Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:26:00.400><c> plates,</c> you just watch license plates, you just watch license plates, um<00
• The liquor commission, through the new licensing and reporting requirements, is cracking down on e-vapor
• ><c> the</c><00:53:24.000><c> new</c> The liquor commission through the new The liquor commission through
• </c><00:53:25.839><c> is</c> licensing and reporting requirements is licensing and reporting requirements
• </c><01:05:11.280><c> commission</c> department of uh the liquor commission department of uh the liquor

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> after the requirement to have a license after the requirement to have a license to<03:00:21.200>
• If we're going to have state licensing for firearms dealers, license our firearms dealers, but don't
• If we're going to have state licensing for firearms dealers, license our firearms dealers, but don't
• </c> If we're going to have state licensing If we're going to have state licensing for<03:03:18.080><
• dealers and license prepared by licensed dealers and license collectors<04:10:40.800><c> of</c><04:10

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• may then state that he or she has never been convicted of that crime for purposes of things like licensing
• I couldn't get a driver's license.
• I'm just wondering whether it might correspond to the Office of Insurance Commissioner or the Liquor
• know the answer to this: the other limited law enforcement agencies, again, insurance commissioner, liquor

Bills: HB1982 , HB2156

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: Indian rights, treaty rights, convictions, tribal members, criminal justice reform, Attorney General, AG investigators, limited authority peace officer, peace officer certification, economic crimes, financial crimes, white-collar crime, fraud investigation, search warrant service, electronic service, business records, law enforcement authority, criminal background check, training requirements, Washington RCW

Transcript Highlights:

• may then state that he or she has never been convicted of that crime for purposes of things like licensing
• I couldn't get a driver's license.
• I'm just wondering whether it might correspond to the Office of Insurance Commissioner or Liquor and
• know the answer to this, the other limited law enforcement agencies—again, insurance commissioner, liquor

Summary: The committee opened with a work session on effective interrogation techniques, hearing from two remote experts, retired homicide detective Matt Jones and former federal agent Mark Fallon. Both argued for science-based, information-gathering interviewing over confrontational or deception-based tactics, emphasizing rapport, open-ended questioning, corroboration, and avoiding coercion, especially with vulnerable interviewees. They said these methods improve reliability, reduce false confessions and wrongful convictions, and better withstand court scrutiny. Members asked for source materials and raised concerns about how friendly or minimization-style questioning could affect victims; the witnesses said they would provide research and noted that some common tactics can be problematic in sexual assault cases. No votes were taken in the work session. The committee then held a hearing on House Bill 1982, which would expand Washington’s existing process for vacating convictions tied to treaty rights. Staff explained that current law mainly covers pre-1975 fishing convictions, while the bill would extend relief to convictions involving treaty fishing, hunting, gathering, and pasturing rights, remove the date limit, include local ordinances, authorize the Office of Public Defense to provide direct representation and consultation, and create a tribal liaison position. The prime sponsor and tribal leaders testified in support, describing the bill as a way to correct historical wrongs and remove barriers to jobs, housing, and other opportunities. The Office of Public Defense said it supports the bill but needs statutory authority and a hub to identify and process cases; an Attorney General’s Office tribal liaison also supported the concept and suggested clarifying amendments. Some members questioned the scope of the affected population, costs, and whether the legislature could vacate the convictions directly, while others raised concerns about competing resource demands and the need for judicial action case by case. No final action was taken. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 2156, which would expand the Attorney General’s Office investigators’ authority in limited circumstances. Staff said the bill would let AGO investigators exercise only the authority of the entity granting concurrent jurisdiction, allow them to serve business search warrants only when authorized by a judicial officer, and clarify that they cannot detain, arrest, or carry weapons. The bill sponsor said it would reduce delays in economic-crime cases by allowing investigators to serve electronic warrants themselves instead of relying on local officers. Opponents from the sheriffs and police chiefs association and a retired veteran argued the bill blurs the line between investigation and prosecution, lacks sufficient oversight, and could create constitutional and training concerns. AGO representatives responded that the bill is narrowly focused, that most investigators are retired law enforcement, and that it would mainly streamline service of electronic warrants in cases such as organized retail theft and wage theft. The hearing was still in progress when the transcript ended, and no vote was recorded on this bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot of other, um, but they have been granted a license to be able to offer products, and of
• With that, tomorrow is liquor day, so I'll drink to that. We'll see you then.
• With that, tomorrow is liquor day, so I'll drink to that. We'll see you then.
• With that, tomorrow is liquor day, so I'll drink to that. We'll see you then.
• </c> that tomorrow is liquor that tomorrow is liquor day<01:45:44.679><c> so</c><01:45:44.880><c> I'll

Bills: HF1865 , HF2014 , HF2028

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: mortgage, qualified mortgage, QM, points and fees, conventional loan, consumer lending, home loan, residential real estate, lender fees, service charge, finance charge, closing costs, Minnesota Statutes 47.20, housing finance, borrower protections, cooperative apartment loan, contract for deed, real estate lending, foreclosure, notice requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• Not all voters have both their driver's licenses...
• Would they slip a copy of their driver's license into their ballot?
• Home when it comes to not having resources in our communities, such as liquor licenses.
• Board denied the requests for the liquor license within the Chambers and Hogg, Arizona area, and they
• The liquor license within the Chambers and Hogg, Arizona area.

Summary: The Senate met, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then handled a series of messages and floor actions. The chamber transmitted a large group of Senate bills to the governor and Senate Concurrent Memorial 1004 to the Secretary of State. It also received House requests to return Senate Bills 1175 and 1198 for reconsideration, which were granted without objection. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several House concurrent resolutions. On H.C.R. 2001, a constitutional referral on election requirements, senators debated a Judiciary Committee amendment and a Hoffman floor amendment that would require voter ID, allow election-day tabulation of early ballots at polling places, and require legislative funding for implementation. Supporters said the measure would improve election security, voter confidence, and speed up results; opponents argued it was vague, could undermine mail voting, and lacked clear implementation details. The amendment was adopted, and after further debate the Committee of the Whole gave H.C.R. 2001 a do-pass recommendation by a 15-12 vote. Later, on third reading, the full Senate passed H.C.R. 2001 by a 16-12 vote and transmitted it to the House. The chamber also considered H.C.R. 2003, a referral on student athletics and biological sex. Senator Ortiz offered a floor amendment to replace the blanket ban approach with rules based on athletic ability and inclusion; supporters said it would preserve fairness while avoiding discrimination, while opponents said it would gut the measure and weaken protections for girls’ sports. The Ortiz amendment failed 11-16, and H.C.R. 2003 then received a do-pass recommendation in Committee of the Whole and later passed third reading. H.C.R. 2044, a referral on prohibiting preferential treatment and discrimination, also received a do-pass recommendation without recorded controversy. The Senate then adjourned after completing the remaining procedural motions and votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not all voters have their driver's license or Social Security number on file, so they might not know
• Would they slip a copy of their driver's license into their ballot?
• licenses.
• Board denied the requests for the liquor license within the Chambers and Hogg, Arizona area, and they
• The liquor license within the Chambers and Hogg, Arizona area.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If the legislature decides to use money from liquor profits, that could be done there.
• fixed to no more than 50% of what liquor revenue<00:18:27.200><c> and</c><00:18:27.760><c> premium</
• could afford um really you know liquor could afford um based<00:19:08.440><c> on</c><00:19:08.640><c
• profits um that with money from liquor profits um that could<00:19:13.480><c> be</c><00:19:13.600><c
• That is correct. assumption that those liquor funds will assumption that those liquor funds will not<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division 3 work session continued its review of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Medicaid budget and related policy issues, with CFO Nathan White and Medicaid Director Henry Litman presenting updated materials. The discussion focused on a crosswalk between the adjusted FY 2025 Medicaid budget and the governor’s FY 2026 recommendation, plus handouts showing service additions, eligibility changes, dental rates, and other Medicaid changes since 2019. The department also said it would provide a clearer breakdown of the pharmacy cost-sharing item by general, federal, and other funds. Members asked detailed questions about the Medicaid enhancement tax, the 80% plan, and how funds are allocated between hospital payments, directed payments, and DSH uncompensated care. The department explained that the MET is being used more toward rates and directed payments to better align with federal matching rules, while DSH remains important for uncompensated care. They also noted that a pending Senate Bill 249 would keep the 80% structure and move to Senate Finance. On the trigger law, the department identified the governing provision as Chapter 342:12, Laws of 2018, and explained that if the federal match for Medicaid expansion falls below 90%, the state must notify legislative leaders and participants and the program would sunset after 180 days unless the legislature acts. The committee also reviewed current Medicaid expansion enrollment and program trends. Officials said enrollment was just under 59,000 as of March 3, with about 87,000 people enrolled over the past year and more than a quarter-million residents having used the program over its lifetime. They said enrollment has fallen from a post-pandemic high of nearly 97,000 and may eventually settle in the low 50,000s. Finally, the department discussed federal DSH funding risk, saying New Hampshire could face a significant reduction if Congress does not extend current protections, which is part of why the state has shifted more funding toward payment rates and directed payments.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we initially passed gaming legislation and gave a license to Penn National and Plain Ridge, the
• There are category one licenses.
• Is that because of state liquor liability? What are the actual driving reasons behind the closures?
• It allows our existing licensed casino operators, the same institutions...
• On a random Wednesday night, 48% of the cars in that lot had Massachusetts license plates.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, chaired by Rep. Carole Fiola and Sen. Barry Finegold, held a lengthy hearing on a range of gambling-related bills. Testimony first focused on H. 496 to allow the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to authorize Plain Ridge Park Casino to add table games and more slot machines. Supporters, including Rep. Jeffrey Roy, Sen. Finegold, Rep. Barry R. Finegold, Rep. Brian Vaughn, and Plainville officials, argued the change was needed to keep Massachusetts gaming dollars from flowing to Rhode Island, protect jobs, and preserve local tax revenue. They described Plain Ridge as a strong community partner and cited host-community benefits such as municipal infrastructure projects and local aid. Opponents or skeptical witnesses later argued that expanded gambling, especially online, would increase harm and cannibalize existing casinos and local economies. The committee also heard testimony on bills related to sports betting restrictions and online gambling. Sen. John Keenan presented a “Better Health Act” proposal to ban prop bets and in-play bets, require affordability checks, prohibit hosts, raise the sports betting excise tax, expand funding for problem-gambling services, and increase research and data sharing. He and supporters framed the bill as a public-health response to addiction, suicide, bankruptcy, and other harms. Rep. David Nangle, speaking from personal experience with gambling addiction, strongly opposed internet gaming, warning that it would intensify addiction and expose children and families to 24/7 gambling on phones. In contrast, Rep. David Moradian and industry witnesses supported H. 4431 to legalize and regulate internet gaming, arguing it would bring illegal activity into a regulated market, generate new revenue, and include consumer protections such as age verification, deposit limits, self-exclusion, and responsible-gaming tools. The committee also took testimony on H. 4238, which would expand fundraising options for fraternal organizations, especially the Elks. Rep. Bruce Ayers and Elks representatives said the bill would help lodges raise money for scholarships, veterans’ services, and community programs after COVID-related losses and declining membership. On H. 480, Rep. Kathleen LaNatra, Rep. Badger, and representatives of veterans organizations and gaming-machine operators urged allowing qualified veterans groups to participate in certain video gaming activity, saying it would provide a sustainable revenue source to keep posts open and support veterans’ services. Dr. Rachel Volberg testified that expanding gambling, especially online gambling and slot machines at veterans organizations, would likely increase gambling harm, and she urged stronger harm-prevention measures, data reporting, and research funding. Other witnesses, including anti-gambling advocates and industry representatives, sharply disagreed over whether legalization would reduce illegal gambling or worsen addiction and social costs. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, Minnesota, with our six-month head start, has let me see here not a single licensed store.
• And now, before a single license is issued, the tax rate is going to go up 50% because Governor Walz
• One of the more significant ones relates to a provision allowing for the licensing of wholesalers for
• cannabis still being illegal on a federal level, any business that has interaction with a cannabis license
• We added that, and it has the added benefit of driving some licensing revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of them are what you would call sin taxes, maybe tobacco, liquor, cannabis—all of those types of
• course, there's all kinds of policy considerations on these types of taxes, whether it be tobacco, liquor
• All right, next on slide nine, we'll talk about the liquor excise tax, which I know has been a great
• We are imposing the liquor tax at the wholesale distributor level, not at the retail level.
• Unlike the liquor tax, which is imposed at the wholesale level, the cannabis tax is imposed at the retail

Committee: House Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Bear Riddle originally Of Annaarrko and now of Norman, is a citizen of the Kiowa tribe and is a licensed
• These changes are to increase flexibility for retail liquor stores to offer larger sample variety and
• It must be consumed on the licensed premises. With that, I yield for questions.
• Upon the expiration of a medical marijuana business license, the authorities shall provide notice to
• However, in terms of having their license, it just doesn't get enacted.

Bills: SB1238 , SB1277 , SB1304 , SB1378 , SB1423 , SB1484 , SB1501 , SR32 , SB1502 , SB1721 , SB1735 , SB1832 , SB1847 , SB1859 , SB1876 , SB2170 , SB2182

Keywords: domestic abuse, domestic violence, assault and battery, strangulation, intimate partner violence, family or household member, repeat offender, felony enhancement, Class B5 felony, stalking, batterers intervention program, court-ordered treatment, protective order, presence of a child, pregnant victim, great bodily injury, animal cruelty, cockfighting, dogfighting, sex offender registration

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:41:32.200><c> Um</c> liquor store. Um liquor store.
• </c><03:02:00.920><c> store</c> you can go into any local liquor store you can go into any local liquor
• </c><03:02:18.440><c> stores</c> any of that about the liquor stores any of that about the liquor stores
• </c> the liquor stores. We don't hear that. the liquor stores. We don't hear that.
• liquor liquor five<03:03:56.560><c> times</c><03:03:56.840><c> a</c><03:03:56.920><c> week</c><03:03

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• over a dual-licensed counselor because a dual-licensed counselor can bring in Medicaid dollars.
• To seek a license to practice psychology in Massachusetts, the licensing board requires applicants to
• And with the requirement to get a license to— And with the requirement to get a license to sell our own
• program, but no legitimate national or state licensed or licensing organization exists for Reiki.
• But none of them were licensed, nor am I, because no legitimate licensing body exists.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and reviewed a broad agenda including credit card fees, event ticketing, music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, CPA pathways, school mental health licensure, and a bill regulating alternative healing therapies. The chairs explained hearing logistics, including three-minute testimony limits and submission of written testimony, and noted that more than 70 people had signed up to testify. Legislators and advocates were heard out of order throughout the day. A major portion of the hearing focused on credit card surcharge and interchange legislation. Restaurant owners, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, NFIB, and other small-business witnesses supported bills allowing merchants to add convenience fees and, in one proposal, preventing card companies from charging fees on tax and tip portions of transactions. They argued that swipe fees are a major and growing cost, especially for restaurants, and that Massachusetts is one of only two states that bars surcharges. Opponents from the Cooperative Credit Union Association, the Electronic Payment Coalition, and the Electronic Transactions Association warned that the proposals would create compliance burdens, fragment the payment system, raise legal preemption issues, and disrupt a system they described as efficient and secure. The committee also heard competing testimony on ticket transferability and ticket resale. Supporters, including the National Consumers League and Sports Fans Coalition, said bills on ticket transferability would protect consumers who cannot attend events and would increase competition and savings in the secondary market. Opponents, including United Musicians and Allied Workers and theater owners, argued that mandatory transferability would weaken artists’ and venues’ ability to prevent scalping and predatory resale, and that some ticket sellers should be exempt from the broader ticketing regulations. Separate testimony supported music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, and new CPA education pathways, with witnesses saying these measures would expand access to care and strengthen the workforce while maintaining professional standards. The hearing also drew extensive opposition to S.261 on alternative healing therapies, with practitioners and clients arguing it would overregulate spiritual and holistic practices and was not an effective response to human trafficking concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• The licensing board has more resources.
• So there's a separate license from the cosmetology license?
• As she specifically said, the blow-drying license—because it actually is a license, because it actually
• As she specifically said, the blow-drying license—because it actually is a license, because it actually
• I'm a licensed cosmetologist. I'm a licensed cosmetology instructor and a salon owner.

Bills: HB744 , HR197 , SB54 , SB79 , SB163 , SB287 , SB375 , SB386 , SB398 , SB469 , SCR5

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: public utility, common carrier, regulation, Public Service Commission, New Orleans, constitutional amendment, distributed energy, energy storage, electricity demand, virtual power plants, reliability, hurricane resilience, esthetics, cosmetology, hair services, beauty industry, Louisiana regulation, Louisiana Economic Development, sunset law, legislative authority

Transcript Highlights:

• We have no problems with getting the FBI results for individual licenses or the employees of license
• ,</c><00:25:29.800><c> license</c> partnership types of licenses, license partnership types of licenses
• :35.200><c> we</c> For corporate license applicants we For corporate license applicants we listed<00:
• </c> themselves out as security are licensed themselves out as security are licensed and<00:26:53.960
• It allows the hiring and<00:56:01.960><c> licensing</c> and licensing and licensing authority<00:56:04.040

Bills: HF4371 , HF4317 , HF2817 , HF3496 , HF4151 , HF3826 , HF4425 , HF3990

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF4371, Minnesota background checks, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Office of the Legislative Auditor, Legislative Auditor, criminal history records, national criminal history record information, public safety, statutory amendment, section 299C.76, requesting agency, state audit, oversight, background screening, criminal records, county agencies, MNsure, Department of Revenue, Department of Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there are also the bulk of this amendment are modifications to the licensing and registration statute
• </c> the private career school licensing the private career school licensing process.<01:11:43.280><c
• , how that would impact licensed, how that would impact religious<01:25:30.560><c> institutions</c><01
• I oversee<01:26:12.639><c> our</c><01:26:13.040><c> institutional</c><01:26:13.600><c> licensing</c><
• I think it's fewer with regard to 1368.834 on licensed schools.

Bills: HF4362 , HF4252 , HF4440

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun rights, gun control, campus safety, public college, university, postsecondary institution, higher education, visitor carry, concealed carry, open carry, campus policy, Minnesota Statutes 624.714, petty misdemeanor, parking lot carry, firearm possession, public safety, college campus, student carry

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> consequences of removing MDH licenses consequences of removing MDH licenses from<00:16:10.839><c
• </c> licensed for 5 years? It's 200 bucks. licensed for 5 years? It's 200 bucks.
• , licensed, licensed, do<00:41:19.040><c> you</c><00:41:19.160><c> think</c><00:41:19.400><c> those</
• <00:50:34.720><c> fee</c> licensing fee licensing fee administrative<00:50:36.840><c> and</c><00:50:36.960
• </c><00:50:40.880><c> compliance</c> 245D Minnesota licensing compliance 245D Minnesota licensing compliance

Bills: HF4491 , HF4338 , HF4288 , HF4566

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: Medical Assistance, Medicaid, prepayment review, claims review, fee-for-service, provider integrity, high-risk provider, high-risk service, fraud prevention, program integrity, Department of Human Services, CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, health care billing, medical claims, provider enrollment, Indian Health Service, Minnesota Statutes chapter 256B, human services, medical assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, the bill specifies that a physical driver license or nonoperating identification license must
• On a standard driver's license, that's just a regular state-issued license, those are renewed when you
• In terms of the identification needed to obtain the license and then what's printed on the license.
• For driver's license, yes, sir.
• office and you have the option to have a REAL ID-compliant license or a non-REAL ID-compliant license

Bills: HB2056 , HB2057 , HB2224 , HB2257 , HB2265 , HB2311 , HB2352 , HB2367 , HB2369 , HB2446 , HB2532 , HB2592 , HB2752 , HB2809 , HB2957

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: brackish water, groundwater, desalination, water resources, feasibility study, environmental impact, special plates, centennial, Arizona Department of Transportation, vehicle registration, commercial discounts, Arizona Centennial, produce incentive, agriculture, economic support, funding, Arizona, boating, watercraft licensing, law enforcement

Bills: HB4423 , HB3342 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3887 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB2964 , HB3834

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Medicaid, immigration verification, healthcare access, federal reporting, health care providers, auditing, patient rights, claims, protection from fraud, audit process, error correction, hospice care, physician determination, healthcare standards, symptom management, health information exchange, all-payer claims database, health care transparency, health care costs