Transcript Highlights:

• there<00:20:49.200><c> toc><00:20:49.320><c> actuallyc><00:20:49.720><c> schedulec><00:20:50.120
• ><c> thec><00:20:50.240><c> firstc> there to actually schedule the first there to actually schedule
• home,<00:25:25.920><c> andc><00:25:26.080><c> schedulec><00:25:26.440><c> ac><00:25:26.520><c>
• seriesc><00:25:26.960><c> ofc><00:25:27.080><c> follow-upc> home, and schedule a series of follow-up
• home, and schedule a series of follow-up visits<00:25:27.960><c> toc><00:25:28.080><c> makec><00

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:01:25.079><c> whoc><00:01:25.600><c> umc><00:01:26.520><c> uhc><00:01:26.799><c> arec>
• /c><00:01:55.920><c> lotc><00:01:56.159><c> ofc><00:01:56.520><c> thec><00:01:57.159><c> umc>
• c><00:02:11.239><c> andc><00:02:11.440><c> Ic><00:02:11.560><c> knowc><00:02:11.760><c> itc
• > scheduledc><01:19:31.239><c> toc><01:19:31.360><c> doc><01:19:31.520><c> thatc><01:19:31.679
• ><c> veryc><01:19:31.920><c> thingc> actually scheduled to do that very thing actually scheduled

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• price<00:58:51.839><c> schedules.
• pricec> price schedules.
• Medicaid a high price schedule<00:58:54.160><c> ac><00:58:54.400><c> lowc><00:58:54.559><c> price
• c><00:58:54.799><c> schedulec><00:58:55.280><c> pricingc> schedule a low price schedule pricing
• schedule a low price schedule pricing varies<00:58:56.480><c> inc><00:58:56.720><c> networkc><00

Bills: SF0023, SF0057

Keywords: mental health, involuntary hospitalization, examiners, public safety, Wyoming legislature, hospital pricing, healthcare transparency, public health, civil penalties, shoppable services, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><01:44:21.159><c> planc><01:44:22.159><c> somec> schedule?
• We do have<01:44:24.560><c> ac><01:44:24.800><c> meetingc><01:44:25.280><c> scheduledc><01:44:
• c><01:44:26.800><c> Andc> have a meeting scheduled for Okay.
• State or you want to schedule<01:45:04.000><c> yourc><01:45:04.239><c> ownc><01:45:05.119><c> meeting
• ,c><01:45:05.600><c> eitherc> schedule your own meeting, either schedule your own meeting, either

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Nick Sheippek, N-I-C-S-H-E-P-A-C-K.
• I'm the first vice president of the NAACP-E-E-E-C-E-E-C-E-E-C-E-E-C-E-E-E-C-E-P-E-E-E-C-E-P-A-E-E-C-E-E-E-E-C-E-E-E-E-E-E-C-E-E-E-E-E
• Hello, my name is Susan McNeely, M-C-N-E-E-L-Y.
• T-A-M-R-A-H, J-A-C-C-S-O-N, Department of Public Safety, Parole and Probation Chief.
• I'm the chairman of the Board of Parole Commissioners, C-H-R-I-S-D-E-R-C-C-O.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a reschedule the hearing or schedule a meeting<00:02:40.400><c> forc><00:02:40.920><c> decision-making
• <c> thec><00:02:58.640><c> hearingc><00:02:59.519><c> withoutc><00:03:00.000><c> thec> for removal
• c><00:03:02.560><c> Thec><00:03:02.800><c> firstc><00:03:03.040><c> andc><00:03:03.280><c> only
• ><c> toc><00:03:27.360><c> bestc><00:03:27.680><c> supportc><00:03:28.640><c> incarceratedc>
• :03:34.080><c> whoc><00:03:34.400><c> canc><00:03:34.720><c> helpc><00:03:35.040><c> themc><00

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety met on April 17, 2025, to hear STR20, which urges the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to re-evaluate policies on in-person contact visitation at correctional facilities statewide so incarcerated people can stay connected with loved ones who support rehabilitation. Director Tommy Johnson testified that the department supports the intent of the measure and would review its policies and procedures to see whether contact visits could be restarted at all facilities, noting that some facilities already allow them. The committee also acknowledged 11 written testimonies in support, and one Zoom testifier, Panda Valdono, spoke in favor, arguing that in-person visitation supports rehabilitation, mental health, family connection, and successful reentry, and that visitation is not a major source of contraband. After testimony, the committee initially lacked quorum and recessed until 3:40 p.m. When the meeting reopened with six members present, the chair recommended passing STR20 as is. The committee voted to adopt the chair’s recommendation, with members Morikawa, Puo, Witson, and Shimizu voting aye and several members excused. The measure was approved and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:28:20.799><c> andc> exploration course scheduling and exploration course scheduling and experiential
• ><c> bec><00:36:37.680><c> scheduledc> districts.
• <01:10:37.600><c> schedulec><01:10:37.920><c> inc><01:10:38.159><c> itselfc><01:10:38.960><c> and
• 01:34:06.080><c> youc><01:34:06.239><c> knowc><01:34:06.560><c> schedules.
• c> uh you know schedules.

Bills: HF3650, HF2238

Keywords: student career pathways, education framework, experiential learning, employer engagement, career technical education, HF2238, Minnesota, workforce development, construction trades, youth skills training, youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, construction training, career and technical education, CTE, child labor laws, minor labor, labor exemption, workforce pipeline, skilled trades

Transcript Highlights:

• c> fee schedule. fee schedule.
• c><01:28:39.200><c> wholec><01:28:39.440><c> schedule,c><01:28:40.080><c> justc><01:28:40.360
• ><c> thisc> and not the whole schedule, just this and not the whole schedule, just this one, one, one
• <c> schedulec><02:02:15.880><c> acrossc> Navigating a complex bus schedule across Navigating a complex
• bus schedule across cities<02:02:16.680><c> whilec><02:02:16.800><c> losingc><02:02:17.120><c> my

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :38.159><c> vaccinesc><01:45:38.639><c> onc><01:45:38.880><c> thec><01:45:39.119><c> schedule
• c><01:45:40.119><c> somec> the vaccines on the schedule some the vaccines on the schedule some practices
• :54.280><c> vaccinec><01:45:54.880><c> schedulec><01:45:55.719><c> soc><01:45:56.000><c> this
• /c><02:36:22.359><c> schedulec> the same recommended vaccine schedule the same recommended vaccine
• c><03:47:59.680><c> willc><03:48:00.479><c> schedulec><03:48:01.359><c> uhc><03:48:01.600><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 224, which would redirect most money from New Hampshire’s renewable energy fund back to electric ratepayers. The bill sponsor argued the measure would lower energy costs, noting recent utility rate increases and estimating annual savings of roughly $2.5 million to $7.3 million for ratepayers. Supporters said the fund has accumulated money that should be returned to customers rather than used for subsidies, and they emphasized that the state has already rebated similar funds from RGGI for years. Opponents, including Rep. Kat McGee, argued the renewable energy fund is a successful, nonlapsing dedicated fund that supports local clean-energy projects, energy resilience, emissions reductions, and private investment. McGee said the fiscal note overstated the benefit of rebates and understated the loss of investment, claiming the average annual rebate would amount to less than $10 per customer while the program has helped leverage significant private dollars and nearly 10,000 projects. She urged the committee to reject the bill as a poor deal for the state and ratepayers. Committee members questioned the fiscal note, the size of the rebate, whether the bill would set a precedent for other dedicated funds, and whether the program’s incentives amount to picking winners and losers. The Department of Energy testified neutrally, explaining how the renewable energy fund works, including renewable energy credits, alternative compliance payments, and the fund’s use for renewable energy initiatives. No vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> thec><00:00:43.520><c> bottomc><00:00:44.200><c> butc><00:00:44.440><c> whatc><00:00:44.600
• 00:50.320><c> umc><00:00:51.039><c> somec><00:00:51.160><c> ofc><00:00:51.280><c> thec> presentation
• :52.239><c> hasc><00:00:52.399><c> toc><00:00:52.640><c> leavec><00:00:53.079><c> toc><00:00:
• ><c> Indulgencec><00:26:45.760><c> onc><00:26:45.880><c> thec><00:26:46.039><c> schedulec><00
• :26:46.440><c> tooc> your Indulgence on the schedule too your Indulgence on the schedule too thank<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,c><00:13:56.560><c> schedulingc> and attend meetings, scheduling and attend meetings, scheduling
• and scheduling<00:35:44.880><c> toc><00:35:45.119><c> notc><00:35:45.280><c> bec><00:35:45.440
• ><c> ablec><00:35:45.680><c> toc><00:35:46.160><c> toc><00:35:46.640><c> attendc> scheduling
• Uh and again the<01:22:03.679><c> schedulec><01:22:04.080><c> isc><01:22:04.400><c> unknownc><01
• c> the schedule is unknown at this time. the schedule is unknown at this time.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:01 Approve Minutes from June 11, 2026- 00:00:40 Staff Report on 2026 Child Fatality Panel Update- 00:01:17 Panel Staff Response to Report-00:21:12 University of Kentucky Name, Image, and Likeness-00:44:34 Kentucky State Police Update on SERVS-01:17:55 Adjornment-01:33:05, 958, all

Summary: The committee first established a quorum and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Members then received a staff report on the Kentucky Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel, including an annual LOIC evaluation of the panel’s operations, statutory compliance, case management system development, member experience, and written procedures. The report noted recent House Bill 778 expanded the panel’s access to records and to TWIST/I-TWIST, and recommended that staff request access and training promptly to avoid implementation problems. Analysts reported the panel has met statutory membership and meeting requirements, and that agency responses to the panel’s 2025 recommendations improved, with all responses meeting statutory content requirements though some were late. They also said the panel still lacks formal written procedures, so a prior recommendation was reissued. The report discussed the panel’s new case management system, now in testing with the Commonwealth Office of Technology, and a survey of panel members showing generally positive views of meetings and case discussions but recurring concerns about SharePoint access, time demands, virtual meetings, and the panel’s lack of enforcement authority. The report included a matter for legislative consideration suggesting the General Assembly may wish to seek additional testimony from agencies when responses are unclear or more information is needed. Panel staff responded that the work is difficult but important, said they are optimistic about gaining TWIST access, and acknowledged that written procedures have not yet been completed because they wanted to align them with the new system. They said both the system and procedures are hoped to be finished by the end of the year, with the new case management system expected to be implemented by September 1 after further testing and migration. Members also discussed trends in child fatality and near-fatality cases, including increases in reported cases since 2013, substance abuse, safe storage of firearms, and concerns about THC/CBD gummies reaching children. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> schedule has gone down? schedule has gone down?
• ><c> schedulec><01:04:36.960><c> asc> uh within the construction schedule as uh within the construction
• schedule as it's<01:04:37.440><c> beenc><01:04:37.680><c> setc><01:04:38.079><c> andc><01:04:38.319
• 25 meeting date is uh the September 25 meeting date is scheduled<01:36:01.280><c> forc><01:36:01.520
• c> scheduled for Tuesday, September the 9. scheduled for Tuesday, September the 9.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Government Contracts Committee met with a quorum and approved the July 8 minutes. It then deferred several items from the July agenda, including a Kentucky Education Television contract because the vendor was not yet registered with the Secretary of State, and a University of Louisville contract at the university’s request. The committee also deferred a behavioral health memorandum of agreement and later a Department of Community Based Services contract after questions were raised about the scope of services and the need for additional information. The most extensive discussion involved the Seven Counties Services contract with the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities. Committee members questioned why the state continues to contract with Seven Counties despite its bankruptcy and pension-related liabilities, how the funding split was determined, whether the services are statutorily required, and whether the state or another provider could deliver the services more efficiently. Agency representatives said Seven Counties is the sole provider of core community mental health services in its region, serves about 24,500 people, and that service needs and acuity remain high even as the number served has declined. A cabinet attorney said the bankruptcy dispute is ongoing and involves roughly $20 million in contested retirement contributions, though members suggested the amount may be higher. Members also raised broader concerns about whether local governments, especially Metro Louisville, should contribute more toward services tied to social determinants of health, and whether the contract includes services beyond what statute requires. The committee requested additional information on the contract scope and possible offsets or recovery of unfunded liabilities, and then voted to defer the Seven Counties contract to the next meeting. The committee also heard a separate DCBS presentation on the Youth Villages Intercept program, where staff explained it was selected because it is an approved evidence-based Family First prevention service, provides intensive in-home and foster care stabilization services, and is headquartered in Tennessee but operates across Kentucky; members asked for clarification on Medicaid billing and additional funding needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> practicesc><00:37:04.920><c> ofc><00:37:05.080><c> contractedc> scheduling practices of contracted
• c><00:37:26.080><c> So,c> scheduling and access standards. So, scheduling and access standards.
• We're paid 80% of the fee schedule<01:00:56.720><c> that'sc><01:00:57.040><c> postedc><01:00:57.480
• c><01:00:58.520><c> What'sc> schedule that's posted by DMS.
• What's schedule that's posted by DMS. What's that<01:00:59.000><c> allc><01:00:59.160><c> about?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board received a presentation from Dr. Stack and Commissioner Langfeld on Kentucky’s application for a federal Medicaid-related funding opportunity tied to House Resolution 1. They described a compressed six-week stakeholder process that produced more than 50 responses and letters of support, and said the application was organized around five broad priorities: maternal health, behavioral health and substance use disorder, oral health, EMS/trauma response, and chronic disease. They emphasized that the proposal was designed to align with CMS goals, use allowable funding categories, and focus on sustainability rather than a short-term grant. Commissioner Langfeld outlined five core initiatives: rural community hubs for chronic care innovation, beginning with obesity and diabetes; a maternal and infant health effort called POWER; a behavioral health and substance use model called IMPATH; an oral health initiative called Rooted in Health; and an integrated crisis-to-care EMS and trauma response effort. He said the chronic disease work would include prevention, food-as-medicine concepts, and technology tools, while the maternal health effort would expand team-based care around mothers and infants using community health workers and doulas. The behavioral health proposal would build on existing crisis intervention models, oral health would address workforce and access gaps through training, mobile vans, and telehealth, and the EMS proposal would better connect emergency response with home-based and community care. Several senators questioned whether the proposal would meaningfully address rural hospital closures or the broader rural health care crisis. Senator Meredith said the plan was not transformational and would not save rural hospitals, while Senator Berg asked how success would be measured. In response, the presenters said they would use both lagging and leading indicators, with an emphasis on rapid-cycle feedback and data use that is more actionable in real time. They also said the work could help existing models that already show promise, such as behavioral health units and dental workforce expansion, even if it would not solve the larger funding gap created by HR1. Senator Douglas asked how the proposals would motivate patients to participate in their own health care. The presenters responded that the chronic disease prevention work would focus on obesity, diabetes prevention, nutrition, and consumer-facing technology tools to help people engage in their own care, and that EMS-community health worker partnerships could identify unmet needs in the home and reduce preventable problems. The board then moved on to its next agenda item, Medicaid managed care delivery models, with Tom Stevens, Katherine North, and Dr. Patel scheduled to present.

Transcript Highlights:

• uhc><00:01:44.360><c> wentc><00:01:44.600><c> throughc><00:01:44.800><c> ac><00:01:44.840><c
• c><00:02:02.520><c> Umc><00:02:03.120><c> andc><00:02:03.280><c> thenc><00:02:03.400><c> Ic
• shift scheduling<01:20:29.200><c> appc><01:20:29.520><c> orc><01:20:29.680><c> ac><01:20:29.760
• ><c> truckingc><01:20:30.280><c> companyc> scheduling app or a trucking company scheduling app or
• schedulingc> When we're looking at scheduling When we're looking at scheduling software,<01:21:24.560

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> involvingc><00:03:42.160><c> ac><00:03:42.280><c> permanentc><00:03:42.840><c> anklec><00
• now schedule<01:13:37.320><c> three,c><01:13:37.560><c> butc><01:13:38.040><c> uhc><01:13:38.440
• ><c> forc><01:13:38.520><c> ac><01:13:38.560><c> longc><01:13:38.760><c> timec> schedule three
• , but uh for a long time schedule three, but uh for a long time was<01:13:39.080><c> schedulec><01:
• c><01:13:41.320><c> toc> was schedule one.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c> yearc><00:00:54.800><c> whenc><00:00:55.520><c> uhc><00:00:55.760><c> itc><00:00:56.079><c
• Uh we are going to modify the schedule<00:01:19.920><c> justc><00:01:20.159><c> ac><00:01:20.400>
• c> schedule just a little bit this morning. schedule just a little bit this morning.
• Um again is not currently<00:57:44.720><c> scheduledc><00:57:45.200><c> underc><00:57:45.520><c>
• c> currently scheduled under federal law. currently scheduled under federal law.

Bills: SF0071, SF0088, SF0056

Keywords: homeland security, search and rescue, grants, emergency response, Wyoming, sex offender, child care facility, residency restrictions, public safety, criminal law, sex offenders, child care facilities, legislation, kratom, regulation, healthcare, age restrictions, manufacturing standards, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on the the days that you know you on the schedule<00:10:04.920><c> youc><00:10:05.000><c> shouldn't
• c><00:10:05.320><c> getc><00:10:05.480><c> thec><00:10:05.640><c> samec> schedule you shouldn't
• get the same schedule you shouldn't get the same Arrangement<00:10:06.440><c> asc><00:10:06.640><c
• upkeeping with the maintenance schedule<01:18:40.880><c> ifc><01:18:41.000><c> notc><01:18:41.199
• ><c> bec> schedule if not that we're going to be schedule if not that we're going to be bailing<01:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection heard the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs present its biennium budget request for fiscal years 2025 to 2027. Director Nainoa Ando said the department’s requests were primarily special-fund ceiling increases to meet operational needs. Major items included an additional $12 million to complete the King Kamehameha V Post Office building roof project after hidden deterioration and water intrusion were discovered, plus funding related to fringe benefits and central services assessments. The department also outlined requests for a new medical compact implementation cost, an auditor position, an engineer position, and a captive insurance IT modernization project. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the Office of Consumer Protection’s landlord-tenant call line and public service access. Senators raised concerns that callers often reach voicemail, are told to leave a message, and sometimes are referred to look up the law themselves. DCCA said the Oʻahu line is staffed by one full-time employee backed by two to three investigators, with one investigator each on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, and that calls are tracked in a case management system. The department said it plans to add one more Oʻahu staff position through a transfer from another division and that a new call-center/web system with time tracking is expected to go live in the summer. Members also discussed a possible bill related to Pearson VUE nursing certification testing, with one senator describing the burden on neighbor-island nursing graduates who must travel to Honolulu for a one-hour test. The senator said she intended to introduce legislation after receiving no response to repeated outreach. DCCA did not take action on that proposal during the hearing. For the PUC-related requests, the department explained a one-time $1 million request for outside consulting tied to Maui wildfire-related filings, including wildfire safety mitigation and hazard mitigation plans, and a separate $900,000 request through the Consumer Advocacy Division to hire consultants for review and analysis. The committee also discussed a captive insurance IT modernization request, which DCCA said would replace manual and spreadsheet-based processes with a cloud-based system to better handle filings, payments, and workflow; no vote or final action was taken on the budget items during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:02:17.840><c> ac><00:02:18.080><c> ac><00:02:18.400><c> busyc><00:02:18.720><c> day.
• ><c> wec><01:02:42.720><c> changec><01:02:42.960><c> ourc><01:02:43.280><c> schedule,c><01:02
• :44.079><c> butc> notified if we change our schedule, but notified if we change our schedule, but they
• entire ASIP recommended<01:03:31.760><c> schedulec><01:03:32.799><c> uhc><01:03:32.880><c> which
• c><01:03:33.200><c> hasc> recommended schedule uh which has recommended schedule uh which has included

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> charterc><00:01:40.240><c> schoolsc><00:01:41.119><c> toc><00:01:41.439><c> takec> uh and
• <c> schedulec><00:19:45.039><c> andc><00:19:45.280><c> whoc><00:19:45.440><c> havec> of the salary
• schedule and who have of the salary schedule and who have effective<00:19:46.000><c> evaluationc><
• :47:54.000><c> differentc><00:47:54.319><c> bellc><00:47:54.640><c> schedules.
• c> schools have different bell schedules. schools have different bell schedules.

Bills: SB3179, SB2872, SB2391, SB3282, SB2836, SB2181

Keywords: educational workers, harassment, workplace safety, temporary restraining orders, investigation procedures, retired education employees, teacher shortage, rehired retirants, entry level salary, collective bargaining agreements, pension benefits, education, teacher salaries, automatic increments, collective bargaining, teacher retention, workforce development, Pell grant program, short-term education, eligibility

Summary: The joint committee first heard SB 3179, which would require the Department of Education and charter schools to report harassment incidents involving educational workers and adopt procedures for handling them. DOE supported the bill, while the Attorney General recommended clarifying amendments to limit the measure to harassment directed at workers because of their position, to limit DOE legal assistance to temporary restraining order actions, and to clarify whether the harassment must come from outside the school system. Members also discussed whether the bill should cover non-DOE individuals on campus, whether investigations could be handled in-house, and whether training should be embedded in existing workday or school-year training rather than added as a separate requirement. The committee later voted to pass the bill with amendments as SD1. The committee then took up SB 2872, which would require retired teachers or administrators rehired into shortage or hard-to-fill positions to be paid the entry-level salary for that position. DOE supported the bill, and the Attorney General requested clarifying language about its effective date and that it would not affect already matured rights and duties. The Employees’ Retirement System administration emphasized that the bill should retain a 12-month break in service to preserve the pension system’s tax-exempt status and noted the importance of consistent classification of eligible positions. Members expressed support for using retired educators to help fill staffing gaps, but no final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard SB 2391, which would provide annual step increases for public school teachers under bargaining unit 5, subject to funding. The Attorney General said the bill could conflict with collective bargaining procedures and Chapter 89, while DOE said unit 5 includes more than teachers and asked that the benefit be considered for other bargaining units as well, with funding provided if enacted. HSTA strongly supported the measure, arguing that annual step movement is already recognized in the collective bargaining agreement as a recruiting and retention tool. Testimony totals were noted as 16 in support, two in opposition, and three comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 3282, which would establish a statewide framework for the federal workforce Pell Grant program to fund short-term workforce education and training. The Attorney General suggested clarifying that the matter is one of statewide concern because UH is involved. UH and the Chamber of Commerce supported the bill, and DLIR testified that it is coordinating with DOE, the Workforce Development Council, and national groups on implementation. Members questioned whether the Workforce Development Council or DLIR should handle rulemaking and administration, and DLIR said the council is advisory while the department has grant administration expertise. The committee then moved into decision-making after discussion of possible amendments and implementation concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:04:49.320><c> uhc><00:04:50.120><c> youc><00:04:50.240><c> knowc><00:04:50.560><c> Ic
• ><c> we'rec><00:50:46.960><c> scheduledc><00:50:47.359><c> toc><00:50:47.480><c> startc><00:50
• :47.760><c> hearingc> and we're scheduled to start hearing and we're scheduled to start hearing bills
• that we Jim's bills and any other bills that we have<00:51:08.680><c> scheduledc><00:51:09.119><c>
• ><c> isc> have scheduled for Wednesday our plan is have scheduled for Wednesday our plan is to<00:51

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Explore Minnesota Executive Director Lauren Bennett McGinty gave the committee an agency overview focused on the state’s tourism, livability, business attraction, film, and outdoor recreation promotion work. She highlighted record 2023 tourism results, including 80.2 million visitors, $4.1 billion in economic impact, more than 180,000 hospitality jobs, and $2.3 billion in state and local taxes, and said tourism sales, hotel occupancy, and other metrics continued to improve. She also described the agency’s marketing strategy, including a new campaign centered on authentic Minnesota stories, expanded domestic and international advertising, and a strong emphasis on winter, diverse markets, and accessibility. McGinty reviewed several one-time-funded programs launched or expanded in the last year, including Explore Minnesota for Business, the tourism recovery grant program, the first Tribal Nations Grant program, and the outdoor recreation industry partnership with IRRR, DEED, and DNR. She said the recovery grants had distributed $1.15 million to 110 grantees, the tribal grant program had spent $1.4 million with eight tribal nations, and outdoor recreation was estimated at $13.5 billion annually with 10.5% growth. She also noted strong media and social media results, including a viral Timberwolves-related campaign, high video completion rates, and increased website traffic. In response to committee questions, McGinty said the workforce and business attraction campaign is aimed at showing why people choose to live and work in Minnesota, using stories from newer residents and businesses, and that it is performing well in markets such as Silicon Valley, Boston, and Seattle. She said the agency is investing more in winter advertising to promote Minnesota as a winter destination and is working with partners to highlight activities beyond outdoor cold-weather recreation. Members also discussed the agency’s new film program, resident retention efforts, and a planned music-themed tourism ad tied to Prince and Bob Dylan. No votes or formal actions were taken.