Transcript Highlights:

• </c> on Max Lake, something we commonly do. on Max Lake, something we commonly do.
• this differently from city to city.
• This is this last fall in a city south of the Twin Cities.
• This is this last fall in a city south of the Twin Cities.
• </c> in a city south of the Twin Cities. in a city south of the Twin Cities.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Minnesota cities to the small cities Minnesota cities to the small cities groups<00:14:35.440><c
• Many cities in Susan Arts, city manager for the City of Mankato, speaking on behalf of the city and the
• My name is Jason Wedell, and I'm the Prior Lake city manager.
• Using my city as an example, Prior Lake is 95% residential and 5% commercial.
• as an example, uh, Um, using my city as an example, uh, Prior<01:18:01.840><c> Lake</c><01:18:02.520>

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• moored vessels and provides for proper vessels moored with insurance and overseen by the affected city
• Gossett Seidman: The City of Orlando could apply for a permit in Miami-Dade.
• There are incidents in Lake Boca where we have probably 15 moored anchored vessels also. Rep.
• Members, if you're ever in Lake Worth, please visit. Rep.
• Is it not the city or the county? Chair: You are recognized. Rep.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we'll get started on White Lake.
• But we'll get started on White Lake.
• White Lake had a project.
• And White Lake is an important place.
• And White Lake is an important place.

Summary: The board met at the State Capitol and approved the agenda and prior minutes after brief motions and no public comment. Executive Director Michael Hare then gave a CPRA implementation update, describing a large portfolio of active projects and highlighting several that are under construction, nearing bid, or recently awarded, including Port Fourchon shoreline protection, Caernarvon marsh creation, Schooner Bayou saltwater barrier rehabilitation, Cain Bayou marsh creation, West Shore river reintroduction work, Morganza to the Gulf, Raccoon Island restoration, Chenier-O-Tig ridge restoration, Bayou Pigeon and Dismal Swamp boat launches, Grand Bayou marsh creation, Highway 1 terracing, and several National Coastal Resilience Fund projects. He also noted the annual plan public meetings had concluded, with comments accepted through February 17, 2026, and answered board questions about the Rockefeller shoreline project, saying CPRA and the Corps were working through geotechnical and environmental issues and trying to move it forward. The board then received a joint presentation from CPRA and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on the White Lake Conservation Area and Management Plan. Speakers described White Lake as a 72,000-acre property in Vermilion Parish with major freshwater marsh, wildlife habitat, hunting and fishing opportunities, and aging infrastructure that currently operates on limited self-generated revenue. The plan, finalized in October 2025, focuses on habitat protection, maintaining wildlife, supporting revenue generation, expanding controlled public access, and strengthening partnerships. Proposed priorities include GIWW shoreline protection, Unit 2/Caddo levee stabilization, and north shoreline protection, with about $30 million secured for engineering and design and total costs estimated around $120 million to $130 million. Officials also discussed a possible lodge revitalization funded only with private dollars, broader landscape-level habitat management, conservation incentives for private landowners, and potential land acquisition for additional public access. Board members and agency leaders emphasized the importance of White Lake to waterfowl habitat and public recreation, and one member urged similar management attention for Sabine, Lacassine, and Cameron Prairie refuges. The final major presentation covered CPRA’s marsh creation design guidelines. Staff explained that marsh creation remains a major share of the coastal master plan and current project pipeline, and reviewed how projects are built using dredged sediment, containment dikes, and pipeline systems. They said the 2017 design guidelines were intended to standardize minimum design and construction practices, but are now being updated to reflect lessons learned, current survey standards, geotechnical practices, construction methods, and issues such as oil and gas infrastructure and land rights coordination. Board members asked about reducing unnecessary geotechnical costs, improving land-rights timing, considering unconfined marsh creation where appropriate, and accounting for why marsh areas are failing in the first place. Staff said they would consider those suggestions as part of the guideline update and then moved into a follow-up presentation on safety, access, and logistics for marine construction in the coastal zone.

Transcript Highlights:

• I began my work in a beautiful lake town called Starbuck, Minnesota, and Mr.
• </c><00:03:26.040><c> town</c> my work um in a a beautiful Lake town my work um in a a beautiful Lake
• We're calling the Twin Cities.
• Luke's and Lake View in Two Harbors, we will say if St.
• </c><00:52:42.200><c> county</c> it in last session as well Lake county it in last session as well Lake

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• are very different than Peekquat Lakes.
• c> Lakes.
• He said the needs of Prior Lake are very different than the needs of Peekquat Lakes, and said he looks
• The needs of Prior Lake are very again.
• Again, I look forward to working Lakes.

Bills: HF630 , HF1435 , HF1607

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We can't keep asking local governments, our counties, and our cities to choose between fixing roads or
• I'm a state senator from Senate District 45, which includes all the cities that surround Lake Minnetonka
• ,</c><00:04:25.919><c> uh</c> cities that surround Lake Minnetonka, uh cities that surround Lake Minnetonka
• Paul City Council Vice President Nyang Kheimey. My pronouns are she/her.
• :10:05.000><c> Nyang</c> City Council Vice President Nyang City Council Vice President Nyang Kheimey.

Summary: Rep. Athena Hollins and Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart introduced Minnesota’s proposed climate superfund bill, describing it as a way to make major historical greenhouse gas polluters help pay for climate adaptation and infrastructure repair. They said the bill would target large fossil fuel corporations with significant emissions and use the revenue for projects such as stormwater upgrades, bridge and roof protection, erosion control, drinking water protection, cooling cities, and other resilience work. Both lawmakers framed the proposal as a matter of accountability and fairness, arguing that Minnesotans should not keep paying for damage caused by companies that profited from fossil fuel pollution. Several supporters testified in favor of the bill, including St. Paul City Council Vice President Nyang Kheimey, former legislator and medical student Hunter Cantrell, Unidos Minnesota volunteer Bonnie Becol, and 100% Minnesota’s Aurora Vautrin. They emphasized local climate impacts such as flooding, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, emerald ash borer damage, asthma, and infrastructure failures, and said the costs are increasingly falling on taxpayers, local governments, and vulnerable communities. Kheimey highlighted municipal needs and St. Paul’s own climate investments, while Cantrell focused on environmental racism and health harms, and Becol and Vautrin stressed species loss, community recovery costs, and the burden on residents. In the question-and-answer portion, Hollins and Johnson Stewart explained that the bill would apply to fossil fuel corporations with at least 1 billion metric tons of carbon emissions and a nexus to Minnesota, not local utilities. They said the State Auditor’s office would determine the assessments owed by companies, while the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency would hold the fund and administer grants. They also said they were looking to models in Vermont and New York and hoped the proposal could attract bipartisan support because it is tied to affordability and shifting costs away from taxpayers and onto polluters. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, and the event ended with the sponsors opening the bill to questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Maya has been in Kansas City since 2024.
• I mirrored my legislation on the Kansas City law.
• Charles Lake, St.
• Louis area, Kansas City, Lake of the Ozarks—this is an attack on the entire state.
• Louis and Kansas City. They weren't actually trying to buy it.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for February 3, 2026 by roll call vote, 131-1. Members then spent much of the morning introducing special guests, including a page for the day, Missouri State University Citizen Scholars, JAG program students, school counselors, elementary students observing online, interns, and a tribute honoring Josephine Baker’s life and legacy. The chamber then moved to first reading of several bills and to perfection of multiple House Committee Substitutes. The most substantial debate centered on a composite anti-trafficking bill, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2273, 1946, 1814, and 2551. Supporters said it would strengthen Missouri’s response to trafficking, grooming, sextortion, and child sexual abuse material by updating terminology, creating a permanent Attorney General’s statewide council, expanding training for professionals, extending the civil statute of limitations for trafficking claims, increasing penalties, and allowing expungement for victims. Members cited testimony from survivors and advocates and emphasized the need for coordinated enforcement and education. The House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. Members also debated House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1694 and related bills, a package aimed at curbing abusive website-accessibility lawsuits against Missouri businesses. Supporters described “sue-and-settle” tactics targeting small businesses with little notice and high settlement demands, while opponents of the abusive practice argued the bill preserves legitimate ADA claims and gives businesses a chance to cure problems. The House adopted the substitute and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House considered House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2375 on workers’ compensation, which supporters said would clarify the “prevailing factor” standard, address preexisting-condition claims, adjust treatment and appeal rules, and reduce costs; opponents warned it could make it harder for injured workers to obtain care and create disputes between insurers. The House adopted the substitute and ordered it perfected and printed. The chamber then moved to announcements and recessed until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:43:23.960><c> canaby</c><00:43:24.400><c> lake</c> water withdrawals from lake canaby lake water
• withdrawals from lake canaby lake is<00:43:25.319><c> that</c><00:43:25.599><c> does</c><00:43:25.720
• and the Pillsbury Lake Village Water District.
• Pillsbury Lake Village Water District.
• You know, I have city water and city sewer in Rochester, but I want my own well.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• They were looking at the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, as well as the Queen City, and it has a place in my
• Is that the case where it is not considered surface water, or is it until it ends up in Lake Livingston
• Right, we would have ownership of that and be able to capture it in Lake Livingston.
• I spoke to you previously, but I just wanted to mention that I represent the city of Corpus Christi.
• We have all types of water districts that are related to water from cities. to river authorities, to

Bills: HB24 , HB27 , HB24 , HB27

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• earlier, this would address situations where a fleeing vehicle leaves the roadway, drives through a city
• </c><00:07:02.280><c> park</c><00:07:03.080><c> ends</c><00:07:03.319><c> up</c> drives through a city
• park ends up drives through a city park ends up driving<00:07:03.840><c> the</c><00:07:04.000><c> wrong
• </c><00:13:12.720><c> Street</c> happen in Minneapolis off of Lake Street happen in Minneapolis off of
• Lake Street were<00:13:13.680><c> five</c><00:13:13.959><c> young</c><00:13:14.240><c> women</c><00:

Transcript Highlights:

• But here we have people that used to come to lake houses.
• </c><00:06:27.280><c> Now</c><00:06:27.600><c> those</c><00:06:27.759><c> lake</c> come to lake houses
• Now those lake come to lake houses.
• We have a truckload of lakes and waterways in our town.
• </c><00:34:40.159><c> and</c> We have a truckload of lakes and We have a truckload of lakes and waterways

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• My day job, I'm a firefighter for the city up there.
• I've been doing that work for going on 20 years with the city of Duluth.
• In my district are the North Branch schools and the Chisago Lake schools.
• </c> North Branch schools and the shago Lake North Branch schools and the shago Lake Schools<00:09:09.680
• , and White Bear Lake.

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Benton and Franklin is basically the Tri-Cities area.
• Benton Franklin is basically the Tri-Cities area.
• My name is Barbara Posthumus, associate superintendent and CFO of Lake Washington School District.
• serve as the vice president of learning and student success at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake
• For the record, my name is Brea Ann Bodiment and I am a senior at Moses Lake High School and a current

Bills: SB6130 , SB6247 , SB6260 , SB6268 , SB6278

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: voter registration, elections, national holiday, civic engagement, government initiative, school funding, financial management, budgeting, transparency, district governance, SB 6260, public education, K-12, Washington State, OSPI, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, education finance, school transportation, school buses, zero-emission bus

Transcript Highlights:

• We're a charter school in Forest Lake.
• </c> have been an educator in Forest Lake have been an educator in Forest Lake Area<01:00:45.680><c>
• I'm Lakes Public Schools Superintendent.
• Peekquat Lakes Public Schools rebuilt.
• ,</c><01:31:47.679><c> rural</c> including those in urban cities, rural including those in urban cities

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The City of Los Angeles serves as our host city, and our partnership is formalized...
• The City of Los Angeles serves as our host city, and our partnership is formalized through a Games agreement
• Placid and in Salt Lake.
• In the call-out box, you'll see Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City will host softball and canoe slalom.
• So the wonderful Superbloom vision should bring the Games to life across the city and venue cities in

Transcript Highlights:

• So I've had quite an experience in the city.
• At the Belle Glade campus and at the Lake Worth campus, we're at a 100% passing rate for RNs, and our
• LPNs at Lake Worth are above the national and exceed the state average.
• Our Belle Glade and Lake Worth campuses for the LPN and RN are having 100% pass rates.
• Where we need to work is on the Lake Worth campus for the RN degree, and we are doing a lot of things

Bills: S0720 , S1246

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to consider one bill, a postponed bill, and a slate of trustee confirmations. The committee first took up CS/SB 1246, which expands the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) fund to support health science workforce shortages beyond nursing, including allied health programs. The bill also broadens eligible uses of funds, revises matching requirements and grant criteria, and updates reporting requirements. A strike-all amendment was adopted without objection, and the committee then reported the bill favorably after supportive testimony from Florida State College at Jacksonville, the Florida Hospital Association, the College of Central Florida, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Senator Davis also noted a favorable vote on the bill for the record. The committee then temporarily postponed SB 720 at the sponsor’s request. Chair Harrell explained that the bill had been incorporated into a larger committee measure and would likely be heard later in another form. Public witnesses who had come to speak on the bill were not heard because of the postponement. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmations for trustees at several state colleges, including Chipola College, Tallahassee State College, Pensacola State College, Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, and St. Petersburg College. The appointees emphasized themes of affordability, workforce training, nursing and allied health success, dual enrollment, community partnerships, and local economic development. After hearing from the appointees, the committee approved a block motion to recommend confirmation of all appointees on tabs 2 through 25. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am with the city...
• , which will largely be a reuse lake that capitalizes on 20 years of investments that the City has made
• When completed, this lake will make Lubbock one of the few cities in West Texas that is more reliant
• A city within 1,000 feet of a city-owned convention center facility is eligible for these rebates.
• As I noted in my previous testimony, Lubbock is a thriving city, a thriving, growing city.

Bills: HB249 , HB 1186 , HB2313 , HB2408 , HB2508 , HB2730 , HB2974 , HB3045 , HB3232 , HB3336 , HB3710 , HB4044 , HB4236 , HJR133 , HB249

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: ad valorem taxes, property taxes, homestead exemption, disabled veterans, senior citizens, tax payments, installment payments, municipal tax revenue, hotel, convention center, tax code, economic development, local government, municipality, tax revenue, qualified projects, municipal taxation, hotel project, municipality funding, veteran

Transcript Highlights:

• they are in all our districts, whether you’re in greater Minnesota or whether you’re in the metro city
• . down in Canon Falls, there's a city. down in Canon Falls, there's a park<00:08:09.199><c> called</c
• , at Fall Lake, and it's disappointing because the folks that do come up to Veterans on the Lake are
• are a lot of PTSD Veterans on the Lake are a lot of PTSD and<00:31:25.600><c> these</c><00:31:25.919
• and I wish we could veterans on the lake and I wish we could have<00:32:01.600><c> helped</c><00:32:

Transcript Highlights:

• But we'll get started on White Lake.
• White Lake is a priority for this department.
• White Lake had a project.
• And White Lake is an important place.
• And White Lake is an important place.

Summary: The board met on January 21, 2026, approved the agenda and minutes, and received a CPRA implementation update from Executive Director Michael Hare. Hare reported about 103 active projects, with work focused on completing existing projects and moving more into construction. He highlighted several projects, including Port Fourchon shoreline protection, Northwest Little Lake marsh creation, Sugar Ridge Pump Station, a large RESTORE-funded marsh creation project, Schooner Bayou saltwater barrier rehabilitation, Cain Bayou marsh creation redesign, West Shore river reintroduction work, Morganza to the Gulf reaches, NERDA Raccoon Island restoration, and Chenier-O-Tig ridge restoration. He also reviewed recreation and partnership projects such as Bayou Pigeon and Destrehan boat launches, Grand Bayou Marsh Creation, Highway 1 terracing, and four Louisiana projects funded through the National Coastal Resilience Fund. Hare noted the annual plan public meetings were complete and the comment period remained open through February 17, 2026. Board members asked about the Rockefeller shoreline project, and Hare said the Corps and state agencies were working through geotechnical and environmental issues and that leadership remained committed to moving it forward. The board then heard a joint presentation from CPRA and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on the White Lake Conservation Area and Management Plan. Officials described White Lake as a 72,000-acre property in Vermilion Parish with major habitat, recreation, and revenue functions, but said aging infrastructure, levee erosion, limited water control structures, and maintenance costs made a master plan necessary. The plan, finalized in October 2025, recommends coastal restoration projects, lodge and facility revitalization using private dollars, revenue-generation improvements, and long-term partnerships. Proposed work includes GIWW shoreline protection, Unit 2/Caddo levee stabilization, and north shoreline protection, with about $30 million already secured for engineering and construction and total needs estimated at roughly $120 million to $130 million. Officials also discussed broader habitat management, conservation incentives for private landowners, possible land acquisition in southwest Louisiana, and coordination with federal partners and other state agencies. Members praised the White Lake effort as a model of interagency collaboration and emphasized its importance for waterfowl habitat, public access, and tourism. Questions focused on funding sources, oil and gas revenue, and whether other agencies such as economic development and tourism should be involved. Several members also urged the state to apply similar management approaches to other refuges, including Sabine, Cameron Prairie, and Lacassine, where they said federal management has lagged. The discussion underscored a broader shift toward landscape-scale habitat management and public recreation investment. The final major presentation covered CPRA’s marsh creation design guidelines and related construction logistics. Staff explained that marsh creation makes up a large share of the coastal master plan and that the agency is updating its 2017 design guidelines after nearly a decade of use. The updates will address survey standards, geotechnical methods, dredge production estimates, construction monitoring, and oil and gas infrastructure conflicts. A second presentation reviewed safety, access, and logistics for marine construction, including equipment access routes, pipeline identification and coordination, cultural resources, private landowners, oyster resources, and permitting. Board members asked about reducing geotechnical costs, improving land-rights coordination, considering uncontained marsh creation where appropriate, and managing pipeline impacts; staff said they would consider those suggestions as part of the guideline updates.