Transcript Highlights:

• We are in an interesting situation where we actually administer a property and casualty insurance program
• And what's happening is we're having what's called nuclear verdicts, where someone is getting sued and
• And what's happening is we're having what's called nuclear verdicts, where someone is getting sued and
• what is driving this expansion. ...maybe part of what is driving this expansion of these sort of nuclear
• maybe part of what is driving this expansion of these sort of nuclear awards that we're seeing.

Bills: HB1977

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: indemnification, liquor, commercial servers, liquor liability, business protection

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:41.200><c> once</c> very rigorous monitoring program once very rigorous monitoring program
• </c><00:58:36.319><c> in</c> benefits of a similar program in benefits of a similar program in California
• </c><01:09:23.920><c> some</c><01:09:24.159><c> of</c> programs are not cost-effective. some of programs
• </c> work through this net metering program work through this net metering program and<01:13:36.719><
• </c> certification program for plug-in solar. certification program for plug-in solar. and<01:30:30.000

Bills: HF2986 , HF3555

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So we took care of the state grant program.
• But they are also the basis of the state grant program and the North Star Promise program.
• A 7% cut across the board in academic programs.
• Fund the programs and the needs of the state of Minnesota.
• We did not cut county program aid. I thought that was very, very important.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ukraine gave up its own nuclear missiles for its independence.
• </c><00:33:37.120><c> missiles</c> Ukraine gave up its own nuclear missiles Ukraine gave up its own nuclear
• </c><00:47:14.960><c> of</c> embedded in courses and programs of embedded in courses and programs of
• </c><04:11:49.520><c> and</c> had the links to that book program and had the links to that book program
• </c><04:19:41.680><c> um</c> 653 relative uh to a pilot program um 653 relative uh to a pilot program

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 749, which would require high schools to provide at least one hour of instruction on the nature and history of communism. The prime sponsor said the bill was prompted by concerns that students lack basic historical knowledge about communism and its effects, and argued that a short, flexible requirement could be embedded in an existing course without creating a new full class. He described communism as a totalitarian ideology and cited historical examples including the Soviet Union, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Cold War, and current events involving Russia, Ukraine, and Taiwan as reasons students should understand the topic. Members asked whether the subject is already covered in current social studies standards, whether one hour is enough, and whether the bill would apply to public, private, parochial, and charter schools. The sponsor said he did not believe communism is specifically required in current standards, that he would prefer a full course but was proposing a minimal requirement, and that he intended the bill to apply broadly to schools under the Department of Education’s umbrella, though he acknowledged the wording may need clarification for charter schools. He also said the proposal was both reactive and proactive, based on anecdotal concerns and his teaching experience. A second supporter testified that he was born in the Soviet Union and favored the bill, but suggested the instruction should emphasize critical thinking and explain both why communism can appeal to some people and why it can have harmful consequences. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Szabo worked as a career civil servant, first for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and then the Office
• Szabo was repeatedly recognized with awards for his excellent performance in the Office of Nuclear Reactor
• David's primary focus during the time included EPA's program... under the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission. At the NRC, I was able to become a member of the U.S.
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have an evaluator with our program that evaluates all of our programs.
• We do have an evaluator with our program that evaluates all of our programs.
• We do have an evaluator with our program that evaluates all of our programs.
• This ratification is for the nuclear planning and response program, which was moved in July 2025 to the
• It amends an existing program for administration of the Autism Waiver Program.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• The four programs currently three are set up.
• Lastly, item four, the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor, Texas Nuclear Energy Fund.
• ERCOT generation loan program, a completion bonus program for an ERCOT generation. generation, an outside
• Wow, so we're talking $10 billion for this program.
• by expanding that program, why would we do that?

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• and co-coordinating a family program.
• social workers through the programs that I...
• The room education undergraduate program is similar to the building trades.
• We have to talk about the opioid settlement program.
• , which was the largest youth development program in Lee County for 11 years.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• It eliminates funds for rural Program.
• </c><01:01:49.599><c> and</c> residency program and residency program and 14.9<01:01:52.119><c> million
• ,</c> community solar garden program, community solar garden program, modifications<01:13:53.280><c>
• </c> changes to the state's nuclear changes to the state's nuclear moratorum.<01:14:14.800><c> It</c>
• Uh, although I do know the Senator from Mankato... explore nuclear energy, not to even explore nuclear

Transcript Highlights:

• Ultimately, both nuclear EMP and solar weather produce what's called ground-induced currents.
• He added that the bars on the right show nuclear EMP.
• So either one of these threats, what happens is whether it's a nuclear blast in the exoatmosphere or
• So nuclear electromagnetic pulse, the phenomenon...
• So as an example, if an adversary launched a nuclear weapon over, say, New York...

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The committee began by deferring six bills en bloc, then took up House Bill 1103, which would exempt certain industrial facility construction or improvement projects—especially aerospace-related facilities—from some local permitting requirements. Supporters said the goal was to reduce red tape and help Louisiana compete with states like Texas and Florida for aerospace investment, while members raised concerns about safety, home rule authority, and whether fewer permits could reduce oversight. The bill was reported favorably. Members then heard extensive testimony on House Bill 1212, which would require utilities to assess large electric transformers for vulnerability to electromagnetic threats and report findings to GOSEP, with a public version of the report. The sponsor and a retired Marine officer argued the bill was a limited “scoping” measure to identify vulnerabilities to solar storms or EMP attacks and estimate hardening costs; they said the current federal standard is too low and that protection technology exists. Committee members and utility representatives questioned whether the bill duplicated existing federal/NERC requirements, whether the information could create security risks if disclosed, whether the PSC had already studied the issue, and whether the costs would be passed to ratepayers. The PSC said it had previously opened a docket and studied EMP/physical security issues but never issued a final recommendation. After discussion, the sponsor agreed to defer the bill, and the committee deferred HB 1212. The committee then reported several technical or narrower bills favorably: House Bill 241 updated bank records disclosure citations and replaced a reference to the defunct Office of Thrift Supervision with the CFPB; House Bill 1091 shifted local fire departments to direct reporting into the federal emergency response system; and House Bill 1027 extended existing liability protection for real estate agents to licensed appraisers regarding smoke and carbon monoxide detector compliance in one- and two-family homes. Finally, House Bill 1096, dealing with electrical cooperative bylaws and board authority versus member approval, was introduced with testimony from cooperative representatives explaining it was intended to restore member control or allow cooperatives to opt out of the 2012 change that had expanded board authority. The transcript cuts off before final action on HB 1096.

Transcript Highlights:

• A nuclear facility is a quiet operation.
• A nuclear facility is a quiet operation.
• , oil and gas research program, and renewable energy programs.
• That's typically what the lignite research program, oil and gas research program, renewable energy program
• Typically, what the lignite research program, oil and gas research program, and renewable energy program

Summary: The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of Minnkota Power Cooperative before hearing presentations on large energy consumers and related infrastructure issues. The first presentation, from the North Dakota Transmission Authority, focused on the need for better local decision-making tools for counties, townships, and planning and zoning boards facing major projects such as transmission lines, pipelines, data centers, wind, solar, and large-scale agriculture. The speaker urged more objective, data-driven analysis, noted that local officials often have limited time and resources, and said the state should support training and tools through groups like the League of Cities and the Association of Counties. Members asked about proactive outreach, data center ordinances, and how to avoid subsidizing large loads or causing reliability problems. The Division of Air Quality then discussed environmental oversight of data centers, emphasizing that North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the country and that the agency’s role is limited to air, water discharge, stormwater, and waste—not zoning or water use. The presentation explained that data centers generally have low direct emissions but may rely on diesel backup generators when the grid is unavailable, which creates air-quality concerns; the department said it is requiring air monitors at some projects to collect real-world data and guide future decisions. Members asked about generator emissions, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession, and the agency said permit applicants pay for the monitors while the state handles some QA work. The Department of Water Resources followed with an overview of North Dakota water law and data center water use. The director explained the state’s prior-appropriation system, the public-interest review for permits, and the large overall water supply available from groundwater and the Missouri River. He said most proposed data centers use closed-loop cooling systems and generally request relatively small amounts of water compared with other uses such as power plants, irrigation, and oilfield operations, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use only a tiny fraction of Missouri River flow. Questions focused on downstream impacts and comparisons to fracking water use, and the director said the state’s use is too small to materially affect downstream users. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd-Erickson testified online about data center zoning and permitting. He asked the committee to have Legislative Council gather information on how other states handle data center permitting and to keep the topic on the interim agenda. He argued that local zoning should remain local, but said counties lack the technical and legal resources to manage complex reclamation or bonding requirements and that state-level enabling legislation may be more appropriate. He also recommended eliminating tax incentives for data centers. The committee chair said staff would prepare a document on other states’ zoning and permitting approaches. After a lunch recess, the committee reconvened at the EERC, where CEO Charles Gorecki gave an overview of the center’s 75 years of work and its role in oil and gas, carbon management, and other energy technologies, highlighting enhanced oil recovery and carbon dioxide utilization as major opportunities for future production and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• regarding safety with regard to nuclear power.
• regarding safety with regard to nuclear power.
• regarding safety with regard to nuclear power.
• regarding safety with regard to nuclear power.
• The disposal program for solar panels.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> address this program. address this program.
• ,</c> stewardship program, stewardship program, and<00:19:02.800><c> puts</c><00:19:03.080><c> a</c><
• And this program will help stores.
• We're doing take-back programs.
• </c> fall meeting to talk about this program fall meeting to talk about this program and<00:23:36.720

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:34:12.240><c> we</c> large part to these very programs we large part to these very programs we
• </c> uh to know what programs may be needed. uh to know what programs may be needed.
• </c> smoking it really worked the programming smoking it really worked the programming it<01:08:24.000
• And this program is a peer-to-peer prevention program that's utilized in the schools.
• And this program is a peer-to-peer prevention program that's utilized in the schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, Senate Bill 1432 removes the sunset date and all references to pilot programming from the
• Innovative Pathways to Teaching Program, rendering the program permanent.
• President, under the new permanent program, your local innovative pathways providers are still subject

Bills: SB1627 , SB227 , SB366 , SB1193 , SB1433 , SB1450 , SB1481 , SB1749 , SB1810 , SB1812 , SB1921 , SB1948 , SB2044 , SB2178 , SB169 , SB1877 , HB1409 , SB1266 , SB1432

Keywords: criminal code cleanup, duplicate statutes, statutory consolidation, repealer bill, emergency clause, Title 21 crimes, Title 47 DUI, child abuse reporting, child neglect, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, sex offenses, rape, stalking, domestic abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, sex trafficking, gang-related offense, eluding police

Bills: HSB146 , HF277 , HSB145 , HSB153 , HF200 , HF320 , HSB86 , HSB121 , HSB122 , HF137 , SSB1081 , SSB1082 , SSB1074

Committee: Joint Health and Human Services

Keywords: child welfare, foster care, relative placement, kinship care, fictive kin, child in need of assistance, CINA, juvenile court, dispositional hearing, best interests of the child, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, child protective services, CPS, 30 days to family, family reunification, permanency planning, relative search, notice to relatives, licensed foster parent

Transcript Highlights:

• I rise today to speak directly about the nation's preeminent anti-poverty program for the elderly and
• the nation's preeminent anti-poverty program for children.
• inti poverty program for the elderly<00:26:30.960><c> and</c><00:26:31.120><c> the</c><00:26:31.279>
• But by 1996, Ukraine had voluntarily given up that nuclear arsenal in exchange for written guarantees
• weapons, it forever raised the risk of an uncontrolled nuclear arms race and a clear Holocaust, and

Bills: HR758 , HR856 , HR153 , HR872 , HB1515

Keywords: fencing, youth development, underserved communities, athletics, Peter Westbrook, scholarships, academic achievement, SNAP, nutrition assistance, contingency funds, government shutdown, hunger prevention, vulnerable populations, federal funding, condolences, aviation safety, transportation disaster, victims support, first responders, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Transcript Highlights:

• One of my priorities is going to be modernizing the nuclear enterprise, and of course the B-21 is an
• And I understand that 100 B-21 program of record discussion to be rather maybe a floor, and I'm very
• It sounds like, if true, it might be one of the challenges in the program.
• that's experienced, modernization of the nuclear enterprise is of course a priority. of mine.
• I've worked with acquirers, program managers in that process.

Committee: Senate Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: Department of Defense, nominations, Matthew Lohmeyer, Justin Overbaugh, global security, military readiness, NATO, Russia, China, defense infrastructure

Summary: The meeting was primarily focused on discussing nominations for key positions within the Department of Defense, specifically for roles such as the Undersecretary of the Air Force and the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. Senators expressed urgent concerns about global security threats, the need for robust military readiness, and the emphasis on effective collaboration with NATO allies amidst rising tensions with adversaries such as Russia and China. Several senators highlighted the challenges facing military infrastructure and defense capabilities, suggesting a critical need for improvements and investment in these areas to ensure national security.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we've had nation-leading energy efficiency programs for over 30 years.
• As you can see, programs that we offer.
• Say if we had 15 nuclear power plants.
• </c><00:53:44.240><c> I</c> Say if we had 15 nuclear power plants.
• I Say if we had 15 nuclear power plants.

Bills: HF4770

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: biomass, anaerobic digester, renewable energy, sustainability, energy generation

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then took up House File 4770, as amended by an A1 technical amendment. The bill was presented as a proposal to help Liberty Diversified International and Liberty Paper in Becker plan for replacement steam and energy supply as the Shuro facility closure approaches in 2030. Testimony described Liberty Paper’s current closed-loop steam arrangement with Shuro, the need to study future fuel and technology options, and the potential use of anaerobic digestion, biomass, construction and demolition waste, and food waste to produce steam and possibly power. Members asked about feedstock availability, the need for a feasibility study, possible backup natural gas use, and whether waste heat or wastewater heat could be useful. The bill was laid over as amended. The committee then heard a presentation from CenterPoint Energy on Minnesota heating demand and electrification. CenterPoint staff said affordability and reliability are central concerns and outlined how the utility manages customer costs through energy efficiency, contracting, storage, peak shaving, and conservation. Dr. Joel Lynch presented research on peak heating with natural gas and the “missing piece” in Minnesota’s electrification puzzle, explaining that Minnesota’s cold climate makes winter heating demand especially challenging and that replacing natural gas would require substantial new electric capacity and renewable resources. He compared his work with prior national and state studies and said the analysis used Minnesota-specific gas throughput, COP assumptions across several electrification scenarios, and January renewable capacity data. Lynch summarized preliminary findings that Minnesota’s peak gas heating throughput could be up to 40 gigawatts, with electric resistance heating implying roughly 36 gigawatts of new demand, and lower but still substantial demand under heat-pump scenarios. The presentation was informational only; no vote was taken on the CenterPoint presentation. The meeting ended with House File 4770 laid over and the energy demand presentation continuing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to thank the tax committee for letting us get the nuclear study in since we didn't have a
• The language in the bill will ensure a thorough and unbiased study of nuclear energy, including a true
• I recognize a member from Hennepin, Representative Gomez. nuclear study in since we didn't have a nuclear
• energy including a true nuclear energy including a true comparison<00:05:45.600><c> of</c><00:05:45.760
• </c><00:05:59.400><c> energy</c> the liabilities between nuclear energy the liabilities between nuclear