Transcript Highlights:

• the Legislative Auditor found that Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development, or DEED

Transcript Highlights:

• THE ACQUISITION PROCESS FOR THOSE PROPERTIES IS VERY PUBLICLY NOTICED INCLUDING PUBLICLY RECORDED DEEDS

Transcript Highlights:

• Just last week, I was at a legislative audit meeting from DEED, where again the recommendation was to

Bills: HF2784 , HF2785 , HF2778 , HF2281 , HF2576 , HF2280 , HF2579

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• proper to bestow upon him the 2024 Iron Award, an award given to a GOP representative whose words, deeds

Bills: SJR 3 , SB 5 , SB 21 , SB 72 , SB 703 , SB 764 , SB 790 , SJR 36 , SJR 3 , SJR 34 , SJR 18 , SCR 9 , SB 616 , SB 565 , SB 384 , SB 5 , SB 21 , SB 72 , SB 140 , SB 262 , SB 370 , SB 372 , SB 495 , SB 627 , SB 703 , SB 764 , SB 842 , SB 971 , SB 790 , SB 767 , SB 480 , SB 1066 , SB 929 , SB 765 , SB 523 , SB 62 , SB 19 , SB 18 , SB 666 , SB 688 , SB 707 , SB 888 , SB 687 , SB 706 , SB 847 , SB 869 , SB 890 , SB 992 , SB 1145 , SB 494 , SB 290 , SB 766 , SB 11 , SB 10 , SB 13 , SB 263 , SJR 3 , SB 5 , SR 172 , SR 176 , SR 177 , SR 190 , SR 193 , SR 194 , SR 202 , SR 203 , SR 208

Transcript Highlights:

• May they be faithful to our state's constitution, and give witness in word and deed to the principles

Transcript Highlights:

• Metro has a plan to build 10,000 homes on public land near transit, with 50% set aside as affordable, deed-restricted
• more flexibility for small lot developments and addresses private restrictions, including HOA and deed
• more flexibility for small lot developments and addresses private restrictions, including HOA and deed
• I strongly support the density bonus law as a critical tool to help get not just deed-restricted affordable

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of local government and housing-related bills, with testimony often centered on regional coordination, permitting reform, and local control. SB 802 by Senator Ashby would require Sacramento-area jurisdictions to form a joint powers authority to coordinate homelessness and housing response; supporters argued the region has long lacked accountability and coordination, while Sacramento County, Folsom, and others opposed the mandate as an unprecedented state-imposed JPA. The bill drew extensive support from local officials, business groups, service providers, and advocates, and opposition from county, city, and nonprofit representatives who said a local process was already underway. Committee members expressed support for the concept, but the bill was held pending a quorum and later discussed again with strong encouragement for regional collaboration. The committee also heard SB 222, SB 677, SB 908, SB 226, SB 828, and SB 1193. SB 222 would streamline permitting for residential heat pump and water heater installations; supporters said it would lower costs and speed clean-energy adoption, while local government groups argued the main barrier is upfront cost, not permits. SB 677 would curb what the author described as abusive appeals and delays in affordable housing approvals, with developers testifying about frivolous subdivision map appeals and TEFRA hearing delays; the California Native Plant Society sought an amendment to preserve appeals on habitat lands. SB 908 would simplify permits for energy-code-compliant window replacements, and SB 226 would clarify financing authority for a West Sacramento baseball stadium proposal; both passed unanimously. SB 828, prompted by the Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion, would tighten fireworks storage and licensing rules, expand inspection and seizure authority, and increase fines; it also passed unanimously after testimony from fire officials and a pyrotechnic operator who opposed it unless amended. SB 1193, a county-specific Alameda County transparency bill, generated the sharpest debate. The author argued it would prevent waste, favoritism, and conflicts of interest in discretionary spending by requiring board approval, a public spending log, and clearer whistleblower procedures. Alameda County and county associations opposed it as overly broad and burdensome, saying existing processes already provide transparency and that the bill would reduce flexibility during fiscal stress. After committee questions about the bill’s purpose and the county’s current practices, the measure passed 7-0, with the author indicating willingness to accept an amendment restoring a four-fifths vote threshold. The committee then moved out of order to SB 1090, which would impose a temporary moratorium on state housing density laws in Altadena through 2030 in response to post-fire displacement concerns. The author said the bill is intended to protect long-term residents from investor-driven redevelopment after the Eaton Fire, while acknowledging amendments to align the moratorium with affordable housing development timelines. The transcript cuts off during the presentation of this bill, so no final action is shown for SB 1090 in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• that included the Department of Revenue, the Department of Labor, the Department of Economic, uh, deed
• Labor, the Department of Economic,<01:35:04.200><c> um,</c><01:35:04.480><c> uh,</c><01:35:04.960><c> deed
• Um,</c><01:35:06.000><c> and</c><01:35:06.200><c> one</c><01:35:06.440><c> of</c> Economic, um, uh, deed
• Um, and one of Economic, um, uh, deed.

Bills: HF4234 , HF3697 , HF1183 , HF4738

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: HF4234, Minnesota private activity bonds, tax-exempt bonds, bond cap, aggregate bond limitation, residential rental projects, multifamily housing, affordable housing finance, housing bonds, public finance, bond allocation, private activity bond cap, Minnesota Statutes 474A.02, tax committee, tax refund, Minnesota Statutes, time limit, claims, tax overpayment, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• These establish data sharing requirements between DHS and DEED and DHS and DOR for purposes of administering
• requirements<00:24:44.360><c> between</c><00:24:44.680><c> DHS</c><00:24:45.640><c> and</c><00:24:45.840><c> DEED
• </c><00:24:46.600><c> and</c> requirements between DHS and DEED and requirements between DHS and DEED

Bills: HF4401 , HF4466

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF4401, Minnesota Medical Assistance, dental reimbursement, dental rates, critical access dental providers, Medicaid dental, MinnesotaCare, managed care plans, county-based purchasing plans, fee-for-service, oral health access, safety-net clinics, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, Indian health services, state-operated dental clinics, low-income patients, children's dental care, provider reimbursement, dental access

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we talking about every deed and title that they hold and carry that they now have to go through and
• Are we talking about now that, though, is this going to require them to go through every single deed
• So if we're talking about language with the county clerks, are we talking about every deed and title
• Are we talking about now that this is going to require them to go through every single deed that they

Bills: SB65 , SB248 , SB330 , SB378 , SB844 , SB1330 , SB1410 , SB1475 , SB1476 , SB1565 , SB1618 , SB1623 , SJR39 , SJR47 , SB2084 , SB1655 , SB1679 , SB2174 , SB1775 , SB1873 , SB1204 , SB1884 , SB1916 , SB1937 , SB1447 , SB1500 , SB2007 , SB2074 , SB1944 , SB2018 , SB1984 , SB2026 , SB2045 , SB2049 , SB2062 , SB2112 , SB2118 , SB2127 , SB2134 , SB2135 , SB2139 , SB2154 , SB1195

Keywords: SB65, naloxone, Narcan, opioid overdose, overdose reversal, opioid antagonist, emergency opioid antagonist, substance abuse services, harm reduction, public health, overdose prevention, good samaritan, civil immunity, criminal immunity, controlled substances, addiction treatment, fentanyl, opioid crisis, school overdose response, first aid

Transcript Highlights:

• Section two will add a new provision within the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act to prohibit any deed
• c><00:11:09.120><c> to</c><00:11:09.240><c> prohibit</c><00:11:09.839><c> any</c><00:11:10.080><c> deed
• </c> Ownership Act to prohibit any deed Ownership Act to prohibit any deed restriction<00:11:11.320><

Transcript Highlights:

• history, and our state: the stories of hope, resourceful actions, confident decisions, extraordinary deeds
• You know, the Buddhist faith, three of their values include good deeds, good thoughts, and good words
• which is a symbol of the necklace that I wear, the three parts in the Faravahar’s wings represent good deeds
• This ensures that CDDs can continue enforcing deed restrictions related to synthetic turf, consistent

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum and journal business before taking up the special order calendar. Several bills were explained and moved through amendment and final passage, including CS/SB 590 on the statute of limitations for mandatory reporters’ child-abuse reporting violations, which was clarified on the floor to apply prospectively only and passed 111-0. CS/SB 418 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism spectrum disorder was amended to align with the House version and passed 111-0. The chamber also recognized Spina Bifida Week and guests in the gallery before considering additional measures. Members then passed CS/CS/SB 1668 on the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA), described as preserving the program’s actuarial soundness, by a 112-0 vote; CS/SB 1246 on the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund, expanded to support broader health science education programs and non-health-care partner contributions, by 112-0; CS/CS/SB 1404 on memory care facility standards by 111-0; CS/CS/SB 1030 on recovery residences, including transfer-of-ownership and MAT-related provisions, by 168-0; CS/CS/SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools, allowing limited coach support for student welfare with parental consent and other guardrails, by 112-0; CS/CS/SB 422 on automatic dependent surveillance broadcasts, limiting use of ADS-B data for airport billing, by 108-2; and CS/CS/SB 598 on funeral, cemetery, and consumer services, modernizing licensure and exclusivity rules, by 111-0. The House also took up CS/SB 1134 on official actions of local governments and DEI-related restrictions. The sponsor argued the bill would prohibit counties and municipalities from official DEI actions and related funding while preserving numerous exceptions for holidays, observances, public safety, and other activities. Members asked extensive questions about how the bill would affect local programs, events, and offices, and Representative Gant offered an amendment to narrow the bill’s DEI definition by removing two prongs; debate centered on vagueness, enforcement, and local-government impacts. The transcript cuts off during consideration of that amendment, so no final action on the bill is shown. The session also included lengthy farewell remarks from Representatives Eskamani and Overdorf, reflecting on their service, staff, constituents, and policy priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what that does is allows the public dollars that are spent on deed-restricted affordable housing
• the public dollars that are spent<00:39:50.160><c> on</c><00:39:50.320><c> on</c><00:39:50.720><c> deed
• </c><00:39:51.040><c> restricted</c><00:39:51.440><c> affordable</c> spent on on deed restricted affordable
• spent on on deed restricted affordable housing<00:39:52.160><c> or</c><00:39:52.320><c> or</c><00:39

Summary: The Housing Task Force 2.0 reconvened with several new members and heard a presentation from Kentucky Housing Corporation Executive Director Winston Miller and Deputy Executive Director Wendy Smith. They framed the task force’s work as a practical effort to address Kentucky’s housing shortage, update members on the current housing landscape, summarize existing state and federal resources, and suggest areas for the task force to focus on over the coming year. KHC said its 2024 housing supply gap analysis found Kentucky is short about 206,000 housing units, split roughly evenly between rental and homeownership, and projected the gap could grow to 287,000 units by 2029 if current trends continue. They emphasized that every county in Kentucky needs more housing, that the 2008 housing crisis and loss of construction capacity remain major causes of the shortage, and that current pressures include high interest rates, rising insurance and tax costs, construction cost inflation, and housing prices and rents growing faster than incomes. KHC also said homelessness has risen in Kentucky, with point-in-time counts showing double-digit increases in recent years. The presenters reviewed existing resources, including federal programs, the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the rural housing trust fund, KHC mortgage and down payment assistance programs, and the state mortgage interest deduction. They said these resources are important but insufficient to close the gap, and noted that a proposed federal FY2026 budget would cut HUD programs by 44%, potentially removing about $286 million from Kentucky housing resources, though no action has been taken yet. They urged the task force to consider stronger, more flexible tools such as a revolving loan fund, a state affordable housing tax credit, and economic development and employer-assisted housing incentives, and pointed to Indiana’s housing infrastructure and regional development funds as examples. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The board looked at several data sets, including one from DEED, one from the Department of Labor and
• For example, the board looked at cost-of-living data that DEED tracks and landed on a really important
• that allowed the board to actually look at the data and see what a minimum wage would be. data that deed
• uh tracks and then um we data that deed uh tracks and then um we landed<00:59:48.000><c> on</c><00:59

Bills: HF23 , HF1355

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: whistleblower, whistleblower protections, public employees, state employees, retaliation, reporting fraud, misuse of authority, personal gain, state government, state services, state programs, legislative auditor, constitutional officer, public corruption, fraud reporting, government accountability, employee rights, labor law, Minnesota Statutes 181.931, Minnesota Statutes 181.932

Transcript Highlights:

• The DEED, DOLI—we're kind of working all angles on this one—and we have had really significant conversations
• past replacement has Grant programs for past replacement the<00:53:32.480><c> uh</c><00:53:33.079><c> deed
• 34.319><c> we</c><00:53:34.599><c> we're</c><00:53:34.799><c> kind</c><00:53:34.920><c> of</c> the uh deed
• Dolly uh we we're kind of the uh deed Dolly uh we we're kind of working<00:53:35.319><c> all</c><00:

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Like DEED and DOLI and all of state government, or... investigators and one supervisor and our investigators
• are we talking like how far reaching are we talking about<01:11:27.679><c> like</c><01:11:27.840><c> deed
• 28.840><c> and</c><01:11:29.840><c> all</c><01:11:30.000><c> of</c><01:11:30.239><c> the</c> about like deed
• and Dolly and all of the about like deed and Dolly and all of the all<01:11:30.719><c> of</c><01:11:

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><02:03:07.079><c> someone</c><02:03:08.079><c> who</c><02:03:08.239><c> ow</c><02:03:08.480><c> Deed
• </c><02:03:08.679><c> on</c> have experienced someone who ow Deed on have experienced someone who ow
• Deed on heroin<02:03:09.159><c> or</c><02:03:09.360><c> who</c><02:03:09.480><c> ow</c><02:03:09.719>
• <c> Deed</c><02:03:09.920><c> on</c><02:03:10.079><c> some</c><02:03:10.280><c> kind</c><02:03:10.400
• ><c> of</c> heroin or who ow Deed on some kind of heroin or who ow Deed on some kind of hard<02:03:10.800

Summary: The House Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture and Food Systems heard testimony and began decision-making on HB 1246, which would establish the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within DCCA to regulate cannabis. Chair Tarnas described the bill as divisive and noted the hearing had received 95 testimonies in support, 135 in opposition, and 11 comments. Members were told the office would be administratively attached to DCCA, and the department emphasized it would not direct day-to-day operations. DCCA also raised concerns about banking access due to federal law, while the Department of Agriculture supported a one-plant, one-agency approach and noted its current authority over cannabis plant importation and movement. Several agencies and advocates supported the bill with cautions or requested amendments. The Department of Health said it appreciated the bill’s public health protections but remained concerned about increased adult-use access, youth mental health, pregnancy-related risks, and effects on developing brains; it requested a 12-month delayed effective date. The Attorney General’s office said legalization should include safeguards, recommended a longer implementation timeline and seed funding, and flagged issues in the bill involving impaired driving, open-container language, and penalties for under-21 possession. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill but objected to new driving and possession offenses, saying existing law already covers impaired driving. Doctors for Drug Policy Reform supported the measure, citing regulation of intoxicating cannabinoids, testing, childproof packaging, and public education as public-health benefits. Opponents focused on youth access, public safety, and the bill’s broader social effects. The Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill over access and diversion concerns, and the City and County of Honolulu Prosecutor strongly opposed legalization, citing higher-potency cannabis, youth harms, psychiatric risks, and increased poison-center calls. The Hawaiʻi Substance Abuse Coalition argued legalization should wait until prevention programs are in place and funded first, while the Hawaiʻi Family Forum and Hawaiian Republican Women also opposed the measure, citing concerns about youth exposure, added bureaucracy, and taxpayer costs. The Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi questioned the purpose of the proposed cannabis taxes, asking why cannabis should be taxed heavily if legalization is intended. The hearing continued with additional testimony after a brief audio issue for one testifier.

Transcript Highlights:

• University<00:24:41.360><c> of</c><00:24:41.520><c> why</c><00:24:41.760><c> shouldn't</c><00:24:42.360><c> deed
• </c><00:24:42.840><c> know</c> University of why shouldn't deed know University of why shouldn't deed
• ><02:08:45.040><c> his</c><02:08:45.239><c> office</c><02:08:45.679><c> under</c><02:08:46.119><c> deed
• </c><02:08:47.040><c> but</c> is in his office under deed but is in his office under deed but personally

Transcript Highlights:

• tackling these joint housing and climate crises through a modest increase to our uncompetitively low deed
• hand in hand, and we're glad to see the Ahead Act dedicate funding to both challenges, increasing the deed

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the preacher tells us in Ecclesiastes 8, verse 11, quote, because the sentence against an evil deed
• As the preacher tells us in Ecclesiastes 8, verse 11, quote, because the sentence against an evil deed

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• realized that she was, you know, trying to fight for her life and she had changed her mind after the deed
• That she was, you know, trying to fight for her life and she had changed her mind after the deed had

Bills: HB2163 , HB2256 , HB2305 , HB2367 , HB2369 , HB2669 , HB2772 , HB2916 , HCM2007 , HCR2004 , HR2003

Committee: House Transportation & Infrastructure

Keywords: lighting laws, construction equipment, farm equipment, vehicle safety, Arizona Revised Statutes, salvage vehicles, insurance claims, abandoned vehicles, salvage auction dealers, vehicle title, neighborhood electric vehicles, alternative fuel, vehicle license tax, tax exemption, electric shuttle, photo enforcement, traffic violation, mayoral signature, civil traffic, jurisdiction