Transcript Highlights:

• That's why it has the support of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, the Minnesota Family Housing Fund
• That's why it has the support of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, the Minnesota Family Housing Fund
• Why it has the support of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, the Minnesota Family Housing Fund, the
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:53.680><c> family</c> could cost the average Minnesota family could cost the average Minnesota
• </c> our schools and the future of Minnesota our schools and the future of Minnesota this<00:09:55.040
• What would that mean for MDE and Minnesota here at the state level?
• </c><00:20:16.159><c> in</c><00:20:16.320><c> Minnesota</c> you aware of anything in Minnesota you aware
• Minnesota Minnesota thanks<00:26:29.120><c> folks</c><00:26:29.919><c> thank</c><00:26:30.080><c> you

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• support to Minnesota annually.
• support to Minnesota annually.
• AND WE DON'T GET MANY FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING BACK TO MINNESOTA.
• Now transitioning to our cyber forces within Minnesota.
• NOW TRANSITIONING TO OUR CYBER FORCES WITHIN MINNESOTA.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Minnesota Senate Subcommittee on Veterans heard a Department of Military Affairs presentation on bonding, tuition benefits, and cyber response. The department requested $3.5 million in design funding for a new hangar at the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, citing safety problems with the aging 1950s-era hangars and the need to improve the wing’s competitiveness for future federal military construction funding. It also sought $2.5 million for asset preservation at Army facilities statewide, emphasizing that state dollars are often matched by federal funds. A National Guard lieutenant also testified about the State Tuition Reimbursement Program, describing how it helped pay for her undergraduate and doctoral education and reduce student debt. The committee also received an update on Minnesota National Guard cyber operations, including the response to the July 2025 ransomware attack on the City of Saint Paul. Testimony described the cyber coordination cell’s role in planning, interagency coordination, and support during the incident, including helping re-image about 500 computers and assisting with network recovery. Members heard that the Guard’s cyber teams conduct extensive partner engagement and are prepared to support state and local entities when civil resources are exhausted and the incident exceeds local capacity. Three bills were then heard and advanced. Senate File 4075, as amended, would implement recommendations from the task force on Special Guerrilla Unit and regular forces veterans from the Secret War in Laos, including eligibility and benefit changes; the committee adopted an amendment and passed the bill to the full committee. Senate File 3956, as amended, would clarify that the Department of Veterans Affairs may partner with veteran-serving organizations using nonmonetary resources to address food insecurity, homelessness, and suicide prevention; it was also referred onward. Senate File 4056, as amended, would add veteran or military status as a protected class under the Minnesota Human Rights Act; testimony supported the change, including concerns about service members losing educational opportunities while on state active duty, and the bill was passed to the full committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, we're seeing an increased federal presence here in Minnesota.
• And that's going to be a lot of the focus that we have in the Minnesota Senate.
• </c> focus that we have in the Minnesota focus that we have in the Minnesota Senate.<00:03:36.720><c>
• </c><00:03:44.480><c> is</c><00:03:44.720><c> a</c> really make sure that Minnesota is a really make
• :54.240><c> really</c> Minnesota Senate Republicans are really Minnesota Senate Republicans are really

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Receiving funding to replace lost non-resident supplemental tuition is imperative, as non-resident supplemental
• Also note that about 10 percent of CSU spending is on financial aid.
• So 85 percent of our spending is on employees and student aid.
• Including financial aid, bond debt service, and retirement fund contributions.
• California undergraduates... ...state financial aid.

Summary: The subcommittee heard opening remarks and updates from UC President James Milliken and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia on the state of higher education, including federal funding losses, civil rights/Title IX compliance, enrollment, housing, and budget needs. Both leaders emphasized the value of UC and CSU to California’s workforce, research, and economic mobility, while warning that federal grant cancellations, investigations, and changes to student aid are creating major financial and operational strain. UC reported losing or having at risk more than 1,600 grants and over $1 billion in research activity, while CSU said it had lost more than 200 grants totaling about $161 million, including minority-serving institution grants that affected student support programs. Both systems said they are investing in civil rights services and trying to limit the release of personally identifiable information in response to federal requests. The committee then reviewed the higher education student housing grant program. Finance and Legislative Analyst’s Office staff said the governor’s budget does not include major new changes but continues support for the program. CSU reported 12 approved projects that will add about 5,047 beds, with roughly 75% below market rate, and said it has about 68,000 beds systemwide, a 92% occupancy rate, and ongoing housing insecurity among students. UC said its housing projects have added more than 7,000 beds when reduced-rent and regular-rent units are combined, but nearly 10,000 students were on housing wait lists at the start of fall 2025. Both systems described rapid rehousing efforts, emergency beds, and partnerships with community colleges, and UC noted several joint housing projects, including at Riverside, Merced, and Santa Cruz. Members discussed whether future housing bonds and use of surplus school sites could help expand capacity. In the enrollment section, the LAO recommended maintaining UC’s 2026-27 resident undergraduate target, funding enrollment growth separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident reduction plan at the three highest-demand UC campuses, and holding UC enrollment flat in 2027-28. For CSU, the LAO recommended revising the 2026-27 enrollment expectation downward to reflect updated projections, while also funding enrollment growth separately and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. CSU said it has rebounded from pandemic-era declines, is above its funded target by about 3,000 FTE, and is shifting about $89 million and 10,000 FTE from lower-demand campuses to higher-demand ones while developing turnaround plans for seven campuses with sustained enrollment declines, including Sonoma State. UC said it has already exceeded its compact enrollment goals and is planning continued growth, but that sustaining it depends on ongoing state support. Members raised concerns about campus-specific enrollment declines, nonresident caps at UC San Diego, and the need for stronger turnaround plans and teacher preparation pathways. The final section covered core operations and deferred payments: Finance said the governor proposes another one-year deferral of about $129.7 million for UC and $143.8 million for CSU, and the LAO recommended retiring the deferrals when one-time funds are available. CSU described rising compensation, financial aid, utilities, insurance, and deferred maintenance costs, and said it is pursuing cost-saving measures such as procurement alignment, campus integration, and shared administrative services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now in my home state of Minnesota, 1.2 million people get their health insurance through Medicaid.
• insurance that covers more than half of nursing home residents in our state, and it covers one in three Minnesota
• In Minnesota, Medicaid covers inpatient mental health care.
• And I know what this means for Minnesota, I hear it from my constituents loud and clear when I was home
• Morgan, whether it was First Aid, and whether it was Pfizer. So I don't think it's a doge question.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Social Security, Medicaid, Frank Bisignano, Elon Musk, benefit processing, office closures, public testimony, administration policies, health care, vulnerable populations

Summary: The committee meeting focused heavily on the nomination of Frank Bisignano as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, with intense discussions around the current state of Social Security and its management under the current administration. Members voiced significant concerns regarding potential changes to Social Security and Medicaid, specifically addressing issues such as office closures, delays in benefit processing, and the perceived policies from Elon Musk's association with the administration. Public testimonies highlighted fears that these changes would severely impact the accessibility of benefits for seniors and vulnerable individuals, resulting in a chaotic environment at the SSA. Members expressed a unified opposition to the notion of dismantling these critical programs, emphasizing the long-term implications on their constituents' well-being.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're going to legal aid, tax exempt.
• </c> exempt uh if you're going to Legal Aid exempt uh if you're going to Legal Aid tax<00:04:35.479><
• Minnesota does a pretty good job of intergovernmental aid to our cities and counties, probably better
• ><c> our</c> good job of intergovernmental Aid to our good job of intergovernmental Aid to our cities
• or Minnesota Minnesota company or Minnesota Government<01:47:42.239><c> and</c><01:47:42.760><c> that

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have rural aid.
• And that brings me to rural aid.
• from this additional aid.
• State aid funding is critical.
• Third, rural school aid.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That would be paid for out of the accident and medical aid accounts in L&I.
• These costs would also be paid for from the accident and medical aid accounts.
• In the 2024 supplemental budget, additional ongoing funding for staffing In the 2024 supplemental budget
• Putting a Band-Aid on, or the appearance of a Band-Aid on, a problem continues to hide the true hemorrhaging
• There are impacts to the non-appropriated accident and medical aid accounts.

Summary: The committee first heard Substitute House Bill 1128, which would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board within the Department of Labor and Industries to study child care workforce conditions and make recommendations on employment standards. Staff explained that the proposed second substitute narrows the board’s role from setting enforceable standards to making recommendations, with estimated ongoing costs for L&I staffing and smaller costs for board member stipends and possible DCYF support. Supporters, including child care providers, SEIU 925, and labor representatives, said the bill would help address understaffing, low wages, and retention problems; opponents, including child care industry groups and private schools, argued it duplicates existing work, adds bureaucracy, and creates unfunded costs. No vote was taken in the hearing. The committee then heard Second Substitute House Bill 1634, which would direct OSPI and ESDs to develop a technical assistance and training framework to help schools coordinate student behavioral health supports. Staff said the bill aligns with the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan and could largely be implemented with existing work and limited additional costs, though DOH would need some support. Testifiers from behavioral health and school counseling fields described severe youth mental health needs and urged passage, and OSPI said the work is doable with current resources. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2636, which would create a public education review advisory council to recommend K-12 policies and funding provisions for JLARC review; staff described JLARC, OSPI, and State Board costs, and no public testimony was offered. The committee next heard House Bill 1316, which would expand the Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness program so additional university campuses can access funding. The sponsor said the program has strong retention outcomes, and student advocates testified that campuses such as UW Bothell need access to already appropriated funds for emergency aid, food pantries, and case management. Staff then briefed Substitute House Bill 2474, which would allow the Student Achievement Council Tuition Recovery Trust Fund to be used for refunds tied to broader consumer protection violations, with no expected fiscal impact; there was no testimony. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2365 on digital equity, which would expand the Broadband Office’s role, revise the digital equity forum, and rename the grant program; supporters emphasized rural access, affordability, and the loss of federal digital equity funding, while staff estimated significant Commerce staffing costs and some additional agency impacts. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2401, creating a Washington State Boys and Men Commission contingent on non-state funding, with staff outlining OFM startup and fundraising costs and an estimated operating budget if fully funded. Supporters said boys and men face mental health, education, and mentorship gaps and that the commission would improve coordination; the bill drew testimony from rural school leaders, nonprofit advocates, and community members. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language access, which would require the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines and a report on interpreter and translator shortages; staff said the office could absorb the work but other agency and local government impacts were uncertain. Substitute House Bill 2517, on permitting for high-capacity transit, would let regional transit authorities apply for permits earlier and streamline land-use processes; Sound Transit and the sponsor said it would speed delivery of major projects, while staff estimated Commerce technical-assistance costs and possible local government impacts. The last bill heard was Substitute House Bill 2145 on the 340B drug pricing program, which would bar manufacturers from restricting contract-pharmacy access and require reporting to DOH; supporters said it protects safety-net providers and patient services, while opponents warned of higher costs for employers, state health plans, and litigation burdens. No final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:47.680><c> document</c> also believe has a supplemental document also believe has a supplemental
• I just am here on behalf of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association as well as the Minnesota Sheriffs
• </c><00:53:31.799><c> Chiefs</c> here on behalf of the Minnesota Chiefs here on behalf of the Minnesota
• I'm from Nissa, Minnesota.
• </c><01:54:46.199><c> as</c> care for the people of Minnesota as care for the people of Minnesota as

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> protect Minnesota students in school. protect Minnesota students in school.
• and to aid in their recovery.
• In Minnesota, [snorts] the three largest recipients of non-public pupil aid for guidance counseling are
• I'm just wondering if Ed Minnesota could come In Minnesota, [snorts] the three largest In Minnesota,
• It included a cut to student support personnel aid. It included a cut to library aid.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Kyle burnt with Leading Age Minnesota Kyle burnt with Leading Age Minnesota and<00:10:48.360><c>
• My name is Dan Andre, with the Minnesota Council of Health Plans.
• </c> Lori schenher with the Minnesota Lori schenher with the Minnesota organization organization organization
• </c><00:45:21.240><c> Hospital</c> aard from the Minnesota Hospital aard from the Minnesota Hospital
• My name is Danny Aard with the Minnesota Hospital Association.

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , Denanisha Honda, and my amazing communications and community liaison, Rihanna Ramos, legislative aides
• /c> community liaison Rihanna Ramos, community liaison Rihanna Ramos, legislative<00:01:33.840><c> aids
• </c><00:01:34.320><c> Damian</c><00:01:34.880><c> Negret</c><00:01:36.000><c> and</c> legislative aids
• Damian Negret and legislative aids Damian Negret and Arlland<00:01:36.799><c> Redo,</c><00:01:37.280
• Referrals and re-referrals are made in accordance with any supplemental orders of the day that may be

Bills: SB2347 , SB2911 , SB2033 , SB2158 , SB2993 , SB2778 , SB2672 , SB2014 , SB3144 , SB3096 , SB3097 , SB2968 , SB2363 , SB3154 , SB2400 , SB3313 , SB2896 , SB3279 , SB2614 , SB2687 , SB2754 , SB2549 , SB3325 , SB2658 , SB2659 , SB2602 , SB2611 , SB2877 , SB3063 , SB2615 , SB3232 , SB2875 , SB3272 , SB2854 , SB3203 , SB2803 , SB2804 , SB3302 , SB3229 , SB2969 , SB2412 , SB2657 , SB2880 , SB2540 , SB2414 , SB3142 , SB3202 , SB2281 , SB2852 , SB2272 , SB2479 , SB2589 , SB2936 , SB2720 , SB2730 , SB2749 , SB2688 , SB2798 , SB3040 , SB3107 , SB3010 , SB3109 , SB3140 , SB3187 , SB2057 , SB2377 , SB3048 , SB3083 , SB3182

Keywords: tenant rights, landlord obligations, housing crisis, eviction prevention, multilingual access, intoxicating liquor, direct shipment, breweries, distilleries, Hawaii, renewable energy, grid-ready homes, interconnection process, electric utility, energy independence, surcharge, customer access, energy storage, smart inverters, veterinary workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill makes supplemental appropriations, including formula changes as well as a $4 million.
• We include a supplemental for the Department of Public Safety.
• This is some really significant support and aid to our families here in Arizona.
• STEM and workforce program state aid and operating state aid for the community college districts as specified
• They haven't received that state aid since approximately 2015, and the STEM aid all community college

Summary: House Republican caucus met on April 29 to review the FY 2027 budget package and several related “budget implementation” bills, with Chairman Livingston noting that HB 2415 was being held. Staff and members walked through HB 4138, the General Appropriations Act (“feed bill”), which appropriates about $17.96 billion from the general fund and includes one-time fund transfers, 5% lump-sum reductions for most agencies, funding for the state health insurance plan, school facilities, child care, correctional officer stipends, public safety, and other prior-year items. Members emphasized that the budget reflected House and Senate negotiations after the governor left budget talks, and Republican leaders framed it as a package that lowers taxes, shrinks government, and funds priorities such as K-12, child care, foster care, and public safety. The caucus then reviewed a series of mostly standard budget bills: HB 4139 on gaming/racing assessments; HB 4140 on federal monies, the budget stabilization fund, and ACE initiative savings reporting; HB 4141 on capital outlay, highway construction, airport funding, and rural transportation match funds; HB 4142 on commerce and lottery distributions; HB 4143 on corrections reporting; HB 4144 on environmental provisions and water-related fund uses; HB 4145 on state employee health insurance premiums and DES reforms; HB 4146 on higher education funding provisions; HB 4147 on SNAP administration and error-rate reduction; HB 4148 on K-12 inflation adjustments, school facilities, and ASDB property-sale oversight; HB 4150 on county expenditure flexibility and state office rent rates; HB 4151 on the Department of Revenue’s integrated tax system funding and related charges; HB 4152 on tax conformity, deductions, and repeal of several renewable-energy tax preferences and the Rio Nuevo diversion; and HB 4153 on transportation reporting. Discussion repeatedly centered on health plan solvency, SNAP/ACCESS eligibility and fraud controls, school funding, rural transportation, and tax conformity and relief. The caucus also took up several blue-sheet bills: HB 2035 on extended-family placement notifications in child welfare cases; HB 2170 restricting certain PRC-controlled companies from state IT contracts; HB 2249 expanding Parents’ Bill of Rights provisions; HB 2573 on DUI interlock/restricted-license rules and psychotherapy definitions; and HB 2873, which was amended to allow withdrawal of referendum petitions before ballot qualification. HB 2415 was held. The Speaker closed by praising the caucus for its budget work, saying the package delivers tax relief, protects vulnerable populations and public safety, and reflects months of Republican negotiations, and the meeting adjourned to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also want to thank the Real Property Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota
• Credit Union Network, the Minnesota Land Title Association, Minnesota Realtors, and Bank Inn, all of
• State Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota<00:35:55.040><c> Credit</c
• </c> insurer from operating here in Minnesota insurer from operating here in Minnesota if<00:40:12.720
• </c> the Minnesota Society of Pathologists. the Minnesota Society of Pathologists.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> support personnel aid funding stream. support personnel aid funding stream.
• Minnesota lags increase in gun theft.
• </c> administrators like the Minnesota administrators like the Minnesota Superintendent<00:18:37.039>
• </c> Minnesota School Counselors Association. Minnesota School Counselors Association.
• It's aid from $30 to $34 per student.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4893, a school safety and gun violence prevention bill, and first adopted a DE1 amendment before hearing the bill. The author and supporters described the measure as a layered approach to school safety, combining increased funding for student support personnel, required school safety plans, and anonymous threat reporting systems. They cited research from the Violence Prevention Project and other sources arguing that many school shooters are insiders, often show warning signs, and frequently leak plans beforehand, making early intervention and trusted adults in schools important. Members and testifiers also discussed the bill’s firearm storage provisions. Representative Green explained that the bill would require firearms on school property and in vehicles to be unloaded and locked, and would limit or remove principals’ discretion to allow firearms in school buildings, while preserving access for trained school security personnel. Supporters said the bill would improve clarity and safety for schools, while a representative from private schools raised concerns that the language could limit flexibility and create staffing and accountability problems for non-public schools, prompting discussion of possible amendments. Several student and organizational testifiers supported the bill, including students from Edina High School, Education Minnesota, the Minnesota School Counselors Association, and the Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota. They emphasized the impact of gun violence on students’ mental health and learning, the value of anonymous reporting systems, and the need to invest in counselors, social workers, psychologists, and nurses. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided, but the committee did adopt the DE1 amendment and continued discussion of possible changes, including with the BCA and school safety center.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cloud and Northwest Minnesota. And St. Cloud and Northwest Minnesota.
• , and municipal state aid.
• </c> greater Minnesota transit account. greater Minnesota transit account.
• </c><00:42:30.160><c> design</c> aid and municipal state aid design aid and municipal state aid design
• </c> standard for um for state aid projects. standard for um for state aid projects.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in Minnesota today.
• We have six operations in Minnesota.
• Golden Valley and and these Minnesota.
• Um we uh Minnesota and the Midwest.
• Minnesota. Minnesota.

Bills: HF4770

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: biomass, anaerobic digester, renewable energy, sustainability, energy generation

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then took up House File 4770, as amended by an A1 technical amendment. The bill was presented as a proposal to help Liberty Diversified International and Liberty Paper in Becker plan for replacement steam and energy supply as the Shuro facility closure approaches in 2030. Testimony described Liberty Paper’s current closed-loop steam arrangement with Shuro, the need to study future fuel and technology options, and the potential use of anaerobic digestion, biomass, construction and demolition waste, and food waste to produce steam and possibly power. Members asked about feedstock availability, the need for a feasibility study, possible backup natural gas use, and whether waste heat or wastewater heat could be useful. The bill was laid over as amended. The committee then heard a presentation from CenterPoint Energy on Minnesota heating demand and electrification. CenterPoint staff said affordability and reliability are central concerns and outlined how the utility manages customer costs through energy efficiency, contracting, storage, peak shaving, and conservation. Dr. Joel Lynch presented research on peak heating with natural gas and the “missing piece” in Minnesota’s electrification puzzle, explaining that Minnesota’s cold climate makes winter heating demand especially challenging and that replacing natural gas would require substantial new electric capacity and renewable resources. He compared his work with prior national and state studies and said the analysis used Minnesota-specific gas throughput, COP assumptions across several electrification scenarios, and January renewable capacity data. Lynch summarized preliminary findings that Minnesota’s peak gas heating throughput could be up to 40 gigawatts, with electric resistance heating implying roughly 36 gigawatts of new demand, and lower but still substantial demand under heat-pump scenarios. The presentation was informational only; no vote was taken on the CenterPoint presentation. The meeting ended with House File 4770 laid over and the energy demand presentation continuing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have two other persons in Minnesota. We have a person in Maine.
• We have two other persons in Minnesota. We have a person in Maine.
• We have two other persons in Minnesota. We have a person in Maine.
• We have two other persons in Minnesota. We have a person in Maine.
• We have two other persons in Minnesota. We have a person in Maine.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, July 16, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the best superintendent in the state of Minnesota.
• and the best superintendent in the state of Minnesota.
• and the best superintendent in the state of Minnesota.
• and the best superintendent in the state of Minnesota.
• and the best superintendent in the state of Minnesota.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all