Transcript Highlights:

• Of the state of Minnesota, AIGO moves that the rule therein be suspended and an urgent.
• For the miners up in northern Minnesota, and I urge you all to vote yes for northern Minnesota.
• See, Minnesota mining's not just an industry; it's a way of life for folks up there.
• From clean energy to cutting-edge technologies, America needs these resources to build the economy of
• Minnesota will be the one to provide them. So let's do what's right today.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stauber from Minnesota.
• MINNESOTA -- STAUBER FROM MINNESOTA.
• A certain guy in Minnesota got way more press coverage because it's the wrong narrative?
• to cut their energy costs and cut that program in half.
• TO CULT THEIR ENERGY COSTS AND CUT THAT MANY PROGRAM IN HALF.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said food insecurity is rising in Minnesota.
• It's a trend toward the viewpoints that we have in the state of Minnesota.
• It's a trend toward the viewpoints that we have in the state of Minnesota.
• It's a trend toward the viewpoints that we have in the state of Minnesota.
• It's a trend toward the viewpoints that we have in the state of Minnesota.

Bills: HF1704 , HF2052

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota farmers contribute billions of dollars to the state economy.
• Biodiesel and renewable energy: Minnesota has been a leader in biodiesel, with a 20% biodiesel blend,
• </c><00:37:48.079><c> leader</c><00:37:48.880><c> uh</c><00:37:49.000><c> in</c> energy Minnesota has
• It helps our rural economy where the infrastructure that Minnesota has placed into local meat processing
• where the infrastructure that uh economy where the infrastructure that uh Minnesota<01:40:27.199><c>

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• of Minnesota.
• economies.
• economies.
• </c> rural economies. rural economies.
• ><c> Minnesota</c> Our Minnesota families, our Minnesota Our Minnesota families, our Minnesota students

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota, greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota, and<00:04:48.720>
• clean energy policies that benefit all motans.
• and greater Minnesota.
• and greater Minnesota.
• </c> with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

Bills: HF2438

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee.
• And I would say the PUC has that docket open because we passed a law on 100% clean energy.
• And I would say the PUC has that docket open because we passed a law on 100% clean energy. members.
• </c><01:16:53.520><c> And</c> Senator Weber: Passed a law on 100% clean energy.
• And I would say the PUC has that docket open because we passed a law on 100% clean energy.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> contribute to the Minnesota economy. contribute to the Minnesota economy.
• Minnesota is home to at least economy.
• Senate File 3977 is a bill that will bring a lot of energy into Minnesota's economy.
• Senate File 3977 is a bill that will bring a lot of energy into Minnesota's economy.
• </c> um economy. um economy.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We all want clean air, we all want clean water, we all want clean land, and this bill does not do anything
• We all want clean air, we all want clean water, we all want clean land, and this bill does not do anything
• We all want clean air, we all want clean water, we all want clean land, and this bill does not do anything
• We all want clean air, we all want clean water, we all want clean land, and this bill does not do anything
• Streamlining the permitting process is a significant priority for Minnesota's ag economy across Minnesota

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:43.360><c> is</c> inflation Minnesota's economy is inflation Minnesota's economy is predicted
• </c> growth turning now to the Minnesota growth turning now to the Minnesota Outlook<00:15:17.440><c>
• </c><00:16:26.040><c> remains</c> unemployment rate in Minnesota remains unemployment rate in Minnesota
• </c> of lost Federal funding to Minnesota of lost Federal funding to Minnesota every<00:31:47.559><c>
• </c> Foundation of fiscal planning Minnesota Foundation of fiscal planning Minnesota the<00:37:21.560

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Why should it fall to the taxpayers of the state of Minnesota to clean up this problem?
• So, why should Minnesota taxpayers bear this poisonous burden and the cost to clean up these chemicals
• So, why should Minnesota taxpayers bear this poisonous burden and the cost to clean up these chemicals
• Our members keep Minnesota running. We clean office buildings.
• Our members keep Minnesota running. We clean office buildings.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• energy industry.
• Elite is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota. They are a diversified energy company.
• Elite Clean Energy is a, as you would imagine, a renewable company.
• Elite clean energy is a, as you would imagine, a renewable company.
• And produce it into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy.

Committee: Joint Energy Development and Transmission Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• supply of new energy which our economy<00:41:01.760><c> and</c><00:41:02.079><c> American</c><00:41:
• </c> gentleoman from Minnesota. gentleoman from Minnesota.
• </c> Minnesota is recognized. Minnesota is recognized.
• . economy. economy.
• . economy. economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Revoking these credits and denying funds for clean energy projects that support a sustainable, healthy
• As federal funding is cut off for health care, for food, for clean energy credits, as the state has to
• And last summer, former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Last summer, former
• We can make sure energy costs that data centers drive are not paid by Washington households.
• Our job this session is to spend every drop of energy we have, plus some, stopping the bad and building

Summary: The House convened for the opening day of the 2026 regular session of the 69th Legislature, with 96 members present. The session included the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, a prayer, and a tribal welcome and blessing from Squaxin Island Tribe members, followed by the swearing-in of several representatives by retired Justice Mary Yu. The Speaker also recognized the deaths of Senator Bill Ramos, Speaker Emeritus Frank Chopp, and Trooper Tara Marissa Gooding with a moment of silence. In opening remarks, the Speaker emphasized the impacts of federal actions on Washington, including tariffs, H.R. 1, health care costs, Medicaid and food assistance losses, climate and clean energy funding threats, immigration and civil rights concerns, and the need to protect food, health, shelter, and affordability. Representative Stokesbary responded for House Republicans, focusing on Washington’s high cost of living, opposing an income tax, and urging action on affordability, housing, and crime. Both sides framed the session as a difficult but important period for budget and policy decisions. The House adopted House Resolution 4665 to notify the governor that it was organized and ready for business, and adopted House Concurrent Resolutions 4406 and 4407 to receive the governor’s address and establish the session’s cutoff dates. The chamber also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 8407, adopted permanent House rules, and approved several committee reassignments and appointments. A House delegation then reported back from a visit with Governor Ferguson, and the House adjourned until the next day, when it was scheduled to meet in pro forma session before the joint session for the governor’s State of the State address.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the University of Minnesota. the University of Minnesota.
• Minnesota.
• Minnesota State educates the workforce of Minnesota.
• Across Minnesota State, Minnesota.
• ><c> energy,</c> technology, agriculture, clean energy, technology, agriculture, clean energy, advanced

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, 80% goes into energy is federal dollars.
• </c><00:29:56.760><c> from</c> throughout the state of Minnesota from throughout the state of Minnesota
• Thank you. ...their total Minnesota gross receipts from those same four years.
• </c><00:48:28.880><c> this</c> to encourage a growing economy this to encourage a growing economy this
• So if we want to drive growth in Minnesota, we need to drive research and development here.

Bills: HF4 , HF173

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• in greater Minnesota.
• There are dozens of current multifamily... south central Minnesota. Our south central Minnesota.
• local economies in greater Minnesota.<00:10:38.800><c> The</c><00:10:39.040><c> present</c><00:10:39.440
• ><c> investment,</c> Minnesota.
• </c> stomping on our public energy utilities. stomping on our public energy utilities.

Bills: HF3806 , HF2687 , HF497

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the Minnesota the Minnesota Senate,<00:00:22.720><c> Madame</c><00:00:23.199><c> Chief</c><00:00
• </c> leaders, members of of the Minnesota leaders, members of of the Minnesota National National National
• </c> of working together here in Minnesota. of working together here in Minnesota.
• </c> Minnesota. And let's talk about freedom. Minnesota. And let's talk about freedom.
• </c> has chosen chosen to throw our economy has chosen chosen to throw our economy into<00:11:40.720>

Transcript Highlights:

• Our region's emissions are interwoven with the economy.
• Breakthrough Energy was founded to accelerate energy innovation and build the industries of the future
• I firmly believe our nation's energy security depends on what I call affordable, reliable, and clean
• energy.
• It's interesting that you mentioned the need for more energy because, as you create the energy and you

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• air, clean water, and clean land.
• air, clean water, and clean land.
• Energy demands play a role as well. How much energy are they using?
• And then that last tranche is this clean, sustainable energy authority, which has a grant pool and it
• And then on the far right on the bottom, you see the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority.

Summary: The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of Minnkota Power Cooperative before hearing presentations on large energy consumers and related infrastructure issues. The first presentation, from the North Dakota Transmission Authority, focused on the need for better local decision-making tools for counties, townships, and planning and zoning boards facing major projects such as transmission lines, pipelines, data centers, wind, solar, and large-scale agriculture. The speaker urged more objective, data-driven analysis, noted that local officials often have limited time and resources, and said the state should support training and tools through groups like the League of Cities and the Association of Counties. Members asked about proactive outreach, data center ordinances, and how to avoid subsidizing large loads or causing reliability problems. The Division of Air Quality then discussed environmental oversight of data centers, emphasizing that North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the country and that the agency’s role is limited to air, water discharge, stormwater, and waste—not zoning or water use. The presentation explained that data centers generally have low direct emissions but may rely on diesel backup generators when the grid is unavailable, which creates air-quality concerns; the department said it is requiring air monitors at some projects to collect real-world data and guide future decisions. Members asked about generator emissions, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession, and the agency said permit applicants pay for the monitors while the state handles some QA work. The Department of Water Resources followed with an overview of North Dakota water law and data center water use. The director explained the state’s prior-appropriation system, the public-interest review for permits, and the large overall water supply available from groundwater and the Missouri River. He said most proposed data centers use closed-loop cooling systems and generally request relatively small amounts of water compared with other uses such as power plants, irrigation, and oilfield operations, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use only a tiny fraction of Missouri River flow. Questions focused on downstream impacts and comparisons to fracking water use, and the director said the state’s use is too small to materially affect downstream users. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd-Erickson testified online about data center zoning and permitting. He asked the committee to have Legislative Council gather information on how other states handle data center permitting and to keep the topic on the interim agenda. He argued that local zoning should remain local, but said counties lack the technical and legal resources to manage complex reclamation or bonding requirements and that state-level enabling legislation may be more appropriate. He also recommended eliminating tax incentives for data centers. The committee chair said staff would prepare a document on other states’ zoning and permitting approaches. After a lunch recess, the committee reconvened at the EERC, where CEO Charles Gorecki gave an overview of the center’s 75 years of work and its role in oil and gas, carbon management, and other energy technologies, highlighting enhanced oil recovery and carbon dioxide utilization as major opportunities for future production and tax revenue.