Transcript Highlights:

• highlight the treaty-reserved areas or usual and accustomed areas where tribal members travel to practice
• Some of the skill building is based on core correctional practices.
• Some of the skill building is based on core correctional practices.
• interlock, ignition interlock compliance is not where it needs to be, so we're hopeful that the best practices

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met in Yakima to focus on tribal traffic safety, with members and Yakima Nation leaders emphasizing the importance of safety, the right to travel, and continued partnership on U.S. 97 corridor improvements. Yakima Nation Vice Chair Christopher Wallachie and engineering staff described the Tribal Traffic Safety Committee, the U.S. 97 safety project, heritage connectivity trails, roundabout construction, and the use of federal grants and advanced sensing technology to identify hazards before crashes occur. They highlighted collaboration with WSDOT, the Traffic Safety Commission, the University of Washington, and other regional partners, and explained that the goal is to move from reactive crash response to proactive risk reduction. The Yakima Nation engineering team and AI Vision presented the MUST sensor project, which uses compact AI-enabled devices to collect traffic counts, speeds, near-miss events, roadway conditions, and pedestrian activity, with data transmitted to a dashboard and used for real-time warnings and longer-term planning. Committee members asked about speed tracking, driver behavior, enforcement, and partnerships with WSDOT and counties. Yakima Nation staff said the relationship with WSDOT has improved over time, especially after community outreach on proposed roundabouts, and that the tribe now supports several roundabout projects and broader safety coordination. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission then presented statewide fatality trends and tribal traffic safety data. Mark McKekney said 2024 showed a roughly 10% decrease in fatalities statewide, though recent years remain among the highest in decades. He noted that race and ethnicity data are only available for people who die in crashes, and that many American Indian and Alaska Native fatalities involve passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists rather than drivers. Penny Rerick outlined tribal traffic safety coordinator grants and other state-funded tribal projects, including work with Yakama Nation, Colville, Kalispel, Makah, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Muckleshoot, Lower Elwha, and Puyallup, stressing that flexible state funding helps fill gaps left by federal programs and supports community-led solutions. The final presentation covered impaired driving enforcement and ignition interlock compliance in Yakima County. Yakima Police Chief Sean Boyle said the city created a DUI enforcement and education officer program that helped reduce serious injury and fatal impaired-driving crashes, supported by state funding and social media outreach. Yakima County District Court’s Nick Bazan described a supervision program for DUI offenders and interlock compliance, reporting more than 1,000 DUI convictions in 2024-25 and about 3,800 noncompliant interlock users countywide. He said the court is using a two-pronged approach—pretrial assistance for indigent clients and post-conviction accountability and case planning—to improve compliance and reduce impaired driving. The committee expressed support for the work, noted the progress made, and adjourned the work session after thanking presenters for their updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• The exception would only apply when there's no other feasible or practical water source available and
• there's no other only apply when there's no other feasible<00:10:06.000><c> or</c><00:10:06.240><c> practical
• </c><00:10:06.720><c> water</c><00:10:07.040><c> sources</c> feasible or practical water sources feasible
• or practical water sources available<00:10:08.240><c> and</c><00:10:08.480><c> would</c><00:10:08.720

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• therapeutic use of this plant dating back to 2700 BCE, the Marijuana Tax Act removed cannabis from medical practice
• priority of county government and its lobbying effort is focused on ending the state and federal... practice
• The practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying is fundamentally wrong because they're weaponizing the tax dollars
• And banning this practice is tough; you're right, Senator Menendez, it's tough. It's hard.

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• We're able to work with the House GOP because we're practiced at it.
• with the House GOP because we've to work with the House GOP because we've we're<00:13:50.079><c> practiced
• </c><00:13:51.120><c> But</c><00:13:51.279><c> internally</c> we're practiced at it.
• But internally we're practiced at it.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to find out the practice here shortly. Why don't you go ahead and hang there?
• County Central Hospital District to improve efficiency, accountability, and alignment with best practices
• In short, this bill provides a practical... ...narrowly tailored solution that balances the original
• This is something that we've actually been practicing in Harris County for a number of years, even before

Bills: HB103

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• had reached out; other constituents had reached out, and they were very concerned that this was a practice
• ><00:09:23.760><c> a</c> were very concerned that this was a were very concerned that this was a practice
• ><c> the</c><00:09:25.440><c> intent</c><00:09:25.920><c> that</c><00:09:26.399><c> anything</c> practice
• when the intent that anything practice when the intent that anything um<00:09:28.640><c> uh</c><00:09

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• by which the proposal requires the program to be established, which is January 1st, 2026, is not practicable
• By implementing the guidance in Minnesota, we are aligning with best practices in tax administration,
• capable as the people in the 48 other states and the IRS that have been doing this in its common practice
• Executives and employees often live and work across multiple states, making practical and tax policy

Bills: HF2048 , HF2360 , HF2006 , HF950 , HF912 , HF3140 , HF2931

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: individual income tax, retirement contributions, tax corrections, annuity contracts, tax year attribution, tax credit, economic development, community investment, data disclosure, Minnesota regulations, tax increment financing, municipal authority, job creation, transferred increment, public hearing, nonresident employees, income tax exemption, Minnesota taxation, employment duties, tax withholding

Transcript Highlights:

• have the tools and information they need to respond effectively without disrupting their current practices
• Many hospitals already have this practice, so this bill would simply ensure that all patients in cases
• C.S. for H.B. 647, advanced practice registered nurse services by Representative Tribulsi.
• C.S. for H.B. 647, advanced practice registered nurse services by Representative Tribulsi.

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard and passed several bills. HB 293 would codify the Office of Faith and Community in the Executive Office of the Governor, create a liaison and advisory council, and was supported by faith-based and nonprofit groups; some members questioned possible duplication with existing services and the source of any future funding, but the bill passed 24-0. CS/HB 547 would create an exception to the 30-day notice requirement before hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers sell medical debt when the debt buyer agrees not to use interest, fees, or extraordinary collection actions and must return charity-care-eligible debt; it passed unanimously after brief support testimony. CS/HB 1553 would require reporting of uterine fibroid data to the Department of Health to create a de-identified public database and reauthorize funding for implementation; it also passed 24-0, with members noting the earlier database mandate had not been carried out. The committee then took up CS/HB 1195, “Gage’s Law,” which would require hospitals and hospital-based emergency departments to test for fentanyl in urine drug screens for suspected overdose or poisoning cases. The bill was presented as a response to overdose deaths and the need to better detect fentanyl, and emotional testimony from a parent described a son’s death after a hospital did not test for fentanyl. Members from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing stigma, the need for better treatment and data, and the potential to save lives; the bill passed 24-0. CS/HB 47 on child care and early learning providers would streamline inspections, speed background screening, offer free online training/testing, update definitions, protect certain family child care homes from insurance issues, and create a license-exempt category for employer-provided child care; after questions about parent notice, database listing, background checks, and insurance, an amendment was adopted and the bill passed 24-0 as amended. Finally, CS/HB 647 would allow advanced practice registered nurses to sign death certificates in hospice settings, addressing delays that can leave families waiting to complete burial arrangements. Support testimony came from advocacy and hospice groups, and members cited the bill’s importance for families and religious burial timelines. The bill passed 23-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• applicability that implements, interprets, or prescribes law or policy, or describes the procedure or practice
• I believe that our sentence, as it were, does just that in describing the practice of the Governor's
• When do we start the practice on the cigar, quote-unquote, license?
• We know when we started that practice? I am not exactly sure.

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee reviewed several agency rules and objections under Chapter 120. First, the committee revisited prior objections to Agency for Health Care Administration rules containing sunset provisions. AHCA’s general counsel said the agency amended 26 of the objected rules but declined to amend five others, arguing sunset provisions are lawful, are not themselves rules, and were consistent with a 2019 gubernatorial directive. Committee members questioned that position, especially for licensing and certificate-of-need rules, and urged the agency to consider legislative changes; no formal action was taken on that item during the discussion. The committee then considered an objection to Department of Management Services Rule 60G-1.001 defining the Governor’s Mansion grounds. Committee staff argued the rule is vague and improperly refers to future land acquisitions without updating the rule since 1998. DMS defended the rule as a general definition tied to publicly recorded property and a master lease, but said it would not object if the Legislature chose to codify the definition in statute. After discussion, the committee voted to file the objection. Members also received informational updates from the Department of Environmental Protection on the Solaris state lands inventory system, and from the Florida Gaming Control Commission on its response to the Tampa Bay Downs unadopted-rule litigation, in which the commission said it has stopped relying on the prior tax interpretation and will not promulgate a rule on that issue. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation said it would remove an unsupported cigar wholesale dealer permit reference, repeal an obsolete excise-tax deduction rule, and amend penalty guidelines and an affirmation in its alcohol, beverage, and tobacco rules. Finally, the Division of Administrative Hearings’ interim director discussed case-processing times, possible changes to ALJ status, and whether the Florida Rules of Evidence should apply in administrative proceedings, emphasizing the need to weigh costs, independence, and impacts on pro se litigants. The chair noted this was likely the committee’s final meeting of the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3725 by Mesa relates to the reform of solitary confinement practices and the treatment of prisoner
• HB 3749 by or relates to the regulation and practice of medicine, including the performance of cosmetic
• HB 3794 by DARB relating to the licensing and regulation of advanced practice registered nurses and the
• payment of independent advanced practice registered nurses and certain government employee health plans

Transcript Highlights:

• THE COMPLETION OF THAT DIVERGENT PROGRAM BE PLACED ON THE DRIVING RECORD AGAIN WILL RUN INTO SOME PRACTICAL
• TO MAKE, WE USE THE WORD TWEAKS, I DON'T LIKE THE WORD LYNCH BILLS BUT TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IN PRACTICE
• THE LOCAL LEVEL BUT NOW THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR BEST INTENTIONS ARE LIMITED BY RESOURCES AND PRACTICAL
• AND TALK OF MOVING PRACTICES EARLY IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE LATER START TIME THAT WOULD PRECLUDE KIDS

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These pop-ups and timers have the same practical effect: they come in and they provide that intervention
• These pop-ups and timers have the same practical effect: they come in and they provide that intervention
• These pop-ups and timers have the same practical effect: they come in and they provide that intervention
• These pop-ups and timers have the same practical effect: they come in and they provide that intervention

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Rep. Zach Stevenson and Sen. Mann presented Minnesota legislation aimed at requiring warning labels on social media platforms, modeled on the Surgeon General’s recommendation, and adding pop-up notifications every 30 minutes to show users how long they have been on a platform. They argued that social media use is linked to serious mental health harms among youth, including anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, and said the bill is part of a broader effort to add guardrails on big tech. They also referenced related Minnesota efforts on deepfakes, child influencers, platform-use disclosures, and a separate effort to remove cell phones from classrooms. The hearing featured emotional testimony from parents Bridget Noring and Tabitha Urbansky, who described losing sons to fentanyl poisoning after drugs were arranged through Snapchat. Both said social media platforms can function as drug markets and that warning labels and other restrictions could help prevent similar tragedies. Eric Mishy of SAVE and the Kids Campaign also testified in support, saying social media is contributing to anxiety, depression, suicide, sextortion, trafficking, bullying, and drug sales, and that companies have not done enough to stop these harms. In response to a question about the pop-up feature, Stevenson said the idea is new in Minnesota but similar to “are you still watching” prompts on streaming services, intended to add friction and interrupt addictive use. He and others said no state had yet enacted similar warning-label laws, though several have proposed them, and they emphasized that regulating technology companies is difficult because of their resources and lobbying power. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, though the bill was scheduled for a House Commerce Committee hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I think, you know, learning that process, what you can find to be best practices or we can share
• I'm an attorney here in Texas, practicing law for many years.
• I hope to provide helpful context for best practices and policy administration.
• The right exists on paper, but in practice There was no penalty. There's no right.
• The right exists on paper, but in practice, that's where it stays.

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are recognized nationally for leading responsible evaluation of AI in clinical practice, including
• We are recognized nationally for leading responsible evaluation of AI in clinical practice, including
• If we were to take business practices, there are certainly cases where people will take advantage of
• You know, to your point overall, I happen to practice in health care.
• </c> you know and I I um happen to practice you know and I I um happen to practice in<00:39:29.760><c

Bills: HF1316 , HF4369

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

Keywords: HF1316, child support, new hire reporting, centralized work reporting system, independent contractors, payors, employers, payor of funds, withholding orders, income withholding, child support enforcement, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, gig economy, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, 1099, W-9, W-4, newly hired workers, rehired employees

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um, this really clarifies OHE's current practice.
• So it's not changing anything when it comes to current practice for this grant program.
• We are committed to clinical practice, research, and education. testimony. Great.
• </c><00:43:04.800><c> We</c><00:43:05.040><c> are</c><00:43:05.200><c> committed</c> practice in the
• We are committed practice in the world.

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:

• , more sustainable waste disposal practices.
• But ultimately help local governments create better practices that will create cost savings long term
• </c><00:26:43.399><c> more</c> better waste disposal practices more better waste disposal practices more
• 00:26:46.080><c> But</c> sustainable waste disposal practices But sustainable waste disposal practices
• </c> out in practical out in practical reality<01:38:55.000><c> I</c><01:38:55.400><c> understand</c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee held a hearing on House Bill 619, which would appropriate $1 million to the Solid Waste Management Fund for matching grants to municipalities and businesses for waste diversion projects, with 50% of the money prioritized for food waste diversion. Representative Karen Ebel, the sponsor, said the fund would help New Hampshire meet its solid waste diversion goals, preserve landfill capacity, and support composting, recycling, and related local business activity. She cited New London’s composting program as an example, saying 172 families participated and 32 tons of food waste were diverted in 2024, reducing tipping and trucking costs. Committee members asked about possible alternative funding sources, including a surcharge on landfill tipping fees. Ebel said many other states use such surcharges to fund recycling and solid waste programs, while New Hampshire relies on general funds. She also said the current fund balance was about $900,000 because some money had been used for staffing, and that the grant program was still in rulemaking. Questions also focused on how household composting works and whether municipalities could generate revenue from compost; Ebel said participation is optional, most programs use buckets and transfer stations, and the main benefit is cost savings from reduced disposal rather than compost sales. Testimony in support came from the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the Northeast Resource Recovery Association. Both said municipalities are interested in food waste diversion and composting, that these programs can reduce long-term disposal costs and property tax pressure, and that there is growing demand for technical assistance and grant support. The Northeast Resource Recovery Association said food waste makes up about 24% of municipal and business waste, that fewer than two dozen communities and fewer than two dozen businesses currently offer such services, and that a City of Lebanon pilot program saw about 30% savings by composting on site. The Department of Environmental Services said it was not taking a position but is working on rulemaking for the grant program and expects strong interest from municipalities, private composters, farmers, and anaerobic digester operators. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This one deals with the rules and practices of the Department of Health.
• </c><01:04:10.920><c> were</c> the department and practices were the department and practices were amended
• when he went to successful and practical when he went to become<01:09:14.920><c> director</c><01:09:
• One of them, I believe, was a septic tank practices manual, and it does a lot of the stuff that we use
• manual and and it does a lot practices manual and and it does a lot of<01:20:25.199><c> the</c><01:20

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several energy and environmental bills. On HB 974, which would authorize state step-in agreements for certain power purchase agreements and create a trust fund/reserve mechanism, the Attorney General’s office raised concern that the state should not incur liability beyond the trust fund. The Division of Consumer Advocacy said it had comments but did not take a position, while the Public Utilities Commission, Ameresco, Hawaiian Electric, and other industry groups supported the measure, saying it would help developers secure financing for renewable projects and improve reliability. Hawaiian Electric said the bill would not use state funds and that its proposed reserve account would be held in trust and returned to customers if unused. Committee members questioned whether the reserve would raise customer costs; Hawaiian Electric said the amount would be small and would be offset by avoiding higher financing costs, while Consumer Advocacy suggested the language should be strengthened to ensure unused funds are fully returned. The committee then heard HB 338, which would clarify that premium interest-rate adjustments for non-fossil fuel generation are just and reasonable and allow the PUC to include them in rates. DCCA and the State Energy Office supported the bill, and the PUC also supported it. Hawaiian Electric opposed unless amended, arguing the PUC already has discretion and warning the bill could weaken competitive procurement by encouraging higher bids tied to the utility’s credit rating. DCCA said the concern was that developers might not seek the best financing if premium rates are recoverable, but said Hawaiian Electric’s suggested amendment requiring clear and convincing evidence of unavoidable financing-cost increases would help. Members also asked about refinancing and whether developers could later lower debt costs after locking in a premium rate; DCCA said that ability exists and suggested a time limit or review mechanism. For HB 337, which would direct the PUC to establish standards requiring utilities to remove certain fossil-fuel costs from the rate base when adding renewable resources, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, and the State Energy Office supported the measure. Hawaiian Electric opposed it, saying it misunderstood utility cost recovery and could threaten grid reliability because fossil plants provide ancillary services such as voltage regulation and balancing, not just energy. Hawaiian Electric pointed to its integrated grid plan and recent fossil-unit retirements as evidence of ongoing transition, and asked the committee to defer the bill and leave oversight to the PUC. The committee also heard HB 879 on cesspool conversions, which would raise the maximum grant from $20,000 to $30,000 and add DOH positions; DHHL, DOH, environmental groups, Hawaii Realtors, and others supported it, while DOH discussed staffing needs and the practical effect of the higher grant cap. The committee also began HB 379 on requiring denitrification capacity for certain wastewater systems near shorelines or groundwater, with DLNR testifying in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the practice and we have the expertise on the matter.
• Is that practical to consider?
• This creates a serious practical problem.
• But he has not ever been a veterinarian in practice, boots on the ground.
• It was more affordable back then, more practical.

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> because and I think uh as a practical because and I think uh as a practical matter,<01:20:58.000
• The court has the authority to adopt rules of practice and procedure.
• There was a for practice and procedure.
• </c><01:25:48.239><c> and</c><01:25:48.560><c> procedure</c> characterized as practice and procedure
• </c><01:26:43.199><c> and</c> could be characterized as practice and could be characterized as practice

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're looking at better practices in HR for employee salary and benefit reporting.
• They're looking at better practices in HR for employee salary and benefit reporting.
• So that's like a bad internal practice. Uh, that's really how it happens.
• Uh, that's really bad internal practice.
• </c><01:17:19.760><c> an</c><01:17:20.000><c> approved</c> practice because it wasn't an approved practice

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all