Transcript Highlights:

• The bill before you would adjust the definitions to correct this problem and provide consistency with
• So the rate is adjusted every year by the department.
• However, we also believe that the legislature should give DLR the flexibility to adjust the fines and
• However, we also believe that the legislature should give DLR the flexibility to adjust the fines and
• So again, we feel that there should be some flexibility on DLR's part to adjust the fines and deterrent

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on employment rights legislation, especially the Protect Labor Act (H. 2086/S. 1327), which would create state-level labor protections if federal private-sector labor law is weakened or struck down, and would also add protections such as bans on captive audience meetings, virtual elections, stronger misclassification rules, and protections for health care workers and immigrant workers. Supporters from the AFL-CIO, nurses, SEIU, UAW, building trades, teachers, graduate workers, and policy groups argued that the bill is needed because of Trump administration actions, Project 2025, and threats to the NLRA and NLRB. They described the bill as a “trigger” law meant to preserve organizing and bargaining rights in Massachusetts if federal protections disappear or if the NLRB declines jurisdiction over certain workers. The committee also heard testimony on bills to restore a limited right to strike for certain public employees (H. 2078/S. 1311 or related filings). Supporters, including a representative, educators, and labor advocates, said the current ban on public employee strikes weakens good-faith bargaining and leaves workers without leverage to secure wages, staffing, and student supports. They argued that strikes are used as a last resort and that legalizing them under defined conditions would improve negotiations and better reflect the realities of recent teacher strikes in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Municipal Association opposed the strike bills, warning that public employee strikes are already prohibited by state law, that strikes disrupt students and communities, and that local governments face budget constraints under Proposition 2 1/2. The committee also took testimony on paid family and medical leave bills (S. 1351/H. 2110 and S. 1352), which would improve notice to workers, expand public reporting on claim denials and demographics, and fix a technical definition issue that has limited access for some covered contract workers. Witnesses from legal aid, policy organizations, and a small business owner said the changes would improve transparency, equity, and access to benefits without imposing major burdens on employers. Additional testimony supported a railroad sick leave bill and a private construction transparency bill, with Senator Keenan urging favorable action on both. No votes were taken during the hearing; members asked questions, and several witnesses and legislators requested favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• That could be adjusted if the committee adopts this special audit request. themselves it's just the agency
• process she is correct chairman you are correct that would that could that would be there would be an adjustment
• Co-Chairman, members of the committee, first off, my apologies for you having to adjust your agenda.
• Co-Chairman, members of the committee, first off, my apologies for you having to adjust your agenda.
• So, first off, my apologies for you adjusting your agenda on my behalf when I received the updated letter

Summary: The committee first heard an update on Topok Elementary School District’s long-running noncompliance with Arizona’s Uniform System of Financial Records. The Auditor General’s office explained the USFR noncompliance process and reported that Topok had made substantial progress, correcting many deficiencies in areas such as open meeting law, procurement, payroll, attendance reporting, property control, and information technology. The district’s superintendent and staff described the corrective actions they had taken, the use of outside consultants, and their plan to maintain compliance through stronger leadership, training, and consistent procedures. Members praised the district’s progress and asked about the remaining deficiencies and the status of the 3% state-aid withholding, which the Auditor General said would be addressed by the State Board of Education. The committee then considered a request for a fourth school safety special audit, tied to concerns raised by Representative Martinez about Phoenix Union High School District and school violence response practices. The Auditor General said the proposed audit would be a new topic focused on policies and procedures for responding to credible threats of violence and allegations of staff misconduct affecting student safety, and could include Phoenix Union in the sample. Representative Martinez described a fatal 2024 shooting, weapons incidents, and concerns about district oversight. The committee approved the motion 10-0. Next, staff presented the fiscal years 2027-2028 school district performance audit schedule, describing 26 randomly selected school districts and career and technical education districts, plus 84 planned follow-ups. The Auditor General said the schedule is intended to shorten the average time between audits and that the school audits division is now fully staffed. Members asked about county coverage and the inclusion of ESA accountability, but the schedule was ultimately presented for review rather than approval. The committee also heard a detailed federal compliance audit presentation on the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) administered by DES. The Auditor General reported repeated findings involving missing provider documentation, questioned costs, and FFATA reporting errors, including a 2024 sample that led to questioning $2.88 million in costs. The office recommended stronger documentation, record retention, reporting procedures, and staff training; DES concurred and said it would correct the findings in 2026. Members discussed the limits of the single-audit scope, the possibility of a broader special audit, and the federal government’s recent actions on CCDF oversight in other states. Finally, the committee considered and discussed a special audit request for CCDF that would broaden review to provider oversight, licensing, site visits, and billing accuracy across multiple state agencies, with estimated costs of $547,000 to $625,000 and a projected report date of July 31, 2027.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know the original measure started off with kind of a modest increase in fees and making some adjustment
• I know the original measure started off with kind of a modest increase of feeds and making some adjustment
• He added that the Brand Committee has also talked over the years about raising fees and adjusting the
• And brand committee has also talked over the years to raise fees and to adjust.
• They're living the realities of the adjustments that have happened in our budget.

Bills: LB878, LB958, LB958A, LB762, LB1187, LB966, LB929, LB962, LB1209, LB937A, LB962A, LB1050, LB1050A, LB965, LB1022, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB745, LB749, LB778, LR293, LR296, LR422, LR495, LR496, LR497, LR498, LR499, LR500, LR501, LR502, LR503, LR504

Keywords: paid parental leave, state employees, workplace benefits, family support, economic impact, Medicaid, Medical Assistance Act, home and community-based services waiver, HCBS waiver, waiver participant, assessment tool, clinical interviewing, service tier, retroactive coverage, doula, doula reimbursement, maternal health, prenatal care, pregnancy, birth outcomes

Transcript Highlights:

• Clarifies grounds for denial, suspension, and revocation of an adjuster and bill renewer reviewer license
• of<00:31:24.280> an suspension, and revocation of an suspension, and revocation of an adjuster
• and<00:31:25.960> bill<00:31:26.360> renewer<00:31:27.040> reviewer adjuster
• and bill renewer reviewer adjuster and bill renewer reviewer license. license. license.
• But with regards to the adjuster language, that's more so to update the code.

Bills: HB1511, HB1535, HB1642, HB1753, HB1810, HB2282, HB2614

Keywords: consumer protection, unsolicited mail, unsolicited email, junk mail, spam email, deceptive marketing, misleading solicitation, high-pressure sales, vehicle warranty, auto warranty, service contract, home warranty, license renewal, registration renewal, government impersonation, affiliation disclosure, direct mail, email marketing, consumer fraud, refund

Summary: The committee heard several consumer-protection and insurance measures. HB 1511 HD2 would prohibit unsolicited mail or email using high-pressure tactics or falsely implying affiliation with another entity; it drew support from the Office of Consumer Protection, the DCCA Insurance Division, and the Service Contract Industry Council, with some written support and at least one opposition. HB 1535 HD2, concerning automated external defibrillators and a tax-related provision for devices installed in certain public accommodations, received comments from DOTAX and the Tax Foundation, with additional support from the Department of Health and other groups. HB 1642 HD1 would ban ownership or operation of digital financial asset transaction kiosks that accept U.S. currency; it was strongly supported by OCP, the Attorney General, and AARP, while kiosk operators and industry representatives opposed the ban and urged a regulatory approach instead, including licensing, transaction limits, refunds, and other safeguards. Members questioned whether federal action could preempt the bill and whether a licensure regime could be funded through a surcharge, but no action was taken during the discussion. The committee also took up HB 1753 on social media account deletion and permanent erasure of personal information, with OCP standing on its initial comments and TechNet and Will Caron in support. HB 1810 HD2 would impose prompt payment and financial reporting requirements on professional solicitors selling donated tangible property on behalf of charities; Goodwill Hawaii testified in strong support, emphasizing donor trust and transparency, and several nonprofit and business groups submitted supportive testimony. HB 2282 HD1, which would require explanations for premium increases and clarify insurance licensing and cancellation/non-renewal procedures, was supported by the Insurance Division and OCP; a vice chair asked for complaint data related to condo associations, and a member noted that the same agencies had previously opposed similar Senate bills. Finally, HB 2614 HD1 would require cosmetics merchants to accept returns of new or unopened goods within specified time frames and improve signage requirements; OCP said the bill addressed longstanding complaints about high-pressure sales tactics and no-return policies, citing over 180 complaints and survey results showing most complainants did not understand the policy and felt misled.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will do this to make sure we have room for adjustment of budgets for HAFC.
• We know there will be budgets that need further general fund adjustments, and we will be working with
• So obviously, y'all are going to do... ...some adjustments.
• Without adjustment, the agency faces difficult tradeoffs that impact operational stability and retention
• The adjustment brings the total FY27 recommended budget to $8,188,200, an increase of $552,000 or 7.2

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, when I look up there, it's like my glasses have to adjust.
• We are working together with your agencies and with each other to try to adjust these things.
• What we try to do is actually make adjustments as we go to pull that out of the nosedive and get to the
• If there's a way to bump those caps higher or tie them to an inflation-adjusted index... ...to bump those
• caps higher or tie them to an inflation-adjusted index like CPI, that would be an option.

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Joint Transportation Committee study of transportation impacts if the Lower Snake River dams were removed. WSDOT and Jacobs described the study’s phases, including current work on geology, infrastructure risk, and a total logistics cost model. They explained that the study is examining how freight now moved by barge—especially wheat, fertilizer, and wood—could shift to rail and roads, and they outlined several scenarios ranging from no-dam future conditions to new unit-train terminals, short-line rail options, and a combined “many solutions” scenario. Members asked about irrigation, impacts in Idaho and Oregon, port capacity, emissions, competition, EV trucks, and whether the model could estimate transportation effects if grain volumes decline. The presenters said the study assumes current production levels continue, does not model irrigation changes or broader farm-economics impacts, but does account for transloading costs and can estimate transportation impacts under different volume assumptions. WSU’s independent review team said the model has improved substantially but still needed refinement, especially in routing, road data, and spatial detail, and that stakeholder engagement had been strong though delayed by model development. No votes were taken. The committee then received a presentation on the alternative sidewalk funding study. Staff and consultants said the study is exploring ways local governments could sustainably fund sidewalk maintenance, repair, and new construction, using a statewide survey, interviews, national research, and case studies in eight jurisdictions. They noted sidewalks are important for pedestrian safety and connectivity, but there is no dedicated funding source in Washington, and existing grants and local revenue tools are highly competitive or limited. The consultants highlighted sidewalk fees or utility-style charges as the most promising option to study, while a parcel tax was largely set aside because of state property-tax uniformity concerns. Members asked whether the study would duplicate existing funding or add to current taxes, and how a sidewalk fee would be collected; the consultants said the goal is to expand local options, not mandate adoption, and that fees would likely be billed through utilities rather than property taxes. A preliminary draft report is due December 15, with a final report due in mid-June. Next, staff gave a brief update on the ocean-going vessels study, which is examining shore power and emissions rules for vessels at berth. The presenter explained that federal Clean Air Act rules and California waiver authority create legal limits on how far Washington can go if it wants to adopt similar standards, and that deviations from California’s approach can increase litigation risk. The report will summarize stakeholder outreach and will be presented in draft form at the next JTC meeting. Finally, county engineers from Chelan and Douglas counties began a presentation on county transportation challenges, with the association’s director emphasizing collaboration with state agencies and local partners on issues such as fish passage barriers and infrastructure needs. The county presentation was only beginning when the transcript ended, and no committee action or votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• uh<00:37:56.400> picked<00:37:56.640> up<00:37:56.800> by<00:37:56.960> adjusters
• ,<00:37:57.520> insurance uh picked up by adjusters, insurance uh picked up by adjusters,
• insurance adjusters,<00:37:58.320> and<00:37:58.480> others<00:37:58.720> that<00
• :37:58.880> make<00:37:59.040> th<00:37:59.280> that adjusters, and others that
• make th that adjusters, and others that make th that verify<00:37:59.920> those<00:38:00.160><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, obviously, as we continue the rebuilding and recovery process, are there going to be adjustments
• If those services aren't being provided, do fees need to be adjusted?
• So we basically had to make adjustments across the overall budget to account for the fact that there
• So as we looked at this plan, we needed to get into all of We needed to adjust every last one of them
• The hillside below the hangar is destabilizing, and the property line was adjusted, resulting in the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not merely technical. clarifying um the aid and levy clarifying um the aid and levy adjustments<
• when access tax increment is adjustments when access tax increment is returned<00:06:53.759> to
• And the amendment includes several financial adjustments.
• And the amendment includes several financial adjustments. Any questions, comments?
• So we thought that was a fair adjustment, if that answers your question.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the result of payment adjustments, audits, errors.
• <00:28:47.320> audits result of payment adjustments audits result of payment adjustments audits
• stuff isn't retained, so you can't see why those adjustments were being made.
• were made if you why adjustments were made if you remember<00:35:24.520> kind<00:35:24.640>
• <00:35:33.880> were can't see why those adjustments were can't see why those adjustments were

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met on January 22, 2025, to focus early in session on waste, fraud, abuse, and program integrity in Minnesota human services programs. The chair said taxpayers expect funds to reach people in need and asked the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) to present on resources, progress, and possible solutions. Members also asked the auditors to note where the legislature or agencies had already taken action to address prior findings. OLA staff summarized recent reports on grants management and oversight. They said noncompliance with grants policies has been pervasive across agencies, including problems at DHS in conflict-of-interest documentation and pre-award financial reviews. In one DHS review, 30 of 41 grant reviewers had missing or incomplete conflict forms, and 20 of 57 grants lacked required financial review documents; the issues affected about $11.5 million in grant funding. OLA said DHS spent more than $400 million in grants to nonprofit organizations from 2018 to 2022, and they identified broader factors affecting compliance such as inconsistent funding for grants administration, ad hoc training, inconsistent data systems, and limited enforcement authority. They noted 2023 legislative changes that allowed agencies to retain some grant funding for administration and directed an assessment of a statewide grants management system, and they said OGM training and staffing have increased, though training is still not required for all staff. The Financial Audit Division then discussed the senior nutrition program at DHS, which delivered about 3.1 million meals to more than 40,000 participants in 2022 through the Minnesota Board on Aging, area agencies, service providers, and subcontractors. The audit found nine findings across documentation, monitoring, contract oversight, participant recertification, and data quality. Examples included service providers failing to recertify participants or recording inaccurate data, the Board on Aging not performing monitoring visits since 2017 or financial reconciliations in 2022, and area agencies failing to complete required site visits. Survey results also suggested participant database inaccuracies. OLA recommended stronger monitoring, clearer procedures, and more reliable data to ensure services reach intended recipients. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think at this point, Representative Costa moves to allow the staff to make technical adjustments and
• Costa moves to allow the staff to make technical adjustments and changes relating to the bump process

Summary: The conference committee on the House Justice Budget Subcommittee and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to exchange and accept offers on budget, proviso, implementing, back-of-the-bill, and project language for HB 5403E and SB 2512E. The House accepted several Senate project-line offers, while the Senate accepted multiple House proviso and bill-language lines. Both sides agreed that remaining unresolved items would be bumped to the full committee for further resolution. Members used the meeting to thank one another and staff for their work throughout the budget process, with several remarks recognizing the cooperation between the House and Senate teams and Senator Hooper’s service. The committee noted that this was likely the last conference committee meeting and that substantial progress had been made in narrowing differences between the chambers. Representative Costa moved to allow staff to make technical adjustments related to the bump process, and the motion was adopted without objection. There was no public comment, and Senator Hooper moved to adjourn; the motion carried and the meeting ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think at this point, Representative Costa moves to allow the staff to make technical adjustments and
• Costa moves to allow the staff to make technical adjustments and changes relating to the bump process

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In looking at adjusted tax collections, they show resilience.
• So using the to to get adjusted.
• So using the adjusted<01:03:55.039> data<01:03:55.440> and adjusted data and adjusted data
• <01:37:19.520> for see in 2025 when you adjust for see in 2025 when you adjust for inflation
• We adjustments and that going forward.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think at this point, Representative Costa moves to allow the staff to make technical adjustments and
• Vice Chair Koster moves to allow the staff to make technical adjustments and changes relating to the

Summary: The conference committee on the House Justice Budget Subcommittee and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to exchange offers on budget, proviso, implementing, back-of-the-bill, and related language for HB 5403E and SB 2512E. The House accepted the Senate’s budget and projects offer on a list of specified lines, while the Senate accepted the House’s offer on several proviso, back-of-the-bill, and implementing language lines. Both sides agreed that any remaining unresolved issues would be bumped to the full committee, including conforming language and unresolved budget or proviso items. Members used the meeting to note that this was likely the final conference committee meeting and to thank one another and staff for their work throughout the budget process. Senator Hooper and Representative Maney each acknowledged the efforts of committee members and staff, and praised the collaborative work of the House and Senate teams in narrowing differences. A motion was made by Vice Chair Koster to allow staff to make technical adjustments and changes related to the bump process, and it was adopted without objection. There was no public comment, and Senator Hooper then moved to adjourn. The committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Annually, it's going to be annually adjusted on what basis, cost of living, or what?
• Yeah, how it will be adjusted annually is something we still want to continue conversations going into

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we're making according to the adjustment we're making according to the approach<00:46:45.640> that
• I just want to make sure it includes both the inflation adjustment and the bump.
• So there you got the total adjusted targeted grant of 55.4 million, and then that gets capped.
• So there you got the total adjusted targeted grant of 55.4 million, and then that gets capped.
• additional targeted Aid and the adjusted additional targeted Aid and the adjusted total<02:27:04.040

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in executive session on HB 563, which revises the adequacy education grant formula, including differentiated aid for free and reduced-price meals, English language learners, and special education, and also restores fiscal capacity disparity aid. Members explained that for FY 26 the formula largely stays the same with the usual 2% increases, while FY 27 would raise the base cost and several aid categories, including a substantial increase in special education differentiated aid. Supporters said the bill recognizes higher special education costs and separates fiscal capacity disparity from the extraordinary needs grant, which they argued better targets property-poor communities. A major point of discussion was the fiscal capacity disparity aid component. Some members asked for more detail on how the formula affected individual towns and how much money was being allocated. The sponsors said the spreadsheet showed the impacts and estimated the fiscal capacity disparity portion at about $13.3 million, benefiting roughly 40 communities, with Manchester the only municipality expected to receive less under the new approach. They also said the change partially rebalances money that had shifted heavily toward larger cities under the extraordinary needs grant and that the special education increase is new money, not taken from the hold harmless or extraordinary needs funds. Several members supported the amendment as a good-faith step and a bipartisan compromise, while others expressed frustration that they did not have enough time or information to review the spreadsheets in detail before voting. After extended debate, the committee recessed for lunch to allow the spreadsheet to be distributed and reviewed, with the understanding that the bill would continue later in the day and then move on to the other bills on the docket.

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes insurance agents and adjusters, real estate agents and brokers, property appraisers, debt
• All right, so the first budget proposal that the office has is an operating adjustment to support our
• All right, so the first budget proposal that the office has is an operating adjustment to support our
• way by adjusting menu prices just as every other business does.
• in a straightforwardly way by adjusting in a straightforwardly way by adjusting menu<01:43:25.199

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:05:07.440> some<00:05:07.600> of<00:05:07.720> the<00:05:08.200> adjustments
• members to hear some of the adjustments members to hear some of the adjustments that<00:05:09.040
• share<00:19:14.880> of<00:19:15.000> state<00:19:15.200> employees When adjusted
• Some of the standards that you've evaluated, maybe adjusted so that these families that sometimes do
• so that these families maybe adjusted so that these families that<01:02:38.840> sometimes<01:

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A budget adjusted for the anticipated CPI of 2.7% would total $118.2 billion.
• A budget adjusted by official estimates for population growth of 1.4% would total $116.7 billion.
• Senator Trumbull: So my ask is this: Let's give our schools the chance to adjust to a universal school
• Are we going to be establishing a COLA or inflation adjustment for the new homestead exemption?
• That's a problem that the senators have to really think about and figure out a way to adjust, because

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, the proposed constitutional amendment on property tax relief, which would reduce assessment growth on non-homestead property, expand homestead exemptions, create a new exemption for new homesteaders, and direct counties, cities, and school districts to use property tax revenues for specified core services. Senator Avila presented the measure as the governor’s plan to provide historic relief and argued that local governments should tighten budgets and prioritize core functions. Senators raised concerns about the lack of fiscal scoring, the breadth and ambiguity of the permitted uses, the effect on special districts and local services, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. The committee adopted several amendments, including Avila’s amendment clarifying that ad valorem revenues could be used for county and municipal operations and administration and other expenditures not prohibited by law, and Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal. Other amendments failed, including proposals to allow user fees and non-ad valorem assessments, add a sunset, redirect tourism development taxes, narrow the small-business provision, and change the ballot title to reference local service reductions. Grall’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund requirement was adopted, while the committee also rejected Berman’s title-change amendment and Smith’s sunset and tourism-tax amendments. The committee then returned to the bill as amended for questions, including extended debate over whether the proposal would affect noncitizen residents, the impact on local government finances, and whether local governments would respond with higher fees or special assessments. The meeting ended with the bill still under discussion after the final round of questions, with Avila saying he would continue working with the governor’s office on the language before the next vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• If the governing body has not accepted the audit and any applicable adjustments within 45 days of receipt
• , the audit as received or adjusted and any accompanying management letters shall be submitted to the
• , the audit as received or adjusted and any accompanying management letters shall be submitted to the
• audit and and any applicable adjustments audit and and any applicable adjustments within<00:41:49.440
• <00:41:54.800> and<00:41:55.040> any received or adjusted and any received or adjusted

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and reviewed several previously heard bills, but focused its discussion on SB 586 and SB 580. The chair explained that SB 586 would require school districts and school administrative units to publish audit reports after the fiscal year, and that an amendment, 1472H, had been prepared to replace the relevant audit/reporting section. The amendment would add SAUs to the reporting entities, expand the contents of audits to include items such as employee lists, pay, benefits, and pension liabilities, and change the timing so audits are submitted nine months after the fiscal year end, followed by a three-month Department of Education review and then a further correction period before any grant funding could be withheld. The amendment would also require the reports to be posted in searchable electronic form on the web. Committee members discussed whether the bill’s “non-compliance” language referred only to incomplete submissions or also to audit findings, and several members raised concerns about whether the Department of Education had the staff and authority to take on this role, whether the existing DOE25 process would be displaced, and whether the bill should instead remain with the Department of Revenue Administration. One member noted that the fiscal note anticipated the need for additional auditors and significant staffing costs. The committee also reviewed SB 580, described as a school cooperative purchasing program bill that also contains policy provisions for charter school trustees, school board members, and receivership-related language tied to Claremont. The chair said the committee had previously heard comments from Charlie Arlinghouse on the cooperative purchasing portion and would use a side-by-side comparison prepared by staff when it reached that bill. Other bills on the docket were briefly described but not taken up that day: SB 491, which has committee-requested amendments and a separate non-germane amendment related to curriculum frameworks and academic standards; SB 513, an owner’s project manager bill held as a possible vehicle for future non-germane language; and SB 531, concerning a cosmetology program in Coös County and a possible task force. The chair said the committee would not address 491, 513, or 531 that day and would return to 580 and 586.