Transcript Highlights:

• Scientific Research Permit, that research has since concluded, leaving us without a safe, effective mechanism
• program, but looking at microloan programs that have occurred in other states and how we can find a mechanism
• for the processing of the cotton, the grades to come back where they can receive an actual pricing mechanism
• It's not meant to be a mechanism to make a profit; it's to preserve and enhance the industry moving forward
• It's not meant to be a mechanism to make a profit, is to preserve and enhance the industry moving forward

Bills: HB43 , HB519 , HB 1275 , HB1592 , HB2842 , HB3088 , HB3479 , HB4163 , SB823 , HB609

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: agriculture, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, honey production, beekeeping, food safety, local regulation, bovine producers, dairy farms, permits, bovine tuberculosis, public health, wildlife management, disease prevention, alert system, Texas A&M, white-tailed deer, public safety

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met with only four members initially present, so quorum was not established until later in the hearing. The committee heard several agriculture-, wildlife-, and food-labeling-related bills, including HB 3479 on expanding the Rio Grande vegetative management program beyond carrizo cane to other noxious vegetation, SB 823 on shrimp origin labeling and restrictions on misrepresenting imported shrimp as Texas or Gulf shrimp, HB 3088 on giving Texas Parks and Wildlife more flexibility to procure resale goods for park gift shops, HB 1275 on permits for non-bovine dairy farms in certain TB-affected areas, HB 519 on honey production and packaging rules, HB 609 on cleaning oyster cages in-bay with bay water only, HB 1592 on a voluntary AgriLife pest and disease alert system, HB 2842 on targeted urban deer depredation permits, and HB 4163 on limiting city requirements that agricultural operators maintain roadside rights-of-way. Testimony generally came from industry groups, agency resource witnesses, and affected producers, with most witnesses supporting the bills and several bills drawing questions about enforcement, labeling responsibility, and the scope of local authority. The most extensive discussion centered on SB 823, where Vice Chair Hancock and others questioned why wholesalers would be covered if they cannot relabel products. The bill author and restaurant association witness said the measure was intended to improve transparency and allow enforcement against intentional mislabeling, while preserving a good-faith defense and clarifying that the bill does not create a private cause of action. HB 519 also drew supportive testimony from beekeepers and a family farm, who argued that current rules treat honey extraction and bottling too much like food manufacturing and burden small operations. HB 609 was presented as a way to save time and resources for cultivated oyster mariculture by allowing cage cleaning in the bay without soaps or chemicals, and HB 1592 was described as a voluntary opt-in alert system for pests and diseases coordinated through AgriLife and other state agencies. HB 43 generated the most detailed policy debate. The bill would restructure and expand the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority, update grant and loan programs, and create a pest and disease control depredation program. The committee substitute reduced some funding caps, changed references from predators to depredating animals, and made the financial provisions contingent on appropriations. Supporters from Texas Farm Bureau, cotton growers, grain and feed interests, and young farmers described severe drought, inflation, land loss, rising input costs, and shrinking infrastructure as major threats to agriculture, while one witness urged preserving priority for young farmers. After testimony, the committee adopted the committee substitute and reported HB 43 favorably. The committee also voted HB 519, HB 609, HB 1275, HB 1592, HB 3088, HB 3479, HB 2842, and HB 4163 favorably, with several recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 823 was reported from committee on a 6-2 vote after adoption of the committee substitute. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would tentatively reconvene Friday morning and then recessed subject to the chair's call.

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:11:00.760><c> delivered</c> ...resistance heat now and/or use delivered fuels to have another mechanism
• Department of Commerce, the Attorney General's Office, Chair Acomb, and other stakeholders that provided feedback
• We give the community an opportunity to share their feedback and have it be meaningful.

Bills: HF4560 , HF4559 , HF2317 , HF3179 , HF4880 , HF2862 , HF4374

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: Public Utilities Commission, PUC, energy regulation, utility regulation, electric utility, public utility, rate case, multiyear rate plan, decoupling, rate decoupling, greenhouse gas, social cost of carbon, environmental cost, resource planning, certificate of need, distributed renewable energy, interconnection, budget billing, electronic filing, contested case

Transcript Highlights:

• She then asked what happens next time and what the enforcement mechanism is for bad-acting landlords
• version, incorporates changes that were made there, and also incorporates a little bit of stakeholder feedback
• :12.000><c> District</c><01:21:12.280><c> Court</c> Representative Ryer said she appreciates the feedback

Bills: HF1855 , HF102 , HF1082 , HF1354 , HF2184 , HF1792 , HF2296 , HF2429 , HF2543 , HF2566

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: veterans, benefit services, accreditation, consumer protection, civil penalties, disclosure requirements, HF102, Sibley County Road 166, Freedom Drive, Arlington, Sibley County, Minnesota transportation bonds, bonding bill, capital investment, road extension, highway access, intersection improvements, right-of-way acquisition, water main, sewer improvements

Transcript Highlights:

• We are offering a structured mechanism for people to address grievances regarding government actions
• We are offering a structured mechanism for people to address grievances regarding government actions
• for people to address mechanism for people to address grievances<00:04:57.680><c> regarding</c><00:04
• </c><00:36:04.319><c> for</c> thought which I don't that mechanism for thought which I don't that mechanism
• </c><00:36:28.560><c> in</c> response we have existing mechanisms in response we have existing mechanisms

Bills: HF414 , HF768 , HF359

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: data practices, filing fee, government transparency, complaints, public access, free speech, human rights, censorship, protected speech, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, real property, partition, eminent domain, transfer on death deeds, property rights, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• review the actions from the previous year between the different departments, and they have a bit of a feedback
• bit</c><00:04:54.639><c> of</c><00:04:54.960><c> um</c><00:04:55.280><c> a</c><00:04:55.520><c> feedback
• </c> and they have a bit of um a feedback and they have a bit of um a feedback session<00:04:57.040><

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's what you're asking is to take some of those and provide that feedback.
• 01:03:22.640><c> and</c><01:03:23.280><c> provide</c><01:03:23.680><c> that</c><01:03:24.079><c> feedback
• </c><01:03:25.359><c> Um</c> of those and provide that feedback.
• Um of those and provide that feedback.

Committee: Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, those are my concerns and um I do open the welcome the feedback from folks that might be impacted
• <00:33:52.440><c> the</c><00:33:52.840><c> welcome</c><00:33:53.160><c> the</c><00:33:53.240><c> feedback
• </c><00:33:53.800><c> from</c><00:33:54.240><c> folks</c> open the welcome the feedback from folks open
• the welcome the feedback from folks that<00:33:54.600><c> might</c><00:33:54.760><c> be</c><00:33:54.880

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• survey of nearly 700 business leaders, HR departments, and employees from across the state, the feedback
• </c><00:53:47.640><c> The</c><00:53:47.760><c> feedback</c><00:53:48.120><c> was</c><00:53:48.280><c>
• The feedback was quite across the state.
• The feedback was quite representative<00:53:49.400><c> of</c><00:53:49.520><c> the</c><00:53:49.600><

Bills: HF4110 , HF2113 , HF4569 , HF4414

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

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, paid leave, small employers, employment law, Minnesota Statutes, workforce development, HF4569, Minnesota Paid Leave Law, protected leave, seasonal employee, seasonal worker, hospitality, hospitality industry, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer certification

Transcript Highlights:

• discussed in labor, and then it also includes an additional exception that was based on stakeholder feedback
• on</c> uh exception that was based on uh exception that was based on stakeholder<00:42:02.040><c> feedback
• </c><00:42:02.640><c> and</c><00:42:03.160><c> the</c> stakeholder feedback and the stakeholder feedback

Bills: HF3794 , HF4472 , HF4410 , HF4347 , HF4412 , HF4398 , HF4397 , HF4201 , HF4199 , HF4203 , HF3706 , HF4071 , HF4120 , HF4175 , HF4188

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, automated decision systems, consumer protections, data privacy, biometrics, school district health insurance, charter school health benefits, employee benefits, public sector health insurance, health insurance survey, Legislative Budget Office, LBO report, premium costs, retiree coverage, broker commissions, third-party administrator, health plan transparency, health reimbursement arrangement

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I appreciate the feedback and we can continue to take a hard look at that and make sure we've got
• 00:06:45.600><c> I</c><00:06:45.960><c> appreciate</c><00:06:46.680><c> the</c><00:06:46.800><c> feedback
• Um I appreciate the feedback and line.
• Um I appreciate the feedback and we<00:06:47.600><c> can</c><00:06:47.760><c> continue</c><00:06:48.280

Bills: SF856 , HF4482 , HF3672 , HF1234 , HF4591 , HF3554 , HF936

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Inspector General, fraud prevention, state audit, public funds, misuse, transparency, government accountability, HF4482, Minnesota Historical Society, state historic sites, historic site management, historic preservation, county historical society, local historical society, municipality, county government, admission fees, grants-in-aid, site operations, site maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• Could you give us some feedback?
• you<01:29:07.600><c> give</c><01:29:07.760><c> us</c><01:29:07.880><c> some</c><01:29:08.040><c> feedback
• </c> you give us some feedback? you give us some feedback?

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Senate bills. On SB 2530, relating to campaign contributions, the State Procurement Office suggested clarifying that contractor disclosure information be submitted within 30 days of a fully executed contract, while the Campaign Spending Commission supported the bill but asked that the restriction on contributions by officers be expanded beyond compensated officers. Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action supported the measure and urged keeping the Senate language, arguing it better addresses contractor influence, while no other testifiers appeared. On SB 2970, relating to standards of conduct, the State Ethics Commission supported the bill and proposed amendments to consolidate the new language into existing Chapter 84 contract provisions and use “department head” instead of “director.” The State Procurement Office supported the measure but recommended closing a perceived loophole by limiting the covered contracts to those under $10,000. No opposition testimony was offered. The committee then heard SB 2919, which would fund one full-time Deputy Public Defender position focused on immigration-related advice under Padilla v. Kentucky. The Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrants’ Rights, and the ACLU of Hawaii supported the bill, explaining that the position would help public defenders advise clients about immigration consequences of criminal cases, not provide immigration representation. Members asked several questions about the scope of the position and whether it could assist with citizenship; testimony clarified that it would not handle civil immigration matters. The bill was also described as creating a statewide consistent resource for the public defender system. Finally, on SB 2446, relating to the judiciary, the Intermediate Court of Appeals supported adding a seventh associate judge position but noted the court has only recently been fully staffed at six judges and has improved output through internal changes. The chair emphasized that the bill authorizes the position without funding and encouraged the judiciary to return later if appropriations are needed. The committee also began hearing SB 2730, a criminal justice reform bill on warrantless arrests and citations. OHA supported reducing unnecessary arrests but objected to making citations visible on criminal records; the Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill, citing law enforcement flexibility, identification concerns, and possible litigation costs; and the Judiciary requested a later implementation date and suggested changes to citation-resolution language. The transcript ends while testimony on SB 2730 was still underway.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, but I wanted to get feedback from all of you because I know you deal with the landowners that the
• c><00:56:22.319><c> wanted</c><00:56:22.559><c> to</c><00:56:22.799><c> get</c><00:56:23.040><c> feedback
• Uh, but I wanted to get feedback posted.
• Uh, but I wanted to get feedback from<00:56:24.160><c> all</c><00:56:24.400><c> of</c><00:56:24.480><

Bills: HB0015 , HB0017 , HB0019

Committee: House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources

Keywords: right to repair, digital electronics, consumer protection, embedded software, manufacturers, repair providers, tools and documentation, anti-theft measures, blockchain, financial technology, digital innovation, economic development, select committee, trespass, hunting, land use, public access, wildlife, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have been provided with feedback and recommendations, but as we've mentioned previously, having to
• We have been provided with<00:05:09.720><c> feedback</c><00:05:10.200><c> and</c><00:05:10.320><c> recommendations
• ,</c><00:05:11.240><c> but</c> with feedback and recommendations, but with feedback and recommendations

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on September 24, 2025, approved the minutes from the September 9 meeting, and then continued its discussion of Medicaid waivers with Leslie Hoffman and Carmen Hancock from the Department for Medicaid Services. Members asked for updates on the 2024 waiver waitlist management assessment recommendations, including aligning waiver policies, standardizing applications and waitlist placement, and modernizing data systems. DMS said that work is being done jointly with Aging and Independent Living and Behavioral Health/Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities through task forces, that ARPA spending delayed action, and that implementation timelines extend through March 2027. The board also reviewed per-member waiver cost averages for fiscal years 2023 through 2025 for ABI, ABI long-term care, HCBS, Model II, Michelle P, and SCL. DMS emphasized these figures were benefit-only averages based on paid claims, not full waiver costs, and explained that true budget neutrality is calculated on an aggregate basis against institutional care comparisons approved by CMS. DMS said all six waivers remain in compliance with budget neutrality and that the most recent 18-month lag review for FY 2022 and FY 2023 found costs at or below institutional care. Members also asked about unused waiver slots; DMS said slots generally cannot be reallocated mid-year if they have been used, except in cases such as death or reserved capacity, because CMS treats participants as unduplicated for the waiver year. A major portion of the meeting focused on the new child waiver created under House Bill 6. Legislators questioned whether the waiver’s design, including the exclusion of participant-directed services and the emphasis on high-acuity children with behavioral health, DCBS, or juvenile justice involvement, matched the bill’s intent to keep children at home. DMS said it used the $14.7 million appropriated for FY 2026 to develop the program, that there is no priority list, and that the waiver is intended to serve the highest-acuity children while also addressing residential needs for those sleeping in offices or placed out of state. Members also raised concerns about the rapid growth of the HCBS waiting list and asked for more detail on age and timing patterns, which DMS said it would provide later. Finally, DMS gave average processing times from application to eligibility determination and from approval to service start, and said the overall average from application to services beginning was about 80 days, while members requested follow-up information on the Carewise assessment contract and related costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• get the truth from them, and then they meet privately with the president and they give you their feedback
• the president and they give<00:56:37.760><c> you</c><00:56:38.000><c> their</c><00:56:38.240><c> feedback
• </c><00:56:39.599><c> So</c> give you their feedback they got. So give you their feedback they got.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• We outreached to the New Hampshire banking department, and they provided some minor language feedback
• 23:21.120><c> some</c><01:23:21.440><c> minor</c><01:23:21.840><c> language</c><01:23:22.320><c> feedback
• </c> provided some minor language feedback provided some minor language feedback that<01:23:23.360><c

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We got a lot of feedback from seniors that are aging, from families, from providers.
• got</c><00:26:55.679><c> a</c><00:26:55.799><c> lot</c><00:26:55.960><c> of</c><00:26:56.120><c> feedback
• </c><00:26:56.880><c> from</c><00:26:57.320><c> from</c> state we got a lot of feedback from from state
• we got a lot of feedback from from Seniors<00:26:57.919><c> that</c><00:26:58.039><c> are</c><00:26:

Bills: HF1837 , HF361 , HF2725 , HF2566 , HF2744 , HF1685 , HF501 , HF1889 , HF1389

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: state policy, employment, health insurance, fossil designation, public funds, community resources, Capitol Mall, grantmaking, community vitality, livability, funding, healthy aging, aging policy, older adults, seniors, elderly, gerontology, long-term care, assisted living, nursing homes

Transcript Highlights:

• So I have had lots of negative feedback about Taher, I believe it is a for-profit company, so that makes
• out services so I have had lots of out services so I have had lots of negative<00:51:53.720><c> feedback
• about</c><00:51:54.640><c> taher</c><00:51:55.640><c> I</c><00:51:55.839><c> believe</c> negative feedback
• about taher I believe negative feedback about taher I believe it<00:51:56.359><c> is</c><00:51:56.599

Bills: HF827 , HF1258 , HF2387 , HF2388 , HF2534 , HF2016

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education, school funding, consolidation aid, financial support, Minnesota Statutes, education finance, ice arena, school districts, cooperation agreement, equal sports opportunities, school milk program, nutrition, food waste, kindergarten, public schools, supplemental revenue, charter schools, funding, state appropriations, general education funding

Transcript Highlights:

• that they would like to be a part of that section as well because it incorporates some more recent feedback
• <00:54:32.520><c> recent</c> they incorporate some more recent they incorporate some more recent feedback
• <c> got</c><00:54:33.559><c> from</c><00:54:33.760><c> institutions</c><00:54:34.400><c> and</c> feedback
• we got from institutions and feedback we got from institutions and some<00:54:34.760><c> additional<

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, what we've heard feedback on is that some families struggle to find the way to understand some of
• /c><00:31:12.360><c> heard</c> counterparts um what we've heard counterparts um what we've heard feedback
• 13.360><c> is</c><00:31:13.559><c> that</c><00:31:13.720><c> some</c><00:31:14.039><c> families</c> feedback
• on is that some families feedback on is that some families struggle<00:31:15.480><c> to</c><00:31:15.720

Bills: HF2090 , HF982 , HF2229

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: higher education, scholarship, financial aid, state grant, tuition assistance, Pell grants, student retention, education equity, disabled veterans, veterans' dependents, dependent children, college affordability, books and fees, University of Minnesota, public colleges, Office of Higher Education, veterans benefits, military families, permanent disability, 100 percent disability

Transcript Highlights:

• are my three final comments, and I thank the members for a robust discussion and appreciate your feedback
• 34:23.800><c> and</c><01:34:24.080><c> appreciate</c><01:34:24.520><c> your</c><01:34:24.719><c> feedback
• </c> discussion and appreciate your feedback discussion and appreciate your feedback and<01:34:25.480

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all