Transcript Highlights:

• He said they made sure that first responders have opioid antagonists on them, and that all schools also
• He said they made sure that first responders have opioid antagonists on them, and that all schools also
• He said they made sure that first responders have opioid antagonists on them, and that all schools also
• um also have Narcan and that all schools um also have Narcan and other<00:16:27.480><c> opioid</c><00
• I am a professor at Mitchell Hamlin School of Law in St.

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They have the Humane Society, veterans programs, lots of school groups, programs for the homeless—the
• We donate to area schools programs to help housing and food insecure children.
• We donate to area schools programs to help housing and food insecure children.
• </c><00:40:15.520><c> uh</c> to our food shelves our local schools uh to our food shelves our local schools
• would have had to close the high school football program down.

Bills: HF169 , HF195 , HF194 , HF1756 , HF2133

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: HF169, Minnesota insurance, health plan, summary of benefits and coverage, SBC, patient assistance program, deductible, health insurer, consumer disclosure, out-of-pocket costs, medical assistance funds, copay assistance, health coverage transparency, chapter 62Q, enrollee, HF195, Fairmont, street reconstruction, bonding bill, capital investment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> health treatments especially in schools health treatments especially in schools you<00:39:37.480
• </c> you know kids sometimes are at school you know kids sometimes are at school and<00:39:40.440><c>
• </c><00:40:09.440><c> here</c> to counselors about this in schools here to counselors about this in schools
• I spoke with schools, superintendents, school nurse, but not a specific hospital.
• I spoke with schools, superintendents, school nurse, but not a specific hospital.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Wyoming School Bellac. I'm with the Wyoming School Boards<00:02:58.080><c> Association.
• So this is supportive schools.
• Association of School Nurses.
• representing school nurses across the representing school nurses across the state<00:04:04.000><c> as
• </c> National Association of School Nurses. National Association of School Nurses.

Bills: HB0117 , HB0126

Committee: Senate Labor, Health & Social Services

Keywords: informed consent, abortion, civil liability, coercion, healthcare rights, fetal heartbeat, termination of pregnancy, medical emergency, Wyoming legislation, rights of minors, healthcare regulations, parental consent, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the inspection requirement for school the inspection requirement for school buses<00:32:13.840><
• buses carrying our children to school ought to be inspected.
• buses carrying our children to school ought to be inspected.
• buses carrying our children to school ought to be inspected.
• </c> &gt;&gt; reestablishing inspections for school &gt;&gt; reestablishing inspections for school buses

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That election cost the school district over $1,300.
• of the bill, representing the Fast Growth School Coalition.
• The school districts, there have been school districts in Harris County that have moved from May to November
• Our intent was to remove public schools from this bill and so this new substitute removes. all schools
• When I came out publicly back during my pre-school St.

Bills: SB16 , SB76 , SB310 , SB311 , SB396 , SB505 , SB827 , SB964 , SB1209 , SB1210 , SB1386 , SB1470 , SB2035 , SJR37 , SB 16

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, transportation, infrastructure, funding, public safety, state regulation, election, polling places, voter access, state oversight, electronic voting, voting, polling place, elections, countywide program, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• Or "Why don't we have these school."
• We no longer have media specialists in our school libraries.
• Minneapolis schools recently received their budgets for next year, and schools across the district are
• , and school districts across the state need your help.
• disability services, school services, disability services, school services, all<00:51:35.960><c> that

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard presentations on two tax bills: House File 4123, by Representative Agbaje, would expand Minnesota’s net investment income tax to include certain business income, especially income from S corporations and LLCs not subject to federal self-employment taxes, while keeping the current rate and million-dollar threshold; she said it would raise an estimated $88.7 million next year. House File 4616, by Chair Gomez, would impose a 1% annual tax on fortunes above $10 million. Gomez framed the bill as a response to growing wealth inequality and argued that wealthy households and large fortunes should contribute more to public services, while Agbaje said her bill would broaden the tax base and help meet state needs. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project, Erica Mominee of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Lauren Richards, and teacher Kristen Sinicariello, said the bills would help address wealth and income inequality and provide needed revenue for public health, education, and other public services. They pointed to federal tax cuts for high-income households, cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and strains on state agencies and schools. Richards said small businesses already pay more than large corporations like Amazon, and Sinicariello argued that higher revenue would support classrooms and help equalize opportunity. Opponents, including Brian Cook of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Dalton Danielson of the Minnesota Business Partnership, and John Beschi of NFIB Minnesota, warned that both bills would hurt business competitiveness and investment. They argued that HF 4123 would effectively create a new higher tax tier for pass-through businesses and that HF 4616 would be difficult to administer, could force sales of illiquid assets, and could discourage entrepreneurship and capital investment. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee moved through bill presentations and public testimony before member discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amounts provided to the foundation school program and to the.
• When public schools enroll pre-k children, that balance collapses.
• We were accredited schools, but that money that I was able to put into to my school previously, I'm fighting
• This support allowed me to stay enrolled in high school. at the school that I was attending at the time
• The impact of the support ended far beyond high school.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sophia started her law school journey at 13 in 2020 while also attending junior high school.
• In 2024, Sophia graduated from Northwestern California University School of Law and currently serves
• He graduated from Polytechnic High School in 1947 before enlisting in the 160th Infantry Regiment, 40th
• country as he enlisted in the 106th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division in 1947, right of high school
• While some of us were in school learning our trade, this soldier stood the watch.

Transcript Highlights:

• The test prep is for med school, law school, graduate school, nursing, teaching, real estate, and the
• The test prep is for med school, law school, graduate school, nursing, teaching, real estate, and the
• The test prep is for med school, law school, graduate school, nursing, teaching, real estate, and the
• The test prep is for med school, law school, graduate school, nursing, teaching, real estate, and the
• ><00:15:03.040><c> school,</c><00:15:03.600><c> graduate</c> for med school, law school, graduate for

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thinking particularly of counties and school districts.
• Of course, there are school districts.
• </c><00:25:33.040><c> district</c> get approval from the school district get approval from the school
• with our school district and county. county. county.
• </c><00:42:48.680><c> and</c> net tax capacity that schools and net tax capacity that schools and counties

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2076, school safety employee certification policies.
• HB 2110, school governing bodies meanings prayer.
• My dad also went to that school.
• House Bill 2312, Patriotic Youth Group School Access. Mr. Majority Leader, page 29.
• S.C.R. 2015, public schools activity, nutrition support. Education.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, guest introductions, and approval of the journal. The chamber then moved through several Committee of the Whole calendars, considering a large number of bills and resolutions, mostly on second reading or in committee-of-the-whole format. Most measures were advanced with do-pass recommendations, often after adopting committee or floor amendments. Among the early items, SB 1515 (Industrial Commission revisions), SB 1645 (Auditor General performance audit), SB 1678 (health facilities), and SCR 1023 (Independent Redistricting Commission changes) were debated and approved. SCR 1023 drew the most discussion, with supporters arguing it would add geographic diversity, expand the commission to three Democrats, three Republicans, and three independents, and tighten population deviation standards to 5,000 people; opponents warned it could skew the commission and reduce nonpartisanship. The Senate also adopted amendments and advanced SB 1399, SB 1507, SB 1564, SB 1621, SB 1629, and SB 1811, with topics including AHCCCS cost reports, school district consolidation, electronic monitoring in long-term care, obesity prevention, behavioral health network adequacy, and public-school internet/wireless device issues. Later calendars addressed elections, public safety, and criminal justice. The Senate advanced SB 1134 (political signs) with an emergency clause, SB 1489 (ballot measures and circulators) after removing certain paid-circulator disclosure requirements, and SB 1725 and SCR 1048 concerning marijuana smoke as a public/private nuisance, shifting much of the issue into civil law and leaving only substantial, deliberate conduct on the criminal side. In public safety, SB 1416 on missing and kidnapped children reporting was amended to require law-enforcement training every two years and documentation of online information-sharing decisions; senators clarified it did not alter the Turquoise Alert. SB 1751 and SCR 1049, both related to capital punishment, were amended to make firing squad an available option rather than a mandatory method in certain cases, with one senator speaking in opposition to the death penalty. The Senate also advanced SB 1012, SB 1573, SB 1661, SB 1662, SB 1569, SB 1634, SB 1647, SB 1655, and SB 1664, covering concealed weapons notice appeals, judicial determinations and religious secular laws, paternity/genetic testing support, probation conditions, election-related voter registration and signature handling, foreign campaign contributions, election worker summonsing, and nomination petition signatures. Several bills were retained or moved between calendars, and the Committee of the Whole reports were adopted, sending the listed bills forward as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, some of them might be students at your school.
• I mean, some of them might be students at your school.
• We're curious for more of an explanation as to what schools, what the schools will do to provide that
• We have some churches that have schools in them, and we have after-school programming.
• We have Montessori schools, so there's a whole lot of where kids are at, and that's comparable to schools

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several bills dealing with elections, juvenile representation, paternity, and campaign finance. SB 1489 would require paid petition circulators to disclose their name, residence, and paid status, wear a badge, register in some local petition efforts, and subject local initiatives to stricter compliance and fiscal disclosure rules. Supporters said it would standardize rules and improve transparency; opponents, including the ACLU, argued it would chill core political speech and compel identification. The bill received a do-pass recommendation by a 4-3 vote. SB 1609, an emergency measure restricting political party names from using terms like “independent” or “unaffiliated,” drew support from county election officials who said it would reduce voter confusion, and opposition from the Arizona Independent Party, which called it retroactive and anti-competitive. The committee adopted an amendment and then passed the bill 7-0. SCR 1040, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75 subject to voter approval, was supported as reflecting longer life expectancy and retaining experienced judges, but opposed by some who favored age limits; it passed 5-2. The committee then took up SB 1234, which would change juvenile court representation by requiring a guardian ad litem in dependency and termination cases and allowing, rather than requiring, separate child counsel in some circumstances. Sponsor Senator Werner said the bill was part of a broader child-safety package and was informed by cases involving children who died after alleged system failures. Child welfare attorneys and advocates opposed the bill, warning it would weaken attorney-client privilege and take away children’s independent voice, while DCS said the bill was intended to clarify the GAL role and could work alongside child counsel. The committee adopted an amendment and passed the bill 5-2. SB 1661, allowing child support obligations to be terminated when genetic testing shows a presumed father is not the biological father, received broad support from the sponsor, a fathers’ advocacy group, and a family representative, and passed 6-0. Later, the committee considered election-administration and campaign-finance measures. SB 1392 would give governing bodies canvassing elections access to election-material locations to observe procedures and review records, while protecting privacy and security; county officials supported access but raised concerns about the term “agent,” and the bill passed 4-3. SB 1634 would require ADOT to provide county recorders with applicants’ handwritten signatures collected during voter registration; county officials said it would improve signature verification, and the bill passed 5-2 after some members noted amendment concerns. SB 1743 would redact donors’ employer street addresses and residence addresses from campaign finance reports; supporters framed it as a privacy measure, while opponents said employer information is important for transparency and identifying influence. It passed 5-2. SB 1099, a strike-everything amendment defining defamation standards for public and private figures, was presented as narrowing and clarifying defamation law and passed 4-3. After a recess, the committee heard SB 1535, which would make paying for sexual conduct a prostitution offense and add a $200 assessment to fund anti-human-trafficking services. Survivors, law enforcement, and neighborhood advocates supported stronger penalties aimed at buyers and demand reduction, while criminal-defense and victim-advocacy groups said the bill needed a rebuttable-presumption amendment to better protect trafficking victims. The transcript cuts off before the committee’s final action on SB 1535.

Transcript Highlights:

• He loved high school, stayed in high school until he turned 21.
• And he loved school. It was his favorite place.
• Brock's going to be out of school in May.
• Brock's going to be out of school in May.
• “Then he aged out of school.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Declining enrollment has created educational challenges for two small regional school districts and one
• municipal school district and has also ramped up financial pressures for the towns to support education
• the immediate future that will have an impact on both the sustainability and affordability of the school
• School budgets are our biggest budget line items.
• By 2019, we had joined forces with the Pioneer School District Town Committee called the Heart Committee

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on late-filed bills and formal petitions, with testimony focused mainly on Senate Bill 3026 and House Bill 5294. The committee heard from legislators and local officials about S. 3026, which would give equal voting access in a six-town regional school district process. Testifiers from the Sixth Town Regional Planning Board and local select boards said the current voting setup is unfair because one town can vote during normal polling hours while others have a narrower voting window, and they argued the bill would ensure equal voter opportunity for a major regional school decision amid declining enrollment and financial pressure on the districts. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H. 5294, a Worthington home rule petition seeking a one-year solar moratorium. Worthington officials, residents, and advocates said the town is facing multiple large-scale solar and battery storage proposals and lacks the staff, legal resources, emergency response capacity, and technical expertise to evaluate them. Witnesses raised concerns about fire risk, groundwater and drinking water impacts, forest and wildlife impacts, decommissioning, and the effect on rural character and farmland, while emphasizing that the moratorium was framed as a planning tool rather than opposition to clean energy. Several speakers said the state’s solar siting and approval process is too complex and top-down for small rural towns, and that volunteer boards are being asked to manage industrial-scale projects without adequate support. One witness from a statewide group said Worthington’s situation reflects broader problems across western Massachusetts and urged the committee to address solar siting more broadly in a future session. The hearing concluded after testimony and committee questions, with no votes or final actions taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, maybe they should register in school so they can, in a private school, wheels and all.
• You know, maybe they should register in school so they can, in a private school, so they can get the
• rights to include the right to access a child's complete educational record and to be informed if a school
• as advertising within public airports, transportation, and within certain feet of child care and school
• Advertising within public airports, transportation, within certain feet of child care and school facilities

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, maybe they should register in school so they can, in a private school, ...so they can get the
• rights to include the right to access a child's complete educational record and to be informed if a school
• such as advertising within public airports and transportation, within certain feet of child care and school
• such as advertising within public airports and transportation, within certain feet of child care and school
• establishes the Financial Aid Awareness Program within the Department of Education to recognize public schools

Summary: The meeting began with a JLBC presentation on the state budget proposal. Staff reviewed revenue changes from the April forecast, which lowered expected growth slightly, and then walked through major tax policy provisions. Those included full conformity with HR1 for the current tax year, a shift to the provisions of SB 1106 for future tax years, new deductions for retirement/pension distributions and Roth IRA contributions, an increase in the dependent credit, and a child and dependent care subtraction. Staff said the tax changes had an overall fiscal impact of about $1.4 billion over four years. They also described offsets from repealing several tax credits and exemptions, including solar-related tax breaks, a renewable energy production credit, a new employment tax credit, a refundable R&D credit for smaller employers, and a pollution-control device credit, totaling about $75 million in added revenue. Another budget item would redirect Arizona Commerce Authority Competes Fund lottery distributions to the general fund. Members asked questions about the budget’s effect on ACCESS eligibility checks, state employee health insurance funding, and cuts to one-time funding for area agencies on aging and Alzheimer’s programs. The committee then moved to caucus items on several bills. HB 2249, as amended by the Senate, would expand the parents’ bill of rights to include access to a child’s complete educational record and notice if school staff facilitate social transitioning, and would require investigation of prior violations; the sponsor concurred with the amendment. HB 2035 would require DCS and courts to identify and consider extended family for kinship foster care placement, with Senate changes shortening a reporting deadline and adding adopted family members to the definition. HB 2170 would bar state contracts for electronic or IT goods with PRC-controlled companies, with a certification requirement added in the Senate. HB 2573 would remove a waiting period for ignition interlock restricted licenses after DUI revocation and adjust psychotherapy language. HB 2415 on kratom would classify synthetic kratom as a narcotic drug and add advertising, packaging, and retail restrictions, but the sponsor intended to refuse the Senate changes. HB 2873 would let local petition sponsors withdraw municipal referendum petitions retroactively, which members noted could affect the Marana data center petition effort. The final bill discussed, SB 1798, would create a Financial Aid Awareness Program in the Department of Education to recognize schools that support FAFSA completion. Members questioned whether the department would need additional staff or resources, but no fiscal note had been provided. The meeting ended with recognition of interns and a brief photo opportunity before the caucus moved into closed session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Declining enrollment has created educational challenges for two small regional school districts and one
• municipal school district and has also ramped up financial pressures for the towns to support education
• the immediate future that will have an impact on both the sustainability and affordability of the school
• School budgets are our biggest budget line items.
• a part of the formation of an ad hoc civic leaders group to study the sustainability of Gilmanagu School

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on late-filed bills and formal petitions, with testimony focused primarily on two local measures: Senate Bill 3026 concerning voting procedures for a proposed six-town regional school district, and House Bill 5294, a Worthington home rule petition seeking a one-year moratorium on large-scale solar development. Committee members reminded speakers of testimony limits and remote participation rules, then took testimony from local officials, residents, and advocates. On S. 3026, supporters from the Six Town Regionalization Planning Board and local boards said the bill would create a fairer, equal voting process across all six towns for a major regional school district decision. They argued the measure would expand voter access, address concerns about unequal polling opportunities, and help communities respond to declining enrollment and financial pressures affecting school sustainability. Testifiers thanked the bill’s sponsors and urged the committee to advance it. On H. 5294, Worthington officials and residents strongly supported the moratorium, saying it was not anti-solar but a needed planning pause for a small rural town facing industrial-scale solar and battery proposals. Witnesses cited limited municipal staff, volunteer fire and health services, water-supply and groundwater concerns, wildfire risk, decommissioning and oversight costs, land-use and ecological impacts, and the strain on rural communities from state energy mandates. Several speakers said the town needed time to develop zoning and safety regulations before projects moved forward, and they asked the committee to report the bill favorably. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed testimony after the final speaker.

Transcript Highlights:

• My wife went to a private Christian school, and it was a tax credit like this that afforded her that
• I think I'm hearing that this is a huge incentive for school choice, for parents who are all that kind
• So in essence, the government is giving you this money to spend on your schooling.
• That might include families with kids in private school or kids in public school.
• I go to school at Meridian Academy.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• requirement for a teach-out opportunity under the same material conditions that existed prior to a school
• restricts entry on racial or religious grounds, which provides programs of education beyond high school
• The title of this bill is relating to, in the event of a school or program closure.
• The scope of school or program closures?
• You have a lot more at stake, and it isn't only at stake if the school itself closes.

Summary: At the February 3 meeting of the Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee, members reviewed several bills for possible executive session and noted that House Bill 2538 would be heard later in the session, while no action would be taken that day on House Bills 2422, 2427, and 2589. Staff walked the committee through proposed substitutes and amendments on multiple bills, including HB 2438 (early childhood education degree seekers scholarship), HB 2525 (heritage orchard program at WSU), HB 2586 (Passport to Careers and Washington College Grant alignment), HB 2458 (expanding Washington College Grant eligibility to certain non-degree credential programs), HB 2474 (student consumer protections and tuition recovery for school closures), and HB 2540/2450 relating to EMT recertification timing. Members discussed fiscal impacts, use of the GET account, student aid access, support for trades and vulnerable students, and protections for students when institutions or programs close. The committee adopted a proposed substitute for HB 2438 and reported it out on a 13-4 vote, with supporters emphasizing early childhood workforce shortages and opponents raising concerns about using GET account funds. HB 2525’s proposed substitute and a null-and-void amendment were adopted, and the bill was reported out unanimously. HB 2586 was reported out on a 17-0 vote, with members citing benefits for students experiencing homelessness and foster care. HB 2458’s amendment was adopted and the substitute bill passed out of committee on an 11-6 vote, despite objections about available financial aid funding. For HB 2474, members withdrew several amendments, adopted REN 076 to narrow exemptions for certain private institutions, and then reported the substitute bill out on a narrow 9-8 vote after debate over student protections versus institutional flexibility. The final bill considered, relating to EMT recertification intervals, was reported out of committee by voice vote with 17 ayes. Throughout the meeting, the committee generally advanced the bills with do-pass recommendations, while recording split views on funding sources, student consumer protections, and the scope of aid eligibility.