Transcript Highlights:

• community wells that we are supposed to be proactive and not approve something that's going to pull PFAS
• community wells that we are supposed to be proactive and not approve something that's going to pull PFAS
• bit, you know, if somebody wants to build a house and drill a well, how would you do the the pull PFAS
• or gasoline or TCE or pull PFAS or gasoline or TCE or something<00:09:22.600> into<00:09:22.800
• More PFAS contamination. Follow up. Thank you so much for that. I appreciate that.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows the New Mexico Environment Department to regulate firefighting foam that includes PFAS, and
• And that's for obvious reasons because we're dealing with PFAS contamination at several military bases
• President, the other bill banned PFAS products kind of into the future, including foam, but it still
• We were talking about PFAS is in everything just about. So how do we make it a hazardous waste?
• But you know, we had a similar situation where wildlife found To have the highest levels of PFAS ever

Transcript Highlights:

• And high temperature is something that's known to destroy PFAS.
• So there's going to be PFAS in the inbound. This facility does not create any PFAS.
• Um, but that high-temperature process actually destroys the PFAS.
• And so really encouraged about the ability for this to also be a solution for some of the PFAS issues
• I've got PFAS in the milk that I'm putting into the marketplace for human consumption.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Beach has already spent millions of their own dollars on their water treatment plant because they have PFAS
• Beach has already spent millions of their own dollars on their water treatment plant because they have PFAS
• And then we will do earmarks to help all those who don't qualify for PFA.
• those who don't earmarks to help all those who don't qualify<00:14:52.280> for<00:14:52.440> PFA
• qualify for PFA. qualify for PFA.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Senate leaders and supporters held a press availability focused on passing a state capital investment, or bonding, bill this session. Chair Sandy Pappas said the state has received more than $7 billion in project requests and is pushing for a $1.4 billion bonding package to address infrastructure needs such as clean water, state parks and trails, college and university repairs, sewer capacity for housing growth, and other public facilities. She and other speakers stressed that delaying projects raises costs and that they do not expect a special session, making action before adjournment especially important. Testimony from labor and legislative leaders emphasized the economic benefits of bonding. Anthony Wilkie of SMART Local 10 said public bonding projects create work hours for skilled trades and cited Fraser Hall at the University of Minnesota as an example of a project that employed union members. Senator Nick Frentz argued that bonding supports jobs, especially in greater Minnesota, and highlighted water infrastructure needs, including communities facing manganese contamination and high water rates if they must finance treatment plants alone. Senator Ann Johnson Stewart pointed to PFAS-related water treatment costs in Minnetonka Beach and said she would support higher education and water projects. Majority Leader Erin Murphy said the Senate is working toward the $1.4 billion target, noting the state’s AAA bond rating and the need to keep borrowing costs low. She also said the recent Metro Surge period led to about 4,000 lost construction jobs, strengthening the case for a bill this year. In response to questions, Pappas said negotiations with Senator Housley and House leaders were underway but still early, with no final target set yet; she said staff are preparing project lists and language, and that some items, such as HCMC, may move separately. No formal vote was taken in the exchange, but the speakers expressed optimism about reaching a bipartisan agreement before session end.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we also have our PFAS issue and want to make sure that we're taking care of our drinking water
• <00:04:24.200> also<00:04:24.600> have<00:04:24.960> our<00:04:25.200> PFAS
• <00:04:25.640> issue You know, we also have our PFAS issue You know, we also have our PFAS

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Senator Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger discussed her path from science and genetics into politics, saying her lab work showed her that research was not always translating into effective policy. She described getting involved through her union, helping pass paid parental leave for state employees, and then moving into elected office after opportunities opened up in 2022. She also said her House experience helped prepare her for the Senate by teaching her the legislative process, committee work, and relationship-building. On policy priorities, she said her district is focused on affordable health care, climate change, education, PFAS contamination and drinking water, and concerns about federal actions. She framed her agenda this session as “protect, respond, and recover,” including protecting existing laws such as paid Minnesota leave, responding to possible Medicaid and SNAP cuts, child care costs, and tariffs affecting groceries, and helping the community recover from recent ICE activity that she said disrupted public safety, businesses, and residents. She identified one specific bill effort: continuing work to ban cryptocurrency kiosk machines, which she said are being used to scam seniors. She said the idea came from the Woodbury Police Department and that she is working with House and Senate colleagues on it. She also described herself as a thoughtful, data-driven “scientist at heart” and said her butterfly earrings symbolize pollinators, native plants, and hope, as well as her own journey and the arrival of spring.

Transcript Highlights:

• I haven't talked to the PFA because I didn't really do anything with their membership, okay?
• basically what it'll be is I've got a sheet of attendance records here for the last nine months to the PFA—I'm
• will say, let me put it that way, is that we'll have the current members that we already have with the PFA

Bills: HB41

Keywords: Firefighters' Retirement System, FRS, retirement board, board of trustees, firefighter pension, public pension, retirement system governance, active members, service credit, Professional Fire Fighters Association, PFFA, Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association, fire chiefs, retirees, beneficiaries, DROP, Deferred Retirement Option Plan, board elections, vacancies, Louisiana retirement law

Transcript Highlights:

• An act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law in relation to enacting the PFAS Discharge Disclosure
• An act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law in relation to enacting the PFAS Discharge Disclosure
• I just want to say DEC finally put out new guidance about PFAS disclosure in wastewater treatment.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The New York State Senate Environmental Conservation Committee held its first standing committee meeting of the year, led by Chair Pete Harckham and Ranking Member Dan Stec. Harckham opened by emphasizing the committee’s productive, cordial approach and noted that federal environmental policy changes may require the state to take on more responsibility. Stec highlighted a potential area of future work involving constitutional amendments related to closed prisons in the Adirondacks and other Forest Preserve counties, framing it as both an environmental and economic issue. The committee then took up a 15-bill agenda of repasses, with members generally offering brief comments and moving the bills forward. Measures advanced included bills on wild or exotic animals, a parkland alienation exemption for renewable energy projects, civil penalties, surveillance cameras, lifetime licenses for honorably discharged disabled veterans, coal tar in pavement products, toxic substances in playground surfacing, toxic air contaminants, fee disposition, major project public participation in disadvantaged communities, PFAS discharge disclosure, license fee waivers for certain first responders, emergency additions to invasive species lists, and a bottle redemption fraud task force. Most bills advanced unanimously or with little opposition; the civil penalty bill and the coal tar bill each drew one nay, and one bill on fee disposition was referred to Finance. During discussion of the PFAS disclosure bill, Senator May said DEC had recently issued new guidance on PFAS disclosure in wastewater treatment, but argued the bill was still needed because it would apply more comprehensively to all SPDES permit holders statewide. The meeting concluded with Harckham thanking members and staff, asking legislators to submit new bills or completed work for committee review, and directing them to send materials to Marie Kelly and counsel staff for follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• I haven't talked to the PFA because I didn't really do anything with their membership, okay?
• basically what it'll be is I've got a sheet of attendance records here for the last nine months to the PFA
• will say, let me put it that way, is that we'll have the current members that we already have with the PFA

Summary: The Senate Committee on Retirement met on May 11, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from May 5. The committee then took up House Bill 41, which concerns the board membership of the firefighter retirement system. The author explained that the bill had been revised toward a compromise to better represent non-union active members on the retirement board, while preserving legislative representation. Under the concept amendment discussed, the House-appointed legislative seat would be removed, the Senate designee would remain, and a non-union active member would be added in its place. The author and committee also discussed alternating legislative terms, but clarified that the Senate designee would not be removed. Committee members and staff then reviewed how the new non-union seat would be filled, including an election process limited to non-union active members. Firefighters Retirement System counsel and a representative of the Professional Firefighters Association raised concerns about the difficulty and cost of identifying eligible voters because union membership changes frequently. Staff estimated the election could cost roughly $50,000 to $65,000 every five years, with additional administrative work to verify eligibility and send ballots. A senator asked whether a fixed cutoff date could solve the problem, but witnesses said membership changes would still make that difficult. After discussion, the committee identified the amendment as 3541 and moved the bill forward on a favorable motion, with no objection. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Here's a brief list of hazards: PFAS.
• There is ongoing health research on the effects of PFAS exposure.
• Health hazards include daily exposure to raw water and PFAS-contaminated filter media.
• Our friends in the fire profession are changing out their turnout gear to be PFAS-free to avoid exposure
• You brought PFAS because it is an issue in some of the drinking water. We get money in the budget.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of retirement classification and benefit bills affecting municipal and state employees. Much of the hearing focused on proposals to move various workers from Group 1 to Group 2 or Group 4, including municipal building officials (H. 2776), MassDOT highway workers (H. 2908/Sousa’s Law), DCF attorneys (H. 2771), probation officers, licensed electricians, drinking water operators (H. 3000/S. 1834), MWRA non-clerical workers (S. 1803), transitional parole officers (H. 2878), Plymouth BCI criminal investigator officers (H. 2975/S. 1863), Beverly fire alarm operators/public safety telecommunicators (S. 1876), Massport pipefitters and refrigeration technicians (H. 2788/S. 1829), and other public safety or hazardous-duty classifications. Witnesses generally argued that their work is physically dangerous, understaffed, or comparable to already higher-classified employees, and several said the changes would help recruitment and retention with little fiscal impact because the affected groups are small. The committee also heard testimony on H. 4508, a home rule petition to grant a disability pension to Boston principal Patricia Lampron. Supporters, including Representative Dan Hunt, Boston city councilors, and Lampron herself, described a severe 2021 assault at the Henderson Inclusion School that left her with lasting physical and psychological injuries and forced her into early retirement. They urged the committee to advance the bill quickly. One witness, Pamela McLaughlin, testified in opposition, arguing the bill would set the wrong precedent and describing alleged prior misconduct by Lampron, and asked that the bill be sent to study. Several witnesses and committee members asked brief questions, mainly about the scope of the bills, whether certain workers were already in higher groups, and the fiscal or precedent concerns. No votes were taken during the hearing. At the end, the chairs announced that testimony was complete, asked whether anyone else wished to speak, and then the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the 100 highest ranked cities on the Public Facilities Authority, or PFA, drinking water priority
• public facilities authority or PFA public facilities authority or PFA drinking<01:57:12.480>
• The PFA provides critical colleagues.
• I spent all day looking through the PFA list, and I know where these projects are.
• <01:59:14.159> list, all day looking through the PFA list, all day looking through the PFA

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members, as passed the House, HB 2641, PFAS firefighting foam prohibition, prohibits the
• use of Class B firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals for any purpose unless
• Madam Chair, members, as passed the House, HP 2641, PFAS firefighting foam prohibition, prohibits the
• use of Class B firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals for any purpose unless

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of House bills that had returned from the Senate with amendments, with members repeatedly noting that sponsors intended to concur on most items. Topics included public health and vaccination rules (HB 2086, HB 2248), state investment in gold and silver (HB 2140), property records and voter-registration privacy (HB 2327), municipal and county regulation of business property and development fees (HB 2460, HB 2946, HB 2999), legislative subpoenas (HB 2745), cold plunge regulation (HB 2439), nursing-facility complaint timelines and licensed health aide rules (HB 2195, HB 2189), court-ordered treatment review (HB 2923), Access/Medicaid reimbursement and prior authorization for diagnostic services (HB 2932), inmate mental health study committee language (HB 2673), prenatal development instruction in schools (HB 2830), public records requests by legislators (HB 4056), parents’ rights and social transitioning in schools (HB 2249), school district financial compliance and facilities contracting (HB 2481, HB 2482), Native American language proficiency for graduation (HB 2895), advanced math auto-enrollment (HB 2423), special education and military-family procedures (HB 2621), AI rules for state agencies (HB 2592), eviction record sealing (HB 2244), tax filing penalties (HB 2016), shade structures in HOAs (HB 2342), homelessness-related community restitution (HB 2028), medical records timelines (HB 2557), PFAS firefighting foam restrictions (HB 2641), family-court expert testimony and prisoner transition services (HB 2662, HB 2440), address confidentiality protections (HB 2594), guardianship notice attestation (HB 2661), utilities for high-load customers (HB 2756), and nuclear-ready community planning (HB 2456). The committee also briefly moved to Caucus Calendar 19 for additional bills on mobile food vendors, school board training, out-of-state travel and meeting transparency, and a medical-intervention nondiscrimination bill. Several bills drew substantive discussion or criticism. Members debated HB 2932 at length, with staff explaining that Access said the bill would have a high fiscal impact because it would require reimbursement for non-contracted lab services and eliminate prior authorization for a broad range of diagnostic services, potentially increasing costs substantially. HB 2249 also prompted concern from members who argued it could force teachers to out students and create civil liability for using preferred pronouns or failing to notify parents about social transitioning. HB 2830 was criticized as requiring prenatal-development instruction while barring discussion of sexual activity or reproduction. HB 2028, which allows community restitution instead of a $20 probation assessment for people who are indigent and experiencing homelessness, was questioned as potentially punitive. HB 2481 was discussed as a way to help, rather than punish, small rural school districts struggling with financial-record compliance. The caucus also noted that several of the measures were sponsored by Democrats, which was highlighted as notable during the meeting. No formal votes were taken in the transcript. The caucus chair repeatedly asked for questions, and in most cases there were none, after which the sponsor was understood to intend concurrence with the Senate amendments. The meeting ended with adjournment after the caucus moved through the remaining calendar items.

Transcript Highlights:

• with PFAS.
• with PFAS.
• with PFAS.
• with PFAS.
• with PFAS.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented an overview of its budget and operations, emphasizing that it is the lowest-spending agency in state government and that its general fund allocation has declined since 2019. Commissioner Arling House explained that DAS also handles back-office functions for several administratively attached boards, which has affected staffing and spending comparisons. He said the department’s current general fund spending is roughly split between retiree health and other operations, and that the presentation was based on adjusted authorized spending rather than the original budget figures. A major portion of the meeting focused on retiree health benefits and the long-term effort to control costs. Deputy Commissioner Cassie Keane described how the state moved from a projected deficit in retiree health to savings through a series of changes, including higher premium contributions, co-pay adjustments, and shifting Medicare retirees into Medicare Advantage arrangements to capture federal reimbursement. She said the state has about 12,500 retirees and spouses on the plan, with roughly 10,906 Medicare retirees and 1,580 non-Medicare retirees, and that the savings have depended heavily on federal funding and procurement decisions. She also noted that Medicare retirees pay Part B premiums and that the state has grandfathered older retirees from some premium contributions. Members asked about what the expenditures cover, why the state offers retiree health instead of simply giving retirees a payment to buy coverage themselves, and whether out-of-pocket costs changed under Medicare Advantage. Keane said the plan covers actual health claims or insurance premiums, that co-pays and maximum out-of-pocket limits remain in place, and that the state has no authority to change benefit details without legislative action. She explained that retiree health is a long-standing employee benefit that wraps around Medicare and is not collectively bargained in the usual sense, though its eligibility rules and cost-sharing have been tightened over time to better target the benefit to long-term state service. The discussion also covered vendor performance problems. Keane said Anthem recently won the contract back from Aetna, but its pharmacy subsidiary, Caroline, caused serious service disruptions. DAS responded by withholding payments, assessing more than $2 million in performance guarantees, and hiring a third-party auditor to review the pharmacy processes. The current contract runs through the end of calendar year 2026, and officials said they are watching federal Medicare Advantage reimbursement changes closely because future savings are uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amount of scientific evidence on the harms of PFAS continues to mount.
• The amount of scientific evidence on the harms of PFAS continues to mount.
• But science has informed us that PFAS is bioaccumulative.
• But science has informed us that PFAS is bioaccumulative.
• PFAS in our blood that is deemed safe. PFAS in our blood that is deemed safe.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mound is now in the fundable range for an emerging contaminant grant through the PFA.
• We are scheduled for PFA funding in 2025.
• <00:26:56.880> funding um we we are scheduled for PFA funding um we we are scheduled for PFA
• um like I said though the the PFA um like I said though the the PFA funding<00:27:03.679> will
• Representative Skraba, do you have a PFA rating? Do you have a yes number, Mr. Sonenberg?

Bills: HF201, HF217, HF314, HF315, HF406, HF408, HF425, HF426, HF730, HF731, HF652, HF761, HF1079, HF928, HF1017, HF1056, HF1081

Keywords: HF201, Minnesota income tax, tax subtraction, tax deduction, volunteer firefighter, volunteer fire and rescue, emergency responder, ambulance service personnel, EMR, EMS, search and rescue, canine search and rescue, underwater search and rescue, paid-on-call, part-time volunteer, tax relief, state tax law, section 290.0132, drivers license, identification card

Transcript Highlights:

• PFA, as you're aware, was not awarded last year due to the lack of the bonding bill, and we are in the
• is $48 per month and we would have PFA is $48 per month and we would have to<00:48:55.000> go
• from PFA for uh phosphorus<01:16:22.280> remediation<01:16:23.280> and<01:16:23.800>
• Our funds are locked up in the PFA right now, so we need those funds.
• PFA right now, so we need those funds unlocked through the revolving fund.

Bills: HF220, HF230, HF240, HF241, HF295, HF429, HF490, HF505, HF574, HF576, HF581, HF865, HF918, HF1085, HF1449, HF1452, HF1454, HF602

Keywords: HF220, Minnesota transportation, highway user tax distribution fund, trunk highway fund, Minnesota Department of Transportation, MnDOT, transportation finance, dedicated funds, funding restrictions, arts in transportation, cultural strategies, transportation project planning, project design, project construction, placemaking, public art, infrastructure spending, state statutes 161.045, HF230, Wyoming

Transcript Highlights:

• We are trying to put ourselves in position with the PFA for these capital expenditures as it relates
• We are trying to put ourselves in position with the PFA for these capital expenditures as it relates
• the PFA the PFA uh<01:02:55.680> for<01:02:55.920> these<01:02:56.240> capital<
• <01:03:52.079> bonds service related um, to those PFA bonds service related um, to those PFA
• lower interest rate um bonds that PFA lower interest rate um bonds that PFA has<01:04:15.760>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• PFAS pose a direct threat to our water and our health. Excuse me.
• Internationally, the shift away from PFAS is well underway.
• Minnesota has led the way in the fight against PFAS.
• Minnesota has led the way in the fight against PFAS.
• The other thing that we're learning is how harmful even tiny amounts of PFAS are to people.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ASTM D6400 and D6868 standards while going a step further to strictly prohibit intentionally added PFAS
• Um, I think it's an important bill both in terms of trash and in terms of the PFAS element. intentionally
• uh the department stands on its written testimony, uh basically recognizing the negative impacts of PFAS
• Uh, so we will be limiting the PFAS prohibition to single-use foodware plastics because of the bill title
• subsection C, to clarify that the packaging being regulated must contain plastics that also contain PFAS

Bills: HB2384

Keywords: student-athletes, compensation, name image likeness, NCAA, Title IX, transparency, education, Hawaii, athletic programs, 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees heard HB 2384, relating to student athlete compensation, with testimony largely in support from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Athletics, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Athletics, and several other supporters. UH Mānoa said the bill would create a framework for name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies, including education, financial literacy, agent regulation, transparency, and reporting. Supporters argued NIL is now a necessary part of college athletics to recruit and retain athletes, keep Hawaiʻi talent in-state, and remain competitive, while also helping student athletes develop as future leaders. One supporter also emphasized the need for financial guidance so young athletes do not mishandle NIL income. Committee members questioned why the bill would direct public funds to NIL payments rather than broader athletic operations or other student groups, whether other states are funding NIL directly, and whether the approach could create a bidding war. UH representatives said the university already has NIL contracts in place, but the bill would strengthen and formalize policies. They said the requested funding model includes about $5 million for NIL and $10 million for athletics operations, with the NIL amount intended to supplement private fundraising; they also noted UH has raised roughly $1.5 million to $2 million for NIL since July 1 and is targeting $3 million this fiscal year. Members also raised concerns about fairness, public spending priorities, and whether the university’s policies adequately protect student athletes. The committees voted to pass HB 2384 HD1 with amendments. The chair said the bill should be amended to explicitly state that allocated funds may be used by UH for NIL payments to student athletes, and asked the next committee to examine whether a different payment scheme, similar to those used elsewhere, might be more appropriate for public funds. One member announced a no vote, citing concerns about direct public funding of NIL and unequal treatment of student athletes versus other students. The JHA committee adopted the same recommendation, with some members voting with reservations. Afterward, the meeting moved on to HB 644 HD1 on single-use plastics, where the first testimony was in opposition from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and the Biodegradable Products Institute, both arguing the bill as drafted would improperly exclude certified compostable products and should better align with composting and certification standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, moving on quickly, we've got HB 1275 relative to the effects of PFAS on agriculture.
• And, um, that material would not have PFAS in it. And it's a very interesting project there.
• Any person shall be afforded civil immunity for using PFAS compost in sludge or biosolids intended for
• And that's looking at the concentration of the PFAS compounds that are in the biosolids or the soil on
• >> So that limit is based on it is compound-based. >> So currently there is not a limit for PFAS.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He referenced PFAS in cookware and asked whether the chairman and sponsor intended to proceed with an
• The response was that the bill was being moved forward as written because when PFAS is heated, the transfer
• The sponsor explained that the bill is moving ahead as written because when PFAS is heated, the transfer

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Environmental Conservation Committee, chaired by Senator Pete Harckham, met with a quorum and took up a 19-bill agenda, largely consisting of repassed environmental measures. Bills discussed included standards for ambient lead in soil, restrictions on false recyclability claims and plastic labeling, environmental restoration projects, commercial fishing and marine licenses, bans on unencapsulated foam flotation on docks and floating structures, indirect source review for warehouse operations, nuisance wildlife operator disclosure requirements, waterfront revitalization for Doodle Town Brook, a ban on fuel oil grade No. 4, renewable energy development rights on reforestation areas, fee exemptions for veterans and active-duty service members, a ban on mercury-added lamps, designation of water development representatives, bans on cleaning products containing triclosan or triclocarban, a composting symbol, bans on paper receipts for certain purchases, climate corporate data accountability, PFAS product restrictions, and prohibitions on tampering with emissions control devices. Members raised several policy concerns during the meeting. Senator Palumbo questioned the PFAS bill’s inclusion of cookware and suggested an incremental approach, while the sponsor defended keeping cookware in the bill because heating PFAS can increase exposure through food and inhalation. On the renewable energy/reforestation bill, Senator Stec noted implementation concerns about allowing solar development in reforestation areas, and Senator May responded that the bill is intended mainly to facilitate transmission lines across state forest lands. There were also questions about the climate corporate data accountability bill’s scope, including revenue thresholds, overlap with existing DEC greenhouse gas regulations, and the source of fee revenue, with staff explaining it would apply to large companies doing business in New York and use registration fees to cover program costs. Most bills were advanced either to the calendar or to finance. Bills including the lead standards, marine license changes, foam flotation ban, mercury lamp ban, water development representatives, composting symbol, and emissions tampering restrictions were advanced to the calendar. Several measures, including the recyclability labeling bill, environmental restoration projects, warehouse indirect source review, veterans’ fee exemption, and climate corporate data accountability bill, were referred to finance. The paper receipt bill was advanced to commerce, and the committee concluded after voting to move the final bills, including the PFAS restrictions and emissions tampering measure, with technical date fixes noted for the climate accountability and PFAS bills.