Transcript Highlights:

• First, the bill increases various components of the public school funding formula by 2% for inflation
• House Bill 4163 is... ...for inflation.
• way the statute is... ...debated today in committee, and the way the statute is, is it's cost of inflation
• There was an attempt to say we're cutting K-12 because we're not doing the maximum inflation, and that's

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have been easy since the U.S. economy at that time was still in the midst of high unemployment and inflation
• in the midst of high<00:09:51.519> unemployment<00:09:52.399> and<00:09:52.720> inflation
• <00:09:54.080> Despite high unemployment and inflation.
• Despite high unemployment and inflation.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Representative Ken Wells, who reflected on his father’s approach to news and argued that reducing time spent watching it could improve people’s well-being. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the chamber took up five new bills: H.891 on the definition of harassment in Title 16, H.892 on school attendance requirements, H.893 creating a municipal emergency shelter program and reimbursing municipalities for emergency housing costs, H.894 prohibiting snowmobiles on the BB Spur Rail Trail, and H.895 on secondary enforcement of certain motor vehicle violations. Each was read for the first time and referred to the appropriate committee; H.566, concerning sealing postcharge court diversion records, was referred to Ways and Means under House Rule 35A. The House also read H.C.R. 166, a congratulatory resolution honoring the Pick and Shovel in Newport City on its 50th anniversary. A member from Newport City spoke in support, describing the store’s history and the Hamlet family’s long service to the community, and invited the family to the chamber. Additional announcements recognized Vermont Law and Graduate School’s 50th anniversary and congratulated Vermont athletes, including Ben Ogden and Paula Moltzan, with one member correcting the record on Moltzan’s event. The House also voted to move H.403, relating to fair labor and housing standards for agricultural workers, from General and Housing to Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry. In the day’s only floor action on legislation, H.611, miscellaneous provisions affecting the Department of Vermont Health Access, was taken up on third reading and passed. The House then announced caucus meetings and other events, including a producer night hosted by the Agency of Agriculture, and adjourned by motion until Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• things, but what's happened over the last few years has driven the rates up, not just because of inflation
• Harvey—I mean, sorry, Ike back in 2009 actually Probably eclipsed 1 in 50 when adjusted for inflation
• Harvey at $1.7 billion—TWIA losses probably got close to it when adjusted for inflation.
• And if you adjust for inflation, that becomes 6 1-in-50-year events in the last 27 years.

Summary: The committee first took up several bills and voted them out favorably without amendment: SB 2857, relating to prescription drug purchasing proof for certain health benefit plan issuers and employers; SB 1307, relating to the biennial health coverage reference guide; and SB 527, relating to health benefit coverage for general anesthesia for certain pediatric dental services. Each of those motions passed on a 7-0 roll call. The main discussion centered on SB 1643, which would require prior approval from the Texas Department of Insurance for property and casualty rate changes above 10% from a previously filed rate. The chair framed it as a response to rate volatility and rising homeowners and auto premiums, while several members questioned whether it would slow a market that is already stabilizing and could encourage insurers to file repeated increases just under the threshold. Witnesses from consumer groups supported tighter oversight and argued for a lower threshold, while insurance industry representatives opposed the bill, saying Texas’s file-and-use system and competitive market work better and that the proposal could increase costs or create uncertainty. After testimony, SB 1643 was left pending. The committee then heard SB 1642, which would replace the single Texas Department of Insurance commissioner with a three-commissioner structure and an executive director. Supporters said it could improve accountability and transparency, while opponents argued the current single-commissioner model is more efficient and avoids confusion and added cost. Witnesses also raised concerns about open meetings issues, administrative expense, and the lack of a clear model from other states. SB 1642 was also left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2530, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association omnibus bill. The bill would make a number of changes to TWIA’s governance and finances, including exempting TWIA from certain taxes, moving its headquarters to a coastal county, changing board composition and voting rules, and lowering the probable maximum loss standard from 1-in-100 to 1-in-50. Supporters said the bill would strengthen TWIA’s reserve funding and improve local relevance, while opponents warned it could increase assessments, reduce reinsurance protection, and create operational risks by relocating the headquarters to the coast. The bill was left pending, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Increasing the base pay of judges by 30%, setting it in statute to $182,000, adjusting for inflation,
• You know, Texas is currently ranked 49th in judicial pay and 50th when you adjust for cost of inflation
• Lawsuit Reform believe that it is also the fair thing to do, since judicial pay has not kept up with inflation
• Inflation has created significant challenges, and judicial compensation since 1991 is to be commended

Bills: HB4011, HB2680, HB4325, HB4327, HB4944, HB1761, HB4688, HB3453, HB40, HB1707, HB4749, HB2322, HB3647, HB4139, HB4081, HB2203, HB2100, HB4170, HB3104, HB4623, HB40

Keywords: partition, heirs' property, real estate, co-ownership, family property, non-heir cotenant, right of first refusal, pilot services, liability limitation, maritime commerce, Matagorda Bay, Lavaca Bay, transportation code, maritime industry, civil liability, barratry, penalties, legal actions, damages, wrongful death

Transcript Highlights:

• Inflation over the last many years. Our citizens cannot afford another boondoggle.
• With the pace of inflation in Minnesota and thus increased costs.
• Just warning you, with inflation going up because of tariffs and economic growth going down because of
• 14 would not return any substantial amount of funding to state coffers, but it would artificially inflate

Transcript Highlights:

• So, if we're doing about 11%, inflation is typically, I know the Fed shoots for two.
• So, if we took five, we would still have growth in the fund in excess of inflation.
• But there is possibility for the fund to grow in real purchasing power, factoring in inflation, with
• is typically they I know the inflation is typically they I know the Fed<01:40:12.520> shoots<
• around two and a half-ish on inflation around two and a half-ish on inflation over<01:40:21.920>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As the pay has not kept up with inflation, we've seen that becoming more and more of a problem.
• The dollar amount would stay the same over the years as inflation.
• And it'll stay there as inflation eats away at it.
• the current judicial salaries are now with inflation... ...were below 1991 standards.
• however, when you account for inflation, we're 50th.

Bills: HB4011, HB2680, HB4325, HB4327, HB4944, HB1761, HB4688, HB3453, HB40, HB1707, HB4749, HB2322, HB3647, HB4139, HB4081, HB2203, HB2100, HB4170, HB3104, HB4623, HB40

Keywords: partition, heirs' property, real estate, co-ownership, family property, non-heir cotenant, right of first refusal, pilot services, liability limitation, maritime commerce, Matagorda Bay, Lavaca Bay, transportation code, maritime industry, civil liability, barratry, penalties, legal actions, damages, wrongful death

Transcript Highlights:

• are a continuous costs due to inflation are a continuous um<00:08:36.839> Challenge<00:08:37.839
• You're all familiar with the inflation as well as rising cost of doing business. day-to-day basis it
• you're all familiar with the inflation you're all familiar with the inflation as<00:43:39.960>
• The agency applied on behalf of the state through the Inflation Reduction Act, through a competitive
• The agency applied on behalf of the state through the Inflation Reduction Act, through a competitive

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , I mean, housing costs were a big driver of what was causing inflation.
• , I mean, housing costs were a big driver of what was causing inflation.
• , I mean, housing costs were a big driver of what was causing inflation.
• , I mean, housing costs were a big driver of what was causing inflation.
• , I mean, housing costs were a big driver of what was causing inflation.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an agency overview from Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho. After member and staff introductions, Ho described Minnesota Housing’s mission, structure, and role as a mission-driven financial institution that issues bonds, uses earnings to support operations, and works across the housing continuum from homelessness prevention to homeownership and preservation. She emphasized that the agency is not a builder or regulator, but funds and partners with developers, local governments, nonprofits, and lenders. She also noted the agency’s four divisions, including a new local government housing programs division created after the 2023 legislative session expanded the agency’s responsibilities. Ho reviewed funding and program activity, saying Minnesota Housing spent $1.96 billion in fiscal year 2024 and helped more than 73,000 households. She highlighted that the agency’s work is heavily competitive and often oversubscribed, with many projects selected through RFPs and grants but more applications than available resources. She discussed 2023 and 2024 investments, including homeownership, rental, and manufactured housing projects, and said roughly half of competitive dollars have gone to Greater Minnesota over the last several years. She also explained the difference between funds committed and funds actually disbursed, noting that construction and rehabilitation projects can take many months to close and draw down funds. The commissioner also updated members on new programs created in 2023 and 2024, including first-generation down payment assistance, the Greater Minnesota Workforce Housing Development Program, public housing rehabilitation, state housing tax credits, and other local and regional initiatives. She said some programs are already closed out, while others remain in early implementation or are still accepting applications. Ho mentioned a forthcoming technical amendment to adjust a high-rise sprinkler program after eligibility issues limited participation. She closed with examples of projects preserved or funded, including a St. Louis Park preservation deal, public housing preservation in Greater Minnesota, a St. Cloud challenge project, and the first-generation down payment assistance program, which distributed $50 million to about 1,450 first-time buyers, most of whom were Black, Indigenous, or people of color. No votes or formal committee actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:56.960> and increasing at the rate of inflation and increasing at the rate of inflation
• <00:52:12.000> that tie that um increase in inflation that tie that um increase in inflation
• We heard about inflation, some finger-pointing on inflation.
• Um you know we heard about inflation.
• truth of the matter is is that inflation truth of the matter is is that inflation that<02:59:28.960

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Inflation continues to cast a shadow over our agriculture.
• <00:11:42.279> continues enormous challenges inflation continues enormous challenges inflation
• Remember when candidate Trump said that on day one he would end inflation?
• I want to point out just one in the Inflation Reduction Act and one in the Infrastructure Jobs Act.
• foundation for driving down inflation foundation for driving down inflation for<03:57:42.399>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 13, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There seems to be a lot of concern about the inflated baselines and kind of the verification of those
• There seems to be a lot of concern about the inflated baselines and kind of the verification of those
• There seems to be a lot of concern about the inflated baselines and kind of the verification of those
• There seems to be a lot of concern about the inflated baselines and kind of the verification of those
• There seems to be a lot of concern about the inflated baselines and kind of the verification of those

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductions, approval of the March 6 minutes as amended to add an attendee list, and a brief overview of the day’s agenda. The committee heard two presentations from carbon project developers, with the first from Dylan Jenkins of Finite Carbon. He described Finite Carbon’s work in improved forest management projects, its role in developing carbon methodologies and protocols, and its experience with projects in New England, Appalachia, Alaska, and Canada. He also outlined the difference between compliance and voluntary carbon markets, the role of registries and intermediaries, and the types of buyers in the market, including large corporate buyers and long-term off-take partners. A major focus of the presentation was how forest carbon projects are structured and how credits are monetized. Jenkins distinguished between removals and reductions, explaining that removals come from new forest growth while reductions are tied more closely to baseline assumptions and standing stock. He said improved forest management projects can generate both types of credits, and that removals generally command higher prices because they are easier for buyers to understand and verify. He also emphasized that carbon project commercialization can occur before, during, or after credit issuance, and that landowners may be paid through a variety of structures, including leases, advance fees, per-unit payments, or off-take agreements. Jenkins then addressed the committee’s tax-related questions, saying House Bill 123 appeared intended to treat carbon credit sales similarly to timber sales for local tax purposes. He argued that carbon credits are a forest product and that taxing them can be reasonable in principle, but he stressed that lawmakers should distinguish between commoditization and commercialization when deciding what event to tax. He noted that credits may be created but never sold, and that in some programs landowners retain timber and carbon rights while in others the developer has deeper control over those rights. In response to questions, he said the industry uses protocols, verification, and third-party oversight to address baseline and quality concerns, but acknowledged that baseline setting remains a major point of debate in the market.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other part of this bill is the automatic gas inflator.
• Last year they passed an automatic gas inflator, so the gas tax automatically goes up.
• The bill also addresses the automatic gas inflator, which causes the gas tax to automatically go up.
• and the proposal in house file inflation and the proposal in house file 5<00:34:53.919> would
• Sixty-seven percent of the people say that the legislature should be approved moving that inflator.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• just getting richer and richer as the rest of us struggle to get by, as wages fail to keep up with inflation
• /c><00:04:58.920> keep<00:04:59.120> up<00:04:59.240> with<00:04:59.400> inflation
• <00:04:59.960> let wages fail to keep up with inflation let wages fail to keep up with inflation
• This group, uh, the GOP, at tax cuts for all Minnesotans, TIPS, overtime, sales tax, gas tax inflator
• <00:58:33.840> removal, tax, gas tax inflator removal, tax, gas tax inflator removal, charitable

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard presentations on two tax bills: House File 4123, by Representative Agbaje, would expand Minnesota’s net investment income tax to include certain business income, especially income from S corporations and LLCs not subject to federal self-employment taxes, while keeping the current rate and million-dollar threshold; she said it would raise an estimated $88.7 million next year. House File 4616, by Chair Gomez, would impose a 1% annual tax on fortunes above $10 million. Gomez framed the bill as a response to growing wealth inequality and argued that wealthy households and large fortunes should contribute more to public services, while Agbaje said her bill would broaden the tax base and help meet state needs. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project, Erica Mominee of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Lauren Richards, and teacher Kristen Sinicariello, said the bills would help address wealth and income inequality and provide needed revenue for public health, education, and other public services. They pointed to federal tax cuts for high-income households, cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and strains on state agencies and schools. Richards said small businesses already pay more than large corporations like Amazon, and Sinicariello argued that higher revenue would support classrooms and help equalize opportunity. Opponents, including Brian Cook of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Dalton Danielson of the Minnesota Business Partnership, and John Beschi of NFIB Minnesota, warned that both bills would hurt business competitiveness and investment. They argued that HF 4123 would effectively create a new higher tax tier for pass-through businesses and that HF 4616 would be difficult to administer, could force sales of illiquid assets, and could discourage entrepreneurship and capital investment. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee moved through bill presentations and public testimony before member discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and lastly, we often talk about trying to put the postretirement increases closer to inflation.
• So when we have an closer to inflation.
• Um, and we all know that inflation has been significant um over the past handful of years.
• :48.079> has<01:04:48.319> been all know that inflation has been all know that inflation
• Um so of the inflation hit the most.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , they inflate those prices, and what we're seeing is a large inflation of those prices to come in.
• That's where we start to see some inflated<00:30:47.360> pricing<00:30:48.240> because<
• the 503b inflated pricing because in the 503b facilities<00:30:51.039> they<00:30:51.440>
• <00:30:56.399> those<00:30:56.640> prices inflate those prices inflate those prices and
• of those prices to come in and inflation of those prices to come in and the<00:31:02.720> 503b

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint HHS and LBT meeting opened with accessibility concerns, as several blind attendees arrived after the general public had already been seated. The chair apologized and said future hearings would try to seat blind members earlier. The committee also announced the hearing was being streamed on YouTube, testimony would be limited to one minute, and written testimony was available online. The first bill heard was SB 2281, relating to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The Department of Health supported transparency for patients but preferred disclosure through provider websites and office signage rather than a new regulatory program. The Hawaii Medical Association and Healthcare Association of Hawaii generally supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about administrative burden and suggested a working group or model policies. Hawaii Pacific Health said it already uses AI for note-taking and patient portal functions and worried that written notice requirements could create too much consumer information. In response, the chair emphasized that patients should be informed when AI is used, especially if it affects diagnosis or consequential decisions, and said AI should not be making medical decisions. The committee later voted to recommend SB 2281 pass with amendments, including narrowing the definition of consequential decisions, removing certain language requested by DOH, adding a two-year implementation period, and setting a far-future defective date for further discussion; both committees adopted the recommendation, with the chair voting aye and the vice chair voting with reservations. The second major bill was SB 2852, a civil rights measure focused on digital access for people with disabilities. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii all supported the bill, arguing that existing law clearly protects physical access but should also make digital access explicit. Blind testifiers described how accessible technology, such as VoiceOver on iPhones, allows them to participate independently in public processes and warned that inaccessible digital systems can create barriers for thousands of blind residents. One testifier, an attorney with disability-law experience, supported the bill’s intent but said the draft had flaws, including no exceptions for archived materials, no distinction between small and large businesses, and concerns about the timing and choice of accessibility standards; he suggested delegating regulatory authority to the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. The bill’s sponsor said he supported DAB’s proposed amendments, and the committee indicated those amendments would address many of the concerns raised. No final vote on SB 2852 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up SB 2751, which defines compounded prescription drugs for workers’ compensation purposes. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the bill but requested clarifying amendments to keep pharmacists as the primary professionals authorized to compound in licensed pharmacies and to limit any physician compounding authority to the physician’s own patient. Supporters included the Work Injury Medical Association of Hawaii, while Solera Integrated Medical Solutions opposed the measure, arguing the current definition was already broad enough and warning about cost inflation, especially with 503B bulk compounding facilities and physician dispensing. In questioning, members asked about rural access, reimbursement for 503B products, and late testimony suggesting definitions for 503A and 503B facilities, limits on physician dispensing to 30 days post-injury, and pre-approval for non-FDA-approved drugs. DLIR said not every rural community has licensed pharmacists available, that products with a national drug code are reimbursed at 140%, and that 503B facilities raise concerns because they are bulk manufacturers rather than patient-specific compounding operations. The meeting then moved into decision-making on SB 2281; the chair’s pass-with-amendments recommendation was adopted by both committees, with the vice chair voting with reservations.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, some local aids have inflators, others do not.
• So if LGA and CPA had been indexed for inflation in 2002, CPA would be nearly $500 million today.
• If LGA had been indexed to inflation in 2002, it would be over a billion dollars and it's now at 644
• Um, what we inflators, others do not.
• <00:04:43.040> in had been indexed for inflation in had been indexed for inflation in 2002

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• at 1% or less per year relying inflation at 1% or less per year relying very<00:34:14.000> heavily
• rate at that time was supposed to be about 4 a kilowatt hour, and yet the state was artificially inflating
• it to 12 cents a kilowatt hour inflating it to 12 cents a kilowatt hour at<01:05:02.000> that
• So we're artificially inflating the price of electricity coming from our solar gardens, and so we're
• Energy prices to the overall inflation Energy prices to the overall inflation rate<01:08:34.040>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :39.800> lending<00:12:40.560> leverages<00:12:41.120> the<00:12:41.240> inflation
• credit lending leverages the inflation credit lending leverages the inflation reduction<00:12:42.199
• <00:12:43.360> for<00:12:43.639> nonprofit First, tax credit lending leverages the Inflation
• What the Inflation Reduction Act did was expand this for other technologies to include geothermal, storage
• reduction act did was it the inflation reduction act did was it expanded<00:25:06.880> this<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re all undergoing significant inflation, and so the costs of medical devices, the cost of equipment
• I think that what we've seen is there has been medical inflation year-over-year.
• Uh, as we talk about medical inflation and as we talk about the cost of healthcare, and I'm sure this
• They're still inflated, and we're all facing it.
• We're all facing inflation.

Keywords: 916, all