Transcript Highlights:

• The hearing is being conducted in pursuance of our statutory requirements mandating an annual hearing
• Make sure we don't leave anyone behind. So now I'll ask the officials to come on up.
• You also have the sexual abuse and out-of-home care quarterly and annual reports for 2025.
• child abuse and neglect reports and the annual out-of-home care report.
• Parents who are otherwise good parents are leaving drugs around.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're celebrating the 54th annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival to be held this weekend, April 10th
• I don't want to leave anybody out. I'm sorry.
• You go ahead and leave it out. I can't sing. Go. Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday to you.
• , verification procedures, forfeiture of leave.
• This is going to increase the annual salary of the parish assessors?

Bills: HR94 , HR95 , HR96 , HR97 , HR98 , HR99 , HR100 , HR101 , HR102 , HR103 , HR104 , HR105 , HR106 , HR107 , HR108 , HR109 , HR110 , HR111 , HCR45 , HCR46 , HCR47 , HCR48 , HCR49 , HCR50 , HR92 , HR93 , HCR44 , SB11 , SB72 , SB78 , SB151 , SB207 , SB210 , SB219 , SB241 , SB286 , SB324 , SB351 , SB376 , SB409 , SB411 , HR74 , HCR26 , HB4 , HB98 , HB108 , HB131 , HB151 , HB161 , HB244 , HB288 , HB294 , HB305 , HB310 , HB320 , HB336 , HB380 , HB392 , HB403 , HB420 , HB459 , HB476 , HB513 , HB540 , HB596 , HB608 , HB615 , HB631 , HB637 , HB648 , HB665 , HB682 , HB789 , HB813 , HB815 , HB835 , HB870 , HB905 , HB915 , HB933 , HB938 , HB944 , HB971 , HB987 , HB1040 , HR15 , HR20 , HCR14 , HCR6 , HCR19 , HCR10 , HB81 , HB134 , HB154 , HB163 , HB170 , HB194 , HB217 , HB220 , HB254 , HB259 , HB290 , HB308 , HB311 , HB360 , HB382 , HB401 , HB410 , HB417 , HB463 , HB575 , HB592 , HB718 , HB723 , HB750 , HB755 , HB776 , HB812 , HB844 , HB882 , HB888 , HB961 , HB966 , HB980 , HB54 , HB67 , HB73 , HB125 , HB133 , HB158 , HB168 , HB169 , HB191 , HB195 , HB245 , HB280 , HB283 , HB296 , HB319 , HB339 , HB399 , HB407 , HB448 , HB550 , HB591 , HB826 , HB995 , HB1085 , HB1086 , HB722 , HB140 , HB468 , HB546 , HB746 , HB842 , HB923 , HB166 , HB349 , HB352 , HB429 , HB436 , HB588 , HB747 , HB780 , HB782 , HB911 , HB827 , HB953 , HB796 , HB901 , HB9 , HB52 , HB58 , HB193 , HB284 , HB400 , HB570 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB733 , HB735 , HB868 , HB952

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long morning of personal privileges, commemorations, and resolution introductions. Members recognized Coca-Cola United for its Louisiana economic impact and community work, designated April 7 as Coca-Cola Day, celebrated Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Day, Dad’s Day, and other guests and honorees, including a science fair participant, Jack and Jill of America, and a birthday recognition. The House also introduced numerous resolutions on topics including awareness days, condolences, civic education, health, and local commemorations, and several were adopted or advanced without objection. The chamber then took up a series of bills and committee reports. Among the measures advanced were bills on constitutional convention procedures, criminal justice and post-conviction relief, public meetings, health care, education, insurance, natural resources, and local government. Several bills were reported favorably or with amendments and moved to third reading, including measures on school resource officers, pharmacy benefit managers, rural health clinics, the LSU Energy Institute, and live broadcasting of public meetings. The House also passed bills recreating the Department of Treasury, requiring cash acceptance or cash-to-credit options at state public facilities, funding municipal fire and police civil service administration, naming a highway segment for Sgt. Michael J. Guillory, and clarifying legislative review of certain contract amendments. Floor debate centered on a few substantive bills. HB 134, which would prohibit platforms from delivering pornography to minor accounts and authorize Attorney General enforcement, passed 98-0. HB 170, clarifying when the prescriptive period begins for certain construction-related claims, passed 89-7 after discussion of substantial completion and owner occupancy. HB 217, creating an optional property tax exemption for rehabilitation of blighted residential property, passed 83-13 after amendment. HB 259, addressing damage to infrastructure during broadband excavation and requiring notice, repair, and payment accountability, passed 98-0 after amendments. HB 308, requiring state public facilities to accept cash or provide a cash-to-credit machine, passed 98-0. HB 360, naming a highway memorial for Sgt. Michael J. Guillory, passed 101-0. HB 382, streamlining budget committee review of certain contract amendments, passed 96-0. The House also debated HB 410, a privacy bill requiring notice when a participant in a direct in-person conversation is being recorded, with exceptions for law enforcement, evidence of crime, and certain civil or administrative proceedings. Members raised concerns about the scope of the exceptions, undercover journalism, and the relationship to Louisiana’s one-party consent wiretapping law, but the bill’s sponsor said it would not change criminal wiretapping law and was modeled on other states’ approaches. The transcript ends during that debate, with no final vote shown for HB 410.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Water Board conducts an annual drinking water needs assessment.
• work with an annual report to the public and to our board.
• And on that, I think it's an appropriate time for us to leave this and move on to issue three.
• And just as you're getting ready to leave, I want to point out that... You're welcome. Thank you.
• So I'm kicking this off as the introduction, but we'll bring this up sort of annually here.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on water and coastal resilience heard an overview of the governor’s Proposition 4 spending plan, with presentations from the Department of Finance, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Department of Water Resources, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and later coastal agencies. Members discussed the water chapter’s major allocations for drinking water and wastewater, recycled water, tribal water infrastructure, groundwater recharge and SGMA implementation, dam safety, flood protection, integrated regional water management, Salton Sea projects, and water data/stream gauges. The LAO noted that many programs are established and have clear funding processes, but some newer or less-defined programs may warrant more detailed future budget requests and reporting. No votes were taken on the agenda items. Members raised concerns about groundwater subsidence, water deliveries from the Delta, the pace of water storage investments, instream flows, and whether bond dollars were being used to backfill General Fund reductions. Administration witnesses said groundwater recharge spending is being paced because prior years already funded substantial SGMA work, that Delta operations are governed by water quality, salinity, and species requirements, and that Proposition 1 storage projects have moved slowly because they are locally led and require permitting and financing. The Water Board and DWR said they use public needs assessments, annual plans, and existing grant processes to prioritize projects, and Finance said some General Fund programs were shifted to Proposition 4 to help balance the budget. Members also asked for clearer public tracking of bond spending and more concise future reporting. In the coastal resilience portion, the Ocean Protection Council and Coastal Conservancy described Proposition 4 funding for sea level rise adaptation, coastal flood management, habitat restoration, public access, and San Francisco Bay projects, with a multi-year rollout based on project readiness and recent large state investments. The Conservancy said it would use its existing rolling grant process, while OPC said its sea level rise grants would build on existing programs and new technical assistance. The Department of Fish and Wildlife explained its proposed use of bond funds for climate-ready fisheries, hatchery modernization, salmon monitoring, whale- and turtle-safe fishing gear, and a specific hatchery operations request tied to the Friant settlement. The LAO said the coastal chapter’s proposed first-year spending is relatively modest but generally reasonable given staffing and project readiness, while members emphasized oversight, transparency, and coordination across agencies and jurisdictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're dealing with teens. 50% of all annual STD infections are sexually active teens. 50%.
• dedicated if there is not annual dedicated funding for school safety.
• annual dedicated school safety funding for this actually to take effect even by 2030.
• About having the annual dedicated funding for schools. schools dedicated funding. Yes.
• May earn elective credit, leaving the decision up to the local school boards.

Bills: SB166 , HB365 , HB272 , HB232 , HB234 , SB278 , SB277

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: Ten Commandments, public education, displays, funding, Alabama law, STEM, science education, technology education, engineering education, math education, workforce development, career pathways, Alabama STEM Council, Department of Workforce, education policy, higher education, community colleges, K-12 education, teacher pipeline, STEM careers

Transcript Highlights:

• funding leaves the home same time funding leaves the home district<00:21:31.440><c> even</c><00:21:31.760
• Um, leave, I did peek at your agenda.
• </c><01:20:45.440><c> written</c> modifying this to a an annual written modifying this to a an annual
• I think an annual report holistically.
• I ask you to leave the statute as it is.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• When production leaves and studio lots are empty, that makes headlines.
• When post leaves, the loss is quieter.
• AB 762 removes the legal market, but it leaves the illegal market intact.
• Private companies are generating hundreds of millions in annual revenue.
• Our labor partners know that when productions leave, careers leave with them.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several tax-related bills, beginning with AB 760, which would exempt settlement payments tied to the Garden Grove chemical incident from California income tax. The author and a school district trustee described evacuations, school closures, and losses to residents, businesses, students, and staff, arguing the payments should make victims whole rather than be taxed. There was support from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, no opposition, and the bill passed 3-0 to Appropriations, with committee amendments accepted. Members then heard AB 2319, creating a California post-production tax credit for film and television work done in-state, even when principal photography occurred elsewhere or the project did not receive the existing film credit. The author and supporters from the Motion Picture Editors Guild, California Post Alliance, and others said post-production jobs and facilities are leaving California and that the bill would help retain high-wage work; opponents were not present. The committee members generally supported the measure, and it passed 3-0 to Appropriations. AB 2186 followed, excluding future reparations benefits for descendants of formerly enslaved people from state income tax. The author and NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference said taxing such benefits would undermine reparative justice; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 3-0. The committee also heard AB 762, which would ban the sale of disposable nicotine vapes and add enforcement tools. Supporters, including waste, recycling, local government, and public health groups, said disposable vapes create fire hazards, waste problems, and costs for local agencies; opponents argued the bill would mainly eliminate the legal market while leaving illicit products untouched and urged stronger enforcement instead. The author accepted committee amendments adding CDTFA enforcement, but the bill was not voted on because a motion was pending and members were absent. Later, AB 1519, AB 2172, AB 2222, AB 1793, AB 2089, and AB 1265 were heard and each received support from committee members and passed 2-0 or 3-0 to Appropriations, with amendments accepted where noted. AB 1519 clarified that the 20-year tax collection statute of limitations should not be reset by later fees or penalties; AB 2172 would let large counties use a single assessment appeals commissioner for complex property tax appeals; AB 2222 would create a temporary tax credit for local news organizations to retain and hire journalists; AB 1793 would authorize symmetrical cash rounding to the nearest nickel after the federal penny phaseout; AB 2089 would streamline the welfare exemption filing process for affordable housing; and AB 1265 would extend and revise the historic building tax credit to encourage adaptive reuse for housing and mixed-use projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• But anyway, I'm not going to leave a student behind.
• And so we're truly not wanting to leave any student behind.
• If he fails or leaves, he pays it back.
• Along with that,... ...audit is presented at the annual convention.
• You could just leave the table. Every committee is different. Yes.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee heard several higher education and K-12 bills centered on TOPS, school accountability, and curriculum alignment. It first welcomed University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s new president, Ramesh Kuluru, who spoke about student success, workforce alignment, and the university’s financial recovery. The committee then adopted amendments and reported HR 17 favorably, directing a study of TOPS return on investment with the Board of Regents, Louisiana Works, LED, and the Blanco Public Policy Center. Testimony from business and policy groups supported the study as a way to assess whether state financial aid is producing workforce and retention outcomes. Members then considered HB 385 by Rep. Bamberg, which would require repayment of TOPS awards under certain circumstances when students lose eligibility, with exemptions for hardship and a pathway into LCTCS or career-technical programs. The bill drew strong debate over whether merit scholarships should ever be repaid; opponents argued TOPS is earned for the semester and should only be lost going forward, while supporters emphasized taxpayer accountability. After amendments, the committee narrowly approved the bill by roll call vote, with Chair Schlegel casting the deciding yes to report it favorably as amended. The committee also unanimously reported HB 1058 favorably, which requires the Board of Regents to maintain a uniform data system for state financial assistance; independent colleges and business groups supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and analysis. The committee next heard HB 406 by Speaker Pro Tem Johnson, which asks the Department of Education to study the feasibility of moving oversight of interscholastic athletics to a more accountable model after a legislative study found widespread complaints about the private LHSAA’s transparency and consistency. Supporters said the bill is a cautious step toward reform and a possible 2028–2029 transition, while an LHSAA representative defended current audits and governance and opposed the premise of the bill. Despite objections, the committee reported HB 406 favorably. It then heard HB 787 by Rep. McMakin, as substituted, which would exempt non-public high school students from the TOPS computer science requirement; BESE and the Department of Education opposed the bill, saying it would separate diploma and TOPS requirements and create scheduling confusion, while Catholic school representatives said the requirement conflicts with their theology curriculum. McMakin asked to defer the bill for two weeks. Finally, the committee unanimously reported HB 1059 favorably, which aligns TOPS math requirements with BESE’s integrated math pathways, and began hearing HB 1021 by Rep. Egan on repayment of certain TOPS awards, though the transcript cuts off before that bill was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• fees and an annual excise tax that aircraft owners pay.
• I will note... ...annual registration fees and an annual excise tax that aircraft owners pay.
• The institutional memory that Senator Conway takes with him as he leaves us leaves a very huge hole here
• When I announced to you that I was leaving, you know how hard it was for me.
• When I announced to you that I was leaving, you know how hard it was for me.

Bills: SCR8410

Keywords: returning bills to house of origin, sine die, end of session, legislative procedure, Rules Committee, third reading, unfinished business, pending bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, joint memorials, special session, bill numbering, legislative records, House of Representatives, Washington Legislature, session adjournment, procedural resolution

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior day’s journal, suspended rules to allow committee work and additional floor resolutions, and referred committee and gubernatorial appointment reports as designated. It then took up several gubernatorial appointments in third reading. Megan Matthews was confirmed as director of the Washington State Office of Equity by a 45-2 vote, and Robert A. Zupon, Denise E. Gideon, Andrea Buchanan, Michelle R. Smith, and Edison A. Valerio were each confirmed to various community and technical college boards of trustees by large bipartisan margins. The chamber then considered Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation revenue and policy measure. After rejecting the Transportation Committee’s original striking amendment and adopting a narrower floor striking amendment, senators debated the bill’s changes, including repeal of the luxury aircraft tax and replacement with higher aircraft fuel taxes, registration fees, and an annual excise tax, along with technical corrections and safety-related transportation provisions. Supporters said the bill was a workable compromise that would sustain transportation funding and support future aviation investments; opponents argued it would raise costs on small aircraft owners and general aviation. The bill passed final passage 33-15. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 8703 honoring Senator Steve Conway for his 34 years of legislative service. Multiple senators spoke in praise of his leadership on labor, pensions, veterans, and district advocacy, as well as his institutional knowledge, mentorship, and personal integrity. Senator Conway then offered a personal statement thanking colleagues, staff, family, and constituents, and saying he would continue advocating for working people after leaving the Legislature. The Senate then recessed for lunch and caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• After exhausting her FMLA leave, the district forced her to use her baby bonding leave before her child
• Consequently, she had no bonding leave left when the baby arrived and was forced into an unpaid leave
• Family and Medical Leave Act is also unpaid.
• They don't currently have pregnancy leave.
• And so we're establishing paid pregnancy leave so that you don't have to burn through your sick leave

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several education-related bills, beginning with AB 65 on paid pregnancy leave for public school employees. The bill drew strong support from teachers, school employees, unions, and education groups, who argued it would provide up to 14 weeks of paid leave, reduce financial penalties tied to sick leave use, and help recruit and retain educators. Some witnesses and members raised concerns about funding, district eligibility, and implementation, but the bill was advanced on a do-pass recommendation to the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee, with one member not voting and the bill placed on call for absent members. Members then heard AB 673 on an unaccompanied youth support grant program for homeless 16- and 17-year-olds, AB 1552 on reporting recommendations to strengthen civic engagement in higher education, AB 1572 on annual CIF review and qualification standards for sports officials, and AB 1586 on opioid overdose response training and naloxone access for school resource officers. AB 673 and AB 1552 received support from education, youth, and advocacy organizations; AB 673 also drew questions about overlap with existing homeless and foster-care-related programs, while supporters said the bill targets a vulnerable subpopulation that is often missed. AB 1552 and AB 1572 were broadly supported and advanced, and AB 1586 was backed by treatment providers, school nurses, and education groups as a practical student-safety measure; all were moved forward with do-pass recommendations and placed on call. The committee also considered AB 1721, which would create a work group to review and streamline school safety plans, and AB 2060, which would establish a mentor teacher grant program and stipend to strengthen the teacher pipeline. Both bills were supported by administrators, educators, and school-related organizations, and both advanced to the Senate Appropriations Committee. AB 2440, aimed at clarifying Proposition 28 arts and music education funding rules and allowing small districts to pool resources, also received broad support and moved to Appropriations. AB 1784, which would extend pregnancy-related protections to undergraduate students and prohibit discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions, passed to the Senate Judiciary Committee after support from higher education and women’s advocacy groups. Finally, AB 2660, which would codify the CalBridge STEM pathway program and related efforts to diversify the STEM workforce, was supported by higher education and workforce advocates and advanced to Appropriations after questions about the related EnLACE program and its funding sources.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is despite having an annual wage increase in July.
• We see that many folks who do this care... ...of turnover or people just leaving the workforce.
• But we're here asking for more because people are leaving.
• We have people leaving.
• We're seeing that the data actuarially leaves in the last presentation.

Summary: The committee began with an extended work session on the long-term care workforce. DSHS Assistant Secretary B. Rector described the new Home and Community Living Administration and outlined major workforce pressures: Washington had about 126,000 long-term care workers in 2022, with demand expected to outpace supply as the 85-plus population and dementia prevalence rise sharply. She emphasized that direct care workers are largely women, people of color, and immigrants, and that family caregivers are also a major part of the system. She highlighted recruitment and retention efforts funded through federal Money Follows the Person dollars, including high school training partnerships, a retention toolkit, transportation support, caregiver newsletters, tribal workforce navigators, and a remote caregiving pilot. Committee members asked about career pathways, technology use, and turnover drivers; Rector said wages, benefits, unstable hours, and workplace support are key issues and promised follow-up data. Aidan Swain of the Washington Health Care Association said skilled nursing and assisted living facilities face acute RN vacancies, wage pressures, and Medicaid reimbursement that does not cover costs, and urged modernization of training, better reimbursement, and continued support for facility-based care. Maddie Fouch of SEIU 775, representing about 55,000 caregivers, said low wages, weak benefits, lack of voice, and certification delays are driving turnover and shortages, and argued for higher compensation, better worker protections, and more transparent reimbursement. Catherine Smith of Behavioral Health Solutions described growing behavioral health needs in nursing homes, the role of expanded behavioral supports programs, and credentialing delays that slow hiring. No votes were taken; the panel was informational only. The second agenda item was an overview of the palliative care benefit work group report required by 2024 legislation. Nico Jansen of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner explained that the work group, convened with the Health Care Authority, studied a potential palliative care benefit for fully insured commercial plans and also Medicaid, PEBB, and SEBB. He said palliative care is a philosophy of care focused on symptom management, coordination, and support for serious illness, and is distinct from hospice because it can be provided alongside curative treatment. The actuarial analysis concluded that creating a new benefit would likely increase costs, estimating about a 28-cent per member per month increase overall and roughly $2.6 million to $4.5 million in annual state Medicaid costs if implemented in 2027. Jansen said the consultants did not find sufficient evidence to assume savings from avoided hospitalizations or long-term care, though several work group members disagreed and submitted response letters. Senators asked about other states, Medicare, health homes, and whether more research could clarify cost savings; OIC said some states, including Hawaii, are moving ahead with Medicaid palliative care benefits, Medicare covers some related services but not in the same way, and further evidence may emerge over time. OIC did not take a position on whether the Legislature should create the benefit. The final presentation covered health care price transparency tools in Washington and federally. Evan Klein and HCA Chief Data Officer Vishal Chaudry reviewed federal hospital and health plan transparency rules, the state all-payer claims database, prescription drug price transparency, the Health Care Cost Transparency Board, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, and other reporting systems. They explained that the APCD contains claims from fully insured commercial plans, Medicaid, and public employee programs, but not self-insured employer data except for limited voluntary submissions. They also described how machine-readable files, consumer price tools, and aggregated dashboards are used, and noted that data limitations, delays, and complexity remain significant. Senators asked about voluntary self-insured participation, the role of AI in making data more usable, and whether transparency can really help consumers given access barriers and medical debt. HCA said AI is increasingly used by private entities to mine large transparency datasets, but state agencies still face limits in data access and analytic capacity. The committee did not take action; the session was informational and ended with a discussion of how transparency data might better inform policy and purchasing decisions in the future.

Transcript Highlights:

• leaving their school or leaving their districts.
• Okay, but 7 are leaving the teaching profession. Yes, as a whole.
• So then the failure rate is about 75 on a regular basis annually.
• they must take for pregnancy leave.
• they must take for pregnancy leave.

Summary: The committee heard an informational discussion on California’s educator pipeline and shortages, with testimony from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Learning Policy Institute, CSU educator preparation leaders, and CTA. Witnesses said state investments of more than $2.1 billion have helped rebuild teacher supply, with credential issuance and preparation enrollment rebounding after COVID, but demand remains high because of turnover, early-career attrition, and persistent vacancies. Panelists emphasized that shortages are especially acute in special education, bilingual education, STEM, and in high-need schools and regions, and that underprepared teachers, substitutes, and emergency permits remain heavily used. Several speakers stressed that retention, working conditions, compensation, and stable funding are as important as recruitment. Members focused on whether current data systems are sufficient to measure need and track where teachers end up working. The Commission said it can monitor assignments for credential alignment, but does not have full employment data to determine whether grant recipients or credentialed teachers are actually deployed in the shortage areas for which they were trained. The chair asked for better regional and subject-area data, and the committee discussed the risk that layoffs and budget instability could undermine teacher pipeline investments. CSU representatives urged stronger support for student-teacher stipends, better coordination with districts, more capacity for special education preparation, and more stable CSU funding to expand educator preparation. CTA testified that school climate, class size, health benefits, and administrative support are essential to retaining teachers. The committee then moved to budget proposals. For the Golden State Teacher Grant Program, Finance proposed a $14.4 million reappropriation for 2026-27, and the Student Aid Commission supported continued funding, saying the program has influenced candidates’ decisions to enter teaching and work in priority schools. For educator residencies, Finance proposed $250 million one-time Proposition 98 funding through 2029-30; the LAO said it could be adopted if aligned with legislative priorities, and CTC said the program has strong uptake and supports retention. For the computer science supplementary authorization grant, Finance proposed increasing awards from $2,500 to $6,000 and reducing the match requirement, but the LAO recommended rejecting the change because only about one-fifth of the original funding has been used. The committee also discussed registered apprenticeship pathways, rural access, and whether federal Title II, Title III, or IDEA funds could support bilingual and special education teacher preparation. Several items were held open for further information and follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• The record should become public again once that person leaves office.
• If you want Dean up here, be prepared for Dean not to leave for a while. No, I'm just kidding.
• You know, and we've been, a group of us have been fighting for annual sessions since 2015, you know,
• And we asked them about basically why would you most support going to annual sessions.
• I would not be leaving. Like, oh, okay. So what is that? I mean, it just is what it is.

Summary: The Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then took up a draft bill to make legislators’ and candidates’ residential addresses confidential in public records. Legislative Council and the Secretary of State explained the proposal was prompted by security concerns and would protect residential addresses while still allowing election officials to verify residency and keep candidate names and offices public. Members raised concerns about unintended consequences, transparency, and how the change would affect rural districts and residency enforcement. The Secretary of State suggested an amendment to end the confidentiality when a candidate’s term ends, and the committee agreed to hold the bill over for further discussion at the next meeting. The committee also reviewed follow-up materials on legislator security and best practices, including advice on situational awareness, internet hygiene, varying routines, and reporting threats, along with NCSL materials comparing capitol security practices in other states. Members discussed a recent security incident and the need to keep alert contact information current, and staff said they would continue working with the Highway Patrol on legislative-specific notifications. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to Garrity Consulting’s final report on mitigating the effects of legislative term limits. The consultants summarized survey, focus group, and stakeholder input showing concerns about loss of institutional knowledge, leadership turnover, onboarding demands, and workload pressures, while also noting public support for term limits and annual sessions. Recommendations included considering annual sessions or shifting biennial sessions to even-numbered years, restructuring organizational session and interim committee work, creating office hours and more structured orientation and mentorship, expanding ongoing training and staff support, improving public communication and virtual testimony rules, and addressing barriers to service such as employer support and travel costs. Members discussed the tension between making the legislature more effective and preserving a citizen-legislature model, and the report was received as a roadmap for future implementation rather than immediate action.

Transcript Highlights:

• The surcharges here are not on an annual basis.
• The PCG estimated annual fee is $2 million.
• The PCG estimated annual fee is $2 million.
• I mean, there's a reason they're leaving.
• We need to leave time for others.

Bills: SB41 , SB153 , SB165 , SB261 , SB264 , HB99 , HJR5 , HM39 , HB206 , HB213 , SB41 , SB153 , SB165 , SB261 , SB264

Committees: Senate Senate Judiciary , Senate House Judiciary

Keywords: sexual crimes, statute of limitations, criminal justice, victim rights, child abuse, procurement, contracting, small business, local government, disaster recovery, emergency procurement, certification, public spending, juvenile justice, delinquency, rehabilitation, community corrections, risk assessment, public safety, health regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• DPS aircraft have grown from 10 aircraft to 27 aircraft and from 3,000. ...annual flights to 14,000 annual
• Chairman, annually. ...on outsourced labor.
• DPS has one mechanic that performs 16 aircraft inspections annually.
• We'll leave the bill pending. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• We're leaving this almost entirely up to law enforcement.

Bills: SB2199 , SB2200 , SB2201 , SB2949 , SB2332

Committee: Senate Border Security

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so, House File 4616 imposes a 1% tax annually on fortunes above $10 million.
• </c> which would be levied annually. which would be levied annually.
• </c> in order to pay their new annual in order to pay their new annual Minnesota<00:31:32.680><c> wealth
• </c> and a payroll tax and paid family leave. and a payroll tax and paid family leave.
• /c><01:28:32.400><c> Minnesota</c> arguments about people leaving Minnesota arguments about people leaving

Bills: HF4621 , HF4123 , HF4616 , HF1183

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: child tax credit, financial assistance, low-income families, state revenue, tax policy, net investment income, taxation, business income, self-employment, tax increase, wealth tax, fairness, public services, high-income earners, economic equity, Internal Revenue Code, employee classification, federal law, Minnesota statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of any complaints they get on an annual of any complaints they get on an annual basis.<00:05:22.440
• So we'll leave this; we won't put this on consent. Senator Birdsell will take it out.
• All right.<00:06:48.560><c> So</c><00:06:48.680><c> we'll</c><00:06:48.800><c> leave</c><00:06:48.960
• So we'll leave this we won't put right.
• So we'll leave this we won't put this<00:06:50.160><c> on</c><00:06:50.320><c> consent.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• This leaves IBWC solely reliant on annual appropriations or annual funding to build and maintain facilities
• THIS LEAVES IBWC SOLELY RELINE ON ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS OR ANNUAL FUNDING TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN FACITIES
• I rise today because those cuts will leave people in my district hungry.
• The Clerk: Leaves of absence requested for Mr. Davis of Illinois for today.
• This stigma often leaves us in a very bad situation. It's not a weakness.

Bills: HR480 , HR481 , HR488 , HB2035 , HR252 , HB1948 , HR1373 , HR1182 , HR248 , HR137 , HB2390 , HB2351

Keywords: House of Representatives, congressional training, workplace rights, workplace responsibilities, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, sexual harassment training, employee training, Member orientation, House Administration Committee, Congressional Accountability Act, CAA, interns, unpaid interns, fellows, detailees, legislative workplace, congressional offices, compliance training, ethics training

Transcript Highlights:

• As of right now, we have been requesting annual appropriations to continue the project.
• So the annual portions, or how much?
• The position included in the request is an estimated annual cost of $154,000.
• And if you leave your contact information, the committee will follow up with you.
• But we are so far behind that we cannot catch up with normal annual requests.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've set up the leave for her.
• Shooting sports and firearms-related tourism bring in $150 million annually, and that money will leave
• Firearms training programs, $30 million annually. Firearms training programs, $30 million annually.
• When you disarm a people, you leave them defenseless.
• Madam Chair, Representative, well, that leaves how many?

Bills: SB48 , HB250 , SB17

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, technology, innovation, advisory board, entrepreneurial support, stakeholder representation

Transcript Highlights:

• It would leave one place and go to the other at the same rate.
• every five years, but then we're required to do an annual review every year.
• every five years, but then we're required to do an annual review every year.
• It's being annually reviewed, and there's just not a lot. making sure we're staying in front of it as
• Annually with the county assessor that the property is maintaining its affordable rents.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation