Transcript Highlights:

• requesting funds to spend on programs that would provide benefits for the people of Hawaii and the Hawaiians
• ><03:31:25.200> Hawaii<03:31:25.520> and<03:31:25.680> the<03:31:25.760> Hawaiians
• the people of Hawaii and the Hawaiians the people of Hawaii and the Hawaiians because<03:31:26.640

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• suction cup mouth clamps on to native suction cup mouth clamps on to native fish<04:29:29.279>
• money to Alaska Natives.
• money to Alaska Natives.
• of Alaska Natives.
• Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act. Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, December 15, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Charter for Native American veterans. Mr. Chair, Senator, my apologies.
• Charter for Native American veterans. Mr. Delfino. Mr. Chair, Senator, my apologies.
• for Native American veterans. for Native American veterans. Mr.<00:49:42.080> Delfino.
• <00:49:56.600> American specifically for Native American specifically for Native American
• utilized that does authorize the Native utilized that does authorize the Native American<00:50:42.280

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard an introductory presentation from Sam Daily of Believe It Canine Service Partners, a nonprofit that trains service dogs free of charge for disabled veterans. Daily described the organization’s work with veterans, including placements with MACV and a service dog at Veteran Village in Eagan, and said the group has placed 80 teams so far. Senator Howe asked whether the organization had pursued Support Our Troops grants, and Daily said it had received two SOS grants. The first bill taken up was Senate File 4172, as amended, which would expand eligibility for burial in Minnesota state veterans cemeteries to honorably discharged reservists, National Guard members, and Air National Guard members, and would allow some honor guard use for eligible people. Senator Howe said the bill corrects an inequity for Guard and reserve members who served honorably but are not currently eligible. Glenn Pence testified in support, saying the bill recognizes National Guard service and should allow those veterans to be buried with others they served alongside. MDVA’s David Swantek supported the concept but warned that expanded eligibility would increase demand, especially at Little Falls, and could shorten its projected capacity timeline from about 48 years to about 30 years. The committee adopted the A1 amendment and then laid the bill over for inclusion in the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance Omnibus Bill. The committee then heard Senate File 4026, which sets standards for MDVA competitive grants and adds accountability and residency requirements. Senator Koran said the bill would help the department review grants and ensure funds serve Minnesota veterans and families. MDVA chief of staff Dave Belfi supported the bill, saying it reflects agency feedback, aligns with existing residency rules, and does not affect CVSO, VSO, or Support Our Troops grants. The A1 amendment was adopted, and the bill was laid over for inclusion in the omnibus bill. Next, Senate File 4807 was heard, a bill to update pay for National Guard soldiers and airmen called to state active duty. MDVA and National Guard officials said the bill would simplify statute language and raise the minimum base pay for lower ranks to the E5 level, with future adjustments tied to federal pay tables. Senator Kunesh asked about funding, and staff explained the cost would come through an open general-fund emergency appropriation, estimated at about $30,000 annually but varying with activations. The committee adopted amendments to incorporate SF 4172 and SF 4026 into SF 4807, made technical corrections, and then recommended SF 4807, as amended, to pass and be referred to the full committee. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 3603, which would create a program allowing school districts to issue high school diplomas to Minnesota veterans who left school to serve during the Korean conflict or Vietnam War. Senator Rasmussen said the bill recognizes veterans who interrupted their education for service. MDVA’s John Kelly supported the bill, noting it reflects input from MDVA and the Department of Education and that similar programs exist in other states. The committee voted to recommend the bill to pass and refer it to the full committee. The meeting also began discussion of Senate File 4560, which would formalize the Commander's Task Force, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• Risk as well as help restore native habitat that birds and other wildlife need.
• Thank you, Madam Chair. ...remove salt cedar and then restore with native habitat.
• I was just watching something that showed planting different plants before you can restore the native
• They consume about 250 to 400 gallons of water per day and crowd out native species like cottonwoods
• But no, there was no focus on getting the native plants back or anything.

Bills: SB1137, SB1176, SB1287, SB1335, SB1336, SB1445, SB1677

Keywords: underground utilities, utility locating, dig safe, call before you dig, 811, excavation safety, damage prevention, one-call center, locate request, white lining, large project coordination, buried infrastructure, subsurface utilities, utility marking, locator wire, locator strip, interactive positive response system, landlord duties, apartment community, mobile home park

Summary: The committee first received a presentation from the Arizona Water Banking Authority by Dr. Rebecca Burnett. She explained the authority’s role in storing Colorado River water as long-term storage credits, its funding sources, and its obligations to provide backup supplies for CAP municipal and industrial subcontractors, the Hualapai River Indian community, and Nevada. Members asked about future firming for CAP users, recovery of credits, water quality issues, and whether municipalities banking water themselves affects the authority’s supply. Burnett said the authority has no current firming policy for CAP M&I subcontractors, is waiting on Colorado River guidelines, and does not have excess water to bank because no surplus is available. No action was taken on the presentation. The committee then heard and voted on several bills. SB 1445, as amended, allows small municipalities to test bacteriological samples on site with EPA-approved equipment; the sponsor and a rural mayor argued it would save money and improve responsiveness, while some members questioned whether the change was already possible under existing law. The bill passed 6-4. SB 1137, with a Taylor amendment, modernizes Arizona’s 811 call-before-you-dig system by adding large-project coordination meetings, an interactive positive response system, and related procedures; it passed unanimously 10-0. SB 1287, which expands an existing groundwater use allowance for irrigation grandfathered rights from initial AMAs to all AMAs, passed 9-1. The committee also considered SB 1335, as amended, which in its final form addressed a temporary continuation of irrigation tied to the Ag-to-Urban program and groundwater savings credits; DWR said the amendment was still a placeholder and needed cleanup, while supporters said it would help manage timing issues for farmers and developers. It passed 5-4. SB 1336 reauthorized the State Land Department through 2030 and added oversight, reporting, and planning requirements; the department was neutral but raised concerns about the proposed oversight committee and implementation details. After debate over the need for another board and the length of reauthorization, it passed 5-4. Finally, SB 1677 appropriates $3 million to the Department of Forestry and Fire Management for salt cedar mitigation along the lower Gila River corridor. Supporters from Audubon Southwest, the City of Buckeye, and local landowners said the invasive trees increase flood and wildfire risk, consume large amounts of water, and crowd out native habitat; some members raised concerns about herbicide use and wanted more detail on the mitigation plan. The bill passed 9-0. The chair then thanked staff and members, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• academic and field settings focused on expanding habitat networks and building capacity within the native
• With more resources for this research, they can work to reduce the cost of native wildflower seeds and
• With more resources for this research, they can work to reduce the cost of native wildflower seeds and
• With more resources for this research, they can work to reduce the cost of native wildflower seeds and
• bring down the cost of planting native wildflowers for everyone.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met to consider a full agenda of bills, beginning with CS/CS/SB 1662, the Department of Transportation agency bill. Senator Collins presented a strike-all amendment that retained creation of the Florida Transportation Academy, clarified the Florida Transportation Research Institute, restored legislative budget commission review for certain work program amendments, adjusted small-business and supply-chain grant provisions, added airport and seaport accountability measures, and allowed special blanket permits for oversized cranes to travel at night under FDOT safety protocols. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also favorably reported SB 574, allowing Florida Purple Heart license plate holders to pass tolls free, and CS/SB 824, creating a specialty plate supporting Florida Highway Patrol troopers and scholarships. The committee then took up CS/SB 324, which creates a revolving low-interest loan program at the Department of Commerce for small businesses harmed by significant public works construction. Senator Smith described a local example involving prolonged sewer work in Orlando that hurt businesses in the Lake Ivanhoe district. Members raised concerns about fiscal impact, eligibility standards, proof of loss, business age, and whether financial records should be protected from public disclosure. The bill was amended to remove a hotline, add a webpage, and refine liability language, and the committee reported it favorably. The committee also favorably reported CS/SB 1714, requiring local housing assistance plans to include support for mobile home owners, including lot-rent assistance; CS/SB 766, revising registration requirements for agents and organizations tied to foreign countries of concern; and CS/SB 1024, creating specialty plates for the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy. Additional measures approved included CS/SB 1246, authorizing a Save Coastal Wildlife specialty plate with proceeds going to the Zoo Miami Foundation; CS/SB 1644, expanding warning light use for volunteer firefighters, medical staff, and organ transport vehicles, with discussion focused on Hatzalah emergency services; SB 1152, increasing the Florida Wildflower specialty plate fee to support conservation, research, and native seed industry development; and CS/SB 532, exempting 100% disabled veterans from tolls. An amendment to SB 532 also added Purple Heart recipients to the toll exemption. Several members requested to be recorded voting in the affirmative on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• land claims of Alaskan Natives.
• over 2,000 eligible Alaskan Native over 2,000 eligible Alaskan Native veterans<05:01:48.718>
• hard work on behalf of Alaska Native hard work on behalf of Alaska Native veterans<05:02:09.840>
• 1906, Congress passed the Alaskan Native 1906, Congress passed the Alaskan Native Aotment<05:02:
• Native Claim Settlement Act um in 1971. Native Claim Settlement Act um in 1971.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, July 14, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To a four-year institution, graduate significantly below the native student population.
• graduating more efficiently than native graduating more efficiently than native students,<00:52:
• graduates have both that are native graduates have both that are native students<00:53:58.000>
• fewer credit hours than the native fewer credit hours than the native students.<00:54:14.000>
• <01:12:58.880> These hours for native students. These hours for native students.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education opened its first meeting with roll call, member introductions, and introductions of numerous interns from Kentucky colleges and universities. The chair reviewed committee rules for the 2026 session, including witness oaths, sign-up procedures, limits on testimony, and the deadline for submitting committee substitutes and amendments. The committee then took up House Bill 96, sponsored by Chair Tipton, which would revise the membership and timing of the performance-based funding work group. Tipton said the bill would expand legislative participation from one House and one Senate member to five from each chamber, keep university and KCTCS presidents on the group, make the CPE president a nonvoting chair, and change the work group’s schedule from a fiscal year to a calendar year. He argued the changes would build institutional knowledge, allow university leaders to meet without creating quorum/open-meeting issues, and help the group develop recommendations for the next General Assembly. Members raised concerns about politicization and the even-numbered membership, while Tipton said he wanted consensus rather than a tied vote. The committee approved HB 96 on a roll call vote, with most members voting yes and Representative Willner voting no but saying she might change her vote later on the House floor. The committee also heard House Bill 94 for discussion only, so no vote was taken. Representative Vanessa Gracel and CPE counsel Travis Pal described the bill as a transfer-pathways measure aimed at making two-year-to-four-year and four-year-to-four-year transfers more seamless in high-demand programs. They said the proposal would require CPE, public universities, and KCTCS to collaborate on statewide transfer pathways based on student and workforce demand, with institutions able to opt in or out of specific pathways but required to disclose nontransferable courses for transparency. Gracel argued the bill would reduce credit loss, lower time and cost to degree, improve completion rates, and help students and families understand transfer options; she also criticized some universities for not engaging in the process. No action was taken on HB 94 at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• chair emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I rise to honor Asian-American, Native
• Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a celebration of the rich history, immense contributions
• on the part of the House to the Board of Trustees of the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• against the barrage of federal cuts and dismantling in every area, this legislature must uphold that Native
• against the barrage of federal cuts and dismantling in every area, this legislature must uphold that Native
• :59.680> the legislator must enforce an up hold the legislator must enforce an up hold the native
• > nations<00:10:00.760> are<00:10:01.279> indeed<00:10:02.120> Sovereign native
• nations are indeed Sovereign native nations are indeed Sovereign Nations<00:10:04.160> that<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senate POCI caucus members held a press event outlining their priorities for the session and framing them as a response to federal actions and rhetoric they described as harmful to Black, Brown, Indigenous, immigrant, and other marginalized communities. Senator Zaynab Mohamed said the caucus would not be silent and emphasized goals including culturally responsive and accessible health care, protection from discrimination, fully funded education from cradle to college, an equitable bonding bill, and safe, dignified housing. Senator Erin Maye Quade said the caucus would fight efforts to “resegregate” society and highlighted support for strengthening the READ Act and advancing the Minnesota Building Families Act to cover infertility care through insurance. Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten pointed to recent DFL accomplishments such as the CROWN Act, restoring the vote, and the African-American Family Preservation Act, and urged colleagues to consider how legislation and budgets affect communities of color. She also said she would champion Minnesota Connecting Families, a proposal to make communication free for incarcerated people, along with a ban on legacy admissions and legislation preventing housing discrimination against Section 8 voucher holders. Senator Mary Kunesh reviewed education investments made over the past two years, including increased school funding, free lunches, library funding, pre-K expansion, the READ Act, and the Teachers of Color and Indigenous Act, and said her top priority is advancing an Equal Rights Amendment and protecting tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. Senator Susan Pha said the caucus remains necessary because people of color and immigrants still face discrimination, including her own family, and said the group would continue fighting for equality and opportunity. In response to questions, caucus members said they hoped for bipartisan support on some proposals but were prepared to use their majority if needed. They said they were not intimidated by the new federal administration or Republican control in Washington, argued that Minnesota should protect residents from federal harm, and criticized GOP efforts they characterized as attacks on DEI and racial equity. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• and needs of Native students.
• April 12th and 13th will be the Native April 12th and 13th will be the Native American<00:50:06.920
• <00:50:21.800> American<00:50:22.200> students Native American students Native American
• challenges and needs of of Native challenges and needs of of Native students.<00:50:29.840> So
• exclusive to just our native children. exclusive to just our native children.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a follow-up questions more on on the aspect of the Native American youth that are in this program
• There's been a data collected as far as Native American population within this areas.
• However, it does not break them up into native youth.
• The BSEC also has numbers for tracking youth who are incarcerated, but it is not broken up with a native
• I would encourage continuing to look at those areas as we know that the Native American population does

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every Native American client I've represented has come from Every Native American client I've represented
• I am also a native New Mexican.
• Representative, members of the Native community received treatment both through the Native health system
• I'm a retina surgeon and native New Mexican.
• I'm not a native New Mexican.

Bills: HB99, HJR5, HM39, HB206, HB213, SB41, SB153, SB165, SB261, SB264

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• The Hispanics, the Natives, so that they can have that deviation number to help.
• I'm not trying to pick on the natives in any way.
• or for Native Americans in terms of just a generic representation.
• We're the only entirely indigenous leadership in a 100% native body. School.
• This kind of drives away Natives that lack English.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alcohol is not native to our pueblos, tribes, and nations. Alcohol was introduced.
• It does not belong to Native American populations.
• So it goes back to the self-determination of Native peoples and local communities.
• And I know Native Grill also provided some food there.
• There are Native American-owned businesses, Dengal. I think we had enough.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we have House Bill 20, Native American designation on licenses.
• Also, as our tribes have become more and more blended, sometimes you cannot tell if someone's Native
• And we share with the largest Native American sovereign tribe in the nation.
• I don't think Native Americans are going to be targeted by this.
• Native Americans are going to be targeted by this. This is going to help mostly the families.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Establishes the Office of Native American Affairs to act as a centralized office for Native American
• nations to access information on state programs that are provided to Native Americans.
• Establishes the Office of Native American Affairs to act as a centralized office for Native American
• nations to act American Affairs to act as a centralized office for Native American nations to access
• information on state programs that are provided to Native Americans.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee, chaired for the day by Senator John Liu, took up a long agenda of bills covering labor and benefits, corrections, health, taxation, government transparency, and public services. Early measures included increasing short-term disability benefits, adjusting a poverty-level-related earned income disregard, expanding correctional health staffing review, and authorizing the Inspector General to investigate sexual assault complaints in correctional facilities; each of these advanced to the floor. The committee also advanced bills on ovarian cancer screening access, retirement system membership changes, a trail stewardship program, live agency representative access, FOIL/open meetings fee awards, a Harriman campus development plan, court data reporting, educator conventions, park water testing, an energy storage tax abatement, a Native American Affairs office, adult changing tables in public facilities, Medicaid Inspector General audit standards, remote training certification for agency personnel, newborn Gaucher disease testing, electronic self-exclusion requests for gambling, and child daycare inspections and opioid antagonist requirements. Several bills drew discussion. The prescription drug transparency bill (Print 488A) prompted questions about possible overlap with federal Hatch-Waxman/FTC oversight and whether a New York notice requirement could slow generic-drug settlements; sponsors and staff said it was intended as a supplemental transparency measure for consumers. The court reporting bill (Print 1849A) raised concerns about mandates on local governments, but supporters said it mainly required OCA to compile data in one format. The Medicaid local-share phaseout bill (Print 5519) generated the most debate, with supporters arguing it would provide major property tax relief and should be addressed in the budget, while opponents emphasized the need to curb Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse first. Two major fiscal oversight proposals were defeated. Print 8661, which would have required the Comptroller to hire an independent private auditing firm to review state-funded programs for fraud and abuse, was opposed despite support from some members who argued outside auditing was overdue; it failed by one vote. Print 5519 was also ultimately defeated after a recount confirmed it lacked the required majority of the full 22-member committee. Most other bills were approved and sent either to the floor or, in the case of the drug transparency bill, to the Rules Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to introduce these bills to bring attention to our native pollinators, pollinators such as bees
• And so we have many bills around native pollinators. Native is very big in Oklahoma.
• We have a big native culture and native pollinators.
• I believe that native is very important in Oklahoma.
• were, what she came across in that pollinator project, was that the European honeybee, which is not native

Bills: SB1550, SB2065, SB2110, SB2111, SB2114, SB2152, SB2159, SB2172

Keywords: burn ban, drought, emergency powers, county commissioners, fire safety, wildfire prevention, pollinator, state symbols, agriculture, insects, environment, hunting regulations, orange clothing, commercial hunting, game and fish, wildlife management, wildlife, trespass, dogs, hunting

Transcript Highlights:

• I am currently the acting director for the Native American Social Work Studies Institute.
• Tenorio, are you prepared to speak on the Native American Social Work Studies Institute?
• All right, so the Native American Social Work Studies Institute.
• And working with Native peoples is a very important aspect of what I do.
• So I believe your question was addressing practicum placement for Native American students.

Transcript Highlights:

• of invasive carp from native fish.
• During the as native fish species.
• Um, it it's not an native insect.
• You can, our um, it's native here.
• native, two non-natives that pests, one native, two non-natives that I<02:38:29.520> wanted<02

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council met on May 27, 2026, approved the January 7 minutes and the day’s agenda, and reported no conflicts of interest. The executive director gave staff updates, including introductions of new staff member Cara Castanza and DNR liaison Jason Co., both of whom were welcomed by the council. Members were also informed about three minor easement/conveyance matters in the packet, including a small Bowser easement impact with about $1,600 returned to the Outdoor Heritage Fund, a Minnesota Land Trust easement request involving a DNR trout stream easement, and an access easement revision in Itasca County. The council also noted several upcoming dedication events and a June field tour in southeast Minnesota beginning in Winona on June 16, with visits to Whitewater WMA, bluff prairie and stream sites, and a river segment if a boat is secured. A major agenda item was a legislative session recap on the Outdoor Heritage Fund portion of Senate File 2077, the omnibus Outdoor Heritage Fund, Legacy, and Lands bill. Staff reported that all council recommendations were incorporated into the bill, which passed both chambers on May 17 and was expected to be signed by the governor. The fiscal year 2027 Outdoor Heritage Fund recommendations covered 53 programs totaling about $188.9 million, with the February forecast increasing the appropriation slightly so the final total was about $191.16 million; eligible programs were proportionately increased. Staff also highlighted a few changes made during the legislative process, including adjustments to the Roso Lake rehabilitation phase three project, the conservation partners legacy grant language, and statutory provisions affecting the council. The recap also covered policy changes in the bill: a public member term limit of eight years, with a short vacancy exception and transition rules for current members; a revised executive director hiring process allowing the Legislative Coordinating Commission to provide support while preserving the council’s final hiring authority and permitting closed meetings for candidate discussions; and an extension of the Upper Mississippi River invasive carp deterrent design deadline to June 30, 2027. Members discussed the Roso Lake amendment at length, with Senator Lang and Representative Burkel explaining that the added delay and injunction-related language were intended to address local concerns and preserve the council’s process while litigation proceeds. The meeting ended without any additional formal action beyond receiving the updates and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• screening in Native Americans so Native<00:38:12.880> Americans<00:38:13.560> have<00:
• Uh, Duran, I want to talk about the Native American portion of this.
• Uh, Duran, I want to talk about the Native American portion of this.
• first interaction with uh Native first interaction with uh Native American<00:45:55.960> Community
• <00:47:53.200> American the cities as well as a Native American the cities as well as a Native

Keywords: 1183, house