Transcript Highlights:

• soils and prairie rejuvenation.
• Now, one of the greatest threats to our prairies is the invasion of cool-season non-native grasses.
• <01:01:12.039> conservation chaplain I'm the Prairie conservation chaplain I'm the Prairie
• <01:01:30.160> grassland<01:01:31.160> unfortunately<01:01:31.920> less prairie
• than 2% of Minnesota's native Prairie than 2% of Minnesota's native Prairie grasslands<01:01:35.160

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Brought to us by Senator Bensi on behalf of the city of Eden Prairie.
• The Southwest Metro is changing, and Eden Prairie embraces that.
• Subdivision 1 authorizes Eden Prairie to establish up to two redevelopment districts at the Eden Prairie
• I’m the economic development manager for the city of Eden Prairie.
• <01:14:53.400> but largest employers in Eden Prairie but largest employers in Eden Prairie

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Minnesota Senate Taxes Committee met on February 6, 2025, and first approved the February 5 minutes. The main item was the Office of the State Auditor’s annual report on tax increment financing (TIF), presented by Jason Nord in place of Auditor Blaha, who was ill. Nord explained how TIF captures new property value to finance development, and reviewed statewide data for 2023 reported in 2024. The report said TIF was used by 382 authorities statewide, with 378 authorities reporting on 1,678 districts. Redevelopment and housing/economic development districts made up the vast majority of districts, with housing districts becoming especially common in Greater Minnesota. Of the $238 million in tax increment generated in 2023, 78% came from the metro area, and most dollars came from redevelopment districts. The report also noted $7.4 million in increment returned to counties, cities, and school districts, and described long-term trends showing early growth in TIF use, reforms in the 1980s and 1990s, a drop after 2002 property tax changes, and another decline after many older districts reached maximum duration. Committee members asked about uncodified districts, the location of the remaining pre-1979 district, whether the same cities continue using TIF over time, and how Minnesota compares with other states. Nord said the uncodified districts include housing replacement and special-law districts, the pre-1979 district is in Princeton, and the number of authorities starting or stopping use each year is usually small. He also said Minnesota differs from many states, including by allowing pooling. The presentation highlighted that TIF debt statewide is a little over $1.8 billion, mostly in pay-as-you-go notes rather than general obligation bonds, and that many districts decertify early—often years before their maximum term—supporting the chair’s interest in legislation to shorten redevelopment district duration and repeal renewal and renovation districts. No votes were taken on the report.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have wonderful people to my right and left from Blooming Prairie.
• I'm the city engineer for the city of Blooming Prairie.
• On behalf of the of Blooming Prairie.
• I wanted to give him just a Prairie.
• Bloom Prairie. Yes. Bloom Prairie. Yes.

Bills: HF604, HF1972, HF578, HF1951, HF629, HF864, HF874, HF1155, HF884, HF2365, HF643, HF234, HF2655, HF2637, HF2535, HF2530, HF2344, HF584, HF524

Keywords: airport funding, bonds, transportation, capital investment, Karlstad, community center, Breckenridge, state bonds, economic development, HF578, Faribault, River Bend Nature Center, bonding bill, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR grant, nature center, visitor center, environmental education, multicultural center

Transcript Highlights:

• become law, and for the first time in Minnesota history since the '90s, it has the support of the Prairie
• become law, and for the first time in Minnesota history since the '90s, it has the support of the Prairie
• become law, and for the first time in Minnesota history since the '90s, it has the support of the Prairie
• <00:09:31.960> They Prairie Island Indian community.
• They Prairie Island Indian community.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The program focused first on Minnesota’s energy and affordability agenda, with Senator Nick Frentz discussing the state’s clean-energy leadership, rising electricity demand, and the Senate’s 100% clean energy framework. He said Minnesota’s clean energy growth supports jobs, lowers costs for ratepayers, and includes recent wins such as sustainable aviation fuel tax treatment in the supplemental budget. Frentz also said the Senate passed an energy omnibus bill that continues clean-energy permitting reforms, promotes conservation and demand response, and includes a nuclear study rather than lifting the nuclear moratorium. Frentz spent much of the interview defending data centers as both a challenge and an opportunity. He said large hyperscale projects can create major construction jobs and substantial local property-tax revenue, while a 2025 law requires data-center companies to contribute to low-income energy assistance and report water use. He pointed to the Google data center planned for Pine Island as an example, saying it is air-cooled, will pay $5 million a year, and will fund 1,600 MW of clean energy at its own expense, which he argued could save Xcel ratepayers money over time. He also said climate change is already driving higher costs through homeowners insurance and storm damage. The second segment highlighted Senator Zach Duckworth’s housing and banking bills. Duckworth said Senate File 4168 would make it easier to finance investment properties by giving buyers more flexibility to roll closing costs and lender fees into payments, while keeping strong protections in place for primary residences. He emphasized that the bill is not about predatory lending and is intended to expand options for informed investors. He also described Senate File 4652 as an anti-fraud, no-cost measure that lets bank customers name a trusted contact so banks can alert someone if suspicious activity is detected. Duckworth said both bills passed unanimously in both chambers, and he credited quick action and good working relationships across the aisle for their success. The program closed with a broader reflection on the end of session and the Senate’s political climate. It noted that 15 senators are retiring and two are leaving for higher office, and that final floor votes often split along party lines, including one bill passing 34-33. Several retiring senators used farewell speeches to urge civility, compromise, and putting people first, while the segment emphasized that despite partisan conflict, quiet bipartisan cooperation still produced much of the session’s enacted legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• one and we looked at what we thought, so what would it look like if we, rather than have like the prairie
• So we would end up with, so the first step is we would end up not having the Prairie Dog funding any
• We would stop doing that and take those funds that were in the Prairie Dog and move those into, ...and
• And then we found that, you know, some of the times the funds coming out of Prairie Dog were limited
• Because right now,” “Which would give certainty that Prairie Dog is going to fill, because right now

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House Appropriations Government Operations section met with a full committee present and took up discussion of the Department of Transportation budget and a House funding package. Members described a proposal to simplify DOT funding by eliminating the Prairie Dog bucket, consolidating money into three main buckets/funds, and using DOT expertise to select projects while giving counties, cities, and townships more certainty. They said the plan would also restore 100% of the motor vehicle excise tax to the general fund and use other existing funds, including SIF and the legacy earnings fund, to support DOT and local road distributions. A major part of the discussion focused on how to cover Highway 85 and other road needs. Members and DOT Director Ron Hankey said federal highway formula funding for the next biennium should continue as long as the federal highway bill remains unchanged, but that the six-mile Highway 85 segment is unlikely to receive a federal grant because of benefit-cost issues. The committee discussed bonding for the $155 million set aside for Highway 85, with members noting Garvey bonds as one option but wanting flexibility to use the best available rate. They also discussed a possible five-cent gas tax to support the highway distribution fund; several members raised concerns about the policy and political difficulty, while others argued it was needed because oil revenues are down and the state needs a sustainable funding source. Members repeatedly asked for a clearer visual or flow chart showing how the money would move through the new structure, and the chair and sponsors said staff would prepare a pictorial and amendment language. There was general support for the concept, but some members wanted caucus education before floor action. No formal vote was taken during this discussion, and the chair indicated the committee would move quickly, with amendments to follow and the bill expected to continue in conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• area, which is really southwest; and then the transition area between the forest and prairies.
• [Assistant Director Pavevlo:] The prairie, um, this is our largest area.
• And the prairie area here on that map is 33% of the total area of the state.
• The prairie um this is our largest area. The prairie um this is our largest area.
• And the prairie area of the total acres.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeking justice for the victims of a care home in Grand Prairie, but he was not the investigator.
• I have you as Emily Morick with the Grand Prairie Police Department, and you are in favor of the bill
• I'm currently practicing at the Grand Prairie Police Department as a crisis support clinician in our
• It shows you representing Grand Prairie. Yes, ma'am. And you are for the bill? Yes, ma'am.
• I've served as a police officer for 36 years, the last 30 of those with the City of Grand Prairie.

Bills: HB2510, HB3589, HB4611, HB4655, HB4665, HB4666, HB4670, HB4700, HB4730, HB4798, HB4838, HB5136, HB5243, HB5302, HB5539

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• We have several folks here from Grand Prairie, just, just drove in this morning.
• Uh, let me tell you a little bit about Grand Prairie.
• And Grand Prairie has received the Tree City USA designation for 25 years running.
• Grand Prairie is also home to a Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Lone Star Park, Epic Central, Epic Waters
• And I'm proud to say I am a resident of Grand Prairie, proud to call it home.

Transcript Highlights:

• I got the money for Prairie View." Or whatever it was.
• I'm Tamekia LaGuardia, President of Prairie View A&M University.
• And out of over 3,000 institutions in this nation, Prairie View...
• At Prairie View, we don't believe in resting on our accomplishments.
• How long have you been at Prairie View now? About 19 months now. There we go.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Prairie Island had just received electricity and running water a couple years before.
• Prairie Island had just received electricity and running water a couple years before.
• constructed in the early 1970s Prairie constructed in the early 1970s Prairie Island<00:32:24.159
• I would like to say at this time Prairie Island cannot sit here to support the repeal of the nuclear
• have in Minnesota um with the Prairie have in Minnesota um with the Prairie Island<01:32:37.320>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The principal architect of the original language was collaboration led by Prairie Island Indian community
• Since they collaborated, including Prairie Island and labor, that's enough for me.
• > and<00:05:28.440> labor, including Prairie Island and labor, including Prairie Island
• It is true that the House language reflects the Prairie Island collaboration at the beginning.
• And, uh, so, I'm a little reluctant to support this if the original language was agreed on by Prairie

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 HR 276 by Kitzmann recognizing February 18, 2025 as Prairie
• Representative Thomas. to be here with me to celebrate Prairie View A&M University.
• And I'm going to ask all the former students and students of Prairie View that are here today to please
• And the institution opened in in Prairie View on March 11th, 1878, and welcomed its first class of students
• Prairie View has grown considerably over the course of its long history, and during the fall of 2011,

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the mayor of Eden Prairie.
• Prairie Center from cult classic movies Prairie Center from cult classic movies like<00:33:38.679>
• Thank you for this of Eden Prairie.
• <00:34:59.960> Center with the Eden Prairie Center with the Eden Prairie Center Eden<00:35
• <00:35:03.040> its Eden Prairie Center ownership and its Eden Prairie Center ownership and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The moratorium comes from the 1990s and it includes an agreement with the Prairie Island Indian Community
• Prairie Island Indian Community who Prairie Island Indian Community who unexpectedly<00:07:42.760>
• 00:08:07.120> with up with a solution that's okay with up with a solution that's okay with Prairie
• 08.080> with<00:08:08.240> the<00:08:08.320> people<00:08:08.680> for Prairie
• Island and with the people for Prairie Island and with the people for disposing<00:08:09.560> of<

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The interview focused on Minnesota’s clean energy policy, energy affordability, and the state’s path toward its 100% clean electricity goal. The senator said Minnesota’s clean energy reputation comes from environmental concern, job creation, and lower long-term costs, noting that wind is now the lowest-cost generation source and that solar costs have fallen sharply. He said rising electricity demand has led to some increased coal use, but argued the state can still meet its 2040 clean energy target through continued renewable buildout, permitting reform, conservation, and demand response. A major topic was data centers. The senator emphasized both concerns and benefits, saying hyperscale data centers can bring substantial construction jobs, property tax revenue, and, under the 2025 law, payments to low-income energy assistance. He cited the Pine Island Google data center as air-cooled, with no water concerns, and said it will pay $5 million annually while funding 1,600 MW of wind, solar, and battery resources at its own expense. He also said Xcel’s filing projected a $1.1 billion ratepayer savings over 10 years, while urging the public to weigh both pros and cons, especially around water use and local tax impacts. The discussion also covered nuclear power and climate costs. The senator said the Senate has passed a nuclear study three years in a row and expects it to advance, while the moratorium on new nuclear plants remains tied to the Prairie Island Indian Community and unresolved nuclear waste storage. He argued Minnesota likely cannot reach its emissions goals without nuclear in the mix, though he acknowledged current nuclear is not cost-competitive and said future advanced or small modular nuclear could change that. On affordability, he pointed to climate-driven costs such as higher homeowners insurance and storm damage, and described Senate energy omnibus provisions including conservation, plug-in solar, and renewable development account projects such as a Como Zoo clean energy project. No votes were taken in the interview itself, but the senator referenced the recently announced budget deal and said he still needed to negotiate a renewable development account agreement between the House and Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• And with the loss of Minnesota's natural prairie and grassland habitat, it's important that we maintain
• One of the greatest threats to our prairies is the invasion of cool-season non-native grasses such as
• Nature Conservancy conduct Prairie Nature Conservancy conduct Prairie Management<00:09:41.040>
• management targeted conservation Prairie management targeted conservation grazing<00:10:00.079> is
• We do also use prescribed fire as a tool to manage our prairies.

Bills: HF1698, HF632, HF1352, HF2197, HF618, HF1248, HF1697

Keywords: property tax, exemption, leased land, public use, commercial property, HF632, Minnesota property tax, conservation easement, conservation restriction, assessed value, property valuation, tax assessment, real property, land conservation, farmland preservation, natural areas, riparian buffer, water quality, water quantity, county assessor

Transcript Highlights:

• me to present this really important project and request for the committee for my community of Eden Prairie
• I am Matt Sackett, the Police Chief with the City of Eden Prairie.
• In Eden Prairie, we are also considered an area leader in the use of drones for search and rescue.
• for our first responders and law enforcement officers for the work that they do, not only in Eden Prairie
• They provide affordable access to our lakes, prairies, hills, and rivers.

Bills: HF474, HF218, HF210, HF441, HF691, HF720, HF1068, HF1314, HF1465, HF1860, HF2046, HF1389, HF2404, HF2854, HF2985, HF3128, HF3103, HF778, HF3125

Keywords: HF474, Hubert H. Humphrey, Henry Mower Rice, Statuary Hall, United States Capitol, statue replacement, capital investment, general fund appropriation, Minnesota State Capitol, Minnesota State Historical Society, public art, commemorative statue, National Statuary Hall Collection, commissioner of administration, cultural heritage, monument, Washington D.C., HF218, Minnesota, Department of Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the A3 amendment reflects the House and Prairie Island agreement on this bill.
• It was always the intention of the chair that we had to have Prairie Island and Xcel on board.
• It was always the intention of the chair that we had to have Prairie Island and Xcel on board.
• <01:06:48.560> Island to say thanks to the Prairie Island to say thanks to the Prairie Island
• Island and Xcel we had to have Prairie Island and Xcel on<01:06:56.440> board.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Johnson from the Prairie Island Indian community would like to testify. Mr.
• Johnson from the Prairie Island Indian community would like to testify.
• I'm government relations for the Prairie Island Indian Community, and also a tribal member.
• Prairie Island Indian Community.
• and staff at the Prairie Island nuclear generating<01:02:11.520> plant.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• February 26th and 27th, 2025 as Grand Prairie Days at the State Capitol.
• I'd like to specifically acknowledge as Council Member for Grand Prairie City Council District 3, Mike
• Council Member for Grand Prairie City Council District 4, John Lopez. And Ms.
• Vanna Noe, Legislative Affairs Officer for the City of Grand Prairie had a terrific meeting with them
• Members please welcome the City of Grand Prairie to our Capitol. Is there an objection?

Bills: SB26, SB28, SJR36, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB28, SB28, SR131, SR168, SR174, SR175

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 11 relates to the city of Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie Center TIF district.
• Section 11 relates to the city<00:08:05.360> of<00:08:05.520> Eden<00:08:05.919> Prairie
• ,<00:08:06.639> Eden<00:08:06.960> Prairie city of Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie city
• of Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie Center,<00:08:07.680> TIFF<00:08:08.080> district.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all