Transcript Highlights:

• there be other construction will there be other construction exemptions<00:08:54.320> in<00:08
• :04.920> materials, on construction sales tax materials, on construction sales tax materials,
• Oh, oh yeah, just on the construction Oh, oh yeah, just on the construction sales<00:14:08.120><
• increment financing increment financing because,<00:16:09.480> you<00:16:09.560> know,
• construction workers do that. construction workers do that.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It stalled in the Senate Finance, but Mr.
• Then, when they were in the Senate and Senate Finance, by that time, Senate Finance was considering the
• Eventually, we got the FIR corrected, and Senate Finance...
• The same concern with Senate Finance.
• The Bureau of Reclamation, when they shut that down for construction, had a construction plan that failed

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, if you go on to tab 2, This is the Mortgage Finance Authority Act.
• We have 3 separate divisions, which is our finance division, if you will.
• Um, we supported, um, almost 6000 local, uh, construction jobs and long-term jobs.
• So we need to encourage the developers, construction.
• , in the home construction, rental, you know, apartment construction field, have we noticed, do we have

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning to our Construction Codes and Licensing Division: the Construction Codes and Licensing Division
• develops and enforces construction-related health and safety codes for the construction of buildings
• codes for the construction of buildings codes for the construction of buildings the<00:22:19.799
• c> a<00:42:13.000> couple finance chairs here uh a couple finance chairs here uh a couple
• funds is the work of the construction funds is the work of the construction codes<00:46:22.640><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met under a new Senate power-sharing arrangement with co-chairs, began with member and staff introductions, and then received a jurisdiction overview from Senate counsel. The overview explained that the Labor Committee’s jurisdiction has not changed from the previous biennium and covers fair labor standards, minimum wage, workers’ compensation, occupational safety and health, and related agencies and boards such as the Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Mediation Services, PERB, and the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals. It also noted that some topics, including paid leave, fall under other committees, while earned sick and safe time remains within Labor and Industry jurisdiction. Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach and Josiah Moore then gave a detailed Department of Labor and Industry presentation. They reviewed the department’s funding sources, emphasizing that workers’ compensation funds and construction codes/licensing revenues make up most of the budget, while the general fund is a small share. They described the department’s major divisions, including workers’ compensation, construction codes and licensing, labor standards, nursing home workforce standards, and OSHA consultation and compliance, and highlighted practical examples of their work. Examples included return-to-work assistance for an injured worker, compliance training that reduced penalties for self-insurers and claim administrators, and use of the Special Compensation Fund when an employer lacked workers’ compensation insurance. The labor standards section highlighted enforcement actions involving unpaid overtime, pregnancy and parental leave retaliation, wage deductions, and child labor violations, along with totals for 2024 collections and inquiries. The presentation also noted the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board’s adopted rules, the expansion of construction licensing exams statewide, and OSHA consultation programs such as Min-SHARP and MINSTAR, including a Minnesota employer that recently achieved MINSTAR status. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am an analyst with the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).
• The House Appropriations and Finance Committee (HAFC) adopted the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC)
• I'm with the Legislative Finance Committee.
• Our first program is project design and construction.
• When we do get the funding to construct a project, we construct it to the latest and greatest design

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• “You know, financing is a big chunk of this.
• You know, financing is a big chunk of this, right?
• The more expensive a system is, then you have to finance it, right?
• You know, hopefully ultimately financing costs. So anyway, I know like that that we passed.
• It could be for the financing partner.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on ways Massachusetts can accelerate solar deployment, lower costs, and preserve reliability as electricity demand rises and federal support for solar and other renewables changes. Chair Creem opened by emphasizing solar’s role in meeting climate mandates and peak demand, citing June heat-wave data showing behind-the-meter solar reduced wholesale prices and saved ratepayers money. Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney of DOER said Massachusetts has grown from 3 MW of solar in 2008 to 3.5 GW today, highlighted SMART 3.0 as a flexible, evergreen incentive program, and said DOER is working on updated rates, interconnection reforms, flexible interconnection, net crediting, and a petition to the DPU to speed implementation. She also said Massachusetts joined the lawsuit over canceled federal Solar for All funding. Committee members and witnesses discussed several policy changes to speed projects before federal tax credits expire, including automated permitting, remote inspections, faster interconnection, and changes to caps on municipal and regional solar development. Senator Barrett pressed Mahoney on whether the 10 MW municipal cap and regional caps should be lifted, and on whether the state should increase its solar tax credit to offset the loss of the federal residential credit. Mahoney said the municipal cap should be revisited and that interconnection cost allocation and other market issues need to be worked out before lifting broader caps. She also said DOER is open to automated permitting and is already developing a permitting portal under the 2024 climate law. Industry and advocacy witnesses largely supported streamlining measures. Sunrun’s Bronte Payne urged removal of a proposed requirement that all net-metered facilities enroll in SMART, and recommended automated permitting, remote inspections, flexible interconnection, better hosting-capacity information, consumer protections, and continued support for Connected Solutions and virtual power plants. Permit Power’s Hannah Bernbaum and Solar App’s Matthew McAllister argued that smart permitting and remote inspections can significantly reduce soft costs and delays, with McAllister saying Solar App now operates in over 320 jurisdictions and saves about three weeks on average. They said remote inspections are already common and can be done safely with photos, video, and qualified third parties. Community solar and clean energy advocates, including CCSA’s Kate Daniel and Vote Solar’s Lindsay Griffin, supported a 10 GW solar target by 2035, a higher refundable state tax credit for low-income households, interconnection reforms, flexible interconnection, and preserving the option to build outside SMART so projects can retain renewable energy certificates. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and members requested follow-up materials and draft language from witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's an OPAGA study on the efficacy of future alternative financing mechanisms and the potential of
• Tab 5 is for us to consider an appointment to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
• Tab 5 is for us to consider an appointment to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
• Fox Henderson has been appointed by the Governor to the Florida Housing Finance Board of Directors.
• So as soon as we get the sign-off and we can commence, we will be ready to start construction.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard several housing and disaster-recovery items. The committee heard SB 48 by Senator Gates, which would require local governments to allow voluntary accessory dwelling units, preserve homestead treatment for the owner-occupied portion of the property, limit undue parking restrictions, require 30-day minimum rentals, extend certain density bonuses for military families, and allow reusable tenant screening reports. The bill drew strong support from the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals and several others, and it was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 34 by Senator Sharif, creating a historic cemeteries program to help preserve historic African-American cemeteries and allow sale of excess vacant land if proceeds are used for long-term maintenance; it was also reported favorably. The committee then considered and recommended confirmation of Fox Henderson to the Board of Directors of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Members also received a presentation from the Department of Commerce on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and Rebuild Florida. Deputy Secretary Justin Domer described the state’s administration of HUD disaster recovery funds, including more than $4.3 billion received since 2017, housing repair and replacement programs that have completed 5,271 homes, and infrastructure and mitigation projects such as sewer conversion in Alford, the new Calhoun-Liberty Hospital, and the Florida Keys desalination plant. Members asked about average project costs, contractor oversight, corrective actions for deficient work, and audit procedures; Domer said the department uses inspections, vendor oversight, and financial penalties, and noted stricter contract consequences in newer programs. The Division of Emergency Management also presented on Elevate Florida, a federal mitigation program that allows homeowners to apply directly for elevation, reconstruction, acquisition/demolition, or wind-mitigation projects, with a 75/25 federal-homeowner cost share and no state funds. Director Kevin Guthrie said the program is designed to reduce repetitive flood losses and keep homeowners in place, and that it has received more than 12,000 applications, with about 1,500 prioritized, 500 on a wait list, and 305 submitted to FEMA for final approval. Members asked about the 25% match for seniors, the wait list, contractor procurement, and how projects are classified; Guthrie said the program uses insurance proceeds where available, has competitively procured 27 contractors, and may shift projects from elevation to reconstruction depending on damage and flood rules. The committee adjourned after the presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think there's been a stigma inside the construction manufacturing industry for a long time.
• The construction industry is becoming extremely technical.
• Our recruiter is at nine universities this year, and we're in construction.
• And the woman who gave us the tour was the Construction Manager. And she was a woman.
• I've spent last week alone, personally, myself, 20 hours doing finance training on projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• With me today is Eric Ell, he's the construction operations manager with our Real Estate and Construction
• I'm the construction operations manager with the Department of Administration, Real Estate and Construction
• <00:01:35.040> zone seeing currently being constructed zone seeing currently being constructed
• That’s what we have engaged with our construction manager in GMP project delivery.
• have uh engaged with our construction have uh engaged with our construction manager<00:09:20.800

Keywords: 919, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How can we do better to help administer construction, oversee construction, partner with contractors,
• ... ...constructed.
• You can see we've got 26 that we will construct that DOTD will construct, and OLHC will construct another
• issued are under construction.
• If it's under construction, it'll give you pictures as we go through construction.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met for an information-only hearing with no votes or formal actions. DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD and Deputy Secretary Beau Black outlined the department’s transformation efforts, emphasizing faster project delivery, improved transparency, and use of technology. They reported major reductions in contractor payment processing time, from roughly 35 days to 15 days or less, and change-order approvals from about 40–45 days to around five days. They also described new tools such as inspection tablets, a project delivery dashboard, e-ticketing, a customer service portal, and a pilot using sensor technology on department vehicles to identify potholes and damaged assets. The department said it is reorganizing district staffing, replacing the old area engineer model with district points of contact for construction, maintenance, and operations, without increasing total staff. Members focused heavily on local maintenance concerns, including potholes, drainage, culverts, mowing, overgrown ditches, and utility-related delays. Several legislators asked how to get quicker responses on routine maintenance and how to distinguish state responsibility from local jurisdiction. DOTD said it would meet with district administrators to address specific problems and clarify jurisdiction, and that the new customer service portal should help track complaints electronically. Members also asked about contractor accountability, utility relocations, and public communication on long-running projects; DOTD said it is improving internal KPIs, coordinating more closely with district staff and public information officers, and considering broader public updates beyond the website. The department also reviewed highway planning and funding. Officials said the Highway Priority Program is being reworked into a more fiscally constrained, staged process that starts earlier in concept development and gives legislators and constituents more feedback before the annual road show. They said the department is using new IDIQ contracting authority to bring in outside help for bridge maintenance and other work, and that bridge maintenance backlogs remain significant. DOTD reported that LTIF 1.0 and 2.0 together cover 91 projects statewide totaling more than $534 million, with over 40 complete, and that LTIF 3.0 adds 39 projects and about $165 million. Combined with other funding sources, the department said its upcoming construction program will include 385 projects worth about $1.73 billion. Legislators generally praised the department’s progress but raised concerns about lingering local problems and the need for clearer communication. Questions were also asked about a barge strike on the Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge, with DOTD saying divers and staff were inspecting the damage and that emergency repairs would likely be needed. After the DOTD update, the new Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, led by Archie Chesson, gave its own update on its first year, describing a small staff, heavy use of consultant and contractor pools, emergency procurement authority, and rapid delivery of rural bridge and roadway projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• Same thing with the Tribal Infrastructure Fund, right to construction.
• , it expressed the increasing cost of construction public projects.
• you know, in six months, construction costs and supplies can go up.
• And I am just, I just have confidence, extreme confidence in the Finance Authority.
• Finance Authority oversight because we do the checks and balances.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are trying to provide a lot of clarity and non-competition in the financing space, and you also see
• in... ...path forward for the financing piece in H. 955.
• And works construction has begun on a school construction project, and there's debt that a school district
• For example, the candidate campaign finance forms.
• And that was part of H. 938, which was a whole construct that the Senate was a little different.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next is for the Department of Finance and Administration.
• Same kind of theme, Department of Finance Administration.
• Next is for the Department of Finance and Administration.
• Same kind of theme, Department of Finance Administration.
• And, but we're still robbing the Irrigation Works Construction Fund.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But this authorizes the city of Champlin to use a sales tax to finance the construction of a new multi-use
• But this authorizes the city of Champlin to use a sales tax to finance the construction of a new multi-use
• And that's all financing costs.
• construction and everything. construction and everything.
• , and that construction<01:08:00.040> had<01:08:00.360> to construction had to construction

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and construction before beginning operation.
• For example, some states have allowed utilities to recover financing costs during construction rather
• They're not privately financed, is that my question? Kelvin: Yeah, Mr.
• Some of that early development financing can be quite challenging.
• One requires state consent before a facility can be constructed.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• largely have no say in the construction largely have no say in the construction timing<00:03:20.799
• just for the state road construction just for the state road construction piece<01:26:47.000>
• <01:40:31.760> for the entirety of the construction for the entirety of the construction for
• <01:41:38.360> advisory transportation Finance advisory transportation Finance advisory committee
• That's just creative ways of financing project delivery.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate File 285, a bill to shift MnDOT highway project cost participation away from local governments and onto MnDOT. The bill’s author and several city representatives said current cost-share policies force cities to spend local aid, property taxes, or debt on state highway projects they do not control, leaving less money for local streets and maintenance. Testifiers from Richfield, Elk River, Faribault, Minneapolis, and the Minnesota Association of Small Cities all supported the bill, describing the policy as one-size-fits-all, financially burdensome, and especially harmful to smaller cities and cities with major state highways running through them. Witnesses gave examples of large and sometimes changing local cost-share obligations, including Richfield’s spending of most of its MSA funds on projects it does not own and a small-city project where the estimated local share rose from about $2.3 million to over $3 million. Several testifiers said cities often have little practical ability to refuse MnDOT projects because the projects are valuable and MnDOT can move on if a city declines. One witness also raised concerns about money being paid upfront and held in an account during construction, causing cities to lose interest earnings while funds sit unused. Members asked whether cities truly have a say in these projects and whether there are limits on how much the local share can increase. Testifiers said MnDOT does engage cities, but the cost participation policy largely dictates the outcome, and they described the municipal consent statute as too narrow in practice. Senators expressed concern about fairness and the burden on local budgets, while one member noted the bill may not fully address the broader consent issue. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration.
• Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.
• To those entities that maybe aren't doing very well with their finances.
• This project is in construction and needs additional funds to complete.
• We did a report on higher education construction costs in Tucumcari.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're really just focused on the upfront financing for charter schools.
• So we're involved in the upfront construction of these multifamily projects.
• For a long time, it has focused on small business loans, charter school construction, and also the construction
• And the State Board of Finance, of course, the Treasurer.
• businesses when you guys decide to retire finances to me.

Transcript Highlights:

• Manufactured homes are a low-cost, but underutilized form of housing, but finding affordable financing
• Manufactured homes are a low-cost, but underutilized form of housing, but finding affordable financing
• That stands in the way of effective financing because it means that there is a lot more risk imbued into
• Thousands of families are still navigating insurance disputes, rising construction costs, and financing
• A vote in support of SB 1090 is a vote that is pro-recovery and financing challenges.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing-related bills. SB 996 by Senator Padilla would let manufactured homeowners opt to title their homes as real property, with supporters saying this would improve access to conventional mortgages, consumer protections, and lower-cost financing. SB 866 by Senator Blakespear would require cities and counties to include homelessness-related information in their annual housing element reports, with supporters saying the bill would improve transparency, regional coordination, and accountability around homelessness funding and services. The committee also heard SB 1090 by Senator Perez, which would impose a temporary moratorium in Altadena on certain state housing density laws after the Eaton Fire. Supporters, including Supervisor Catherine Barger and many Altadena residents, argued the bill would protect fire survivors from speculative investors and give families time to rebuild and return home. Opponents argued the bill could limit tools that homeowners need to finance rebuilding and could reduce future housing production. After extensive testimony, the committee passed SB 1090 to the Assembly Local Government Committee on a 10-0 vote. SB 1388 by Senator Durazo would create an Affordable Housing Risk Reduction Program to help affordable housing providers reduce insurance costs through technical assistance and risk-mitigation support. Supporters said rising insurance premiums are threatening the viability of affordable housing developments and existing units. The committee also reconsidered and then voted on SB 1092, which was taken up only for reconsideration and final vote; after a split vote, the bill ultimately passed the committee. Final recorded votes showed SB 866 and SB 996 passing unanimously, SB 1388 passing with one no vote and one not voting, and SB 1092 passing 7-5 after reconsideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move House Bill 1326 in the finance and appropriations report. >> To the finance report in... >> Thank
• finance report.
• finance report.
• Construction firms use software. Construction firms use software.
• Whether it be construction, agriculture, ...be construction, agriculture, oil and gas, we have to work

Keywords: 981, all