Transcript Highlights:

• But anyway, so everything that has to do with Foundation Aid should come out of the Foundation Stabilization
• And the... ...should come out of the Foundation Stabilization Fund, the Common Schools Trust Fund, turnback
• It's making up for that $81 million reduction in the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund.
• first page, I just because I don't know where this comes from, the numbers, the Foundation Aid Stabilization
• Well, the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund is money that we get from taxes.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to hear and discuss three education bills and related budget items. House Bill 1214 would revise K-12 transportation funding by replacing the current rider-based formula with a new formula tied more closely to district size, square mileage, building counts, and the weighted student payment. Sponsors and DPI said the change would better reflect actual transportation costs, hold districts harmless overall, and likely increase funding by about $4 million beyond current spending; they also said parent-provided transportation and open-enrollment mileage rules would remain largely unchanged. No opposition was heard, and the committee closed discussion without taking final action in the transcript. The committee then reviewed House Bill 1013, the education appropriations bill, and walked through proposed adjustments to program and pass-through grants. The chair proposed keeping or reducing some items, eliminating others, and moving one-time items to the stabilization fund; examples included leaving free meals at $4.5 million for now, keeping the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, reducing some grant lines, and removing several new or one-time grants. DPI also explained that the student information system would remain a flow-through grant for this biennium but would move in-house after July 1, 2026. The committee also discussed adding an FTE for the School for the Blind and making a small equipment swap at the Center for Distance Education. House Bill 1369 was discussed as the main school aid bill, including a proposed 2 percent and 2 percent per-pupil payment increase, higher construction bidding thresholds, elimination of the 12 percent cap, and a transfer of $75 million from Foundation Aid to the School Construction Revolving Loan Fund, with the chair suggesting $100 million instead. DPI explained that the bill also included a policy change returning placement decisions for students with disabilities in congregate care to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with support from the governor’s office. The committee heard testimony from school officials seeking gap funding for Title I losses caused by a switch from free-and-reduced-lunch to census-based allocations, saying districts with many open-enrolled students could lose substantial funding and staff positions. Later, the governor’s office presented a proposed $1.5 million one-time appropriation to help schools buy secure storage for student cell phones if a statewide device policy is adopted; members raised concerns about cost, local control, and whether the money would be enough. The committee also heard student testimony and then recessed without voting on the amendment in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• protects consumers, if it protects our national security, and if it protects our nation's financial stability
• choking off their access to the payment system, use his currency to undercut the US dollar, and de- stabilize
• It's time we provide the clarity and stability that our country and its innovators so desperately need
• The GENIUS Act puts the stability of our financial system at risk and I am deeply worried that yet again
• It ties regulators' hands in prescribing financial stability safeguards.

Bills: SB875

Keywords: banking regulation, federal agencies, reputational risk, financial services, supervision, FIRM Act, bank supervision, depository institutions, federal banking agencies, FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve, NCUA, CFPB, credit unions, Operation Choke Point, financial discrimination, safety and soundness, supervisory guidance, examination manual

Summary: This meeting focused on the markup of the Genius Act and the FIRM Act, two significant pieces of legislation addressing stablecoin regulation and the financial industry's regulatory framework. The Chairman noted the importance of providing clarity to the digital asset community and protecting American consumers, while also promoting innovation and competition within the financial sector. Members of both parties expressed varying viewpoints, with some highlighting concerns related to national security and the potential risks associated with stablecoins.

Transcript Highlights:

• Where are the sustainability and stability of keeping people at home, investing in one generation so
• This legislation will promote stability and long-term funding for the Medicaid program where there is
• Contributes to the stability of the health care system.
• So with stability, which would promote growth for a robust system, patients will fare better and have
• We must stabilize the system, promote development, and promote access for patients.

Transcript Highlights:

• The plan requires 988 centers to be air traffic controllers for mobile crisis teams and stabilization
• This campus will expand crisis stabilization, treatment capacity, and substance abuse residential...
• This campus will expand crisis stabilization, treatment capacity, and substance abuse residential and
• For example, a crisis stabilization unit can only be funded up to 24 hours.
• And especially, we see these in crisis services, for example, a crisis stabilization unit can only be

Summary: The joint Assembly Health and Select Committee on Native American Affairs held an oversight hearing on AB 988, California’s 988 crisis line and mobile crisis response system, followed by a discussion of suicide prevention and intervention in California Indian communities. Members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized that AB 988 was intended to create a true alternative to 911 for behavioral health crises, with “someone to call, someone to come, and somewhere to go,” and that Native communities continue to face disproportionately high suicide rates and barriers to culturally responsive care. The first panel of call center and stakeholder witnesses largely argued that implementation is falling short of the law’s intent. They said 988 call centers are underfunded, text/chat answer rates remain far below call answer rates, staffing is strained, and the system still lacks meaningful statewide interoperability between 988 and 911. Several witnesses said mobile crisis teams are not being dispatched through 988 as envisioned, and that funding formulas and governance are too opaque. San Joaquin County was presented as a local success story, with integrated 988, access lines, and mobile crisis handoffs that have reduced reliance on emergency departments and involuntary holds. Witnesses also discussed the need for better tribal outreach, the role of CCBHCs, and the importance of culturally competent services. State officials from CalHHS and DHCS described the five-year 988 implementation plan, the current governance structure across multiple agencies, and efforts to support training, public awareness, and referral tools. They reported growth in 988 contacts, ongoing training with the Trevor Project, a statewide resource directory, and a tribal awareness campaign. DHCS also outlined proposed trailer bill language that would create a formal designation process for 988 centers, set statewide standards, and require existing centers to obtain designation by 2029. Officials said current funding includes SAMHSA grants, block grant dollars, and an expected $67.3 million from the 988 fund in the next budget year, with a large share earmarked for Medi-Cal mobile crisis services. No formal vote or committee action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• , was repealed uh, housing stabilization, was repealed uh, off<00:33:20.000> with<00:33:20.240
• There's nothing about the housing stabilization in this budget.
• Just for the clarity, there's nothing in this bill about housing stabilization.
• <00:48:27.040> services<00:48:27.520> dollars, housing stabilization services dollars
• , housing stabilization services dollars, which<00:48:28.079> were,<00:48:28.800> as<00

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House began with a point of personal privilege honoring Master Sergeant Nicole M. Amimer of White Bear Lake, including a House resolution recognizing her military service and sacrifice and a moment of silence. Members then took up House File 4987, which would rename a highway in White Bear Lake as the Master Sergeant Nicole M. Amimer Memorial Highway. The motion to suspend rules and advance the bill prevailed, and the bill later passed 126-0 after supportive remarks from Representatives Olsen and Curran about honoring Amimer and her family. The chamber then considered Senate File 476, the human services policy bill. Representative Noor described it as a broad package covering direct care and treatment, Department of Health policy, aging and disability services, behavioral health, vulnerable adult maltreatment, continuity of care, and miscellaneous policy changes. Representative Schumacher said the bill reflected stakeholder work and added guardrails, especially around fraud and provider processes. Several amendments were offered and adopted, including a technical A13 amendment; an A8 amendment was withdrawn; and an A1 amendment on individualized home supports was also withdrawn. The bill passed 93-39. Finally, the House took up House File 4546, the forecast adjustment bill for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Representative Noor said it was a routine biennial adjustment to align spending with the February forecast. Representative Johnson W offered an amendment on foster family information-sharing but withdrew it after concluding it was not germane. Debate focused heavily on the size of the forecast increases, especially in medical assistance and housing supports, with Representative Schultz arguing the bill reflected large cost growth and urging a no vote. Noor responded that the increases were driven by forecasted utilization, eligibility, rate changes, and program integrity changes. The bill passed as amended 93-39.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of that 1.1, 119 million would go to the budget stabilization fund. 492 million would go to ENT. 196
• So we begin the budget stabilization fund with $956 million. We'll end this year with 1.1 billion.
• would go into the budget stabilization would go into the budget stabilization fund.<00:08:36.479
• fund. 492 million would go stabilization fund. 492 million would go to<00:09:20.480> ENT.
• budget stabilization fund with $956<00:09:41.839> million.

Bills: HB235, HB236, HB565, HB237, HB238, HB239, HB240, HB241, HB242, HB235, HB236, HB565, HB237, HB238, HB239, HB240, HB241, HB242

Keywords: social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety, youth social media, HB236, Baldwin County, Board of Equalization, per diem

Transcript Highlights:

• As operational revenue stabilized with the support of the 340B savings, we were able to begin offering
• 13.399> as<00:13:13.639> operational<00:13:14.160> Revenue<00:13:14.680> stabilized
• point as operational Revenue stabilized point as operational Revenue stabilized with<00:13:15.880
• medical home because of their diagnosis of addiction after initial medical detoxification and stabilization
• Impoverished on a fixed income that we can stabilize with low-cost medications so those children don't

Keywords: 00:00 Introductions 02:46 Roll Call 03:35 Discussion on SB 14 46:13 Vote on SB 14 48:07 Discussion on SB 17 50:38 Vote on SB 17, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services opened with the chair welcoming several new members and outlining session rules: hearings would start and end on time, the committee would limit the number of bills heard each meeting, prioritize bills heard during the interim, and generally avoid using the consent calendar except in extreme circumstances. The committee then briefly considered administrative regulations, which were treated as approved if members had no questions. The main item was Senate Bill 14, a measure addressing the 340B drug discount program. The chair said the bill had already passed the Senate in a prior session and had been heard in interim, so he did not present it again. He described the bill as prohibiting drug manufacturers from discriminating against 340B covered entities by refusing 340B pricing when the same drug is offered at that price in the state. He also said the committee would not debate the federal 340B program itself, but would hear testimony on the bill. Hospital leaders and Kentucky Hospital Association representatives testified in support, arguing that 340B savings are essential to rural hospitals, oncology services, transportation support, chronic care, addiction recovery, and new service lines such as chemotherapy and hepatitis treatment. They said the program helps keep care close to home and that manufacturer restrictions on contract pharmacies have reduced access and cost hospitals millions. Opponents from BIO Kentucky and the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions argued the bill would expand federal law beyond Congress’s intent, create administrative burdens, and not lower patient out-of-pocket costs. The chair repeatedly pressed opponents to address why Kentucky should be denied the same 340B pricing available in other states. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ultimately, the effect of this alteration in language is to provide stability and consistency in our
• Ultimately, the effect of this alteration in language is to provide stability and consistency in our
• have mostly benefited centers, and that the relief provided has not been working well enough to stabilize
• our industry the numbers keep stabilize our industry the numbers keep falling<00:48:49.359> this<
• <00:49:42.359> our direction to stabilize our direction to stabilize our industry<00:49:44.240

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the prior day’s minutes, then heard Senate File 255, which would exempt American Legion and VFW buildings from property tax. The bill’s author and the American Legion Department of Minnesota testified that many posts are struggling financially, that the tax burden can threaten building ownership, and that the posts provide important community services such as charitable gambling support, youth sports, food insecurity assistance, suicide prevention training, and meeting space for veterans and local residents. Several members voiced support, and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion. The committee then took up Senate File 30, a proposal to allow Minnesota estate tax portability for married couples, so a deceased spouse’s unused $3 million exclusion could transfer to the surviving spouse, similar to federal law. The author said Minnesota is an outlier compared with other estate-tax states and that the bill would simplify planning and reduce tax burdens, especially for family farms and other illiquid assets. A CPA and a Minnesota Farm Bureau representative testified that the order of death should not determine tax liability and that portability would help keep family farms intact. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion. Next, the committee adopted an A1 amendment to Senate File 211 and heard the bill, which would create a Minnesota subtraction for Foreign Service pension income, treating it more like military pension income. The author said the change would cover a small number of retirees and would have a minimal fiscal impact, while the testifier described Foreign Service work and said the benefit would recognize their service. The bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 132, which would revise property tax language related to electric power systems by replacing references to attachments and impertinences with broader system-based language. The author said the bill would clarify tax treatment for power co-ops, restore the original intent of the law, and provide stability for Greater Minnesota, with an estimated property tax shift of a little over $700,000. Testimony was beginning when the transcript ended, and no vote on the bill was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• transportation, and excess capital gains above the benchmark traditionally gets deposited into the stabilization
• at the conclusion of the fiscal year, that we will revisit making a healthy injection into the stabilization
• And excess capital gains above the benchmark traditionally gets deposited into the stabilization fund
• with the conclusion of the fiscal year, that we will revisit making a healthy injection into the stabilization

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate began with the Pledge of Allegiance and then adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Lenz Arthur Joseph, a five-year-old Hyde Park child whose death was described as a tragic loss to his family, school, and community. Senators offered condolences and a moment of silence was observed. The chamber also recognized several guests, including students and scholarship recipients from the Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship Program and visitors from River Valley Charter School and Fall River’s Green School. The main legislative business was Senate 2521, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill providing about $189 million for early education and care providers so they could receive June child care financial assistance payments. The minority leader questioned why the deficiency had arisen so late in the fiscal year and asked about preventing similar shortfalls. The Ways and Means chair responded that the bill was time-sensitive, that such supplemental appropriations are common for caseload-driven accounts, and that the House had already passed the measure. He also reported that FY25 revenues were about $1.1 billion above benchmark, though most of that was restricted Fair Share revenue or excess capital gains. The Senate took a roll-call vote on engrossment, and the bill passed to be engrossed by a vote of 39-0. The Senate then agreed to a conference committee on the FY26 budget bill, House 4001, after insisting on its amendment. It also adopted resolutions recognizing the Massachusetts-Hokkaido sister-state relationship and the Concord-Nani sister-city anniversary. The chamber suspended rules to advance a petition to ban DEHP in IV bags and tubing, and it agreed to a House referral change for Senate 2522, a health care petitions bill, sending it to the Judiciary Committee. Finally, the Senate adopted the emergency preamble and passed Senate 2521 to be enacted before adjourning to meet again the following Monday in memory of Lenz Arthur Joseph.

Transcript Highlights:

• enrolling in the federal dairy margin coverage program, helping Minnesota dairy farmers with some stability
• helping Minnesota dairy farmers with helping Minnesota dairy farmers with some<00:13:27.080> stability
• <00:13:27.960> through<00:13:28.320> these<00:13:28.600> difficult some stability
• through these difficult some stability through these difficult times.<00:13:29.800> Currently,

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, and proceeded through routine orders of business, including receipt of House messages and first and second readings of several bills. House File 3615, a cannabis-related bill, was received and referred to Rules and Administration for comparison with Senate File 3670. Senate Files 3957, 4072, 3956, 239, and 3955 received second reading, and the introduction calendars were given first reading and referred as indicated. During motions and resolutions, the Senate approved several committee re-referrals: SF 4075 was moved from Transportation to State and Local Government; SF 4177, a bill related to the Secretary of State, was moved from Commerce and Consumer Protection to State and Local Government; SF 4262 was moved from Taxes to State and Local Government; and SF 4418 was moved from Health and Human Services to Human Services. The chamber also adopted committee reports and designated special orders. The main special order considered was SF 3832, which would modify eligibility for the dairy assistance investment relief initiative program to allow dairy producers established since 2022 to enroll. The author explained the bill would help new dairy producers access an existing program with no new fiscal impact, and Senator Dames spoke in support. The Senate then gave SF 3832 third reading and passed it by a vote of 66-0, with its title agreed to. The session concluded with announcements, including invitations to a Metro Parks pizza event and St. Louis County Days, a reminder about legislative auditor evaluation topic suggestions, and a brief St. Patrick’s Day reflection by Senator Murphy before the Senate adjourned until March 18 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• ends meet, by vulnerable people who depend on these programs for food, autism services, housing stability
• programs for food, autism<00:07:35.520> services,<00:07:36.319> housing<00:07:36.720> stability
• ,<00:07:37.360> and autism services, housing stability, and autism services, housing stability

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• issues that have existed for Medicaid-funded services, waiver services, things like the housing stabilization
• like services, wavered services, things like the<00:03:46.560> housing<00:03:46.879> stabilization
• <00:03:47.680> program,<00:03:48.080> which the housing stabilization program, which
• the housing stabilization program, which has<00:03:48.560> been<00:03:48.720> shut<00:

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Schultz reflected on the prior session as highly dynamic and unpredictable, but said it was productive because it allowed many viewpoints to be represented. He described the session as history-making and said he was able to advance priorities for his district and conservative constituents. He highlighted two main policy wins: a bill he said prevented illegal immigrants from receiving taxpayer-funded health care benefits, identified as House File 10, and a bipartisan measure he called “freeing the hot tubs,” which allowed hot tubs at short-term rentals such as Airbnbs and VRBOs after prior Department of Health restrictions. He said both measures were enacted during the special session. Schultz also discussed his work on the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee, saying the committee was needed to focus on fraud in state agencies. He cited more than a billion dollars in fraud over the past six or seven years, including Feeding Our Future and issues in Medicaid-funded services, waiver services, and the housing stabilization program. He said the committee’s hearings and agency discussions helped produce tangible legislation to strengthen program integrity and protect taxpayer dollars. Looking ahead to 2026, he said his priorities would be affordability, stopping fraud, and improving school safety and learning environments across all types of schools in Minnesota.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when that happens, that also means that there's stability in housing.
• now we don't have to worry about people not being able to afford the homes that they depend on for stability
• And so that's a project that I love and that's close to me. that they depend on for stability for that
• they depend on for stability for their<00:06:55.560> families.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• stabilize them, then they would still go through the OOTC and the MOA would apply.
• stabilize them, then they would still go through the OOTC and the MOA would apply.
• What he identified and we stabilized.
• stabilized with meds tend to live in GP. stabilized with meds tend to live in GP.
• They're trying to stabilize treated.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for reporting and responding stability for reporting and responding parties<00:12:53.199> and
• SF 1035 does not only address Title IX. stability to a very very difficult stability to a very very difficult
• the stability that our grievance<00:20:08.640> procedures<00:20:09.640> provide<00:20:
• All we want is stability. This is why SF 1035, to the campus sexual misconduct policy, is critical.
• <01:36:16.800> the two or three residents stabilize the two or three residents stabilize the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• putting handcuffs on them, they now have the ability to make sure that they have a chance to be stabilized
• It seeks to ensure that we stabilize care for our gender-affirming patients with $125 million of support
• for our providers to stabilize that community and $10 million to support our LGBTQ centers.
• So we urge expanded and continuing funding to stabilize our safety net.
• So we urge expanded and continuing funding to stabilize our safety net.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the 2026 Budget Act, which leaders said was the negotiated compromise with the Senate and was expected to move to the floor that evening. Opening remarks emphasized that the plan balances the budget over two years, reduces the structural deficit, and builds reserves, while also protecting core services in the face of federal cuts. Jason Sisney outlined the legislative budget framework and the likely floor bills, including AB 109, SB 110, SB 122, and SB 125. Department of Finance representative Eric Khali said the administration appreciated the two-year balanced approach and supported the modification in SB 122, while noting the package uses additional revenues and new spending to soften or reject some proposed cuts. Most of the discussion focused on major spending areas. Members and subcommittee chairs highlighted protections and additions for health care and human services, including rejecting the proposed Medi-Cal asset limit change, delaying premium increases, restoring clinic and dental funding, supporting distressed hospitals and county indigent care, and expanding county eligibility staffing to handle H.R. 1-related workload. Education members described record or expanded support for TK-12 schools, child care, special education, community colleges, teacher recruitment, and higher education, including a change to extend Cal Grant eligibility to age 30 for some community college students. Housing and homelessness funding was increased for HAP, multifamily housing, and the low-income housing tax credit, while public safety members pointed to investments in victims’ services, restorative justice, and prison closure savings. Several members also raised concerns or priorities tied to the budget deal. Some praised the package as a moral document that protects vulnerable Californians, immigrant communities, LGBTQ residents, seniors, and people with disabilities. Others noted unresolved issues, including the MCO tax’s impact on districts, the need for more support for local journalism, arts, biotech R&D incentives, transit and GGRF-related concerns, and the need for continued work on Prop. 98 and long-term fiscal resilience. The vice chair cautioned that despite the current progress, the state remains vulnerable to revenue volatility and warned that the budget should build more resilience against a possible downturn. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the committee was preparing the budget package for floor action and final negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our revenue forecasts have stabilized, so by spending less than we have, we continue to right-size our
• Our revenue forecasts have stabilized, so by spending less than we have, we continue to right-size our
• justice systems while making strategic investments to improve safety, efficiency, and long-term stability
• We have $27.8 million appropriated for the KidCare FHK premium stabilization.
• Declining enrollment stabilization fund. These are really important to Miami.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was no stability in our home, no roadmap, just crisis survival management.
• There was no stability in our home, no roadmap, just crisis survival management.
• When they are strong, they create stability out of the chaos.
• There was no stability in our home, no roadmap, just crisis survival management.
• When they are strong, they create stability out of the chaos.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met with a quorum present and took up several health-related bills. CS/SB 1110, covering Medicaid and insurance coverage for medically necessary orthotics and prosthetics, including activity-specific devices without lifetime or continuous-use caps, received emotional testimony from families and athletes describing high costs and the importance of access for children and adults with disabilities. Members voiced strong support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1574, which would add biliary atresia screening to the newborn screening program using the existing birth blood specimen. The sponsor and a parent testified that earlier detection could prevent severe liver damage, transplants, and deaths, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 794, dealing with background screening for employees at residential facilities and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities and a review of waiver support coordination, was amended to align with the House companion and then reported favorably after testimony emphasizing the importance of strong support coordinators for APD waiver families. Members then considered SB 162, requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies for smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. Nurses and other supporters described surgical smoke as a serious occupational hazard, while the Florida Hospital Association said hospitals are already regulated in this area and the bill was somewhat prescriptive; an amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 254, which tightens oversight of nursing education programs, adds preceptorship and provisional licensure pathways for graduates awaiting NCLEX results, and increases transparency and accountability for low-performing programs, drew support from nursing advocates and opposition from private nursing schools concerned about workforce impacts; after amendment, it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 688 to reestablish licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors in Florida was heard with testimony both supporting expanded health care choices and opposing the bill over safety and scope concerns, and it too was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Increasing supply stabilizes the prices. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• be designated under the Metropolitan Redevelopment Code and by offering a targeted property tax stabilization
• want to put these areas may include greenfield sites because you're exchanging some of this tax stabilization
• If this program was available to us and we could renew that tax stabilization for another seven years
• New Mexicans deserve stability in their property taxes.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:18:41.600> and connection, economic stability, and connection, economic stability, and
• So that stability strengthens not only the veteran, but the entire community.
• > disabled meaningful stability for disabled meaningful stability for disabled veterans<01:02:
• So, thank you for your stability.
• It means stability for to health care. It means stability for their<01:04:20.079> family.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting of the session with member introductions and a statement from the chair that veterans issues would remain distinct and receive separate attention. The first item was an update on the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley from Executive Director Randall Dietrich. He said the museum has operated for nearly 50 years, has outgrown its current space, and is building a new 40,000-square-foot facility with $32 million in state support plus several million more in private funding. He described construction progress, planned exhibits including restored military artifacts and the USS Ward gun, and said the museum is scheduled to open on September 12. In response to Senator Kunish, Dietrich said the museum is actively incorporating stories and flags representing women, tribal nations, and other underrepresented groups, including 11 tribal flags at the entrance, and is working to integrate those stories throughout the galleries rather than isolating them. The committee then received an update from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs on the veterans suicide prevention plan from Rachel Johnson, Veterans Committee Health Director, with John Kelly later answering questions on department impacts. Johnson said the plan is a coordinated statewide framework built with legislative support, expanding regional coordinators, veteran health navigators, data analytics, and community partnerships, including a suicide mortality review pilot in Hennepin County. She said Minnesota loses about 100 veterans a year to suicide, that firearms remain the primary mechanism, and that prevention must address community connection, economic stability, and access to care, not just clinical treatment. She also said the plan aligns with state and federal strategies and is intended as a living roadmap. In response to questions, Johnson said the department is exploring data-sharing policy issues, has not seen a direct financial impact from federal VA staffing changes, and is tracking federal proposals affecting VA advisory groups. She also said 988 data is available in general but more Minnesota-specific data on the veteran option is still being gathered. Members asked follow-up questions about trends in veteran suicide, the role of families in identifying warning signs, and the Hennepin County mortality review pilot. Johnson said the annual number has remained around 100 for about 15 years, with a dip in 2024 and a return to that level in 2025, and that the Hennepin County pilot was chosen because it offers a manageable geography and existing coalition work, with an initial review expected by May or June. The final item began a presentation from the Minnesota Association of County Veteran Service Officers. Legislative chair Larry Fonder said the group’s priorities are protecting veterans from fraud and modernizing the property tax benefit for disabled veterans, but the presentation would focus on educating the committee about the role, training, certification, and accountability of county veteran service officers. President Tom Anderson, the Winona County VSO and a Navy veteran, began describing his background and office staffing when the transcript ended.