Transcript Highlights:

• for an increase of $2 million a year in funding for this critical network of support for Minnesotans
• </c><00:21:48.559><c> for</c><00:21:48.799><c> an</c> home ownership and we're hopeful for an home ownership
• and we're hopeful for an increase<00:21:49.280><c> of</c><00:21:49.600><c> $2</c><00:21:49.840><c> million
• </c> for this critical network of support for for this critical network of support for motans.<00:21:
• Thank you again for all the work that you do for Minnesotans.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Amount to get school districts back to what was a high watermark for transportation funding in the mid
• For those of you who aren't familiar with Innovation Zones, those are essentially high school.
• , it's been shrinking for a decade, and your largest cohort from 2015 is now freshmen in high school.
• In this particular case, the proposal would pay for about $1,500 for high school students, and based
• Chair, in this case, middle school and high school? For this particular pilot, yes.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, thanks for being here.
• Thank you for asking. Everyone is healthy and good. So, thank you for asking.
• He agrees it is important not just to balance for two, but for four years.
• /c><00:15:47.279><c> people</c> to accomplish for the min for the people to accomplish for the min for
• </c><00:16:38.399><c> example</c> for police officers children for example for police officers children

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you all very much for being here. 874 Senator Hall, for what purpose?
• You know us for timber, for oil and gas.
• We're also known for higher education, for medical, for manufacturing, for logistics.
• I hope so. Thank you for answering my questions, Senator. Thank you, Senator.
• It does allow for attorney's fees for the citizens seeking injunctive.

Bills: SJR 1 , SB 9 , SB 40 , SJR 36 , SJR 1 , SJR 5 , SB 9 , SB 40

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform

Transcript Highlights:

• But then my hope is that we can save larger discussion largely for the end, but don't want to stop things
• But then my hope is that we can save larger discussion largely for the end, but don't want to stop things
• As I hope you've all already seen, submitted for the record in this hearing is a report from the Roosevelt
• Notably, our analysis found high levels of misclassification in sectors that are known for it, that have
• I'm hoping that we will hear it and pass it this year in state gov. or for defrauding the trust fund

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

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee met to discuss worker misclassification, beginning with approval of the March 4, 2026 minutes and a note that a late-posted bill would not be heard at this time. Chair Pinto opened the hearing by framing misclassification as timely and invited Lea Takapu of the Attorney General’s office to explain the issue. Takapu described misclassification as labeling workers as independent contractors when they are really employees, which can deprive workers of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other protections while also reducing tax revenue. She said the Attorney General’s office and the MEAP partnership have been working on the issue and cited estimates that Minnesota workers lose billions annually and the state loses hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars in revenue, while noting that legitimate independent contracting is not the target. Members questioned how the committee could rely on estimates when the exact number of misclassified workers is unknown. Takapu responded that the figures were based on studies and complaint data, and that underground or undocumented work makes exact counts difficult. Chair Pinto noted the numbers were estimates and referenced a 2024 Legislative Auditor finding that Minnesota lacked an adequate, coordinated approach to proper worker classification, while saying progress had been made since then. Several industry witnesses then testified in support of stronger enforcement. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA said misclassification remains rampant in parts of construction, especially drywall, stucco, thin stone, and broadband installation, and argued it is tax, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation fraud that harms law-abiding contractors and taxpayers. Matt Wollers of Braxton and Sons said his company loses bids to competitors that misclassify workers, creating a labor-cost advantage of 30% or more, and asked for meaningful enforcement rather than new legislation, including regular unannounced jobsite visits. Jesse Madison of Purple Tally Productions said misclassification is anti-competition and described examples from live events and entertainment, urging front-end checks on workers’ compensation, unemployment coverage, and W-2 versus 1099 status before work begins. The next testifier, Ben Ballou of the Minnesota Nurses Association, began his remarks as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The geography for MedTech is lower-cost locations, manufacturing, people who have high school, Locations
• It's an important area not just for equity, but for for It's an important area, not just for equity,
• but for economics.
• So it really allows for a democratization of high-quality pathology.
• So it really allows for a democratization of high-quality pathology and reduces, in the process, diagnostic

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held a hearing on California’s medical technology landscape, with opening remarks emphasizing the sector’s size, economic impact, and role in jobs and innovation. The first panel contrasted MedTech with biopharma, describing MedTech as hardware- and manufacturing-oriented, more incremental in development, and more dependent on supply chains, land use, and mid-skilled workforce pipelines. Witnesses argued California is the epicenter for MedTech because of its mix of engineering, software, hospitals, and manufacturing ecosystems, and cited clusters in places like Irvine, Fremont, Carlsbad, and the Bay Area. They also highlighted examples such as Penumbra and Vyaire Medical Systems to show how local manufacturing, community college training, and reshoring can support growth. The panel discussed cybersecurity, trade relations, supply chain disruptions, and the need for better coordination with hospitals and regulators, while AdvaMed stressed that medical devices are already heavily regulated by the FDA and should generally be exempt from broader state laws that could create a patchwork of requirements. Members also discussed AI in MedTech, workforce training, and the possible effects of federal NIH funding cuts, with witnesses saying MedTech is less dependent on NIH than biopharma but still benefits from a strong innovation ecosystem. Committee members then asked about AI, affordability, patient satisfaction, women’s health, and the R&D tax credit. Witnesses said AI is helping reduce errors, redundant testing, and imaging time, while keeping clinicians in the loop, and that digital pathology and robotic surgery are improving diagnosis and treatment. They also noted that packaging, plastics, and recycling can affect FDA approvals, and that FemTech is an active and growing area for investment and acquisition. Several members raised concerns about California’s regulatory and incentive environment, including the loss of the R&D tax credit, and witnesses said the absence of tax incentives has made it harder to keep companies and jobs in the state. The second panel featured company representatives from Lyca Biosystems, Intuitive, Saravia Neurosciences, and Newman. Dr. Monroe described digital pathology as a way to digitize tissue slides, improve access to subspecialty review, and enable AI-assisted diagnosis, especially for cancer care and rural areas. Intuitive highlighted robotic-assisted surgery, including the da Vinci system and the Ion bronchoscopy platform, and said its technologies improve precision, reduce complications, and support clinician-led care. Saravia Neurosciences presented an early-stage neurotechnology for dementia that uses MRI-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation and AI-driven personalization, and argued California needs a state translational fund to bridge the gap between discovery and commercialization. Newman, a startup working on home diagnostics, said California’s permitting, zoning, and manufacturing rules make it difficult to scale advanced manufacturing locally and urged streamlining, reduced red tape, and incentives to keep manufacturing jobs in-state. Committee members again focused on tax credits and asked how the state could better support manufacturing, translational funding, and the retention of high-paying MedTech jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what I put before you, and I hope we can continue the conversation on this as we have for the
• But having a high bar of evidence means we need to provide, at least give the option for that evidence
• for an infant, $14,500.
• And I'm sure, Chair, I hope that Chair Katisa-Batoon was fighting for it.
• That we never expect as parents, that we pray for, that we hope for, happened to Chair Weston and his

Bills: HF2436

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Senator, thank you for being here. Senator, thank you for being here.
• rheumatoid arthritis or for high blood pressure.
• for the will add a cost per lot for for the availability<00:19:26.600><c> of</c><00:19:27.080><c> a<
• </c> development cost for streetlights etc. development cost for streetlights etc.
• </c> state is not responsible for those. state is not responsible for those.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> privileges to care for this AA for the privileges to care for this AA for the many<00:01:18.759><
• For. Please be seated. Mahalo, Miss Brun, for opening our session today.
• in our high schools here.
• But his wife, who lived in Hawaiʻi and did Teach for America, drove from Hawaiʻi to Waiākea High School
• None for the past 10 years.

Keywords: Order of the Day: PENDING, 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I ask my colleagues today to join me in celebrating this great victory for Anaheim High School's
• Speaker, I rise today to recognize West Salem High School for its commitment to inclusivity in sports
• Speaker, I rise today to recognize West Salem High School for its commitment to inclusivity in sports
• You know, this is why I am hopeful for projects like Black Butte Copper near White Sulphur Springs, who
• And finally, I have introduced legislation to make the high-speed rail project ineligible for further

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, March 27, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope I've offered some initial inspiration for how to start. Thank you. Well, you have.
• Although certainly energy prices, as you know, are quite high and can be a deterrent for industrial use
• Although certainly energy prices, as you know, are quite high and can be a deterrent for industrial use
• Taxes here are high. Taxes there are high, too.
• play our part in advancing this vision and hopes to serve as a model for what re-industrializing California

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for educational stability for provide for educational stability for children<00:01:56.360><c> in</c>
• ><c> wait</c><00:41:02.600><c> for</c> wait for accountability, and wait for wait for accountability,
• </c> for a delay and they've asked for for a delay and they've asked for additional<01:34:49.360><c>
• So, I hope this can be a lesson for all of us to take away and hear ourselves when we talk about things
• So, I hope this can be a lesson for<01:39:12.880><c> all</c><01:39:13.000><c> of</c><01:39:13.120><c>

Bills: HF3665 , HF3002 , HF4217 , HF4125 , HF4174

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: foster care, early childhood education, child care programs, placement plan, social services, extended foster care, kinship care, relative custody, permanent legal and physical custody, Northstar kinship assistance, independent living plan, transition services, youth aging out of care, medical assistance, Medicaid, child welfare, children youth and families, out-of-home placement, case plan, relative placement

Transcript Highlights:

• for the courage.
• Understanding and real solutions for the great challenges we face. God, may they shine with hope.
• She's passionate about theater, taekwondo, and hopes to attend a New Mexico School for the Arts which
• Never personal, always focused on what's going to be best for our children, for our teachers, for our
• the elementary level for math and for the secondary level for math for all of the disaggregated and

Transcript Highlights:

• So first up we prepare for and plan for.
• </c> already doing for us. already doing for us.
• for um research uh for also um advocate for um research uh for uh<00:52:46.319><c> Filipino</c><00:52
• Um and hope hope leave you with that.
• </c> it for for everyone, all the survivors. it for for everyone, all the survivors.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on the second anniversary of the Maui wildfires, with Chair Dela Alani framing the discussion around emergency preparedness, recovery, and lessons for future disasters. The main presentation came from researchers involved in the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, who described the project as a grassroots academic-community partnership that has enrolled more than 2,000 adults and children for health screenings, social assessments, and biomonitoring. They said the study has documented elevated mental and physical health conditions, housing instability, unemployment, barriers to care, and exposure to heavy metals and other toxicants, while also noting some modest improvement in adult mental health and self-rated health compared with the prior year. The presenters emphasized that wildfire impacts remain severe two years later. They reported that about half of adult participants had worsening health since the fires, roughly 40% had direct or frequent fire exposure, and many adults showed chronic disease burdens such as hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory impairment. They also said about half of adult survivors reported depressive symptoms, about a quarter had moderate to severe anxiety, more than 4% had considered suicide in the prior month, and nearly one in four had PTSD. A clinician from the Lahaina Certified Community Behavioral Health Center described the clinic’s no-turn-away model, with case management, therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management for anyone who needs it, and urged lawmakers to fund and expand that approach. The researchers also highlighted environmental findings, saying urine testing of more than 1,200 adults found heavy metal signatures that differed between burn-zone residents and those on the perimeter, with higher levels associated with displacement and ash re-exposure. They said about 20% of participants had higher-than-expected heavy metal levels 6 to 12 months after the fires, and cited a negative association between nickel levels and lung function. They argued for long-term monitoring, better cleanup methods, and a centralized health surveillance system tied to community outreach. No vote or formal committee action was taken during the briefing; the chair said the presentation materials and related reports would be posted for public access, and members were invited to ask questions after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not easy for me as an alumna of Molokai High School.
• So, for these reasons, I hope that we could work out these issues in conference, and for that, in support
• , I hope that we So, for these reasons, I hope that we could<00:33:33.360><c> work</c><00:33:33.560><
• And for that reason, I hope you problem.
• plan prioritizes stability for our residents to address the high cost of living.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We share your goal of providing high-quality child care to every Washingtonian, and hope that our support
• The comprehensive and very high-quality ECEAP model is essential. Thank you for your support.
• Thanks for having me. For the record, my name is Mike Battis.
• For paper copies of those documents, the fees could start at $5 for the first page and then $1 for each
• It is a wonderful revenue generating for us as a business for these innovative companies for the state

Summary: The committee held a public hearing and briefing on several bills, with House Bill 2441, House Bill 2159, House Bill 2521, House Bill 2531, House Bill 2543, and House Bill 1607 discussed in that order after agenda changes. HB 2441 would expand reimbursement from the LEO retirement fund for survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, covering Medicare Parts A and B premiums and retroactive health insurance premiums during the period before a death is officially determined to be work-related. Staff described a relatively small number of affected survivors and modest actuarial impacts, and the prime sponsor spoke emotionally in support. A representative from the L&I Board also testified that the board had studied the issue and endorsed the bill. HB 2159 would create the Pre-K Promise Account to receive philanthropic funds for ECEAP expansion. Staff explained ECEAP eligibility and the proposed non-appropriated account structure, noting Governor Ferguson’s budget included $34.5 million in non-appropriated authority for about 2,000 new school-day slots. Testimony was strongly supportive from Ballmer Group, DCYF, Head Start/ECEAP advocates, a Yakima provider, and the governor’s office, all emphasizing the public-private partnership, expanded access, and support for children furthest from opportunity. HB 2521 would remove the $18 cap on the State Patrol’s firearm background check fee and allow the fee to be set to cover total program costs. Staff said the fee could rise to about $33 per check based on current costs, and the State Patrol testified that the cap no longer matches actual expenses and threatens staffing and service levels. One member of the public opposed the bill, arguing the state system should be scrapped or capped and that consumers would face higher costs. HB 2531 would freeze the ambulance quality assurance fee at its July 4, 2025 level to comply with federal law and adjust Medicaid add-on payments accordingly; the Washington Ambulance Association strongly supported it as essential to preserving federal matching funds and improving wages and benefits. HB 2543 would update county clerk fees and modernize outdated references, with county officials supporting the changes as necessary to reflect current electronic-record practices. HB 1607, the Recycling Refund Act, drew the most extensive testimony. Staff described a 10-cent refund system for covered beverage containers, a producer responsibility organization, Ecology oversight, and fiscal impacts tied to program administration and lost tax revenue. Supporters, including environmental groups, youth advocates, Seattle Public Utilities, and some industry voices, argued the bill would reduce litter, increase recycling rates, support reuse systems, and complement the existing recycling reform law. Opponents from recycling haulers, grocers, beverage interests, counties, and solid waste providers argued it would function like a tax, raise consumer and retailer costs, duplicate or undermine curbside recycling and EPR, and create siting and implementation problems. No votes were taken on the bills in this transcript; the hearing concluded with public testimony and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is what I hope for your favorable support. Thank you. >> Thank you, Cindy.
• allowed height on July one. 2023 if more favorable for the high preemption as well.
• >> I am sure that I just hope for then Senator Bradley than Senator Ber Berman. >> You're recognized.
• And I miss the opportunity for questions. So she's hoping maybe you can address in your clothes.
• But thank you for what you want done to pull the parties together yesterday and I hope we can continue

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so what they're going to do is identify women who are at the most high risk for...
• I have a high degree of concern for the taxpayers' money, and I think we should be good stewards.
• I have a high degree of concern for the taxpayers' money, and I think we should be good stewards.
• Representative Hein thanked the witness for the high-level overview.
• for a couple more high jackpots in the last half of the year to meet the $383 million goal.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have the right to ticket people for either engaging in the fight or for having the birds or for
• They have the right to ticket people for either engaging in the fight or for having the birds or for
• For grocers operating on thin margins but high transaction volume, standardization is critical.
• For grocers operating on thin margins but high transaction volume, standardization is critical.
• Johnny Vineda, on behalf of the Latino Coalition for Health California, Campaign for More Doctors for

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's 12 hours for community colleges, 15 hours for four years.
• And that's to prepare people for life and for the workforce.
• There may be some need for some modification, for changes.
• And if not, then just for clarification, you, you You know, "12 for two."
• We restored the FY26 core for home visiting for CTF on line 31.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee heard extended discussion of the chair’s House budget substitute, especially House Bill 2 for elementary and secondary education and House Bill 3 for higher education. The chair said the operating budget leaves roughly $300 million in reserve, explained several cuts and restorations, and described proposed changes to child care, including cutting enhancement payments and keeping attendance-based rather than enrollment-based subsidy payments. Representative Fogle objected to the child care cuts and the proposed language limiting the department’s move to prospective payment and enrollment-based reimbursement; State Budget Director Dan Hogg testified that the governor’s office still intended to move to payment on enrollment in May if the budget language did not block it, while prospective payment remained under review because of federal funding concerns. The chair also explained a restriction on Parents as Teachers services for children already in public pre-K, and members debated whether that would reduce duplication or improperly limit services. The chair further proposed a new competitive Title I innovation grant program funded by a reallocation of some Title I dollars, with questions raised about what services would be reduced to offset it. The bulk of the meeting focused on a major higher education funding overhaul in House Bill 3. The chair and vice chair proposed replacing the current base-plus model with an FTE-based formula that would distribute the same overall state funding according to student credit hours, with community colleges funded on a 12-hour FTE, four-year undergraduate students on a 15-hour FTE, and graduate enrollment discussed as a separate issue. They said the goal was to make funding follow students rather than institutions and to reduce long-standing disparities between schools. Several members supported the idea as overdue and more transparent, while others warned it was being done too quickly and could harm institutions with high-cost programs, research missions, or smaller enrollments. Concerns were raised about possible closures, accreditation problems, and unintended effects on workforce programs such as nursing, engineering, and technical training. The chair and vice chair said there was no intent to force consolidation, but acknowledged that some institutions would gain and others would lose under the new model. Members also questioned how the formula would treat research and doctoral funding, especially at the University of Missouri, and whether graduate programs were properly counted. The chair said some special-purpose lines were retained, but a large portion of MU’s research and doctoral funding was folded into the broader pool and redistributed through the FTE model. Several members asked for clarification on whether graduate hours were counted at nine credits, and the chair said he was not certain and would seek follow-up from staff or the department. Community college representatives were discussed as having unanimously opposed the recommendation, and the chair noted that the institutions were briefed only shortly before the hearing. No votes were taken during the exchange, and the committee appeared to be gathering testimony and concerns ahead of markup and future action on the budget bills.