Video & Transcript Research : 'functional needs'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/5/26
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- need to help.
- need to help.
- need to help.
- need to help.
- need to help.
Summary:
The Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee met to discuss worker misclassification, beginning with approval of the March 4, 2026 minutes and a note that a late-posted bill would not be heard at this time. Chair Pinto opened the hearing by framing misclassification as timely and invited Lea Takapu of the Attorney General’s office to explain the issue. Takapu described misclassification as labeling workers as independent contractors when they are really employees, which can deprive workers of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other protections while also reducing tax revenue. She said the Attorney General’s office and the MEAP partnership have been working on the issue and cited estimates that Minnesota workers lose billions annually and the state loses hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars in revenue, while noting that legitimate independent contracting is not the target.
Members questioned how the committee could rely on estimates when the exact number of misclassified workers is unknown. Takapu responded that the figures were based on studies and complaint data, and that underground or undocumented work makes exact counts difficult. Chair Pinto noted the numbers were estimates and referenced a 2024 Legislative Auditor finding that Minnesota lacked an adequate, coordinated approach to proper worker classification, while saying progress had been made since then.
Several industry witnesses then testified in support of stronger enforcement. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA said misclassification remains rampant in parts of construction, especially drywall, stucco, thin stone, and broadband installation, and argued it is tax, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation fraud that harms law-abiding contractors and taxpayers. Matt Wollers of Braxton and Sons said his company loses bids to competitors that misclassify workers, creating a labor-cost advantage of 30% or more, and asked for meaningful enforcement rather than new legislation, including regular unannounced jobsite visits. Jesse Madison of Purple Tally Productions said misclassification is anti-competition and described examples from live events and entertainment, urging front-end checks on workers’ compensation, unemployment coverage, and W-2 versus 1099 status before work begins. The next testifier, Ben Ballou of the Minnesota Nurses Association, began his remarks as the transcript ended.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Seclusion Working Group - 10/08/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- special ed uh special needs services. special ed uh special needs services.
- But if... need of additional supports. need of additional supports.
- there are tweaks that need to be made. there are tweaks that need to be made.
- Um, they need to—it needs to resolve.
- Um, they need to—it needs to resolve.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- That's really what we need to know because if there are some things that need to change, we really want
- safety needs met. safety needs met.
- service needs are not being met. service needs are not being met.
- receive the care they desperately need. receive the care they desperately need.
- They need predictability. They need consistency.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 3/4/26
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So today we'll do a brief you need.
- It needs full important bill.
- They still need care.
- like do we need to take the vote today? like do we need to take the vote today?
- who we need to talk to. who we need to talk to.
Keywords:
Medical Assistance, Medicaid, MNsure, MinnesotaCare, disability determination, expedited eligibility, state medical review team, compassionate allowance, rare disease, home and community-based services, long-term care, managed care, county-based purchasing, eligibility redetermination, periodic data matching, death master file, Social Security Administration, program integrity, income eligibility, asset test
Summary:
The House Health Finance and Policy Committee met on March 4, 2026, approved the minutes from its February 25 and March 2 meetings, and then heard a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislatures on Medicaid eligibility changes in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR1/OB3). The presentation focused on provisions affecting Medicaid expansion adults ages 19 to 64, including new work and community engagement requirements, changes to retroactive eligibility, quarterly death master file checks, address verification requirements, six-month redeterminations for expansion enrollees, and new limits on some lawful permanent residents and other immigrant groups. Castanza also discussed state implementation issues, including the need for new data-sharing systems, system modernization, outreach, and options for helping people transition to other coverage if they lose eligibility.
She said the work and community engagement rules take effect January 1, 2027, with states given flexibility on look-back periods, consecutive versus nonconsecutive months, and optional hardship exemptions, and noted that CMS guidance is not expected until June 2026. She also described federal support for implementation, including $200 million in grants and a 90% federal match for eligibility system work, while warning that the fast timeline could lead to coverage losses, churn, and challenges for special populations such as caregivers, people with behavioral health conditions, incarcerated individuals, and rural residents. She further explained that an erroneous payment provision could expose states to federal recoupment later if eligibility errors increase.
During member questions, Representative Beerman asked about the overall size of the Medicaid cuts and the cumulative national impact; Castanza said estimates vary by state and cited KFF analysis suggesting states could lose 4% to 19% of federal Medicaid revenue, with a newer RAND analysis recently released. Beerman also asked about the history and effectiveness of state work requirements, but that discussion was not completed in the excerpt. Representative Elkins noted the presentation was not initially posted on the committee website, and the chair said it had since been posted.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- needs to describe why that is necessary. needs to describe why that is necessary.
- um needed investments into the park. um needed investments into the park.
- are needed. are needed.
- There's also a need to meet the needs of the new sworn troopers.
- Uh there's also a need to meet the needs Uh there's also a need to meet the needs of<01:12:20.720
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee took up Senate File 203, a broad housing bill authored by Senator Port. Port described the measure as a package including $50 million in housing infrastructure bonds, MHFA administrative and investment reforms, expanded Greater Minnesota infrastructure grants for workforce housing, manufactured housing bill of rights provisions, and a private equity restriction on large investors buying certain single-family homes starting in 2026. Fiscal analyst Eric Olafson walked through the spreadsheet and said the $50 million bond authorization would add debt service costs over time, with the total estimated debt service for that authorization at about $75.8 million. Senator Draheim raised concern about the growing cost of bonding and said the state should rely more on cash than debt.
The committee then adopted two technical amendments. The A21 amendment, described by Port as correcting manufactured housing bill of rights language, aligning MHFA board meeting language, conforming a lived-experience exemption to federal law, and fixing a capacity-building grants reference, was approved without objection. The A20 amendment, offered by Draheim, was also adopted and would give the legislature more control and visibility over MHFA funding and how quickly program dollars are reinvested after agency operations.
Members then debated Draheim’s A22 amendment, which would delete the manufactured home park provisions from the bill. Draheim and several Republicans argued the section could function like rent control, could burden good park owners, and might have unintended consequences for park operations and purchases. Port, Senator Boldon’s allies, and other supporters said the provisions were needed to protect residents from rent spikes and private equity abuses in manufactured home communities, where residents own their homes but not the land. The transcript ends during that debate, before any final disposition on A22 or the bill itself is shown.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- That reality and mental health needs.
- minimum, we need to have this process. minimum, we need to have this process.
- <00:45:45.440>
their their needs and the needs of their their needs and the needs of their - So that's ultimately the biggest... that it doesn't need to it there needs that it doesn't need to it
- critical need for something like this. critical need for something like this.
Bills:
HB1769
Keywords:
criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, private prisons, racial equity, Native Hawaiians, community well-being, mass incarceration, 910, house, all
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 1769, which would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally reduce the number of people incarcerated in private out-of-state correctional institutions. The DCR director opposed the bill, saying the department does not control overall prison population levels because courts determine admissions, and arguing that Hawaiʻi’s in-state facilities are already over capacity, especially Halawa, which he said is 165% over design capacity. He said only a small portion of the population is under departmental control through furlough programs and argued that bringing people home would require building a new medium-security prison.
Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Public Defender’s office, and several individuals, argued the bill creates a phased, accountable path to reduce reliance on mainland prisons and bring people home. Supporters emphasized the harms of separating incarcerated people from ʻohana and culture, the disproportionate impact on Native Hawaiians, and the need for diversion, treatment, re-entry support, and fair sentencing. Several testifiers also said the department has more control than it claimed, pointing to underused furlough options, reclassification, and empty beds at some in-state facilities, while others urged clearer statutory language and guardrails.
Members questioned the director about whether people could be reclassified or moved to available beds at facilities such as Kulani and Waiawa, and about whether the department could do more through staffing and contract changes. The director said some proposals had been sent to the Department of Human Resource Development, but that major facility changes would be costly and that minimum-security facilities would need substantial upgrades to house medium-security inmates. After discussion, the chair said the committee would defer HB 1769 to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for decision-making and adjourned the meeting.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 04/14/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- stewardship organization to function stewardship organization to function within<00:25:17.960>
- <00:34:54.240>
to know, Robert Gorecki does not need to know, Robert Gorecki does not need- something I need to look at. something I need to look at.
- <00:49:58.640>
to And in order to do that, we need to And in order to do that, we need to- that needs to be addressed. that needs to be addressed.
- <00:34:54.240>
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 4/7/25
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- But a few figure out what I needed.
- <00:28:34.320>
about <00:28:34.640>burnout need an education program about burnout need - We need to raise the in my opinion.
- <00:59:38.160>
You We're need to move on. Thank you. You We're need to move on. - This is a border-to-border issue that we need to take serious and we need to support our youth.
Keywords:
health care transparency, ownership disclosure, control reporting, health care consolidation, private equity, management services organization, MSO, provider organization, health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, hospital system, affiliate reporting, financial disclosure, public reporting, market concentration, horizontal consolidation, vertical consolidation, health care ownership, corporate practice, health care regulation
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Judiciary (02/19/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- You don't need to speak, okay?
- You don't need to speak, okay?
- <02:28:09.439>
your of New Hampshire who need your of New Hampshire who need your protection - an action because we need a defendant we<04:12:38.560>
need <04:12:38.720>someone <04:12 - something as a hate crime what you need something as a hate crime what you need to<04:21:58.159>
Summary:
The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, which Rep. Jim Kofalt said is the same language as last year’s HB 396, vetoed by the governor. He described the bill as allowing, but not requiring, separation by biological sex in three areas: bathrooms and locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions. Kofalt argued the bill would give local school boards and other policymakers discretion to set practical rules, citing concerns about safety, privacy, and a Milford incident involving a biological male in girls’ locker rooms. Committee members pressed him on the lack of a definition of “biological sex,” and he said he did not think one was necessary because males and females are commonly understood. He also said the bill was meant to address situations where outside groups threaten lawsuits and leave local boards with no latitude.
Testimony then split sharply. Supporters, including Executive Counselor Karen Hill and several others, said HB 148 would roll back anti-discrimination protections, contradict New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” values, and harm transgender and non-binary people. Opponents described the bill as discriminatory and unnecessary, arguing that existing bathroom and sports policies already work and that the bill would invite harassment, invasive enforcement, and legal conflict. Several speakers, including trans residents and parents of trans children, said they had used public restrooms without incident and warned that enforcement would be impractical or abusive. One supporter argued the bill was needed to protect girls’ privacy and safety and cited school sports disputes and a concern about a sex offender at a game as examples of why sex-segregated rules should be restored.
Committee members asked questions about how biological sex would be defined, whether the bill was responding to real incidents in New Hampshire, and how any restrictions would be enforced. Kofalt said he was aware of issues in several school districts and at the State House, but did not have detailed documentation for every case. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the chair instead moved through public testimony under a strict two-minute limit and noted that follow-up questions would be limited so the committee could hear multiple bills that day.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- It's badly needed.
- >
we <00:50:21.240>don't <00:50:21.400>need needs. - And what we don't need needs.
- <00:58:47.240>
to needs to be we continue we need to needs to be we continue we need to continue - So that's a—would you believe—we need to... Is it a quick one last question? needed it. needed it.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/5/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- , we would then need to put in place need, we would then need to put in place controls<00:29:02.320><
- We need to protect the public's money. We need to protect the public's money.
- need to be the lead organization on it. need to be the lead organization on it.
- small nonprofit organizations function. small nonprofit organizations function.
- We need the people to do it."
Summary:
The committee approved the March 3 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on state grant-management requirements. Deputy Legislative Auditor Katherine Tyson outlined the main controls agencies must follow, including pre-award risk assessments for grants of $50,000 or more, reimbursement as the preferred payment method, limits and documentation requirements for advance payments, and monitoring obligations for active grants. She emphasized that these controls are intended to reduce improper payments and fraud, but also require staff time and strong internal systems. In response to questions, she said advance payments are used in some grants but reimbursement is more common, and noted that agencies can add controls such as retaining a portion of funds, surprise visits, or audits. She also said surety bonds are required in some state programs, but not generally for grants, and that this could be a policy discussion for the executive branch.
The committee then received a Department of Natural Resources presentation on the new Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund community grant program created in 2023 law. DNR officials said the program is intended to expand access to ENRTF funding, especially for communities affected by pollution and environmental degradation, and to support projects such as environmental education, resource restoration, trail work, and aquatic invasive species management. They said the department will use the same grants team that handles Outdoor Heritage Fund and LCCMR grants, which already manages a large volume of grants, and that the advisory council application is open through April 10.
DNR described its implementation plan as similar to the Conservation Partners Legacy program, with both standard and expedited grant rounds, technical assistance, and use of technical experts. Differences include no match requirement, allowance for fiscal agents to help smaller organizations, and more flexibility for administrative expenses to reduce barriers to participation. Officials said the program will follow state grant rules, including pre-award financial reviews and monitoring, and will use the 5 percent administrative allowance to support both oversight and grantee assistance. They also said the report’s suggestion of advance payments for grants under $50,000 was raised for discussion, but they did not dispute the auditor’s emphasis that reimbursement is the preferred approach.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (01/28/2026)
Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- treatments to patients who need them. treatments to patients who need them.
- Yeah, I need a pink card. One >> Uh okay. Yeah, I need a pink card.
- That's what makes the law functional. functional. functional.
- Uh, I need to get CMS to reimburse my stuff. I need to pay my investors.
- been functioning on this basis. been functioning on this basis.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Apr 10th, 2025 at 09:30 am
Appropriations - Education and Environment Division
Transcript Highlights:
- I do need to interrupt.
- But so the process that we would need to go to to procure, we'd need to get a consultant in place.
- So one of the things we would, probably a policy thing that you'd need to consider is do we need to go
- That you need to consider is do we need to go through the standard procurement processes of the state
- We need to collect that information.
Bills:
HB1329
Keywords:
government spending database, public expenditure transparency, open data, government transparency, school district spending, state spending, local government finance, education finance, budget database, expenditure reporting, salary transparency, benefits data, public records, Legislative Management study, North Dakota, school board training, superintendent, principal, business manager, higher education spending
Summary:
The Education Division met with all members present and first took up House Bill 1329, which would create a transparency database and website for school spending information. Senator Schaible offered Amendment 0204 to turn the bill into a study, citing concerns that the proposal would impose major data-collection burdens on 168 school districts, require new data standards and privacy protections, and likely cost far more than the $500,000 in the bill. Several members supported transparency but agreed the implementation costs and technical feasibility were unclear. The committee adopted the amendment 4-1, then passed HB 1329 as amended on a 5-0 vote, with Senator Shively to carry the bill.
The committee then discussed House Bill 1540, the education savings account/voucher bill. Representatives from the Bank of North Dakota and the Department of Public Instruction explained that they had not been consulted on the original drafting and outlined needed administrative changes, including clarifying the Bank as administrator, using a third-party program manager, involving DPI in rulemaking, adding audit and appeal procedures, and adjusting language on eligible purchases and school disqualification. They also said the current timeline was likely too aggressive to launch by the 2026-27 school year and estimated the program would require about 15 months to implement, with a fiscal note now around $5.1 million.
Members also discussed policy-related amendments on means testing and application timing. Senator Shively proposed a 300% of poverty-level means test and a sign-up period to reduce costs and limit open-ended enrollment, while Senator Axman proposed a tiered approach that would keep all students technically eligible but phase in funding levels by income, preserving access for students who qualify for other federal supports. DPI said it could not currently disaggregate some data by family income and that the appeal process and procurement timeline still needed work. The committee did not move HB 1540 out that morning and instead recessed to continue discussion later after members had time to review the administrative and fiscal issues separately from the means-testing proposals.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 03/12/26
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- ,<00:06:35.160>
but bono guidance only when needed, but bono guidance only when needed, but - <01:09:45.560>
to <01:09:45.640>do they need to do and when they need to do they need - Indeed, in any functional crime.
- And so clearly this is needed.
- this is needed. this is needed.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 04/21/25
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- And importantly, they would need years.
- >
where <00:26:37.279>the need to better understand where the need to better understand - <01:17:02.800>
specialty Why do we need another specialty Why do we need another specialty - So we're not to address that need.
- farmers to feed the world, we need farmers to feed the world, we need pollinators.<01:41:57.440>
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EEP/AEN Joint Info Briefing - Tue Jan 7, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We need a solid waste permit, we need an air permit.
- We need a solid waste permit, we need an air permit.
- We need a solid waste permit, we need an air permit.
- We need a solid waste permit, we need an air permit.
- We need a solid waste permit, we need an air permit.
Summary:
The informational briefing focused on the City and County of Honolulu’s effort to site a replacement landfill for Oahu before the Waimanalo Gulch landfill closes in 2028. Chair Nicole Lowen and other legislators opened the meeting by framing the issue as important statewide and encouraging recycling, composting, and proper use of the curbside bins. The city’s Department of Environmental Services, led by Director Roger Babcock and Deputy Director Mike O’Keefe, then presented the background and siting process.
ENV explained the legal and technical constraints that shaped the search, including the 2019 Land Use Commission decision requiring closure of Waimanalo Gulch by March 2, 2028, and the 2020 Act 73 restrictions on landfill siting near residences, schools, hospitals, conservation districts, airports, and tsunami inundation areas. They said a landfill advisory committee reviewed six candidate sites in 2021-2022 and rejected them because they fell within the Board of Water Supply’s no-pass zone. After further evaluation and an extension of the naming deadline, the city selected a site in central Oahu near Wahiawa, on agricultural land currently used as a Dole pineapple field.
City officials said the selected site was chosen as the best of the evaluated options and, in their view, could be permitted under state and federal law. They described planned environmental protections, including a modern sanitary landfill design with double liners, leachate collection systems, monitoring wells, and post-closure monitoring, and said the existing Waimanalo Gulch landfill has operated for 35 years without leachate leaks. They also emphasized that the site would still require a special use permit, Department of Health approvals, an environmental impact statement, and other public permitting processes, and that public engagement would continue over the next several years.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- So this committee functions under a zero levy target.
- additional uh uh academic needs additional uh uh academic needs compensatory<00:59:54.480>
Revenue - The students that the money needs to be directed to—the money needs to stay at the site, but the students
- Or do you need to go cool your brains?
- <01:34:53.800>
that have students who have high needs that have students who have high needs
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Minnesota reported that they will need Minnesota reported that they will need to<00:07:16.280>
- don't let potential funding needs don't let potential funding needs gatekeep<00:34:50.720>
the - additional res resources will be needed additional res resources will be needed and<01:15:27.320
- We need preceptors who have time to teach. We need operations.
- get the much needed care they need while get the much needed care they need while ensuring<01:47
- don't let potential funding needs don't let potential funding needs gatekeep<00:34:50.720>
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/26/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- benefits to the grid avoiding the need benefits to the grid avoiding the need for<00:19:09.840><
- quoting a Republican said, "We need quoting a Republican said, "We need clean,<00:47:58.800>
- We need a yes and lot more solar.
- to take away a functioning to take away a functioning voluntary<01:02:30.880>
opt-in <01:02 - <01:04:59.119>
We <01:04:59.359>need We need to take this out of the bubble.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Feb 19th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- Not everyone needs to have a four-year degree, and not everybody needs to find their niche and what works
- decisions that you need to make on appropriations.
- need calculation.
- And so anybody who's the smallest needs some economies of scale.
- going to need for English, for example.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee for Higher Education met to review Florida’s workforce and Florida College System funding models as part of budget planning. Chair Harrell opened by emphasizing the state’s growing focus on technical education and workforce pathways, and the committee first heard from Tara Goodman of the Department of Education on district workforce education. Goodman explained the programs funded through district workforce dollars, including career certificates, applied technology diplomas, registered apprenticeship, and adult general education, and described the model’s reliance on lagged enrollment, program cost weights, local tuition offsets, and supplemental factors such as disability services, GED testing, and minimum funding for small rural districts. She also noted federal support through Perkins and WIOA and said the model is used to determine unmet need and guide appropriations. In response to questions, she said health care programs are generally among the higher-cost offerings and may be supplemented by pipeline funds.
The committee then heard from Kathy Hebda, Chancellor of the Florida College System, on the college system’s funding model. Hebda described the main funding sources, including the program fund, student success incentive funds, pipeline funds, tuition and fees, and performance-based incentives, and explained that the current model was developed by the 28 college presidents under legislative direction. She said the model uses a three-year average FTE, weights workforce enrollment more heavily than non-workforce enrollment, gives significant weight to completions, includes a small-college factor and regional cost differentials, and also provides targeted funding to bring colleges up to a floor based on per-FTE funding. Senators asked about colleges below the target, cost differences among programs, faculty salaries, and health insurance costs; Hebda said the model is meant to provide flexible operating dollars that colleges can use for those expenses, but specific salary and benefit decisions are left to the institutions.
Seminole State College President Georgia Lorenz also testified in support of the college funding model, saying it holds institutions accountable for enrollment and completions, can be adjusted to reflect state priorities like workforce, and addresses differences in size and regional costs. No bills were voted on, and the committee adjourned after brief closing remarks thanking Seminole State College and the presenters.