Video & Transcript Research : 'PERA'
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NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 15th, 2026 at 01:32 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- Next up we We have the Public Employee Retirement Association, which is an agency 366 PERA.
- That's why I think Rep Duncan, I think you're waiting for PERA. You jumped ahead.
- want to come up with a cleanup bill to kind of get rid of some gray areas, some ambiguities in the PERA
- Can it be invested into PERA?
- But when they affiliate with PERA, they're like a plan that pays 2 or 2.5 per year.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- In 2013, I went over to PERA to be the Deputy Director. In 2011, I became the Executive Director.
- We started our relationship at PERA when I was Executive Director, and as he just mentioned, as Deputy
- Across the street at the old PERA building, CYFD is currently located in that building.
- constituent drive very far to bring a change of beneficiary to that office, thinking it was still the PERA
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Rep. Peggy Bennett departing member remarks 5/18/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I think of especially Tim Strom and Christina Pera, who I've worked with on education.
- 00:07:39.040>
Strom <00:07:39.400>and <00:07:39.520>Christina <00:07:40.080>Pera - especially Tim Strom and Christina Pera especially Tim Strom and Christina Pera who<00:07:41.200
Summary:
Representative Bennett of Freeborn delivered a farewell floor speech reflecting on her 12 years in the Minnesota House. She described how a neighbor first encouraged her to run for office after she had been teaching first grade, and said she was motivated by her former students and a desire to preserve opportunities and freedoms for them. She characterized her service as a privilege and honor, while also noting the frustrations of legislative work, especially long floor speeches.
She shared several personal memories, including a humorous prank involving former Representative Dennis Smith’s candy jar and a memorable bonding committee visit to the Hennepin County Coroner’s building. She also cited a recent high point as the passage of the anti-grooming bill. Bennett said she wanted to be remembered as someone who truly cared and as a “bridger of gaps” between political and geographic divides, emphasizing that differences can be addressed without compromising principles.
Bennett explained that she was choosing to term-limit herself after 12 years, saying she had long supported term limits and did not view legislative service as a career. She thanked House staff, committee administrators, nonpartisan research staff, the chief clerk, sergeant-at-arms staff, troopers, and her colleagues, whom she said had become like family. She closed by reading Psalm 37 and thanking everyone in and outside the chamber, saying her departure was “see you later,” not goodbye.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Investments and Pensions Oversight Sep 12th, 2025
Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Smith, I will just tell you that when I was on the PERA board, I had a really great teacher, Bob Gish
- Members, Greg Trujillo, Executive Director with PERA.
- Their funded ratio, like I said, I wish this was the regular PERA fund, is at 172%.
- Slide 4, Madam Chair, as I stated, it is a separate part of statute from the regular PERA plan.
- And PERA administers this plan, but it is in partnership with the State Fire Marshal's Office.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement - 03/11/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement - 03/18/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- If you have 10 years in PERA, your benefits are going to be based on those 10 years in PERA.
- service if you have 10 years in Pera service if you have 10 years in Pera your<00:45:11.559>
- The reporting requirements require MSRS, PERA, and St.
- PERA and TR did not correct any errors under the relevant statute.
- PERA and TR did not correct any errors under the relevant statute.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement - 04/14/26
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- injuries within the police the PERA injuries within the police the PERA Police<00:03:02.000>
- <00:04:46.320>
And of the PERA Police and Fire Plan. - And of the PERA Police and Fire Plan.
- >
of <00:10:37.240>the PERA approves nearly 100% of the PERA approves nearly 100% of the - you're in the PERA defined contribution. you're in the PERA defined contribution.
Summary:
The Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement met on April 14, 2026, adopted the April 7 minutes, and then took up Senate File 4464, which the chair said would be laid over after hearing testimony. The bill would restore continued health insurance coverage for police officers and firefighters in the PERA Police and Fire Fund who suffer documented physical duty-related injuries, addressing the current 5-year cap and the loss of coverage at normal retirement eligibility. Senator Hal Hoffman and Senator Hoffman’s testimony emphasized that the bill is a narrow fix for injured public safety workers and not a broader restructuring of retirement benefits.
Supporters, including Mike Ladue of Law Enforcement Labor Services, several injured officers, Sheriff Ryan Kruger, and Amber Waldner, described the personal and family impacts of severe line-of-duty injuries and argued that coverage should continue to age 65 so families are not left with uncertainty if injuries worsen or force medical retirement. They said the bill would honor the promise made to public safety workers and provide stability for long-term care needs. One witness, Officer Albert, said the 2025 changes significantly reduced the protection he believed he and his family would have if his injury forced retirement.
Anne Finn of the League of Minnesota Cities opposed the bill as drafted, warning that restoring coverage to age 65 for all physical injuries would be fiscally unsustainable without additional state funding. She said the 2025 pension changes were part of a negotiated package, noted that duty disability retirements are common, and argued the employer cost could reach about $500,000 per employee and create significant property tax pressure, especially for smaller communities. She urged the committee to work on a broader solution and said revisiting only one part of the 2025 law would create imbalance.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Next, we have Randy Pera, Executive Director for HGA, in support. starting with the agenda first SB 717
- <00:10:01.079>
we <00:10:01.360>have <00:10:02.120>Randy <00:10:02.519>Pera - <00:10:02.880>
executive you next we have Randy Pera executive you next we have Randy Pera - executive director<00:10:03.600>
for <00:10:03.800>hga <00:10:04.360>in Randy Pera
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Chair now calls Whitney Pera, Texas, uh, affiliation of Affordable housing providers for the bill.
- Uh, Whitney Pera, Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers, part of the bill.
- uh Whitney Pra Pera, how, how do you pronounce that again? Esparra ok yes. Texas.
Bills:
HB164
Keywords:
HB 164, HB164, Texas Flood Recovery, Reimbursement, and Reconstruction Program, Texas Division of Emergency Management, TDEM, Hill Country floods, July 2025 floods, flood recovery, disaster relief, flood reimbursement, reconstruction grants, resiliency standards, floodplain, base flood elevation, FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, insurance denial, property damage, tenant assistance, rental property
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 05/07/26
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- It ends up breaking down as $390,000 one-time for MSRS and $2.6 million for PERA.
- Article 2, a number of administrative changes for the Public Employees Retirement Association, PERA.
- This is administered by PERA.
- This is administered by<00:10:46.960>
PERA. - It is a fully new plan and it by PERA.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Investments and Pensions Oversight Jul 18th, 2025
Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- adjustment for most retirees after they reach a normal retirement age, as well as reciprocity with PERA
- But this opens it up so that we're able to better communicate with PERA.
- So if there's an issue with someone having information or they had service credit with PERA, they also
- But I understand that PERA benefits are better than ERB benefits for participants, and that's got a long
- So we will reconvene at one o'clock with PERA and Mr. Chu-Yiu. Thank you.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- We don't get to run this, so it's always been held separately within the ambit of PERA, but as the Judicial
- think two years ago, I'm looking at Greg, about whether we should merge the magistrate judges into PERA
- and said, well, we'll go talk to PERA. about it, and they want to keep it separate as well.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Health and Public Affairs Feb 16th, 2026 at 02:54 pm
Senate Health & Public Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- I'd like to introduce my expert witnesses, Greg Trujillo, Executive Director, of the PERA, and Anthony
- The legislation does not intend to make any drastic changes to the law but rather to ensure that the PERA
- The PERA Act is a long and complex set of laws with many of those, statutes being enacted decades ago
- , but I don't have to tell you that because you all know that PERA retirement is a topic that is very
- Because this topic comes up so frequently, we have found, language throughout the PERA Act that needs
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 1/21/25
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- PERA oversees pension plans for the state employees and the legislative employees.
- are members of the PERA plans.
- so this the contribution plans uh Pera so this the msrs<00:30:14.159>
oversees <00:30:14.640>< - It's overseen by PERA.
- assets are it's overseeing by Pera those assets are dedicated<00:35:00.839>
for <00:35:01.359>
Summary:
The committee met briefly to approve the January 16 minutes, then heard a series of informational presentations from legislative joint offices and commissions that fall under its jurisdiction. Michelle Urick of the Legislative Coordinating Commission explained the LCC’s governance structure, including its leadership-based membership and role overseeing joint offices such as the Legislative Auditor, Legislative Budget Office, Legislative Reference Library, Revisor of Statutes, and the LCC staff office itself. Christian Larson of the Legislative Budget Office described the office’s nonpartisan fiscal note work, local impact notes, and support for the Tax Expenditure Review Commission, noting the volume of requests it handles and that the office currently has 18 budgeted FTE. He also explained the LBO Oversight Commission’s role in setting standards and appointing the director.
Elizabeth Lincoln of the Legislative Reference Library outlined the library’s services, including answering thousands of reference questions, maintaining state policy and legislative collections, archiving state documents, supporting the legislative website and search tools, and preserving House and Senate audio, video, and committee minutes. She also noted the library’s staffing levels and its move to the Capitol. In response to a question, she said copies of the book Minnesota Standoff were in constant circulation, that the title is out of print, and that the library had digitized it for use by legislators and staff.
Ryan Inman, the Revisor of Statutes, described the office’s drafting, legal review, publication, IT, and other services. He said every bill introduced is reviewed by a Revisor attorney, the office publishes Laws of Minnesota, Minnesota Statutes, and Minnesota Rules, and it maintains the legislative drafting system now being replaced. He also discussed rule drafting for agencies, legal counsel, the claims subcommittee, court opinions reports, and the annual technical Revisor bill. Members asked about bill volume, amendment drafting, and the history of administrative rules review; Inman said the office is handling over 2,500 active bill requests and that a prior commission on administrative rules existed in the past. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
The Cost of Special Education – Senator Mary Kunesh Feb 17th, 2025
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- 03:18.319>
like just to help those uh special ed like just to help those uh special ed like peras - educational<00:03:20.280>
assistants <00:03:21.280>who <00:03:21.440>are peras - or educational assistants who are peras or educational assistants who are in<00:03:21.840>
the
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Education Policy Committee approves bill to repeal ethnic studies requirements 2/18/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Pera or Mr. Strom? Ms. Pera. Thank you, Madam Chair and members.
- Pera. Thank you for clarifying. So, the grants is what we're removing.
- Ms.<01:03:42.560>
Pera. Ms. Pera. Ms. Pera. - 04:16.640>
some <01:04:16.840>pre- With some pre- With some pre- Ms.<01:04:17.400>Pera - Pera. Thank you for clarifying. So, Ms. Pera. Thank you for clarifying.
Summary:
House File 29 was heard in committee as a proposal to suspend adoption of the revised social studies standards, push implementation to 2030-31, repeal the requirement to embed ethnic studies across all standards, and cancel related appropriations. The bill sponsor argued Minnesota schools should focus on basic academic achievement and that ethnic studies requirements add burdens and distract from reading, math, and science. The chair moved the bill to the Committee on Education Finance after opening the hearing and then took extensive public testimony.
Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters of HF 29, including Katherine Kersten, Deanna Moose, Kendall Qualls, Hillary Swanson, and Diane Smith, argued the ethnic studies framework is ideological, overly focused on race, insufficiently transparent, and costly in professional development time; several said it would divide students or burden teachers. Some supporters also claimed the standards or framework promote activism, critical race theory, or racial stratification. Opponents, including Mark Westfall, Crystal Johnson, Jim Grathwol, Marcus Penny, Claude Sigman, and Courtney Major, said the standards are inclusive, research-based, and designed to help students understand multiple perspectives, civic life, and the contributions of diverse Minnesotans. They emphasized that ethnic studies can improve engagement, critical thinking, and representation, and that teachers should be trusted to implement the standards.
No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The only formal action noted was the chair’s motion to re-refer House File 29 to the Committee on Education Finance.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
hga <00:49:58.520>Randy thank you very much hga Randy thank you very much hga Randy Pera- Hawaii State AFL-CIO, Randy Pera, again, also in support.
- We have an Pera Esto again, D, and support. We have the State Teachers Association.
- Okay, also for the Hawaiʻi State Fed AFL-CIO, Randy Pera, for both entities, both in support.
- Okay, also for the Hawaiʻi State Fed AFL-CIO, Randy Pera, for both entities, both in support.
Summary:
The committee heard a series of Governor’s messages for confirmation to several boards and councils, with the chair noting the meeting would continue on Monday and that testimony would be limited due to the large volume of submissions. For Governor’s Message 660, Kelly Oka was nominated to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Oka described her work in workforce development and technology, emphasizing equitable access to tech jobs for local residents, keeping young talent in Hawaii, and using HTDC to attract major technology firms and support cybersecurity and startup growth. Testimony from multiple individuals and organizations was strongly supportive, and members asked about HTDC’s challenges, federal funding, and how to attract more tech investment; no vote was taken in the excerpt.
The committee then considered Governor’s Message 529, nominating Fono Cafi Mei to the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board. Mei said he had 20 years of crane-operating experience, including work on rail projects, and union representatives and labor organizations testified in support. Next, Governor’s Message 502 nominated Ken Louie to the Workforce Development Council. Louie highlighted his four years on the council, including two as chair, his family business, and his goal of expanding opportunities for younger and adult workers. DBEDT, council members, and labor representatives supported him, and members questioned him about the council’s priorities, staffing, federal funding uncertainty, apprenticeships, and military-to-private-sector transition programs.
The committee also took up Governor’s Messages 581 and 690 together, both relating to Jared Gashi’s nomination to the Workforce Development Council for different terms. Gashi, from the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, said he would bring the tourism industry’s perspective to workforce development, citing workforce shortages, internships, scholarships, and the need for a broader tourism voice on the council. Support testimony came from state officials and community members, who praised his reliability and leadership; a member asked how he would broaden the council beyond tourism, and Gashi said HLTA represents a wide range of tourism-related sectors and partners. The committee then heard Governor’s Message 571 for Eric Noi to the Deferred Compensation Plan Board, with Noi citing his fiscal and budgeting background; DHS, the board chair, and others supported him. Finally, Governor’s Message 667 nominated Ty Noara to the same board, and Keith Regan testified in strong support, citing her public service, intelligence, and ability to handle difficult situations. The excerpt ends as the committee begins Governor’s Message 560, nominating David Louie to the Employees’ Retirement System Board, with Louie, the ERS executive director, the finance director, and former Governor Abercrombie offering strong support.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Next, we have Randy Pera, Executive Director for HGA, with comments. shamella uh Deputy attorney general
- anyone has thank you next we<00:26:48.039>
have <00:26:48.200>Randy <00:26:48.480>Pera - <00:26:48.840>
executive <00:26:49.240>director we have Randy Pera executive director - we have Randy Pera executive director for<00:26:49.720>
hgda <00:26:50.440>with comments - Next, we have Randy Pera, Executive Director for HGA, also in support.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
The State of Special Education in Minnesota Feb 16th, 2025
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- 04:18.799>
like just to help those uh special ed like just to help those uh special ed like peras - educational<00:04:20.759>
assistants <00:04:21.759>who <00:04:21.919>are peras - or educational assistants who are peras or educational assistants who are in<00:04:22.320>
the
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
Facilities Review Subcommittee Jul 10th, 2025
Facilities Review Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- That are occupying space within Capitol North and within Old Pera and other locations nearby that don't
- I apologize if I misspoke, but the general area around the Capitol and Old Pera in particular.