Transcript Highlights:

• has partnered with the Minnesota has partnered with the Minnesota Orchestra,<00:02:06.240> a<
• with Ivan Winship from the Minnesota with Ivan Winship from the Minnesota Orchestra,<00:03:12.959
• of Minnesota.
• of Minnesota.
• of Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Children's Defense Fund Minnesota. Children's Defense Fund Minnesota.
• Minnesota children are US citizens. Minnesota children are US citizens.
• this is not the Minnesota I want. this is not the Minnesota I want.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• Minnesota Medical Association. Minnesota Medical Association.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House adopted the conference committee report on House File 1141, the housing bill, and repassed the bill as amended by conference. Representative Howard said the compromise bill would help build thousands of homes, keep Minnesotans housed, and improve transparency and collaboration with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, while remaining budget-neutral by using MHFA interest earnings and fund transfers. He highlighted investments in housing infrastructure bonds, greater Minnesota workforce housing, manufactured housing, FHPAP, supportive housing, and added transparency for MHFA board meetings, while noting that some Senate provisions such as a manufactured housing bill of rights and a ban on private equity home purchases were not included. Several members spoke in support, emphasizing housing as a basic need and linking the bill to homelessness, workforce shortages, and health outcomes. Supporters praised the bill’s funding for supportive housing, first-generation homebuyer assistance, tenant hotline services, and manufactured housing, and said the bipartisan conference process improved the measure. Representative Kosowski and others argued the bill would help people stay housed, reduce pressure on schools, hospitals, and emergency rooms, and support communities across all 87 counties and tribal nations. Republican members raised concerns about spending and government growth, arguing the state should prioritize taxpayer relief, school safety, fraud prevention, and asset preservation instead of housing investments. Representative McDonald questioned the growth in MHFA staffing over the past decade, and Representative Howard responded that the agency had taken on many new responsibilities since the state’s larger housing investments and needed staff to administer programs effectively. After the motion to adopt the conference report prevailed, the bill moved to third reading, where further discussion continued in a generally supportive but divided debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:34:02.000> We're Minnesota. We're doing it better. We're Minnesota.
• control of the state of Minnesota. control of the state of Minnesota.
• zoo taste Minnesota.
• Uh the Minnesota zoo taste Minnesota.
• Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:11.120> Senate<00:08:11.960> effective the Minnesota Senate effective the Minnesota
• restore the Integrity of the Minnesota restore the Integrity of the Minnesota Senate<00:15:08.199
• point you to the Minnesota point you to the Minnesota Constitution<00:19:46.440> if<00:19
• clearly states it empowers the Minnesota clearly states it empowers the Minnesota Senate<00:20:24.320
• this institution but for the people of Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened under call, established a quorum, and adopted the committee reports. It then moved through second reading of Senate File 334 and first readings/referrals of Senate Files 645, 684, and 700, with SF 645 sent to State and Local Government and SFs 684 and 700 sent to Health and Human Services. The chamber also approved a motion to withdraw Senate File 567 from State and Local Government and re-refer it to Elections. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 5 and Senate Resolution 6, both recognizing Senate employees for years of dedicated service, including a specific recognition of David Jorgenson. The most significant floor action was a motion by Senator Rasmusson to expel Senator Nicole Mitchell and declare her seat vacant. Senator Rasmusson argued that Mitchell’s pending felony burglary case and delay of her trial justified expulsion; Senator Frentz opposed the motion, arguing the Senate should wait for the criminal process and that due process requirements had not been met. After a point of order and appeal, the President ruled the Frentz point of order well taken, and the Senate upheld that ruling by a 33-33 vote. The meeting also included several recesses and procedural calls of the Senate while the expulsion issue was debated. During announcements, members noted committee schedule changes, including cancellations or postponements for Energy and Jobs, and meetings for Judiciary, Policy, and Human Services. The Senate then adjourned until Thursday, January 30th at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Universities.
• of Minnesota had to offer has to offer. of Minnesota had to offer has to offer.
• health professionals for Minnesota. health professionals for Minnesota.
• of Minnesota, University of Minnesota, Rochester.
• learners across Minnesota and beyond. learners across Minnesota and beyond.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to do with employees in Minnesota to do with employees in Minnesota senator<00:06:47.440> thank
• history of how we got this in Minnesota history of how we got this in Minnesota so<00:09:58.800>
• <00:10:19.160> law it wasn't codified into Minnesota law it wasn't codified into Minnesota
• Airplanes out of Duluth, Minnesota.
• Minnesota is leading the way in SAF.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cloud, Minnesota. and also St. Cloud, Minnesota.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• work in Minnesota. work in Minnesota.
• Minnesota. Many I heard earlier today Minnesota.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met to approve the April 7, 2026 minutes and then held a hearing on the economic impact of Operation Metro Surge and related ICE enforcement activity. Testifiers described broad effects on cities, small businesses, workers, and schools, and several speakers voiced support for House File 4477, which would create a targeted state relief program for affected businesses and communities. Metro Cities said member cities reported unexpected burdens on public safety, public works, emergency management, and other local services, and its board adopted a policy supporting state assistance for those costs. Northstar Policy Action presented data arguing the operation contributed to higher unemployment, reduced hours, lost wages, and business losses, including a reported $106 million in lost wages from reduced hours and an estimated $18 million per week in taxpayer costs. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said the city incurred nearly $1 million in direct costs and estimated small businesses lost about $16 million per week, with major drops in foot traffic and sales, especially among immigrant-owned neighborhood businesses. Other testimony emphasized impacts outside the metro area and on specific communities. Georgia Gallardo of Kerkhoven Cattle Butcher said rural small businesses also suffered, citing reduced sales and weekend traffic. The Minnesota Council of Latino Affairs reported that Latino-owned businesses support thousands of jobs and have seen sales declines of 40% to 90%, while WomenVenture and the Minnesota CDFI Coalition said CDFIs were seeing urgent demand for flexible relief and described businesses delaying hiring, reducing hours, or pausing expansion. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruly said federal agents’ conduct during the surge undermined trust, created public safety concerns, and led to overtime and other local costs, while also noting he supports federal immigration enforcement in principle. Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis said the district lost 112 students since December, still had 72 not returned, and had to rapidly create a virtual learning option for students who did not feel safe attending in person. Across the hearing, witnesses argued the disruption was statewide, not limited to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and that state relief was needed to prevent business closures, job losses, and longer-term damage to communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, Minnesota Democrats have been caught trying to profit a specific Minnesota Democrat on his own
• Well, Minnesota Democrats have been caught trying to profit a specific Minnesota Democrat on his own
• Fraud that has happened in the state of Minnesota, it is people in greater Minnesota oftentimes may be
• This is an important bill for Minnesota construction and the Minnesota construction industry, and for
• This is an important bill for Minnesota construction and the Minnesota construction industry, and for

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 3432, a public safety bill requiring identifying equipment and insignia to be removed from emergency vehicles sold to the public. The chamber first adopted a House language amendment, then debated a broader security package that would fund judicial and courthouse security, Capitol security measures, short-term protection for legislators facing credible threats, State Patrol deficiency funding, and additional BCA analysts and investigators to assess threats statewide. Supporters framed the bill as necessary to protect public safety, democracy, and First Amendment activity at the Capitol and courthouses; they also said the package was pared down from larger requests and based on security reviews. The House adopted an A-1 amendment clarifying that BCA staff could investigate threats statewide, and later rejected a Schultz A-3 amendment that would have eliminated all appropriations in the bill. The A-3 was defeated on a 37-94 vote after the House upheld the Speaker’s ruling that a proposed school-safety secondary amendment was not germane, with that appeal decided 69-62. A major theme of debate was whether the Legislature should prioritize security for members and the Capitol before passing school safety funding. Several members argued they could not support spending tens of millions on Capitol and legislative security without first funding school safety for all students, including public, charter, private, and tribal schools. Others defended the bill as necessary because of recent threats and violence, including the June 14 tragedy, and said the Capitol security changes were based on professional recommendations. Some members also criticized the new security setup as overly restrictive or “security theater,” while supporters said the measures were needed to keep the public, staff, and lawmakers safe. After the A-3 was defeated, the bill was read for third time and members continued floor debate. The discussion remained split between those emphasizing immediate Capitol and legislative security needs and those insisting school safety should come first. Representative Agbaje then moved to table the bill, and the clerk began a roll call on that motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota. every part of Minnesota Minnesota. every part of Minnesota wanted<00:32:39.919> in
• Minnesota 2040 to finish up: Minnesota has a 2040, 100% by 2040 law.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• reliable service to Minnesota customers. reliable service to Minnesota customers.
• to Minnesota Power customers. to Minnesota Power customers.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• for Minnesota? for Minnesota?
• <00:07:33.000> family where not one Minnesota family where not one Minnesota family paid<00
• > and<00:09:04.320> we've Minnesota less affordable, and we've Minnesota less affordable
• did here in Minnesota.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Republican leaders in Minnesota gave a post-session recap focused on what they described as major accomplishments in a tied legislature. They highlighted passage of the Office of Inspector General bill to combat fraud, along with tax and fee relief measures including $125 million in property tax relief and $250 million in car tab reductions. They also pointed to funding for hospitals and uncompensated care, county IT modernization, school safety and mental health programs, public official safety at the Capitol and judicial branch, and a $1.2 billion bonding bill for infrastructure. Leaders repeatedly contrasted this session with the prior Democratic trifecta, arguing Republicans blocked new tax increases and helped make government more accountable and affordable. They said the OIG bill had been a top priority, had previously been blocked in the House, and was now signed into law. On health care, they said the final package included support for hospitals and denied that discussions about 340B involved pharmaceutical companies, saying offers on that issue were rejected by House Democrats. In response to questions, leaders said the tie forced public negotiation and that Minnesotans were the real winners because lawmakers worked together. They also defended the lack of final floor votes on gun-related proposals, saying those measures had been voted on multiple times in committee and on the floor but did not have the votes to pass. On transparency, they said the process was as open as possible and that bonding projects had been heard in committee and reviewed by the bonding team before inclusion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota families right now. Minnesota families right now.
• Minnesota in the last year. Minnesota in the last year.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• the state of Minnesota. the state of Minnesota.
• It's all of Minnesota. outstate. It's all of Minnesota.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee took up Senate File 203, a broad housing bill authored by Senator Port. Port described the measure as a package including $50 million in housing infrastructure bonds, MHFA administrative and investment reforms, expanded Greater Minnesota infrastructure grants for workforce housing, manufactured housing bill of rights provisions, and a private equity restriction on large investors buying certain single-family homes starting in 2026. Fiscal analyst Eric Olafson walked through the spreadsheet and said the $50 million bond authorization would add debt service costs over time, with the total estimated debt service for that authorization at about $75.8 million. Senator Draheim raised concern about the growing cost of bonding and said the state should rely more on cash than debt. The committee then adopted two technical amendments. The A21 amendment, described by Port as correcting manufactured housing bill of rights language, aligning MHFA board meeting language, conforming a lived-experience exemption to federal law, and fixing a capacity-building grants reference, was approved without objection. The A20 amendment, offered by Draheim, was also adopted and would give the legislature more control and visibility over MHFA funding and how quickly program dollars are reinvested after agency operations. Members then debated Draheim’s A22 amendment, which would delete the manufactured home park provisions from the bill. Draheim and several Republicans argued the section could function like rent control, could burden good park owners, and might have unintended consequences for park operations and purchases. Port, Senator Boldon’s allies, and other supporters said the provisions were needed to protect residents from rent spikes and private equity abuses in manufactured home communities, where residents own their homes but not the land. The transcript ends during that debate, before any final disposition on A22 or the bill itself is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Foundations like the southern Minnesota Foundations like the southern Minnesota initiative<00:24
• <00:28:44.760> helping stability of Greater Minnesota helping stability of Greater Minnesota
• were supported by Greater Minnesota were supported by Greater Minnesota communities<01:05:38.240
• > want them building in Minnesota I don't want them building in Minnesota I don't want them<01
• Economic Development within R Minnesota Economic Development within R Minnesota and<01:39:01.560

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• construction work zones in Minnesota construction work zones in Minnesota.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• <00:35:19.840> Two Minnesota FFA and Minnesota 4-H. Two Minnesota FFA and Minnesota 4-H.
• I'm currently serving as the Minnesota State Sentinel, and I'm from Willmar, Minnesota.
• of Agricultural Educators, Minnesota Farmers Union, and Minnesota Farm Bureau.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > greater Minnesota workforce housing greater Minnesota workforce housing development<00:03:24.480>
• <00:04:21.199> Housing line 19, the Greater Minnesota Housing line 19, the Greater Minnesota
• <00:13:20.160> Greater<00:13:20.480> Minnesota Greater Minnesota Workforce Development
• communities across Minnesota. communities across Minnesota.
• <00:31:53.600> I Minnesota residents. So, thank you. I Minnesota residents.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• With more Minnesota, rely on this fund.
• I the future of policing in Minnesota.
• <00:44:28.800> are hear across the state of Minnesota are hear across the state of Minnesota
• worked with the University of Minnesota worked with the University of Minnesota what<00:47:22.960
• > education Disclosure on the Minnesota education Disclosure on the Minnesota education website

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• citizens Utility Board of Minnesota citizens Utility Board of Minnesota we're<00:08:14.240> a
• we're a nonprofit advocate for Minnesota we're a nonprofit advocate for Minnesota residential<00
• of Minnesota.
• A couple of facts for consideration in Minnesota: these are Minnesota stats.
• : these are Minnesota stats.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee heard Senate File 486, as amended by the A2 delete-everything amendment, which would create a supplemental, year-round energy assistance program administered by the Department of Commerce alongside LIHEAP. Senator Dibble said the bill is intended to help low-income households pay utility bills throughout the year, including summer months, by providing crisis grants, ongoing monthly assistance, emergency heating system repair or replacement help, outreach funding, and reporting requirements. The committee adopted the A2 amendment before hearing testimony on the bill as amended. Supportive testimony came from Annie Levenson-Faulk of the Citizens Utility Board, Jenny Glumac of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, Amanda Mackey of Minnesota Valley Action Council, Ron Elwood of Legal Aid, Jamie Fitz of CenterPoint Energy, George Shardlow of the Energy CENTS Coalition, and Kent Sulum of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association. Witnesses said energy burdens are especially high in rural Minnesota, utility arrears and shutoffs have increased, and most shutoffs occur in summer when LIHEAP is unavailable. They argued that year-round assistance would help vulnerable households, reduce shutoffs, improve health and housing stability, and create administrative efficiencies by using existing LIHEAP infrastructure. Several witnesses cited data on the need for assistance, including high energy burdens in rural areas, more than 91,000 Minnesota households disconnected for non-payment in 2024, and the large share of LIHEAP recipients who are seniors, people with disabilities, children, or veterans. Amanda Mackey described a client story illustrating how energy assistance can stabilize a household and lead to broader benefits. Senator Mathews offered comments supporting help for households in need but said the bill is a stopgap and tied the need for expanded assistance to prior legislative actions that increased energy costs. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion of the transcript provided, and members indicated they would return to questions after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• automatically flow through to Minnesota. automatically flow through to Minnesota.
• This is relevant to Minnesota and would affect Minnesota under mechanical conformity because Minnesota
• as dividends in Minnesota. because uh Minnesota conforms to both because uh Minnesota conforms to both
• in Minnesota. in Minnesota.
• income that's taxed in Minnesota. income that's taxed in Minnesota.

Bills: HR1, HF387

Keywords: January 6 insurrection, pardon, law enforcement, violent crimes, public safety, justice system, political accountability, Blaine, local sales tax, special tax, restaurant tax, lodging tax, admissions tax, amusement tax, hotel tax, redevelopment, capital improvements, municipal finance, bonding authority, tourism tax

Transcript Highlights:

• state of Minnesota state of Minnesota so<00:04:58.400> thank<00:04:58.560> you<00:
• Just uh, simple question... like the Minnesota land trust or by the like the Minnesota land trust or
• best we can to stop that in Minnesota best we can to stop that in Minnesota and<01:10:34.400>
• heartfelt thanks from the Minnesota heartfelt thanks from the Minnesota historical<01:15:16.920>
• <01:18:12.880> Digital Minnesota Digital Minnesota Digital Library<01:18:15.120> so<01:

Bills: HF1250

Keywords: outdoor heritage, land acquisition, wildlife management, conservation easements, environmental restoration, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• increase cost for premiums in Minnesota increase cost for premiums in Minnesota by<00:01:49.600>
• member of the U Greater Minnesota member of the U Greater Minnesota delegation<00:04:15.799>
• that's starting to be an in Minnesota that's starting to be an issue<00:04:41.199> Minnesota<
• In order for us to... it when a Minnesota needs that to be it when a Minnesota needs that to be covered
• <00:31:54.360> U quality care they need in Minnesota U quality care they need in Minnesota

Keywords: 1187, senate, all