Transcript Highlights:

• The chatbot offered to write the first draft of the teen's suicide note, urged him to keep his suicidal
• So, if a child didn't attempt to commit suicide, successfully commit suicide, inflict any self physical
• And I um expresses suicidal ideiation.
• </c><01:58:01.599><c> Um</c><01:58:02.080><c> so</c> suicide. It's very very scary. Um so suicide.
• </c><01:58:43.760><c> um</c> specify the protocol around suicide um specify the protocol around suicide

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But uh Congress in 2020 they said we have a crisis in our country or as suicide rates.
• we have a crisis in our country<00:17:10.559><c> or</c><00:17:10.640><c> as</c><00:17:11.439><c> suicide
• </c> country or as suicide rates. country or as suicide rates.
• We understand that for K through 12, it lets physicians assistants, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives
• ,</c><00:21:39.120><c> nurse</c> lets physicians assistants, nurse lets physicians assistants, nurse

Bills: HB306 , SB149 , SB158 , HB323 , HB362 , HB306 , SB149 , SB158 , HB323 , HB362

Committee: House Military and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: education, patriotism, national anthem, Star-Spangled Banner, K-12 schools, constitutional amendment, public works, sealed bids, bidding requirements, procurement, public notice, newspaper advertisement, advertising failure, publisher liability, civil damages, criminal liability, awarding authority, county government, municipal government, construction contracts

Transcript Highlights:

• referred to it by social workers at VA hospitals, county veteran service offices, or the Minnesota Assistance
• Veteran service offices or the County Veteran service offices or the Minnesota<00:02:16.400><c> assistant
• c><00:02:16.920><c> Council</c><00:02:17.360><c> for</c><00:02:17.840><c> veterans</c> Minnesota assistant
• Council for veterans Minnesota assistant Council for veterans and<00:02:18.840><c> then</c><00:02:19.000
• I'm glad to see that you work with the VA on their suicide prevention program, just the whole kind of

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> or their children will commit suicide. or their children will commit suicide.
• Cutting attempted suicide, behaviors?
• </c><04:03:10.640><c> are</c> around the issue of suicide are around the issue of suicide are contested
• </c> whether the increase in suicidal whether the increase in suicidal ideiation<04:03:16.880><c> actually
• </c> considered suicide considered suicide Um,<04:17:24.399><c> all</c><04:17:24.720><c> said</c><04:

Committee: House Children and Family Law

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> years um including two deaths by suicide years um including two deaths by suicide just<00:02:28.239
• </c> barriers to prevent suicide attempts. barriers to prevent suicide attempts.
• <c> advocates</c><00:03:20.560><c> to</c> the suicide prevention advocates to the suicide prevention
• </c> suicide at this bridge suicide suicide at this bridge suicide prevention<00:24:25.039><c> organizations
• for the suicide prevention national suicide<00:24:56.799><c> prevention</c><00:24:57.120><c> hotline

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Who is both losing food assistance and health care.
• she were... ...need constant physical assistance.
• More than happy to be of assistance.
• More than happy to be of assistance.
• First, this story... ...of older adult suicide.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the impact of H.R. 1 on older Californians and related county administration issues. Chair Jackson and Chair Addis opened by emphasizing California’s rapidly aging population and the need to protect seniors’ access to food, health care, housing, and in-home support services. Testimony from the Department of Social Services, Department of Health Care Services, and Department of Aging described how H.R. 1 would expand work and reporting requirements in CalFresh and Medi-Cal, increase redeterminations, and create new eligibility barriers. Witnesses and advocates warned that these changes could lead to large coverage losses, especially for adults ages 55 to 64, people experiencing homelessness, caregivers, and some immigrant groups, while also increasing administrative burden on counties. The LAO noted that many provisions do not directly apply to Californians 65 and older, but highlighted indirect effects and some direct impacts, including a new home equity limit for certain long-term care recipients and narrower immigration eligibility rules. Committee members pressed the administration and counties on how exemptions would be identified and implemented, whether data systems could automatically protect eligible people, and how outreach would reach older adults, women, LGBTQ seniors, and people with limited digital access. DHCS and CDSS said they are working to use existing data, cross-program information sharing, and human-centered communications to maximize exemptions and reduce churn, including text outreach, print and radio campaigns, and navigator support. Members also raised concerns about the need for legal aid and county eligibility workers to help people navigate complex rules, and requested updated analyses on the number of people likely to lose both Medi-Cal and CalFresh and the broader human and system impacts. No votes were taken. The second major topic was the administration’s proposal to shift some future IHSS costs to counties by establishing a statewide baseline for average authorized hours per case. CDSS said the proposal is intended to improve consistency in assessments and not reduce services, while counties and labor groups strongly opposed it, arguing that rising hours reflect real increases in need, an aging and higher-acuity caseload, and state-mandated assessment tools rather than county error. County representatives said the proposal would strain already limited local revenues, worsen the effects of H.R. 1, and could force cuts to other safety-net services. Committee members questioned the proposal’s timing and impact, but the hearing ended without action, with the chairs asking for continued updates, additional analysis, and more information before May Revision.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> assisting children from birth to age 22. assisting children from birth to age 22.
• I am the assistant director of Severson.
• Our patient mortality rate due to suicide remains at zero.
• I knew what he was going suicide.
• </c> through because I was suicidal, too. through because I was suicidal, too.

Bills: HF568 , HF433 , HF1689 , HF3135 , HF3137 , HF3145 , HF2887 , HF2819 , HF2802 , HF2664 , HF2267 , HF799 , HF800 , HF3049 , HF296 , HF580 , HF1438 , HF1237

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: special education, education funding, construction, Minnesota, regional educational programs, HF433, Cloquet Area Fire District, fire station, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, general obligation bonds, public safety, emergency services, fire protection, local infrastructure, Minnesota capital budget, DEED grant, municipal facilities, station construction

Transcript Highlights:

• I do think it’s absolutely wrong if someone were to go behind parents’ backs in assisting a child in
• Our state needs expanded counseling, stronger family support, and robust suicide prevention. the state
• Our state needs expanded counseling, stronger family support and robust suicide prevention.
• to be denied care. ...who sought help from a suicide prevention line only to be denied care because
• But we hear the term suicide in a lot of the bills that we talk about as that's going to happen if you

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On December 5th, my oldest son, Carter, died from suicide.
• </c> experiencing suicide ideation. experiencing suicide ideation.
• </c> died from suicide. died from suicide.
• I've met multiple groups of parents who have lost their sons to suicide because of sextortion.
• suicide because of sextortion. sextortion. sextortion.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For nearly two decades, Oklahoma has had a higher suicide rate than the national average.
• These comprehensive reviews of suicide deaths can improve suicide prevention strategies by offering deeper
• See why our Oklahomans are killing themselves, how these suicide rates are going up, and how we can prevent
• It would be under that office that they would look at those unequivocal overdoses or suicide deaths.
• House Bill 3981 is a locality incentive program for district attorney assistant district attorneys in

Bills: HB1411 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3901 , HCR1019 , HB3981 , HB4248 , HB3194 , HB3849 , HB4095 , HB4302 , HB3342 , HB3344 , HB3287 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3930 , HB3931 , HB1818 , HB4454 , HB4336

Keywords: True Grit Trail, Oklahoma, tourism, signage, Department of Transportation, state parks, historical sites, economic development, medical marijuana, license transfer, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, moratorium, business regulation, commercial grower licenses, licensing restrictions, agriculture, psychological autopsy, mental health, suicide prevention, state health department

Transcript Highlights:

• Assistant Majority Leader Garcia, you are recognized for your procedural motion. Thank you, Mr.
• After losing 10 fellow Marines to suicide, I knew I had to act.
• Unfortunately, men account for nearly 80% of all suicide deaths nationwide.
• And eventually she did die by suicide. The stories are one child too many.
• Assistant Majority Leader Garcia moved. Assistant Majority Leader Garcia moves, and Ms.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then handled a series of procedural motions, including re-referrals of several Senate bills, notices for committee hearings, and a successful motion to suspend rules so ACA 20 could be taken up later in the week. The chamber also recognized former Assembly Member Christina Garcia and later moved into a Pride Month observance. The main ceremonial item was House Resolution 115 recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Assembly Member Ward opened on the resolution, and multiple members from different caucuses spoke in support, highlighting Pride history, LGBTQ+ rights, and the contributions of LGBTQ Californians. Assembly Member DeMaio offered supportive remarks while noting policy differences, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote after 53 co-authors were added. The Assembly then held a Pride honoree ceremony recognizing 15 individuals and groups for contributions to the LGBTQ community. On the floor file, members also adopted several resolutions by voice vote after adding co-authors: ACR 187 on Men’s Mental Health Month, ACR 157 marking the 50th anniversary of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act, ACR 222 declaring Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Awareness Month, and ACR 224 recognizing Social Media Harms Victim Remembrance Day. Each drew personal testimony from members about the underlying issues, including suicide prevention, caregiving and dementia, mining reclamation, and harms to youth from social media. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 46 on mental health diversion by a 51-1 vote, and later adopted the consent calendar 66-0. The House adjourned until June 25, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Almost 50 years ago, back in 1976, we recognized physician assistants for humans, allowing PAs to practice
• Suicides and overdoses are now a daily part of call volume.
• Suicides were very few during the holidays or limited to someone that mixed up their medications. suicides
• Suicides and overdoses are now a daily part of a call volume.
• I help someone who is contemplating suicide.

Bills: S0302 , S0394 , S0480 , S0546 , S0636 , S0774 , S0796 , S1028 , S1050 , S1066 , S1120 , S1230 , S1288 , S1682

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Keywords: cybersecurity, information technology, data management, local government compliance, cloud services, state agency oversight, integrated governance, conservation lands, land exchange, state-owned land, Acquisition and Restoration Council, Florida water management, environmental protection, beach management, beach erosion, beach nourishment, coastal resilience, shoreline protection, critical erosion, critically eroded beach

Transcript Highlights:

• The second leading cause of death between ages 10 and 24 is suicide.
• Many had multiple suicide attempts. They were missed because no one screened them.
• My family almost lost me to suicide, so out of the goodness of your heart, pass this bill.
• Both girls missed years of school, lost friends, and battled depression and suicidal thoughts.
• Both girls missed years of school, lost friends, and battled depression and suicidal thoughts.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a lengthy public hearing with more than 70 people signed up to testify, focusing mainly on health insurance and health care access bills. Early testimony centered on H.1257/S.712, which would require insurance coverage for medically necessary treatment of genetic craniofacial conditions. Supporters included legislators, dentists, and medical experts who said these conditions are not cosmetic, can severely affect eating, speech, pain, and social functioning, and often create major financial hardship because insurers deny coverage. A related dental bill, H.1262/S.676, drew technical testimony from the Life Insurance Association of Massachusetts about implementation issues with the 2022 dental loss-ratio law, while the Massachusetts Dental Society supported H.1306/S.696 on transparency in dental network leasing and opposed H.1262. Representative Gentile also testified for H.4013, which would ban for-profit acute care hospitals and for-profit health insurers in Massachusetts, arguing that profit incentives undermine patient care. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to H.1261/S.799, a bill to protect patients from surprise ambulance bills. Municipal fire chiefs, Boston EMS, nonprofit ambulance providers, and the bill’s Senate sponsor said the measure would require insurers to pay ambulance providers directly and promptly, cap patient out-of-pocket costs, and reduce confusion caused by out-of-network billing. Witnesses described ambulance services as essential public health infrastructure and said current billing practices can discourage people from calling 911 or leave municipalities and nonprofits unable to recover costs. Committee members asked about unpaid debt, municipal billing burdens, and how the bill would affect rates and reimbursement. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H.1249/S.805, which would require screening for PANS/PANDAS in medical and clinical settings. Legislators, clinicians, parents, a teen with the condition, and educators described PANS/PANDAS as an infection-triggered inflammatory illness that can present as sudden psychiatric symptoms and is often misdiagnosed as a mental health disorder. Supporters said routine screening at well visits, emergency rooms, and other clinical settings would help identify children earlier, reduce unnecessary psychiatric treatment and hospitalizations, and improve outcomes. Testifiers repeatedly urged favorable action, emphasizing the personal and financial toll on families and the potential for early treatment to prevent long-term harm. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on these bills; no committee action or votes were announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• systems by inspecting county jails and local juvenile detention facilities, providing technical assistance
• But you'll—does that mean when you say accidental or overdose or hanging suicide, does that mean you
• But you'll, does that mean when you say accidental or overdose or hanging suicide, does that mean you
• If, for some reason, we don’t need all of that, it rolls right back into local assistance.
• In terms of, you know, we do administer a lot of grants that go out for local assistance.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview from the Board of State and Community Corrections on its budget change proposal for 11 additional permanent positions, which BSCC said are needed to manage a rapidly expanded grant workload, increase technical assistance, and strengthen oversight and audits. BSCC also updated members on its new In Custody Death Review Division, created under SB 519, reporting that it has begun collecting and reviewing local jail death investigations, has hired about one-third of its staff, and has received access to medical records and related documents. Members raised concerns about family notification practices, local jail deaths, and whether BSCC’s increased administrative use would reduce grant dollars; BSCC said the change is intended to be permanent but should not substantially affect local assistance. The LAO supported the position authority request but flagged a methodological issue in the administration’s Proposition 47 savings estimate, and Finance said it would update the estimate by May Revision. The committee then reviewed CDCR’s overall budget, population, and facility issues. The Secretary said the incarcerated population is holding around 90,000, parole around 33,000, and described major cost pressures from retirements, workers’ compensation, medical transport, violence, and aging infrastructure lacking air conditioning and ADA features. He defended prison closures as creating overcrowding and reducing programming capacity, while also highlighting successes such as declining recidivism, expanded college and reentry programming, and the completion of the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Members pressed CDCR on fiscal discipline, the effect of closures on savings, community impacts from prison shutdowns, vacancy and staffing issues, and climate-related facility needs. CDCR said it clusters medically vulnerable and ADA-needing populations at more suitable facilities, uses heat plans and temperature monitoring, and is developing a 20-year infrastructure plan. A separate item addressed CDCR’s request for $91 million ongoing for lump-sum leave payouts for correctional officers and nurses. CDCR said these costs have historically been covered by vacancy savings, but declining vacancies and facility closures have reduced that source. The LAO said the funding is reasonable in the near term but recommended limited-term approval with reporting, and urged the Legislature to scrutinize unallocated savings assumptions and the ongoing Boston Consulting Group efficiency contract. Finance argued the lump-sum request should be ongoing because the costs are recurring and vacancy savings are less reliable. Members questioned whether CDCR is doing enough to reduce leave liability and whether the department will actually achieve the budgeted savings from the consultant work. Finally, CDCR presented updated population projections through June 2030, estimating a 6.5 percent decline in the institution population and a 10.4 percent decline in parole, while revising its Proposition 36 methodology based on actual admissions data. CDCR said Prop. 36 admissions are increasing but at a lower level than previously projected, and that the law’s long-term effects remain uncertain. On the California Rehabilitation Center closure, CDCR projected about $99.6 million in net General Fund savings next year and roughly $150 million ongoing, with 522 positions eliminated. The LAO said the state could close another prison within a few years and identified the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad as a strong candidate, recommending against approving new capital projects there unless another closure is identified. Finance said the administration has not proposed any additional closure at this time.

Transcript Highlights:

• systems by inspecting county jails and local juvenile detention facilities, providing technical assistance
• But you'll—does that mean when you say accidental or overdose or hanging suicide, does that mean you
• Suicide and accidental [deaths] followed underneath.
• If, for some reason, we don’t need all of that, it rolls right back into local assistance.
• In terms of, you know, we do administer a lot of grants that go out for local assistance.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation heard an overview from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) on its budget change proposal and grant administration. BSCC requested authority for 11 additional permanent positions to handle a workload that has nearly tripled over five to seven years, with more than 600 grant agreements and about $1.5 billion in grant funds in the field. The board also reported on its new In-Custody Death Review Division, which has collected data since July 2024 and received 136 jail death reports; staff said the division is still building out reviews and has identified overdose, natural causes, and suicide by hanging as the leading manners of death. Members raised concerns about family notification practices, oversight of local grants, and the impact of taking more administrative funds from local assistance, while the LAO and Department of Finance did not oppose the position request but urged correction of the administration’s Proposition 47 savings methodology before May Revision. The committee then reviewed CDCR’s overall budget and operations. Secretary Jeffrey Macomber described a relatively steady prison and parole population, ongoing structural budget pressures from retirement payouts, workers’ compensation, medical transport, violence, and aging facilities lacking air conditioning and ADA features. He emphasized rehabilitation, recidivism reduction, college programming, and the department’s 20-year infrastructure planning effort, while also defending the closure of the California Rehabilitation Center and warning that additional closures can increase overcrowding, double-celling, and waitlists for programming. Senators pressed CDCR on fiscal discipline, vacancy savings, staffing shortages in medical and mental health classifications, the use of tablets for incarcerated people, and community impacts from prison closures, including the Norco site. A separate item focused on CDCR’s request for $91 million ongoing for lump-sum leave payouts to separating correctional officers and nurses. CDCR said these costs had historically been covered by vacancy savings, but lower vacancy levels and facility closures have reduced that funding source. The LAO supported the funding only on a limited-term basis with reporting, arguing the need may change as the system reaches a new normal, and also urged the Legislature to scrutinize the broader structural shortfall and the Boston Consulting Group efficiency contract. Finance supported ongoing funding, saying the costs are recurring and vacancy savings are less reliable. The committee also discussed CDCR’s fall 2025 population projections, which forecast a 6.5% decline in the institution population and a 10.4% decline in parole over five years, while updating Proposition 36 assumptions based on actual admissions data. CDCR and Finance said the California Rehabilitation Center closure would generate savings and that no additional prison closure had been formally proposed, though the LAO argued the state could close another prison and recommended not funding certain Soledad projects unless another closure is identified.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over half of every linked to suicide.
• </c> suicide in the US occurs with a firearm. suicide in the US occurs with a firearm.
• And so we are a component and can be of assistance.
• And so we are a component and can be of assistance.
• And so we are a component and can be of assistance.

Bills: HF3409 , HF3487 , HF3401

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: immigration status, undocumented students, immigrant rights, K-12 education, public school enrollment, Plyler v. Doe, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, law enforcement access, ICE, immigration enforcement, civil lawsuit, private right of action, injunctive relief, mandamus, student records, directory information, parental engagement, equal access to education

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Megan Garcia, and I'm the mother of Sewell Setzer III, a 14-year-old boy who died by suicide last
• This chatbot never referred him to a suicide crisis hotline.
• I believe a law like SB 243 can prevent deaths by suicide. 43 can prevent deaths by suicide.
• Designed for productivity, education, and general assistance could fall under the bill simply because
• Now, youth suicide is up 60% in the last decade, undoubtedly because of the impact of technology.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard several bills focused on AI, immigration-related health care protections, digital financial assets, and online cannabis/hemp sales. SB 69 by Senator McNerney would create an AI-focused team within the Department of Justice to build enforcement expertise on civil rights, public safety, and legal issues tied to AI. SB 81 by Senator Arreguín would codify hospital and health facility policies limiting disclosure of patient immigration status and restricting immigration enforcement access without a judicial warrant. SB 97 by Senator Grayson would update and clarify California’s digital financial assets licensing law. SB 243 by Senator Padilla would impose guardrails on AI companion chatbots, including disclosures, anti-addictive design limits, self-harm protocols, and a private right of action. SB 378 by Senator Wiener would allow civil penalties against online marketplaces that advertise illicit intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Testimony on SB 69 emphasized that California needs in-house AI enforcement expertise at the DOJ; supporters said AG offices generally lack tech-policy specialists, while members asked about the Attorney General’s role and noted the office was neutral. SB 81 drew broad support from nurses, immigrant advocates, hospitals, labor, and community groups, who argued that hospitals should remain safe places for care regardless of immigration status; there was no opposition. SB 97 was described as a technical cleanup bill with stakeholder consensus, and the main public comment focused on ensuring blockchain-based nonfinancial products are not unintentionally swept into the law. SB 243 generated the most debate. Supporters, including the mother of a Florida teen who died by suicide after interacting with a chatbot, urged stronger protections for minors and vulnerable users. Opponents argued the bill’s definitions were too broad and could capture general-purpose AI systems, and raised concerns about privacy, cost, and a private right of action. Committee members largely supported the bill’s intent and discussed the need for guardrails without stifling innovation. SB 378 was supported by cannabis workers, retailers, and local government representatives who said online sales of untested intoxicating hemp and illegal cannabis are harming public health and the legal market; opponents from hemp and tech groups argued the bill could sweep in lawful hemp businesses and that definitions need refinement. The committee ultimately passed SB 69, SB 81, SB 97, SB 243, and SB 378, with SB 81 and SB 243 amended, and all five bills were sent onward to their next committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• prevention campaign to get suicide prevention campaign to get messaging<01:17:58.400><c> out,</c><01
• They work halfime and uh and assistance.
• </c> of suicide. of suicide.
• ,</c><01:29:51.760><c> we</c> farm mental health, risk of suicide, we farm mental health, risk of suicide
• </c><01:41:55.760><c> program</c> have the down payment assistance program have the down payment assistance

Bills: HF2103 , HF4508

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, elk, cervidae, cervid importation, chronic wasting disease, CWD, animal health, livestock, wildlife disease, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, state veterinarian, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA

Transcript Highlights:

• therapy, rural counties, and the second bill will be 2050, radiologic technologist, radiologic assistance
• Additionally, the bill allows a radiologist assistant to perform certain tasks under supervision rather
• It's a fairly standard medical imaging technique used by physicians, physician assistants, podiatrists
• Radiologist assistants are actually radiologic technologists that have master's degrees and go through
• . ...is to limit their rate of suicide.

Bills: HB2049 , HB2050 , HB2051 , HB2072 , HB2082 , HB2085 , HB2177 , HB2178 , HB2179 , HB2183 , HB2195

Committee: House Health & Human Services

Keywords: radiation therapy, particle accelerator, critical access hospitals, patient care, rural healthcare, radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, radiology, imaging, x-ray, diagnostic x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography, CT technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, bone densitometry, radiation safety, radiation licensing, scope of practice

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the American Legion Department of Minnesota legislative chair, and I'm an assistant county veteran
• Christy Jano: I'm an assistant county veteran service officer for my day job, where I help some of the
• These days, those bags are filled with Narcan, rubber gloves, syringes, and service numbers for suicide
• </c> syringes and service numbers for suicide syringes and service numbers for suicide prevention<00:
• </c><00:53:26.119><c> and</c> rental assistance and rental assistance and services<00:53:28.240><c> including

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 169, which would change the tax structure for charitable gambling. Representative Robbins offered and the committee adopted the A1 author’s amendment, described as a technical correction to ensure sports-themed tip boards are not inadvertently taxed under the bill. Robbins then presented the bill as a way to replace the current tiered combined net receipts tax on charitable gambling with a flat 5% rate, arguing charities were being overtaxed and that prior promises of relief had not been fully delivered. Chair Stevenson pushed back on several of Robbins’ factual claims, correcting the record on the status of E-pull tabs, the share of charitable gambling revenue they represent, and the amount of tax relief already enacted in 2023 and 2024. He said E-tabs were not eliminated, that the revenue split between paper pull tabs and E-tabs is closer to 45/55, and that charities had already received a $15 million tax cut plus savings from reduced developer fees. Robbins responded that the changes still significantly reduced revenue and that the bill was intended as a middle-ground approach. Testimony largely came from charitable gambling and veterans groups in support of the bill. Rachel Jenner of Allied Charities of Minnesota said nearly 1,000 charities depend on charitable gambling, cited high taxes and fees, and said many organizations were seeing revenue declines after the new E-pull tab rules took effect. Dr. Christy Jano of the American Legion Department of Minnesota said charitable gambling funds support veterans, youth, and community programs, and that a flat 5% tax would help posts continue those efforts. Members asked about the size of the revenue drops and how much gambling proceeds go to overhead and operating costs; Jenner said the losses varied by organization and that it was too early to know the long-term effect, while Jano said some expenses are used for property taxes and building upkeep. The committee then moved on to additional testimony, including Tim Angstrom, but no final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.