Transcript Highlights:

• This program allows us to purchase those items directly from Louisiana producers, This program allows
• Now that they can't afford to purchase this stuff.
• So there's not fresher produce available, even if you're purchasing at a store.
• I wanted to just bring up a handout that you have. ...purchasing at a store.
• The House Bill 312, $500,000 Feed Louisiana for food banks, and $100,000 local food purchase. Okay.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Suites are a high-end discretionary purchase.
• Most fans already pay sales tax on tickets and concessions, but our current tax code exempts purchases
• The way we allocate these funds associated with ticket purchases goes directly to scholarship seating
• is directly towards ticket purchases is directly towards scholarships. scholarships. scholarships.
• <00:46:28.080> stadium going to the people purchasing stadium going to the people purchasing

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 4738 was laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill. Representative Keeler presented the bill as a funding source for Minnesota’s Safe Harbor program, arguing that trafficking and sexual exploitation are statewide problems and that current shelter and housing resources are insufficient. She and several supporters emphasized that the program serves youth across greater Minnesota, not just the metro, and that state and federal funding pressures make additional support necessary. Testifiers from Place Called Home/Life House, The Link, the City of Minneapolis, and a survivor all described the impact of Safe Harbor and related shelter programs. They cited data on youth served, bed nights, mental health services, and high unmet need, including waitlists and youth turned away because programs are full. Testimony stressed that stable housing and trauma-informed services help survivors recover and move toward education, employment, and family stability. One committee member, Representative Davis, objected to the proposed funding source, saying he would not support taking money from women’s sports scholarships and urging a different source. The bill’s tax mechanism was described as ending the sales tax exemption for preferred seating, suite licenses, and related amenities at athletic and entertainment events. Alec Williams of We Make Minnesota supported the proposal as a fair way to raise revenue from high-end discretionary purchases for a public purpose. Committee discussion also focused on the size of the revenue estimate and the breakdown of the impact, with nonpartisan staff saying roughly 85% would come from suite licenses, 10% from collegiate seating, and 5% from amenities. Representative Smith and others framed the issue as both a tax and moral question, and the chair moved the bill to be laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• Purchasing a deadly weapon, anything that can kill people, should be trained in how to use that safely
• I will note, according to the bill, that training must occur within one year of purchasing the firearm
• So depending on when that training happens, if they are age 11, that wouldn't account for purchasing
• Minnesota Gun Caucus and other special interest groups, they would've also gone after the straw purchase
• We limit purchases to no more than one gun per month.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's why they were able to purchase the individual product.
• <00:23:51.760> their<00:23:52.000> own<00:23:52.159> affordable to purchase
• their own affordable to purchase their own affordable coverage<00:23:53.039> when<00:23:53.280
• <00:24:35.120> the they were able to purchase the they were able to purchase the individual
• of this particular um the purchase of this particular product<00:31:09.120> is<00:31:09.360><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Granite Place, that used to be a lease for us, and then we have since purchased it.
• Um, we have now 308 employers who have purchased coverage for their workers. 308 employers who have purchased
• So if I purchase January 1, I have to wait seven months to have a claim.
• So if I purchase January 1, I have to wait seven months to have a claim.
• So if I purchase January 1, I have to wait seven months to have a claim.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs budget, with testimony from Chase Hegman and Kathy Frederickson. Early discussion focused on staffing and vacancies, including a senior planner position tied to FEMA requirements, a program assistant funded by federal ORID dollars, a program specialist being considered for reclassification, two Housing Champions positions to be funded in the next biennium, and temporary welcome center positions. Members also reviewed the commissioner’s office, indirect cost recoveries tied to federal program administration, and the structure and staffing of rest areas and welcome centers, including the Turnpike-funded locations and seasonal staffing patterns. Members then moved through economic development and federal grant-related accounts. Hegman explained that a large share of the agency’s funding is federal, with some programs requiring state match, including the Apex Accelerator, which supports government contracting assistance for businesses. He described Apex as a small team that helps businesses with DOD and other contracting opportunities through webinars, matchmaking, and one-on-one support. The Office of Workforce Opportunity was described as largely federally funded through Commerce-related workforce programs and subrecipients, with some general fund support for agency-wide needs. The Northern Borders Regional Commission dues and capacity grant were also discussed, with officials explaining the state’s required contribution and the federal funds used to administer the program. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which officials said provides one-on-one technical assistance to new and small businesses and has a strong return on investment. Members questioned the cut, the federal funding sources, and whether there was a waiting list for services; officials said they would provide more detail on matching requirements and funding. The committee also reviewed travel and tourism accounts, including the joint promotional grant program and tourism advertising funds, both of which are proposed to increase. Officials said the tourism marketing formula is based on a percentage of meals and rooms tax revenue and argued that the spending generates significant visitor spending and tax revenue, citing an outside ROI study and examples of advertising in test markets. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• some individuals uh when they purchase some individuals uh when they purchase coverage<00:13:06.440
• So they are covered under HMOs or county-based purchasing plans that contract with DHS.
• based purchasing plans that contract<00:15:15.440> with contract with contract with DHS<00:15
• with hmos or County based purchasing with hmos or County based purchasing plans<00:15:42.240>
• The department regulates county-based purchasing organizations, which, as Ms.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The meeting was an informational walkthrough for the Health Finance and Policy Working Group, focused on committee structure, budget basics, and major health-related accounts and programs. Staff explained the roles of House Research and House Fiscal, then reviewed key funds used by the committee, including the general fund, government special revenue fund, federal funds, the health care access fund, remediation account, and drinking water revolving fund. They also outlined the committee’s main budget areas, noting that medical assistance is the largest general fund item and that the Department of Health is a substantial agency funded by a mix of federal, general fund, and special revenue dollars. A major portion of the presentation covered subsidized health coverage programs. Staff described Medical Assistance (Minnesota’s Medicaid program) as an entitlement for eligible Minnesotans, with no premiums or cost sharing, and explained its managed care and fee-for-service delivery systems. MinnesotaCare was presented as a separate federal-state basic health program for people who are not eligible for MA, with income limits, premiums for adults age 21 and older, and cost-sharing requirements; staff noted that federal premium tax credit changes affect MinnesotaCare premium ranges. The presentation also summarized MNsure’s role in the individual market and in determining eligibility for premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, MinnesotaCare, and MA. The committee also received an overview of health-related licensing boards and occupational regulation. Staff said Minnesota has 16 health-related licensing boards, funded mainly through the state government special revenue fund and subject to legislative appropriation, and explained that health occupations may be regulated by the Department of Health, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, or the boards under chapter 214. Interstate licensure compacts were briefly noted as a way to ease practice across states. No bills were debated and no votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment 7 by Swanson, relating to the purchase of online library resources for primary and secondary
• Miller relating to the purchase or acquisition of a title of real property by certain foreign entities
• Public Education, HB 223 by Capriglione, relating to the exemptions to competitive requirements to purchase
• For the purchase of the attendance credit under the public school finance system referred to the Committee
• Adabola, relating to an annual study by the Texas A&M, Texas Real Estate Research Center on the purchase

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Ferman, isn't it true that in present law, banks can purchase these boldly products already
• And it says, Boley is a bank-owned life insurance policy, is a policy purchased by a bank, not owned
• It's purchased by the bank. It's actually owned—split dollar plans are owned by the individual.
• So they purchase it, they pay for the premiums, the individual, whether it... ...purchase it, they pay
• So it actually happens in the form of a loan, not a direct purchase from the bank.

Bills: HR320, HR321, SCR55, SCR69, SCR75, SCR77, SCR78, SCR79, SB259, SB295, SB312, SB348, SB444, SB485, HR73, HR118, HR144, HR196, HR237, HR249, HR260, HR267, HR272, HR278, HCR85, HCR100, HCR105, HCR107, HCR114, HR245, SCR5, SCR29, SCR33, SCR37, SCR63, SCR30, SCR40, HB62, HB193, HB210, HB220, HB246, HB364, HB420, HB475, HB584, HB622, HB772, HB784, HB949, HB953, HB1043, HB1070, HB1092, HB1134, HB1162, HB1176, HB1196, HB1214, HB119, HB129, HB233, HB283, HB538, HB789, HB850, HB870, HB1236, HB1241, HB54, HB137, HB321, HB368, HB386, HB414, HB431, HB552, HB555, HB578, HB590, HB593, HB618, HB638, HB670, HB692, HB707, HB708, HB715, HB718, HB732, HB741, HB748, HB776, HB796, HB807, HB822, HB848, HB856, HB887, HB888, HB917, HB921, HB1082, HB1243, HB1246, HB378, HB509, HB1090, HB1259, SB80, SB131, SB143, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB367, SB384, SB388, SB389, SB398, SB408, SB431, SB468, SB469, SB496, SB4, SB52, SB57, SB83, SB145, SB152, SB194, SB276, SB319, SB333, SB448, SB450, SB465, SB484, SB501, SB509, SB149, HR168, HB463, HB998, SB123, SB353, SB479, SB495, SB82, SB97, SB283, SB326, SB518, SB197, SB268, HB901, HR20, HR74, HCR65, HCR71, HCR98, HB284, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB625, HB646, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1191, HB1240, HB1255, SB89, HB74, HB134, HB258, HB359, HB468, HB956, HB1117, SB29, SB42, SB43, SB78, SB208, SB217, SB274, SB300, SB341, SB379, SB382, SB387, SB401, SB441, SB449, SB487

Keywords: Arsenal, Arsenal F.C., Premier League, English football, soccer, football club, Mikel Arteta, Emirates Stadium, North London, Tottenham Hotspur, Gunners, sports resolution, commendation, celebration, championship, silverware, Louisiana House Resolution, ceremonial resolution, domestic violence, forensic medical examinations

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 61 is a local food purchasing assistance program.
• Page R18 has a similar appropriation to a local food purchasing grant program.
• a local food purchasing grant program. a local food purchasing grant program.
• But that local food purchasing program is used in all parts of the state.
• <00:59:27.200> assistance local food purchasing assistance local food purchasing assistance

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:

• For cooperative purchasing construction services for the Stuttgart School District.
• This transfer request was due to the purchase of a building, and the existing lease went on for an extra
• It is $3.38 million for Office of Personnel Management, OPM, and utilizing a state contract to purchase
• This is a one-time purchase. I think it's on page 22. I think it's on page 22 in the packet.
• So we purchased a license for the application that you're using now? Yes, ma'am.

Summary: The council opened with a prayer, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received the February 2026 Monthly Revenue Report from Carlos Silva of the Bureau of Legislative Research. He reported gross revenues of $5.36 billion and net collections of $4.5 billion, both above the prior year to date, and said the updated forecast now shows a larger expected surplus. Members asked about declines in some tax categories, natural gas severance fee fluctuations, inflation, and economic development incentives; Silva attributed several changes to timing, refunds, tax cuts, weather, and price volatility, and generally described the state’s revenue trend as positive. The Executive Committee, Administrative Rules, Claims Review, Game and Fish, Higher Education, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Medicaid studies, Occupational Licensing Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and other subcommittee reports were adopted. The Medicaid studies report drew extended discussion about DHS staffing and contract nursing costs at state hospitals and human development centers; DHS officials said they were working on a recruitment and retention plan, reported significant vacancies and turnover, and said the state was not at risk of overspending the contracts. Several members urged reducing reliance on contract labor and moving staff onto state payrolls. The Review Subcommittee report prompted questions about a Department of Public Safety aircraft maintenance item and a Department of Shared Administrative Services contract for Deloitte to implement performance and goals management software tied to the state’s new personnel system. After discussion, the aircraft maintenance item was held briefly and then withdrawn from the hold, while the shared services contract was explained as a one-time integration/configuration project for a system that will support employee evaluations and performance-based pay; the report and the separate contract vote were approved. The Personnel Subcommittee also heard testimony from Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald about reductions in force at the Division of Services for the Blind, which he attributed to funding shortfalls and fiscal mismanagement; members questioned the impact on blind and visually impaired clients, the status of board appointments, and whether federal funds could be at risk. The report was adopted with immediate consideration, and the meeting ended after filing the remaining APER report and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• “For cooperative purchasing construction services for the Stuttgart School District.
• The transfer request was due to the purchase of a building, and the existing lease went on for an extra
• This is a one-time purchase. I think it's on page 22. I think it's on page 22 in the packet.
• So we purchased a license for the application that you're using now? Yes, ma'am.
• So we will be purchasing—once they figure out how to integrate the system with the new with the old system

Summary: The meeting began with a prayer, approval of the prior minutes, and a February 2026 revenue report from Carlos Silva of the Bureau of Legislative Research. He reported gross revenues of $5.36 billion and net collections of $4.5 billion, both above the prior year, and said the updated forecast showed a larger expected surplus than before. Members asked about declines in some tax categories, natural gas severance fees, and possible effects of inflation and international conflict; Silva generally attributed the changes to timing issues, prior tax cuts, refund activity, and price fluctuations, and said he could not speculate on future impacts. The committee then heard and adopted several subcommittee reports, including the Executive Committee, Administrative Rules, Claims Review, Game and Fish State Police, Higher Education, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Occupational Licensing Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and APER filings. Most reports were approved without objection. One budget classification transfer for the Commissioner of State Lands was reviewed and failed. The review report also led to discussion of several contracts, including DHS staffing contracts and a Department of Education security contract, with some items held or separated for individual votes. A major portion of the meeting focused on DHS and state staffing contracts for the Human Development Centers, Arkansas State Hospital, and related facilities. DHS officials said the contracts were on track against seven-year projections, but members expressed concern about heavy reliance on contract labor, vacancy rates, and the need to move workers onto state payrolls. Officials said they were preparing a recruitment and retention plan and described staffing levels, vacancies, and turnover. Members also questioned contract projections and federal-state funding matches, and several urged faster action to reduce contract labor costs. The committee also discussed a Department of Commerce reduction-in-force affecting the Division of Services for the Blind and Employment and Training. Secretary Hugh McDonald said the cuts were driven by funding shortfalls, over-obligation of funds, and federal issues, and that 27 positions would be permanently eliminated while furloughed employees would be recalled. Members raised concerns about service impacts, board appointments, and the division’s fiscal management. The meeting ended after the personnel report was adopted and APER was filed as reviewed, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were fortunate in that we did receive a grant from EPA to purchase those a few years back.
• For example, Tinker has purchased land to help expand their area, make it more secure, install gates,
• One way that we will be able to be successful in that endeavor is By reinstating our purchasing exemptions
• Purchasing requirements, and we will be asking this year for that cap to be raised from 25,000 to 75,000
• Requirements pursuant to the Central Purchasing Act.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That threshold for purchases made by municipalities under that section of code was last updated in 2007
• issues have really significantly increased prices, and those increased costs have resulted in those purchase
• This is not trying to get around anything but to expedite the process on those small purchases, allowing
• You know, it went straight to the landlords to purchase whatever was needed.
• We did the purchasing for the households.

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Potassium is a key element in crop fertilizers, and it's typically supplied by purchasing potash.
• I think we should know where these are and potentially people who... purchased should know if this happened
• Redundancy: CWD disclosures are already required in the purchase agreement in subdivision 7.
• You know, the rationale here is, again, for the buyer to know what they're purchasing.
• I would think anyone purchasing property would notice that.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then item 10 is a request for capital budget authority. to purchase land and property up to $1 million
• Funding to purchase a new learning management system, 2B.
• Funding to purchase a Wellness application, 1.8 million. 20.1 million in funding to purchase a redesigned
• D, 2.1 million in funding to purchase new equipment for a training center. 2E. 2.3 million to provide
• C, funding to hire two clerical assistants, $200,000, and D, $375,000 in funding. funding to purchase

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• purchasing of lots.
• We want to include intangibles such as contracts and power purchase agreements in our tax assessments
• Power purchase agreements in our tax assessment. So that means that the taxes will go higher.
• Businesses today routinely augment customer records with data purchased from third parties to enhance
• detailed demographic data, purchasing history, and other behavioral information from data brokers to

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, offered a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then proceeded through gubernatorial appointments and third-reading measures. Three appointments to the California Housing Finance Agency Board and the State Mining and Geology Board were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body then considered a series of bills on criminal procedure, military authority, housing, refinery safety, land use, music festivals, homelessness planning, solar tax assessment, HOA assessments, privacy, utility accounts, refrigerant disposal, law enforcement training, natural gas planning, school transfers, and regional transportation planning. Among the more debated measures, SB 1173 on lesser related offense instructions passed 25-10 after opposition centered on judicial discretion and consistency. SB 1354, limiting out-of-state military or law enforcement activity without the Governor’s permission, passed 29-9 after supporters framed it as a sovereignty measure and opponents argued federal command authority controls. SB 1090, the Altadena disaster-speculation bill, passed 29-9; supporters said it would curb predatory investor purchases after wildfire disasters, while opponents raised concerns about property rights and market effects. SB 966 on refinery worker participation in safety standards passed 30-9 amid a dispute over worker protections versus regulatory burden, and SB 1256, a local housing/subdivision bill, passed 32-0 despite concerns about fire-safety amendments. The Senate also approved SB 865 on music festivals, SB 866 on homelessness planning with a commitment to exempt smaller cities, SB 1007 on HOA assessment transparency and homeowner approval thresholds, SB 923 on privacy deletion rights, SB 1098 on utility balancing accounts, SB 1010 on refrigerant recovery, SB 937 on flashbang and breaching-device restrictions, SB 1082 on inter-district transfer timelines, and SB 1087 on modernizing regional transportation planning. SB 1329 on solar farm property tax assessment drew extensive debate over county revenues, solar development certainty, and fairness to rural communities, but ultimately passed after the call was lifted. Several measures were supported by authors and committee chairs as balancing consumer, worker, or local government protections against concerns about costs, regulatory stability, and local control.

Transcript Highlights:

• You don't really know why it was purchased.
• Well, one of the axe throwing purchases was for a field trip.
• orders because as forms and any purchase orders because as you<00:13:56.560> can<00:13:56.720
• don't really know why it was purchased. don't really know why it was purchased.
• was for a of the ax throwing purchases was for a field<00:14:13.279> trip.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:00:08 26RS SB 3: 0:02:50 26RS SB 1: 0:21:12, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 3, which would expand financial transparency requirements for Kentucky school districts. Sponsor Senator Lindsey Tichenor said the bill would require public access to budgeting and spending information, including final working budgets, monthly credit card statements, superintendent contracts and compensation, audits, and related financial reports posted on district websites. A committee amendment correcting citations was adopted by voice vote. Supporters, including Laura O’Brien, described examples of district spending they viewed as excessive and argued that more detailed public disclosure would help taxpayers and school boards identify misuse of funds. Senator Higdon and others voiced support for transparency, while Senator Meredith said he supported the intent but wanted the bill to go further. The committee passed SB 3 with 11 aye votes and one no vote, with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senator David Givens, which would restore and clarify governance changes for Jefferson County Public Schools by defining the roles of the school board and superintendent. Givens said the bill responds to a state Supreme Court ruling and includes 42 stated reasons for the governance changes. Opponents, including Jefferson County Teachers Association president Maddie Shepard, JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood, and board member James Craig, argued the bill would weaken local democratic control, concentrate authority in one administrator, and reduce community voice. Yearwood said he works collaboratively with the board and that the bill is about adults and governance rather than students, while Craig said the district needs stronger oversight, not less. Supporters of the bill argued that the current structure has not produced adequate results and that the changes are needed to improve outcomes and accountability. The transcript ends during the SB 1 testimony and discussion, before a final vote is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Bloomington Port Authority purchased the property in question, which was most recently the site of
• The one thing I'm not, and I understood your comment that the Port Authority purchased it to prevent
• it to prevent low density uh purchased it to prevent low density use<00:21:08.720> for<00:21:
• I've been able to use it to purchase feeder pigs, which I then raised to market.
• I've been able to use the program to purchase feeder pigs, which I then raised to market.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Material, supplies, and equipment need to be purchased after March 11th, 2024, up through September 9th
• Material, supplies, and equipment need to be purchased after March 11th, 2024, up through September 9th
• As I mentioned, as amended with the A1 amendment, I described the dates that those purchases would be
• The county asks for your support in exempting the construction materials and supplies purchased for this
• for this projects from the purchased for this projects from the state<01:05:16.200> sales<01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• actually... ...insured on a contractor's insurance policy, even if that public entity didn't actually purchase
• However, it wasn't clearly stated in statute the definition of, quote, purchase.
• that it's very clear that sovereign immunity is not waived if a public entity actually goes out and purchases
• In fact, there are many cases, depending on what insurance I have, that they require me to purchase that
• And that's what I was talking to you about, Rep., is that if we are talking about purchase or additional

Summary: The Commerce Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 916, which would limit contractor liability on Missouri Department of Transportation projects when contractors are following approved plans and standards, and would also clarify that contractors are not required to indemnify the state as a condition of bidding or beginning work. Senator Berger and several supporters argued the bill would align responsibility with control, reduce unnecessary litigation, and lower insurance and project costs for contractors who are sued for conditions they did not create. They emphasized that the bill would not protect negligence, defective workmanship, or concealment, and the sponsor described examples of contractors being drawn into lawsuits before work began or after projects were complete. Supporters included representatives of construction firms, the Missouri Asphalt Payment Association, the AGC of Missouri, the Missouri Municipal League, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and engineering groups. Contractors described cases where they were sued over alleged design issues or incidents occurring after completion, saying they had no ability to change the design but still incurred legal and insurance costs. One municipal league witness also explained a separate provision clarifying that a public entity does not waive sovereign immunity merely by being named as an additional insured on a contractor’s policy. MoDOT’s deputy director testified for informational purposes, warning that removing indemnification could expose the state to more litigation during construction. After the committee established a quorum in executive session, a motion was made to vote Senate Bill 916 do pass. The committee approved the bill unanimously, 8-0, and then adjourned.