Transcript Highlights:

• We do not do ICE's job. We are not authorized to do so.
• So yes, we work with them every day, and I do claim they have their job, we have our job.
• And I do claim they have their job, we have our job.
• This is not asking anybody to do the Fed's job at all.
• This is not asking anybody to do the Fed's job at all.

Summary: The committee first considered RS-33841, a draft related to Idaho’s library/obscenity laws and pending litigation. Senator Todd Lakey said the proposal, developed with the Attorney General’s office, would update definitions such as “adolescent youth” and “harmful to minors,” clarify what is and is not obscene, and strengthen the law’s defensibility. After a brief question about Mason’s Manual and active litigation, the committee voted to send the RS to print. The committee then heard House Bill 896, a civil enforcement measure aimed at public officials who allegedly violate state law. Lakey said it would allow specified state or local leaders to request Attorney General review, provide notice and a chance to cure, and, for willful violations, allow a court to bar an official from office for up to five years. Testimony from city and county representatives and sheriffs raised concerns about local control, possible weaponization, partisan referrals, administrative burden, and the disqualification provision. Supporters said it was about accountability and enforcing the law. The committee voted to send HB 896 to the floor with a due pass recommendation; Senators Wintrow and Ruchti were recorded as voting no. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 1442, which would require reporting on refugee resettlement services, prohibit certain assistance to people unlawfully present, and require law enforcement to verify and record immigration status for arrested individuals. Senator Kelly Anthon said the bill was about transparency and accountability and that the reporting would compile existing information. Sheriffs and county representatives testified that much of the data is already collected, but they objected to wording they said could require reporting on people merely investigated or detained, create duplicate reporting, impose administrative burdens, and risk liability. Some senators also questioned the refugee-related provisions and the funding-withholding enforcement language. The committee ultimately voted to send SB 1442 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with Senators Shippee, Ruchti, and Wintrow recorded as voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• To do your job, is that right? That's correct.
• Uh, people should not have to work a second job to be a teacher.
• My job is to partner with the parent, and I understand that.
• Now stop blocking counselors from doing their jobs.
• So our schools are doing a good job at reaching out.

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• How many employees have lost their jobs for threatening licensing facilities?
• Your job is to lead an organization that follows the law.
• But the reality is those relationships are an expectation of the job.
• I do not want people in these jobs who simply do the normal stuff.
• I've been on the job about six months now, and I'm surrounded by terrific employees.

Summary: The Committee on Director Nominations met with four members present and approved the prior minutes without objection. Chair Jay Kaufman outlined the committee’s role in reviewing executive nominations and explained the hearing process for three nominees: Mary Foote for the Office of Economic Opportunity, Debbie Johnston for the Department of Health Services, and Chuck Bassett. Foote did not appear for her hearing, and members discussed her absence and alleged omissions in her disclosure materials, including prior service with Planned Parenthood-related organizations. The committee then moved to reject her nomination, and the motion passed 3-2, recommending that the full Senate reject Mary Foote. Debbie Johnston, nominee to lead the Department of Health Services, appeared and gave an opening statement describing her Arizona background, prior Senate staff work, and more than 20 years with the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association. She said her priorities at ADHS include rebuilding trust in public health licensing, improving stakeholder engagement, standardizing rulemaking communication, addressing alleged religious discrimination and retaliation concerns in licensing, and using technology and AI to improve efficiency. In questioning, senators pressed her on her management style, conflict-of-interest safeguards given her prior industry role, enforcement priorities, budget pressures, behavioral health and assisted living oversight, and the department’s response to COVID-19. Johnston said she would follow statutes, recuse herself from enforcement matters involving former contacts, and resign if directed to carry out an unlawful policy. She also said the department does not regulate therapy itself, only facilities, and that it would rely on legal counsel regarding the governor’s conversion-therapy executive order and related federal civil-rights allegations. Several senators focused on public health trust and the department’s pandemic response, with Johnston acknowledging concerns about closures, data collection, and communication during COVID-19 while saying she would review past after-action materials and be better prepared in the future. Public testimony from stakeholders in aging services and health care strongly supported her confirmation, praising her accessibility, responsiveness, and collaborative approach. After testimony, the vice chair moved to recommend Johnston’s confirmation to the full Senate. The roll call was underway when the transcript ended, with several members voting aye and one member expressing reservations about her not reviewing the pandemic after-action report before another crisis occurs.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's supposed to be only $25,000 for five years per new job, so does that mean you only get two new jobs
• Okay, so Lucid Motors currently, would they qualify for $20,000 per job? Mr.
• , a good job is the multiplier itself.
• In fact, my first lobbying job was with the Arizona State Retirement System.
• Grande, but somehow $25,000 per job would be enough.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee approved the March 16, 2026 minutes and then heard testimony on several bills, with the chair noting that votes would be taken in batches because members were coming and going. HB 2939 would increase the rural qualified facilities tax credit from $20,000 to $25,000 per job for certain projects with initial investment under $2 billion; Lucid Motors supported it as a rural economic development tool, while Senator Epstein questioned the fiscal note and whether the higher credit would actually attract new investment. HB 2950 would authorize tourism improvement areas funded by voluntary lodging assessments to support marketing and tourism promotion; the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association and Visit Phoenix backed it as a competitive tool for rural and urban destinations, and committee members focused on whether participation was truly voluntary and how the assessments would be administered. HB 2780 made technical conforming changes to Arizona’s property tax lien foreclosure and excess proceeds sale process, building on a prior law that created a mechanism for delinquent property owners to recover equity; the sponsor and a longtime constituent said the changes would fix timing and credit-bid language so qualified entity sales could work in practice. HB 2502 would let certain elected officials in ASRS retire at normal retirement age without resigning their office, with the employer paying the alternate contribution rate; ASRS said it was neutral, and the sponsor argued the bill would treat elected officials more like other ASRS members. The committee then adopted do-pass recommendations for HB 2502, HB 2780, HB 2950, and HB 2939, with each passing on split votes. The committee also adopted a striker to HB 2140, allowing the State Treasurer to invest up to 10% of state trust and treasury monies in physical gold or silver bullion held in secure U.S. depositories. The sponsor and the Sound Money Defense League argued it would diversify reserves and hedge against market disruption, while opponents said gold is volatile, costly to store, and not something taxpayers need the state to buy. HB 2140 then passed as amended on a 4-2 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 2398, as amended, which requires commercial liability insurance for watercraft rentals and peer-to-peer boat sharing programs, with supporters saying it addresses uninsured rental boats and law enforcement concerns; the bill passed as amended on a 6-1 vote. The committee also heard HB 2999, a major housing-finance bill creating state affordability infrastructure districts to finance public infrastructure through bonds and assessments; proponents said it would lower housing costs by spreading infrastructure costs over time, while contractors and some senators raised concerns about payment risk, impact-fee treatment, and whether savings would reach homebuyers. After adopting a striker and hearing extensive questions, HB 2999 passed as amended on a 6-1 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have increased taxes on corporations that create jobs.
• done a great job, in building the padding there that we can do that.
• We have increased taxes on corporations that create jobs.
• That is real jobs at $100,000 a year.
• Nice job up there on your birthday. And that is it.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayers and pledges, and several procedural announcements, including permission for cameras, a relaxed dress code for guests, and excusing a few senators. Members also recognized numerous guests and honorary lieutenant governors, and discussed a planned bolo tie contest tied to New Mexico tradition and state history. The chamber then moved to business, including the confirmation of Anna Silva as Secretary of the General Services Department. The confirmation drew broad support from senators on both sides, who praised Silva’s long career in state government, her management experience, and her work on major projects such as the executive office building, procurement reforms, and facilities management. After debate, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm her appointment. Silva’s family and guests were recognized from the floor after the vote. The Senate then took up House Bill 2 and 3, the state budget. Senator Muñoz presented the Senate Finance version as a balanced budget with about $11.1 billion in spending, 27% reserves, recurring investments in health care, early childhood, public safety, education, roads, housing, and economic development, and targeted nonrecurring spending for items such as water, universities, and innovation sectors. Supporters emphasized affordability, teacher health insurance parity, medical residency funding, rural and community investments, and public safety funding. Critics raised concerns about the size of the budget, the late availability and complexity of the bill, the removal of a proposed 1% pay raise for state employees, and whether spending priorities and education dollars were being allocated effectively. No final vote on the budget was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:54.959><c> Thank</c> job on the pronunciation there.
• Thank job on the pronunciation there.
• That's probably a drop in the job.
• And Sean Williams did a great job of explaining how it would work.
• </c><00:48:53.040><c> of</c> Sean Williams did a great job of Sean Williams did a great job of explaining

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2591, the “Support Medicaid Not Millionaires Act,” laid over for possible inclusion in the 2025 taxes bill. Chair Gomez said the bill would create a fifth individual income tax tier on very high earners to offset any future federal Medicaid cuts, arguing that proposed federal budget changes would likely reduce Medicaid funding and create a large state budget hole. Gomez and other supporters framed Medicaid as essential for children, long-term care, mental health, substance use treatment, rural hospitals, and families across Minnesota, and criticized federal tax cuts for corporations and wealthy individuals. Several testifiers supported the bill. A SEIU Healthcare worker described how Medicaid supports her care for a disabled son and her own health needs, warning that cuts would threaten home care, hospitals, and nursing homes. A public health employee from the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees said recent state and federal layoffs had already weakened public health capacity and urged additional revenue to backfill losses. Other supporters, including community and faith leaders, said the wealthy and corporations should pay more to protect public services, youth programs, and Medicaid-funded care. A mental health provider testified that most of the people served by her clinic rely on Medicaid and that cuts would harm clinics, rural access, and the broader behavioral health system. Representative Anderson questioned whether the bill would affect Medicaid spending tied to undocumented immigrants and asked for data on MinnesotaCare and federal-state funding shares. Department of Human Services staff clarified that he was referring to MinnesotaCare, not Medicaid, and said Medicaid is generally matched by the federal government while MinnesotaCare does not have the same match. The exchange became contentious when Gomez objected to Anderson’s use of the term “illegal immigrants” and redirected the discussion back to the bill. Anderson also raised concerns about Medicaid fraud and whether the proposal would backfill any federal changes related to fraud enforcement. No vote was taken; the bill was simply laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Vang chaired last week and did a fine job.
• You know, job. There'd be no question.
• Do we do a good job? I think we do as we heard from the auditor. Can we do a better job?
• Do we do a good job? I think we do as we heard from the auditor. Can we do a better job?
• </c><00:46:06.720><c> Do</c> we do a better job? Most definitely. Do we do a better job?

Bills: HF3564

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: Greater Minnesota, regional parks, trails, grants, local government, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to cut the to save their jobs one by one.
• Throughout my career, I've worked multiple jobs, sometimes I've worked multiple jobs.
• One job should be enough.
• Over 30% at UMass Boston work a second or even a third job.
• Otherwise, they’ll work multiple jobs to pay the bills.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:17.840><c> and</c> depend on people to do a great job and depend on people to do a great job
• It's their job.
• We have no naturally occurring corrective action when government gets its job wrong.
• It has a government gets its job wrong.
• And it's their job.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would have never taken the job had I known.
• I would have never taken the job had I known.
• That means fewer jobs, fewer buyers, fewer transactions, and slower economic growth.
• They are scared to apply for jobs.
• It is not a special right to not be fired from your job.

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, been doing a really good job. Those guys have done a really good job at putting the word out.
• So, been doing a really good job. Those guys have done a really good job at putting the word out.
• So, been doing a really good job. Those guys have done a really good job at putting the word out.
• So, been doing a really good job. Those guys have done a really good job at putting the word out.
• So, been doing a really good job. Those guys have done a really good job at putting the word out.

Committee: Joint Government Structure

Keywords: Government Structure - Room 216, 29 January, 2026; 4:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got the easy job up here.
• I've got the easy job up here.
• jobs, and steady work for local contractors and suppliers.
• And our job is to make sure that that shellfish is safe.
• And our job is to make sure that that shellfish is safe.

Bills: SB5816 , SB5971

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, green fertilizer, low-carbon, sustainability, incentive program, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They do a great job for us, and I encourage you to continue to fund them.
• They love their jobs. They want to be able to stay and do these jobs.
• This job is so hard.'
• She said, 'I love this job. I helped two other counties as their bailiff.
• I'm a single mother, and I have two part-time jobs, but I want to stay here.'

Committee: House A&B Judiciary Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A tough job.
• That is their job as the representatives of our country.
• But we agree that we want people who can perform well. on their jobs, right?
• helping the President get our European allies to do their job.
• in Rome to come back to the United States to take a job. job at the State Department working in international

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Help us better understand: when you describe job seekers with disabilities, how many job seekers are
• So if you were successful as a provider in getting jobs and sustaining jobs, you could work yourself
• So if you were successful as a provider in getting jobs and sustaining jobs, you could work yourself
• So if you were successful as a provider in getting jobs and sustaining jobs, you could work yourself
• </c><00:29:27.480><c> and</c><00:29:27.640><c> so</c> disabilities get jobs and so disabilities get jobs

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:13 SB 15 Discussion 00:45 SB 15 Vote 08:40 SB 103 Discussion 11:12 SB 103 Vote 29:49, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Committee for Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor heard two bills. Senate Bill 15, sponsored by Sen. Amanda Bledsoe, was presented with testimony from Major League Baseball in support of exempting minor league baseball players from Kentucky wage-and-hour treatment. Witnesses said the bill would preserve the negotiated collective bargaining structure for players, avoid impractical time-tracking requirements, and keep Kentucky aligned with other states. Senators discussed minor league salary levels, the importance of baseball to Kentucky communities, and the bill’s relationship to minimum wage law. The committee then took a roll call vote and passed the bill with unanimous support from members present. The committee next heard Senate Bill 103 from Sen. Danny Carroll, which would require the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to adopt regulations under Chapter 13A, limit reciprocal agreements with other states until in-state provider contracts are exhausted, establish procedures for service fee memos before a new fiscal year, and require an annual report with operating and financial information. Testimony from community rehabilitation providers and disability advocates emphasized that the bill would increase transparency, protect local providers, and improve services for people with disabilities seeking competitive employment. They said Kentucky has a large disability population, that many working-age individuals with disabilities are not employed, and that better oversight could help address workforce shortages and reduce reliance on public assistance. Senators asked about the disability population, age ranges served, funding, and recent changes to provider rates and selection processes. The committee then voted to pass Senate Bill 103 unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if this lobbyist would actually do his job rather than spend so much time...
• But I would suggest to all lobbyists and truly this individual to do their darn job.
• Do your job. is extremely inappropriate.
• Do your job. is extremely inappropriate.
• Do your job. ...vote, that is not my problem.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That was a perk of the job. That is no longer true.
• That was a perk of the job.
• </c><00:35:44.160><c> with</c><00:35:44.400><c> a</c> job. That is no longer true. with a job.
• Um so I I I uh problems with our jobs.
• Um and their job is to bills to support.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first returned to House Bill 157, which had been left pending from an earlier session. After correcting the procedural posture, the committee voted on a motion of ought to pass and it failed on a roll call. A reconsideration motion then passed unanimously, restoring the bill to the floor. Representative Turcot then moved ITL, explaining the committee believed there was a better path, likely through an ad hoc study and a future bill; that motion passed 9-2, and the chair said a minority report would be required and not to place the bill on consent. The committee next took up House Bill 331, which would require the Secretary of State to publish the current location of bills on the website until gubernatorial action. Supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and legislative limbo after bills leave the House and Senate. Online testimony was reported as 116 in support and 4 opposed. The committee voted 11-0 to pass the bill and placed it on consent. House Bill 347 followed, dealing with protections for legislators’ employment when serving in office. Supporters argued it would protect elected officials from employer retaliation and clarify existing law; opponents said it was an unnecessary mandate on employers and raised enforcement concerns, especially for out-of-state employers. The committee voted 8-3 to pass the bill, and a minority report was anticipated; it was not placed on consent. The committee then considered House Bill 605, which included student loan forgiveness provisions tied to legislative service. Members opposing the bill argued legislators are not state employees and should not receive that benefit, while others noted the bill’s employment-related provisions and the difficulty of meeting the hours requirement. The committee voted 11-0 to ITL House Bill 605 and placed it on consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• We decided to clean up what was kind of chaotic and messy: 57 job classifications for 180 people.
• So that was an effort to clean up having all of those, you referenced 59 job classifications.
• We... ...up having all of those you referenced 59 job classifications.
• And not to get too emotional, but our folks do a really good job.
• I mean, I think we do a decent job of doing that, but it is a real thing.

Committee: All JBC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee met to consider several requests related to constitutional offices and court security staffing, with opening remarks noting that the fringe-benefit percentage had been updated to 40–45% and that the bills already filed would be amended if the committee approved the requests. Item B, from the Supreme Court, requested one new Supreme Court police chief position at LESO5 with no appropriation change; the committee approved it. Item C, from the Secretary of State, requested five additional State Capitol Police corporal positions, a reclassification and consolidation of several job titles, and salary maximum adjustments, along with a $498,000 appropriation increase for salaries and matching funds; after questions about how the office would absorb the changes and whether the new security role would replace a contract, the committee approved the item. Item D, from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, sought to move from line-item maximum salaries to state pay-plan grades, with no change in the number of positions but an estimated $349,000 increase in salaries and matching funds. Office representatives said the change was intended to align with other constitutional offices, address a long period without raises, and improve retention, but Senator Hill placed the item on hold until the next day for follow-up questions. Item E, from the Auditor’s Office, requested a realignment of classifications, salary maximum increases, one UCP claims examiner position, and one UCP compliance agent, for a total increase of $579,468; the auditor said the office had withdrawn a government relations position from the request, that the new positions were revenue-neutral or needed to handle increased workload, and that salary increases were based on market comparisons and long-term stagnation. The committee approved item E, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not the trades who are getting jobs because, again, jobs in other sectors will decrease if we pass
• It's not the trades who are getting jobs because, again, jobs in other sectors will decrease if we pass
• It's not the trades who are getting jobs because, again, jobs in other sectors will decrease if we pass
• It's not the trades who are getting jobs because, again, jobs in other sectors will decrease if we pass
• It's not the trades who are getting jobs because, again, jobs in other sectors will decrease if we pass

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The regent job, I don't... That's very hard.
• Chancellors, presidents, these are really difficult jobs.
• They don't make enough at their jobs, and many of them work.
• , that's the state of our country right now. ...two jobs.
• I'm supposed to be fixing a drywall job.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges

Keywords: 970, all