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• . >> So yesterday we talked about the Brainerd and Baxter situation. Same sort of a thing.
• Brainerd, right next door, also with the local option sales tax, it's only 942.
• This is a lot different than the Brainerd-Baxter discussion because you’ve been an established city,
• The Brainerd-Baxter was completely driving economic development away from another city in a different
• This is a lot different than the Brainerd-Baxter discussion because you’ve been an established city,

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• 1,234 individuals throughout the state in 23 cities, including Virginia, Duluth, Detroit Lakes, Brainerd

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• Uh, the Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity, which is based in Brainerd, but serves Crow Wing, Wadena, Cass
• Uh, the Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity, which is based in Brainerd, but serves Crow Wing, Wadena, Cass
• Uh, the Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity, which is based in Brainerd, but serves Crow Wing, Wadena, Cass
• Brainerd, but serves Crow Wing, Wadena, Cass, and Hubbard counties, has seen how this is impacting families

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The task force met on October 22, 2025, with a quorum present and several members participating remotely. Members approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Michelle Urick of the Legislative Coordinating Commission then gave an administrative update on proxy voting and the task force’s operating procedures. She said the enabling statute only authorizes the officially appointed member to act and vote, so proxy voting is not allowed, and votes must be cast in person at the meeting where the item is considered. She also said members may submit written positions, but not vote before or after a meeting. In response to concerns about attendance for future votes, the chair said the January meetings would be rescheduled if possible using a Doodle poll so more members could be present in person. The group also agreed to treat the revised document as operating procedures rather than a formal charter, with no separate adoption action needed at that time. The task force then moved into testimony on homeowners and commercial property insurance. Paul Edgar of Minnesota Realtors said rising insurance costs are adding to housing affordability pressures, citing an increase in the monthly principal, interest, taxes, and insurance payment on a median-priced Minnesota home from $1,622 in 2021 to $2,642 in September 2025. He said higher insurance costs and limited coverage can affect buyers’ financing, especially for condominiums and townhomes, and urged continued work on liability and insurance-related laws that may discourage condo development. He also referenced prior bipartisan reforms to Minnesota’s condominium construction defects law and said his organization supports further improvements to encourage more condo production. Keenan Ravery of the Minnesota Mortgage Association focused on how insurance requirements affect mortgage lending. He explained that lenders require insurance both at origination and throughout the life of the loan, with standards aimed at protecting collateral rather than providing full homeowners coverage. He said replacement-cost coverage has long been the norm, but recent issues with roofs, deductibles, HO-6 policies, and force-placed insurance have become pain points for consumers and lenders. He said his association is working with national trade groups on reforms that could allow more flexibility in coverage types and deductibles, and he expressed hope that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency may announce policy changes in the coming months or by early 2026. No votes or substantive policy actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and agreeing to pursue scheduling adjustments for January.

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• The coalition is made up of children's museums in my district of Duluth, as well as Brainerd, Grand Rapids
• Cloud, Bloomington, Willmar, Benson, Fergus Falls, Hutchinson, Brainerd, Baxter, Mankato, and Rochester
• The coalition is made up of children's museums in my district of Duluth, as well as Brainerd, Grand Rapids
• Cloud, Bloomington, Willmar, Benson, Fergus Falls, Hutchinson, Brainerd, Baxter, Mankato, and Rochester

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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• Brainerd, what safeguards...”

Summary: The Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee met to consider one measure, PCS for HB 289, which would amend Florida’s wrongful death statute to allow parents of an unborn child to recover damages for the child’s wrongful death and to include parents in the definition of survivors. The sponsor said the bill is intended to give parents a remedy when a wrongful act, negligence, breach of contract, or breach of warranty causes the loss of an unborn child, while also preserving existing protections for lawful medical care and the mother. Members questioned the bill extensively about the meaning of “survivors,” whether it could reach surrogacy situations, friends or family who assist someone in obtaining abortion care, paternity issues, and whether abusive or unqualified fathers could bring claims. The sponsor repeatedly said the bill is limited to parents, does not authorize suits against the mother or lawful medical providers, and would still require the normal wrongful death procedures, including appointment of a personal representative. He cited Duncan v. Flynn as the case holding that current law does not allow recovery for the death of an unborn child. Representative Gottlieb offered an amendment modeled on criminal-law protections, aimed at expanding explicit immunity for a pregnant woman and for persons providing medical care or abortion-related conduct with consent. Supporters of the amendment said it would better align civil law with criminal protections; opponents argued it was overly broad and could shield unlicensed conduct. The amendment failed on a voice vote. Public testimony was divided, with supporters from pro-life and Catholic organizations backing the bill and some asking to remove the health care exemption, while opponents from ACLU, Equality Florida, Planned Parenthood affiliates, Florida Voice for the Unborn, Voices of Florida, and others warned the bill could chill reproductive health care, increase liability for doctors and hospitals, and invite lawsuits involving surrogates, family members, and abortion-related care. In debate, supporters said the bill simply recognizes the value of unborn children and gives parents a remedy for wrongful loss, while opponents argued it could create unintended consequences in family law, surrogacy, IVF, and medical practice, and could empower abusive partners or rapists. After closing remarks, the committee voted 13 yeas and 3 nays to report PCS for HB 289 favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

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• This is a community mural in Brainerd that was sponsored by one of the regional arts councils. councils

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• This has locations in Alexandria, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead, and St.
• This has locations in Alexandria, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead, and St.
• This has locations in Alexandria, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead, and St.

Bills: HF4588, HF3685, HF4577, HF4932

Keywords: veterans, veterans affairs, mental health, behavioral health, rural health, rural areas, access to care, task force, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, general fund appropriation, veteran suicide prevention, PTSD, service members, military families, telehealth, rural psychiatry, high school diploma, armed forces, education policy, military service

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• Uh, and they tend to stay, and they go to Brainerd, and they go to Bemidji, and they play golf, and they
• Uh, and they tend to stay, and they go to Brainerd, and they go to Bemidji, and they play golf, and they
• You're going to Brainerd, you're going to Duluth, you're going to Rochester.

Bills: HF1016, HF2800, HF156, HF3051, HF526, HF2658, HF2062, HF2801

Keywords: local government aid, Baldwin, taxation, base year formula, municipal funding, population aid, aid penalty forgiveness, Minnesota, city funding, appropriations, HF156, lawful gambling, veterans organizations, licensed veterans organization, Minnesota gambling law, gross profits, lawful purpose, real property repair, facility maintenance, capital assets

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• following rural communities in Minnesota: Detroit Lakes, Ada, Perham, Wadena, Fergus Falls, Crookston, Brainerd
• following rural communities in Minnesota: Detroit Lakes, Ada, Perham, Wadena, Fergus Falls, Crookston, Brainerd
• following rural communities in Minnesota: Detroit Lakes, Ada, Perham, Wadena, Fergus Falls, Crookston, Brainerd

Keywords: 1183, house

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• Um, and so you can see those on lines 135 through 144 for Winona, Northfield, Minnetonka, Brainerd, Rochester

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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• I spent 15 of my years at North as the district chief for our Brainerd region.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 337, a bill addressing long-term funding for rural and Greater Minnesota EMS and ambulance services. The author offered the A2 amendment, moved to divide it, and the committee adopted lines 1.2 to 1.19 of the amendment. The bill, as amended, was described as creating a policy framework for identifying ambulance services with operating deficits, requiring financial audits, and setting up a future grant program, with the author emphasizing that the proposal was still being developed and was intended to be a long-term solution rather than a short-term fix. Testimony was largely supportive. Eric Simonson of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities said the bill builds on last session’s one-time aid and would target grant dollars using state data, clarify eligible uses, allow audits, address uncompensated care and readiness costs, and require reporting back to the legislature. Mike Warner of the Red Wing Fire Department said his city’s ambulance service operates with a heavy government-funded payer mix and a persistent operating shortfall. Tim Meyer of Sanford Ambulance said low-volume rural services face widening revenue gaps, staffing pressures, and the loss of the volunteer model. Nathan Zacharias of the Association of Minnesota Counties and Kevin Lee of North Memorial Health also supported the bill, citing rising costs, staffing shortages, stagnant reimbursement, and the need for a sustainable statewide funding model. Members raised concerns about how the bill would work in practice, especially around communities that straddle metro and non-metro boundaries and around local control over grant dollars. Representative Pel asked how the eligibility language would apply to places like Northfield and New Prague; the author and a testifier said eligibility would depend on whether a service area is mostly outside the metro area, but acknowledged more review was needed. Representative Huitt argued the bill should give more local control and should address EMS as a statewide issue, not only a Greater Minnesota issue. Representative Ryer asked whether the bill would eventually include revenue recapture or another funding source, and the author said the proposal was still at an early stage and all options were being considered. The committee laid HF 337, as amended, over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

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• Wing County attorney asked us to, and we have two great prosecutors who are about to go on trial in Brainerd

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud

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• This is a community mural in Brainerd that was Sponsored by one of the regional arts councils.

Keywords: 1183, house

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• President, it's the auto mechanic in Brainerd. It's the truck driver from Aitkin.
• President, it's the auto mechanic in Brainerd. Brainerd. Brainerd.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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• Paul, and then maybe not as well known, a branch closed up in the Brainerd Lakes area.
• Paul, and then maybe not as well known, a branch closed up in the Brainerd Lakes area.
• Paul, and then maybe not as well known, a branch closed up in the Brainerd Lakes area.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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• Minnesota, so I wanted to mention, you know, we track all of our beautiful regions: Alexandria, Brainerd
• Brainerd: 2.6 months of supply, under supplied. Grand Rapids: 2.4 months of supply, under supplied.

Keywords: 1183, house

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• The Brainerd Lakes area is home, and this is hard to narrow down, but good question.
• The Brainerd Lakes area is home, and this is hard to narrow down, but good question.

Keywords: 1183, house

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• Representative Josh Heintzeman, I have the Brainerd Lakes area, so I'm glad to hear that Representative
• Representative Josh Heintzeman, I have the Brainerd Lakes area, so I'm glad to hear that Representative

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Legacy Finance Committee held its first meeting of the session, with members and staff introducing themselves and the chair emphasizing the committee’s role in overseeing Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment funds. The committee then received an overview of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund from Mary Davis. She explained that the fund receives 19.75% of the 1% sales tax, is constitutionally limited to arts education, arts access, and preserving Minnesota history and cultural heritage, and is not a guaranteed base for prior recipients. She reviewed major recipients and statutory requirements, including the Minnesota State Arts Board’s 47% share, funding for the Historical Society, libraries, humanities and cultural organizations, public media, and the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. She also noted the 5% reserve requirement, reporting obligations, and a 2023 legislative directive to improve access through free or reduced admission and outreach to households regardless of income. The committee next heard from Janelle Taylor on the natural resources funds, focusing on the Clean Water Fund and Parks and Trails Fund. She said the Clean Water Fund receives 33% of Legacy revenues and must be used to protect, enhance, and restore water quality and protect groundwater, with at least 5% dedicated to drinking water sources. She described the Clean Water Council’s recommendation process and said most of the money goes to Board of Water and Soil Resources projects, with additional funding for PCA and DNR monitoring. In response to a question about Hastings and PFAS contamination, she said the legislature could appropriate clean water money if the project fits the constitutional criteria and protects drinking water sources. For the Parks and Trails Fund, she explained it receives 14.25% of Legacy revenues and is allocated under the long-standing 40-40-20 split: 40% to state parks and trails, 40% to metropolitan regional parks and trails, and 20% to Greater Minnesota regional parks and trails. House Fiscal Analysis staff then reviewed the reserve requirement and available balances, noting that each Legacy fund must keep a 5% reserve to protect against forecast changes. For the upcoming biennium, they cited approximately $327.229 million available for the Outdoor Heritage Fund, $184.73 million for the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and $133.13 million for the Parks and Trails Fund, with the Clean Water Fund total discussed earlier at about $311 million. Members briefly discussed the importance of the reserve and the zero-base nature of the funds. The committee then moved on to an overview of the Outdoor Heritage Fund and Outdoor Heritage Council from Mark Johnson and Joe Pelco, who explained that the fund was approved by voters in 2008, lasts 25 years, receives about one-third of the 3/8 of 1% sales tax, and is used to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife. They described the council’s statutory role, the small grants program for projects from $5,000 to $500,000, and the annual recommendation process, but no votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

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• I live up in Deerwood, Minnesota, which is by the Brainerd Lakes area.

Bills: HF2438

Keywords: transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school

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• I represent the Brainerd Lakes area on up to Grand Rapids.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all