Transcript Highlights:

• You may never let a good opportunity go to waste, but I've been in here for two years and what, five
• Never let a good opportunity go to waste, times two.
• Never let a good opportunity go to waste, times two.
• Never let a good opportunity go to waste, times two.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 28 for a Health and Human Services Oversight Committee meeting, approved the draft minutes from February 21, and then received updates from DHHS on the sudden termination of about $80 million in federal COVID-era funding. Commissioner Lori Weaver and Trisha Tilly said the funding had been expected to continue through September 2026, but an email ending it immediately created a 15-month budget gap. They explained that most of the money supported public health work, especially epidemiology, laboratory capacity, data systems, community health workers, outbreak response, and some behavioral health supports. DHHS said it had notified contractors, was reassessing which activities could continue, and had managed to avoid layoffs for its 20 affected staff by shifting funding sources, though some contract lab staff had to leave and some work would stop or be put on hold. Senators and representatives asked about impacts on labs, staffing, and the state budget lapse, and DHHS said the water lab and testing supplies would be affected and that the department was trying to backfill where possible with other federal funds. The committee then heard a maternal mortality report from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Alison Power and Caroline Naami explained that the MMRC reviews maternal deaths to identify contributing factors and make recommendations, and that it had completed one CDC grant and received another five years of funding. For 2023, the state recorded five pregnancy-associated deaths, including three from overdose, two from cardiovascular causes, and one homicide; the share of deaths related to substance use fell from 62.5% in 2022 to 40% in 2023. Over the 2019–2023 period, half of pregnancy-related deaths were due to overdose, most occurred postpartum, and many involved Medicaid recipients, transportation or financial barriers, and deaths at home. The committee said mental health and substance use remained the main drivers of maternal mortality, but that 79% of pregnancy-related deaths in the five-year aggregate were considered preventable. Presenters highlighted recommendations and ongoing interventions, including expanding Medicaid coverage through one year postpartum, strengthening behavioral health access, partnering with the Department of Corrections on care for pregnant and postpartum women, and continuing clinical education through the Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network. Members asked why the maternal mortality rate had declined in recent years; staff said the 2021 spike was tied to the pandemic and that recent declines likely reflected both that spike and the impact of interventions, though the small number of cases makes trends hard to interpret. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• want for every earmark project that we get, um, we can probably arrange that in advance instead of wasting
• probably arrange that in advance instead probably arrange that in advance instead of<01:26:21.679><c> wasting
• 22.400><c> time</c><01:26:22.560><c> with</c><01:26:22.719><c> the</c><01:26:23.120><c> same</c> of wasting
• committee time with the same of wasting committee time with the same question.<01:26:23.760><c> So</

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Importantly, Eospace helps reduce the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse by ensuring that leaders and teams
• 38.400><c> fraud</c> eospace helps reduce the risk of fraud eospace helps reduce the risk of fraud waste
• 40.000><c> by</c><01:35:40.159><c> ensuring</c><01:35:40.600><c> that</c><01:35:40.760><c> leaders</c> waste
• and abuse by ensuring that leaders waste and abuse by ensuring that leaders and<01:35:41.440><c> teams

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and to have their requests be protected, but we also want our school staff not to do frivolous and wasteful
• staff not to do want our school staff not to do frivolous<01:21:53.280><c> and</c><01:21:53.520><c> wasteful
• work</c><01:21:54.960><c> and</c><01:21:55.120><c> we</c><01:21:55.360><c> want</c> frivolous and wasteful
• work and we want frivolous and wasteful work and we want to<01:21:55.679><c> protect</c><01:21:56.000

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• how those telephone, television, or internet provider services are delivered; gas, electric, solid waste
• services are delivered gas<00:37:56.599><c> electric</c><00:37:57.079><c> solid</c><00:37:57.560><c> waste
• </c><00:37:57.920><c> water</c><00:37:58.200><c> sewer</c> gas electric solid waste water sewer gas electric
• solid waste water sewer service<00:37:59.079><c> credit</c><00:37:59.359><c> card</c><00:37:59.520><

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hi, sorry for wasting your time.
• light<01:22:37.760><c> hi</c><01:22:38.000><c> sorry</c><01:22:38.239><c> for</c><01:22:38.480><c> wasting
• c><01:22:38.800><c> your</c><01:22:39.080><c> time</c><01:22:39.880><c> so</c> light hi sorry for wasting
• your time so light hi sorry for wasting your time so I<01:22:40.159><c> am</c><01:22:40.320><c> Antonis

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and first considered two concurrent resolutions. SCR 76, sponsored by Sen. Amanda Bledsoe, would create a Kentucky School for the Deaf Governance Task Force to examine the school’s future governance and its relationship with the Kentucky Department of Education. Bledsoe described the school’s long history and said the task force would give the small deaf-school community more voice. The committee adopted the resolution unanimously with favorable expression. The committee then took up SCR 131, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, to continue the Efficient and Effective Districts Task Force from 2024. Wise said the prior task force met about 10 times and focused on student achievement and district policy, and the new version would continue that work as a legislature-only task force. The resolution passed unanimously with favorable expression. Members next considered HB 240 on primary school promotion. Rep. Truitt explained that the bill would require students who are not ready in kindergarten to repeat kindergarten, while a committee substitute softened the approach by allowing a school to hold a child back in kindergarten but requiring action in first grade. He said the bill aligns with existing reading-screening efforts and is intended to strengthen early literacy foundations. The committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill unanimously with favorable expression; Sen. Williams briefly explained his support as favoring performance-based advancement. The committee also approved HB 298, which would change the identification of schools for comprehensive support and improvement from every three years to annually, require KDE recommendations during management audits, add professional development in reading and math, and require effective instructional resources. The committee substitute also allowed districts with multiple CSI schools to contract for a turnaround vendor. The bill additionally carried employee-misconduct provisions from prior sessions, including disclosure requirements for applicants; the only change discussed was removing the word “investigation” from one disclosure section. HB 298 passed unanimously with favorable expression, and the committee also adopted a title amendment. Finally, the committee heard HB 424 on employment at public postsecondary institutions. Rep. Tipton said the bill would require performance and productivity reviews for faculty at least every four years, clarify appointment and removal authority for presidents at certain institutions, and expand “cause” for dismissal to include failure to meet performance and productivity requirements. Dr. Ray Horton, speaking for faculty groups, proposed a small substitute that would tie any performance measures to existing employment contracts to preserve academic integrity and avoid unintended changes to tenure processes. Members discussed how tenure works at Kentucky universities, and the committee was still in the middle of considering the proposed substitute when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• committed to advancing people, the planet, and the economy by transforming lives, reducing environmental waste
• transforming lives<01:28:14.320><c> reducing</c><01:28:15.000><c> environmental</c><01:28:15.600><c> waste
• </c><01:28:15.960><c> and</c> lives reducing environmental waste and lives reducing environmental waste

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're trying to eliminate wasted staff time.
• address this issue we're trying to address this issue we're trying to eliminate<00:42:10.880><c> wasted
• <c> time</c><00:42:13.040><c> um</c><00:42:13.440><c> you</c><00:42:13.560><c> know</c> eliminate wasted
• staff time um you know eliminate wasted staff time um you know I<00:42:14.000><c> I</c><00:42:14.079

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They are going to go after waste, fraud, and abuse, and uh people who, you know, illegal immigrants who
• They are going to go after waste, fraud, and abuse, and uh people who, you know, illegal immigrants who
• They are going to go after waste, fraud, and abuse, and uh people who, you know, illegal immigrants who
• They are going to go after waste, fraud, and abuse, and people who, you know, illegal immigrants who

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if the road's going to be being wiped out, then the bridge that's being built is kind of a waste
• uh</c><00:52:53.480><c> is</c><00:52:53.640><c> kind</c><00:52:53.760><c> of</c><00:52:54.119><c> waste
• </c><00:52:54.359><c> of</c><00:52:54.480><c> money</c> being built uh is kind of waste of money being
• built uh is kind of waste of money too<00:52:56.079><c> well</c><00:52:56.200><c> I</c><00:52:56.280

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then, after our visit to the Montevideo Middle School, we had no time to waste.
• 20:42.960><c> to</c> videoo Middle School we had no time to videoo Middle School we had no time to waste
• 44.919><c> the</c><00:20:45.120><c> Veterans</c><00:20:45.559><c> Home</c><00:20:45.880><c> in</c> waste
• next stop was the Veterans Home in waste next stop was the Veterans Home in mon<00:20:46.880><c> videoo

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not really preparing people for integration back into civilian society when there's that waste of
• It's not really preparing people for integration back into civilian society when there's that waste of
• It's not really preparing people for integration back into civilian society when there's that waste of
• whatever, it's not really preparing people for integration back into civilian society when there's that waste

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > spray fields but basically they treat spray fields but basically they treat the<02:17:20.719><c> waste
• water and rather than put it the waste water and rather than put it into<02:17:22.000><c> the</c><02
• He goes on to state, "Did you further know that a simple warrant article can stop this waste of money
• He goes on to state, "Did you further know that a simple warrant article can stop this waste of money
• of money by stripping this huge waste of money by stripping this huge expense<02:44:59.439><c> out</

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s time to stop wasting time on this important body on unnecessary regulations and instead focus on
• It’s time to stop wasting time on this important body on unnecessary regulations and instead focus on
• It’s time to stop wasting time on this important body on unnecessary regulations and instead focus on
• It’s time to stop wasting time on this important body on unnecessary regulations and instead focus on
• It’s time to stop wasting time on this important body on unnecessary regulations and instead focus on

Keywords: 928, house, all

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then also last year we created a new 2-year disqualification that responds to fraud, waste, and abuse
• 01:10:54.040><c> responds</c><01:10:54.720><c> to</c><01:10:55.520><c> fraud,</c><01:10:55.800><c> waste
• ,</c><01:10:56.080><c> and</c> that responds to fraud, waste, and that responds to fraud, waste, and
• It's a change to 245.095 to align with the new background study disqualification to address fraud, waste

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So perhaps a little more clarification on how many resources we are wasting in the state when we talk
• So perhaps a little more clarification on how many resources we are wasting in the state when we talk
• <00:36:17.680><c> resources</c><00:36:18.880><c> we</c><00:36:19.200><c> are</c><00:36:19.359><c> wasting
• </c> on on how many resources we are wasting on on how many resources we are wasting in<00:36:19.839>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No one disputes that fraud, waste, and abuse must be addressed, but this hearing examines—and I want
• Hey, Glenn, Senator, I don't think anybody's disputing that, um, fraud, waste, and abuse must be addressed
• nobody's that um the the fraud again, nobody's disputing<01:34:20.719><c> fraud,</c><01:34:21.040><c> waste
• /c><01:34:21.360><c> and</c><01:34:21.520><c> abuse</c><01:34:21.840><c> must</c> disputing fraud, waste
• , and abuse must disputing fraud, waste, and abuse must be<01:34:22.320><c> addressed.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• modification and some additions, to go through and read all the strikeouts and the underlines is a waste
• modification and some additions, to go through and read all the strikeouts and the underlines is a waste
• modification and some additions, to go through and read all the strikeouts and the underlines is a waste
• modification and some additions, to go through and read all the strikeouts and the underlines is a waste
• modification and some additions, to go through and read all the strikeouts and the underlines is a waste

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I don't want to waste anybody's time here. I would like to have Dr. Hampton elaborate.
• And so I don't want to waste anybody's time here. I would like to have Dr. Hampton elaborate.
• And so<00:42:26.640><c> don't</c><00:42:26.880><c> want</c><00:42:27.040><c> to</c><00:42:27.119><c> waste
• </c><00:42:27.440><c> anybody's</c><00:42:27.920><c> time</c> so don't want to waste anybody's time so
• don't want to waste anybody's time here.<00:42:28.720><c> I</c><00:42:28.960><c> would</c><00:42:29.119

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first opened with brief remarks about a member’s recovery and then heard House Bill 518, which would require the commissioner of Health and Human Services to provide a detailed annual report of all costs related to DCYF. The sponsor, Representative Erica Layon, said the bill was intended to improve transparency, clarify how much time and money are spent on DCYF work versus other departmental work, and help future discussions about staffing, resources, and whether DCYF should remain within DHHS or become a separate department. She said the department could likely produce the report without additional cost, though she was open to adjusting the reporting date and possibly adding more detail about federal mandates. Former Representative Betty Gay and several members supported the bill as a way to better document costs and procedures, while DCYF Director Marie Nunan said the department was not taking a position on the bill, already has many policies and operating procedures, and believed it could comply without a fiscal note. Members raised questions about whether the reporting requirement duplicated existing oversight, whether it should apply to other agencies, and whether the report should include federal funding mandates. Some suggested that a broader review or subcommittee on DCYF might be more useful than a single reporting bill. In executive session, the committee voted 15-1 to retain HB 518, so it will not go on the calendar. Members said they wanted more time to discuss the bill, watch the budget process, and consider whether the reporting requirement could be implemented informally or through a broader oversight effort. The committee then moved on to House Bill 775, which was introduced by Representative Jodi Nelson as a measure to support supervised visitation centers. Dr. Scott Hampton testified in favor, describing the loss of visitation centers since 2019, the role of supervised visitation in protecting children and vulnerable parents in domestic violence cases, and the potential benefits for child safety, crime prevention, and family preservation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Perhaps the new committee on fraud, waste, and abuse should view this situation. No more delays.
• Perhaps the new committee on fraud, waste, and abuse should view this situation. No more delays.
• Perhaps the new committee on fraud, waste, and abuse should view this situation. No more delays.
• Perhaps the new committee on fraud, waste, and abuse should view this situation. No more delays.
• Perhaps the new committee on fraud, waste, and abuse should view this situation. No more delays.

Bills: HF1082 , HF1042 , HF1295 , HF1686 , HF1998 , HF1775 , HF1163

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: public safety, law enforcement, mental health, domestic violence, appropriations, criminal justice, Minnesota corrections, victim services, task force, personal safety, Independent Use of Force Investigations Unit, criminal sexual conduct, sexual assault, peace officers, law enforcement oversight, Minnesota National Guard, U.S. armed forces, military installation, armory, air base