Transcript Highlights:

• </c><03:33:14.640><c> management</c> hazardous materials and waste management hazardous materials and
• waste management division<03:33:15.359><c> contaminated</c><03:33:15.840><c> site</c><03:33:16.080><
• An estimated $25,604 shall be from the Waste Tire Administration Fund, created in section 30-20-145.5
• Appropriations from the Waste Tire Administration Fund are shown for informational purposes only, as
• </c> shall be from the hazardous waste shall be from the hazardous waste service<06:10:33.600><c> fund

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the um uh uh uh e-waste. the um uh uh uh e-waste.
• problem and we're We have a huge e-waste problem and we're going to<00:51:33.599><c> have</c><00:51:
• That's about 450 years of people's time we waste every year doing car inspections.
• That's about 450 years of people's time we waste every year doing car inspections.
• every year doing people's time we waste every year doing car<01:10:38.520><c> inspections.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• But, um, it can also, in government, we've seen at the national level, AI can expose a lot of waste,
• But, um, it can also, in government, we've seen at the national level, AI can expose a lot of waste,
• But, um, it can also, in government, we've seen at the national level, AI can expose a lot of waste,
• But, um, it can also, in government, we've seen at the national level, AI can expose a lot of waste,
• We hear a lot about fraud, waste, and abuse, like you said.

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:36:15.400><c> streams</c> that can uh pull from Wast streams that can uh pull from Wast streams
• There were just leaching waste directly into the water in what is argued one of the most valuable and
• </c><00:59:38.440><c> directly</c> were just leeching um waste directly were just leeching um waste directly
• um and so the water 100% of our waste um and so the water water<01:01:26.119><c> can</c><01:01:26.240
• </c><01:33:13.360><c> moving</c><01:33:13.600><c> towards</c><01:33:13.840><c> our</c> sediment waste

Transcript Highlights:

• A few are smart, like better oversight to stop fraud and keep taxpayer money from being wasted, but others
• A few are smart, like better oversight to stop fraud and keep taxpayer money from being wasted, but others
• A few are smart, like better oversight to stop fraud and keep taxpayer money from being wasted, but others
• A few are smart, like better oversight to stop fraud and keep taxpayer money from being wasted, but others
• A few are smart, like better oversight to stop fraud and keep taxpayer money from being wasted, but others

Summary: Minnesota Senate Republicans held a press conference unveiling a package of affordability and tax-relief bills aimed at property taxes, taxes on tips and overtime, and vehicle registration costs. Leader Mark Johnson said the proposals were meant to counter rising costs for wages, homeownership, and driving, and argued that Democrats’ policies had made life more expensive. Several senators echoed that theme, saying Minnesotans need immediate relief and that the state has room to act because of a reported surplus. Senator Michael Kunesh described a property-tax cap bill that would limit increases for cities and counties to inflation plus 50% of population growth, with higher increases requiring voter approval. He said constituents, including seniors, a disabled veteran, and young people, are seeing unsustainable property-tax hikes, and he argued that state and federal mandates have driven local costs. In response to a question about added county workload from federal SNAP and Medicaid changes, he said the solution is both to pause new mandates and to cap property-tax growth. Senator Karin Housley outlined a proposal to end state taxes on tips and overtime, with deductions up to $25,000 for tips and $12,500 for overtime, phased out at $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for families. She said the measure would help workers keep more of what they earn and would not cost small businesses directly. Senator John Jasinski proposed rolling back vehicle registration tab fees to pre-2023 levels, saying Minnesota’s fees are far higher than neighboring states and that the change would save drivers money over time. Senator Julia Coleman also supported the package, saying the bills would provide practical relief for families facing high housing, driving, and work-related costs. No votes were taken; the event ended with questions from reporters about fiscal impacts, offsets, and whether the proposals would worsen the state’s structural budget imbalance.

Transcript Highlights:

• This restriction drives up planning costs and wastes money that could otherwise be used on the landscape
• Assembly Bill 1153 by Assembly Member Bonta and relating to solid waste.
• Assembly Bill 1153 by Assembly member Banta and acting the solid waste.
• They pose costly and hazardous safety issues at every point in the waste stream.
• consumers easily pivoted to reusable devices, which meant millions fewer lithium batteries in the waste

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, offered a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up a long third-reading file with several guest introductions and ceremonial resolutions. Early floor action included AB 713, allowing undocumented students equal access to campus jobs at UC, CSU, and community colleges, and AB 1049, streamlining California Food Assistance Program applications for low-income immigrant families; both passed. The body also defeated an amendment to AB 1421, a bill to begin studying a statewide mileage-based road user charge, before passing the measure. AB 1171, modernizing part-time community college faculty health insurance access, also passed with strong support. The Assembly then approved a series of policy bills on animals, domestic violence, telehealth for autism services, forestry, false lien filings, tianeptine restrictions, housing, common interest development fee transparency, prison sexual abuse accountability, PBM reporting, foster youth benefits protections, illegal dumping and abandoned RV removal, condo financing/liquidated damages, public contracting, pension-related study language, climate resiliency research funding, and a disposable vape reduction measure. Most passed with broad margins; AB 762 on vapor inhalation devices drew the most debate, with supporters emphasizing landfill fires and public health and opponents warning about revenue losses and illicit-market growth, but it still passed. AB 1406 on condo development financing drew extensive discussion about housing affordability and consumer protections before passing. The chamber also adopted three resolutions: ACR 120 declaring January 2026 Positive Parenting Awareness Month, ACR 121 designating January 2026 National Mentoring Month, and ACR 122 designating Anesthesiologist Week. Later, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments on AB 1485, extending welfare-tax exemption treatment to federally recognized tribes holding land for conservation, and adopted the consent calendar, which included several additional bills and SCR 6. The session ended with adjournment until February 2, 2016, after which several members recorded vote changes from the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are back for a fourth hearing related to the Axon and DHS fraud, waste, and abuse hearings.
• Because, of course, we know that we are here to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.
• 2025, there was still no leadership and no one wanted to identify or start to even look at the fraud, waste
• there were, over the last few years—and let me clarify something—I think that this whole Access fraud, waste
• actions and use our tools and our processes to ensure that we are mitigating as much as possible fraud, waste

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• everything's in place and then all of a sudden a place wants to detach, that's a lot of money just wasted
• It's burdensome, and quite frankly, I think it's a waste of everyone's time here today because there
• opposition based on water quality issues or water table issues or drought or agricultural needs or waste
• product or whatever it was, or just nuisance... ...or waste product or whatever it was, or just nuisance
• they’re using, is any of that water recycled back into the process, or does that go directly to the waste

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not wasting taxpayer dollars by dragging this out for three days.
• </c><00:01:33.040><c> We're</c><00:01:33.280><c> not</c><00:01:33.520><c> wasting</c> that we take the
• We're not wasting that we take the time.
• We're not wasting uh<00:01:34.320><c> taxpayer</c><00:01:34.880><c> dollars</c><00:01:35.200><c> by</
• And that was the whole purpose of that: so that we could get here, not waste the taxpayer dollars, and

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not about tightening belts or trimming waste. This is about our children, millions of them.
• That this healthy food that we grow, and that there isn't waste, and that there isn't.
• but we are also seeing an emphasis on making government work better, cutting the fraud, cutting the waste
• to Congress and the administration, that we stand willing to work with this administration to cut waste
• California kids and farmers are not waste, fraud, and abuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are still facing our own deactivation, and we will be better use of our time and we will not be wasting
• We are still facing our own deactivation, and we will be better use of our time and we will not be wasting
• We are still facing our own deactivation, and we will be better use of our time and we will not be wasting
• We are still facing our own deactivation, and we will be better use of our time and we will not be wasting
• We are still facing our own deactivation, and we will be better use of our time and we will not be wasting

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• For an agency like NMED to come up with another purpose for emissions and that waste like methane, but
• And we might all recall that two of the primary missions of the OCD are to prevent waste.
• That means it's wasted resources—federal wasted resources and state wasted resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're hearing way too much about fraud, waste, and abuse, right, and we can't have that happen in this
• We're hearing way too much about fraud, waste, and abuse, right, and we can't have that happen in this
• ><00:18:25.159><c> much</c><00:18:25.320><c> about</c><00:18:25.559><c> fraud</c><00:18:25.919><c> waste
• </c> hearing way too much about fraud waste hearing way too much about fraud waste and<00:18:26.320><

Summary: The committee took up House File 337, a bill addressing long-term funding for rural and Greater Minnesota EMS and ambulance services. The author offered the A2 amendment, moved to divide it, and the committee adopted lines 1.2 to 1.19 of the amendment. The bill, as amended, was described as creating a policy framework for identifying ambulance services with operating deficits, requiring financial audits, and setting up a future grant program, with the author emphasizing that the proposal was still being developed and was intended to be a long-term solution rather than a short-term fix. Testimony was largely supportive. Eric Simonson of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities said the bill builds on last session’s one-time aid and would target grant dollars using state data, clarify eligible uses, allow audits, address uncompensated care and readiness costs, and require reporting back to the legislature. Mike Warner of the Red Wing Fire Department said his city’s ambulance service operates with a heavy government-funded payer mix and a persistent operating shortfall. Tim Meyer of Sanford Ambulance said low-volume rural services face widening revenue gaps, staffing pressures, and the loss of the volunteer model. Nathan Zacharias of the Association of Minnesota Counties and Kevin Lee of North Memorial Health also supported the bill, citing rising costs, staffing shortages, stagnant reimbursement, and the need for a sustainable statewide funding model. Members raised concerns about how the bill would work in practice, especially around communities that straddle metro and non-metro boundaries and around local control over grant dollars. Representative Pel asked how the eligibility language would apply to places like Northfield and New Prague; the author and a testifier said eligibility would depend on whether a service area is mostly outside the metro area, but acknowledged more review was needed. Representative Huitt argued the bill should give more local control and should address EMS as a statewide issue, not only a Greater Minnesota issue. Representative Ryer asked whether the bill would eventually include revenue recapture or another funding source, and the author said the proposal was still at an early stage and all options were being considered. The committee laid HF 337, as amended, over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• In anaerobic digestion, it's a big thing about taking food waste and creating energy.
• in my district, brings their waste to these farms, and it creates energy.
• And you'd have to have 100,000 cows to produce the energy that this food waste brings.
• I like to not only get things done; I hate wasting time. It's not just because I'm an AG.
• We identified $4.2 million wasted on the Steamship Authority's website.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The joint budget hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs, who described the fiscal outlook as challenging because of slow revenue growth, rising health care and other costs, and uncertainty from federal policy changes. Governor Healey and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz then presented House 2, a $62.8 billion budget that they said grows by about 1% and does not raise taxes or fees. They emphasized affordability, fiscal discipline, protection of core services, and continued investment in education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety. The administration also discussed a separate bill to delay and phase in certain federal tax-code changes from the so-called OB3 law, especially research and experimental expense provisions, to reduce immediate budget impacts and preserve competitiveness. A major portion of the hearing focused on education and municipal aid. The administration said House 2 provides about $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 aid, fully funds the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, increases special education circuit breaker funding, and raises rural school aid. Senators and representatives from both parties raised concerns that Chapter 70 and other aid formulas are not equitable for small, rural, and low-wealth communities and are not keeping pace with inflation, and several called for broader review of the formula and related funding streams. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion, pointed to additional support through rural aid, special education, transportation reimbursements, and minimum aid, and said total Student Opportunity Act investment would reach about $2.1 billion over the life of the law. Transportation, housing, and fair share spending were also central topics. The administration said fair share revenues are being used holistically, with education-heavy spending in the operating budget and transportation-heavy spending in the supplemental budget, and estimated the overall split to date at roughly 57% education and 43% transportation. They highlighted MBTA stabilization, regional transit authority support, microtransit, fare-free regional transit, and bridge and commuter rail investments, while noting the MBTA remains a major fiscal concern. On housing, the governor stressed production, permitting reform, ADUs, down-payment assistance, and support for public housing authorities, while lawmakers pressed for more funding for local housing authorities and for ways to address out-migration, energy costs, and affordability. The governor also said the administration will not withhold fire safety grants from communities over MBTA Communities Act noncompliance and will handle such issues case by case. No votes were taken at the hearing; it was an informational presentation and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• different programs that we had in different areas that went in and actually cleaned up some of the waste
• to World War II, but it's the people who... ...World War II, but it's the people who cleaned up the waste

Bills: HB506 , HB480 , HB105 , HB403 , HB513 , SB341

Committee: Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Safety

Keywords: emergency vehicles, off-road vehicles, public safety, liability, regulations, foreign nationals, voter identification, driver licenses, immigration documentation, Alabama election law, law enforcement, retirement benefits, Alabama Peace Officers, agency-issued badge, agency-issued pistol, criminal enterprise, database, data privacy, criminal justice, background check

Transcript Highlights:

• Public service operations such as waste hauling.
• Cities, labor groups, and service providers like waste haulers are in joint support of the effort.
• Once and for all, members, stop wasting hardworking taxpayer dollars and use it more efficiently, either
• to defund the high-speed rail and actually do better for the people of California than continue to waste
• to defund the high-speed rail and actually do better for the people of California than continue to waste

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest recognitions, and several ceremonial presentations. Members welcomed Jack and Jill of America’s Far West Region and a large education bus trip from Senate District 15. The body also adopted SCR 151 designating May 2026 as ACL Injury Awareness Month, SR 105 declaring May as National Tennis Month, SCR 175 recognizing Behavioral Health Awareness Month, SCR 176 designating May as Small Business Month, and SCR 178 recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month. These resolutions drew broad support, with many senators speaking to the health, civic, economic, and cultural themes in the measures, as well as concerns about anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and solidarity across communities. The Senate also confirmed three gubernatorial appointees unanimously: Siva Gunda to the California Energy Commission, Tony Sertich as Executive Director of the California Housing and Finance Agency, and Craig Snellings to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. In addition, the chamber approved a motion to suspend Joint Rule 62(a) so the Committee on Local Government could hear AB 1768, after debate over the procedure and a roll call vote. On legislation, the Senate passed a series of bills on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, including SB 922 on local cost recovery for street damage from public service operations, SB 932 on litigation transparency, SB 1311 on updates to consumer affairs boards and licensing rules, SB 1143 on access to forensic interview recordings in child abuse cases, SB 1307 on clearing forged real estate documents, SB 1177 on high-speed rail reporting, SB 971 on community networks for older adults, SB 1400 on Alameda Health System governance, SB 1228 on existing outdoor advertising displays in former redevelopment areas, SB 997 on lien authority for a groundwater sustainability agency, SB 1115 on public cemetery district governance, SB 1088 on advance care planning forms, SB 1242 on family participation in CARE Court, SB 1364 on parental rights in rape-related custody cases, SB 993 on protecting mental health professionals’ identifying information, SB 1094 on prescription drug biosimilar use, SB 1117 on ADU fee calculations, SB 1244 on broker compensation disclosures for public agency health plans, SB 1315 on automated driving system software update reporting, and SB 1398 on recognizing Green Globes as an equivalent state building certification. Earlier, a motion by Senator Strickland to withdraw SB 1035 from committee failed on a 22-22 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The fact that the auditor is sitting here, The fact that the auditor is sitting here, having to waste
• The fact that the auditor is sitting here, having to waste time on this, if you want to play politics
• It's a waste of resources when they're not operating in a manner that can stand up to public scrutiny
• And if they continue to litigate and waste money and lose court cases, then the voters ultimately, I
• And if they continue to litigate and waste money and lose court cases, then the voters ultimately, I

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee because quorum was initially lacking, and the state auditor gave an update on his office’s workload, including several JALAC audits in progress, other statutory audits, staffing growth, and capacity to begin additional audits. Members also announced that one audit request on Prop. 28 was being held and that the PUC request would be moved off consent for presentation. After quorum was later established, the committee took up and approved several audit requests, including the DMV license revocation audit on consent, the CPUC utility interconnection timeliness audit, and the Caltrans SR 710 extension project audit. The fusion centers audit was approved on call, while the Orange County Board of Education audit was still being discussed when the transcript ended. Senator Cervantes presented the fusion centers audit request, arguing that California’s fusion centers operate with little public oversight and may collect, share, and retain sensitive information without adequate legal authority, privacy protections, or accountability. Supporters, including former FBI agent Mike German and an ACLU representative, said the centers function as opaque intelligence-sharing hubs and have a history of inaccurate or biased reporting. The state auditor said the audit would examine the State Threat Assessment Center and two local fusion centers, focusing on oversight, legal authority, data quality, disclosure controls, use of private vendors, funding, and performance metrics, while noting possible access and public disclosure limits because of intelligence-related information. The request drew sharp criticism from one member, who called it politicized and unnecessary, but it ultimately advanced on call. Senator Allen’s CPUC audit request focused on the commission’s enforcement of Rule 21 interconnection timelines for customer-sited solar and storage projects. Supporters said utilities routinely miss deadlines, causing delays and added costs for schools, nonprofits, businesses, and homeowners, while CPUC staff said the commission has public reporting, workshops, and an active proceeding to address the issue. The auditor said the review would examine CPUC monitoring, enforcement tools, and data on why utilities struggle to comply, estimating about 3,500 hours of work. The committee approved the request after discussion about whether an audit or legislative oversight would be the best tool. Senator Perez and Assembly Member Fong presented the Caltrans 710 corridor audit request, describing tenant complaints about mold, pests, deferred maintenance, inconsistent pricing, unclear communications, and delays in the affordable sales program created under the Roberti Act. Caltrans said it had completed many sales, was moving additional properties, and remained committed to transparency and compliance. The auditor said the review would examine whether Caltrans is complying with the Roberti Act, how it sets affordable prices, appraisal and appeal practices, communications with buyers, rent accounting, property maintenance, and follow-up on prior audit recommendations. The committee also heard Senator Umberg’s request to audit the Orange County Board of Education over transparency, contracting, litigation spending, charter oversight, and whistleblower issues; supporters argued the board’s actions warranted scrutiny, while board representatives said there was no factual basis for an audit and that complaints, enforcement actions, and legal challenges were minimal or absent.

Transcript Highlights:

• different, you know, lots of people like to just put in funny things, then the clerks don't have to waste
• rewrote this statute effectively with this ruling, and they spent years going through this process, wasting
• And I'm just curious if, in your opinion, that's a tremendous waste of taxpayer dollars to go through
• I think it's an egregious miscarriage of justice at this point, not only a waste of financial resources
• Had the court simply gone by, At this point, not only a waste of financial resources, had the court simply

Committee: Joint Government Operations Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• That is how we prevent waste, fraud, abuse. ...and a public benefit.
• That is how we prevent waste, fraud, abuse, favoritism, and conflicts of interest.
• Heavy-duty service vehicles, including those providing essential solid waste and recycling services,
• Cities, labor groups, and service providers like waste haulers are in joint support of this effort.
• Waste haulers, the primary payers of this cost, support the bill.

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, but uh the e-waste. I want to also mention the e-waste and battery product stewardship.
• Chair, but uh the e-waste. I want to also mention the e-waste and battery product stewardship.
• </c> program, this time for electronic waste program, this time for electronic waste is<00:08:28.319>
• </c><00:20:50.159><c> Uh</c><00:20:50.480><c> but</c> electronics waste and batteries.
• Uh but electronics waste and batteries.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy