Transcript Highlights:

• Provides up to the ages of 16 or 18.
• That's what FIG provides.
• That's what FIG provides. to succeed. That's what FIG provides.
• I'd be happy to provide it to the committee.
• So, I just wanted to provide for us too.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am pleased to be here to provide some orientation to the committee.
• That’s not included in here; that’s about another $3 million a year in providing tuition waivers for
• </c> another $3 million a year in providing another $3 million a year in providing tuition<01:19:35.199
• </c><01:47:09.239><c> our</c><01:47:09.480><c> respective</c> were providing our respective were providing
• </c><02:02:04.920><c> us</c> one in the current banum provides us one in the current banum provides us

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was the first session of a newly created House Education Funding Committee, which also handles career technical education and higher education legislation. The chair explained that the committee was split off from the larger education committee because of the high volume of bills in the prior biennium, and said its focus would be on education funding policy and related fiscal issues. He noted that the committee had already reviewed major topics with the Department of Education, including the foundation formula, building aid, career technical education, special education aid, catastrophic aid, and higher education funding, and that chancellors from the university and community college systems were scheduled to appear later that morning. The bulk of the meeting was an orientation on committee procedures and decorum. The chair reviewed attendance and replacement rules, hearing procedures, time limits for testimony, and how the committee would handle crowded hearings, early bills, and fiscal notes. He emphasized that hearings are not debates, that sponsors and co-sponsors may present but should not use their position to dominate questioning, and that the chair controls whether additional technical questions are asked of witnesses. He also stressed neutrality, saying members should not display buttons or placards or engage in running debates with testifiers, and that the committee should treat all testimony respectfully regardless of party or viewpoint. Additional housekeeping guidance covered security procedures, use of cell phones and computers during hearings, breaks and hydration in the dry hearing rooms, and courtesy toward the clerk and other staff. The chair also asked members to notify leadership in advance of absences and explained that some bills may require larger rooms or overflow arrangements. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we would very much like the opportunity to explore this option to provide health benefits to our
• And we would very much like the opportunity to explore this option to provide health benefits to our
• And we would very much like the opportunity to explore this option to provide health benefits to our
• And we would very much like the opportunity to explore this option to provide health benefits to our
• </c> the interest for doing this providing the interest for doing this providing the<01:15:49.120><c>

Bills: HF4319 , HF3295 , HF3589 , HF3587 , HF3588 , HF4295 , HF3571 , HF3895

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: public utilities commission, Lake City, port authority, Red Wing, terms of appointment, local government, elections, open meeting law, transparency, public engagement, social media, government accountability, voter access, polling place, ballot, unexpected needs, election judge, public information, political parties, HF4295

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> there are companies that's that provide there are companies that's that provide generation<00:44
• </c><00:57:46.319><c> I</c> to have it capable of um providing I to have it capable of um providing I
• </c> couple of things there that um provided couple of things there that um provided an<02:40:43.200>
• </c> provide that resource to get them going. provide that resource to get them going.
• And we can provide copies.

Committee: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was asked to provide an overview of the executive order pertaining to gas tax and to talk about the
• I was asked to provide an management.
• That doesn't seem to be the case. >> And we're willing to provide training at any time.
• </c> &gt;&gt; and and we're willing to provide &gt;&gt; and and we're willing to provide training<01:
• </c> is the the the location that'll provide is the the the location that'll provide most<01:46:59.280

Committee: Joint Transportation

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We anticipate implementation after the provider hub is fully rolled out to all providers.
• Provider premiums are rising astronomically, and more and more providers and potential providers are
• providers providing that care.
• providers providing that care.
• providing that care the providers providing that care they'll<01:23:34.360><c> be</c><01:23:34.480><

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• guidance and technical support and quality monitoring for our provider networks on all three of our
• to provide those services.
• Right now, it's really what the provider tells us they need in order to provide services.
• um</c> number of providers to provide that um number of providers to provide that um Home<01:22:44.199
• Yeah, we certainly still have providers that are providing services without room and board.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division of Long-Term Supports and Services presented its budget and program overview as part of the Department of Health and Human Services operating budget review. Leadership described the division’s three bureaus—Aging and Adult Services, Developmental Services, and Family-Centered Services—and explained that the division provides guidance, technical assistance, quality monitoring, and contracted provider oversight across the lifespan. Members also discussed staffing, with reported vacancy rates of 4% in Aging and Adult Services, 15% in Developmental Services, and 6% in Family-Centered Services; the division said the higher BDS vacancy rate is partly due to the small number of authorized positions. The governor’s budget had left eight positions unfunded in the division, including three in Aging and Adult Services and five in BDS. A major topic was the division’s roadmap initiatives, especially building a system of care for healthy aging and strengthening developmental disabilities systems through a new reimbursement rate structure. The division said it contracted with an actuary to study DD service costs and found rates had not been reviewed since 2017 and were significantly below actual costs and other states’ rates, contributing to provider shortages even when services are authorized. Members asked about the impact on service delivery and whether rates would need to rise overall; the division said its strategy is to focus on lower-cost services that help people remain in the community. The division also reported waiver enrollment figures, including about 4,161 people on the Choices for Independence waiver, 3,688 average nursing facility residents, 5,061 people on the DD waiver, 228 on the acquired brain disorder waiver, and 488 children on the in-home support waiver, while noting there is no funding waitlist but provider availability remains a constraint. The division highlighted IT modernization as a major accomplishment, especially moving Adult Protective Services and Developmental Services into the New Heights system. Officials said these changes improve case-note access, data retrieval, service authorization tracking, and transparency for providers, and they asked for future oversight discussion focused on IT leverage. Members noted that New Heights maintenance is budgeted in the Office of the Commissioner under class 27 and suggested better transparency on system costs and benefits. The division also reported that it closed out a long-running CMS corrective action plan for BDS on July 1, 2023, and said it is now focused on strengthening the system rather than compliance alone. Other discussion covered the Aging and Adult Services bureau’s name change from Elderly and Adult Services to Adult and Aging Services, intended to avoid negative connotations and better reflect preventative services. The bureau described Adult Protective Services trends involving scams, financial exploitation, self-neglect, and isolation, and explained that it administers the CFI waiver, determines medical eligibility for nursing facility level of care, and braids funding from Medicaid, state funds, Older Americans Act money, Social Service Block Grants, and other grants. Members asked about waiver growth targets and federal consequences if enrollment remains below projections; the division said it would explain the shortfall in a future waiver amendment and did not anticipate a federal penalty. The meeting ended without any votes or formal actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, we are happy to provide a breakdown of those numbers for you and provide that to the committee
• So, uh, we are happy to provide a breakdown of those numbers for you and provide that to the committee
• </c><00:24:01.520><c> Thank</c> provide that. Senator Muhammed. Thank provide that.
• This bill provides their lives.
• </c> and it can provide a path to stability. and it can provide a path to stability.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> provide testimony. provide testimony.
• </c> testimony that we think would um provide testimony that we think would um provide clarity.<00:19
• One individual providing support.
• </c> Association offering testimony providing Association offering testimony providing comments.<00:23
• </c> Education Principles providing comments. Education Principles providing comments.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2485, which would require cardiovascular screening for student athletes. The Department of Education and Department of Health said they support the bill’s intent but noted that many screenings are already part of existing school-entry and well-child exams. The Attorney General’s office asked for clarifying language on who performs the screenings, where results go, how “positive findings” are defined, how referrals would work, and whether funding would be appropriated if DOE must hire health professionals. The American Heart Association strongly supported the bill, citing the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes and arguing that sports physicals are an effective opportunity for early detection. No vote was taken, and the committee moved on after testimony. The committee then heard HB 89, concerning a school psychologist working group and possible licensing or credentialing of school psychologists. The Department of Education and Board of Psychology supported the measure. The Hawaii Psychological Association said it supports licensing school psychologists but asked to be included in the working group, arguing it is an important stakeholder. The Hawaii Association of School Psychologists opposed including HPA, saying the issue is between school psychologists and DCCA and that HPA is not part of their organization. Testimony and discussion focused on the long-running disagreement over whether school psychologists should be regulated under the Board of Psychology or another mechanism, and on title protection and scope of practice. No action was reported during this portion. The committee also took up HB 2445, relating to standardized emergency responses for immigration enforcement at or near schools. The Department of Education said it already issued internal law-enforcement guidance and questioned whether the bill was necessary, while also raising concerns about the bill’s 1,000-foot buffer language and the limits of school authority over activity off campus. The Board of Education echoed those concerns and suggested the bill may need clearer definitions. Supporters, including the White Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and an attorney testifying on Know Your Rights training, argued that recent federal changes have increased ICE activity near schools and that a law is needed to ensure clear, public protocols, staff training, and family protections. A student testifier said the measure was a top priority of the state student council. The transcript ends during testimony, with no vote or final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:35.079><c> to</c><00:14:35.240><c> provide</c> relationship with to provide to provide relationship
• with to provide to provide Equity<00:14:35.839><c> to</c><00:14:36.000><c> large</c><00:14:36.199><c
• <00:14:40.360><c> and</c><00:14:40.480><c> provide</c> infrastructure and provide infrastructure and
• ><c> provide</c><00:53:46.960><c> some</c> provide to provide some provide to provide some context<00
• </c><00:55:50.720><c> they've</c> provide that itak has provided they've provide that itak has provided

Bills: HF846 , HF1538 , HF1959

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education, special education, apprenticeship, funding, grants, intermediate school districts, teacher apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, teacher licensure, teacher shortage, workforce development, education finance, K-12 education, higher education, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, Tier 3 license, teacher preparation, mentor teacher, school district

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:29.240><c> some</c> written testimony I Prov provided some written testimony I Prov provided
• :20.919><c> like</c> well so examples that you provided like well so examples that you provided like
• </c> written comments but did want to provide written comments but did want to provide some<00:45:04.760
• </c> we stand on our testimony providing we stand on our testimony providing written<00:52:38.760><c>
• subsidy provided for parking and the subsidy that's provided for bus passes.

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1077, a governor’s administration bill to increase transient accommodations tax revenue and split it between two new special funds: a climate mitigation and resiliency special fund and an economic development and revitalization special fund for tourism/resort areas. Supporters, including the Governor’s Office, recovery and resilience staff, climate and conservation groups, and several state agencies, said the bill would create a dedicated, more reliable funding stream for wildfire mitigation, coastal resilience, land clearing, infrastructure, and community-led projects. Some supporters also urged changes to the bill, including moving the fund to DLNR, adding DHHL and OHA representation, clarifying community grants, and ensuring the fund can support both state-led and community-led resilience work. The Attorney General’s office flagged a drafting issue, noting that the bill references fees deposited into the new fund even though the new chapter does not authorize fee collection, and recommended deleting that language or adding fee authority. The Climate Advisory Team representative also suggested adding DHHL to the decision-making body and requiring at-large members to have climate, resilience, conservation, or infrastructure expertise. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Kohala Coast Resort Association opposed the measure, arguing that the special fund structure does not meet statutory criteria, that the bill functions as a tax increase, and that the transient accommodations tax is not being collected equitably across all lodging types before any increase is imposed. Other opponents, including tourism and lodging interests, warned that hotels and timeshares already bear most of the tax burden and that raising the TAT could hurt an already struggling visitor industry and drive tourists away. Supporters countered that current funding is far short of what is needed and that a dedicated revenue stream is necessary to address climate impacts now. Committee members questioned why the Legislature should cede spending decisions to a separate executive-branch process, and the administration responded that the bill is intended to create a transparent, recurring mechanism for funding priorities that can be adjusted over time. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:49.680><c> e</c> Minnesota provide circulating e Minnesota provide circulating e materials<00:02:
• </c><00:25:25.120><c> um</c><00:25:25.200><c> we</c><00:25:25.440><c> provide</c> provide the content
• . um we provide provide the content. um we provide content<00:25:26.240><c> across</c><00:25:27.039><
• </c> to K12 standards doesn't provide to K12 standards doesn't provide students<01:40:29.600><c> a</c
• It's the only type of be providing.

Bills: HF3698 , HF3067 , HF3730

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: libraries, electronic books, digital audiobooks, licensing agreements, public access, paraprofessional, paraprofessional qualifications, education support staff, teacher aide, teacher assistant, special education, Title I, federal personnel qualifications, Minnesota Department of Education, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, Read Act, reading instruction, math instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 3753 provides a solution.
• When educators provide that support.
• </c> also provide good delivery of service. also provide good delivery of service.
• </c> However, I'm here today to provide However, I'm here today to provide testimony<01:41:12.280><c>
• </c> the details that are actually provided the details that are actually provided by<01:50:43.280><c

Bills: HF3753 , HF4299 , HF4700 , HF4282 , HF4139 , HF3530 , HF4031

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: school safety, threat assessment, pilot project, education, real-time monitoring, public safety, HF4299, school safety specialists, Minnesota School Safety Center, appropriation, general fund, fiscal year 2026, school security, school violence prevention, student safety, Department of Public Safety, school resource support, education funding, peace officer, training reimbursement

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> learning for many students by providing learning for many students by providing free<00:01:43.840
• </c><00:02:28.760><c> some</c> worked uh the legislature provided some worked uh the legislature provided
• </c><00:19:04.919><c> other</c> can uh can and do uh provide other can uh can and do uh provide other
• </c> doing so schools were already providing doing so schools were already providing breakfast<00:20:
• </c><01:25:36.360><c> them</c> invested in that we're providing them invested in that we're providing

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and provide support to grantees. and provide support to grantees.
• It will provide a dual benefit, providing career learning opportunities for young people, showing them
• It will provide a dual benefit, providing career learning opportunities for young people, showing them
• It will provide a dual benefit, providing career learning opportunities for young people, showing them
• It will provide a dual benefit, providing career learning opportunities for young people, showing them

Bills: HF4072 , HF3691 , HF4613

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: workforce development, journalism, local news, internships, media training, emergency management, essential employees, public safety, law enforcement, workforce, economic development, appropriation, Twin Cities Marathon, Explore Minnesota, grants, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ENCAN, the National College Attainment Network, tracks FAFSA filing.
• , are providing wraparound services, are providing those opportunities, are increasing access.
• , are providing wraparound services, are providing those opportunities, are increasing access.
• to students to hold the net price down, and I'll provide some information for the committee.
• </c><01:42:43.760><c> information</c> refusal to provide information refusal to provide information or

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The employer does not have to provide benefits, doesn't have to provide pay, just says leave the slot
• the child care uh that still provide the child care uh that that's<00:06:04.400><c> needed</c><00:06
• </c><01:29:15.600><c> this</c> you for the opportunity to provide this you for the opportunity to provide
• And this provides housing for someone. They talked about it's not workforce.
• And this provides housing for someone. They talked about it's not workforce.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:11:37.279><c> that</c> do not have the URL we can provide that do not have the URL we can provide
• </c><00:39:36.240><c> uh</c> shelters and who's providing uh shelters and who's providing uh logistics
• </c> will be provided. will be provided. &gt;&gt; Oh,<01:10:38.560><c> sure.
• </c><01:28:08.159><c> for</c> there's no mechanism to provide for there's no mechanism to provide for
• </c> provide that to you. provide that to you. &gt;&gt; Okay. &gt;&gt; Okay. &gt;&gt; Okay.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management on its hazard mitigation plan and recent emergency events on Oahu. Chair Dela Botti opened the meeting by explaining that the briefing was intended to review the mitigation planning process, the city’s hazard mitigation plan, and lessons learned from recent tsunami and wildfire threats, building on earlier briefings with state emergency management and transportation officials. Director Collins and hazard mitigation staff officer Ian Kio presented the plan, describing it as a five-year FEMA-required document focused on reducing long-term risk to people and property, not an operations plan for active disasters. Kio outlined how the plan was developed over roughly 18 months with a core team, steering committee, consultant support, and public input, and said it was formally adopted by the mayor’s office and approved by FEMA in July 2025. He said the updated plan was aligned more closely with the state hazard mitigation plan, expanded to cover 15 hazards including climate change and sea level rise, and organized around hazard risk rankings and mitigation strategies. He identified the highest-risk hazards as climate change and sea level rise, floods, health risks, hurricanes, tsunamis, and wildfires, and said the plan includes short-, medium-, and long-term actions such as education, Firewise community planning, flood mapping, and major infrastructure projects like tsunami walls and street elevation work. He also emphasized that the plan will be maintained with yearly updates and ongoing public feedback. Collins then discussed after-action findings from the July 6 Meli fire and the recent tsunami response, noting that reviews are still ongoing. He said the fire response showed strong initiative and teamwork, including police officers helping with fire suppression support and door-to-door evacuation efforts before firefighters arrived, and a staff duty officer who initiated a wireless emergency alert without waiting for higher-level direction. He said these actions reflected a culture of rapid decision-making when lives are at stake. Collins also urged residents to prepare by making family plans, gathering supplies, checking flood and tsunami risk maps, retrofitting homes, and obtaining insurance before disasters occur. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• efficient to provide the communication that<00:37:42.960><c> the</c><00:37:43.079><c> entrepreneurs<
• MAA is a 53-year-old organization, and we serve entrepreneurs trying to provide them with the kind of
• </c> serve entrepreneurs trying to provide serve entrepreneurs trying to provide them<00:41:55.960><c
• any suggestions that would be provide any suggestions that would be helpful<00:59:41.480><c> uh</c><
• If you can provide us your testimony, welcome to the committee, and state your name for the record.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are providing these experiences and viewpoints to assist you in making informed decisions during the
• We are providing approached carefully.
• every service outlined idea, to provide every service outlined in<00:15:02.000><c> a</c><00:15:02.240
• And I think that just provides assurance for our district.
• And I think that just provides assurance for our district.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met to hear from the New Hampshire Association of School Principals as part of its review of a proposal involving statewide administrative consolidation and changes to school governance. Members first discussed how school board witnesses would be selected, with the chair saying the committee would seek a mix of district sizes and structures and would also accept emailed input. The principals’ association said it represents more than 550 principals and assistant principals and urged caution about any mandatory consolidation, arguing that successful consolidations are gradual and voluntary. Association leaders and principals testified that principals already handle a wide range of responsibilities, including instructional leadership, student discipline, safety, staff supervision and evaluation, family and community engagement, and day-to-day crisis response. They argued that shifting more legal, budgetary, and administrative duties onto principals would reduce time for coaching teachers and supporting students, increase burnout and turnover, and create legal and training risks, especially in areas such as special education, privacy, and labor issues. They also said the roles of superintendents, principals, and school board members are distinct and require different training and expertise. Members asked detailed questions about how responsibilities are divided between principals and SAUs, whether principals recruit and evaluate staff, and how much time principals work. One principal said she works about 60 to 70 hours a week and that additional duties would be difficult to absorb. Another principal described his school’s structure, the importance of community building, and the need to preserve district-wide alignment if consolidation moves forward. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.