Transcript Highlights:

• As we moved through the process and through this year's budget forecast, we knew that this was existing
• money that doesn't change the forecast.
• As we often do in the forecasting<00:09:47.279> process,<00:09:47.680> we<00:09:47.839>
• pick<00:09:48.000> the forecasting process, we pick the forecasting process, we pick the
• Um, next week we are planning on Wednesday to hear a presentation from MMB on the February forecast.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, if we go back and look at the numbers in the February forecast, Minnesota government estimated
• of the decisions that were made in this bill include targeted reductions of $1.1 billion from the forecast
• is we hope to get people to the Minnesota care program, and so they're going to be more in the forecasted
• You know, we had forecasts that came through, as was said, showing that we were going to face a structural
• That forecast that came through also showed us some really hard truths that it's become clear to me and

Transcript Highlights:

• And that means that when our forecast spending went up, and we're paying more claims, and we have more
• :30.160> time, forecast goes up over time, forecast goes up over time, that<00:26:31.920> those
• Chairman, so if it's delayed 3 years by DHS, that money gets to come out of the forecast. Correct.
• If DHS did a 3-year delay, would that be forecast? Kyle, do you guys know that? Mr.
• If we delay this for 3 years, it's forecasted. No, if DHS... sorry, thank you.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:58.880> of<00:08:59.120> 1% result of the um budget forecast of 1% result of
• the um budget forecast of 1% increase.<00:09:00.880> So,<00:09:01.200> Mr.
• Um so the the DE amendment is forecast.
• .<00:15:22.320> Draft<00:15:22.720> accomplishment<00:15:23.440> plans forecast.
• Draft accomplishment plans forecast.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there's been, um, the forecast that we saw last week said that if the federal bill isn't reauthorized
• The forecast that we saw last week said that if the federal bill isn't reauthorized, we could lose up
• Um there's been um um um the<01:40:56.640> forecast<01:40:57.120> that<01:40:57.240>
• that we saw last week said the forecast that we saw last week said that<01:40:59.640> with<01
• necessary over 60 uh, and forecasting necessary over 60 years.<01:46:58.000> We<01:46:58.400>

Bills: HF3919, HF1335, HF3864, HF3916, HF3728

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, electronic license, driver's license, digital credential, transportation, data privacy, authentication, license plates, vehicle registration, validation stickers, Minnesota statutes, transportation policy, aeronautics, transponder, aircraft safety

Transcript Highlights:

• While the governor's budget forecast does not reflect the recession, it does recognize several risk factors
• And although the budget is balanced, both the LAA and our estimates forecast shortfalls in subsequent

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on January 22, 2026, for its regular order hearing and suspense-file hearing. In regular order, the committee approved consent-calendar bills AB 683, AB 763, AB 1126, and AB 1278 on unanimous due-pass motions, and AB 34 and AB 442 on a second unanimous due-pass motion. The committee then heard and advanced several bills, including AB 35, which would create an APA exemption for Proposition 4-funded programs to speed implementation of water, wildfire, energy-storage, and grid-support projects; AB 748, establishing pre-approved housing programs for local agencies; AB 939, allowing immediate transfer of certain affordable homeownership units to qualified nonprofit housing organizations; AB 643, adding a narrow organic-waste-derived agricultural fertilizer product to SB 1383 procurement options; and AB 96, removing the high school diploma requirement for certified Medi-Cal peer support specialists. Testimony on these bills was largely supportive, with sponsors and coalition representatives emphasizing reduced delays, lower costs, and improved housing, environmental, or behavioral-health outcomes. The Department of Finance offered general budget comments but no bill-specific positions. The committee voted the bills out, with AB 643 and AB 96 receiving no recorded opposition in the transcript and AB 939 passing with some members noting support and interest in coauthoring. The committee also received a presentation-only discussion of AB 1091, a proposal to authorize eight-letter specialty license plates, which the author said could generate revenue for rural programs such as the Williamson Act; the bill was not acted on at that time. After public comment, the committee moved to the suspense-file hearing on 53 bills. Using a substituted motion for due-pass and due-pass-with-amendments items, the committee held some bills and advanced many others, often with amendments that narrowed scope, deleted provisions, or required reports or studies. Bills held in committee included AB 405, AB 298, AB 333, AB 296, AB 1091, AB 1241, and AB 577, among others. The committee reported moving 43 bills to the Assembly floor, with several on A roll calls and others on B roll calls or with amendments, and noted that amendment language would be posted later online.

Transcript Highlights:

• after the funding, or we changed what the funding availability or made those revenue changes in the forecast
• handling... are the we changed what the funding availability or made those revenue change in the forecast

Bills: SB2004, HB1600

Keywords: ethics commission, immunity, conflict of interest, complaints, public officials, transparency, legislative action, criminal prosecution, complaint resolution, HB 1600, immigration law clinic, University of North Dakota, UND Law, law school clinic, legal aid, immigration attorney, student clinic, pro bono, immigration legal services, caseload limit

Summary: The committee reconvened to continue work on water-related appropriations and related bills, with the chair emphasizing the need to move the water bill to conference committee soon because of differences with the House. Members reviewed project funding levels and carryover balances across several water projects, including NAWS, Southwest, Valley City, Cirrus River flood control, Hart River, Redder water supply, municipal and rural water, general water, and discretionary funding. The discussion focused on reduced revenue forecasts, the use of a $150 million line of credit as a working assumption, and concerns about large carryover amounts and piling up cash. No final changes were made to the water funding numbers, but the chair said the committee would revisit the bill after further cleanup of the draft language. The committee then took up House Bill 1600, which would create an immigration law clinic at the University of North Dakota law school. Members agreed the program should be treated as a one-time pilot rather than ongoing general fund spending, so they adopted an amendment changing the $400,000 appropriation to one-time funding from the strategic investment fund. The amended bill passed unanimously, and Senator Meyer was assigned to carry it. House Bill 1417, dealing with parole and probation-related policy, was also amended. The committee removed Section 8, which eliminated the bill’s appropriations language, based on testimony that the referenced funding was already included elsewhere in the budget. The amended bill then passed unanimously. The committee also discussed possible future amendments to water study language, including earlier reporting deadlines and a proposal to require larger new water project requests to go through the Water Topics Overview Committee before being introduced, but no final action was taken on those concepts. Several other bills, including the AI-related House Bill 1448 and law enforcement bonus bill 1193, were left for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• are expected to fill the gaps in the critical anesthesia provider shortage that exists now and is forecast
• are expected to fill the gaps in the critical anesthesia provider shortage that exists now and is forecast

Summary: The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard two bills. HB 649 would remove the current written physician protocol requirement for certified registered nurse anesthetists, allowing CRNAs to practice autonomously. The sponsor and supporters argued the change would modernize Florida law, address anesthesia workforce shortages, keep graduates in the state, and improve access especially in rural areas; opponents, including the Florida Medical Association and a cardiologist, warned that physician oversight is important for patient safety and that anesthesia complications can arise quickly. After debate, the committee passed HB 649 favorably by a vote of 12 yeas and 6 nays. The committee then heard HB 723, which requires the Department of Health, working with school districts, to develop informational materials on early detection of type 1 diabetes and have schools notify parents within the first 30 school days about those materials. The sponsor said the goal is to help parents recognize warning signs earlier and avoid emergency diagnoses such as diabetic ketoacidosis, with minimal fiscal impact because the materials would be distributed digitally. Members generally supported the bill and discussed timing and distribution methods, suggesting the notice not get lost in back-to-school paperwork. HB 723 passed unanimously, 18 yeas and 0 nays, and was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• We understand there is still uncertainty despite the forecast from last Friday.
• We understand there is still uncertainty despite the forecast from last Friday.
• We understand there is still uncertainty despite the forecast from last Friday.
• We understand there is still uncertainty despite the forecast from last Friday.
• We understand there is still uncertainty despite the forecast from last Friday.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are the revenues that were forecasted for 25.
• are the revenues that were forecasted are the revenues that were forecasted for<03:18:33.720>
• Uh, I assume that the forecasted numbers in the out years are due to two factors.
• Can you comment on the split in your forecast between inflationary growth and actual growth?
• <04:50:10.320> it insurance which is is was forecasting it insurance which is is was forecasting

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 110, as amended by the Senate, which would establish fees for alteration-of-terrain applications and direct the Department of Environmental Services to adopt rules for a permit-by-notification process for certain projects. Trisha Milo introduced the bill for Senator Lang and noted that the department had worked on the amended language. Matt Mayberry of the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association said the industry strongly supported the bill, describing it as a public-private partnership that would speed review for developers without affecting local control, with builders paying the costs rather than taxpayers. Members focused heavily on how the bill’s fee structure and permit thresholds would work, especially for projects near shoreland, wetlands, and protected water bodies. Representative Opel raised concerns about whether the bill reduced review of habitat and shoreland impacts or shifted costs unfairly; Philip Trobridge of DES explained that the bill does not eliminate those reviews and that shoreland projects still receive greater scrutiny. He said the bill creates different tiers, with the permit-by-notification process applying to certain projects between 100,000 and 150,000 square feet that are not in protected shoreland, while larger or shoreland-affected projects remain under the standard review process. He also said the proposed fees were based on sustaining the program, covering added habitat and species review responsibilities, and keeping reviews efficient. Trobridge said the new fee structure would generate about $1.2 million in additional revenue and help fund additional staff and related program costs. He stated that the department had worked with the regulated community and believed the fees were fair and reasonable, though he acknowledged the bill’s wording was confusing and that the threshold could be revisited later if the new process works well. Members also discussed how the state process interacts with local approvals, and Trobridge said both state and local approvals are required before a project can begin. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Using this information, they developed a forecasting model projecting jail population need through 2049
• <00:59:31.520> model<00:59:32.079> projecting<00:59:32.720> jail forecasting model
• projecting jail forecasting model projecting jail population<00:59:33.760> need<00:59:34.160>
• Using a forecasting model, the study projects that 13 counties could exceed their operational population
• <01:04:53.599> for the combined population forecast for the combined population forecast for

Bills: HF3700, HF3982, HF3927, HF3933, HF3949, HF4238, HF4275, HF4476, HF4504

Keywords: Duluth, Lake Superior Zoo, capital improvements, funding, bonds, appropriations, capital investment, port development, grant caps, state assistance, navigation facilities, Dakota County, state bonds, park improvements, infrastructure, transportation, safety, congestion, water infrastructure, bond issuance

Transcript Highlights:

• And the target for the tails for fiscal years 28 and 29 was $1 billion below the forecast base that was
• base that was established in the base that was established in the February<00:01:10.799> forecast
• for<00:01:11.439> fiscal<00:01:11.760> years<00:01:12.080> 26 February forecast
• for fiscal years 26 February forecast for fiscal years 26 and<00:01:12.880> 27.
• <00:01:21.360> base<00:01:21.680> that<00:01:21.920> was below the forecast

Bills: HF2433, HF2434

Keywords: education funding, children with disabilities, transition aid, special education, school district consolidation, healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Lines 1.6 through 1.29 just use correct forecasting language for transfers.
• So that transfers are forecasted and not just automatically ongoing in the base.
• Lines 1.6 through 1.29 just use correct forecasting language for transfers.
• Lines 1.6 through 1.29 just use correct forecasting language for transfers.
• Forecasting language for transfers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the few assumptions that we were able to include about federal action in the February forecast
• I'm sorry, this slide says the upcoming budget forecast, but I should have said our recent budget forecast
• we do a current law forecast on the spending side.
• on the spending current law forecast on the spending side<00:52:01.040> and<00:52:01.359>
• Do you see any disruption there yet, or what is that looking like in the forecast moving forward?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Forecast programs, in which spending is projected based on enrollment and service costs, account for
• DCYF oversees five forecast programs, and the slide shows the total projected budget for fiscal year
• <00:15:09.800> restorative<00:15:10.320> practices initiative<00:15:16.759> forecast
• programs in which initiative forecast programs in which spending<00:15:18.759> is<00:15:18.920
• funded DCF oversees five forecast funded DCF oversees five forecast programs<00:15:41.519> and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see that the base for fiscal year 26 and 27, based on the November forecast, is 1.31 billion,
• The number in particular for our new member that, as it will be adjusted by the February forecast, will
• fiscal year 26 and 27 based on the fiscal year 26 and 27 based on the November<00:09:37.839> forecast
• is<00:09:38.920> 1.31<00:09:39.839> billion<00:09:40.800> and November forecast
• is 1.31 billion and November forecast is 1.31 billion and again<00:09:41.600> this<00:09:41.720

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met on January 16, 2025, for an organizational and informational session. Members and staff introduced themselves, and Chair Jim Nash reviewed committee expectations, including that nonpartisan staff are to be used for factual information rather than political arguments. He also noted the committee rules were a blend of prior chairs’ rules and would be posted without a vote. Helen Roberts of House Fiscal gave a high-level overview of the committee’s jurisdiction and budget structure. She explained that the State Government Finance Committee oversees funding for major administrative agencies, the legislature, constitutional offices, and several boards, councils, and commissions. She emphasized that the committee’s general fund base for fiscal years 2026-27 is about $1.31 billion, less than 2% of the state general fund, and that the largest pieces are the Department of Revenue, the legislature, and pension aids. She also described how all-funds presentations differ from general fund views, highlighting internal service funds such as Minnesota IT Services, Department of Administration services, and other chargeback or reimbursement arrangements. Members asked questions about House and Senate budgets, debt service related to the Capitol Area building project and move costs, and how Minnesota IT Services is funded through fee-for-service chargebacks. Colby Sullivan of House Research then summarized a memo in the packet that outlines the entities within the committee’s jurisdiction and the constitutional and statutory provisions governing them. He pointed members to the memo as a reference and noted that the committee also has jurisdiction over the Legislative Coordinating Commission, the legislative auditor, the legislative reference library, the reviser of statutes, the Secretary of State’s budget and certain duties, and three gambling-related agencies, though gambling policy itself is generally handled by another committee. He offered to help members with bill drafting and amendments and to provide a linked electronic version of the memo. The Office of the Legislative Auditor then began an overview of its work. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall explained that the office is nonpartisan, serves all 201 legislators, and provides oversight through financial audits, program evaluations, and special reviews focused on state funds. She distinguished the Legislative Auditor from the State Auditor, noting that the State Auditor is an elected constitutional officer who focuses on county and local government funds. Randall said the office would also present a deep dive into its November performance audit of the Minnesota State Lottery. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• around the entire country, there are hundreds of gigawatts of potential data center projects that are forecast
• We've started to bake them into our longer-term forecasts, and they've signed contracts.
• We've started to bake them into our longer-term forecasts, and they've signed contracts to pay for that

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what about the forecast beyond this year? Any comments you have about that?
• I think the forecast that Secretary Mann has provided at the table when she's been here still holds true
• It's forecast. It's going to go up next fall, next October.

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• before that timeline we walked through earlier, while the baseline funding amounts and FTE enrollment forecasts
• before that timeline we walked through earlier, while the baseline funding amounts in FTE enrollment forecasts
• were set by the legislature with the first calculation of March of 2020, amounts in FTE enrollment forecasts

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met for its first meeting of the 2025 session to hear the Auditor General’s operational audit on 2024-25 school funding accountability challenges, focused largely on the Family Empowerment Scholarship and its interaction with the FEFP. Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy described rapid growth in scholarship enrollment, timing mismatches between scholarship payments and public-school funding calculations, delayed membership survey processing, weak cross-check and recoupment procedures, inconsistent handling of parent survey responses, and limited documentation for withholding and returning funds. The audit said these issues contributed to funding inequities, duplicate-payment risks, and an unexpected draw on state education funds, and it recommended separating scholarship funding from the FEFP, aligning application windows with budget timing, strengthening controls and staffing, and creating clearer, documented recoupment and balance-limit processes. Committee members questioned whether current law gives the department and scholarship funding organizations enough authority and whether the system is effectively a pay-and-chase model. Several senators expressed concern about the lack of timely reconciliation, the size of the funds involved, and the absence of clear records showing how money was recovered or withheld. Adam Emerson, executive director of the Office of School Choice, said the department is working more closely with school districts and scholarship funding organizations, including pausing payments when districts identify students still enrolled in public schools, and said the office wants to improve the process. President Gates then previewed legislation he said would address the audit’s findings by funding Family Empowerment Scholarships as a separate FEFP categorical, expanding the Education Stabilization Fund, setting clearer application and acceptance deadlines, moving to monthly payments with eligibility verification before each payment, assigning student IDs for scholarship assistance, lowering SFO management fees, requiring annual audits, and requiring prompt return of audit-related funds. Public comment included a private-school attorney describing losses from unpaid scholarship amounts. Members generally supported the need for reform, with several senators saying the program should be preserved but better structured and more accountable. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with no vote taken on the legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• is that our revenues coming into the trust fund have been flat for the last three years and are forecast
• We build out the entire five-year work program based on those forecast revenues.
• But, you know, I showed you earlier the dynamic of how our revenues are forecast to be flat.

Summary: The committee held a panel discussion on micro-mobility device regulation and enforcement, focusing on e-bikes and e-scooters. Sheriff Robert Hardwick and Chief Jamie Cruz described serious injuries involving children, including crashes at high speeds, and argued that current law is outdated because it folds e-bikes into the bicycle statute. They urged a separate statewide framework with clearer age limits, licensing or training requirements, helmet rules, and penalties for modifying devices to go faster. Both also emphasized that parents should bear responsibility and that enforcement should include education, progressive discipline, and, if needed, civil citations. FDOT District 6 Secretary Daniel Iglesias and DHSMV representative Lonnie Groner said their agencies are prioritizing education, outreach, and better data collection. They noted that micromobility devices are increasingly common, create safety and accessibility issues on sidewalks and shared-use paths, and are difficult to track because crash reports often do not identify them consistently. Members discussed whether motorized devices should be barred from sidewalks, whether riders should be licensed and insured, and how enforcement could be made uniform statewide. The panel also said manufacturers have not been meaningfully engaged and that local approaches vary widely. The committee then heard 2026 legislative priorities from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue and DHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner. Perdue outlined FDOT’s large five-year work program, ongoing congestion-relief projects, investments in ports, airports, rail, workforce, heavy equipment, facilities, and cybersecurity, and the need to do more with flat revenues. Kerner summarized DHSMV’s agency bill priorities, including requiring a Florida address and proof of residence for vehicle registration, updating identification requirements, aligning tank vehicle and motor carrier rules with federal standards, improving IFTA administration, raising the crash-report damage threshold, and allowing electronic notices. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.