Transcript Highlights:

• We do the rulemaking on behalf of the commission.
• We do the rulemaking on behalf of the commission.
• levy process, powers and duties of the commission, the rulemaking authority, and election of commission
• New Mexico, Arizona, I believe Minnesota, Colorado, and Minnesota, Colorado, and South Dakota had traceouts
• As with auction yards, an actual public livestock market, they do have to renew a public charter every

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll open public testimony on House Bill 272. We'll open public testimony on House Bill 272.
• The bill requires the Texas Ethics Commission to redact an individual's residential home address on public
• We'll open public testimony on House Bill 551, and the chair calls Ed We'll open public testimony on
• Very well, we'll open public testimony. Public testimony is now open.
• We’re going to open up public testimony.

Bills: HB46 , HB272 , HB551 , HB1661 , HB2820 , HB3181 , HB4145 , HB4157 , HB46 , HB272

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: low-THC cannabis, dispensing organization, Texas Compassionate-Use Program, medical use, patient access, registration, healthcare, legislation, credit card fraud, debit card fraud, prosecution, illegal possession, state law, political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, election supplies, ballots

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard several House bills and took no final votes, leaving each bill pending after testimony. HB 272 would align venue and evidentiary rules for fraudulent use or possession of credit/debit card information with existing credit card abuse law; the sponsor said it would improve prosecutions, and the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center supported it. HB 1661 would increase penalties for certain election-related offenses, including failure to distribute election supplies and early release of election results; no substantive opposition was heard. HB 551 would protect the residential addresses of people who receive campaign expenditures on public Texas Ethics Commission reports, similar to donor privacy protections, and a witness from Texas Eagle Forum later indicated support for the privacy change. The committee also heard HB 2820, which would raise the amount charitable bingo organizations may keep in operating capital from $50,000 to $100,000. The sponsor and a Texans for Charitable Bingo representative said inflation and operating costs have made the current cap too low and that the bill would help charities maintain stable operations without expanding gaming. HB 3181 would impose stronger consequences for repeated denial of court-ordered child possession and access, including limiting probation and requiring attorney’s fees after multiple contempt findings; a family court judge and a parent testified in support, while another witness argued the bill should be paired with stronger criminal enforcement and that parents already face high costs. HB 4157 would update Texas law for commercial spaceflight by recognizing liability waivers and preserving workers’ compensation rights; no one testified against it. The committee also heard HB 4145, which would let health care providers satisfy a timely billing requirement by sending bills to a patient’s legal representative in a personal injury case, closing what supporters described as a loophole in letter-of-protection situations. Finally, HB 46, relating to the Texas Compassionate Use Program, drew the most extensive discussion: supporters said it should expand access for legitimate medical cannabis patients and add more delivery methods and conditions, while opponents warned against broader marijuana expansion and questioned adding chronic pain and other conditions. The sponsor said he still supports the program and wants a balanced, regulated expansion, but noted the bill is still being worked on. All bills were left pending at the close of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, whether you think Minnesota needs lower taxes or better public services, the budget reality
• Finally, whether you think Minnesota needs lower taxes or better public services, the budget reality
• Finally, whether you think Minnesota needs lower taxes or better public services, the budget reality
• Finally, whether you think Minnesota needs lower taxes or better public services, the budget reality
• Finally, whether you think Minnesota needs lower taxes or better public services, the budget reality

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The Minnesota Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee will please come to
• </c> in in Minnesota. in in Minnesota.
• Utilities Commission.
• Also for our public transit, we're working with the University of Minnesota on how we can convert their
• My name is Annie Levinson Falk, and I'm the executive director of the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• In Minnesota, public education is compulsory. Children are required by law to attend school.
• House File 3489 finally takes into account—" In Minnesota, public education is compulsory.
• The taxpayers of Minnesota are out there getting fleeced while the public employees are paying less and
• </c> under Minnesota law that under Minnesota under Minnesota law that under Minnesota law<02:48:26.160
• </c> public safety coordinator and a public public safety coordinator and a public safety<03:16:15.040

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:05.040><c> and</c> and it is used throughout Minnesota and and it is used throughout Minnesota
• Minnesota's only public medical school, the University of Minnesota Medical School, plays a vital role
• </c> going to give us a healthier Minnesota going to give us a healthier Minnesota and<00:32:48.000><
• </c> part of the um Blue Ribbon commission part of the um Blue Ribbon commission the<00:58:21.160><c>
• </c><01:01:28.200><c> um</c> areas of of the state of Minnesota um areas of of the state of Minnesota

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Our coalition is made up of four faith community groups in Minnesota: the Minnesota Catholic Conference
• , the Islamic Center of Minnesota, the Jewish Community Relations Council, and the Minnesota Council
• Our coalition is made up of four faith community groups in Minnesota: the Minnesota Catholic Conference
• , the Islamic Center of Minnesota, the Jewish Community Relations Council, and the Minnesota Council
• ><c> of</c> Council and the Minnesota Council of Council and the Minnesota Council of churches<00:16:

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:54.040><c> Minnesota</c><00:15:54.480><c> statute</c> the public protection.
• Minnesota statute the public protection.
• It's about modernizing the regulation, protecting the public, and aligning Minnesota law with the professional
• ><c> law</c> the public, and aligning Minnesota law the public, and aligning Minnesota law with<00:18
• </c> a public auction. a public auction.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:12.000><c> will</c> 100% clean energy bill, utilities will 100% clean energy bill, utilities
• </c><00:04:27.240><c> where</c> data center in southern Minnesota where data center in southern Minnesota
• There are two utilities without it.
• </c> put before the people of Minnesota. put before the people of Minnesota.
• Xcel has to file with the Public Utilities Commission their plans for this Pine Island data center.

Summary: The interview focused on Minnesota’s clean energy policy, energy affordability, and the state’s path toward its 100% clean electricity goal. The senator said Minnesota’s clean energy reputation comes from environmental concern, job creation, and lower long-term costs, noting that wind is now the lowest-cost generation source and that solar costs have fallen sharply. He said rising electricity demand has led to some increased coal use, but argued the state can still meet its 2040 clean energy target through continued renewable buildout, permitting reform, conservation, and demand response. A major topic was data centers. The senator emphasized both concerns and benefits, saying hyperscale data centers can bring substantial construction jobs, property tax revenue, and, under the 2025 law, payments to low-income energy assistance. He cited the Pine Island Google data center as air-cooled, with no water concerns, and said it will pay $5 million annually while funding 1,600 MW of wind, solar, and battery resources at its own expense. He also said Xcel’s filing projected a $1.1 billion ratepayer savings over 10 years, while urging the public to weigh both pros and cons, especially around water use and local tax impacts. The discussion also covered nuclear power and climate costs. The senator said the Senate has passed a nuclear study three years in a row and expects it to advance, while the moratorium on new nuclear plants remains tied to the Prairie Island Indian Community and unresolved nuclear waste storage. He argued Minnesota likely cannot reach its emissions goals without nuclear in the mix, though he acknowledged current nuclear is not cost-competitive and said future advanced or small modular nuclear could change that. On affordability, he pointed to climate-driven costs such as higher homeowners insurance and storm damage, and described Senate energy omnibus provisions including conservation, plug-in solar, and renewable development account projects such as a Como Zoo clean energy project. No votes were taken in the interview itself, but the senator referenced the recently announced budget deal and said he still needed to negotiate a renewable development account agreement between the House and Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm David Kelleher from the Minnesota Historical Society.
• According to a study from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the University of Minnesota
• That is the Opus Public Space Project.
• I'm with the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota.
• And closed to the public.

Bills: HF474 , HF218 , HF210 , HF441 , HF691 , HF720 , HF1068 , HF1314 , HF1465 , HF1860 , HF2046 , HF1389 , HF2404 , HF2854 , HF2985 , HF3128 , HF3103 , HF778 , HF3125

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• We've invited representatives from the Public Service Commission, the four investor-owned electric utilities
• Mark Futrell, Deputy Executive Director, Technical, for the Florida Public Service Commission. Mr.
• The commission held proceedings during that time and worked to establish utility-specific storm reserve
• The commission took some action to try to assist customers and utilities to get through that period.
• We have local distribution with our Florida City Gas and Florida Public Utilities.

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Summary: The committee met to hear invited presentations on storm recovery and storm protection from the Florida Public Service Commission, Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric, Chesapeake Utilities, and the Office of Public Counsel. The PSC reviewed the history of storm restoration financing and utility hardening efforts after major storms such as Hurricane Andrew, the 2004-05 hurricane seasons, Irma, and Michael, explaining storm reserve funds, storm recovery bonds, and the current three-year storm protection plan process. The commission’s role in approving plans and later reviewing prudence of actual costs was emphasized, along with the types of work included in the plans such as vegetation management, pole replacement, undergrounding, feeder hardening, and substation flood protection. The utilities described their own storm-hardening investments and recent storm performance. FPL said it has spent about $4.9 billion on storm protection and recovery-related efforts, highlighted improved restoration times during Helene and Milton, and said it is expanding undergrounding, feeder hardening, and smart-grid technology. Duke Energy reported more than 40,000 hardened poles and structures since 2021, major gains from self-healing grid technology, and faster restoration during recent storms. Tampa Electric described a roughly $200 million annual storm protection effort, including vegetation management, undergrounding, substation hardening, and new storm surge protections, and Chesapeake Utilities discussed its smaller-scale hardening program, vegetation work, pole replacement, and rapid restoration after Helene in Nassau County. Committee members asked about how utilities prioritize neighborhoods for lateral hardening, whether maps of planned projects could be shared, how much each utility has spent on undergrounding and hardening, and how reliability comparisons are normalized against the national average. Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler argued that storm recovery and hardening costs fall too heavily on investor-owned utility customers, said the current framework lacks a meaningful cost-benefit or prudence check at the planning stage, and urged broader sharing of storm costs because the benefits extend to the whole state. Senators also discussed whether the commission can review the reasonableness of approved programs and whether future reports or recommendations from Public Counsel would be helpful. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> infrastructure needs of public ports. infrastructure needs of public ports.
• , I'm David Keller, Minnesota Historical Society, Government Relations and Public Policy. >> Madam Chair
• Minnesota History Center.
• </c> organizations from throughout Minnesota. organizations from throughout Minnesota.
• </c> Minnesota Historical Society. Thank you. Minnesota Historical Society. Thank you.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• However, the public did not seem to get the public got a short shrift, Mr.
• </c> I want to talk about it in a public I want to talk about it in a public forum<00:32:40.080><c> here
• it in a public forum here for the benefit of the public.
• </c> get that number down and utilize get that number down and utilize alternative<01:09:18.719><c> uh
• </c> uh in Minnesota in the prison system. uh in Minnesota in the prison system.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> estimated to go to greater Minnesota, estimated to go to greater Minnesota, where<00:04:35.480>
• There's a $40,000 cost to the Public Utilities Commission and an appropriation in the bill for that.
• </c> There's a $40,000 cost to the Public There's a $40,000 cost to the Public Utilities<00:08:32.280
• ><c> Commission</c><00:08:32.840><c> and</c><00:08:33.039><c> an</c> Utilities Commission and an Utilities
• ><c> is</c><00:30:16.160><c> increasing</c> the spending in Minnesota is increasing the spending in Minnesota

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• One change to note is that under section 4, the Public Utilities Commission will be able to assess fees
• <00:14:29.600><c> utilities</c><00:14:30.079><c> commission</c><00:14:30.800><c> will</c><00:14:31.040
• ><c> be</c><00:14:31.199><c> able</c> public utilities commission will be able public utilities commission
• vote for Minnesota.
• vote for Minnesota.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• So the Public Service Commission, and I don't want to get Commissioner Kringstad a job here, but they
• But I feel very comfortable in that both the Public Service Commission, the investor-owned utilities,
• There is a public notification process, so the public has an opportunity to comment on each and every
• I think as public policymakers, we face some of that misinformation, I think, as public policymakers,
• We had those discussions with the Industrial Commission.

Committee: Joint Energy Development and Transmission Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> very substantial benefit for Minnesota very substantial benefit for Minnesota and<00:04:08.680><
• Minnesota Home Care Association.
• Minnesota Home Care Association.
• Minnesota Home Care Association.
• </c> a disability in our life if Minnesota a disability in our life if Minnesota becomes<01:33:52.480

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so I and held out in the public.
• It's where the rich use<00:35:23.359><c> public</c> use public use public transportation.
• </c> public transportation. Think about that. public transportation. Think about that.
• </c> decisions and we make Minnesota work. decisions and we make Minnesota work.
• </c> And so, I actually found a Minnesota And so, I actually found a Minnesota based<01:22:24.159><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to know what is the contribution from Minnesota, the state of Minnesota.
• As far as Minnesota, I have no idea. Mr. Chairman, I continue.
• As far as Minnesota, I have no idea. Mr. Chairman, I continue.
• And whether it's something that's tied to public safety and public health, I guess, altogether, that
• Something that's tied to public safety and public health, I guess, altogether, that would, you know,

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 2265, which would provide the Fargo National Cemetery with up to a $3 million line of credit to help fund improvements such as indoor bathrooms, parking, a family gathering area, an office, a hearse garage, and a veterans gallery. Supporters said the cemetery has expanded rapidly since 2019, has already conducted about 1,000 burials, and needs better facilities for families and the Honor Guard; they also said the project would be subject to federal VA approval and, once completed, would be taken over by the VA. Members raised questions about the project’s cost, timing, funding sources, whether the bill should be a grant instead of a line of credit, and whether a chapel should be specifically included. No vote was taken on SB 2265 during the excerpt. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2230, which would have the Secretary of State mail active voters a guide on ballot measures at least 45 days before an election, with objective summaries, fiscal impacts, and arguments for and against each measure. Secretary of State Michael Howe said the office already receives many questions about ballot measures and would post the same information online and at polling places, while emphasizing the need to keep the material objective and consistent with election-law restrictions. Members generally supported the idea as a voter-education tool, and the committee adopted a due pass motion on SB 2230 by a 19-0 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2256, which would provide one-time state support for the NDSU Research and Technology Park in Fargo to expand its role in commercialization, robotics, precision agriculture, and defense-related technology. Park CEO Brenda Weiland explained that the park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit spun out of NDSU, governed by a board with both university and industry representation, and that the new model is intended to bridge the gap between research and market-ready products without competing directly with private industry. Members asked about ownership, intellectual property, the planned partnership with Carnegie Mellon’s robotics center, and how the park would use the funding; the discussion focused on contracts, licensing, and the park’s intent to build technical capacity and attract companies. The excerpt ends before any vote on SB 2256.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Minnesota.
• Minnesota has been a world leader in utilizing cellular therapies for these disorders.
• I was appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to the at-large commission role of the Minnesota Judicial
• Commission.
• omstead commission we by the Minnesota omstead commission we have<01:03:55.119><c> been</c><01:03:55.240

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy