Transcript Highlights:

• Just within the past year, my second child has developed a food allergy with life-threatening food allergies
• I joined FARE, the Food Allergy Research and Education, established the Greater Kansas City Food Allergy
• Support Group, and helped create the Food Allergy Patient Family Advisory Council at Children's Mercy
• First, in support of the bill.
• Anyone else here in support?

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• That we fully support labeling of all meats.
• In support of. You are up, gentlemen. In support of. You are up, gentlemen.
• Any in support of? In support of. This is my first time doing this as well. Lady, that's all right.
• Any for information purposes only, seeing none, any in support of, in support of. only seeing none any
• in support of in support of.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The committee first took up executive action on Senate Bill 890. Members explained that the House committee substitute combined provisions from related bills, changed the title to accommodate an amendment, and restored language that had been unintentionally repealed in section 217.550. The amendment was adopted, the substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for SB 890 was voted do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 1 no. The committee then heard Senate Bill 945 from Senator Carla May, which would raise the civil filing surcharge in the city of St. Louis from $15 to up to $20 to support the law library and related court services. Senator May and a representative of the Law Library Association of St. Louis testified that the surcharge had not been raised since 1996, that costs had increased, and that the increase would help maintain legal research resources and public access. Questions focused on whether the amount was sufficient and what other funding sources existed; there was no opposition testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 29, which urges Congress to restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork. The sponsor and supporters argued that consumers should know where meat comes from, that independent cattle producers are harmed by consolidation in the packing industry, and that voluntary labeling is inadequate. Opponents from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and Missouri Pork Association argued that mandatory labeling adds regulatory burden, is not supported by consumer purchasing data, and should remain voluntary. The hearing included extensive testimony from cattle producers and consumers, but no vote on HCR 29 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Anyone else here in support of House Bill 1624? Anyone else in support? I apologize, Chairman.
• I think I'm going to vote against the amendment and support the basic concept of food.
• I know sometimes food insecurity is just kind of a hush thing to avoid a lot of food shaming.
• But how much food is wasted? How are the schools reusing the food? Are they packaging it up?
• So reluctantly, I will support this bill. Representative Munson. I will support this bill.

Bills: HB1623

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1624, the “Universal Lunch Bill,” from Rep. Mike Nathie. He argued the proposal should be placed in Century Code rather than the Constitution so future legislatures can adjust it if state finances tighten, and said the bill would start the program a year earlier with a $65 million appropriation for one school year. DPI testified that the estimate did not include nonpublic schools that do not participate, and members questioned the impact on Title I, free-and-reduced applications, private-school accountability, breakfast mandates for schools that do not currently serve breakfast, and whether the funding could come from the DPI budget or other sources. Supporters, including North Dakota United, the North Dakota Catholic Conference, a pediatrician, and the American Heart Association, said universal meals improve student health and learning, reduce family costs, and are better handled in statute than by constitutional amendment. No opposition testimony was offered, and the chair closed the hearing for later work-session action. The committee then took up House Bill 1627, introduced by Rep. Tye Dressler, which would raise the income threshold for the state-funded school lunch program from 225% to 300% of poverty, with an estimated cost of about $7 million for 2026-27. Dressler said the bill is intended as a targeted, budget-friendly alternative to the ballot measure and emphasized that the state should maximize federal meal dollars while improving participation in the current program. Members questioned whether raising the threshold would actually increase utilization, whether a dollar amount would be clearer than a percentage, and how the change would affect federal reimbursements and application rates. DPI said it could quickly calculate additional percentage levels, and the chair closed the hearing, directing DPI to prepare more numbers for the work session. Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 2403, presented by Sen. Schiable, to create a short-term bridge-loan program for financially distressed hospitals, centered on Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin. The bill would authorize up to $5 million per loan, with a $10 million appropriation available on a first-come, first-served basis, and would run only through June 30, 2027. Schiable said the hospital’s debt and operating problems threaten local health care, ambulance service, and the community’s economy, and that the proposal was designed narrowly with Bank of North Dakota review to avoid creating a broad precedent. Committee members asked whether the appropriation could be reduced and whether the bank would still apply commercial feasibility and repayment standards; Schiable said yes, the bank would still evaluate the loan and could reject it if it was not sound.

Transcript Highlights:

• Testifying on the bill, we support it.
• In closing, I ask you to support this bill.
• Representative Harrison: ...that include supporting your food bank? David Stout: Absolutely, yes.
• I'm here in support of Up Together.
• Support that has led to increased housing stability, food security, allowing recipients time to pursue

Bills: HB21 , HB211 , HB223 , HB323 , HB524 , HB530 , HB636 , HB762 , HB21 , HB211 , HB223

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> replace pasas that was once used in food replace pasas that was once used in food packaging packaging
• Thank you. it food um uh safe approved which will it food um uh safe approved which will require<00:13
• We ask for your support of House File 40.
• </c> the business we ask for your supportive the business we ask for your supportive house<01:12:55.400
• </c><01:38:20.639><c> this</c> submitted a letter uh supporting this submitted a letter uh supporting

Bills: HF1621 , HF1701 , HF1796 , HF1676 , HF40 , HF1428 , HF1540

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll be supporting it.
• I'll be supporting it.
• At Amy's, as with all food companies, packaging has to keep food safe for...
• At Amy's, as with all food companies, packaging has to keep food safe first and foremost.
• Aren't they in support? Mr.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• a support position with the committee.
• We support the bill. Thank you. Mr.
• In support. Molly Colton, Sierra Club California, in support. Thank you.
• Medical Association in support.
• I came late for my support.

Summary: The committee heard SB 404 on metal shredding facilities, SB 601 on water quality protections after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, SB 682 on phasing out PFOS in certain consumer products, and later SB 646 on prenatal vitamins and toxic metal contamination. SB 561 had been pulled from the hearing. In each of the measures, the authors and supporters emphasized environmental and public health protections, while opponents raised concerns about overregulation, implementation, and unintended economic impacts. The committee also spent time on the policy details of each bill, including how smaller operators would be treated under SB 404, how “nexus waters” would be defined under SB 601, and whether alternatives and testing standards were adequate under SB 682 and SB 646. For SB 404, Senator Caballero said the bill would create a permitting and enforcement framework for metal shredding facilities, with operational standards for fire prevention, stormwater, and releases of shredder residue, while supporters argued it would bring needed certainty to a critical recycling industry. Opponents, including small recyclers and community/environmental advocates, said the bill was either too broad or not strong enough, with some warning it would burden smaller facilities and others arguing it would fail to protect overburdened communities. The committee approved SB 404 on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations, with recorded support from the chair and some members and opposition from others. SB 601 sought to restore state-level protections for waters that lost federal Clean Water Act coverage after Sackett, using a “nexus waters” framework and revised enforcement provisions after amendments removed the private right of action. Supporters said California needed to preserve protections for seasonal streams and wetlands and avoid backsliding, while opponents from business, agriculture, water districts, and local governments argued the definition remained too broad and could create uncertainty, costs, and unintended consequences. The committee also approved SB 601 on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, again with split votes. SB 682, which the committee also advanced, would phase out intentionally added PFOS in six product categories, including cleaning products, cookware, dental floss, ski wax, food packaging, and juvenile products, with an amendment delaying cookware implementation until 2030. Supporters framed it as a source-control measure to reduce PFAS contamination and lower long-term water treatment costs, while manufacturers and cookware interests argued the bill was overbroad, lacked workable testing standards, and could push consumers and businesses toward uncertain alternatives. The committee chair recommended an aye vote, and the measure passed to Appropriations. SB 646 was then introduced on prenatal vitamins, with supporters saying it would require testing and disclosure of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, while the opposition said disclosure must be handled carefully so as not to confuse consumers or undermine confidence in prenatal supplements.

Transcript Highlights:

• The one important thing about cottage foods that's different than most commercial industry food-related
• Of course, the cottage foods 2005.
• industry fooding uh food uh commercial industry fooding uh food related<00:05:17.680><c> issues</c><
• Related to the food side. Okay.
• </c> moment for cottage food producers? moment for cottage food producers?

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing no other people in support or organizations in support, we'll move on to opposition.
• Okay, is anyone else in support? Okay, is anyone else in support?
• We know these chemicals leach from food packaging into our food, and we know that removing food packaging
• Me-too's in support, please.
• The support has been essential.

Summary: The committee heard AB 1887, which would speed prior authorization for FDA-approved rare disease treatments prescribed by specialists and, if a plan does not act within 30 days, deem the request approved. The author and supporters, including patients and clinicians, said delays can cause irreversible harm, hospitalizations, and death, especially for children and people with progressive rare diseases. Health plans and insurers opposed the bill’s automatic-approval provision and said the measure lacked safeguards for incomplete requests and shared responsibility for timely information. The chair encouraged continued work with opponents, and the author said the bill was narrowed from an earlier version that would have waived prior authorization entirely. The committee also heard AB 1979 on artificial intelligence in health care, AB 2161 on Medi-Cal work requirements, AB 539 on extending approved prior authorizations, AB 2311 on physician employment at public hospital districts, AB 1148 on banning phthalates and bisphenols in food packaging, AB 1825 on mental health offender reentry coordination, and AB 2282 on a temporary emergency stabilization unit in Patterson. AB 1979 would preserve licensed clinicians’ professional judgment, bar AI from directing unlicensed clinical functions, and protect medical records used by consumer chatbots; after amendments, several hospital, medical, and industry groups moved from opposition to neutral. AB 2161 would limit the harm of federal Medi-Cal work-reporting rules by using existing data, improving notices, and protecting due process; it drew broad support from patient, provider, and advocacy groups. AB 539 would keep prior authorization approvals valid for up to one year or the course of treatment, with supporters citing continuity of care and opponents warning about utilization, fraud, and cost concerns. AB 2311, as amended, would let certain high-payer-mix or distressed public health care districts directly employ physicians; CMA withdrew opposition after the bill was narrowed, while some hospital interests still objected to the carve-out. AB 1148 would prohibit two chemicals commonly used in food packaging, with supporters citing cancer and endocrine-disruption risks and opponents arguing DTSC should handle the issue through its existing regulatory process. AB 1825 would improve transition planning and Medi-Cal enrollment for offenders with mental health disorders leaving state hospitals, and AB 2282 would authorize a temporary rural emergency stabilization care unit in Patterson until a permanent hospital is built. Several bills were held for later action because the committee lacked a quorum, and the chair repeatedly noted that motions would be taken once enough members returned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a support, support bill. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
• This bill received support, support. Respectfully, I ask for an aye vote.
• stakeholders' support.
• I rise in support of SB 42.
• So I strongly support and encourage you to support SB 63. Thanks.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long floor session focused largely on concurrence votes on Senate amendments and a few budget-related motions. Early procedural actions included a failed motion to send AB 1207 to the inactive file, approval of motions to take up Senate amendments without reference to file, and recesses for dinner and committee meetings. The chamber also heard several guest introductions and brief ceremonial remarks, including birthday acknowledgments and recognition of interns and visitors. Members then considered and passed a series of measures on topics including armory property transfers (SB 855), data center electricity impacts (SB 57), carbon capture pipeline transport (SB 614), health budget trailer bills (AB 144 and AB 149), and a Black Caucus higher-education bill allowing institutions to consider descendants of enslaved people in admissions (AB 7). The Assembly also concurred in numerous Senate amendments on bills covering community college nursing programs (AB 1400), public health, signage for the Los Angeles Convention Center, gambling, social media warning labels for children, housing plan-check timelines, small business disaster recovery, wildfire mental health services, antitrust enforcement, foster care kinship placements, housing stability, AI cybersecurity, emergency services, and school nutrition standards. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, though a few drew dissenting votes or brief debate over policy details. The most extended debate came on SB 274, which would limit retention of automated license plate reader data to 60 days unless tied to an investigation. Supporters argued it was needed to protect privacy and prevent misuse of sensitive location data, while opponents said it would hinder law enforcement and crime-solving. The transcript cuts off during that debate, so no final vote is shown for SB 274 in the provided text. Earlier and later votes recorded in the session showed broad support for many bills, with several measures passing unanimously and others receiving modest no votes, and some urgency measures being sent immediately to the Governor or the Senate after concurrence.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I would appreciate support. the way that child support uh colas are the way that child support uh
• . support. support.
• </c> support. Chair West. Thank you, Mr. support. Chair West. Thank you, Mr.
• “Families need food, people need food.
• </c> support the amendment. support the amendment.

Bills: HF2436

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Please support this needed legislation today. That is the bill. Are there amendments?
• And I would ask for your favorable support today.
• And I would ask for your favorable support today. Thank you.
• I would love to ask for your favorable support.
• Thank you, and I will ask for your favorable support on this F-tax package today.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guests and groups in the gallery, including students, business groups, and university basketball coaches. The chamber then moved through a long special order calendar, taking up a series of bills on trust law, school district reporting, debt collection, service of process, lodging and food service establishments, lien waivers, public records protections for Crime Stoppers personnel, foreign ownership/health care licensure issues, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving the scene of a crash, background screening for athletic coaches, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. Several bills were temporarily postponed, and multiple House companion bills were substituted where the measures were identical or had only drafting differences. Debate focused on a few measures. Senators questioned the trust code bill’s effect on out-of-state attorneys general; the school reporting bill was described as strengthening arrest and misconduct reporting for instructional personnel; and the service-of-process and lodging bills were presented as technical and consumer-protection fixes. The fentanyl testing bill drew emotional support from the sponsor and families affected by overdose deaths. The surrendered-infant bill prompted opposition over safety, anonymity, and the limited use of baby boxes, while supporters argued it could save lives. The affordable housing bill, updating the Live Local Act, was amended to adjust parking reductions and allow certain properties to use the administrative approval process, with additional limits and exclusions added. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, including the trust code bill, school reporting, debt collection, service of process, lien waivers, public records, foreign-country business interest restrictions, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving-the-scene restitution, athletic coach background screening, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. The day’s most divided vote was on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, which drew extended debate over fluoride policy and other provisions; it passed 27-9. At the end of the session, the Senate agreed to immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House, recognized a Taiwan-related resolution for the journal, made additional announcements, and adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to support, and support and resources from Sacramento must happen.
• Agriculture supports thousands of jobs from transportation and food processing to research and technology
• We must continue to support policies that support our number one industry so that the future of farming
• We support Ag Day and HR 19, thank you so much.
• And puts food on the table for millions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:57.799><c> even</c><00:01:58.119><c> from</c> has broad support even from has broad support
• </c> would allow us to provide better support would allow us to provide better support to<00:08:36.440
• We too lend our support to this bill.
• We too lend our support to this bill.
• Representative Jones said he met with a local food shelf on Hunger Day at the Capitol, and that the food

Summary: House File 771, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion. The bill would create a state supplemental grant program to build on LIHEAP, with the goal of expanding energy assistance beyond the winter season to cover summer cooling needs and reduce utility shutoffs. Representative Craft said the proposal would use existing LIHEAP systems, help more eligible households, and support related services like weatherization. The committee adopted the author’s amendment, DE2, without objection. Supporters testified that energy costs remain unaffordable for many Minnesotans, especially in rural areas and among low-income households, seniors, and people using delivered fuels. Annie Levenson-Faulk of the Citizens Utility Board said only about a quarter of eligible households receive assistance, summer shutoffs are common, and cooling needs have grown significantly. Trisha Leite of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, Amanda Macky of Minnesota Valley Action Council, and Ken Schum of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association all supported the bill, saying year-round assistance would help households, reduce disconnects, stabilize demand for aid, and ease pressure on utility rates. Michael Schmitz of the Department of Commerce said Minnesota has received about $112 million in LIHEAP funds so far this year and is awaiting additional federal money; he also noted recent funding has been lower than in prior years and inflation has reduced its value. Members discussed the scale of utility shutoffs, the increase in cooling demand, and whether the bill addresses root causes or serves as a temporary fix. Representative Weiner argued that the state should focus on keeping more money in taxpayers’ pockets and reducing the need for subsidies, while Representative Craft responded that the underlying issue is low incomes and widening wealth inequality, and that policies like the child tax credit are better ways to address poverty. The chair also asked how LIHEAP dollars flow, and Commerce said most benefits are paid directly to utilities on behalf of households rather than as direct cash payments to recipients.

Transcript Highlights:

• :14:52.320><c> delivery</c><00:14:52.639><c> support</c> is actually the food delivery support is actually
• Uh, the 1% that's for food delivery support, can you explain a little bit more about food delivery support
• Uh the 1% that's for food question. Uh the 1% that's for food delivery<00:15:57.680><c> support.
• </c> to actually help people that needed food to actually help people that needed food support<00:17:
• support, but don't quote um elderly food support, but don't quote me<00:17:26.720><c> and</c><00:17:26.959

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you supportive of the bills? Are you supportive of all the bills?
• We support a loan.
• We support the bill on behalf of one of our affiliated unions, the United Food and Commercial Workers
• We support the bill, and we respectfully ask for your support. Thank you.
• quality of food they need.

Committee: Senate Senate Budget and Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Bank Emergency Support Act, which will protect our nation's food banks from future lapses in government
• Food Bank Emergency<02:17:54.479><c> Support</c><02:17:54.880><c> Act,</c><02:17:55.519><c> which</c
• </c> rise today in strong support. rise today in strong support.
• We must support Main Street.
• We must support Main Street.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so we support the bill.
• We support food pantries in expanding nutritious food options, too.
• food insecurity.
• In 2025, the New Hampshire Food Bank distributed more than 20 million pounds of food.
• sp pounds of food.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:36.200><c> of</c><00:10:36.280><c> the</c> in support of this, in support of the in support
• Child support. That's the What's that? Child support.
• In my communities, there's food banks. Once a week, there's all the food there.
• </c> In my communities, there's food banks. In my communities, there's food banks.
• </c> 101, Administration and Support. 101, Administration and Support.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• And this Autism Support Program provides intensive support services from academics to services related
• In terms of students, since 2012, 70 students have been supported by the Autism Support Program.
• In terms of students, since 2012, 70 students have been supported by autism support program.
• So they are taking Food One and Food Two and artisan breads and all of the other wonderful classes.
• more support around that.

Committee: All TASK FORCE ON AUTISM

Summary: The committee heard presentations on three Arkansas programs serving students and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. University of Arkansas representatives described the Empower Program, a non-degree, four-year inclusive postsecondary program for young adults with mild intellectual disabilities, and the Autism Support Program, which provides intensive academic, peer, and career coaching for degree-seeking students with autism. They explained the programs’ person-centered planning, residential and employment supports, fee structure of $5,000 per semester for each program, and scholarship/fundraising efforts to offset costs. Members asked about dorm arrangements, mentoring, individualized plans, and how students move in and out of support services, and the presenters emphasized independence, integrated campus life, and transition planning. Pulaski Technical College staff then presented the 3D program, a three-year transition program in culinary, baking, and hospitality for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They outlined integrated classes, internships, job placement outcomes, and data showing strong completion and employment retention rates. Questions focused on how success is measured, tuition and financial aid, and the challenge of securing community partners for practicum and employment sites. The presenters said the program uses rubrics that include technical and professional skills, charges $5,700 per semester, and is pursuing accreditation through the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council. The final presentation was from SLS Community, a Fayetteville nonprofit serving neurodivergent adults through residential supports, supported employment, and community initiatives. Leaders described their vision for a future mixed-use “live-work-play” development at Cato Springs, current residential and vocational services, and community events such as a 5K and a neurodiversity health care conference. Family members testified about the need for adult services, trained direct support professionals, and better reimbursement and behavioral health supports after age 21. No formal votes were taken beyond approving the prior meeting minutes, and members also announced upcoming autism-related events and requested future discussion on task force appointments and ABA-related issues.