Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to thank co-chairs O'Driscoll and Kaggel, along with his whole commerce and finance committee
• The clerk will report the bill. >> House File 3437, an act relating to commerce, the first engrossment
• Private insurers must meet federal regulatory standards, and the commissioner of commerce retains full
• and the federal regulatory standards and the commissioner<00:40:06.000> of<00:40:06.160> commerce
• of commerce retains full authority<00:40:08.320> to<00:40:08.640> prohibit<00:40:09.119

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a roll call establishing a quorum, and approval of the previous day’s journal. The body then moved through routine business including committee reports, second readings, first readings of a large batch of House files, and receipt of Senate File 3958 for comparison with a House companion. Several noncontroversial motions were adopted without objection, including referral and re-referral motions later in the day. The chamber then took up a series of bills, many of them veterans, commerce, mortgage, liquor, elections, and financial institutions measures. House File 3544, a veterans housekeeping bill updating state law to conform with federal standards and clarifying benefit forfeiture language, passed 133-0. House File 3467, authorizing MDVA to use nonmonetary support to collaborate on veteran services such as food insecurity, homelessness, and suicide prevention, also passed 133-0. House File 3437, clarifying that certain mortgage lending protections apply to consumer home loans rather than commercial loans, passed 133-0. House File 3479, clarifying homeowners’ rights to postpone foreclosure sales in several edge cases, passed 128-5. The annual liquor bill, Senate File 2511, drew the most discussion. Members described provisions addressing the so-called “Granny Happy Hour” in senior facilities, University of Minnesota liquor-related flexibility, and other local liquor-law changes. An author’s amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 129-1. House File 4118, allowing state-chartered credit unions to use private deposit share insurance subject to state oversight, passed 131-2. House File 4241, a local government/elections omnibus addressing disclosure rules, Hennepin County medical examiner appointment procedures, and Rochester School Board election structure, passed 124-9. House File 3699, changing a license plate contest to feature the Lake Superior agate and requiring a Minnesota artist, passed 110-22. Later, the House adopted motions to send House File 4668, an Explore Minnesota film tax credit bill, and House File 4319, a Lake City port authority bill affecting local taxing authority, to the Taxes Committee. The chamber also approved a motion to recall House File 1234, the payment transparency bill, from Ways and Means and place it on the General Register after a zero-cost fiscal note was reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• about $8 million for an increase, and that was a transfer of some programs from the Department of Commerce
• , some housing programs, And that was a transfer of some programs from the Department of Commerce, some
• And somewhere, and I talked with the Commerce about it.
• And somewhere, and I talked with the Commerce about it, and you guys obviously will be putting budgets
• And a lot of these people here will be in the conversations, except Commerce and Industrial Commission

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division of the budget section and received updates on several Industrial Commission-related agencies and programs. Legislative Council first reviewed base budget materials, then the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported on its current appropriation and staffing, noting that its new FTEs were being filled gradually and that it remained largely funded through special and federal funds. Agency leaders described homeownership lending, loan servicing, and housing incentive fund activity, including below-market mortgage rates, down payment assistance, and a growing servicing portfolio that has increased workload but not yet required additional FTEs. Housing Finance also detailed use of the Housing Incentive Fund and homeless grant dollars. Officials said the multifamily HIF round drew more than $73 million in requests and awarded $25 million, while the single-family program supported rural development and community land trusts. Homeless grant funding was split between emergency shelter, prevention, and rapid rehousing, with performance-based scoring used to renew or reallocate awards. Members discussed housing affordability, aging households, rental assistance, and the need to coordinate housing and site-preparation messaging with Commerce. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased in the next session. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and operations update. Staff said the agency was on track financially, had filled most of its new reclamation FTEs, and was not expecting major litigation costs beyond normal late-biennium invoices. The director reviewed agency initiatives including Project North Star IT modernization, organizational restructuring, succession planning, rulemaking, and implementation of the development incentive well tax program and critical minerals rules. He also discussed oil and gas activity, explaining that longer laterals, especially three- and four-mile wells and the first five-mile spacing case, are helping keep production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. Members asked about gas capture, hedging, break-even prices, and the effects of Iran and Venezuela on oil markets. The committee also heard about enhanced oil recovery grants and the Pipeline Authority. The EOR program’s $25 million appropriation was fully allocated to six projects, with total awards reaching about $45.1 million when other fund balances were included, subject to a possible 5% reduction if federal DOE money does not materialize. Officials said the projects are public, reimbursement-based, and will produce results over the next several years. Finally, the Pipeline Authority outlined natural gas transmission projects, including the imminent Bakken Express line and the proposed Bakken East project, which WBI was selected to advance after an Industrial Commission RFI process. The project is moving through open season, survey permission, and regulatory work, with in-service dates projected for 2029 and 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• about $8 million for an increase, and that was a transfer of some programs from the Department of Commerce
• And that was a transfer of some programs from the Department of Commerce, some housing programs over
• we funded this, and the other part that was in the governor's budget, we did a little more to the Commerce
• And somewhere, and I talked with Commerce about it. [00:46:40.000] And somewhere, and I talked with Commerce
• think of it. [00:47:30.000] And a lot of these people here will be in the conversations, except Commerce

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division budget section and first reviewed the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s budget and program update. Legislative Council outlined the agency’s base budget and historical funding, and Housing Finance staff reported on homeownership lending, housing incentive fund (HIF) awards, and homeless grant spending. Agency officials said the five new FTEs approved last session are mostly filled, with one homeless program manager still open. They described strong demand for HIF, noting that September 2025 multifamily requests exceeded $73 million while only $25 million was available, and that single-family and homeless programs are also heavily subscribed. Members discussed the agency’s local loan servicing workload, interest-rate benefits, down payment assistance, and the need to coordinate housing discussions with Commerce and site-preparation efforts. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased, and committee members emphasized accountability and statewide access for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing funds. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and agency initiatives. Staff reported that the department is on track financially, that most of the five new reclamation-related FTEs are hired, and that litigation costs tied to oil and gas matters are expected to continue appearing late in the biennium. The director reviewed ongoing modernization and organizational efforts, including the North Star IT project, succession planning, training, and rulemaking for oil and gas and critical minerals. Members asked about longer laterals, spacing, and production trends; the department said operators are increasingly drilling three-, four-, and even an initial five-mile lateral, which is helping keep North Dakota oil production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. The director also discussed oil price volatility tied to Middle East conflict, hedging practices among producers, gas capture remaining around 95%, and the likelihood that current production levels will stay near flat unless prices or geopolitical conditions change significantly. An update on the enhanced oil recovery grant program followed. The Industrial Commission’s grant administrator said the full $25 million appropriation was allocated in the fall to six projects, and because the oil and gas research fund also had carryover and biennial tax revenue, total awards reached about $45.1 million. The projects are expected to run two to four years, with meaningful results not likely until mid-2026 or later. Members questioned whether the public would have access to the research findings and how accountability would be maintained; staff said the grants are reimbursement-based, require regular status reports, and will culminate in public final reports. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, which updated members on natural gas transmission projects, especially WBI Energy’s proposed Bakken East pipeline. The authority said the project has advanced through a nonbinding and then binding open season, with WBI now securing survey permissions and moving through regulatory and landowner processes, while other related gas transmission projects near Minot and Epping are also in development.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:12.080> BCA,<00:10:12.560> taking<00:10:12.800> the<00:10:12.959> Commerce
• unit at the BCA, taking the Commerce unit at the BCA, taking the Commerce Fraud<00:10:13.440>
• 14.320> of Fraud Bureau away from the Department of Fraud Bureau away from the Department of Commerce
• <00:10:16.560> And<00:10:17.360> uh Commerce, putting it at the BCA.
• And uh Commerce, putting it at the BCA.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House DFL leaders held a press availability outlining a broad anti-fraud agenda focused on state programs, especially Medicaid-related services, but also unemployment and tax fraud. They said the package is intended to strengthen accountability, improve oversight, and prevent fraud before it occurs, while arguing that fraud harms vulnerable Minnesotans such as children with autism, people with disabilities, seniors, and homeless people. They also tied the problem to long-term privatization of public services, arguing that outsourcing creates more layers and opportunities for fraud, and cited examples like county case management and managed care arrangements. Specific proposals discussed included strengthening the attorney general’s Medicaid fraud control unit, creating or expanding inspector general functions, requiring more in-person site visits, using electronic visit verification, improving background checks and fingerprinting, and upgrading outdated IT systems. Members said some bills would be relatively low-cost while others would require funding, and that bills without fiscal notes might move separately while others could be folded into budget discussions. They also said the House DFL had already taken steps in prior sessions, including creating a fraud unit at the BCA and adding DHS staff for site visits. The discussion also covered the Office of Inspector General bill, with DFL members saying they support placing the office in the executive branch and that the governor should make the final appointment for constitutional reasons. They said Republicans had blocked amendments they viewed as adding fraud-prevention authority to the OIG bill, and that the governor’s staff had not been involved in working groups. On a separate bill involving disclosure requirements, they said the committee version was improved but still flawed because it could interfere with investigations; they said it would next go to the Children and Families Committee. No votes were taken in the exchange, and members said they were still early in session and hoped for more constructive negotiations later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Actually, I think we will all benefit because it brings commerce, jobs, and investment, re-energizing
• That's commerce, right? That's UPS trucks. That's FedEx trucks.
• The more commerce that we have, the more people we bring here, the better.
• The more people and commerce that you have on the roads.
• At the Border Industrial Association, we're going to see how our border commerce may be impacted by taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris McKayley on behalf of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce in support. Thank you.
• I'm Leon Guidry with the California Black Chamber of Commerce in support of SB 371. Good morning.
• I'm Leon Gidre with the California Black Chamber of Commerce in support of SB 371.
• Good morning, Anthony Butler Torres on behalf of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce in support
• of Los Angeles, VICA, and the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce.

Summary: The committee heard several insurance-related bills. SB 371 by Senator Cabaldon would lower uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage requirements for rideshare companies from the current $1 million level to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, with added transparency and data-reporting provisions. Uber, Lyft, and several business groups supported the bill as a way to reduce fares and improve affordability, while consumer attorneys, labor groups, and others opposed it as a major cut in protection for injured passengers and drivers. Committee members raised concerns about whether savings would actually reach riders and drivers, but the bill was approved on a do-pass vote to the next committee, with one member not voting. SB 487 by Senator Grayson would change how settlement or judgment proceeds are distributed when peace officers or firefighters are injured by a third party, ensuring they receive at least two-thirds of the at-fault party’s liability insurance limits in certain cases. Supporters, including public safety unions and an injured deputy sheriff, said current law can leave injured first responders with little or no recovery after employer reimbursement, while opponents representing cities, counties, and public agencies argued the bill would reduce recovery of taxpayer-funded workers’ compensation costs and lacked sufficient data. The committee members who spoke largely supported the bill, and it passed on a do-pass vote to Appropriations, with one member not voting. SB 616 by Senator Rubio would create an independent community hardening commission within the Department of Insurance to develop statewide wildfire mitigation recommendations and a post-catastrophe reporting process. The Department of Insurance, local governments, consumer groups, and fire-related organizations supported the measure as a way to improve wildfire resilience and insurance availability, while water agencies opposed provisions touching water infrastructure and warned of litigation and ratepayer impacts. The bill advanced on a do-pass vote to Appropriations, with some members not voting and one member voting no. The committee also heard SB 547 by Senator Perez, coauthored by Senator Rubio, which would extend wildfire-related insurance cancellation/nonrenewal moratoriums to commercial properties; insurers removed their opposition after amendments, and the bill passed to Appropriations on a do-pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Commerce. Commerce. >> Yes,<01:32:18.480> it<01:32:18.639> is.
• Seeing none, this bill as amended has moved to the Committee on Commerce. Oh, Commerce. Yes.
• All those in Committee on Commerce. All those in favor<01:41:09.520> say<01:41:09.760> I.
• >> Oh,<01:41:17.199> commerce.<01:41:18.080> Commerce. >> Oh, commerce.
• Commerce. >> Oh, commerce. Commerce. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Um, and we have welcome to the committee.
• , and Julia Drier, Deputy Commissioner of Insurance at the Department of Commerce.
• Uh, so I'll be touching on what commerce is currently observing in the commercial insurance market more
• Well, the Department of Commerce works those numbers, too.
• <00:20:52.240> those Department of Commerce works those Department of Commerce works those numbers

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• department for approval uh the commerce department for approval uh in<00:14:11.360> the<00:14
• <00:36:24.079> And<00:36:24.320> contrary<00:36:24.880> to commerce department
• And contrary to commerce department. And contrary to what<00:36:25.359> Ms.
• commerce in August. commerce in August.
• commissioner, the commerce commissioner commissioner, the commerce commissioner doesn't<00:43:01.839

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They get it through interstate commerce.
• 01:29:30.639> interstate<01:29:31.280> commerce.
• Um material through interstate commerce.
• commerce or not. commerce or not. That's<01:29:48.560> fine.
• overreach resulting from the commerce overreach resulting from the commerce clauses<01:31:20.480

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Hamlet, president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, and I am alone in my office.
• <01:20:00.080> had the woman from Chamber of Commerce had the woman from Chamber of Commerce
• I would also like to add business and commerce representatives as well.
• <03:13:42.960> representatives um business and commerce representatives um business and commerce
• , commerce, commerce, uh uh uh and<03:28:54.720> the<03:28:55.040> chair<03:28:55.600><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, members on both sides consequences for digital commerce, one consequences for digital commerce
• instructions to the Energy and Commerce instructions to the Energy and Commerce Committee<02:44:
• This budget plan requires $880 billion of cuts under Energy and Commerce. 30 seconds.
• . commerce. commerce. 30<02:48:04.319> seconds.
• member of the Energy and Commerce member of the Energy and Commerce Committee,<05:06:42.320>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in opposition from the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters and support from the Maui Chamber of Commerce
• We also received testimony and support from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and seven individuals.
• the Maui uh testimony and support from the Maui Chamber<00:35:37.200> of<00:35:37.400> Commerce
• <00:35:38.040> and<00:35:38.359> seven Chamber of Commerce and seven Chamber of Commerce
• comments from the Department of Budget and Finance in support, from UPW, and the Maui Chamber of Commerce

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• coalition letter that's being passed around now and also a letter from the Lake County Chamber of Commerce
• the Lake County Chamber of Commerce. the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
• As Representative Baker said, it came to us through the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, and this has a
• through the Shakabby Chamber of Commerce through the Shakabby Chamber of Commerce and<00:23:53.200
• passed into law as part of the commerce passed into law as part of the commerce omnibus<01:16:07.760

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• requirements of federal law and the United States Supreme Court's interpretation of it in Chamber of Commerce
• Code and the United States Supreme Court interpretation of it in Chamber of Commerce of the United States
• viewed as violating the financial or penalty section that the Supreme Court nixed in the Chamber of Commerce
• I see them talking, or talking about in a Chamber of Commerce meeting, they're going to maybe run their
• New York corporation, you have to register, even in an e-commerce-type situation, I believe that's true

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are joined here today. by members of the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce, the Parker County Chamber
• of Commerce, and Springtown Chamber of Commerce.
• only 29 chambers in the nation to receive a prestigious five-star accommodation from the U.S. of Commerce
• begins to be the the spoke for everything going north has been fantastic, and it's this Chamber of Commerce
• we celebrate Viva La San Antonio Day, I am very proud of the work that the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce

Bills: SJR57, SCR8, SB8, SB14, SB24, SB108, SB112, SB125, SB213, SB251, SB315, SB318, SB371, SB378, SB379, SB472, SB487, SB502, SB513, SB565, SB621, SB650, SB689, SB707, SB710, SB761, SB763, SB815, SB854, SB875, SB896, SB916, SB925, SB958, SB961, SB965, SB973, SB987, SB990, SB995, SB1006, SB1018, SB1019, SB1024, SB1026, SB1146, SB1194, SB1198, SB1253, SB1330, SB1343, SB1362, SB1379, SB1497, SB1498, SB1527, SB1532, SB1547, SB1596, SJR36, SJR12, SJR57, SCR22, SCR12, SCR8, SB565, SB765, SB62, SB666, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB847, SB1248, SB14, SB1006, SB504, SB925, SB995, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB815, SB1379, SB1497, SB1499, SB1498, SB241, SB304, SB621, SB1023, SB1024, SB686, SB112, SB371, SB204, SB609, SB670, SB502, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1362, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB987, SB1539, SB447, SB875, SB406, SB985, SB965, SB1119, SB1505, SB24, SB1194, SB1253, SB1215, SB1532, SB1302, SB856, SB650, SB583, SB673, SB213, SB681, SB1172, SB1252, SB378, SB1343, SB608, SB487, SB955, SB957, SB988, SB990, SB1019, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB958, SB761, SB541, SB315, SB379, SB1018, SB1737, SB266, SB1415, SB1527, SB125, SB599, SB1330, SB53, SB916, SB896, SB1352, SB973, SB785, SB710, SB472, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB1547, SB961, SB1038, SB513, SB578, SB711, SB746, SB942, SB1404, SB1448, SB1738, SB108, SB8, SB318, SB507, SB533, SB689, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB1198, SB1146, SB763, SB667, SB1059, SB617, SB1567, SB503, SJR37, SB16, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB1209, SB1210, SB1470, SB264, SB924, SB1029, SB1185, SB1202, SB1358, SB1364, SB1569, SB1697, SB1376, SB1228, SB519, SB878, SB1350, SB462, SB1535, SB827, SB1585, SB207, SB1207, SB1619, SB1396, SB920, SB1484, SB1273, SB1741

Keywords: central bank digital currency, CBDC, Federal Reserve, digital dollar, digital currency, cashless payments, financial privacy, cybersecurity, government surveillance, financial surveillance, money laundering, terrorism financing, illicit finance, banking policy, monetary policy, payments system, commercial banks, Texas Legislature, concurrent resolution, federal reserve digital currency

Transcript Highlights:

• that making more of the coins would not be fiscally responsible and necessary to meet the needs of commerce
• And we're reliant on the customers to bring them back in and put them back into commerce.
• we're reliant on the customers to bring them back in and put them back into, put them back into commerce

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a public hearing on two bills: House Bill 5138, concerning consumer protections for cash transactions amid penny scarcity, and House Bill 5036, concerning consumer information related to tariffs. Chairs Tackey Chan and Senator Payano opened the hearing, noted the committee’s one-year anniversary, reviewed procedures, and explained that the Senate and House were both in session, with Senator Payano prepared to take over if needed. The committee heard from several industry and legislative witnesses, and the hearing was eventually closed by motion and voice vote. Supporters of H. 5138, including Senator Paul Feeney, the Massachusetts Package Stores Association, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, and the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, said the bill would create a clear statewide rounding standard for cash transactions if pennies become scarce. They argued it would improve operational efficiency, reduce confusion, provide legal clarity, and protect businesses and consumers by requiring notice and limiting the rule to cash payments. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts also supported the concept but suggested amendments, including changing mandatory rounding language to allow flexibility and clarifying that taxes and fees would not be affected. Witnesses were largely opposed to H. 5036. The Retailers Association, the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, and the Massachusetts State Auto Dealers Association said tariff-related shelf or price disclosures would be difficult or impossible to implement because tariff costs change frequently and are hard to trace through complex supply chains. Auto dealers emphasized the challenge of calculating tariff impacts across thousands of vehicle parts and models, while retailers said the proposal would add burdens and could increase costs. No votes on the bills were taken during the hearing; the only formal action was adjournment of the hearing after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3176 looks to direct the department of Commerce to work towards federal RFIs for innovation
• You're going back and you're Letting Commerce really kind of put together the strategic framework for
• The Department of Commerce has done a great job. seeking a private opportunity, whether that is a battery

Bills: HB2445, HB2123, HB3048, HB3176, HB3239, HB3263, HB3794, HB3796, HB4265, HB4266, HB4317, HB4321, HB4322, HB3673

Keywords: HB2445, Route 66, Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Forward Commission, centennial, historic highway, preservation, tourism, historical society, scenic byway, National Historic Trail, Route 66 Alliance, Route 66 Association, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public-private partnership, sunset extension, commission extension

Transcript Highlights:

• Aura McDill, Florida Chamber of Commerce, waives in support. Members, we are in debate.
• Sirois: This bill updates Space Florida's toolbox with available tools to continue to grow aerospace commerce
• committed with your permission to continue to work on this issue for a potential amendment with Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• veteran, business owner, and executive vice president. ...of the Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce
• Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce. Okay.
• I serve as the Government Affairs Task Force Chair for the Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Bills: SB 390, SB 1197, SB 1271

Keywords: veteran-owned businesses, state contracting, historically underutilized business, economic opportunity, small business, economic development, veterans, certification, Texas legislation, unmanned aircraft, spaceport, criminal offense, aviation regulations, airspace safety, military installations, concurrent jurisdiction, governor's approval, state agency, land acquisition, Veteran Affairs

Summary: The meeting of the Committee on Veteran Affairs addressed several significant bills aimed at supporting veterans and their businesses. Among the bills discussed was SB390, which seeks to expand the definition of historically underutilized businesses to include all veteran-owned businesses, regardless of disability status. This change aims to create a more equitable economic landscape for veterans and to foster their participation in state procurement opportunities. The committee heard strong testimony supporting this initiative, emphasizing the importance of providing veterans with fair chances in business development.