Transcript Highlights:

• This might be through a contract, a deed restriction, a restrictive covenant, or some type of other recorded
• one time, but unless they were still currently, once the vote passed, under some type of common ownership

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on three bills. House Bill 2229 would update the professional engineers registration act by removing the U.S. citizenship requirement for board members, increasing pro tem board positions, giving the board more discretion over experience and continuing education requirements, removing some registration exclusions, and making various technical updates. The bill sponsor and the board described it as a cleanup and modernization measure, and a board representative said one naming change in the draft was unintended and would be corrected. No public testimony was taken before the hearing was suspended and later closed. House Bill 2274 would revise the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act after a Washington Supreme Court decision led to a wave of lawsuits over email subject lines. The bill would require a sender to have a “reliable basis” to know an email is held by a Washington resident, narrow when a subject line is actionable, require recipients to show they reviewed and relied on the email to recover damages, and repeal the act’s per se Consumer Protection Act violation while keeping statutory damages. Retailers, small business owners, hospitality groups, and e-commerce representatives supported the bill, saying the current interpretation is producing costly, technical lawsuits over ordinary promotional language and creating settlement pressure even without consumer harm. Consumer advocates opposed the bill, arguing it would weaken protections against deceptive subject lines and that the current law already targets false or misleading claims. The committee took no final action on the bill. House Bill 2294 would prohibit future negative use restrictions on real property that block grocery stores or pharmacies, with exceptions for existing restrictions, relocations, and certain retail centers. The sponsor said the measure is intended to improve food and pharmacy access, especially after grocery closures such as the one in Lake City, and noted similar local ordinances already exist. Food industry and grocery association witnesses generally supported the bill as a way to reduce barriers to food access and help independent grocers, while also asking for clearer guardrails to avoid unintended effects on legitimate business arrangements. The sponsor said she was open to working on enforcement and other details. The committee then moved to executive session and passed House Bill 1269, which would adjust pawn broker loan terms, interest, document preparation fees, storage fees, and allow online payment for renewals. Members described it as a modest increase after 11 years without changes, and the bill was reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation by voice vote, with 15 members voting in the affirmative.

Transcript Highlights:

• counties do it, but some counties do offer a service where, if there's a transaction on your title deed
• Well, you've got good recorders of deeds and bad recorders of deeds, but everybody gets elected, right
• But not every recorder of deeds does as good a job as some of the other ones.
• But not every recorder of deeds does as good as job as some of the other ones.
• It would be a lot stronger and more deterrent if we could talk to the recorder of deeds and the banks

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2103, sponsored by Representative Amato, which would strengthen penalties and procedures related to property fraud and notary fraud. Amato described cases of fraudulent deed filings and home title theft, saying the bill would raise penalties for filing false documents, increase penalties for notary misconduct and seal misuse, require signage warning of penalties, and create a clearer expedited judicial review process for victims. Testimony from the Recorder’s Association, Missouri Bankers Association, land title interests, and a public advocate generally supported the bill as a needed deterrent, while noting that no measure would stop all fraud. Witnesses said recorders already offer property alert systems in many counties, but emphasized that the bill would improve enforcement and victim remedies. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2423, sponsored by Vice Chair Oehlerking, which would update the fee structure for the Division of Finance, a fee-funded agency that regulates banks and non-bank consumer credit companies. Oehlerking and the Division’s commissioner said current statutory fees are outdated and no longer cover oversight costs, especially as online lending has changed the industry; the bill would let the director adjust fees within capped ranges, create a consumer licensing fund, and exempt small and independent lenders from the increase. Bankers, installment lenders, and consumer credit groups supported the measure, saying it would help retain experienced examiners and keep the agency properly funded. One public advocate opposed the bill as another fee burden likely to be passed on to consumers. No vote was taken. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2473, sponsored by Representative Voss, which would clarify how real estate brokers may handle interest earned on escrow or trust funds. Voss said the bill is a cleanup measure from a prior session and would allow brokers to keep and withdraw interest earned on client funds within 30 days, while maintaining the prohibition on commingling personal funds with client money beyond the existing $1,000 allowance. A witness from the public advocate’s office supported the bill in principle but argued for tighter limits on personal funds in broker accounts and suggested the interest should belong to the property seller. Another member raised a possible wording change to “transfer” rather than “withdraw,” but the sponsor said the term was intended broadly. The hearing closed without opposition testimony or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• town of Salisbury had voted in a sewer assessment in 1982 and never recorded it at the registry of deeds
• This betterment assessment was paid for; it was never recorded at the registry of deeds.
• This betterment assessment was paid for; it was never recorded at the registry of deeds.
• I'm the Register of Deeds for Hampshire County. I was elected in 2012.
• Signing the deed to our house or the title to our car—that is abusive litigation.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on several Judiciary bills, with the largest portion focused on S. 1178/H. 2052 to reduce mass incarceration and end life without parole. People incarcerated at MCI Framingham, MCI Norfolk, and NCCI Gardner described personal growth, rehabilitation, restorative justice work, family separation, and the belief that parole eligibility after long sentences would better reflect public safety and human development. Speakers emphasized that life without parole removes hope and can undermine rehabilitation, while supporters argued that many lifers are older, less likely to reoffend, and could contribute positively if given a chance at parole review. Committee members did not take votes during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1139 to restore the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims involving tobacco use, with Sen. Keenan explaining that a recent SJC decision had cut off claims where the injured person did not sue within three years before death. He said the bill would restore families’ ability to seek redress in cases involving long-latency tobacco harms like COPD. Another major topic was S. 1205, which would add abusive litigation to the definition of coercive control in domestic violence law; Sen. Michael Moore said the bill would stop abusers from using repeated court filings to harass and financially burden survivors. The committee also took up S. 1114 on automatic record sealing, with Sen. Friedman and others arguing that the current petition-based process is slow, burdensome, and disproportionately harms people with criminal records, especially Black and Latino residents. Testimony also supported H. 1965/S. 1132 on compensation for wrongful conviction, with advocates and sponsors describing a faster administrative claims process, transitional support, and higher compensation without the current cap. Sen. Payano testified for S. 1241 to expand educational programming for incarcerated emerging adults, saying education reduces recidivism and improves reentry outcomes. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on S. 2522, an update to Massachusetts’ shield law for reproductive and gender-affirming care. Sen. Friedman, the Attorney General’s office, and DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said the bill is needed to strengthen protections against out-of-state legal attacks, protect patient and provider data, clarify enforcement authority, and add a state-level EMTALA-style emergency care requirement. Committee members asked detailed questions about prescription labeling, the prescription monitoring program, attorney discipline, custody and full faith and credit issues, and whether the bill’s enforcement language could create unintended limits or conflicts. The Attorney General’s office said it would provide follow-up written testimony on several technical questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill clarifies what is required when there is a transfer of ownership and a licensed organization
• history, and our state, the stories of hope, resourceful actions, confident decisions, extraordinary deeds
• You know, the Buddhist faith, three of their values include good deeds, good thoughts, and good words
• This ensures that CDDs can continue enforcing deed restrictions related to synthetic turf, because...
• ...continue enforcing deed restrictions related to synthetic turf, consistent with how planned communities

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of guests including law enforcement officers and several student visitors. The chamber then adopted the special order report and moved to the special order calendar, with members also approving the journal and establishing a quorum. Later in the day, the House paused for several introductions and farewell remarks, including extended closing speeches from Representatives Eskamani and Overdorf reflecting on their service, staff, constituents, and policy priorities. The House passed several bills, often after brief explanations and amendments. CS/SB 590 on the statute of limitations for failures to report child abuse was clarified to apply prospectively and passed 111-0. SB 418 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism spectrum disorder was amended to include House language and passed 111-0. CS/CS/SB 1668 on the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA) passed 112-0 after an amendment merging House and Senate provisions, and CS/SB 1246 on the linking industry to nursing education fund passed 112-0 after amendments expanding eligible contributions and program support. Additional bills approved included CS/CS/SB 1404 on memory care standards, CS/CS/SB 1030 on recovery residences, CS/CS/SB 422 on automatic dependent surveillance broadcasts for aviation safety, CS/CS/SB 598 on funeral, cemetery, and consumer services, and CS/CS/SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools, which would allow school coaches to use limited personal funds to support student-athletes with items such as food, transportation, and rehabilitation services, with parental consent added by amendment. Most of these measures passed unanimously or near-unanimously, with SB 422 passing 108-2. The House also heard debate on CS/CS/SB 1134, a bill restricting counties and municipalities from taking official actions related to DEI and limiting the use of public funds for DEI-related activities and contracts. Members questioned how the bill would affect local government practices, observances, and staff functions, and the sponsor explained several exceptions and enforcement provisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill clarifies what is required when there is a transfer of ownership and a licensed organization
• history, and our state—the stories of hope, resourceful actions, confident decisions, extraordinary deeds
• You know, the Buddhist faith, three of their values include good deeds, good thoughts, and good words
• This ensures that CDDs can continue enforcing deed restrictions related to synthetic turf, because ..
• continue enforcing deeds restriction related to synthetic turf consistent with how plant communities

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then article six comes from the DEED policy bill.
• Then article six comes from the DEED policy bill.
• </c><00:18:04.000><c> So</c> deed, uh another fund breakdown. So deed, uh another fund breakdown.
• So training programs division of deed.
• Um at the same time we are also deed.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we will hear the DEED budget bill, file number 1832, which I will present.
• It's in partnership with DEED.
• The five-step program starts at NDC; our accountants look at it, it goes to DEED, and DEED looks at the
• </c> accountants look at it it goes to deed accountants look at it it goes to deed and<00:10:29.320><
• </c> predominantly what happens here is deed predominantly what happens here is deed is<01:36:18.840>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to kind of talk about plans for how to address this fiscal note, and in that meeting DEED described
• </c> the second year and Beyond um deed the second year and Beyond um deed interpreted<00:14:42.839><
• </c><00:15:16.040><c> assumed</c> um and in the fiscal note deed assumed um and in the fiscal note deed
• </c><00:36:18.960><c> Pro</c> situation I believe was so as deed Pro situation I believe was so as deed
• </c> but it doesn't get released until deed but it doesn't get released until deed releases<01:26:00.639

Bills: HF3

Keywords: legislative auditor, reporting, accountability, state finance, executive agency oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a deed fraud victim, real estate broker, and started a YouTube channel to help victims recover their
• As far as investigations go, again, I told you we've had 300 deed fraud complaints.
• So we call when the deed comes to us, before we...
• So we call when the deed comes to us, before we So we call, when the deed comes to us before we transfer
• deed, and it comes up to us.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, a mortgage or deed of trust can only serve as a fixture filing if the debtor's name
• It allows a mortgage or deed of trust to serve as a fixture filing without requiring an exact ID name
• In 44 states, the mortgage or deed of trust, it's a done deal.
• Also, as a practical matter, a mortgage or deed of trust can be effective for 60 years.
• Also, as a practical matter, a mortgage or deed of trust can be effective for 60 years.

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not yet present, then proceeded with bill presentations and later formal votes once enough members arrived. The chair reviewed committee procedures, including how to submit written testimony and rules for witnesses and conduct. The agenda included AB 771, AB 1507 on the consent calendar, and AB 1166. AB 771 by Assemblymember Massetto was presented as a technical fix to California’s Uniform Commercial Code. Supporters said it would allow a mortgage or deed of trust to serve as a fixture filing without requiring an exact match to the debtor’s ID, reducing duplicate filings, fees, and administrative burdens. There was no formal opposition, and the committee voted due pass. AB 1507 was then adopted on the consent calendar with a due pass recommendation. AB 1166 by Chair Valencia addressed debt settlement protections for small business commercial financing recipients by extending existing California debt settlement standards from consumer loans to business loans. Supporters, including the Responsible Business Lending Coalition and several financing providers, said the bill would curb harmful practices and align incentives, while still allowing debt settlement services. Members asked about the private right of action and statutory damages, and the bill was approved due pass. The committee later reopened the rolls for absent members, recorded additional aye votes, and adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• DEED is not asking that we want some choice or anything.
• DEED is not asking that we want some choice or anything.
• DEED is not asking that we want some choice or anything.
• DEED is not asking that we want some choice or anything.
• DEED is not asking that we want some choice or anything.

Bills: HF1976

Keywords: paid leave, family leave, employment law, Minnesota statute, benefit eligibility, seasonal employment, workforce, labor rights, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> days um upon uh passage and uh deed days um upon uh passage and uh deed refine<00:15:36.240><c>
• DEED was exercising authority to adjust premium rates in year one of the program.
• DEED engaged and said, you know, here's the challenges we think about having.
• Next, if we could have Deputy Commissioner Ro from DEED.
• deed deed and<00:40:22.920><c> I</c><00:40:23.040><c> don't</c><00:40:23.160><c> know</c><00:40:23.280

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Article 5 is all repealing obsolete programs with DEED.
• Article 5 is all repealing obsolete programs with DEED.
• Article 5 is all repealing obsolete programs with DEED.
• Article 5 is all repealing obsolete programs with DEED.
• </c><00:41:51.040><c> like</c> &gt;&gt; To deed, a quick question for you. like &gt;&gt; To deed, a quick

Bills: HF3732

Keywords: workforce development, unemployment benefits, youth training, economic development, grants, job creation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is also includes a provision uh erroneously left out of the DE to provide instruction to deed regarding
• </c> DE to provide instruction to deed DE to provide instruction to deed regarding<00:04:42.320><c> relocation
• Um, and I do agree that there is a lot of overlap between Minnesota State and what DEED funds.
• </c> overlap between minstate and what deed overlap between minstate and what deed funds.<00:39:07.720
• Um, you know, I think we can, you know, DEED can probably figure that out.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of certain malt beverages between two or more licensed premises operating under the same general ownership
• Has a percent ownership, if you will, of another American company.
• Sometimes overseas, people are... ...are faxing fraudulent deed transfers to clerk's offices, and they're
• Actually, there's no filing fee, like you said, and a much more straightforward process to remove fake deeds
• selling their home because that's when they... do a title search and they find out somebody did a fake deed

Bills: HJR73, HB31, HB279, HB370, HB4768, HB513, HB875, HB982, HB 1085, HB2677, HB2874, HB5478, HB4880, HB4798, HB4514, HB4958, HB4508, HB3758, HB3830, HB3744, HB3622, HB741, HB2204, HB2860, HB4659, HB4578, HB813, HB712, HB1551, HB2790, HB2698, HB3365, HB3504, HB3118, HB2959, HB1862, HB 1026, HB4401, HB4164, HB3920, HB4737, HB4966, HB4967, HB1958, HB4979, HB5459, HB3862, HB1823, HB4415, HB4893, HB2343, HB 1228, HB4337, HCR141, SB250, SB1883, SB617, SB2411, SB2306, SB2929, SB552, SCR27, HJR218, HB168, HB2545, HB5436, HB4926, HB5165, HB4811, HB4755, HB3179, HB4310, HB4611, HB3637, HB3153, HB2786, HB2966, HB2159, HB5081, HB638, HB640, HB876, HB4809, HB5308, HB4687, HB5623, HB4412, HB3284, HB3420, HB3449, HB4098, HB4281, HB4120, HB4504, HB4370, HB4421, HB 1106, HB4070, HB2370, HB2407, HB2253, HB2273, HB2040, HB1586, HB3788, HB3993, HB4690, HB4696, HB2308, HB 1142, HB1533, HB1621, HB2242, HB2012, HB2193, HB2464, HB2348, HB2313, HB2289, HB1942, HB2011, HB1629, HB2993, HB3592, HB4076, HB4623, HB4535, HB4327, HB4520, HB3824, HB4921, HB2494, HB3066, HJR112, HB2695, HB3138, HB2442, HB3863, HJR73, HB4773, HB 1091, HB5115, HB5515, HB3372, HB5659, HB 127, HB386, HB 115, HB2868, HB 1249, HB4766, HB3720, HB4656, HB4879, HB 105, HB5383, HB4621, HB5431, HB5678, HB5534, HB4174, HB4212, HB3954, HB3966, HB3636, HB3918, HB1422, HB4765, HB4732, HB4742, HB5122, HB4518, HB5084, HB3986, HB4045, HB4144, HB3911, HB3976, HB4473, HB3425, HB3641, HB3642, HB3475, HB3509, HB3424, HB3383, HB4744, HB4531, HB4539, HB3159, HB5228, HB5370, HB4359, HB4398, HB4443, HB4466, HB3861, HB3849, HB4240, HB4706, HB4685, HB5354, HB5141, HB5686, HB3629, HB3554, HB3567, HB2015, HB3575, HB5381, HB1431, HB3514, HB4614, HB4546, HB4683, HB5681, HB5673, HB5663, HB4271, HB4350, HB4035, HB3807, HB3812, HB3552, HB3540, HB3715, HB3710, HB3664, HB4196, HB4233, HB4173, HB1998, HB3333, HB3510, HB4222, HB2070, HB2854, HB2347, HB 113, HB983, HB4847, HB1449, HB3833, HB5151, HB265, HB1845, HB782, HB 108, HB1960, HB158, HB1954, HB1955, HB2512, HB605, HB2581, HB2803, HB627, HB2667, HB1738, HB636, HB3679, HB2638, HB2655, HB871, HB2438, HB 1107, HB1765, HB1822, HB2153, HB4099, HB3732, HB3171, HB3178, HB3182, HB3749, HB2814, HB3977, HB4204, HB4207, HB4449, HB1820, HB1876, HB1939, HB1347, HB2593, HB2136, HB2132, HB2658, HB2413, HB2757, HB2080, HB3154, HB3063, HB3009, HB3448, HB3006, HB2844, HB3241, HB3680, HB3169, HB2078, HB2507, HB4559, HB3946, HB3460, HB3405, HB475, HB3463, HB3441, HB3520, HB2060, HB4731, HB4991, HB1991, HB5596, HB2014, HB2142, HB2673, HB2731, HB2417, HB2399, HB2301, HB3335, HB3234, HB3320, HB5573, HB4848, HB4748, HB4769, HB4795, HB2086, HB2234, HB2203, HB4916, HB5624, HB4505, HB139, HB5093, HB5302, HB5402, HB5606, HB2333, HB4630, HB4701, HB2583, HB2983, HB4924, HB3339, HB3793, HB3631, HB4882, HB5509, HB5499, HB5430, HB5561, HB5611, HB5043, HB5064, HB3733, HB3781, HB3219, HB32, HB4515, HB5348, HB3902, HB4420, HB3269, HB469, HB336, HB316, HB5396, HB993, HB1342, HB5216, HB2046, HB2188, HB2450, HB2813, HB2857, HB4075, HB2911, HB4682, HB3117, HB3253, HB3442, HB4820, HB4336, HB5356, HB3669, HB3428, HB5465, HB3662, HB2590, HB2288, HB1886, HB3458, HB5603, HB5620, HB1489, HB4101, HB4990, HB5685, HB4950, HB4980, HB5684, HB3507, HB3566, HB4487, HB4462, HB4876, HB4915, HB4663, HB5570, HB2929, HB5261, HB2920, HB4642, HB4746, HB1609, HB5403, HB5453, HB3844, HB2336, HB1572, HB 1226, HB2806, HB2617, HB2827, HB3948, HB3945, HB4266, HB4542, HB3319, HB1772, HB2496, HB1970, HB3434, HB5545, HB5577, HB31, HB279, HB370, HB4768, HB513, HB875, HB982, HB 1085, HB2677, HB2874, HB5478, HB4880, HB4798, HB4514, HB4958, HB4508, HB3758, HB3830, HB3744, HB3622, HB741, HB2204, HB2860, HB4659, HB4578, HB813, HB712, HB1551, HB2790, HB2698, HB3365, HB3504, HB3118, HB2959, HB1862, HB 1026, HB4401, HB4164, HB3920, HB4737, HB4966, HB4967, HB1958, HB4979, HB5459, HB3862, HB1823, HB4415, HB4893, HB2343, HB 1228, HB4337, HCR76, HCR127, HCR9, HCR40, HCR118, HR559, HCR59, HCR135, HCR141

Keywords: ad valorem tax, property tax, tax limitation, elderly, disabled, low-income, homestead exemption, constitutional amendment, juvenile justice, community supervision, felony offenses, treatment of children, juvenile facilities, chemical dispensing device, solitary confinement, rehabilitation, criminal proceedings, HB 279, uranium mining, uranium permit

Transcript Highlights:

• Those who commit these depraved acts deserve a very severe punishment deed.
• in or out of network to the same time when they refer their patients to facility that they have ownership
• be facility most likely where >> they have a financial interest mean they would have a degree of ownership
• But that's if they if they had 100% ownership, for example, that's just one example.
• getting hit with things like facility charges or additional charges that they're not expecting that ownership

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:43.480><c> does</c><00:30:43.960><c> Deeds</c> misclassification deed does Deeds misclassification
• deed does Deeds penalties<00:30:44.679><c> are</c><00:30:44.880><c> pretty</c><00:30:45.080><c> low<
• </c> mentioned uh uh Department of Labor deed mentioned uh uh Department of Labor deed Revenue<00:37:
• </c><00:48:03.240><c> uh</c> Enterprise and also true for deed uh Enterprise and also true for deed uh
• </c> only Employment Program at Deeds only Employment Program at Deeds specifically<01:01:45.359><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a deed fraud victim, real estate broker, and started a YouTube channel to help victims recover their
• that my criminal was caught because the California notaries take a fingerprint when notarizing the deed
• As far as investigations go again, I told you we've had 300 deed fraud complaints.
• So we call when the deed comes to us, before we ...
• deed, and it comes up to us.

Summary: The House Committee on Government heard and advanced several bills. SB 1479 would require photo identification for certain documents recorded at county recorder offices, add identifying measures for notarized real property documents, and increase the penalty for knowingly submitting a false claim or forgery related to real property from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 5 felony. Testimony from a deed fraud victim, county assessors, the Attorney General’s office, and an online notary representative emphasized the bill’s role in preventing deed fraud; the chair also said he would run a floor amendment to tighten the ID-recording provisions. The committee voted 7-0 to give SB 1479 a due pass recommendation. SB 1473 would prohibit counties and municipalities from capping the number of residents in assisted living homes, restricting such homes on residentially zoned property, or requiring extra administrative documents based solely on resident count. Supporters from the Arizona Assisted Living Homes Association and a Paradise Valley operator said local occupancy reductions from 10 beds to 6 could force closures, worsen the shortage of senior care beds, and undermine affordable residential care; members discussed parking concerns and the growing need for assisted living. The committee voted 7-0 to give SB 1473 a due pass recommendation. The committee also considered SB 1663, which creates a Freedom of Speech Monument Committee to nominate two deceased individuals each year for the Freedom of Speech Monument and allows placement of a monument in the governmental mall. After limited testimony, including one opponent, the committee voted 4-1 to advance the bill. Finally, SB 1686, which would rename Wesley Bolin Plaza the Wesley Bolin and Charlie Kirk Freedom Plaza and authorize memorials for Charlie Kirk and Don Bowles, drew extended debate and an unsuccessful amendment to separate the Charlie Kirk and Don Bowles provisions. After testimony for and against, the committee voted 4-3 to give SB 1686 a due pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had representatives from Revenue, DEED, and DLI. We had legislators.
• </c> would get the wage theft piece, DEED would get the wage theft piece, DEED would<00:47:36.680><c>
• /c><00:48:17.280><c> and</c> representatives from Revenue, Deed and representatives from Revenue, Deed
• ,<00:58:55.200><c> and,</c><00:58:55.840><c> um,</c> DEED, and, um, DEED, and, um, uh,<00:58:57.040><
• ,<01:45:07.520><c> DLI,</c> deed, DLI, deed, DLI, and<01:45:09.120><c> revenue</c><01:45:09.960><c> and

Keywords: 1183, house

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

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the next few lines um deed.
• There is uh a services under deed.
• </c><00:36:53.680><c> and</c> uh to deed and uh to deed and um<00:36:55.839><c> removes</c><00:36:56.400
• This is a DEED program, and Senator Champion and the jobs committee has jurisdiction over DEED.
• This is a deed jobs committee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all