federal immigration enforcement Hawaii, federal immigration enforcement has<00:45:43.359><c>
• ><c> broadly</c><00:46:34.400><c> authorize</c> federal law does not broadly authorize federal law does
• </c> see in this written testimony, federal see in this written testimony, federal laws,<00:46:41.520
• . federal. federal.

Bills: HB1838 , HB1870 , HB2445 , HB2540 , HB1886 , HB1839 , HB2269 , HB1939 , HB2037 , HB1635 , HB1941 , HB1576 , HB2568 , HB2267 , HB2590 , HB2266 , HB2597 , HB2499 , HB2500 , HB2502 , HB2607 , HB2137 , HB2357 , HB1782

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Keywords: HB1838, Hawaii, Act 142, U visa, T visa, U nonimmigrant status, T nonimmigrant status, immigration certification, visa certification, Form I-918 Supplement B, Form I-914 Supplement B, noncitizen victims, crime victim, human trafficking, victim helpfulness, law enforcement certification, prosecutor certification, judicial review, circuit court, confidentiality

Summary: The committee opened testimony on House Bill 1838, relating to visas. Testifiers from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, the legal clinic, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the ACLU, CARES, and immigrant-rights groups strongly supported the bill, saying it would bring Hawaii into compliance with federal law, standardize and speed up certification for U and T visa applicants, and better protect survivors of crime and trafficking. Supporters emphasized that delays in certification can leave eligible survivors waiting years for federal visa access and can undermine public safety by discouraging victims from reporting crimes. The chair announced there were 103 testimonies in support and one in opposition, and the committee then moved on without taking a vote on the bill in the hearing. The committee next heard House Bill 1870, concerning protected locations and immigration enforcement. Testimony from the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, ACLU of Hawaii, educators, students, and community advocates supported limiting immigration enforcement at schools and other essential-service sites, arguing that families should be able to access education, health care, shelters, libraries, and social services without fear. The Department of Education said it had already issued guidance in March 2025 for how staff should respond when law enforcement comes onto campus, and the Public Charter School Commission noted implementation would need to occur at the school level. Testifiers said the bill would create standardized protocols and protect students and families from fear and disruption; the chair reported 142 testimonies in support, one in opposition, and five comments. The committee then took up House Bill 2445, relating to student safety and law enforcement on campus. The Department of Education again said it had already rolled out statewide guidance and described its process for staff to notify administration, verify law enforcement identification and purpose, and route matters through the complex area superintendent and attorney general, while noting emergencies would be handled differently. A committee member questioned whether the procedures were sufficiently standardized and whether staff were trained for unusual situations. Student and community testifiers supported the bill, saying schools should remain safe havens and that clear procedures are needed if federal immigration enforcement appears on campus. The Department of Law Enforcement testified in opposition to parts of the measure, raising concerns about masking requirements, vehicle markings, officer safety, doxxing, retaliation, costs, and possible supremacy-clause conflicts, and suggested more exemptions and a compromise approach. The chair reported 106 testimonies in support, two comments, and no opposition for the bill before moving on to the next measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> at the beginning of the, uh, federal at the beginning of the, uh, federal shutdown,<00:04:35.440
• We just call it energy assistance in Minnesota, which had been held up by the federal shutdown.
• We are hoping that will resume and we will get our money very soon, very shortly, since the federal shutdown
• We just call it energy assistance in Minnesota, which had been held up by the federal shutdown.
• </c><01:14:21.040><c> shutdown,</c> of the the federal shutdown, of the the federal shutdown, um,<01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• one, it extended the reinsurance program in the state of Minnesota on a five-year waiver from the federal
• Once these claims are verified and the matching federal funds are received, the state makes payments
• Once these claims are verified and the matching federal funds are received, the state makes payments
• Much like the debate regarding federal subsidies for the ACA over the past year, these credits result
• </c> like the debate regarding federal like the debate regarding federal subsidies<00:13:24.399><c> for

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The losses in federal funding and government shutdown mean that our families need our services more than
• The federal shutdown has left hundreds of Hawaii federal employees suddenly furloughed without income
• These positions are critical due to the ongoing federal shutdown and SNAP changes beginning November
• the federal shutdown.
• support due to the October 25 federal support due to the October 25 shutdown.<02:21:44.479><c> Without

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: This joint informational briefing on Act 310 grants and aid focused on organizations describing how federal funding cuts, Medicaid/SNAP changes, and related policy shifts are affecting their services and budgets. Committee members explained there would be no Q&A, testimony would be limited to one minute, and in-person participants would be heard before Zoom callers. Members repeatedly asked testifiers to identify the amount of federal funding lost or at risk. Testimony came from a wide range of nonprofits and community providers, including Aloha Care, Hawaii Bicycling League, Hawaii Literacy, Hawaii Youth Symphony, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, the Tsunami Museum, The Kohala Center, West Hawaii Community Health Center, West Hawaii Region Hospital Foundation, Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, Dynamic Community Solutions, Feeding Hawaii Together, Girl Scouts of Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaiian Lending and Investments, Homana, Honolulu Theatre for the Youth, Kids Hurt Too Hawaii, and Kokua Kalihi Valley. Most described reduced or threatened federal support and requested state funding to maintain services such as health care access, food security, disaster preparedness, literacy and digital inclusion, youth mentoring, arts education, housing, and climate or agricultural resilience. Several speakers emphasized direct impacts on vulnerable populations, including kūpuna, low-income families, immigrants, homeless youth, and people with disabilities. Requests ranged from relatively small planning or program grants to multi-million-dollar stabilization asks, with some organizations citing specific losses such as reduced Medicaid or USDA funding, canceled EPA or FEMA support, or expiring federal grants. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• and has not yet come to an agreement that would fund federal programs for fiscal year 2026.
• Whereas, it is unclear when Congress will reach an agreement to fund the federal government.
• The crisis caused by action or inaction at the federal level brings us back.
• Food benefits under SNAP have been one of the casualties of the shutdown.
• Because we didn't need to use a government shutdown to terrify the people of New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal health care cuts come in combination with other federal attacks on the nursing profession.
• The federal administration has proposed cutting billions of dollars in federal funding that fuel vital
• The federal administration has proposed cutting billions of dollars in federal funding that fuel vital
• federal workforce.
• with the shutdown and the shutdown impacts, as you heard with TSA in particular, a lot of these folks

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And excuse me, and then on WIC, excuse me, WIC was affected by the extended federal shutdown.
• shutdown, what's available to us to sustain the program ongoing.
• To your second question, we have seen a slight dip in enrollment since the federal government shutdown
• Federal cuts under HR1 threaten to increase administrative burdens and reduce access to Federal cuts
• Federal cuts under HR1 threaten to increase administrative burdens and reduce access to Federal cuts

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The concern we had during the federal government shutdown, and then certainly the concern we have moving
• Dollars from the federal government.
• We rely on the federal government and on disaster funding.
• If we do receive federal assistance, we'll know at that time.
• I have federally supported family services.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, we're here in strong support
• So, for the health and safety of all the federal workers, please remove these amendments and go through
• With higher education going through a period of uncertainty at the federal level, I think it is important
• With higher education going through a period of uncertainty at the federal level, I think it is important
• included a general fund appropriation of $291,296 and authorized expenditures of $1.1 million in federal

Bills: SB6 , SB62 , SB74 , SB90 , SB104 , SB119 , SB132 , SB133 , SB135 , SB182 , SB185 , SB193 , SB207 , SB217 , SB229 , SB233 , SB260 , SB262 , SB280 , SB281 , SB300 , SB306 , SB378 , SB382 , SB393 , SB403 , SB422 , SB427 , SB431 , SB434 , SB442 , SB452 , SB456 , SB468 , SB472 , SB487 , SB503 , SB6

Committee: Assembly Ways and Means

Keywords: cloud seeding, Nevada, water conservation, agriculture, Desert Research Institute, victim compensation, hate crimes, property remediation, criminal justice, vulnerable persons, elections, voter registration, mail ballots, candidate eligibility, cybersecurity, education funding, teacher grants, classroom supplies, instructional support, specialized personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• As you may recall, back in October, the federal government shutdown, so that made it difficult for us
• And of course, the Federal Reserve has been struggling a little bit.
• through to people between shutdown.
• Federal employment losses.
• Federal employment losses.

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As you may recall, back in October, the federal government shutdown made it difficult for us, for those
• That actually was because of the shutdown. We didn't get an October number.
• That actually was because of the shutdown. We're not going to get that.
• through to people between shutdown.
• Federal employment losses.

Summary: House Finance met in work session on January 13, 2026, beginning with the introduction of new member Rep. Janice Zahn and a reminder about short-session amendment deadlines. The committee then heard JLARC’s 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering nine preferences. JLARC recommended continuing several preferences, including natural gas transportation fuel exemptions, reduced B&O rates for travel agents and tour operators, a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income housing developers, a property tax exemption for multipurpose senior centers, a sales and use tax remittance for disabled veteran adapted housing, a trade convention attendance nexus exemption, a B&O exemption for agricultural fertilizer and seed sales, and a hazardous substance tax exemption for certain pesticides. JLARC also recommended allowing unused silicon smelter-related preferences to expire. Members asked about legislative intent, data limitations, and how performance metrics should be tied more clearly to policy objectives; committee leaders and JLARC staff discussed a new standardized rubric for future tax preference performance statements and fiscal note review. The committee also noted that bills related to some of the reviewed preferences were already introduced. For the low-income housing exemption, JLARC said nonprofit developers were building homes as intended but that the current spending-based metric did not fully reflect the policy goal, and it recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify the preference. For multipurpose senior centers, JLARC said the exemption met its inferred objective and recommended continuation, with possible consideration of making it permanent. For the disabled veteran adapted housing remittance, JLARC said few eligible veterans were claiming the benefit and recommended continuation with changes to improve access and consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs. On the trade convention attendance exemption, JLARC said use was unknown but the preference likely helped keep Washington competitive with other states and recommended continuation, though members questioned the lack of direct evidence and the administrative-burden rationale. The committee then received an update from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. The forecast showed the U.S. economy slowing but still growing, with Washington expected to have modest growth, weak employment gains, continued personal income growth, and slow construction. ERFC said tariffs and trade policy remained the biggest risks, inflation was expected to stay elevated in the near term, and the Federal Reserve had cut rates three times in 2025 with two more cuts projected in 2026. State revenues were up $105 million in the current biennium compared with the November forecast, but down $185 million in the next biennium, with growth driven in part by recent legislative changes and improved estate tax collections. Members asked about sector-specific employment trends, the impact of high-income households on retail sales, and how state revenues compare with personal income over time. The meeting adjourned after the forecast presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal law also requires that publicly traded companies report an estimate of their asset retirement
• Because right now, the message to the last refinery standing is this: Start planning your shutdown.
• that that somehow could precipitate more refinery shutdowns, is that the general concern?
• shutdowns.
• It requires operating refineries to model their shutdowns.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Keywords: 987, senate, all