Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, we have some senators joining us remotely. First of all, I will go to Senator Sear.
• Next up, we have some senators joining us remotely. First of all, I will go to Senator Sear.
• Next, I believe we have Senator Lovely joining us remotely. Senator, are you there? Yes, I am, Mr.
• And we're also joined remotely by Senator Delano Fernandez.
• Thank you for having me remotely. Thank you. You're welcome. The floor is yours. Thank you.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a public hearing on several bills related to driver’s license suspensions, junior operator training, online driver education, and regulation of e-bikes/scooters. A major focus was the Road to Opportunity Act (H. 3662/S. 2368), which would end license suspensions and registration holds for unpaid fines and fees unrelated to road safety, create hardship waivers and payment options, and replace suspension with nonrenewal in some cases. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, ACLU, CPCS, Greater Boston Legal Services, transportation and anti-poverty advocates, and several affected residents who described job loss, housing instability, and difficulty paying toll and fee debts. They argued the current system punishes poverty, disproportionately affects Black and Latino residents, and is costly to enforce. Some testimony also noted that the bill would preserve suspensions for dangerous driving offenses. District Attorney Marion Ryan testified in favor of two bills: one allowing partial payment plans for certain RMV penalties and another closing a loophole that makes the penalty for violating a hardship license less severe than driving after a full suspension. Senator Sear and Representative Reed also spoke for the Road to Opportunity Act, while the AAG said the Attorney General supports it. Committee members asked about RMV implementation and whether the agency supports payment plans; Ryan said the RMV has been cooperative but believes legislation is needed. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on bills affecting young drivers. Senator Lovely and Representative Cruz supported a bill to create a junior operator license training fund, expand access for low- and moderate-income families, require refunds in some cases, and allow earlier passenger privileges. Another bill would make virtual instructor-led driver education permanent; AAA and several driving school owners supported it as an access and convenience measure, while other instructors opposed it, arguing in-person instruction is safer and more effective. Finally, Senator Collins and others testified for a transportation safety bill regulating motorized bicycles, scooters, e-bikes, and mopeds, increasing fines, requiring insurance for commercial use, and requiring public hearings and accessibility review for new bike lanes. Advocates for blind and disabled pedestrians supported that bill, while some transportation and business voices backed it as a safety and planning measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. >> Probably have to hit the gavel.
• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. >> Kisa [clears throat] Watun. >>
• Kisa Watun, present. >> The clerk will close the role. participating remotely. participating remotely

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we'll go to uh Assistant Commissioner Bob Meyer on remote.
• Now, we'll go to uh Assistant Commissioner Bob Meyer on remote.
• Now, we'll go to uh Assistant Commissioner Bob Meyer on remote.
• Now, we'll go to uh Assistant Commissioner Bob Meyer on remote.
• Now, we'll go to uh Assistant Commissioner Bob Meyer on remote.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chief clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Green.
• call the names of the<00:06:06.319> members<00:06:06.639> voting<00:06:06.960> remotely
• the members voting remotely. the members voting remotely. Green. Green. Yes. Green votes: I.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ballot while they're home at the town clerk's office so that they don't have to mail a form from a remote
• ballot while they're home at the town clerk's office so that they don't have to mail a form from a remote
• ballot while they're home at the town clerk's office so that they don't have to mail a form from a remote
• ballot while they're home at the town clerk's office so that they don't have to mail a form from a remote
• public employees can undermine public trust in government institutions, as it is in our town, and may appear

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, ultimately, it appears to me that these facility fees are another way for Minnesotans to be price
• So, ultimately, it appears to me that these facility fees are another way for Minnesotans to be price
• Facility fees do not indicate quality of care, nor do they actually cover any costs that could even be remotely
• that<00:14:59.839> could<00:15:00.000> even<00:15:00.160> be<00:15:00.360> remotely
• <00:15:00.920> associated that could even be remotely associated that could even be remotely

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator: Anecdotally, it does appear the districts are issuing more bonds, essentially and going out
• Natasha: Continuing with this item on online visibility and reach, the library began providing remote
• Natasha: Continuing with this item on online visibility and reach, the library began providing remote
• Natasha: Continuing with this item on online visibility and reach, the library began providing remote
• Natasha: The library began providing remote access through its website to certain resources in 2014.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think this is uh he is appearing<00:07:48.560> by<00:07:48.800> Zoom.
• So, welcome to the appearing by Zoom.
• Thank you very much for the few moments of your time. since they first appeared at the Super since they
• first appeared at the Super Bowl.<00:18:51.520> So,<00:18:51.679> I<00:18:51.840> was
• For much of the 20th century, thousands of people with ID were confined to large remote facilities.

Bills: HF3661, HF2380, HF3468, HF3483

Keywords: facial recognition, privacy, government surveillance, public safety, data protection, civil liberties, disability rights, discrimination, accommodations, employment, housing, public services, education, civil action, failure to render aid, damages, Minnesota Statutes, legal liability, trespass, civil immigration enforcement

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from February 24 and February 26. It then took up House File 3661, a bill originally authored by Representative Gomez and presented by Representative Feist, which would ban government use of facial recognition technology and be re-referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. The committee adopted the A1 amendment, described as a technical amendment based on House Research recommendations, before hearing testimony on the bill. Representative Feist said the bill is aimed at preventing serious privacy and civil-liberties harms, including secretive surveillance, racial and gender bias, and the lack of statewide rules governing government use of facial recognition. Supportive testimony came from Chad Marlo of the ACLU, who argued the issue is bipartisan, the technology has accuracy problems, and government use is expanding against vulnerable groups. Chris Wayland of Restore the Fourth Minnesota also supported a ban, emphasizing the inability to opt out of facial recognition and the lack of standards, disclosure, and community input. Rich Newmeister urged stronger transparency measures, including agency policies and public notice in buildings using the technology. Major Spencer Baky of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office opposed an outright ban, saying facial recognition is used only as an investigative lead, not for positive identification or real-time surveillance, and that results are corroborated before use. He said the office has used the tool in hundreds of investigations and supports a statutory framework with safeguards instead of a ban. In member discussion, Representative Hudson argued a blanket ban was too broad and suggested a more targeted evidentiary approach, while Representative Moller and Representative Kurr expressed concern about misuse and the federal government's use of the technology. Representative Durant asked whether there was a current Minnesota problem and whether stakeholders and law enforcement had been involved in drafting the bill. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided, beyond adoption of the amendment and the committee’s continued consideration of HF 3661.

Transcript Highlights:

• 14:53.120> solely<00:14:53.519> on<00:14:53.839> recruiting<00:14:54.399> remote
• is focused solely on recruiting remote is focused solely on recruiting remote workers.<00:14:55.519
• be in the medical field, you could be an entrepreneur, you could be an accounting, you could be a remote
• be in the medical field, you could be an entrepreneur, you could be in accounting, you could be a remote
• be in the medical field, you could be an entrepreneur, you could be in accounting, you could be a remote

Bills: HB179, HB354, SB57, SB137, HB431, HB179, HB354, SB57, SB137, HB431

Keywords: campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer chaplain, public schools, public K-12 education, public charter schools, local control, teacher support, student support services, religious volunteer, faith-based support, church-state separation, background check, sex offender registry, school volunteer, education policy, district attorney, compensation, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh it appears we’re all going in a good direction.
• Uh it appears >> Well, thank you, Steve.
• Uh it appears we're<01:37:51.440> all<01:37:51.760> going<01:37:52.000> in<01:37
• It appears that they're going to settle those cases.
• It appears that they're going January.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chief Clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely.
• The Clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Hussain, aye. Hussain votes aye.
• The Chief Clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Hussain. There you go.
• The Chief Clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Hussain. Hussain votes aye.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. Gander. Gander, present.
• The Clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. Senator Gander votes aye.
• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. Senator Gander votes aye.
• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. Senator Gander.

Transcript Highlights:

• or participating remotely.
• The clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Gander, you're ready.
• remotely remotely Gander<00:17:05.919> you're<00:17:06.120> ready<00:17:07.039> Gander
• remotely remotely Gander Gander Gander yes<00:52:22.839> go<00:52:22.960> ahead<00:52:
• names of the members voting remotely names of the members voting remotely Gander<01:11:15.320>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• When I first introduced it, it had a second part that would remove the ability to vote via remote.
• Um I think those who uh make remotely.
• So, again, in conclusion, this would not change the ability of the body to vote remotely.
• So, again, this would not change the ability of the body to vote remotely.
• You may permit remote testimony or attendance participation. Mhm.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Happy to appear anytime with this reception. Thank you. Sounds good. We're always easy.
• /c><00:06:29.880> much<00:06:30.720> happy<00:06:30.960> to<00:06:31.160> appear
• <00:06:31.520> anytime you very much happy to appear anytime you very much happy to appear
• Um, but here's the catch, and it's plural, it's catches: SB 268 appears to be harmful, misguided, and
• Just thinking about my child being forced into bathrooms at spaces that do not match their appearance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely. Burkel. I.
• The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely. Burkel.
• . remotely. remotely.
• The clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Burkel votes aye.
• The clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Burkel votes aye.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House first adopted a conference committee report on House File 3900, a constitutional amendment related to state government and school trust lands. Members from both parties praised the work on the bill and said the conference committee returned a clean version of the House-passed measure. The report was adopted without opposition, and the bill was repassed as amended by conference on a 134-0 roll call. The chamber then took up Senate File 4282, a forecast-adjustments bill covering K-12 education, human services, children and families, and transportation. Representative Youakim explained that the conference report restored all four forecast articles plus several no-cost education items, including school fund transfers, utility-payment authority, a paraprofessional licensing clarification, a grant extension, and school trust lands language. Representative Mueller moved to refuse adoption, arguing the report had become a catchall and omitted agreed-upon literacy language; that motion failed 62-72. The House then adopted the conference report, and the bill was repassed as amended by conference on a 94-37 vote. Next, the House concurred in Senate amendments to House File 4138, the social media bill aimed at restricting addictive social media harms for minors. The Senate had removed House “threat alert” language, and the author said that was the only substantive difference. Supporters said the bill would protect kids online and require parental permission for social media accounts for children 15 and under. The House concurred and repassed the bill as amended by the Senate on a 131-2 vote. The House then began consideration of Senate File 2373, a labor and industry bill exempting minor league baseball players from minimum wage and overtime requirements. Through a series of amendments, members added provisions on rural cancer research, disability services and employment access, unemployment insurance for certain laid-off Iron Range miners, and agricultural funding items such as depredation, local foods, down payment assistance, and meat processing grants. One proposed amendment to remove the double-fencing requirement for farmed cervidae was strongly opposed as a threat to deer health and was defeated 61-72. The transcript ends during debate on that amendment, before final disposition of the bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:39:55.120> areas, Um so, that particularly remote areas, Um so, that particularly remote
• nurse or someone who's using it can get directions from the remote provider.
• support so that the patient or a remote support so that the patient or a remote nurse<00:55:12.080
• <00:55:15.640> So directions from the remote provider.
• So directions from the remote provider.

Bills: HB2246, HB2119, HB1929, HB1953, HB1572, HB2549, HB2594, HB2551, HB2595, HB2548, HB2459, HB1931, HB1604, HB1616, HB1736, HB2233, HB2241, HB1891, HB1803, HB2567, HB2534, HB2399, HB2172, HB1595, HB1811, HB2168, HB1780, HB1781, HB1785, HB2122, HB2012, HB2398, HB1779, HB2296, HB1894, HB1925, HB2019, HB1896, HB2294, HB2298, HB2300, HB2344, HB2345, HB2391, HB2037, HB2201, HB1941, HB1635, HB1943, HB2325, HB1926, HB2490, HB1710, HB2545, HB1976, HB2173, HB1804, HB1563, HB2015, HB1619, HB2475, HB1889, HB2367, HB2187, HB1765, HB1452, HB2231, HB1700, HB1705, HB1626, HB1897, HB1642, HB1523, HB2593, HB815, HB1655, HB1596, HB1732, HB1842, HB2476, HB2478, HB2022, HB1588, HB2575, HB1163, HB2153, HB772, HB1519, HB2050, HB2309, HB2147, HB2329, HB2274, HB2280, HB2547, HB2275, HB2452, HB2306, HB2148, HB2088, HB1764, HB2438, HB2117, HB1860, HB2604, HB2118, HB2017, HB2155, HB1832, HB2216, HB1601, HB1934, HB2297, HB2397, HB1893, HB2533, HB1890, HB2454, HB2004, HB2427, HB2207, HB1810, HB1840, HB1644, HB1645, HB1946, HB1648, HB2324, HB2323, HB1509, HB1514, HB1515, HB2164, HB2165, HB2283, HB1691, HB2386, HB2423, HB2121, HB1984, HB1593, HB1671, HB2619, HB1481, HB2314, HB2319, HB1643, HB2558, HB1864, HB1898, HB2214, HB2167, HB2488, HB2009, HB2007, HB322, HB1964, HB2218, HB2616, HB1535, HB1574, HB1977, HB2054, HB2046, HB146, HB2094, HB2181, HB2250, HB2515, HB2444, HB2385, HB1740, HB1724, HB1733, HB1799, HB1725, HB2049, HB2161, HB1970, HB2519, HB1790, HB2416, HB1873, HB2001, HB2151, HB1603, HB1880, HB1753, HB2198, HB1511, HB1991, HB2546, HB1615, HB1939, HB2140, HB2429, HB1870, HB1850, HB1782, HB2137

Keywords: agriculture, federal grants, Hawaii, grant administration, revolving fund, department of agriculture and biosecurity, grant compliance, financial support, coffee, pest control, subsidy program, coffee berry borer, coffee leaf rust, economy, biosecurity, invasive species, Molokai, advisory board, quarantine, environmental protection

Transcript Highlights:

• And now it appears that there's recognition that this is not a Hennepin County issue; this is a statewide
• And now it appears that there's recognition that this is not a Hennepin County issue; this is a statewide
• And now it appears that there's recognition that this is not a Hennepin County issue; this is a statewide
• And now it appears that there's recognition that this is not a Hennepin County issue; this is a statewide
• And now it appears that there's recognition that this is not a Hennepin County issue; this is a statewide

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The video monitoring may be done remotely, essentially, so the department can request video footage.
• The video monitoring may be done remotely, essentially, so the department can request video footage.
• The video monitoring may be done remotely, essentially, so the department can request video footage.
• The video monitoring may be done remotely, essentially, so the department can request video footage.
• The video monitoring may be done remotely, essentially, so the department can request video footage.

Bills: HF1169, HF1916

Keywords: child protection, child welfare, paperwork reduction, social services information system, SSIS, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, foster care, children in placement, county social services, Tribal governments, private child placing agencies, case management, administrative burden, information technology, human services, welfare administration, Minnesota tribes, child care assistance, CCAP, program integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• May I ask staff to begin to collect comment from those remotely?
• Can we have remote comment from those who are online for Senate Joint Resolution 18?
• Can we collect comments from those participating remotely?
• May we collect comments from those participating remotely?
• I would ask staff to begin to collect remote public comment.

Bills: SB274, SB301, SB249

Keywords: healthcare, life-sustaining treatment, patient preferences, POLST, advance directive, medical orders, hospital discharge, pregnancy, patient care, discharge planning, healthcare policy, substance use, harm reduction, syringe services, needle exchange, overdose prevention, naloxone, opioid antagonist, drug paraphernalia, syringe

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several measures related to health care, public health, and patient protections. House Concurrent Resolution 148, urging a statewide educational strategy on menopause, was presented as a workplace awareness measure and received supportive comments from members before being released. Senate Bill 274, updating Delaware’s MOST program to POLST and clarifying capacity determinations and documentation for end-of-life orders, also drew supportive testimony from medical and nursing groups and was released. House Bill 458, limiting local backflow preventer requirements for certain low-hazard buildings, was presented as a cost-relief measure for homeowners and small businesses; DHSS expressed concerns but said it was willing to work on amendments and a sunset provision, and the bill was released. Senate Joint Resolution 18, designating August 31, 2026 as International Overdose Awareness Day and ordering flags at half-staff, was released after brief supportive remarks. The committee then considered Senate Bill 339, a technical correction to the advance health care directive form clarifying that an agent’s authority for voluntary mental health admission cannot exceed 72 hours, consistent with existing law. Members asked detailed questions about how the 72-hour limit works and whether it applies to voluntary directives; the sponsor and a Disability Rights Delaware witness explained that the bill only aligns the form with current statute and does not expand authority. The bill was released. House Bill 301, requiring hospitals to create discharge plans for pregnant patients discharged while showing signs of labor, prompted extensive discussion. The sponsor and supporters said it would improve safety, transportation planning, and aftercare, while some members noted Delaware hospitals already do much of this work and questioned whether codifying it was necessary; supporters emphasized maternal mortality disparities and the need for guardrails. The bill was released. Senate Bill 196, creating ownership disclosure requirements for long-term care facilities and resident notice rules after ownership transfers, was presented as a transparency measure for seniors and families and was released after supportive testimony from the Delaware Nurses Association and elder-care advocates. Senate Bill 320, expanding pharmacists’ independent prescriptive authority for certain non-controlled medications and allowing opioid use disorder medications under standing order, with added malpractice reporting requirements in Senate Amendment 2, was supported by pharmacists and nurse practitioners as an access-to-care measure and was released. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 161, establishing a unified licensing and oversight framework for adult behavioral health providers under DSAM, was presented as a patient-protection measure; providers supported the goal but cautioned that regulations must be workable, and the substitute was released. Senate Joint Resolution 19, directing DHSS to study strategies to reduce health care costs, was released with a note reflecting concerns about broadening the analysis to include additional cost drivers and alternatives. Finally, Senate Bill 249 with Senate Amendment 2, modernizing harm-reduction programs and paraphernalia laws, generated the most extended debate: supporters framed it as life-saving public health policy, while opponents raised concerns about needle litter, community impacts, and whether the approach facilitates addiction. Despite the objections, the bill was released.