Transcript Highlights:

• if they haven't done that paperwork if they haven't done that we'll<00:55:23.960> work<00:55:
• in place before we can their paperwork in place before we can move<00:56:21.160> forward<00:56
• Can you tell me over the last, maybe 5, 10 years, are we seeing a reduction in workers' comp claims in
• <01:40:47.360> in<01:40:47.520> workers are we seeing a reduction in workers are we
• seeing a reduction in workers comp<01:40:48.360> claims<01:40:49.320> in<01:40:49.480>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee held an introductory organizational meeting for the newly named Workforce and Economic Development Committee, with Chair Dave Baker noting a quorum and that no votes or formal actions were scheduled. Members and staff introduced themselves and described their districts, backgrounds, and priorities. Several members emphasized worker protections, labor experience, small business concerns, rural economic issues, and the importance of balancing employer and employee interests. Others highlighted education-to-workforce pathways, affordability, support for seniors, and opportunities for immigrant and refugee communities. Chair Baker said he wants the committee to find a balance between protecting labor and ensuring a strong employment base, fair rules, and fair taxes, while also acknowledging concerns about recent policy trends and the need to get proposals right before they leave the committee. Members from both parties echoed themes of collaboration and economic opportunity, though some Republicans criticized past rules and regulations as burdensome on small businesses. The committee also welcomed nonpartisan staff and DFL/GOP staff, including the committee administrator, legislative assistant, House Research, and fiscal analysis staff. The committee then received an overview from DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek and deputy commissioners. Varilek described DEED’s mission as empowering growth of the Minnesota economy for everyone, increasing prosperity and extending it broadly, and coordinating with other agencies such as Labor and Industry to avoid duplication and use taxpayer dollars efficiently. He said DEED focuses on business attraction, retention, and expansion, workforce development, and helping Minnesotans—including people with disabilities—prepare for jobs and independent living. A deputy commissioner began outlining the economic development division’s structure and operations, but the transcript cuts off before the full presentation was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• But right then and there, you shouldn't be having to file paperwork to obtain information on a defendant
• It took a minute to file the paperwork and for the judge to set it for a hearing.
• The outcome of this plea agreement was a reduction from felony assault to a mere misdemeanor. along with

Bills: SB535, SB664, SB1019, SB1020, SB1120, SB1537, SB1804, HB3207

Keywords: SB 535, Texas criminal procedure, rape shield, victim sexual history, past sexual behavior, sexual assault evidence, trafficking of persons, continuous trafficking, indecency with a child, continuous sexual abuse, aggravated sexual assault, indecent assault, consent defense, in camera hearing, Rule 412, Rule 609, victim protection, evidence admissibility, criminal evidence, sexual offense prosecution

Transcript Highlights:

• Restructurings and reductions in force aimed at saving taxpayer money and increasing efficiency.
• Do you commit to protecting the CHIPS program office from future workforce reductions, which would be
• But how do I know that if a state like Michigan asks for money from FEMA, does all the paperwork the
• There has been a lot of discussion about reductions in force to the day, and Mr.
• I'll just ask you, if you happen to know this, what percent of federal employees have received a reduction

Keywords: nominations, Scott Cooper, Eric Ulan, federal workforce, Office of Personnel Management, Office of Management and Budget, accountability, collective bargaining

Summary: The committee convened to discuss the nominations of Scott Cooper for Director of the Office of Personnel Management and Eric Ulan for Deputy Director at the Office of Management and Budget. This meeting highlighted the critical roles both positions play in managing the federal workforce, which comprises over two million civilian employees. Concerns were raised regarding the current administration's approach to federal employment, citing issues like mass firings and the undermining of collective bargaining rights. Members expressed the need for better accountability and transparency within the federal system, emphasizing the importance of attracting talented public servants.

Transcript Highlights:

• These cuts have had lasting impacts on our students and staff, including staff reductions: 40% of 3.2
• Maintenance and purchase reductions: technology expenditures have been reduced, and the purchase of 10
• If we were to maintain that same $600 per pupil request, this legislation's proposed 31.4% reduction
• That reduction would be a game-changer, transforming how our voters perceive school funding and making
• Riley laid out a number of the reductions and tough choices we've had to make.

Bills: HF51, HF1161, HF2201, HF2786, HF1053

Keywords: HF51, Sibley County, State-Aid Highway 21, capital investment, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, transportation infrastructure, road improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, local infrastructure, county grant, Minnesota Department of Transportation, bond proceeds fund, public works, utility infrastructure, education finance, school district funding, tax base adjustment

Transcript Highlights:

• you please start by dispensing with the one concern that we have so that we can get to the correct paperwork
• House Second Reading Amendment No. 36 is actually a reduction in internal service funds in the amount
• <00:06:59.480> in<00:06:59.720> internal is actually a reduction in internal is actually
• a reduction in internal service<00:07:00.600> funds<00:07:01.080> in<00:07:01.200>
• very familiar with section 328 as it is largely their provision restoring the governor's budget reductions

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first addressed an unintended consequence in the Joint Conference Committee report involving dual and concurrent enrollment funding. Staff explained that a dollar-for-dollar reduction tied to Senate File 81 would have fully funded public school dual/concurrent enrollment while leaving no funds for non-public school students. Senator Salazar moved to strike that provision, the motion was seconded, and it carried. Budget and Fiscal Administrator Don Richards then walked through the conference committee report and the major adopted amendments. He reviewed Senate and House amendments affecting items such as sign language interpreters, rural veterinary education, predator management authorization, petroglyphs and pictographs, senior services, community college funding, school district entitlement payments, the School Foundation Program reserve transfer, a tourism-related rodeo museum change, archaeological work on human remains, a jet airplane reduction, abortion-related language, livestock ear tags, provider rates for developmental disabilities, student-athlete endorsement restrictions, a forensic audit for the Wyoming Business Council, and the Yellowstone tree inscription. He also described several deleted sections and policy changes, including removal of spending-policy provisions, flex authority language, and other budget sections. Richards further summarized new or revised appropriations and conditions, including funding for local cybersecurity, stormwater fees, the Wyoming Natural Resource Trust Fund, lab services, IT modernization, Wyoming Public Television, matching funds, cloud services, and restored governor FTE requests. He noted a compromise on the outdoor trails matching program, a conditional $10 million University of Wyoming operational review appropriation tied to future cost savings, and a stablecoin appropriation. He also explained that the report retained the base-bill reversion language, discussed the remaining general fund balance and statutory reserve, and said the committee would circulate the amendment and signatures for floor action later that day. The meeting then adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• in<00:27:07.679> in<00:27:08.159> flow<00:27:08.960> for drastic re reduction
• in in flow for drastic re reduction in in flow for manufactured<00:27:09.760> home<00:27:10.000
• get<00:27:22.080> a design calculations we can get a design calculations we can get a reduction
• This the leech fields reduction in size.
• Some of them are very simple, some of them are paperwork exercises, some of them are cases of existing

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with routine business, including the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the minutes, seating of an alternate member, and approval of the consent agenda. It then took up Department of Health and Human Services Rule 25188 on New Hampshire Early Childhood and Out-of-School Time Credentials. Staff explained that the rule adopts two new parts to implement RSA 170E:50, which had long required rules. The main issue was an unclear comment created by changes in the department’s amended conditional approval request: language defining out-of-school-time basics and a requirement tied to the New Hampshire Professional Registry training transcript had been removed, creating a mismatch between the form and the rule text. The department said it revised the language so the form and rule now match. A member also asked about the fee schedule, and the department said the fees are sufficient and supported in part by federal funds. The committee then approved Rule 25188 as amended, with oral edits, on a voice vote. The committee next considered Department of Environmental Services Rule 25206, dealing with subsurface wastewater rules and an administrative fine schedule. Staff said most comments had been addressed, but one remaining issue concerned the fine schedule because the prior interim rule had expired years ago. Staff also noted public concerns about septic tank replacement sizes, but pointed to waiver provisions and replacement-in-kind language that would still allow smaller existing systems to be replaced under certain conditions. DES officials explained that the rule package adds the fine schedule into the program rules and that no fines have been brought under these expired provisions for many years. They also described the waiver and grandfathering provisions as intended to protect existing systems and seasonal campgrounds from unnecessary upgrades. A public witness, Christopher Albert, testified that two sections of the rule would harm manufactured home parks and cooperatives. He argued that the new “two people per bedroom” assumption and the minimum bedroom threshold for using water-meter data would inflate design flows, make water-meter data unusable, and increase costs for low-income residents. Committee members questioned both the witness and the agency about the assumptions. DES staff responded that the two-person-per-bedroom standard is meant for individual on-site system design, not citywide planning, and that water-meter data is only useful in larger or unusual facilities. They said the rule still allows flexibility through waivers and grandfathering for existing uses, and that the drinking-water rule cited by the witness was not the correct comparison. No final vote on Rule 25206 was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Electrification decisions are being made on emission reductions that a utility expects to achieve, yet
• there is no mention of the utility reductions that propane expects to achieve.
• that a u utility on emission reductions that a u utility expects<00:06:48.639> to<00:06:48.880
• <00:06:52.240> that mention of the utility reductions that mention of the utility reductions
• and meet the um the required paperwork and meet the um eligibility<01:18:45.760> standards<01

Bills: HF484, HF483, HF1447, HF1496, HF554

Keywords: natural gas, gas hookups, residential construction, energy policy, local control, state preemption, municipal regulation, county ordinance, electrification, climate policy, housing development, building codes, energy source, utility infrastructure, Minnesota Statutes chapter 326B, propane, utility service, building permits, local government, energy choice

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:50:20.559> and<00:50:20.720> the Design for people like Joshua and the extreme reduction
• However, if reductions in services are needed, these remote communities would be the first to lose out
• across Minnesota however if reduction across Minnesota however if reduction and<01:31:43.639>
• He submitted his paperwork and is waiting on his hearing right now, probably in the next few days.
• submit it into the court he submitted submit it into the court he submitted his<01:42:06.080> paperwork

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On average, we're able to start our clients, once they've submitted all the required paperwork, in therapy
• a very significant data point, our work has produced notable results. 100% of our clients have a reduction
• Through our purity and post assessments, our clients are reporting a 57% reduction in their depression
• symptoms, a 57% reduction in their anxiety symptoms, and a 58% reduction in their PTSD symptoms.

Transcript Highlights:

• And specifically um um um the<00:45:22.319> paperwork<00:45:22.800> we<00:45:23.040>
• have<00:45:23.200> from<00:45:23.359> the<00:45:23.599> draft the paperwork
• we have from the draft the paperwork we have from the draft document<00:45:24.480> suggests<00
• lot of the bureau bureaucracy paperwork lot of the bureau bureaucracy paperwork and<01:12:51.280
• Um so those are of the budget reduction.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division 3 work session opened on February 13, 2026, with the chair outlining the committee’s advisory role and the possible motions available under House Rule 45. The committee then took up House Bill 1569, concerning the Philbrook Center/state hospital campus property, and heard extensive testimony from Commissioner Charlie Arlinghouse. He explained that the property is currently one parcel and state law prevents subdivision unless a separate Senate bill, identified as SB 572, is enacted to fix the legal issue. He said HB 2 directed the sale of the property but did not address subdivision or marketing details, and he characterized the $5 million revenue estimate as speculative. He also said the state would first offer the property to the city or county, which he viewed as the most practical buyer and potential partner for any subdivision work. Members asked whether the building should be retained for transitional housing or sold, what would happen after July 1, 2026, and whether other vacant state buildings could absorb the current occupants. Arlinghouse said there are no firm plans for the building if it is not sold, and that HHS would remain until a sale occurs. He described the building as not especially historic or attractive and noted plumbing issues, while also acknowledging HHS’s view that it could serve as transitional housing. He said there is no reserve stock of office space, that the state already rents substantial office space in Concord, and that some nearby state buildings are either under renovation or only partially usable. He also said the Executive Council would have to approve any sale and that moving costs are usually not budgeted in advance, leaving the using agency to absorb them. Several members raised concerns about relying on asset sales to balance the budget, citing past examples where projected real estate revenue did not materialize on schedule. Arlinghouse agreed that one-time revenue should generally be used for one-time expenses, but said the state sometimes has legitimate reasons to sell assets and that such decisions depend on the state’s needs. He estimated the state rents roughly 100,000 square feet of office space in Concord at about $25 per square foot, and said he would provide a more exact figure later. In response to a question about whether the state should include a right of first refusal if the property is later resold, he said that idea had not been considered but could make sense, especially if the buyer is the city or county. No votes were taken during this portion of the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, okay. as well as heat reduction in cars to as well as heat reduction in cars to make<01:35:31.280
• The reduction of speed would help significantly.
• The reduction of speed significantly.
• The reduction of speed would<03:16:10.800> help<03:16:11.279> significantly.
• :16:15.359> something<03:16:15.600> that reduction in speed was something that reduction

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• reductions reductions uh<00:47:30.800> in<00:47:31.040> partnership<00:47:31.680> with
• difficult time putting in the paperwork difficult time putting in the paperwork because<00:58:12.400
• , um, the debt service reductions?
• So the debt service reductions is we use a formula to calculate our debt service. Right?
• >> So the debt service um reductions is we >> So the debt service um reductions is we use

Bills: SB1, SB4, SB6, SB9, SB16, SB17, SB20, SB22, SB28, SB29, SB36, SB41, SB45, SB77, SB85, SB87, SB96, SB98, SB110, SB126, SB139, SB143, SB164, SB167, SB171, SB186, SB188, SB195, SB197, SB198, SB204, SB205, SB206, SB207, SB209, SB210, SB211, SB217, SB219, SB220, SB225, SB231, SB237, SB238, SB241, SB244, SB246, SB247, SB272, SB294, SB315, SB346, SB364, SB366, SB367, SB386, SB392, SB403, SB415, SB427, SB431, SB437, SB457, SB459, SB469, SB471, SB478, SB484, SB489, SB502, SB503, SB507, SB508, SB510, SB516, SB517, SB518, SB519, SB521, SB535, SB543, SB550, SB564, SB568, SB570, SB575, SB577, SB578, SB590, SB607, SB616, SB621, SB634, SB644, SB647, SB649, SB652, SB655, SB656, SB663

Keywords: agricultural lands, foreign ownership, state agriculture policy, real estate regulation, land conservation, SB4, Royal Mausoleum, Mauna Ala, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, OHA, Department of Land and Natural Resources, DLNR, stewardship, Hawaiian affairs, cemetery, burial site, ancestral remains, cultural preservation, state land management, agency transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• of 20+ million to get caught up with those that were backlogged, whether it was due to a lack of paperwork
• what you're asking is that in the places where this measure has Been enacted, has it resulted in a reduction

Bills: SB1288, SB1705, SB1878, SB2019, SB2118

Keywords: emergency management, federal funding, disaster relief, cost sharing, public assistance, bail reform, public funds, nonprofit organizations, political subdivisions, injunctive relief, criminal procedure, surety bond, judicial discretion, uniform bond schedule, liability insurance, judgments, insurance fund, Oklahoma, county sheriff, commissary

Transcript Highlights:

• stakeholders. studies, including peer-reviewed studies that show all the benefits to homeowners from cost reductions
• instance was shared where the Department of Toxic and Substance Control took up to a year to review paperwork

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're trying to balance the paperwork load for case managers, but also that communication to families
• option to eliminate redundant paperwork option to eliminate redundant paperwork allowing<00:59:36.839
• You've heard about the overwhelming paperwork burden on special educators.
• MDE has supported and implemented several paperwork reduction initiatives in recent years, including
• I think I'll mirror a lot of the testimony, saying special education paperwork is real.

Bills: HF1124, HF1457, HF1803

Keywords: school calendar, education, school year, Labor Day, state law, school construction, landfill, dump site, closed landfill, contaminated site, pollution control agency, school siting, public school, charter school, environmental health, student safety, brownfield, solid waste, waste disposal site, site contamination

Transcript Highlights:

• We are working with them to file the paperwork necessary to receive consideration for that allowance.
• Now we’ll move on to issue number seven: the Chancellor’s Office Reductions Update. ...and Department
• approximately 10,000 vacant positions in 2025-26, and reductions in state operations by up to 7.95%
• For the Chancellor’s Office reductions pursuant to both... ...of these control sections.
• How are all of the other departments and divisions doing with their force reduction?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• finally get to the end of this, we're not going to see those types of expenditures counting toward the reduction
• Town personnel did not submit qualifying candidate paperwork to the Madison County Supervisor of Elections
• Finding one continued: town personnel did not submit qualifying candidate paperwork to the Madison County
• couldn't just deliver it themselves, and if somebody at a municipality just decides not to deliver the paperwork

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee first heard a long-running audit finding involving Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit funds, which have exceeded the statutory limit for several years and were reported at $10.8 million in the most recent audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city has analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees over several periods, and used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation and a proposed City Hall expansion. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, raised concerns about the legality and necessity of proposed expenditures, and asked about interest earnings, truck purchases, and the lack of detailed tracking for training-facility use. The city said an Attorney General opinion allows construction of a new building for building-code functions but not purchase of an existing building, and that if the city cannot comply through permissible construction it would have to return the funds. No vote was taken, but members expressed strong frustration and urged the city to resolve the issue quickly and lawfully. The committee then received the Auditor General’s presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings covered elections and quorum issues, conflicts of interest, late or missing financial disclosure forms, related-party transactions, poor meeting notices and minutes, council involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget and accounting deficiencies, weak bank reconciliations, improper utility billing and rates, grant compliance problems tied to a grocery store project, personnel and compensation issues involving the town manager, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control problems, public records issues, and IT/fraud-policy weaknesses. The auditor said the review focused mainly on October 2022 through February 2024 but went back further for some grant-related matters. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit reflected actions of a previous administration and that the current council and staff have already adopted seven new policies to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics. They said the town has a new manager and clerk, that the former manager was terminated, and that the town referred matters to FDLE, which is investigating. Committee members asked about the manager’s salary increase, severance, P-card use, and whether the town should consider consolidation or dissolution. The mayor said the town is on a better path, that most of the prior leadership has been voted out, and that the town is working with auditors and an outside accounting firm to correct the problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• underestimate because every clinician we spoke to said that it's really difficult to disentangle all of the paperwork
• And as you can imagine, that's just a lot of added paperwork for like no reason.
• So it's things like that where it just feels like it's a lot of excessive paperwork.
• local level, if you increase the price of alcohol, does that statistically usually lead to some reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• reimbursement to the hospital-based ones, and is there a possibility of some offset in terms of a reduction

Bills: HB165, HB175, HB198, HB272, HB457, HB488, HB566, HB603, HB763, HB902, HB909, HB971, HB981, HB1066, HB1125, HB1154, HB1231

Keywords: HB165, lottery proceeds, Lottery Proceeds Fund, Veterans Service Grant Fund, constitutional amendment, veterans, military veterans, veterans' benefits, veterans services, family support, state lottery, education funding, Minimum Foundation Program, problem gambling, compulsive gaming, state treasurer, ballot proposition, constitutional referendum, lottery revenue, Louisiana resident veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• Any reduction in that use presented here today only relates to La Paz County, not the deepest part of
• did i get that right this my apologies um i guess my argument would be and i appreciate any any reduction
• county jurisdiction for the sole purpose of issuing, revising, or enforcing a permit for emission reduction
• the director or control officer from issuing a permit or permit revision that requires additional reductions
• This voluntary program allows participants to generate ERCs by creating permanent emission reductions

Bills: HB2014, HB2031, HB2078, HB2102, HB2103, HB2117, HB2261, HB2262, HB2264, HB2278, HB2428, HB2494, HB2756, HB2758, HB2762, HB2782, HB2932, HB2933, HB2986

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, water rights, groundwater, Willcox, active management area, certificate of grandfathered rights, Arizona legislature, aggregate mining, reclamation plans, environmental protection, public safety, land use, domestic water, improvement district, water delivery, water hauling