Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of the payment platforms, the Venmos and cash apps of the world, and then also we want to make
• implementation and agree with the comments that were pointed out in the analysis about online marketplaces and cash
• So when you're talking about the Venmos and cash apps of the world, it's one thing; when you start getting

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several measures, including SB 402 by Senator Valadares, which would move existing qualification requirements for qualified autism service providers and related professionals from the Health and Safety Code and Insurance Code into the Business and Professions Code without changing the standards. Supporters said it was a technical cleanup that would improve consistency and legislative oversight, while an opponent argued the bill was unnecessary and could create access issues; another witness urged inclusion of the QABA credentialing board. The committee approved SB 402 on a due pass motion to the Committee on Health. The committee also heard SB 378 by Senator Wiener, aimed at online platforms that facilitate sales of illicit cannabis and intoxicating hemp products. Supporters, including labor, local government, and cannabis industry representatives, said the bill would help protect consumers, minors, legal businesses, and tax revenue by creating accountability for online marketplaces. Opponents from the hemp industry and TechNet argued the bill was overly broad, could sweep in legitimate platforms and payment services, and should better distinguish bad actors from compliant hemp businesses; members discussed implementation, enforcement through a private right of action, and coordination with AB 8. The committee passed SB 378 to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. Senator Arreguín presented SB 779, which would establish minimum enforcement fines for Contractors State License Board citations where minimums are currently very low or absent, and would raise the board’s reserve cap from six months to 12 months. The sponsor said the changes would better match penalties to violations and help support consumer protection and board operations during economic downturns. There was no opposition, and the committee approved SB 779 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar, which included SB 344 and AB 652, both sent to Appropriations. SB 508 was not heard because it had been pulled by the author.

Transcript Highlights:

• But instead of serving, they paid the money back in cash.
• What percentage was that cashed out or paid back? What percentage was that cashed out or paid back?
• We receive applications from those payments for victims involved in the crime.

Bills: SB197 , HB140 , SB214 , HB214 , HB147 , HB270 , SB73

Committee: House Fiscal Responsibility

Keywords: business regulation, nonprofit entities, electronic filing, merger agreements, limited liability companies, partnerships, property transfer, termination fees, HB140, private sewer systems, wastewater utilities, Public Service Commission, PSC jurisdiction, utility regulation, rate setting, rate consolidation, affiliated systems, common ownership, private utilities, sewer rates

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Medicaid directed payments. Medicaid directed payments.
• 00:35:07.680><c> a</c> Minnesota family investment program a Minnesota family investment program a cash
• assistance program supporting um cash assistance program supporting um thousands<00:35:10.960><c> and
• </c> you know, we'd have to look at the cash you know, we'd have to look at the cash flow<00:48:20.319
• And so, to the extent we lose federal funds, but the state is still required to make the same payments

Summary: The Senate Rules and Administration Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability met on February 20, 2026, to hear from Minnesota Management and Budget State Budget Director Anna Mingi about federal funding changes affecting the state budget. Before testimony began, Senator Rasmusson objected to a draft committee report that had been prepared in advance of the hearing, arguing it was inappropriate to summarize testimony before it occurred. The chair responded that nonpartisan staff had prepared the draft from Mingi’s submitted presentation and could revise it after the hearing if needed. Director Mingi explained that federal dollars make up more than one-third of state spending and support about 650 federal awards totaling over $23 billion this year, with more than $15 billion supporting state entitlement programs. She said the federal funding environment had changed significantly since January 2025 through executive orders, pauses, terminations, new grant conditions, delayed awards, and the July 2025 passage of H.R. 1, the federal reconciliation bill. Her main focus was H.R. 1’s effects on health care and food assistance, including work requirements for some adults, changes to eligibility for legal non-citizens, limits on retroactive Medicaid coverage and directed payments, new limits on provider taxes, and SNAP changes that shift some benefit and administrative costs to the state and counties. She estimated H.R. 1 would reduce federal funds to state-administered programs by about $327 million in the current biennium and $1.6 billion in the next, with additional costs to hospitals, counties, and other partners beyond the budget horizon. Members asked follow-up questions about whether the estimates were relative to the forecast and whether federal Medicaid funding would still rise over time. Mingi said the estimates were based on the November forecast baseline and that Medicaid federal dollars would likely continue growing overall, though the law still creates significant losses relative to prior projections. Senator Rasmusson emphasized that point in remarks to the committee. The discussion then shifted to federal grant pauses and cancellations: MMB’s tracker showed about six awards on hold totaling roughly $491 million, 13 confirmed cancellations across areas including clean energy, education, food assistance, and public health, and additional threatened or litigated cuts not included in those totals. Mingi identified two canceled violence-prevention-related grants, including a FEMA public safety grant and a justice reinvestment grant, and noted that CDC had recently moved to cancel or seek cancellation of several Minnesota public health grants, including a $65 million public health infrastructure award.

Transcript Highlights:

• was asking the bill sponsor about because all my experience with cost versus, you know, market or cash
• was asking the bill sponsor about because all my experience with cost versus, you know, market or cash
• Instead, Hancock has been implemented so that you cannot keep more than one year's debt payments, which
• He said the school district cannot keep more than one year's payment.
• Throughout the entire time of the debt, you cannot keep more than one year's payment in reserves.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• The speaker said that direct payments to student-athletes from colleges, NIL collectives, and private
• So cash flow timing.
• So cash flow timing.
• I'm in the cash flow timing, and I know it's complex on how you bid that out.
• There's going to be a cash shortfall, I understand, on the Professional Student Exchange Program.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• and the direct payments to student-athletes both from colleges and from NIL collectives and private
• So cash flow timing.
• I'm in the cash flow timing. And I know it's complex on how you bid that out.
• So cash flow timing. These were all as of September of 2025. So cash flow timing.
• I'm in the cash flow timing. And I know it's complex on how you bid that out.

Summary: The committee met on the Minot State campus for a presentation from President Shirley and several university leaders on enrollment, academics, workforce initiatives, and partnerships. Shirley reviewed the university’s financial audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings in recent years, and highlighted Minot State’s major programs, specialized accreditations, and ties to Minot Air Force Base and NCAA Division II athletics. Members asked about education workforce shortages, athletic tuition waivers, dual credit incentives, and the university’s in-state tuition policy for all students. Shirley also discussed the university’s recruitment efforts, including the Hometown Pride and Academic Excellence scholarships, campus visit growth, and the Emerging Scholars dual-credit reimbursement program. A major focus was workforce development and new academic offerings supported by legislative Workforce Education Innovation Funds. Shirley described the new Innovation Engineering program, which was developed with industry input to train broadly skilled engineers for western North Dakota, and said it had already drawn more applicants than expected. Dr. Crystal St. Peter presented a new master’s program in counseling that integrates mental health and addiction counseling to address statewide provider shortages, with a hybrid format to reach rural students. Members asked about licensure requirements, internship hours, and job placement for graduates. Shirley also outlined a new nursing simulation center and health sciences space in downtown Minot, made possible by state support and the purchase of the former Trinity Health Center West building. The committee also heard about Minot State’s efforts to build pipelines into education and special education, including the Aspire program for rural high school students and an online paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Shirley said these programs, along with new articulation agreements and a large Bush Foundation grant, are intended to address teacher shortages and keep students in North Dakota. No formal committee votes or actions were taken during the presentation; the session consisted of informational updates and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there has to be some guidelines on how the payments are made so that the pool, and I think I'm right
• Because the people are older, because the cash value has increased, which would be the premium on the
• And a 1035, if I'm not mistaken, you transfer all the cash value to the new policy.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on May 12 with a quorum present and first took up Senate Bill 341, which would expand the Louisiana churches and nonprofit religious organizations self-insured fund from property-only coverage to broader commercial coverage, including liability, contents, wind and hail, and loss-of-use protections. The sponsor and Department of Insurance said the bill was the product of agreement among the parties and was intended to help churches and nonprofits, including smaller congregations, obtain affordable coverage. After adopting technical amendments, the committee reported SB 341 as amended without objection. The committee then considered Senate Bill 509 on bank-owned life insurance (BOLI), which would clarify insurable interest and allow exchanges of underperforming policies. The sponsor, industry representatives, and the Department of Insurance discussed how banks use these policies for employee benefit funding, the role of 1035 exchanges, consent requirements, and concerns about federal tax issues and state insurable-interest language. Because the parties were still working toward a solution, the committee adopted a technical amendment but voluntarily deferred SB 509 until the following week. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 464 on coverage for severe obesity treatment, which would create a framework for partially implementing the bariatric surgery mandate based on available appropriations. The sponsor and the Department of Insurance said the bill would let the state cover a proportional share of expected surgeries if only part of the required funding is provided. The committee reported SB 464 favorably without objection, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there has to be some guidelines on how the payments are made so that the pool, and I think I'm right
• Because the people are older, because the cash value has increased, which would be the premium on the
• And a 1035, if I'm not mistaken, you transfer all the cash value to the new policy.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, my specific questions are about how the $500 monthly stipend or payment was allocated.
• . communicated because if they lose eligibility, they are removed from receiving that payment.
• In the cash plus program, what other benefits are these same students getting? Thank you, Mr.
• payment.
• This includes things like cash balances, requiring districts to make these things public.

Transcript Highlights:

• make several changes to the foreclosure prevention fee, including changes related to the exemptions, payment
• make several changes to the foreclosure prevention fee including changes related to the exemptions payment
• Regarding payment options, the option for the fee to be paid from a borrower cash contribution at the
• Importantly, it prevents home buyers using layered financing, such as down payment assistance, from being

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• would charge, and the cash price was often below any given health plan's average negotiated rate. ..
• .would charge, and the cash price was often below any given health plan's average negotiated rate.
• Now, a lot of opponents say, well, adding price transparency costs and so forth, finding our cash prices
• There's not a business around that does not know what price they'll take for cash for almost anything
• Even the most convoluted accounting system: someone comes up, I'll pay cash for this, we know what we'll

Bills: SB331 , SB883 , SB926 , SB1137 , SB1138 , SB1144 , SB1151 , SB1236 , SB1270 , SB1522 , SB1869 , SB2207 , SB2422

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 883, which would protect physicians’ ability to prescribe off-label medications and treatments, framed by the author as a “Right to Treat” measure tied to COVID-19 care. Supporters, including physicians and patient-choice advocates, said the bill would safeguard the doctor-patient relationship and prevent interference by boards, pharmacies, or hospitals. Several witnesses described using hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, budesonide, antibiotics, steroids, and monoclonal antibodies during the pandemic, and said they faced complaints, board scrutiny, or pharmacy refusals for those prescriptions. The bill was left pending after public testimony closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 331, which would extend hospital price-transparency requirements to additional health care facilities such as freestanding ERs, urgent care and retail clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient clinics, and birthing centers. Proponents argued that broader disclosure of prices for shoppable services would help consumers compare costs and reduce surprise billing, while opponents from ambulatory surgery centers said the bill would impose costly compliance burdens on small providers and that insurers or the state already have much of the needed data. The bill was also left pending. Senate Bill 2422 would expunge Texas Medical Board records and impose reparations for disciplinary actions tied to COVID-era treatment decisions, including references to ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, budesonide, and masks. The author and supporters argued that doctors were unfairly targeted for trying to save patients and should be made whole; the Texas Medical Board representative said most pandemic complaints were dismissed, that actions generally involved broader issues such as privileges, documentation, or informed consent, and that no physician was disciplined solely for prescribing off-label COVID medications. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2207, which would loosen Texas Medical Board rules on physicians advertising themselves as board certified, especially by reducing barriers tied to maintenance of certification requirements. Supporters said the current rule is overly restrictive, inconsistent, and costly, and that it drives physicians out of practice; they also said Texas is one of only a few states with such a rule. Witnesses described hospitals using the rule against physicians and said the change would improve transparency and competition. The bill remained pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm talking cash money.
• I'm talking cash money.
• I'm talking cash money.
• I'm talking cash money.
• AND FULLY FUNDS CASH VALUE VOUCHERS FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:13.360><c> was</c> requirements and so the payment was requirements and so the payment was
• We have a decrease of 3 payments.
• We have requesting an payments.
• taking the additional cash and appropriating it to the general fund. >> Yep.
• </c> to be cash. to be cash.

Bills: SB1 , SB4 , SB6 , SB9 , SB16 , SB17 , SB20 , SB22 , SB28 , SB29 , SB36 , SB41 , SB45 , SB77 , SB85 , SB87 , SB96 , SB98 , SB110 , SB126 , SB139 , SB143 , SB164 , SB167 , SB171 , SB186 , SB188 , SB195 , SB197 , SB198 , SB204 , SB205 , SB206 , SB207 , SB209 , SB210 , SB211 , SB217 , SB219 , SB220 , SB225 , SB231 , SB237 , SB238 , SB241 , SB244 , SB246 , SB247 , SB272 , SB294 , SB315 , SB346 , SB364 , SB366 , SB367 , SB386 , SB392 , SB403 , SB415 , SB427 , SB431 , SB437 , SB457 , SB459 , SB469 , SB471 , SB478 , SB484 , SB489 , SB502 , SB503 , SB507 , SB508 , SB510 , SB516 , SB517 , SB518 , SB519 , SB521 , SB535 , SB543 , SB550 , SB564 , SB568 , SB570 , SB575 , SB577 , SB578 , SB590 , SB607 , SB616 , SB621 , SB634 , SB644 , SB647 , SB649 , SB652 , SB655 , SB656 , SB663

Transcript Highlights:

• This would align with other state cash assistance programs like General Assistance and MIP.
• And it would also eliminate language requiring mandatory vendor payments of General Assistance benefits
• </c><00:52:22.400><c> assistance</c> align with other state cash assistance align with other state cash
• of general assistance benefits payments of general assistance benefits for<00:52:30.800><c> individuals
• And what we hear to use vendor payments.

Bills: HF4210 , HF4212 , HF4549 , HF4464 , HF4546 , HF4447

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• To their operating budgets, including drawdowns in cash balances, restrictions on out-of-state travel
• So, on page 8, starting with cash balances.
• Cash balances fell by about $42 million in FY26, the first year-over-year decline since FY17.
• Some of the charter schools have told us that they've been drawing down their cash balances.
• If you look at what our cash reserves, which are about 3 billion last year, it's about 0.3 of the cash

Transcript Highlights:

• They get a payment, and then they leave and go back home.
• And as you'll see, we're talking about a payment cycle of every six weeks.
• And as you'll see, we're talking about a payment cycle of every six weeks.
• It aligns the scholarship payment installments from quarterly to monthly, as I said, and aligns the payments
• give a two-month payment on the front end to homeschooling families.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• And he laughed at me, and he was like, "Of course I didn't buy it with cash."
• If I were to buy my $250,000 second home for my family with cash, I would have had to sell some assets
• If I were to buy my $250,000 second home for my family with cash, I would have had to sell some assets
• pay a wealth tax on their business's assets in a year where they operate at a loss and there's no cash
• </c> there's no cash available to pay? there's no cash available to pay?

Summary: The committee heard presentations on two tax bills: House File 4123, by Representative Agbaje, would expand Minnesota’s net investment income tax to include certain business income, especially income from S corporations and LLCs not subject to federal self-employment taxes, while keeping the current rate and million-dollar threshold; she said it would raise an estimated $88.7 million next year. House File 4616, by Chair Gomez, would impose a 1% annual tax on fortunes above $10 million. Gomez framed the bill as a response to growing wealth inequality and argued that wealthy households and large fortunes should contribute more to public services, while Agbaje said her bill would broaden the tax base and help meet state needs. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project, Erica Mominee of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Lauren Richards, and teacher Kristen Sinicariello, said the bills would help address wealth and income inequality and provide needed revenue for public health, education, and other public services. They pointed to federal tax cuts for high-income households, cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and strains on state agencies and schools. Richards said small businesses already pay more than large corporations like Amazon, and Sinicariello argued that higher revenue would support classrooms and help equalize opportunity. Opponents, including Brian Cook of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Dalton Danielson of the Minnesota Business Partnership, and John Beschi of NFIB Minnesota, warned that both bills would hurt business competitiveness and investment. They argued that HF 4123 would effectively create a new higher tax tier for pass-through businesses and that HF 4616 would be difficult to administer, could force sales of illiquid assets, and could discourage entrepreneurship and capital investment. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee moved through bill presentations and public testimony before member discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it makes important investments that increase SNAP payment accuracy and improve SNAP administration
• accuracy, and minimize state payment accuracy, and minimize state fiscal<00:03:21.640><c> obligations
• </c> and will be tied to payment error rates. and will be tied to payment error rates.
• accuracy and ease increase payment accuracy and ease worker<00:04:36.280><c> burden.
• </c> within DCYF covers SNAP and cash within DCYF covers SNAP and cash assistance<00:24:31.200><c> programs

Bills: HF4525 , HF3002 , HF3665 , HF4420

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, for newer members, the state of Minnesota invested heavily in producer payments that helped start
• The other thing where we greatly exceed OGM requirements is that we reconcile every payment request,
• If we show up at the uh Lon Liquors, do you have samples whose actual cash value is less than $5?
• </c> actual cash value is less than $5? actual cash value is less than $5? &gt;&gt; Absolutely.
• /c><00:51:48.480><c> the</c> payments to producers shifts the payments to producers shifts the financial

Bills: HF3580 , HF3566

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It will also require an OBGYN add-on payment... ...to support hospitals providing labor and delivery
• payments, training, and telemedicine.
• The rural maternal add-on payment certainly moves the needle in the right direction.
• And I think that's critical because it's a month-to-month cash flow conversation, right?
• It's not the intent of this to reduce the payments. Well look, this is interesting.

Bills: HB18 , HB37 , HB 116 , HB388 , HB879 , HB913 , HB 1151 , HB2216 , HB2358 , HB2809 , SB577 , SB1590 , SB1782 , SB1887 , SB2744 , HB18 , HB37 , HB116

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services