Transcript Highlights:

• The last testifier is Paul Ostrom from Fentanyl Free Communities. Mr.
• My name is Paul Ostrom.
• My name is Paul Ostrom.
• 03.279><c> are</c><00:11:03.480><c> laser</c><00:11:04.000><c> focused</c><00:11:04.880><c> on</c> Paul
• Paul, Minnesota.

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Kim Lynch and Paul Shepard will speak to student-related budget writers.
• any questions, I'd like to turn the presentation over to Associate Vice Chancellors Kim Lynch and Paul
• For the record, my name is Paul Shepard, and I have the honor to serve as the Associate Vice Chancellor
• 45.880><c> have</c><00:15:46.000><c> the</c><00:15:46.079><c> honor</c><00:15:46.319><c> to</c> is Paul
• Shepard and I have the honor to is Paul Shepard and I have the honor to serve<00:15:46.759><c> as</c

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul—all these have this same group that does this.
• Paul—all these have this same group that does this.
• Paul can do a better job, as you are doing in Anoka, when it comes to these events, right?
• Paul. We do everything fantastically here, so I don't know what he's talking about.
• </c><01:14:44.159><c> we</c><01:14:44.320><c> do</c> Char's characterization of St Paul we do Char's

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul, Stillwater, and Apple Valley.
• Paul Airport saw $350 million in cash traveling through it last year.
• Paul airport saw $350 Minneapolis St.
• Paul and elsewhere, and I think this is the same bill or is there another bill just like that coming
• Paul<01:27:10.560><c> and</c><01:27:10.800><c> elsewhere</c><01:27:11.199><c> and</c><01:27:11.360><c

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Paul Huffman.
• Paul requester who used to be on their board, Bob Katak, versus the City of St.
• Paul, where the question came up.
• ><01:15:31.880><c> requester</c><01:15:32.600><c> who</c><01:15:32.760><c> used</c> involving a St Paul
• requester who used involving a St Paul requester who used to<01:15:33.080><c> be</c><01:15:33.159><c

Bills: HF390 , HF1202 , HF550

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• Sven Sorge, Nani Georgia Hoops, Amilia Brisco, PA McClintic, Paul Bernstein from the Citizens Climate
• </c><00:21:30.000><c> Bernstein</c><00:21:30.679><c> from</c><00:21:30.919><c> the</c> mcclintic Paul
• Paul Bernstein, in support. Anyone else wishing to testify on this measure?
• Paul Bernstein, in support. Anyone else wishing to testify on this measure?
• </c><00:30:21.360><c> Bernstein</c><00:30:22.000><c> and</c><00:30:22.519><c> support</c> support Paul

Summary: The Agriculture and Environment hearing on January 27, 2025, took up multiple measures, beginning with a proposed constitutional amendment, HB 559, to recognize a right to clean water and air, a healthful environment, climate, native ecosystems, and beaches. The Attorney General’s Office testified with concerns that the amendment’s broad language could create challenges for future legislatures and environmental enforcement, while the Climate Commission and DLNR supported it. Environmental and advocacy groups, including Climate Protectors Hawaii, 350 Hawaii, Greenpeace Hawaii, and others, strongly supported the measure, arguing it would strengthen decision-making and protect Hawaii’s natural resources. Committee members raised questions about how the amendment would interact with existing constitutional protections and recent litigation, and the AG’s office said the proposal could lead to broad judicial interpretation and possible liability issues. The hearing then moved on without a recorded vote on this bill. The committee next heard SB 552, which would establish a healthy soils program in the Department of Agriculture and require annual reporting and funding. The Climate Change Commission supported the bill, and the Department of Agriculture said it stood on its submitted testimony but noted existing commissions and the greenhouse gas sequestration task force already address similar objectives, suggesting SB 552 may duplicate current efforts. Agricultural and environmental advocates, including the Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and others, supported the concept of a consolidated healthy soils program, saying it would better organize existing efforts, improve access for producers, and support conservation practices. The Agribusiness Development Corporation said it would support either DOA or ADC administering the program, and committee discussion focused on implementation, program overlap, and whether the bill should better integrate existing compost reimbursement and related efforts. The final measure discussed in the excerpt was SB 678, which would create an Agricultural Development Food Security Special Fund, dedicate a portion of the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to it, and appropriate funds equal to 3% of the state budget for agriculture. The Department of Agriculture strongly supported the bill, saying the funding would align with its goals and help support farmers and ranchers. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Department of Budget and Finance raised concerns that the proposed special fund may not meet statutory criteria. Farm and industry groups generally supported the measure but suggested changes, including adding uses related to local food sourcing, distribution, and biosecurity. Committee members questioned the scale of the appropriation, noting it could amount to roughly $250 million and a major increase in DOA’s budget, and discussed whether the department could realistically implement such a large program. The hearing ended with testimony counts noted for the measures heard, and the chair indicated the committee would reconvene later for any unfinished business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Pazov, yes. Clerk votes yes. Rep. Des Simone, yes. Rep. McGrath, yes. Rep. Kesler, yes. Rep.
• &gt;&gt; Rep.<00:49:21.839><c> Paul</c><00:49:21.839><c> Pazov,</c> &gt;&gt; Rep.
• Paul Pazov, &gt;&gt; Rep. Paul Pazov, &gt;&gt; yes. &gt;&gt; yes. &gt;&gt; yes.
• Paul, yes. Clerk votes yes. Rep. Dave Desimone, yes. Rep. McGrath, yes. Rep. Kessler, yes. Rep.
• &gt;&gt; Rep.<01:26:21.679><c> Paul.</c> &gt;&gt; Rep. Paul. &gt;&gt; Rep. Paul. &gt;&gt; Yes.

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members of the committee, Paul Johnson.
• Oh, Paul Johnson, for the record, at that time, the school construction estimate was $60 million.
• Paul Johnson, for the record: Yes.
• Paul Johnson, for the record, yeah. I've personally been working at this for 28 years.
• Paul Johnson for the record, yeah. Paul Johnson for the record.

Committee: Senate Government Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Lee Paul Shong from Concordia, and, uh, Wayne Tao from the community.
• Paul, Minnesota, Saturday, May 17th, 2025.
• Lee Paul Shong from Dr. Dr.
• </c><00:12:06.240><c> Paul,</c> 2025, 40th legislative day, St.
• Paul, 2025, 40th legislative day, St.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Madame Chair, members, my name is Paul Schnell.
• Paul, and we have a deep housing crisis in our communities, poverty in our communities.
• and this<01:03:09.839><c> is</c><01:03:10.000><c> South</c><01:03:10.240><c> St</c><01:03:10.520><c> Paul
• </c><01:03:11.160><c> St</c><01:03:11.440><c> Paul</c><01:03:11.960><c> and</c><01:03:12.200><c> we</
• c> this is South St Paul St Paul and we this is South St Paul St Paul and we have<01:03:13.119><c> uh

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul, that are high-density, tall buildings, a lot of floors.
• that are high Minneapolis and St Paul that are high density<00:25:14.480><c> tall</c><00:25:15.039><
• Paul and in a lot of major cities, we do have a lot of vacant, really tall buildings.
• </c><00:28:19.159><c> in</c><00:28:19.279><c> a</c> wanted to highlight that in St Paul in a wanted to
• highlight that in St Paul in a lot<00:28:19.480><c> of</c><00:28:19.559><c> major</c><00:28:19.840><

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Port Authority for 27 years.
• Paul in Minnesota Foundation.
• Paul Port Authority at the end of 2023 but delayed his retirement to help lead MIFA through our early
• Paul that is being developed.
• </c> this campus and all of downtown St Paul this campus and all of downtown St Paul it<00:54:14.160>

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Rassan Paul, President and CEO. Good afternoon.
• I'm Rassan Paul, President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts and one of the co-chairs

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on ranked choice voting, focusing primarily on Boston’s home rule petition (H. 4262) and Bedford’s petition (H. 4916). Committee chairs Dan Hunt and Senator Keenan opened the hearing, explained the three-minute testimony limit, and noted that written testimony would also be accepted. The hearing featured testimony from a wide range of supporters, including advocacy organizations, community leaders, Boston City Council members, and Bedford residents. Witnesses generally argued that ranked choice voting would produce majority-supported winners, reduce vote-splitting and negative campaigning, encourage coalition-building, and give voters more freedom to rank candidates without fear of wasting their vote. Several speakers emphasized local control and said Boston and Bedford should be allowed to decide for themselves whether to adopt the system. Others highlighted potential benefits for women, historically marginalized communities, and voter participation more broadly. Boston councilors and supporters also described the city’s local approval process and said the proposal would still require voter ratification if enacted by the legislature. No opposition testimony was presented in the excerpt. The committee took no substantive vote on the bills during the hearing; after testimony concluded, the chairs thanked participants and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to thank Lindsay Sabadosa and Paul Mark for sponsoring this effort.
• I'd like to thank Lindsay Sabadosa and Paul Mark for sponsoring this effort.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on late-filed bills and formal petitions, with testimony focused mainly on Senate Bill 3026 and House Bill 5294. The committee heard from legislators and local officials about S. 3026, which would give equal voting access in a six-town regional school district process. Testifiers from the Sixth Town Regional Planning Board and local select boards said the current voting setup is unfair because one town can vote during normal polling hours while others have a narrower voting window, and they argued the bill would ensure equal voter opportunity for a major regional school decision amid declining enrollment and financial pressure on the districts. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H. 5294, a Worthington home rule petition seeking a one-year solar moratorium. Worthington officials, residents, and advocates said the town is facing multiple large-scale solar and battery storage proposals and lacks the staff, legal resources, emergency response capacity, and technical expertise to evaluate them. Witnesses raised concerns about fire risk, groundwater and drinking water impacts, forest and wildlife impacts, decommissioning, and the effect on rural character and farmland, while emphasizing that the moratorium was framed as a planning tool rather than opposition to clean energy. Several speakers said the state’s solar siting and approval process is too complex and top-down for small rural towns, and that volunteer boards are being asked to manage industrial-scale projects without adequate support. One witness from a statewide group said Worthington’s situation reflects broader problems across western Massachusetts and urged the committee to address solar siting more broadly in a future session. The hearing concluded after testimony and committee questions, with no votes or final actions taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Perisi? Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, my name is Paul Perisi.

Summary: The Special Committee on Government heard and advanced three measures. First, HCR 2044, a constitutional amendment to expand Arizona’s prohibition on preferential treatment and discrimination based on race or ethnicity in public education, public spending, and hiring, drew support from the Speaker, Goldwater Institute, and other advocates who argued it would close loopholes and reaffirm merit-based treatment. Opponents argued it would chill speech, training, and discussion of race and identity in public institutions. The committee approved the resolution on a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered HB 2671, as amended, which narrows mandatory transfer to adult court for juveniles by limiting chronic felony offender treatment to higher-level felonies and preserving judicial/prosecutorial discretion for lower-level repeat offenses. The sponsor and juvenile defense testimony said the bill would keep low-level youth offenders in juvenile court where rehabilitative services are available and reduce recidivism, while still holding them accountable. The Blackman amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 7-0. Finally, HB 2676 was heard to reduce the age for restoring firearm possession rights for certain juvenile offenders from 30 to 25 and to broaden restoration eligibility for other juvenile felony convictions. Supporters said it would align firearm-rights restoration with juvenile record-destruction timelines and help rehabilitated individuals move forward without unnecessary barriers. The committee approved HB 2676 unanimously, 7-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Perisi? Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, my name is Paul Perisi.

Summary: The Special Committee on Government heard three measures and advanced all of them on due pass recommendations. First, HCR 2044, sponsored by the Speaker, would expand Arizona’s constitutional prohibition on preferential treatment and discrimination based on race or ethnicity in public education, spending, hiring, and contracting. Supporters, including Goldwater Institute, Our America, and Heritage Action, argued it would close loopholes around DEI and reaffirm merit-based treatment. Some members raised concerns that the resolution would chill speech and discussion about race and identity, while others said it was needed to prevent race-based preferences. The committee approved the resolution 4-3. The committee then considered HB 2671, as amended by the Blackman Amendment. The bill narrows mandatory adult-court transfer for juveniles classified as chronic felony offenders, limiting it to higher-level felonies and preserving transfer for serious violent offenses. Sponsor Rep. Hernandez and juvenile public defender Michelle Robbins said the change would restore judicial and prosecutorial discretion, keep lower-level repeat juvenile offenders in juvenile court, and reduce recidivism by allowing access to rehabilitative services. Members from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing second chances and juvenile justice reform. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 7-0. Finally, the committee heard HB 2676, also sponsored by Rep. Hernandez, which lowers the minimum age for restoring firearm possession rights for certain juvenile offenders from 30 to 25 and broadens restoration eligibility for other juvenile felony convictions. Supporters said the bill aligns firearm-rights restoration with juvenile record-destruction timelines and helps rehabilitated individuals move forward without unnecessary barriers to employment, education, and housing. The committee passed the bill 7-0 and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Paul?
• Representative Paul said it is important to honor what utilities have asked for in this part of the bill

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills related to energy, environmental regulation, and utility policy. House Bill 2436, on escort tug horsepower requirements for oil tankers, was described as a technical cleanup measure and passed unanimously. House Bill 2605, which exempts low-level naturally occurring fibrous silicate materials in aggregates, asphalt, and concrete from certain asbestos-related labeling, use, and inspection restrictions, also passed unanimously. House Bill 2301, expanding the paint stewardship program to additional paint products and adjusting collection standards, passed 19-1 after members noted it was industry-driven and popular with constituents. The committee also considered House Bill 2296 on meter-mounted devices and portable solar generation devices. The portable solar section had been removed in the substitute, leaving meter-mounted device provisions; two amendments were offered, one making utility cost recovery mandatory and another restoring local government authority to prohibit installations, but both failed. The substitute bill then passed 14-7. House Bill 2496, requiring government-to-government consultation with tribes during site certification reviews and exempting those consultations from the Open Meetings Act when no deliberation occurs, passed 15-6 amid comments supporting tribal consultation but raising concerns about public meetings and process details. House Bill 2212 on microfiber filtration requirements for washing machines was briefed with a proposed substitute and amendments, but no action was taken on it during the meeting. House Bill 2515, addressing emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers and cryptocurrency facilities, drew the most debate over fees, taxation, energy use, water impacts, and economic development; despite concerns from some members that it was not ready or could discourage investment, the substitute passed 11-10. The committee then adjourned after reporting out the bills noted above with due pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Paul Arrington. I represent the Idaho Water Users Association.
• And actually, I asked Paul if he could run this legislation for me.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Garthier and Barsa Harkleroad. Thank you. We're going to transition to the next item.
• Paul, we can begin with you. Oh, wonderful.

Bills: HB 123 , HB5606 , HB549 , HB2757 , HB4359 , HB5381 , HB1939 , HB123

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• HR 504 by Tenderholt, HR 505 by Spill. or H.R. 506 by Bumgarner, H.R. 507 by Bumgarner, H.R. 508 by Paul
• HR 513 by Shaheen, HR 515 by Ashby, HR 516 by Paul, HR 517 by Olcott, HR 519 by Reynolds, HR 520 by A