Transcript Highlights:

• Those are things that we need in technology.
• kids and their use of technology.
• Promoting the general welfare of its citizens.
• And like you said, the technology.
• Under the bill, the Attorney General...

Bills: SB30, SB517, SB1313, SB1314, SB1316, SB1541, SB1698, SB1845, SB1860, SB2420, SB2429, SB 30

Keywords: gambling, criminal offenses, penalties, defense, electronic devices, tobacco advertising, youth protection, public health, criminal offense, retailer regulation, e-cigarettes, nicotine products, health, public safety, regulation, advertising restrictions, health and safety, elections, election audit, county elections

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's the next slide.
• The next slide is a view It won't go stuck. The next slide, which you can't see, is in your packet.
• Go to the next one. The next slide is on our FTEs. We were budgeted for about 1,000 FTEs.
• The next item is $821,000 for increased costs to operate Microsoft Office 365, our primary technology
• to OMES in general. It will be very beneficial.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:50.000> are<00:15:50.160> generally<00:15:50.480> in to generally say
• we are generally in to generally say we are generally in support<00:15:50.880> of<00:15:51.120
• If not, we'll move on to the next bill. If not, we'll move on to the next bill.
• technologies could help reduce the cost. technologies could help reduce the cost.
• technologies that would reduce the cost. technologies that would reduce the cost.

Bills: HB644, HB1802, HB1569, HB1619, HB1620, HB1730, HB1749

Keywords: PFAS, single-use plastics, environmental health, food ware, pollution reduction, HB1802, conservation banking, conservation bank, mitigation banking, compensatory mitigation, incidental take permit, incidental take license, habitat conservation plan, HCP, DLNR, BLNR, Board of Land and Natural Resources, endangered species recovery committee, threatened species, endangered species

Summary: The committee heard several environmental and energy bills, beginning with HB 644 on single-use plastics. DLNR and DOH supported the measure, and environmental advocates said it would reduce plastic waste in oceans and landfills. Testifiers urged the bill to avoid weakening existing county ordinances, and some supported delaying implementation to use up inventory, while Upstream opposed compostable-plastic exemptions and urged prompt passage. Committee members asked whether reusable and refillable foodware could be added to the PFAS prohibition, and Upstream said that would be consistent with the bill’s goals. The committee then took up HB 1802 on conservation mitigation banks, HB 1569 on microfiber filters for newly manufactured washing machines, and HB 1619 on electric vehicle infrastructure. HB 1802 drew mostly agency testimony from DLNR, with opposition testimony noted from environmental groups, and members discussed whether suggested amendments would address concerns. HB 1569 received limited testimony, with support from the Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and opposition from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. HB 1619 was supported by the PUC, Hawaiian Electric, the Department of Transportation, and several advocacy groups; Earthjustice said the bill was needed to address a widening EV charging shortfall and described the funding increase as relatively small compared with the benefits. The committee also heard HB 1620, which would increase the barrel tax to fund the EV charging rebate program. The State Energy Office and PUC offered comments, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed the special-fund approach and said the bill should also address the non-petroleum fossil-fuel portion of the barrel tax. Earthjustice and youth transportation advocates supported the measure, and the chair asked for information on unused hydrogen fueling subaccount funds; PUC said no hydrogen program funds had been deployed and estimated the balance was likely around $2 million, with exact figures to be provided later. Finally, the committee heard HB 1730 on wastewater systems, which would create a wastewater technical advisory group and fund positions at DOH. DLNR, DOH, OPSD, UH, and several environmental groups supported the bill, emphasizing cesspool pollution, affordability, and the need for more staffing and technical assistance. Testifiers suggested amendments to create a separate cesspool conversion implementation working group and debated the size and composition of the advisory group, including whether to include outside engineers and whether SHIP should be on the panel. No votes were taken during the hearing segment provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next bill, please.
• Next bill, please.
• Next bill, please.
• Next bill, please.
• Appropriations, transportation, technology. HB 2228, elder abuse registry, Attorney General.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next bill on the calendar for the day is House File 1606.
• Many companies who are in control of AI generative technology have already restricted this feature from
• . technology. technology.
• <00:05:23.080> technology<00:05:24.120> have<00:05:24.360> already generative technology
• have already generative technology have already restricted<00:05:25.360> this<00:05:25.520>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 1606, as amended, was debated on the House floor as a bill to prohibit access to nudification technology and related AI-generated sexual deepfakes. Representative Hansen, the bill’s author, described the measure as a response to non-consensual, sexually explicit images and videos, especially harms to children and women, and said the bill would define nudified content, require nudifying features on apps and websites to be turned off in Minnesota, bar promotion of such apps, and create enforcement and remedies. Supporters emphasized testimony from survivors, the rapid growth of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, and the need for state action because federal regulation has lagged. Opponents of the amendment argued the underlying bill should remain a clean, single-issue measure focused on non-consensual content creation and warned that adding age-verification language would complicate the bill and add cost. Representative Bakeberg offered amendment A4, which would add age-verification requirements for commercial adult-content sites, with privacy limits for adults and enforcement mechanisms including audits and attorney general authority. Supporters of the amendment said it would extend existing physical-world protections for minors into the digital space, cited legal support from a Texas case and similar laws in other states, and argued it would help protect children from online pornography. Representative Hansen opposed the amendment, saying she had not been consulted, that it would muddy the bill’s focus on non-consensual nudification, and that it would add fiscal cost. Other members spoke both for and against the amendment, with some saying the issues were related and others saying the amendment was not ready and should be handled separately. The House then took a roll call on amendment A4, and it failed on a 67-67 tie. After the amendment was not adopted, the bill was given its third reading. In closing remarks, supporters of the underlying bill reiterated that it was intended to protect victims and prevent harm before it occurs, while one member said the bill did not go far enough because it targeted software makers rather than the people creating and distributing the material. The transcript ends with further discussion of the bill’s purpose and support for moving it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next in favor.
• Next in opposition. Thank you very much. Next in opposition.
• Next in favor. Next in favor. Thank you, members of the committee.
• Next in favor.
• Next in favor. Next in favor. Anyone else in opposition?

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• general population. general population.
• There's no general fund impact.
• There's no general fund impact.
• There's no general fund impact.
• want to go use this technology, great. want to go use this technology, great.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a fourth-generation turkey producer.
• In 2025, we're on to our next set of problems to solve.
• no further questions thank you Mel next no further questions thank you Mel next up<01:09:11.120>
• Technology um the plant in lvi Minnesota Technology um the plant in lvi Minnesota uh<01:23:15.760>
• I am Tim Shup, a fifth-generation dairy farmer.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee held an introductory meeting that began with housekeeping, a correction to the committee rules (the room number should be G3, not G35), and member and staff introductions. Members described their districts, agricultural ties, and priorities for the session, including consumer food costs, urban agriculture, farm economics, livestock disease preparedness, and support for Minnesota’s agricultural sectors. No votes were taken during the introductory portion. The committee then turned to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Deputy Commissioner Andrea Veble of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said the Walz administration strongly supports SAF because of its potential for agriculture, forestry, and clean energy, and reviewed Minnesota’s 2023 SAF tax credit and related sales tax exemption. She said the state has feedstocks and should continue investing so Minnesota can attract SAF production and support rural jobs. Jeff Davidman of Delta Airlines testified that aviation is difficult to decarbonize and that SAF is the airline industry’s main path to net zero by 2050; he cited current use of SAF, the need to scale production, and Minnesota’s role in supplying feedstocks and hosting future production. Peter Frost of Greater MSP described the Minnesota SAF Hub as a public-private partnership aimed at building the full SAF value chain in Minnesota. He emphasized that Greater MSP is coordinating investors and partners to grow the regional economy and said the SAF effort is intended to create jobs and economic development. Committee members did not ask questions during the portion captured, and no formal action or vote was recorded on the SAF presentations in this transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're generally in South Texas. In that area, so we're generally in South Texas.
• It's usually sitting right next to an ATM.
• It's just a privation of the next victim.
• And that leads me to my next question.
• If you're going to use technology and AI to do.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• generation of water experts to ensure a secure water future for that region.
• Sidney Valentine, president of the Lamar Institute of Technology. Dr.
• I'm Sid Valentine, the president of Lamar Institute of Technology.
• Center for Engineering, Technology, Crafts and Trades.
• Approximately 2/3 of our students are first-generation students like me, a product of first generation

Transcript Highlights:

• And 56% are first-generation students. Our students come from all, from 140.
• generation. water experts to ensure a secure water future for that region.
• Sidney Valentine, president of the Lamar Institute of Technology. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr.
• Edition and Advanced Technology Center for Engineering Technology, Crafts and Trades.
• Next up is going to be the University of Texas system.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• expands income verification technology expands income verification technology and<00:04:54.200><
• > Our next recommendation addressing Our next recommendation addressing legacy<00:07:39.760> systems
• <00:09:06.640> modernization cross-agency technology modernization cross-agency technology
• . agency uh Inspector Generals.
• <00:31:29.640> was Yeah, you're the Inspector General was Yeah, you're the Inspector General

Bills: HF4525, HF3002, HF3665, HF4420

Keywords: human services, background studies, NETStudy 2.0, licensing, license suspension, license revocation, provider enrollment, program integrity, fraud, medical assistance fraud, Medicaid, payment withholding, credible allegation of fraud, background check, disqualification, variance, set-aside, foster care, family foster setting, adult foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• Next question I have for you.
• Next.
• Next.
• Next.
• We do everything technology.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Maternal and child health, the data speaks for itself; we owe the next generation better outcomes.
• We have more to say about that in the next panel.
• Okay, so we'll transition into our next panel.
• So we'll go ahead and transition to the next panel.
• So we'll go ahead and transition to the next panel.

Summary: The committee met to hear introductory briefings from the Department of Health and the Health Care Authority on agency priorities, federal changes, and implementation challenges. Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham said his department’s listening tour is focused on strengthening governmental public health, improving health care quality and access, and responding to federal funding disruptions and the shutdown’s effects on programs such as WIC. HCA Director Ryan Moran said the agency is prioritizing coverage preservation, oversight of major contracts, affordability, behavioral health integration, rural health transformation, and internal agency operations. Members asked about licensure delays; Worsham said the backlog had been reduced from about four months to six weeks and should be caught up by January 1, with possible further process changes if needed. A major portion of the meeting focused on H.R. 1 and its Medicaid-related implementation. Governor’s health policy advisor Caitlin Stafford, HCA staff, and interim Medicaid Director Trinity Wilson said the state is working with DSHS, the Health Benefit Exchange, tribes, and other partners to prepare for eligibility changes, work requirements, and six-month redeterminations. They said the state expects up to 30,000 Apple Health enrollees could lose coverage under the law’s non-citizen eligibility changes, and that the work requirement/redetermination provisions could affect about 620,000 adults, with roughly 80,000 also enrolled in SNAP. HCA said it hopes to automate most verification, but about 15% to 20% of cases may require manual review, with technology costs estimated at up to $30 million. Staff also said they are trying to keep H.R. 1 implementation mostly in budget language rather than statute, and that communication and navigator support will be important to minimize confusion and coverage loss. The committee also received an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program created in H.R. 1. HCA said Washington submitted its application to CMS on November 5 after extensive stakeholder engagement, including more than 310 written comments, webinars, and tribal consultation. The application centers on six initiatives: rural hospital innovation, community care and prevention, tribal investments, technology and data, workforce development, and rural behavioral health. HCA said the state is likely to receive less than the full $200 million annual amount assumed in the federal program, and that an advisory committee may be created to help guide spending over the five-year program. Members asked about palliative care, small business impacts, and communication with enrollees; HCA said it expects to share outreach toolkits and that no 2026 statutory changes are currently anticipated, though that could change. The final panels covered organ donation and transplant services. Department of Health staff explained the 2023 “Lights and Sirens” law for organ transport vehicles, including licensing, driver qualifications, insurance requirements, and use of emergency lanes and traffic preemption; the department said one company is currently licensed and there have been no complaints. LifeCenter Northwest described the organ procurement process, the legal framework under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, and the rarity and complexity of deceased donation, noting Washington has seen strong growth in donation and transplants over the past decade. University of Washington Medical Center staff then outlined its transplant programs for kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, and multi-organ transplants, describing the multidisciplinary evaluation and waitlist process and the coordination required with donor organizations and hospitals.

Transcript Highlights:

• interaction with the general fund. interaction with the general fund.
• the state's general fund. the state's general fund.
• > the think this generally matches the think this generally matches the structure<00:45:32.160
• generative AI capabilities generative AI capabilities and<00:55:44.960> continued<00:55:45.520
• that independent inspector general that independent inspector general always<00:59:46.160> has

Bills: HF4074

Keywords: retirement, pension, public employees, MSRS, PERA, TRA, St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, police and fire, correctional employees, probation officers, telecommunicators, dispatchers, 911 operators, public safety answering point, PSAP, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, paid on-call firefighters, fire relief association, state aid

Transcript Highlights:

• The annual state general fund request we are here to ask for for the next biennium is $14.25 million
• The annual state general fund request we are here to ask for for the next biennium is $14.25 million
• <01:02:27.480> um our resources is Inspector General um our resources is Inspector General
• and statute, is on pace to meet the targets codified in the Next Generation Energy Act, with carbon
• Next, legislation also authored by Senator Jang required the commission to develop generic statewide

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am generally speaking a fan of new technology and all of the ways that we can improve energy distribution
• I am generally speaking a fan of new technology and all of the ways that we can improve energy distribution
• But the next thing is why one megawatt?
• I know electrical rates generally trend up.
• So it's a very exciting time for this technology.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We save lives every day with technology.
• like generative AI.
• We save lives every day with technology.
• like generative AI.
• , intubated for like the next two weeks.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• generally for the bill author um will we generally for the bill author um will we have<00:01:28.119><
• <00:15:16.240> money afford it to make it generating money afford it to make it generating
• to the general register all right<00:45:54.440> the<00:45:54.599> next<00:45:54.839>
• to a carbon- free electric generation to a carbon- free electric generation sector<00:48:00.680>
• > with<01:20:04.880> CO2 Next Generation energy act with CO2 Next Generation energy act with

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:07.440> fund it's in the request as a general fund it's in the request as a general
• in in general in in general um<00:15:30.199> what<00:15:30.399> do<00:15:30.560>
• We have up next week on Wednesday.
• We have up next week on Wednesday.
• Technologies, but as good as any technology is, it doesn't go without the programs.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: Finance Division 3 met for a work session on House Bill 519, which concerns funding for Waypoint. The chair noted general support for the organization but said the bill would likely need to be suspended and folded into the budget process because the committee did not yet know available revenues or what amount, if any, could be committed. Kya Fox, director of the Division for Behavioral Health, testified that the department supports the bill and the program, explaining that it had been funded with other available funds, including $100,000 for 2024 and $400,000 for 2025, under a contract running through June 30 of this year. She said the shelter serves a unique population of young adults and is part of the department’s children’s system of care and Mission Zero efforts to reduce barriers to psychiatric discharge and emergency department use. Members questioned Fox and Waypoint representatives about the budget placement of the request, the difference between the efficiency budget and prioritized needs, and whether state budget documents would show any internal Waypoint revenues. Fox said the request appears as a general fund item and that the state would not see Waypoint’s internal financial operations in the budget. A legislative member explained that prioritized needs are critical services already in place but not necessarily included in the efficiency budget, and another member said the distinction is not strictly applied. The committee also raised a separate question about how DHHS would handle any future state or federal restrictions on DEI practices; Fox said that was a question for department leadership and legal staff, but that the department follows state law and contract requirements. Waypoint CEO Bor Alvare and Director Mandy Lancaster then described the shelter and related services. They said the shelter serves ages 18 to 24, is a 14-bed open-room facility with half walls, and is staffed overnight by two full-time workers. They said admission is first come, first served, with some vulnerability factors considered, and that they do not discriminate by race, gender, or sexual orientation. They reported no known incidents of sexual violence, though some youth are turned away each night because the shelter is full. They also explained that Waypoint provides broader services beyond the shelter, including outreach, drop-in centers, housing support, rental assistance, and family mediation, and said they serve about 400 youth and young adults in Manchester alone. The discussion ended with questions about whether lowering the upper age limit would affect the program; Waypoint said most residents are already in the 18-to-23 range, but that housing shortages make the current age span important for helping young adults avoid chronic homelessness.