Video & Transcript Research : 'weight limitations'
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MN
Transcript Highlights:
- net income, similar to the TCJA limitation.
- corporate net operating loss limitation corporate net operating loss limitation or<01:28:07.920>
- <01:28:30.080>
and The federal interest expense limitation, and federal interest expense limitation - <01:32:05.719>
when Minnesota's contribution limitation when Minnesota's contribution limitation - <01:32:08.000>
will the tcja expires the limitation will the tcja expires the limitation will
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (01/30/2026)
Education Policy and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- <04:08:18.720>
lists <04:08:18.960>or listed on on those weight lists or listed on - So, we currently uh, use a weighted average for cooperative school districts.
- And so we use a weighted average of all the districts that attend a cooperative district.
- >
cooperative <04:09:27.040>school weighted average for cooperative school weighted average - <04:09:39.760>
average two and then we we do a weighted average two and then we we do a weighted
Summary:
The committee first heard HB 1334, which would remove the Education Freedom Account scholarship organization’s authority to approve “any other educational expense” under the EFA statute. The prime sponsor, Representative Porchelli, said the bill would narrow the law to the specifically listed qualifying expenses, avoid broad interpretation, and shift any questions to the Department of Education or the legislative oversight committee. In response to questions, she said she did not think the open-ended category had been needed and that the statute already clearly lists allowable expenses. A representative of the Children’s Scholarship Fund testified in opposition, saying the category is used rarely but is important for unusual cases, especially students with special needs, and that removing it could create unintended consequences. After testimony, the chair closed the hearing on HB 1334.
The committee then heard HB 1513, which would move several EFA reporting and oversight requirements from administrative rules and the contract with the Children’s Scholarship Fund into statute. Representative Porchelli said the bill would consolidate existing requirements on timely responses to oversight requests, publication of expense reports by category and provider, and transmission of eligibility and enrollment data to the Department of Education. She described the bill as mostly a clarification and transparency measure rather than a substantive policy change. Members asked about the meaning of “timely access,” the 45-day deadline, whether the contract already covered these duties, and whether the scholarship organization had ever failed to comply. The Children’s Scholarship Fund said it had generally met the 45-day deadline, had not knowingly refused information requests, and that the quarterly reporting requirement could add cost; the sponsor said the DOE had provided guidance and was neutral. The hearing on HB 1513 was then closed.
Finally, the committee heard HB 1256, which would repeal the state librarian’s authority to award scholarships for graduate library school attendance at American Library Association-accredited schools. Representative Drago said the law was unnecessary because the state does not currently have a state librarian, scholarships are not typically granted by statute, and he objected to the ALA accreditation requirement and what he described as the association’s political advocacy. In questions, he clarified that the bill targets the accreditation requirement rather than a specific school and said he did not think the state should direct taxpayer-funded scholarships toward ALA-accredited programs. A member raised First Amendment concerns, but the sponsor said the issue was not speech itself, only the use of taxpayer dollars and state law to support that direction. The transcript cuts off before any vote or final action on HB 1256.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 4/9/25
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- 00:04:13.040>
have <00:04:13.680>uh <00:04:13.920>increased <00:04:14.319>weight - <00:04:15.040>
I <00:04:15.200>I will have uh increased weight times. - I I will have uh increased weight times.
- <00:09:48.640>
At <00:09:48.880>that human health limits for nitrate. - At that human health limits for nitrate.
Bills:
HF2446
Keywords:
agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Sleep, water, food, weight training, social fitness. Okay.
- Maybe they have a track phone, and maybe it's got limited minutes.
- Transformation is a big word and it carries a lot of weight.
- For some patients, transportation is limited.
- The limitation that we have is clinical placements.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Press Conference: TEA Audit Mar 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- we have improved student outcomes, and educators are overwhelmed by excessive caseloads with the limiting
- The reality of the underfunding is that we cannot keep asking families and educators to carry the weight
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- limitations become exactly that? limitations become exactly that?
- Physical limitations should not be a barrier to participation, members.
- Physical limitations should not hunters.
- are not limiting constituents from using the kiosk for other ATM procedures.
- are not limiting constituents from using the kiosk for other ATM procedures.
Summary:
The Senate opened with a prayer, pledge, and roll call, confirmed a quorum, and then moved through routine business including first reading and referral of Senate File 5019 to the Health and Human Services Committee, along with referral of Senate resolutions 73 to 75 to Rules and Administration. Senator Westrom’s motion to withdraw Senate File 3893 from Finance, give it a second reading, and place it on general orders was adopted.
The chamber then took up House File 3556, which renames Minnesota’s Community Solar Garden Program as the Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program. Senator Hoffman presented the bill as a tribute to Speaker Melissa Hortman’s role in creating and advancing community solar in Minnesota, with Senator Marty and others supporting the recognition. The bill was read a third time and passed on final passage by a vote of 59-7, with the title agreed to.
Senate File 1251 followed, a bipartisan bill to remove the June 2026 sunset on crossbow use during archery season and make the allowance permanent. Senator Pa and supporters cited a DNR study showing no negative impact on deer or turkey populations and argued the change would improve participation among women, youth, and older hunters. An A3 technical amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 67-0.
The Senate then considered Senate File 3868, a bill to ban cryptocurrency kiosks in Minnesota due to fraud concerns. The author and supporters described widespread scams targeting seniors and others, citing losses in Minnesota and national fraud data. An A2 amendment requiring lawful-presence verification for foreign remittance transfers was ruled not germane, and the chair’s ruling was upheld on a 34-33 appeal. Debate then began on an A3 amendment related to cash transfers through airports, with members arguing over germaneness and the scope of the fraud-prevention bill.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Agriculture Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am
Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries
Transcript Highlights:
- Please note that testimony will be limited to three minutes per individual and seven minutes per panel
- registered to testify both remotely and in person, so we ask that you do keep to that three-minute limit
- So we ask that you do keep to that three-minute limit, or we'll have to turn on the alarm.
- We are heavily weighted to the west on this side of the table.
- The cost for our senior citizens and all the people, they always have to get a limit for the purchase
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Agriculture opened its first hearing by outlining procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, written testimony options, and the plan to hear 27 bills in docket order. The committee then took testimony on H.11/S.53, a resolve promoting equity in agriculture, with advocates from the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, Southeastern Mass Agricultural Partnership, and urban farming organizations describing racial and economic disparities in farming, lack of data on BIPOC farmers, barriers to land and capital, and the need for a commission to collect information and recommend policy changes. Committee members asked questions about the importance of data collection and future policy development, and the bill was repeatedly urged to be reported favorably out of committee.
Testimony also supported H.118, which would create a special commission to examine the strengths and sustainability of the Commonwealth’s emergency food network. The Amherst Survival Center described serving 1.6 million meals last year and explained that food pantries are now functioning as essential parts of the state’s food system while relying heavily on donations, volunteers, and unstable funding. Members discussed the need for a more holistic look at food security infrastructure. The committee then heard H.119/S.60 on climate change impacts on farms and fisheries, with regional planners and farm advocates describing flood damage, rising costs, canceled federal climate-smart funding, and the need for direct state support for adaptation, resilience, and infrastructure improvements.
The committee also heard testimony on H.125/H.142/S.65, a healthy soils bill, from landscape professionals who said construction sites often leave poor or stripped soil and that the bill would require better post-construction soil standards to support healthier landscapes and reduce long-term maintenance and environmental problems. Finally, the committee took extensive testimony on H.127, which would prohibit aquaculture of octopus for human consumption. Supporters, including legislators, scientists, veterinarians, students, and animal welfare advocates, argued octopus are highly intelligent and sentient, cannot be farmed humanely, and that octopus aquaculture would create environmental harms such as waste runoff, pressure on wild fish stocks, and ecosystem disruption. No votes were taken during the hearing; the bills were heard and testimony was received.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Texas already has limited interconnections.
- These agencies developed an MOU that would allow them to work together to limit fire risk by... shutting
- Like the weight of the wires and telecom devices, do they have an impact?
- Liability limitations occur to utilities or these oil operators.
- Solidating systems that limited and restrictive siri funds have not been able to fully support We're
Keywords:
emergency communication, infrastructure, first responders, grant program, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, local governments, HB 143, Texas Railroad Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas, well site, surface facility, electrical power line, National Electrical Code, NEC, electrical safety, utility disconnect, service disconnection
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- and we are happy to follow in the footsteps of many states that have seen positive outcomes from limiting
- control for principals, school districts, schools to define educational purposes and to provide age limit
- on SB 73 so we can start taking steps to a safer New Mexico, so that others don't have to bear the weight
- I do, and other drivers don't also have to carry the weight of taking a life.
- Federal law emphasizes the importance of limiting educational disruption by keeping students in foster
Keywords:
student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, driver education, driver's ed, driving school, motorcycle safety, traffic safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, cyclist, bike lane, micromobility, scooter, moped, motorcycle training, DWI prevention
OR
Oregon 2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee On Information Management and Technology 06/17/2026 8:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- This idea, called data minimization, limits collection and sharing of your data to what is necessary
- A more limited approach would limit collection to what is necessary, helping to turn off the spigot of
- This idea, called data minimization, limits collection and sharing of your data to what is necessary
- A more limited approach would limit collection to what is necessary, helping to turn off the spigot of
- And Senate Bill 1587 put some regulation limitation around that sale regarding data that could be used
Summary:
The committee held a series of informational briefings on information management and technology issues. It first heard from ACLU representatives on data privacy, who argued that Oregon should strengthen protections against private data brokers, government purchases of personal data, reverse warrants, automatic license plate readers, and local police surveillance. They urged data minimization, limits on data sales and retention, and broader transparency and accountability measures. Members asked about practical uses of license plate readers, state sales of data, and how Oregon’s approach compares with other states; the presenters said similar proposals have been adopted elsewhere, including data minimization in Maryland and a state version of the Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act in Montana.
The committee then received a detailed update from the Department of Administrative Services and Enterprise Information Services on licensing system modernization for 14 boards and commissions with the most immediate need. DAS said it is seeking a shared procurement approach through an RFP that would create either one scalable system or two tiers of systems, depending on agency needs and security requirements, with contracts expected by September. Committee members emphasized the need for a more unified, user-friendly statewide login and service experience for businesses and residents, and raised concerns about small agencies “figuring it out on their own” without sufficient cybersecurity or technical expertise. EIS said it is overseeing the investment review, security and architecture review, and future implementation planning, and noted that multiple agency requests may still come back to the legislature in the next session.
The committee also discussed a revised cybersecurity incident notification concept. Staff explained that the earlier bill had raised stakeholder concerns, so the co-chairs directed further interim work with the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council and other local government and K-12 stakeholders. The goal is a narrower, voluntary “911-style” notification process that would let public bodies alert peers and potentially receive assistance after cyber incidents; a temporary voluntary process is being tested now, with a work group developing language for possible 2027 consideration.
Finally, the committee heard updates from the new state chief data officer on data governance, data sharing, geospatial work, and the state transparency website, followed by a briefing on data centers from NCSL and the Technology Association of Oregon. The data officer described efforts to expand data inventories, data governance plans, data literacy, and interagency sharing, along with statewide aerial imagery, geospatial standards, and the open data portal. The data center discussion focused on national and state trends, including rapid growth in data centers, rising electricity and water demand, and legislative responses such as new rate classes, reporting requirements, and cost-allocation rules to protect ratepayers. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (03/10/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- We see that these, you know, people say, ah, finding section, that doesn't carry the weight of law, you
- of law you know it's okay it's weight of law you know it's okay it's just<01:28:03.280>
sort < - There are limited players. Individual customers have limited choices.
- limited limited choices<05:04:42.718>
they <05:04:42.878>also <05:04:43.120>have - ><05:04:43.280>
limited <05:04:43.680>knowledge Choices they also have limited knowledge
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 3/12/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:40:23.000>
Approximately <00:40:24.000>with um our limited space. - Approximately with um our limited space.
- Uh they beat<01:08:07.680>
us <01:08:07.839>in <01:08:08.079>weight <01:08:08.400 - <01:10:04.880>
amount <01:10:05.040>of because there's a limited amount of because - <01:32:21.440>
factors so one of the kind of limiting factors so one of the kind of limiting
Keywords:
child care, day care, child care center, licensing, license requirements, parent access, guardian access, custody order, court order, furnishings, equipment standards, learning materials, early childhood education, infant care, toddler care, preschool, school-age child care, play materials, sensory materials, gross motor equipment
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- If your oral testimony is different from your written testimony, the time limit for each testifier will
- Um you know we register by weight<00:11:12.079>
instead <00:11:12.480>of <00:11:13.360>< - <00:11:14.399>
Like weight instead of blue book value. - Like weight instead of blue book value.
- of technical difficulties, we will post a notice as to when we will reconvene, and we are going to limit
Summary:
The joint hearing covered SB 2120, which would allow certain state and county employees rehired within one year to transfer accrued vacation and sick leave and extend the break-in-service period for health benefits. Testimony was split: the Department of Human Resources explained current leave payout and pension credit rules and raised concerns about the long transfer window, while labor representatives supported the measure. During decision-making, both committees recommended passage with amendments. The amendments narrowed the bill by changing the break-in-service period to 180 days for leave beginning on or after July 1, 2026, making the benefit transfer voluntary with a 90-day notice deadline, and changing the effective date to January 1, 2077. The recommendations were adopted by vote.
The committees also heard SB 2523, an appropriation for the City and County of Honolulu Department of Information Technology to modernize the driver’s license and motor vehicle system. DIT described the current COBOL-based mainframe as decades old, said the project would use a code-share arrangement with Arizona, and estimated a $10 million, two-year conversion and rollout. Members questioned the cost, the city-state funding arrangement, and the feasibility of the project, including whether it would move to a cloud-based system. After testimony, both committees deferred the measure.
In the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs portion, SB 2032 on consumer protection for solar sales drew broad support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, the Office of Consumer Protection, the Hawaii Solar Energy Association, and others. Testifiers said the bill was needed in response to misleading solar door-to-door sales and urged amendments to clarify “contractual affiliation,” exclude balcony/portable solar devices, and require disclosure of cash and financed prices. The committee then moved on to SB 2079 on vehicle titles, which had one supporter and one opponent but no testimony in person or online, and SB 2241 on zero-emission vehicles, for which the Hawaii State Energy Office submitted written support. The hearing also began discussion of SB 2579 on water-related grants, where agencies said any program would need clearer statutory standards and likely a feasibility study before implementation.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/13/25
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- The park should be pulling more of its weight in providing these. And so park staff provide a lot.
- The park should be pulling more of its weight in providing these. And so park staff provide a lot.
- The park should be pulling more of its weight in providing these. And so park staff provide a lot.
- The park should be pulling more of its weight in providing these. And so park staff provide a lot.
- considering a one-gallon bag limit from news articles.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
REVENUE & TAXATION- HOUSE May 4th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- “Okay, so the motion is you're going to limit debate to each witness to five minutes each.”
- We're already seeing rural hospitals close departments and limit services.
- This is before the full weight of federal SNAP funding cuts fall squarely on the shoulders of the states
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 1001, sponsored by Representative Les Eaves, which would lower the Arkansas personal income tax rate to 3.7% retroactive to the current year and reduce the corporate income tax rate to 4.1% beginning in 2027. Eaves argued the bill continues a decade-long strategy of broad-based tax relief, saying it would help working families, keep Arkansas competitive, and reduce future surpluses rather than cut services. He said the personal rate change would affect income above $26,400 for taxpayers in the lower table and that the average taxpayer could see roughly $800 to $1,000 in annual savings from recent tax cuts overall.
Several opponents testified that the state cannot afford additional tax cuts given existing needs. Arkansas Appleseed, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a pastor, a nonprofit worker, and a parent of an adult with disabilities all argued that Arkansas should prioritize funding for public schools, early childhood education, health care, rural hospitals, food assistance, and supported living services. They said the state faces high food insecurity, underfunded education, and growing demands on the budget from federal changes and state programs such as Education Freedom Accounts, and that the tax cut would disproportionately benefit higher earners while providing little relief to most families.
In closing, Eaves and Rep. Ray defended the bill as part of a broader pro-growth tax policy, saying the legislature has continued to fund major priorities while also returning money to taxpayers. Ray said the state should not wait to help taxpayers until every social problem is solved and argued the cumulative tax savings have benefited working families. The committee then adopted a motion to pass HB 1001, and the bill passed by voice vote before adjournment.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 29, 2026 - 09:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- How would it be weighted out to be able to use my gold? You recognized? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
- process, to listen to the families, listen to the folks that have to live through this statutorily limited
- For medically complex individuals, care is not limited to appointments or occasional treatments.
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and heard four bills. HB 1311, relating to legal tender, ratified DFS/OFR rules to implement last year’s gold-and-silver legal tender law, repealed a prior repeal provision, and clarified the definition of custodian for electronically transferable gold and silver. The sponsor said the bill was a technical follow-up to ensure the law could take effect; members asked about the need for the bill, consumer awareness, and banking industry input. A technical amendment was adopted, and the bill passed favorably.
HB 1343 would create an optional high school elective on property and casualty insurance that could satisfy pre-licensure education for a 440 insurance license after graduation. The sponsor said it would help students enter the insurance workforce or gain consumer literacy. An amendment directing DOE and DFS to develop the curriculum was adopted. Testimony from insurance groups and others supported the bill, and members spoke in favor of the workforce benefits. The bill passed favorably.
HB 1291 addressed the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA), aiming to strengthen its long-term solvency by creating clearer triggers for funding remedies and expanding covered services. Public testimony focused heavily on families affected by birth injuries, with a parent and NICA board member describing the lifelong care needs of medically fragile children and the importance of stable funding. Members expressed sympathy and support, and the sponsor said the bill increases access to reserve funds, authorizes casualty insurer assessments, and preserves benefits. The bill passed favorably.
HB 271 would cap bail bond rates at 6.5 percent for foreign and alien bail bond insurers as well as domestic insurers, to create a more even competitive and tax treatment across carriers. The sponsor explained that out-of-state corporations had an advantage under current reporting and premium rules. There was no public testimony or debate, and the bill passed favorably. The committee then adjourned.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- And to put that in context, this is well below the legal limit to drive, which is what we typically think
- c><00:15:16.839>
below <00:15:17.120>the <00:15:17.320>legal <00:15:17.640>limit - <00:15:17.880>
to this is well below the legal limit to this is well below the legal limit - representative government and gives the appearance of that, but in reality their voice carries no weight
- , weight, weight, then<00:59:35.560>
I <00:59:35.640>would <00:59:36.200>I <00:59
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board (10-22-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- decision to either extremely limit decision to either extremely limit access<00:18:59.600>
or - <00:25:15.120>
chart or even if you look at the limited chart or even if you look at the limited - So we didn't hit that limit.
- we didn't hit that limit. we didn't hit that limit.
- did this audit, um, weren't we limited did this audit, um, weren't we limited in<01:28:58.159>
Summary:
The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board meeting began with a roll call and approval of the October 7 meeting minutes. The chair then reordered the agenda to hear the item on Medicaid reimbursement rates and network adequacy first because of scheduling issues. Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association was sworn in and testified at length about Kentucky’s dental Medicaid program, arguing that reimbursement rates are unsustainably low, have been largely flat for decades, and are often below the cost of providing care. He said Kentucky ranks near the bottom nationally in oral health, dental Medicaid rates are often 60% or less of commercial rates, and the program’s share of the Medicaid budget has effectively remained around 2% despite growth in enrollment and services.
Dr. Robertson said the low rates are contributing to provider losses, rural access gaps, longer wait times, dental deserts, and greater use of emergency rooms for preventable dental problems. He cited examples of office costs exceeding reimbursement for basic procedures, noted that many dentists are small private businesses, and said the state is struggling to recruit and retain dentists because of low payment levels and high student debt. He also pointed to disparities with neighboring states and said recent increases in some oral surgery and cleaning codes were not enough to address the broader problem. His recommendations included completing the rebasing study, increasing dental reimbursement in the upcoming budget, tying future reviews to inflation and cost data, aligning benchmarks, and prioritizing preventive and restorative care to improve workforce stability and access.
Board members asked about the size of the needed increase, the effect of private insurance on dental practice finances, and what a new dentist might expect to earn. Dr. Robertson said the association is working on an appropriations request and that private insurance pressures are part of the problem as well, since many plans are HMOs or PPOs with limited provider control over rates. He also said the association can no longer conduct reimbursement surveys because of FTC restrictions, but would try to obtain current ADA data. In response to questions about the future of the program, he warned that without significant changes it could become unsustainable and cited Ohio and Missouri as examples where higher reimbursement improved provider participation and access.
The board then heard from Mr. Bowman of Baldwin Consulting, who discussed outpatient behavioral health providers, including ABA therapy and mental health/substance use disorder services. He said these providers face similar issues of rising costs, flat reimbursement, and access problems. He reviewed Kentucky’s network adequacy standards, including travel-time standards, 30-day appointment limits, and newer federal requirements that will require services within 10 business days by 2029. He said wait times for outpatient behavioral health, especially children’s services and ABA, have grown substantially, sometimes to more than a year, and emphasized that the Medicaid department must enforce these standards.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Human services panel considers HF1005 3/4/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- On average, we operate these vital services at a loss, severely limiting our ability to recruit and retain
- developmental supports that helped her stabilize and start to thrive in Head Start and at home. limiting
- our ability to recruit and limiting our ability to recruit and retain<00:17:58.320>
staff <00: - :18:03.400>
contributes <00:18:03.880>to <00:18:04.080>Long <00:18:04.400>weight - families this contributes to Long weight families this contributes to Long weight list<00:18:05.360
Summary:
House File 105 was presented by Representatives Beerman and Baker and then laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill. The bill would implement the remaining mental health and physician service recommendations from DHS’s rate study, including raising certain Medicaid reimbursement rates to at least 100% of Medicare where a Medicare equivalent exists, increasing community-based children’s and adult mental health rates and behavioral health home rates, and phasing in additional increases over three years. The authors said the proposal also addresses master’s-level clinician reimbursement and fee-for-service hospital inpatient mental health services, and they emphasized that the changes are intended to improve access, transparency, and provider stability.
Both authors argued that low MA reimbursement rates are driving access problems across Minnesota, especially for children, families, and rural communities. They said providers are struggling to hire and retain staff, clinics are closing or shrinking, and patients are facing long waits, boarding in hospitals, or delayed care. Representative Baker said the issue is personal and described the bill as a phased, long-term approach because of state budget limits and the size of the cost, which he said is in the hundreds of millions but still awaiting a fiscal note.
Public testimony was strongly supportive overall. A family physician said higher rates would improve access, keep clinics open, and help patients avoid emergency care, while a Children’s Minnesota mental health leader described more than 1,200 pediatric boarding episodes in 2024 and said outpatient investment is needed to reduce pressure on emergency and inpatient services. A rural provider said her organization had to close an in-home children’s mental health program because of insufficient reimbursement, harming access in underserved counties. A psychologist testifying for the Minnesota Psychological Association supported the bill’s general direction but objected to repealing the pay differential for doctoral-level psychologists, arguing that doctoral training is more extensive and that eliminating the differential could worsen workforce shortages. After testimony and member questions about the bill’s scope and cost, public testimony was closed and the bill was laid over.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-06-16 (7:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The amendment removes the three-year limitation on withdrawals and allows the Legislature to withdraw
- The amendment removes the three-year limitation on withdrawals and allows the Legislature to withdraw
- Importantly, this budget limits growth in recurring spending.
- Representative Campbell, one, you're limiting me by referencing DCF specifically, because we also have
- Representative Campbell, one, you're limiting me by referencing DCF specifically, because we also have
Summary:
The House met on the final day of session, swore in Representatives Boyles and Hodgers, and observed a moment of silence for the Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as for Representative Rosenwald’s father. The chamber then moved into final budget work, with leaders outlining the plan to take up H.J.R. 5019, HB 7031, HB 5017, HB 5015, and then the general appropriations act once the Senate transmitted it. H.J.R. 5019, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand the budget stabilization fund, was explained and amended to raise the rainy day fund cap, require annual deposits, and allow withdrawals for critical state needs by a two-thirds vote; it passed 100-1.
The House then adopted the conference report on HB 7031, the tax package. The bill repeals the business rent tax and aviation fuel tax, delays the natural gas fuel tax, creates or expands several sales tax holidays and exemptions, including permanent exemptions for disaster-preparedness items, hunting/fishing/camping items, and ammunition and firearms-related purchases, and makes changes to property, corporate income, local tax, and economic development provisions. Members debated the removal of recurring housing trust fund and transit-related revenue streams, the new ammunition exemption, and the data center tax changes; supporters argued the package reduces taxes and preserves annual budget flexibility, while opponents raised concerns about housing, transportation, and gun violence. The conference report passed 93-7.
HB 5017, creating a debt reduction program funded by a recurring transfer to retire state bonds early, passed unanimously. HB 5015, the state group insurance conforming bill, which directs DMS to develop a formulary management plan and codifies the administrative health insurance assessment, also passed. The House then began explanation and questions on the fiscal year 2025-26 general appropriations act, described as a $115.1 billion budget that is down $3.8 billion from the current year and includes more than $12 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs summarized major spending areas, including pre-K-12 funding increases, health care funding for Medicaid, KidCare, nursing homes, opioid treatment, and mental health, transportation and economic development funding, environmental and water projects, higher education, state administration, justice, and information technology. Questions focused on school vouchers, inflationary pressures on school districts, and the adequacy of funding for housing, transportation, and other priorities.