Transcript Highlights:

• Towns, cities, municipal utilities, public utility districts, and joint operating agencies formed from
• In general, when purchasing electricity, a city or public utility cannot enter into a contract with a
• Finally, the prohibition on the city or public utility entering into a contract that would commit the
• For these public power entities, these public power utilities.
• My public utility commission, based on this bill, can decide to enter into such a contract over ratepayer

Bills: HB2103 , HB2388 , HB2316 , HB2006 , HB2224

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: renewable energy, nonemitting generation, public entities, contracting, electric generation, distributed energy, agricultural land, energy generation, renewable resources, siting regulations, land use, urban development, vegetation management, shrubsteppe, environmental regulation, economic development, sales tax, rural counties, industrial land banks, growth management

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um Melco tools out of anandale Minnesota um Melco tools out of anandale Minnesota I<00:32:47.120
• </c> them all right next turning to Minnesota them all right next turning to Minnesota occupational<00
• Apprenticeship Minnesota is the state's apprenticeship authority under the Minnesota Apprenticeship Act
• <00:37:34.480><c> in</c><00:37:34.640><c> August</c> Minnesota in August Minnesota in August 20123<00
• </c><00:58:37.760><c> what</c> what may make sense in Minnesota what what may make sense in Minnesota

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• There are other public safety concerns that law enforcement and the public have brought to us in the
• state of Minnesota.
• state of Minnesota.
• has damaged Public Safety in Minnesota<00:31:27.480><c> and</c><00:31:27.720><c> this</c><00:31:28.159
• transparency</c> to public data and public transparency to public data and public transparency but<00

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for the public. for the public.
• Public Safety.
• I am incredibly proud to be able to say that lead the Department of Public Safety in the state of Minnesota
• I am incredibly proud to be able to say that lead the Department of Public Safety in the state of Minnesota
• </c> Public Safety in the state of Minnesota Public Safety in the state of Minnesota and<00:37:27.040

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• 25.360><c> seek</c> gentleoman from Minnesota seek gentleoman from Minnesota seek recognition?
• </c> public health, and local infrastructure. public health, and local infrastructure.
• existing utility corridors.
• existing utility corridors.
• existing utility corridors.

Transcript Highlights:

• This work utilizes LinkedIn Learning modules that wouldn't be available without our fabulous Minnesota
• This work utilizes LinkedIn Learning modules that wouldn't be available without our fabulous Minnesota
• Professionally, when you ask members of the Minnesota Library Association, which represents public, academic
• For the past almost 60 years, Minnesota has invested in a vibrant economy by recognizing the public good
• and private institutions at both public and private institutions in<00:35:24.800><c> Minnesota.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the legislature should modify the public charging excess tax such that public charging stations will
• charging excess tax such that public charging excess tax such that public<00:14:43.040><c> charging<
• </c><00:16:08.000><c> works</c> public library or outside a public works public library or outside a
• They're not a public entity, but they have a public charging station, but they don't charge a fee.
• They are retail in a public there.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• What's right for Minnesota?
• What's right for Minnesota?
• What's right for Minnesota?
• high school in Minnesota.
• Minnesota citizens.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Sorry, I'm not a professional public speaker.
• There's a reason why we hold public schools to...
• Adult entertainment has no place in public venues.
• That is— That is, nudity is unacceptable in public.
• But once it comes out into the public, it becomes public concern and public property.

Bills: HB2205 , HB2265 , HB2413 , HB2415 , HB2418 , HB2495 , HB2589 , HB2661 , HB2720 , HB2771 , HB2833 , HB2870

Committees: House Judiciary , House House Judiciary Committee of Reference

Keywords: criminal damage, trespassing, critical facilities, felony, Arizona Revised Statutes, court fees, public defender, criminal justice, legal aid, indigent defense, appeals, administrative assessments, sex offender, electronic monitoring, registration, public safety, youth protection, Kratom, narcotic drugs, regulation

Bills: HB386 , HB387 , HB388 , HB389 , HB386 , HB387 , HB388 , HB389

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: HB386, food tax, grocery tax, sales tax reduction, use tax, Education Trust Fund, state revenue trigger, tax cut, consumer tax relief, Alabama sales tax, Alabama use tax, groceries, retail tax, revenue growth threshold, county and municipal tax, fiscal trigger, sales tax, food taxation, local government, financial growth

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, LOFT performed a utilization review of space... ...utilization rate of 32%.
• of utilization needed.
• OMES-owned, 34% utilization. Agency-owned, 34% utilization. Privately owned, 51% utilization.
• OMES owned, 34% utilization. Agency owned, 34% utilization. Privately owned 51% utilization.
• Use actual space utilization analysis to submit a list to the Long Range Capital Planning Commission

Summary: The LOFT Oversight Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then received LOFT’s report on state office space utilization in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. LOFT presented three main findings: OMES is not fully exercising its statutory authority over state property and relies on flawed self-reported data; state office space is being used inefficiently and often below policy benchmarks; and better use of state-owned space could save tens of millions in private lease costs. LOFT also described errors in the state’s real property inventory, low utilization rates across OMES-owned, agency-owned, and privately leased space, and recommended stronger data verification, clearer space standards, and more active oversight of underused property. OMES responded that it believes it is meeting its statutory obligations and said it tries to balance oversight with being a partner to agencies, placing them in space that best fits their mission and service needs. OMES officials said they rely on agency-reported data, do not have enough staff to independently verify all inventory information, and do not “police” daily occupancy. Members questioned the distinction between meeting statutory duties and exercising full authority, the use of “shall” versus “recommend,” the lack of enforcement for agencies that decline space recommendations, and whether OMES should more aggressively consolidate or divest underused buildings. LOFT and OMES also discussed the methodology behind utilization calculations, including badge-swipe data, space standards, and common-area adjustments. In the final finding, LOFT estimated that relocating agencies from private leases into existing state-owned space could save roughly $16 million to $28.8 million annually, depending on the scenario used. LOFT cited other states and federal reforms as models and recommended that OMES more actively assess underutilized properties, verify data, and use actual utilization analysis to reduce private leasing. OMES said it would review the comments and work to improve. The committee then unanimously approved a rapid-response evaluation request for LOFT to examine DHS child care subsidy verification and reimbursement processes, citing concerns about possible improprieties and the need to confirm whether fraud or waste is occurring.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we get to the public, Before we get to the public hearing, we've got a great work session by Kate
• to pay any public funds that they've received.
• With that, we're going to conclude the public hearing for House Bill 2148.
• We're going to open up public hearing for House Bill 2132, and I believe Ms.
• The Public Records Act, or PRA, requires state and local agencies to make all public records available

Bills: HB2148 , HB2132

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: education, pay it forward program, tuition, student loans, financial aid, state financial aid, financial aid application, postsecondary education, higher education, student aid, Washington Student Achievement Council, public records exemption, privacy, student records, personally identifying information, financial information, data sharing agreement, enrollment assistance, institutional records, FERPA

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not sure exactly how to couch this, but we are all public servants and in Minnesota, public servants
• were, And in Minnesota, public servants were tragically murdered and injured.
• You're now a public servant.
• Public service ain't being big. And we found that out. Public service ain't being big.
• We adjourn the public portion. Okay. Let's adjourn the public portion of it.

Summary: The meeting opened with attendance and technical setup, including bringing a remote member into the session. The chair also made brief remarks about public service in light of recent violence against public officials, and a member shared condolences related to a colleague’s death. The committee then approved the minutes and noted no employment disclosure forms were filed. The main business was an update on digitizing committee files. Staff reported that the archival scanning estimate had been reduced and that a DocuSign contract would be sent for the chair’s signature. Members also discussed whether the work could be completed before the end of the biennium and whether existing funds could be used or prepaid. The committee then reviewed a long list of remaining advisory opinions and, on motion, approved staff recommendations to retain some opinions and retire or partially retire others based on changes in law or usefulness of the opinions. Topics included special privileges, frequent flyer miles, state contracts involving legislators, tours sponsored by lobbying entities, conflicts of interest, confidentiality of drafting requests, election-year brochures, and recusal/firewall issues. After a separate discussion about an older election-related outreach opinion, members agreed they likely still intended to apply the same factors outside the election-year context and asked staff to revisit whether that opinion should be unretired or revised. The public portion of the meeting was then adjourned, with the committee preparing to move into executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 10 is the Minnesota Indian base.
• </c> start with Minnesota start with Minnesota [Music] [Music] [Music] state.<00:14:21.279><c> So</c>
• </c><00:20:14.640><c> Mayo</c> entire University of Minnesota Mayo entire University of Minnesota Mayo
• </c> the private and outofstate public the private and outofstate public post-secary<00:36:12.560><c>
• </c> potentially go up by 18% at Minnesota potentially go up by 18% at Minnesota State<00:59:51.920><

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a public hearing on five bills, and we're going to start right at the top with Senate Bill 6078
• So it's transparent and public-facing.
• , our families, to you as the legislature, and to the public.
• Our board already utilizes designated director districts.
• school board had a meeting after the public hearing.

Bills: SB6078 , SB6089 , SB5859 , SB5861 , SB6065 , SB5956 , SB5901

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: SB 6078, child care, childcare, daycare, licensed child care provider, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, prelicensing, licensing support, resource guide, child care center, family home child care, family home provider, outdoor nature-based child care, school-age child care, early learning, provider application, local permit notice, city permit, county permit

Transcript Highlights:

• Public testimony, we'll close public testimony on Senate Bill 870, and Senate Bill 870 will be pending
• The common denominator is public schools.
• State in utilizing these terms and definitions to the extent that we can.
• Classrooms have evolved in our public school settings.
• Right, so our public schools are a reflection of our society.

Bills: SB27 , SB226 , SB326 , SB570 , SB605 , SB870 , SB991 , SB1871 , SB1872 , SB1873 , SB1874 , SB1924 , SB1925 , SB 27

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, antisemitism, student conduct, education, disciplinary actions, Texas Education Code, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district

Summary: The committee heard a series of school safety and discipline bills, beginning with SB 870, which would codify an attorney general opinion allowing local school boards to decide whether school marshals may openly carry, conceal carry, or store a firearm in a secure safe on campus. The bill was laid out with no public testimony and left pending. The chair then moved to a combined discussion of SB 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1924, all focused on school discipline, teacher authority, and student safety. Senators Perry and Creighton described the package as a response to rising classroom disruptions, assaults on teachers, and concerns that districts lack effective tools to maintain order. SB 1871 would expand teacher removal authority, require return-to-class plans before a student removed for certain conduct can return, make some serious offenses mandatory for placement in juvenile justice settings, and provide telehealth mental health services through a consortium. SB 1872 would require expulsion to a JJAEP for assaults on teachers or school volunteers and extend certain expulsion-eligible conduct to off-campus offenses. SB 1873 would restore the prior understanding that in-school suspension is not subject to a three-day limit. SB 1874 would grant teachers immunity from disciplinary action for reporting discipline violations or acting in compliance with Chapter 37. SB 1924 would restore authority for local police and school district police to issue Class C citations for school offenses and require criminal referrals for students posing an imminent threat or assaulting a teacher, with a substitute clarifying referral rules when a citation has already been issued. The committee adopted the substitutes for the bills and moved them forward. Invited witnesses from teacher and administrator groups largely supported the overall goal of stronger discipline and safer classrooms, while asking for refinements. The Texas Classroom Teachers Association testified that teachers need more autonomy to remove disruptive or violent students and that classroom removals should not mean removal from learning. Superintendents from San Angelo, Grandview, and Wiley ISDs supported the bills’ emphasis on safety, expanded ISS flexibility, mandatory placement for serious offenses, and telehealth mental health services, but asked for more local control, flexibility for Districts of Innovation, more than one campus behavior coordinator in large districts, clearer timelines for return-to-class plans, and more precise definitions for disruptive conduct. Several witnesses stressed that teacher retention and student learning are being harmed by current discipline problems, while some members raised concerns about vague standards and the risk of overuse or public humiliation through citations and removals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. who call Minnesota their home. And so who call Minnesota their home.
• Minnesota. Um and what this does is Minnesota.
• care from Minnesota takes away Minnesota care from Minnesota residents,<01:08:15.839><c> it</c><01:08
• </c> state of Minnesota. state of Minnesota.
• </c> public health programs? public health programs?

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Tom Mo, a distinguished University of Minnesota
• The gentleman from Minnesota seeks recognition.
• </c><02:24:46.960><c> broadcasting</c> dollars from public broadcasting dollars from public broadcasting
• </c><02:37:58.080><c> bill</c> they cannot afford the utility bill they cannot afford the utility bill
• </c><02:46:01.359><c> bills,</c> including their utility bills, including their utility bills, showerheads

Transcript Highlights:

• The program would provide students the state’s public universities, the University of Minnesota system
• public universities University<00:32:30.080><c> of</c><00:32:30.200><c> Minnesota</c><00:32:30.760><c
• > system</c><00:32:31.440><c> Minnesota</c> University of Minnesota system Minnesota University of Minnesota
• So, the bill is supported by the Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents
• So, the bill is supported by the Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in one public school and not in another. in one public school and not in another.
• </c> strong believer in public schools. strong believer in public schools.
• > heart</c><00:42:35.760><c> of</c><00:42:35.920><c> our</c> Public schools are the heart of our Public
• Most notably, Minnesota students.
• We'll miss all Minnesota students.

Committee: Senate Education Finance