Transcript Highlights:

• We've fought hard, but even running the system as designed, its failure falls short.
• Over the past several years, the city has worked hard to be proactive.
• <00:31:59.279> We has worked hard to be proactive. We has worked hard to be proactive.
• My predecessor, Representative Mary Murphy, worked very hard on this facility.
• It's became very hard on this facility.

Bills: HF4680, HF4047, HF4590, HF3757, HF3569, HF4507, HF4426, HF4927, HF4788, HF4757, HF4747, HF3561, HF4014, HF4013, HF4689, HF4766, HF4589

Keywords: wastewater treatment, improvements, capital investment, Greenfield, bonds, water treatment, infrastructure, municipal funding, state bonds, public utilities, HF4590, Tamarack, municipal infrastructure, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, Public Facilities Authority, sewer system, collection system, street reconstruction, local infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• There will be a drive to the issues that I think we resonate together on, things like mental health care
• <00:05:06.680> to both bodies uh there will be a drive to both bodies uh there will be a drive
• So I know it's hard to see a clear pathway through, and likewise I don't see how we get necessarily to
• The state's budget and economic forecast released in... session so I I know it's hard to see a session
• so I I know it's hard to see a clear<00:17:30.679> pathway<00:17:31.120> through<00:17

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The program opened with interviews on the start of Minnesota’s 94th Senate session, where the chamber is evenly split 33-33 after the death of DFL Senator Kari Dziedzic and a special election to fill the vacancy. DFL Majority Leader Aaron Murphy and Republican Leader Mark Johnson both said the tied Senate and narrow margins in both chambers will require more cooperation and compromise. Murphy emphasized affordability issues such as health care, child care, housing, college costs, and medical debt, while Johnson said Republicans want to refocus on Minnesota’s needs, limit tax increases and mandates, and use the split chamber to gain more influence in negotiations. Both leaders said they expect bipartisan work on issues like mental health, EMS, public school funding, permitting reform, and mandate reform. Former Senator Ann Johnson Stewart was also sworn in after winning the special election for District 45 and said she hopes to work on infrastructure, transportation, bonding, and jobs. The Senate Finance Committee then held a hearing on the social impact of legalizing online sports betting. Testimony from researchers and gambling addiction experts warned that online sports betting can contribute to addiction, family harm, and financial distress, with one witness describing it as a public health disaster and citing higher bankruptcy filings in states that legalize it. Committee discussion also reflected the competing view that many Minnesotans want the option to bet legally, while lawmakers have a responsibility to protect residents from harm. The final segment focused on Minnesota’s budget and economic forecast. Officials said the state is expected to end the 2026-2027 biennium with a surplus, but spending growth is projected to outpace revenues in the following years, creating a structural deficit of nearly $6 billion in fiscal years 2028-2029. Legislators said the forecast underscores the need to address spending, inflation, and long-term obligations such as special education and disability services, and some Republicans called for attention to waste, fraud, and abuse. The report noted that an updated forecast will be released in February, which could further shape budget negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• What it will do is drive up goal.
• What has to deal with driving less. What has to deal with driving less.
• It's really hard.
• It's really hard.
• It's really hard. For 1-year-olds. It's really hard.

Keywords: House streaming session for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House of Delegates met on February 27, 2026, with a prayer, roll call showing 130 members present, and the reading of the previous day’s journal. The chamber then took up several House resolutions recognizing guests and honorees, including Harold Futch Sr. II and his daughter R.V. for their collaboration on the album “Harmony” and R.V.’s status as the youngest Grammy winner; Michelle Eberle for her leadership of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange; and the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County on its 85th anniversary. Each resolution was read and adopted with applause and congratulations. The House also received Senate Bill 108 from the Senate consent calendar and, by unanimous consent, had it read the first time and referred to committee. In the Economic Matters Committee report, the House adopted favorable reports and sent multiple bills to third reading, including HB 306 on dealer website price transparency, HB 461 on rural readiness and capacity building, HB 573 on fair housing discrimination standards, HB 798 on small minority- and women-owned business capital access, HB 850 on open house disclosure requirements, HB 951 on land records revisions, HB 996 on corporations and associations revisions, HB 1026 on rounding cash transactions, and HB 1312 on legal tender species establishment. HB 306 drew the most debate over its title, which included the “Jack Fitzgerald Price Transparency Act.” One delegate argued the title improperly referenced a private business and should be removed; the floor leader responded that the bill honored consumer advocate Jack Fitzgerald and that the dealership was employee-owned. A motion to special order the bill failed on a roll call vote of 95 no to 38 yes, and the bill was then ordered printed for third reading. HB 691 on permitting efficiency for housing development projects was also special ordered until the next day after members sought more time to review possible amendments. The House adopted amendments and favorable reports on several bills, including HB 243 on comprehensive and general plans, HB 343 on housing counseling services, HB 483 on charitable organization audit thresholds, HB 523 on residential foreclosure restrictions, and HB 243’s amendments clarifying prospective application. Members asked questions about HB 243’s planning requirements and about HB 523’s “zombie mortgage” protections; the floor leader explained that HB 523 would protect homeowners from surprise foreclosures on old debts without forgiving the underlying debt, while HB 243 would modernize comprehensive planning standards without changing local subdivision review processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Excuse me, English is hard this Board.
• leadership support, drives teacher exit. leadership support, drives teacher exit.
• Senator, about kind of what's driving Senator, about kind of what's driving this,<00:46:13.760><
• It seems so drives the intentions.
• or negative community actually driving or negative community actually driving educators<00:52:07.760

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That being or driving a little erratic.
• example, if a suspect um begins driving example, if a suspect um begins driving more<00:10:52.240
• It needs to be a reason for them to do that. him drive out of the dead end and chased him drive out of
• So, it's going to be<00:27:58.320> hard.
• You you'll handcuff law be hard.

Bills: HB348, HB106, HB347, HB54, SB118, SB167, SB195, HB260, HB263, HB328, HB348, HB106, HB347, HB54, SB118, SB167, SB195, HB260, HB263, HB328

Keywords: bail reform, illegal aliens, violent offenses, pretrial detention, flight risk, court hearings, doxing, personal identifying information, harassment, online safety, law enforcement, public servants, penalties, consumer protection, illicit material, private rights, digital privacy, nonconsensual distribution, incarceration, pregnancy

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:45:16.639> resources push so that our hard-earned resources push so that our hard-earned
• From those who either can't or choose not to drive to those who drive but experience less congestion
• drives our worsening transportation drives our worsening transportation finances<01:53:15.760>
• It is a really, really hard thing.
• most vulnerable people who can't drive most vulnerable people who can't drive or<02:40:35.640>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• strength and sacrifice are the driving strength and sacrifice are the driving force<00:10:34.000
• of us who drive next to them.
• of us who drive next to them.
• of us who drive next to them.
• of us who drive next to them.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, again, it's hard when you're in the minority because there are some that I really did want to push
• Increases the penalty if a car drives around the school bus arm.
• Um,<00:09:42.320> again,<00:09:42.560> it's<00:09:42.800> hard<00:09:42.959>
• when you're in the Um, again, it's hard when you're in the minority<00:09:44.080> because<00:
• a car drives around the school bus arm. a car drives around the school bus arm.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, that’s a four-hour drive he just did. Thank you for the four-hour drive.
• They're driving them. The citizens want these. They're using them.
• Chairman, I had a long drive, actually.
• I do have a long drive every day, so I spent quite a bit of time...
• Any hard-for-belief on why we need this bill? I appreciate that.

Bills: SB1041, SB1088, SB1118, SB1128, SB1168, SB1176, SB1189, SB1207, SB1250, SB1272, SB1274, SB1286, SB1428, SB1457, SB1461, SB1503, SB1519, SB1537, SB1582, SB1618, SB1654, SB1713, SB1827, SCR1012, SCR1020

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, cybersecurity, homeland security, artificial intelligence, state appropriation, VPN security, zero trust, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes

Summary: The committee began with Senate Bill 1272, which would provide $5 million for the City of Douglas as a state match for the Douglas Port of Entry project. The chair adopted a Livingston amendment changing the funding source from the General Fund to the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund. Senator Gowen, Douglas Mayor Jose Grijalva, and city staff testified that the project could unlock $678 million in federal funding, create jobs, improve trade and national security, and generate future tax revenue. The bill passed 15-0 with three present and one not voting. Senate Bill 1503 was then amended with a strike-everything to expand the state death benefit for first responders to include pilots employed by law enforcement agencies, retroactive to January 1, 2026, and subject to voter approval. Senator Gowen and DPS Director Colonel Jeffrey Glover said the change would ensure the family of a DPS aviation supervisor killed in a helicopter crash would qualify for the benefit. The committee approved the bill 18-0 with one not voting. Senate Bill 1274 was converted by strike-everything amendment into a timeshare salesperson licensing measure, creating a separate license and training path focused on timeshare sales. Supporters said the change would better prepare salespeople and streamline licensing, while the sponsor said it would make government more efficient. The bill passed 17-1 with one not voting. Senate Bill 1286, dealing with veterinary telemedicine, was also approved after negotiated changes extended most telemedicine prescription periods to 30 days, kept antimicrobials at 14 days with no renewal, and allowed longer flea-and-tick prescriptions; supporters said it would help rural and disabled pet owners. It passed 18-0 with one not voting. The committee next considered Senate Bill 1519 on off-highway vehicles. A hostile strike-everything amendment proposing paid family and medical leave failed 7-11 with one not voting. The committee then adopted a Lopez amendment and advanced the underlying bill, which raises the OHV weight threshold from 2,500 to 3,500 pounds and adjusts registration and funding provisions. Supporters said it reflects newer enclosed and electric vehicles and helps trail funding, while opponents warned of trail damage and said the issue should wait for the study committee. The bill passed 10-7 with one present and one not voting. Senate Bill 1618, which updates the Military Affairs Commission, expands its membership and duties, and creates a military affairs fund, drew mixed testimony about whether it would strengthen Arizona’s ability to attract and retain military missions or shift the commission away from its traditional support role; it passed 10-6 with two present and one not voting. Finally, Senate Concurrent Resolution 1020, which would send to voters a CPI-based annual adjustment to legislative salaries, passed 9-8 with one present and one not voting after members debated legislative compensation, citizen-legislator concerns, and whether the change would broaden access to public service.

Transcript Highlights:

• Driving a school bus is not an easy job.
• We're basically driving a one-room schoolhouse through traffic.
• Driving a school bus is not an easy job.
• and<00:54:28.520> W<00:54:28.720> in that were hard fart hard fought and W in that
• were hard fart hard fought and W in 2023<00:54:30.160> Provisions<00:54:30.599> like<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• driving.
• I have such a hard time with these. Oh, okay. There we go.
• <00:43:07.440> or pulled over for drunk driving or pulled over for drunk driving or marijuana
• somebody's driving impaired with cratom? somebody's driving impaired with cratom?
• >> I have such a hard time with these. >> I have such a hard time with these.

Bills: HB0103, HB0070, HB0091

Keywords: First Amendment, free speech, lawsuits, immunity, public participation, strategic lawsuits, foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws, civil actions, speech protection, legal jurisdiction, joint liability, artificial intelligence, social scoring, biometric data, privacy rights, government regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we did the hard work. We did the hard budget work.
• But it shouldn't have been this hard.
• That was an item that she fought hard for.
• It was very hard to make some real inroads.
• What's so hard about this is...

Transcript Highlights:

• disciplinary programs and really drive disciplinary programs and really drive that<00:10:29.079>
• trying to impact uh and and drive trying to impact uh and and drive economic<00:33:40.279> growth
• But I do think it's a little bit hard for, like, all of us.
• um but I do think it's a little bit hard um but I do think it's a little bit hard for<00:44:02.680
• So it's that talent pipeline at UMR that helps drive our innovations forward.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee met and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The chair noted that agency overviews from the Office of Higher Education and other state agencies were not available, so the committee proceeded with University of Minnesota presentations instead. The committee also reviewed posted committee rules. University of Minnesota representatives gave an overview of the university’s research enterprise, describing it as a system of five campuses with a possible expansion to St. Cloud, and highlighting research strengths across campuses in agriculture, energy, natural resources, health, and the Twin Cities flagship campus. They said the university has more than $1.3 billion in annual research expenditures, receives most of its research funding from federal sources, and is ranked highly for both overall research and interdisciplinary research. Examples discussed included the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the Forever Green initiative, and research tied to sustainable crops, health, and commercialization. Members asked questions about specific research areas, including biodegradable or renewable plastics, wheat research, food dyes, health and environmental toxins, and the market for winter camelina and winter pennycress. University staff said they could follow up with more detailed information and explained that the winter crop work is intended to become market-driven over time, while also improving soil health and creating new revenue streams for farmers. They also clarified that the university’s federal research funding includes money from NIH, NSF, DOE, DOD, and other agencies, and that the “other” funding category includes foundations, subawards, and internal university seed funding. The committee then heard a second University of Minnesota presentation focused on partnerships, commercialization, and workforce development. Testimony highlighted collaborations with industry and government partners such as U.S. Steel, 3M, Medtronic, Cisco, and defense-related industry leaders, as well as programs supporting microelectronics, AI, cybersecurity, and sustainable aviation fuels. No formal votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and the committee ended the segment by moving on to the next testifier.

Transcript Highlights:

• When I drive my car, of course, I'm using the roads, and that makes some sense: that tax goes toward
• And the reason why it's really hard to have hard and fast rules is, um, storing a ton of road salt over
• really hard to have hard and fast rules really hard to have hard and fast rules is<00:43:13.680>
• it is hard to justify it is hard to justify uh<02:16:52.160> an<02:16:52.479> expenditure
• <02:29:26.800> I going to be looking hard at that. I going to be looking hard at that.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a place where our and hard work.
• are resilient, hard-working These are resilient, hard-working business<01:04:35.400> owners<01
• room right now are business that drives room right now are business that drives our<01:28:38.120
• These are drive economic development.
• Like it is hard to imagine. The about. Like it is hard to imagine.

Bills: HF4477

Keywords: Minnesota business recovery loan program, small business loan, zero-interest loan, forgivable loan, business recovery, economic development, small business emergency loan account, Minnesota Initiative Foundations, nonprofit lenders, greater Minnesota, Twin Cities metro, seven-county metropolitan area, immigration enforcement, business interruption, revenue loss, job preservation, business stabilization, state appropriation, forward fund, loan forgiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• Because if anyone is ever in Los Lunas and driving on New Mexico Highway 6, any time between 2:30 and
• So, the data center is really driving a lot of that momentum.
• We've worked really hard for the off-ramp. I do represent...
• So, a little bit of a drive-in, but wonderful to be here for the first time at this campus.
• So we are hard at work getting the existing funds out the door and into the ground.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:00.960> to<00:21:01.840> understand I find just kind of hard to understand I
• find just kind of hard to understand okay<00:21:03.159> thank okay thank okay thank you<00:21
• than just observing somebody driving than just observing somebody driving down<00:22:11.799>
• I'd find it hard to believe that the board would pass something and the agencies, while represented,
• I'd find it hard to believe that<00:25:13.399> the<00:25:13.880> the<00:25:13.960>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on House Bill 1064, which would implement recommendations from the Fire Safety Research Institute’s Maui wildfire report, clarify the role of the State Fire Marshal, and appropriate funds. Testimony was generally supportive from DLNR, the Climate Advisory Team, the State Fire Council, Hawaiʻi Electric, the Attorney General’s office, the Honu Fire Department, AARP, the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council, and others. Governor Green’s office said it supported the bill but wanted the office of the State Fire Marshal placed under the Department of Defense rather than the governor’s office, citing constitutional and administrative concerns. Members also questioned the State Fire Council about the selection process for the fire marshal and about defensible space and wildfire resilience in different communities. After discussion, the committees deferred decision-making on HB 1064 to Friday, March 14, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 225 for the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, with the same recommendation from the other committee. The hearing then moved to House Bill 697, which would expand who may review automated speed enforcement images. HDOT supported the bill but said it would prefer funding from the Highway Special Fund or the automated speed enforcement special fund rather than general revenues. Opposition testimony from the ACLU raised privacy concerns, argued the bill blurs the line between law enforcement and infrastructure management, and said DOT staff lack the mandate and expertise for the task. Judiciary said it would need additional capacity to process citations and hearings, and noted the program’s likely workload and costs were still uncertain. The committees then took up House Bill 277 on vehicular pursuit policy. The Attorney General and the Law Enforcement Standards Board urged the committees to defer the bill and let the board develop policy first, while Hawaii County Police opposed the measure as unnecessary, confusing, and too restrictive of officer discretion. Honolulu Police Department and the Policing Project supported the bill, arguing that clearer statewide standards and transparency are needed because pursuits can cause serious injuries or deaths and existing policies are inconsistent or not public. The Policing Project said the bill could be improved with amendments on serious crimes, but supported legislative action to set statewide standards while still involving the board. No final vote or action on HB 277 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was giving Lucy a hard time.
• The driving theme of this Legislation is both transparency and privacy.
• A child can't even get to the doctor; you can't drive at the age of 12.
• Just unthinkable or driving down the highway.
• That I think people should know the data, but it's very carefully guarded and it's hard to find and hard

Bills: SB95, SB268, SB493, SB619, SB660, SB922, SB984, SB1098, SB1188, SB1307, SB1332, SB1822

Keywords: immunization, written informed consent, civil liability, health care provider, vaccine compensation, administrative penalty, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, pharmacy benefit manager, PBM, gag clause, prescription drug pricing, out-of-pocket cost, cash price, pharmacist, pharmacy, prescription drug benefit

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that our resources committee did hard work.
• I know that our resources committee did hard work.
• You could drive out to North Douglas and stand on some rocks.
• You could drive to the Douglas Island hatchery, fish from their dock.
• It's much lower combat, much easier drive to get to.

Keywords: 905, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You're a driving voice. Baby, you're alive. And every time you try.
• Drive! Drive! Thank you.
• President, is first of all, it was hard to do.
• It was really hard for us to get up and going.
• It was really hard for us to get up and going.

Keywords: 996, all