Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota is so far behind this.
• We will make this change in Minnesota. I thank Sen.
• We will make this change in Minnesota. I thank Sen.
• Minnesota has to do better.
• Minnesota has to do better.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cloud Minnesota. headquartered uh in St. Cloud Minnesota.
• Minnesota.
• Community banks in Minnesota Minnesota.
• businesses uh throughout Minnesota. businesses uh throughout Minnesota.
• the state of Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• um Community Med mediation Minnesota um Community Med mediation Minnesota<00:03:58.040> or<00
• What we did in Minnesota was establish a national best practice model, and we brought that here to Minnesota
• <00:15:23.480> housing referrals directly to Minnesota housing referrals directly to Minnesota
• here in Minnesota here in Minnesota commissioner<01:37:11.760> uh<01:37:11.880> thank<
• <01:46:47.639> housing Greater Minnesota housing Greater Minnesota housing infrastructure<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um the rate applies to uh or Minnesota.
• proud member of the Minnesota proud member of the Minnesota Association<00:10:10.160> of<
• Medicaid's been opened in Minnesota.
• <00:36:18.400> kids coverage or the 42% of Minnesota kids coverage or the 42% of Minnesota
• <00:36:36.400> that's person or a kid in Minnesota that's person or a kid in Minnesota that's

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2591, the “Support Medicaid Not Millionaires Act,” laid over for possible inclusion in the 2025 taxes bill. Chair Gomez said the bill would create a fifth individual income tax tier on very high earners to offset any future federal Medicaid cuts, arguing that proposed federal budget changes would likely reduce Medicaid funding and create a large state budget hole. Gomez and other supporters framed Medicaid as essential for children, long-term care, mental health, substance use treatment, rural hospitals, and families across Minnesota, and criticized federal tax cuts for corporations and wealthy individuals. Several testifiers supported the bill. A SEIU Healthcare worker described how Medicaid supports her care for a disabled son and her own health needs, warning that cuts would threaten home care, hospitals, and nursing homes. A public health employee from the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees said recent state and federal layoffs had already weakened public health capacity and urged additional revenue to backfill losses. Other supporters, including community and faith leaders, said the wealthy and corporations should pay more to protect public services, youth programs, and Medicaid-funded care. A mental health provider testified that most of the people served by her clinic rely on Medicaid and that cuts would harm clinics, rural access, and the broader behavioral health system. Representative Anderson questioned whether the bill would affect Medicaid spending tied to undocumented immigrants and asked for data on MinnesotaCare and federal-state funding shares. Department of Human Services staff clarified that he was referring to MinnesotaCare, not Medicaid, and said Medicaid is generally matched by the federal government while MinnesotaCare does not have the same match. The exchange became contentious when Gomez objected to Anderson’s use of the term “illegal immigrants” and redirected the discussion back to the bill. Anderson also raised concerns about Medicaid fraud and whether the proposal would backfill any federal changes related to fraud enforcement. No vote was taken; the bill was simply laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• state of Minnesota. state of Minnesota.
• state of Minnesota. state of Minnesota.
• We just had that in<01:08:51.600> Minnesota. in Minnesota. in Minnesota.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota state budget and to make sure Minnesota state budget and to make sure that<00:02:26.879>
• <00:06:53.360> care medical assistance and Minnesota care medical assistance and Minnesota
• <00:47:08.079> I when we looked at that in Minnesota I when we looked at that in Minnesota
• impact that would have had on Minnesota impact that would have had on Minnesota um<00:47:41.520>
• Minnesota especially hard.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Freedom here that we enjoy in Minnesota Freedom here that we enjoy in Minnesota consistent<00:02
• <00:06:41.080> with inclusive free Minnesota with inclusive free Minnesota with longstanding
• counterparts right here in Minnesota counterparts right here in Minnesota Must<00:09:49.519>
• so now two Greater Minnesota members so now two Greater Minnesota members so please<00:14:34.199>
• So it... really clear the state of Minnesota really clear the state of Minnesota cannot<00:21:08.200>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is making Minnesota more affordable.
• <00:00:45.399> more okay this is making Minnesota more okay this is making Minnesota more
• <00:32:49.360> Association Minnesota Association Minnesota Association townships<00:32:52.799>
• definitely want to make Minnesota definitely want to make Minnesota affordable<00:43:26.000>
• I'm NS with Move Minnesota Action.

Bills: HF5

Keywords: tax modification, transportation funding, electric vehicle tax, Social Security subtraction, retail delivery fee, motor vehicle registration, state budget, transportation policy, 1183, house

Summary: The Transportation Committee resumed consideration of House File 5, which would reduce transportation-related revenues while also providing tax relief, including a subtraction for Social Security income, elimination of the delivery fee, and a cap on automatic gas tax indexing. The committee adopted the A1 author’s amendment, which added the phrase “using existing resources,” and then proceeded to public testimony. Representative Joy described the bill as making Minnesota more affordable, while several members and testifiers raised concerns about the impact on transportation funding and road maintenance. MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Doppenberg testified that reductions in planned transportation investments would worsen pavement, bridge, and roadway conditions, reduce construction projects and jobs, and add to an already large funding gap. Committee discussion focused on the estimated revenue losses from the bill, including about $45 million in fiscal year 2026 and $55 million annually from repealing the delivery fee, plus additional losses from capping gas tax indexing, for a combined transportation revenue reduction of about $131 million in the 2026-27 biennium. Members also asked about bridge aesthetics, paint, transit impacts, and whether other mandates and cost increases should be considered alongside revenue reductions. Supporters of the delivery fee repeal, including the Minnesota Grocers Association and Minnesota Retailers Association, argued the fee is costly to administer, confusing to consumers, and disproportionately burdens small businesses and lower-income or disabled consumers who rely on delivery. The Minnesota Association of Townships and the Minnesota Transportation Alliance emphasized that rural and local governments face major road and bridge funding needs and warned that reducing revenue would shift costs to property taxpayers or leave projects unfunded. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee continued with testimony and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, good morning, Minnesota.
• These laws do not make Minnesota better.
• I would like to say that it is a sad day in Minnesota, but truly it is a disgusting day in Minnesota.
• We are a power building Minnesota.
• Republicans in the Minnesota Republicans in the Minnesota legislature.<00:09:36.560> The<

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota lawmakers and advocates held a press event focused on a special-session budget agreement that would repeal health coverage for undocumented immigrants. Speakers, including Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega, Sen. Lieman, labor leaders, immigrant advocates, faith leaders, and other DFL/POCI caucus members, argued the repeal would harm about 17,000 people, increase uncompensated care costs, worsen ER and clinic wait times, reduce productivity, and ultimately raise costs for taxpayers and employers. They also said undocumented immigrants contribute significant tax revenue and that the measure was motivated by cruelty and scapegoating rather than fiscal responsibility. Testimony emphasized moral, public health, labor, and faith-based objections. Unidos Minnesota, SEIU Local 26, the Minnesota AFL-CIO, and Pastor Ingred Ramson all framed health care as a human right and said the policy would punish working families, immigrants, and communities of color. Several speakers linked the repeal to broader attacks on immigrants, labor rights, and other social protections, and warned that the compromise budget framework included a “poison pill” tying the health bill to the repeal. POCI caucus members said they had tried unsuccessfully to negotiate alternatives, including changes to paid leave, earned sick and safe time, non-compete bans, premiums, enrollment caps, and protections for children, elders, and people with chronic conditions. They said leadership was not part of the negotiations and expressed disappointment with DFL and governor-level decisions, while also saying they would continue to fight the policy and hold leaders accountable. No vote was taken in the event itself, but speakers repeatedly said the repeal was expected to pass and that they would oppose it and continue organizing in future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota I'm just delighted to be here Minnesota I'm just delighted to be here today<00:00:49.120>
• <00:04:21.160> to Outreach Farm in southern Minnesota to Outreach Farm in southern Minnesota
• <00:14:44.079> got<00:14:44.199> a Minnesota got in Minnesota state got a Minnesota
• <00:48:25.800> state what do we know uh Minnesota state what do we know uh Minnesota state
• in Greater Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've seen a 2.2 percent rate of improper payments in Minnesota.
• I don't know where Minnesota falls in that rotation, but whatever their most recent audit of Minnesota
• for the Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators.
• So, in Minnesota, how does one qualify for Medicaid? That has been so much.
• And the program issues that we've seen here in Minnesota with huge fraud.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll just run down the list of who we heard from: Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota
• of Minnesota Counties, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, the Minnesota Biofuels Association, Growth
• of Professional Employees, Minnesota Cottage Foods Producers Association, the Minnesota Grain and Feed
• :21.599> Farmers Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota Farmers Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota Farmers
• 04.319> Minnesota Producers Association, the Minnesota Producers Association, the Minnesota Grain

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Agriculture Conference Committee met for an initial organizational and comparison session on House File 2446, the agriculture broadband and rural development bill. Members introduced themselves, noted that no conference target had yet been set, and agreed to begin with a side-by-side review of House and Senate positions. No oral testimony was taken; instead, the chair listed written testimony submitted by a wide range of agricultural, environmental, local government, food bank, and industry groups. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the major funding differences. Both bills included some shared items such as operating adjustments, wolf and elk damage compensation, and certain technical changes, but they differed on several major appropriations. The House generally proposed larger increases for meat inspection, local food purchasing, and the Board of Animal Health, and added items such as county inspector grants, biofertilizer innovation, a biosolids/PFAS-related study, a soil health study, broadband installation study funding, an Agri Works program, an Agri Support program, a milk grant program, and several House-only transfers and grants. The Senate included items such as a climate coordinator position, biofuel-related reductions and policy changes, livestock processing funding, farm-to-school and urban agriculture changes, MARL funding, cottage foods licensing updates, and several Senate-only pass-through grants and transfers. Staff also noted differences in the agriculture emergency account transfer approach and in how the two bodies handled the Second Harvest Heartland and related food distribution provisions. House Research then reviewed the policy language differences in the bill. The House language included provisions allowing more flexible use of grant administration funds, unpaid prior-year claims, county inspector grants, and updates tied to its own policy article, while the Senate language included the climate coordinator, PFAS-related commercialization language, cooperative development grant permissive language, and other Senate policy changes. The committee did not take any votes or final actions at this meeting; the session was informational and focused on identifying differences for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:50.799> and great for uh the people of Minnesota and great for uh the people of Minnesota
• this is my 15th year in the Minnesota this is my 15th year in the Minnesota Senate<00:04:35.000>
• People of Minnesota wanted us to restore balance in Minnesota.
• not to mention the state of Minnesota not to mention the state of Minnesota and<00:09:48.279>
• that's what the people of Minnesota that's what the people of Minnesota expect<00:10:12.000>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senator Jeremy Miller discussed the Minnesota Senate’s new power-sharing arrangement with DFL Senator Bobby Joe Champion, describing it as a historic opportunity to restore cooperation after what he said were difficult and trust-losing last sessions. He said co-presiding officers should not slow progress, argued that the Senate has a tradition of respectful dialogue, and said his goal is to help rebuild relationships and focus on what is best for Minnesotans rather than partisan interests. Miller said he has heard positive feedback from constituents and emphasized that Minnesota is a “purple state” that expects balance and collaboration. He also said the legislature should address a looming budget deficit by reining in spending, reviewing the budget line by line, and targeting waste, fraud, and abuse, which he said could help create room for tax relief. He framed his legacy goal as cooperation and working together across party lines, saying he and Champion were entrusted by colleagues to lead in the best interest of the Senate and the state. No votes or formal legislative actions were taken in the interview.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:07.160> House page who served in the Minnesota House page who served in the Minnesota
• <00:09:18.959> leg that happens here at the Minnesota leg that happens here at the Minnesota
• <00:10:51.800> we has a long history here in Minnesota we has a long history here in Minnesota
• Minnesota the needs of shaki are not the Minnesota the needs of shaki are not the same<00:16:44.880><
• School in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• University of Minnesota Law School. University of Minnesota Law School.
• Minnesota has also created additional protections under the Minnesota Consumer Protection Act.
• Minnesota has also created additional protections under the Minnesota Consumer Protection Act.
• John Baylor, ACLU of Minnesota.
• Uh, the ACLU of Minnesota has Minnesota.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee approved the October 15, 2025 minutes and then held a broader discussion on current challenges with data retention and government transparency. Judy Randall of the Office of the Legislative Auditor said historical data is essential for post-audits, which often look back three to five years, and that retention decisions must balance audit needs with the burden of separating public and nonpublic data. She described the records-retention panel process as informal and largely based on individual judgment, noting she had objected to a proposed 60-day email retention period and generally uses a three-year guideline, though she said that standard is not grounded in a formal rule. Members discussed whether auditing standards should set retention periods, with Randall saying auditing is a good starting point but other offices, including the attorney general, also have needs, and that some agency discretion is unavoidable because of the gray area between official records and non-records. Representative Elkins raised the related principle of data minimization, arguing that government should not keep data longer than needed and citing a University of Minnesota legacy data warehouse breach as an example of the risks of retaining unnecessary sensitive information. Randall agreed that data no longer needed is a liability and said her office purges workpapers after five years. Representative Scott pressed whether three years is enough for fraud investigations and financial records; Randall responded that a reasonableness standard is needed and that longer retention can produce diminishing returns, though she said she would follow up on whether financial records should be treated differently. Tanya Tacker of the Rum River Special Education Cooperative testified in support of updating Minnesota’s data-retention laws for schools. She said districts want to protect student information and maintain transparency, but the current general retention schedule dates to 1985 and 2000 and does not reflect digital records, modern systems, or the volume of special education data. She urged modernizing the schedule, clarifying what must be kept in paper versus digitized form, aligning state rules with IDEA and other federal requirements, and providing practical guidance and tools. Members praised the specificity of her recommendations. Dr. BB Newman testified that retention failures in St. Anthony Village have made it difficult to obtain routine municipal and police data, with records delayed, missing, or inconsistently produced and no clear explanation of what systems were searched or whether records were destroyed. Newman argued these gaps undermine statutory access rights and force residents into costly litigation, and recommended stronger retention auditing, documentation of destruction, mandatory disclosure of systems searched, and consequences for noncompliance. In response to questions, Senate counsel said there is generally no direct penalty, but affected parties may seek mandamus, Data Practices Act claims, or informal mediation/opinions from the Data Practices Office. The discussion closed with calls for clearer standards and possible legislative updates to improve compliance and transparency.

Transcript Highlights:

• rightfully theirs when Minnesota rightfully theirs when Minnesota intervenes<00:09:13.720> in
• Minnesota to be investing in Head Start Minnesota to be investing in Head Start um<00:18:48.240> when
• <00:32:35.440> and district in the state of Minnesota and district in the state of Minnesota
• Louis Park, Minnesota.
• ensuring that the voices of Minnesota ensuring that the voices of Minnesota Foster<01:21:43.120>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance ratings in Minnesota. insurance ratings in Minnesota.
• plan, also known as Minnesota Care. plan, also known as Minnesota Care.
• waiver and no risk to Minnesota Care. waiver and no risk to Minnesota Care.
• It's close to Minnesota.
• Minnesota Care. Minnesota Care.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, if you've been in northern Minnesota and southern Minnesota, you understand the importance
• in northern Minnesota and Southern Minnesota<00:30:55.399> you<00:30:55.760> understand
• of interest to Northern Minnesota of interest to Northern Minnesota legislator<00:37:08.079>
• project across the state of Minnesota project across the state of Minnesota from<01:07:49.960>
• :07:56.640> enhance<01:07:57.039> Minnesota preserve and enhance Minnesota preserve and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So blind and visually Minnesota.
• Minnesota would help fill those needs. Minnesota would help fill those needs.
• including 270 right here in Minnesota. including 270 right here in Minnesota.
• out or into Minnesota. out or into Minnesota.
• candidates teaching in Minnesota candidates teaching in Minnesota schools?

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 3635, the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, and House File 3638, which would make several changes to teacher licensing and related agency operations. Dr. Yolena Bailey walked through the compact, explaining that it would let teachers move more easily among member states while preserving Minnesota’s authority over licensing, data, discipline, and rulemaking. She emphasized that the compact must be adopted without changes to be effective and that it would still require eligible teachers to hold a qualifying license, pass a state background check, and meet any compensation-related documentation requirements. Testifiers from school administrator groups and Western Governors University supported both bills. They said Minnesota’s teacher shortages, especially in special education, make it difficult to fill classrooms and often force districts to rely on substitutes or leave positions vacant. Supporters said the compact would speed licensing for qualified out-of-state teachers without lowering standards, and that the Tier 2 change in HF 3638 would help candidates enrolled in out-of-state teacher prep programs, including working adults and rural students, access Minnesota licensure pathways. WGU said the Tier 2 barrier affects its students and partnerships, including special education pipeline efforts and Teach For America collaborations. For HF 3638, Bailey described operational changes that would move the voluntary pair professional credential to MDE, allow a data-sharing agreement with the Board of School Administrators, let the agency use forfeiture fees for IT needs, update mental health training language and rulemaking, expand Tier 2 eligibility to some out-of-state teacher prep students, and extend the timeline for an online licensing system project by two years. Members asked whether the compact would add requirements for Minnesota educators or reduce licensure quality; Bailey and Representative Hill said it would not add classroom requirements and would mainly reduce paperwork while maintaining standards. The bills were laid over for further consideration, with no vote taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota is experiencing a severe housing shortage.
• <00:36:24.400> the organizations from across Minnesota the organizations from across Minnesota
• developing housing in greater Minnesota developing housing in greater Minnesota for<00:41:58.040
• Saha a contribution from the Minnesota Saha a contribution from the Minnesota state<00:43:03.040
• Minnesota is losing affordable housing faster than we can build it.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all