Video & Transcript : 'Senate data' :

Page 55 of 500
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • **Senator Bettencourt.** I would like to know now what does the data say?
  • **Senator Bettencourt.** I would like to know now what does the data say?
  • **Senator Bettencourt.** So I'd like to know now what does the data say?
  • **Agency Representative.** We don't collect that type of data, Senator.
  • **Senator Hinojosa.** Thank you. You wanted to ask for some data before, yes ma'am?
Bills: SB1 , SB 1
Committee: Senate Finance
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice Jul 7th, 2026

Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • Also, I believe we're joined online by Senator Payano, as well as Senator Miranda.
  • The Juvenile Justice Policy and Data Board was created. ...and data board annual report.
  • data.
  • that this data represents.
  • And Senator Kennedy, I actually, for time, I cut my data recommendations, but I will get those to you
Summary: The Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice held an informational hearing focused on the 2025 Juvenile Justice Policy and Data Board annual report, with testimony from Child Advocate Marisol Garcia and Melissa Threadgill of the Office of the Child Advocate. The presenters described the office’s role in analyzing juvenile justice data and highlighted several trends: overall juvenile court volume has stabilized, but a growing share of youth are entering by arrest rather than summons; racial and ethnic disparities remain stark at the front door of the system; and more than two-thirds of cases are dismissed before disposition, raising questions about unnecessary court involvement. They also noted increased use of pretrial conditions of release, including more intensive monitoring, and a rise in weapons-related charges, especially firearm possession cases, while emphasizing the need for stronger community-based prevention and support services. Committee members asked about whether the weapons trend is unique to Massachusetts, the role of public safety in pretrial decisions, the impact of mental health and substance use needs, and whether current conditions of release amount to an unfunded mandate for families. Garcia and Threadgill said many pretrial conditions are tied more to court appearance and compliance than dangerousness, and that families often struggle to meet conditions without adequate services, transportation, or coordination. They also discussed barriers to data access, including confidentiality rules that prevent the office from obtaining raw court data needed for recidivism analysis, though they said county briefs and additional disparity reports will be released soon. The hearing ended with committee leaders expressing interest in continued collaboration and the committee voted to adjourn.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Energy Development and Transmission Committee Jul 22nd, 2026 at 09:00 am

Energy Development and Transmission Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senators Weston, here. Porter, here. Senators Weston, here. Becadol. Bame. Ronberger, here. Ingett.
  • data center reclamation after.
  • Now, I mentioned data centers.
  • So the data center...
  • The Michigan legislature introduced House Bill 6137 and Senate Bill 1050 to require data center operators
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AEN Public Hearing 01-28-2026

Agriculture and Environment

Transcript Highlights:
  • Doy, Senator Wah, Senator Rhoads.
  • [snorts] >> Sir, >> data. >> data. >> data. >> Data. >> Data.
  • Senator DeCoite votes aye. Senator Rhoads votes aye. Senator Awa votes aye.
  • Senator DeCoite votes aye. Senator Rhoads votes aye. Senator Awa votes aye.
  • Senator DeCoite votes aye. Senator Rhoads votes aye. Senator Awa votes aye.
Summary: The committee heard several agriculture-related bills. SB 874 on veterinary medicine would require veterinarians, upon a client’s request, to provide a written prescription for an animal patient in an existing veterinary client-patient relationship, allow Hawaii-licensed pharmacies to dispense those prescriptions, and authorize the Veterinary Medicine Board to set penalties. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with supporters citing lower costs and consumer choice; the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association said veterinarians already should be doing this and supported the bill if amended. One testifier in opposition argued the bill needed a conspicuous notice requirement so pet owners know they can request prescriptions. Committee members and the Department of Agriculture said they were not aware of widespread problems, and discussion focused on whether the measure was already consistent with current practice and whether amendments would address remaining concerns. The committee also heard SB 2097, which would create a climate-resilient food systems grant program in the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and appropriate funds. The department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and others supported the bill, saying it could help farmers and ranchers invest in resilience, infrastructure, and technology. Several testifiers asked for clearer definitions, especially for terms like “food hubs” and “resilience hubs,” and suggested adding technical assistance and clearer eligibility criteria. The department explained the program was intended for shovel-ready projects in the middle of the supply chain, with a focus on farmers in a certain revenue range, and said it was modeled on a USDA program. SB 2098 would establish a clean plant program to produce and distribute disease-free plant material to growers, nurseries, and other producers. Testimony was supportive, emphasizing biosecurity, nursery industry needs, and preventing invasive species and crop disease. The department described the program as using tested clean stock, tissue culture facilities, and data collection to support future planting decisions, and estimated a two-year ramp-up. Members questioned whether the program duplicated existing work at CTR/other partners and whether data collection should be centralized, but the department said the effort would build on existing varieties and partnerships rather than overlap them. Finally, SB 2126 would create a conventional farming grant program for small and midsize conventional farmers. Supporters from the department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council said conventional agriculture deserves support and that the bill would help increase food production. Opposition and comments focused on the bill’s exclusion of organic farmers; one farmer said the measure was unfair unless amended to include organic producers, while a Farmers Union witness said the bill was too vague about the grant’s purpose and should be clearer about its goals. In response to questions, the department said the exclusion of organic farming was not intentional and that the bill was meant to support all agriculture, though no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee Apr 20th, 2026

Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Seyarto will be filling in this afternoon for Senator Ochoa Bogh.
  • Additionally, Senate Bill 1013 limits the hot list to which ALPR data can be compared. ...the hot list
  • I think it was Senator Ray. Senator Ray is so sorry. Back to me afterwards. Okay, Senator Reyes.
  • Senator Reyes. Senator Reyes moves the bill. Any other discussion? Senator Reyes moves the bill.
  • Item 7 is SB 903 by Senator Padilla. Current vote is 4 to 0. Senators Jones. By Senator Padilla.
Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on AI, privacy, and surveillance. SB 903 would prohibit AI from independently providing psychotherapy or presenting itself as a licensed mental health provider, require disclosure and informed consent, and reinforce confidentiality and privacy protections for therapy records. Supporters, including a mother and therapist whose son died by suicide after extensive chats with ChatGPT, argued the bill is needed to prevent harmful, crisis-related interactions. Behavioral health groups and labor/privacy organizations supported the measure, while TechNet, the California Medical Association, and the California Hospital Association opposed unless amended, saying the bill could restrict useful clinical tools and create conflicts around triage, screening, and data use. The committee passed SB 903 4-0 to Appropriations, with members noting the need for further work on definitions and implementation. SB 1119 would create a broader framework for chatbot safety for children, including annual risk assessments, crisis response protocols, default child protections, parental controls, notice and time limits, restrictions on advertising and use of children’s data, incident reporting, audits, and a private right of action. The author and supporters again cited the death of Adam Raine as evidence that chatbots can reinforce suicidal ideation and isolate children. Common Sense Media and several labor and privacy groups supported the bill. CalChamber, TechNet, the California State Sheriffs’ Association, and other industry and local government groups opposed unless amended, raising concerns about vague standards, overlap with SB 243, prescriptive design mandates, and litigation risk. The committee approved SB 1119 4-0 to Judiciary, with amendments to be taken there. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader data by requiring DOJ audits, employee training, and a 30-day retention limit for most data. Supporters said the bill responds to documented misuse and over-retention of data that mostly belongs to innocent drivers. Law enforcement groups opposed, arguing the retention limit would hinder investigations and reduce the usefulness of ALPRs in serious or delayed cases. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 1292, a local control bill for six cities, would allow camera or sensor-based enforcement of curb and loading zones, with a human reviewing each violation before issuance. Supporters said it would help cities manage congestion and unsafe blocking of bike lanes and loading zones; privacy advocates warned about expanding automated surveillance. It passed 4-1 to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard SB 1101, which would require higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when personal information is shared with federal agencies and limit disclosure to what is legally required. Supporters framed it as a transparency and anti-doxing measure in response to recent federal investigations and subpoenas; there was no opposition testimony. The bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. The committee then began hearing SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, which would require advance notice and reporting when employers displace workers due to technology and give displaced workers priority for openings, but the transcript cuts off before the hearing concluded.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 1 - 03/21/25

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • ><c> Senator</c><00:51:33.680><c> Liur,</c> Senator Lax, Madam Chair, Senator Liur, Senator Lax, Madam
  • Senate File 794 is before the committee involving the Government Data Practices Act.
  • section of the Data Practices Act, started to be changed back in the 1990s by Senator Marty when a state
  • section of the Data Practices Act, started to be changed back in the 1990s by Senator Marty when a state
  • of the Data Practices Act, started to be changed back in the 1990s by Senator Marty when a state official
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Transportation Committee Jul 7th, 2025

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • Thank you, Senator.
  • In 2016, Senate Bill 34 required agencies to adopt usage and privacy policies for ALPR data.
  • In 2016, Senate Bill 34 required agencies to adopt usage and privacy policies for ALPR data.
  • So I want to thank you, Senator, for your presentation and for your concern regarding the data and the
  • So I want to thank you, Senator, for your presentation and for your concern regarding the data and the
Summary: The committee heard several transportation and economic bills. SB 86 would extend and expand the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority sales and use tax exclusion program through 2031, raise the annual cap, and add fusion energy. The author, Treasurer Fiona Ma, and a Cepheid representative said the program has supported billions in clean-tech investment, thousands of jobs, and environmental benefits; local government groups opposed over revenue-loss concerns. The bill passed on a 12-aye vote and was held open for additional members to add on. SB 545 would direct Go-Biz to study economic development opportunities along the high-speed rail corridor, including land value, development incentives, and public-private partnerships. Supporters from labor and Fresno described the bill as a way to spur transit-oriented development and local investment. The committee approved it on a 9-aye, 1-no vote, with some members urging broader funding and development options. SB 63 would authorize a regional revenue measure to help stabilize Bay Area transit operations, with testimony from transit agencies, business groups, labor, and local governments describing severe fiscal cliffs and potential service cuts. Members discussed the need for more flexibility in revenue options, the counties that may participate, and the need for a detailed expenditure plan; the author said negotiations were ongoing. The bill passed on a 9-aye, 3-no vote and was held open. The committee also heard SB 263, which would require a state study of the impacts of tariffs on California’s economy, ports, workers, and consumers; supporters from shipping, retail, ports, and trucking backed the measure, and members discussed the need for timely data and possible broader supply-chain impacts. SB 661 would redirect existing jet fuel sales tax revenue back to airports for aviation purposes and to address FAA compliance; testimony focused on airport infrastructure, rural access, and how funds should be allocated among large and small airports. Both bills received unanimous or near-unanimous support and were advanced to their next committees. The committee also began hearing SB 274 on automated license plate readers, with the author warning about privacy and civil-liberty concerns from widespread data collection, but the transcript cuts off before action on that bill.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Higher Education - 01/21/25

Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> County Senator Rob koek I have Senate County Senator Rob koek I have Senate District<00:03:27.200
  • The educational attainment data is actually a combination of data that we have from data reported to
  • And so we use American Community Survey data, ACS data, and, you know, survey data.
  • </c><01:12:26.440><c> you</c> track the data and Report the data you track the data and Report the data
  • Thank you, Senator.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Education Policy - 02/03/25

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • It also had Representatives Bakeberg, Lawrence, and Vern, and from the Senate, Senator Kunesh, Senator
  • </c><00:03:00.720><c> Senator</c><00:03:01.720><c> kunesh</c> Vern and from the Senate Senator kunesh
  • and more timely data.
  • </c> appreciate that thank you Senator appreciate that thank you Senator Duckworth<00:27:02.279><c> Senator
  • Thank you, Senator Maye Quade, and then Senator Kunesh is going first, and then Senator Maye Quade.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • If Senator Wilson will join us at the testimony table, we'll open a public hearing on Senate Bill 6227
  • Senate Bill 6227 relates to formalizing data collection protocols to support parenting students.
  • Well, we will now close the public hearing on Senate Bill 6227. Thank you, Senator Wilson.
  • Thank you, Senator Holy.
  • So Senator Warnick, you can start with the first panel for Senate.
Summary: The committee began with a work session on dual credit, hearing first from the Council of Presidents and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, then from the Education Research and Data Center. The dual credit overview described Washington’s six dual credit programs, high participation rates, transferability, and recent efforts to improve transparency, pathways, and equity. Testimony emphasized both benefits and challenges, including access, funding, advising, and the need for clearer statewide coordination. ERDC outlined its annual report, dashboard, research briefs, and future work on school-level factors and possible causal effects of dual credit participation. No votes were taken during the work session. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. SB 6227 would direct WSAC to work with public higher education institutions to create formal data collection protocols for parenting students and convene a work group to recommend how to identify and support them. Senator Wilson and multiple student and advocacy witnesses supported the bill, citing the lack of consistent statewide data and the barriers parenting students face; WSAC testified that its research found significant food, housing, and child care insecurity among these students. SB 6235 would prohibit public colleges with athletics programs from entering certain private equity or sovereign wealth fund agreements involving athletics revenues or control. Senator Holy said the bill was intended to prevent loss of institutional control, while UW and WSU testified in opposition, warning it could limit flexibility and create competitive disadvantages. The committee also heard SB 6217, which would expand Washington College Grant eligibility to students in eligible non-degree credential programs beginning in 2027-28. Supporters from the community and technical college system, a community college president, and workforce representatives said the bill would help students access short-term training for family-wage jobs and address workforce shortages, especially in construction trades. Finally, SB 6209 would restore Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship eligibility for certain private four-year and career/vocational schools if they meet a gainful-employment standard. DigiPen, Evergreen Beauty College, Seattle Film Institute, and related students and administrators testified in support, arguing the bill would preserve access for low-income and nontraditional students in career-focused programs; some witnesses on the bill’s earlier panel also urged that certificate and two-year programs be included. The hearings were managed with shortened testimony times because of the large number of sign-ins, and no final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House/Senate Press Conference 4/8/26

Transcript Highlights:
  • sent the Senator Maye Quade brought an amendment on the floor of the Senate that ended up dying in a
  • ><c> to</c><00:06:30.760><c> be</c><00:06:30.880><c> shared</c><00:06:31.360><c> by</c> data data has
  • I'm Senator Erin Maye Quade. Uh, I'm so proud to be the chief author of Senate File 4379.
  • We do have data practices laws.
  • Why not limit the bill to just NDAs, as it has to do with data centers, like Senator Hauschild's bill
Summary: Lawmakers held a bipartisan press availability on a bill to prohibit local governments and their officials from entering into non-disclosure agreements with private entities. Supporters said the measure is intended to protect transparency, public participation, and Minnesotans’ right to know about local decisions involving land use, public financing, and economic development, especially in cases involving data centers and other large projects. Representatives and senators from both parties described the bill as a response to examples in cities such as Rosemount, Farmington, Hermantown, North Mankato, Monticello, Pine Island, and others, where they said NDAs kept communities from learning about projects until decisions were effectively already made. The authors argued that the bill is not anti-development or limited to data centers, but instead prevents corporations from using private contracts to circumvent Minnesota’s open meeting and data practices laws. They said Chapter 13 already addresses trade secrets and other confidential information, and that the bill is meant to stop NDAs from creating secrecy around government decision-making. They also said they had heard little organized opposition so far, though they acknowledged questions about how the bill would affect early-stage business recruitment conversations and how local governments, especially smaller ones, would implement the change. Members also discussed the bill’s legislative path. They said it had previously received unanimous support in committee and was sent to the general register, then moved to the Judiciary Committee at the request of Chair Scott, who wanted a hearing. The authors said they did not believe the bill raised Chapter 13 issues requiring judiciary review, but agreed to the referral as a courtesy and said they were seeking a hearing. They reported that Senate consideration had previously ended in a tie vote, but said momentum was growing and expected stronger support this session. No vote was taken during the press event.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 04/07/25

Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:
  • Sections three and four are also from Senate File 1393 and define emergency backup generator and data
  • Sections three and four are also from Senate File 1393 and define emergency backup generator and data
  • Sections three and four are also from Senate File 1393 and define emergency backup generator and data
  • Data centers: I have talked to Senator Mathews about this over and over again.
  • Data centers: I have talked to Senator Mathews about this over and over again.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Environmental Quality Committee Mar 18th, 2026

Environmental Quality

Transcript Highlights:
  • Good morning, Senators.
  • As explained by the Senator, this bill would add data centers as eligible to be classified as environmental
  • Senators, does anyone move? Okay. Senator Menjivar has moved Senator Padilla’s bill. Thank you.
  • Senator Allen, Senator Menjivar, Vice Chair? Okay. Senator Allen looks bewildered.
  • Senator Strickland, thank you. Okay, thank you. Senator Allen.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Higher Education Committee Dec 3rd, 2025 at 10:30 am

Joint Higher Education Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • data and research.
  • This is part of the data requested as part of Senate Bill 5512 and is modeled on efforts in Pennsylvania
  • All of the data that we provide here originate from publicly available data sources.
  • Senator Warnick, please.
  • Thank you, Senator Huley. Senator Paul, please.
Summary: The Joint Higher Education Committee met with introductions from members and then held a work session on higher education and statewide accounting practices. OFM Deputy Director Sarah Rupp explained how state and university accounting/reporting differ, including current AFRS/SAM requirements and the transition to Workday/WAM, and described what higher education data are currently included in state reporting versus what will remain excluded, such as transaction-level detail and vendor payment information. University of Washington and Washington State University officials then described the complexity of their institutions’ financial structures, including multiple campuses, auxiliary enterprises, component units, hospitals, clinics, bonds, and other reporting obligations, and how they submit summarized data to the state while maintaining more detailed local accounting systems. The Education Research and Data Center also presented the public four-year finance dashboard created under Senate Bill 5512, emphasizing that the metrics are best used to examine trends within institutions rather than direct comparisons across schools; members asked about data availability and federal reporting delays, and ERDC said it was on track to update the dashboard with newer data and additional metrics. The committee then heard a presentation from the Washington Student Achievement Council on the Workforce Education Investment Account (WIA). Joel Anderson reviewed WIA’s creation under House Bill 2158, its revenue sources, and its intended purpose of supporting postsecondary attainment, high-demand fields, student aid, and workforce education. He said WIA revenue has grown substantially, especially after recent tax changes, and noted that most current appropriations go to higher education, including the Washington College Grant, community and four-year institutions, and some workforce-related programs. Members asked whether WIA supports apprenticeships and trades, and Anderson said it has in some cases, though nearly all current appropriations are now within higher education. Anderson also highlighted a major policy shift in the 2025-27 budget: WIA is now being used to supplant some general-fund higher education spending, especially a large transfer for University of Washington general operations. He said this has reduced the general fund share of higher education funding and increased the share from WIA, raising concerns about whether the account is still being used as originally intended. He also described how WIA is increasingly covering Washington College Grant caseload growth and faculty compensation costs, and said WSAC is working to improve public documentation of ongoing and carry-forward appropriations. The committee did not take any substantive votes on the presentation topics and then moved toward executive session and adjournment.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Banking and Insurance Mar 17th, 2025

Banking and Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Passidomo? Senator Pizzo? Senator Truenow? Senator Sharief? Yes.
  • Senator Burton, Senator Hooper is excused, Senator Martin, Senator Osgood, Senator Passidomo, Senator
  • Senator Hooper is excused. Senator Martin? Senator Osgood? Senator Passidomo? Senator Pizzo?
  • Senator Hooper is excused. Senator Martin? Senator Osgood? Senator Passidomo? Senator Pizzo?
  • Senator Passidomo? Senator Pizzo? Senator Truenow? Senator Truenow? Senator Truenow?
Summary: The committee heard and advanced several insurance, financial regulation, and public safety bills. The most extensive discussion centered on SB 1656, a major Office of Insurance Regulation bill covering reciprocal insurers, rate transparency, data calls, cybersecurity notification, and stronger oversight of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). The sponsor and OIR described the bill as aimed at transparency and preventing insolvencies, especially after recent CCRC failures. CCRC residents and industry representatives testified both in support and in opposition, with supporters emphasizing resident protection and opponents warning about liens, reserve requirements, management-company regulation, and higher costs. After debate and assurances that problematic provisions would be refined, the committee adopted a delete-all amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 1658, which creates a public records framework for the uniform mitigation verification of inspection form database while protecting policyholders’ personal information; a clarifying amendment was adopted before the bill was reported favorably. SB 1612 on financial institutions was approved after a substitute amendment restored current limits on credit union investments and kept only reimbursement, not salary, authority for certain board members and officers. SB 1740, an insurance bill intended to reduce premiums and insurer insolvency risk, was amended to prioritize rate-decrease filings and prohibit claim denials based solely on AI, then reported favorably. Two public-safety bills also moved forward. SB 1212 on firefighter health and safety would update OSHA-related protections, address toxic exposure in gear, encourage safer replacement equipment, and support best practices and mental health resources; an amendment refined terminology and added related provisions, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1184 on residual market insurers was amended to preserve existing consumer protections and disclosure rules for excess and surplus lines and to clarify Citizens-related appointment requirements before being reported favorably. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly noted ongoing stakeholder negotiations and intent to refine several bills further in later committee stops.
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

Technology - Room 409, 5 March, 2026; 8:00 A.M.

Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> byte of data uh sorry, terabyte of data byte of data uh sorry, terabyte of data is is is uh<00:16
  • </c> that data. that data.
  • Um, he was the author of I think of Senate Bill 2267 that talks about, um, the statewide data exchange
  • </c> the data actually Where would the data the data actually Where would the data live?
  • . data. data.
Committee: Joint Technology
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Science, Technology and Telecommunications Sep 23rd, 2025

Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • that data is accurate.
  • How soon can you get to that data? And is that data being kept in a data center type environment?
  • But it needs to be fed data, and that data needs to be accurate.
  • You only share the data.
  • Our data is just data from New Mexico.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative Commission on Data Practices 11/20/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Council. Senate Council.
  • ALPR data, body camera data.
  • :39:18.560><c> and</c><00:39:18.800><c> data</c> speak about data access and data speak about data access
  • </c><00:42:46.319><c> the</c> ALPR data body camera data. the ALPR data body camera data. the legislators
  • </c> their location data or their trip data their location data or their trip data is<01:24:41.920><c
Summary: The committee approved the October 15, 2025 minutes and then held a broader discussion on current challenges with data retention and government transparency. Judy Randall of the Office of the Legislative Auditor said historical data is essential for post-audits, which often look back three to five years, and that retention decisions must balance audit needs with the burden of separating public and nonpublic data. She described the records-retention panel process as informal and largely based on individual judgment, noting she had objected to a proposed 60-day email retention period and generally uses a three-year guideline, though she said that standard is not grounded in a formal rule. Members discussed whether auditing standards should set retention periods, with Randall saying auditing is a good starting point but other offices, including the attorney general, also have needs, and that some agency discretion is unavoidable because of the gray area between official records and non-records. Representative Elkins raised the related principle of data minimization, arguing that government should not keep data longer than needed and citing a University of Minnesota legacy data warehouse breach as an example of the risks of retaining unnecessary sensitive information. Randall agreed that data no longer needed is a liability and said her office purges workpapers after five years. Representative Scott pressed whether three years is enough for fraud investigations and financial records; Randall responded that a reasonableness standard is needed and that longer retention can produce diminishing returns, though she said she would follow up on whether financial records should be treated differently. Tanya Tacker of the Rum River Special Education Cooperative testified in support of updating Minnesota’s data-retention laws for schools. She said districts want to protect student information and maintain transparency, but the current general retention schedule dates to 1985 and 2000 and does not reflect digital records, modern systems, or the volume of special education data. She urged modernizing the schedule, clarifying what must be kept in paper versus digitized form, aligning state rules with IDEA and other federal requirements, and providing practical guidance and tools. Members praised the specificity of her recommendations. Dr. BB Newman testified that retention failures in St. Anthony Village have made it difficult to obtain routine municipal and police data, with records delayed, missing, or inconsistently produced and no clear explanation of what systems were searched or whether records were destroyed. Newman argued these gaps undermine statutory access rights and force residents into costly litigation, and recommended stronger retention auditing, documentation of destruction, mandatory disclosure of systems searched, and consequences for noncompliance. In response to questions, Senate counsel said there is generally no direct penalty, but affected parties may seek mandamus, Data Practices Act claims, or informal mediation/opinions from the Data Practices Office. The discussion closed with calls for clearer standards and possible legislative updates to improve compliance and transparency.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on State and Local Government - 02/20/25

State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • The first item on the agenda is Senate File 379. The first item on the agenda is Senate File 379.
  • So with that, Senator M.
  • Senator Wickland, Mr.
  • Next up, Senate File 483. Senator Rinson, you're ready. Senate File 483.
  • ><c> Senator</c><00:36:13.680><c> uh</c> committee thank you Senate Senator uh committee thank you Senate
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Apr 22nd, 2025

Alabama House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • the Senate.
  • Number 11, deidentified data: Data that... choice.
  • the data.
  • data.
  • or pseudonymous data. deidentified data or pseudonymous data.