Video & Transcript Research : 'House Resolution 224'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Casting provisional ballot requirement 3/9/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Permit to carry holders possession of firearms in Capitol Complex 3/5/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- opposition to House File 3357. opposition to House File 3357.
- right for me to have it on the house right for me to have it on the house floor. floor. floor.
- the people's house. the people's house.
- Um, the House is tied.
- House floor, and it is quite frustrating House floor, and it is quite frustrating to<00:20:25.400>
Summary:
The committee took up House File 3357, a bill to prohibit weapons on Minnesota State Capitol grounds, with exceptions for official protective personnel. The bill’s author and co-author argued it was needed to create a safer environment for legislators, staff, and the public in light of recent threats and violence, including the killing of Speaker Emerita Hortman and other threats directed at members. Supporters said the Capitol should be a place for discussion, not guns, and emphasized the emotional and safety concerns faced by lawmakers, especially women.
Opposition testimony came from the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, which argued the bill would burden peaceable permit holders rather than violent criminals. Opponents said permit holders are highly vetted, commit crimes at very low rates, and should not be forced to choose between First and Second Amendment rights at the Capitol. Several Republican members echoed those concerns, saying the bill would create a confusing patchwork, fail to address threats outside the building, and infringe on lawful self-defense rights. One member also raised concerns about threats against legislators and questioned whether the bill’s assumptions about permit holders were supported by verifiable data.
The discussion became contentious at points over procedure and interruptions, with the chair reminding members about decorum and allowing a roll call vote after repeated requests. The committee then voted 6-7, with one excused, against the motion to re-refer the bill to Public Safety. As a result, the motion did not prevail and House File 3357 was laid over.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The good news is the new wing will<00:17:48.480>
be <00:17:49.039>house <00:17:49.440>- She thanked them for providing those housing initiatives for these students. very very safe option not
- thank you for providing those housing thank you for providing those housing initiatives<00:29:38.240
- an F-35 or a next enough space to house an F-35 or a next generation<00:32:17.919>
fighter. - <01:04:15.200>
and a new seed extratory, packing house and a new seed extratory, packing house
Summary:
The committee first approved the March 3, 2026 minutes by voice vote. It then heard a presentation from the Minnesota Zoo on its aging facilities and bonding needs. Zoo staff highlighted the zoo’s economic and educational role, its 1.4 to 1.5 million annual visitors, and its Free to Explore program, while stressing that many of its 50-year-old buildings are in poor condition, with more than $78 million in backlog and safety concerns for visitors, staff, and animals. The zoo said the governor recommended $4 million for critical life-support systems and asked for an additional $6 million in asset preservation to renovate the original animal hospital building so a new hospital wing can function properly. Testimony emphasized that the renovation is necessary for staff space, storage, code compliance, asbestos removal, and safe animal care, and described recent injuries and close calls tied to outdated facilities.
Members asked questions about porcupine quills, natural predators, and the meaning of the zoo’s incident rate. Zoo staff explained that quills are not poisonous but are barbed and can be difficult to remove, and that predators include larger cats, owls, and fishers. On incidents, staff said they include close calls and injuries linked to aging infrastructure, such as a tiger reaching farther through a wall after fencing shifted over time, and staff injuries during animal procedures in older spaces. Members also confirmed that the hospital project has shifted from a standalone building to a wing attached to the existing hospital because of rising construction costs.
The committee then heard from Perpich Center for Arts Education. Perpich described its statewide role as both a public high school and an arts education resource center, serving students and educators across Minnesota. It said it hosted 313 events last year for nearly 2,000 educators and administrators and worked with 275 school districts across all 67 Senate districts. Perpich emphasized that nearly seven in 10 students rely on its residential programs because there are no comparable arts high school options in greater Minnesota, and noted strong student outcomes including a 100% graduation rate and national recognition as an exemplary school. For capital needs, Perpich said it received $1.26 million last year for HVAC and building automation work, is grateful for the governor’s recommended $1.3 million this year, and requested $6 million to create a secure, accessible main entrance and upgrade outdated restrooms to ADA compliance.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Extending aspects of the state's reinsurance program 3/5/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, Representative O'Driscoll moves House File 3388. I see there is an amendment.
- And I will move the A1 amendment to House File 3388 to get it in the shape that I would like to discuss
- And for those reasons, the Minnesota Business Partnership strongly supports House File 3388.
- And for those reasons, the Minnesota Business Partnership strongly supports House File 3388.
- support of House File 3388 today. support of House File 3388 today.
Summary:
The committee took up House File 3388, and an A1 amendment was adopted by voice vote. The bill, as amended, would direct the Department of Commerce to seek another federal waiver to continue Minnesota’s reinsurance program and preserve the assessment-and-tax-credit funding model adopted last session. Chair O’Driscoll said the measure is intended to give future legislators options before the current reinsurance structure ends, warning that without it individual-market premiums could rise substantially and more people could lose coverage.
Testimony was largely supportive. Dan Andre of the Minnesota Council of Health Plans said reinsurance has been a success since 2018, has lowered premiums by covering a portion of high-cost claims, and helped subsidize care for more than 5,000 Minnesotans in 2024. Ann New Brindley of the Minnesota Business Partnership and Steven Rubis of the Health Plan Partnership of Minnesota also backed the bill, saying market stability is important amid the loss of federal premium tax credits and that continued reinsurance would help prevent further premium increases and cost shifting. Jonathan Carter of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce likewise supported the bill, citing the program’s role in keeping Minnesota’s individual-market premiums among the lowest in the country.
Members also discussed how the assessment and tax-credit mechanism works, with Chair O’Driscoll describing it as an assessment on plans followed by a tax credit against state liability. Representative Elkins questioned how insurers self-assess, and Representative Smith said the assessment model is preferable to a general-fund approach if the program continues. Representative Kaggel raised concerns about taxpayer costs and the broader health care system, while also saying the current system is unsustainable and in need of more fundamental change. The committee then renewed the motion to lay House File 3388, as amended, over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Defining “gross annual retail energy sales.” 3/5/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The first bill on the agenda is House File 3296.
- Representative Mecklin moves House File 3296. Uh, sorry, I got my...
- House File 3296 simply data centers.
- demonstrate the need to approve House demonstrate the need to approve House File<00:04:09.920>
- File 3296 as to make a comment on House File 3296 as amended?
Summary:
House File 3296, as amended, was heard in committee and laid over. The bill would extend an existing exemption in Minnesota’s energy conservation/efficiency program calculations so that certain data centers, like crypto-based data mining operations, would not be counted in a utility’s gross annual retail sales if the new load increases the utility’s base load by 40% or more. Representative Gilman and testifier David Meyer of Glenco Light and Power argued the change is needed because large data loads can make the 1.5% annual savings target effectively unattainable for smaller municipal utilities, and they said the added revenue from the facility has helped lower rates for other customers.
Ken Sulum of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association supported the bill, describing it as narrowly drafted to address mid-sized data centers that do not fit other relief provisions but still create local utility problems. Sarah Wolf of Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light opposed the exemption, arguing that energy efficiency remains important amid rising demand and grid stress from data centers, and that large users should continue contributing to efficiency efforts rather than being exempted.
Members raised questions about whether the facility had a long-term contract, whether the customer was helping lower rates, and how much savings were being passed on to ratepayers. Meyer said the customer had a three-year agreement extended another three years, the infrastructure costs were borne by the customer, and the facility’s revenue has allowed Glenco to reduce rates by about half a cent per kilowatt hour through a $40,000 monthly buy-down of its power cost adjustment. Some members expressed concern that data centers should continue to improve efficiency over time, while others noted the bill’s focus on smaller utilities facing disproportionate impacts.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/5/26
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Union was not a good word in my house. That's how I grew up.
- It's House File 3093, and I'm working on a DE to make sure that any way that misclassification shows
- <01:30:11.160>
File <01:30:11.440>3093 have a bill it's House File 3093 have a bill - it's House File 3093 and<01:30:13.680>
working <01:30:14.000>on <01:30:14.080>a - I just know that when we're here in a balanced House now, it wasn't that way in '23, '24.
Summary:
The Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee met to discuss worker misclassification, beginning with approval of the March 4, 2026 minutes and a note that a late-posted bill would not be heard at this time. Chair Pinto opened the hearing by framing misclassification as timely and invited Lea Takapu of the Attorney General’s office to explain the issue. Takapu described misclassification as labeling workers as independent contractors when they are really employees, which can deprive workers of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other protections while also reducing tax revenue. She said the Attorney General’s office and the MEAP partnership have been working on the issue and cited estimates that Minnesota workers lose billions annually and the state loses hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars in revenue, while noting that legitimate independent contracting is not the target.
Members questioned how the committee could rely on estimates when the exact number of misclassified workers is unknown. Takapu responded that the figures were based on studies and complaint data, and that underground or undocumented work makes exact counts difficult. Chair Pinto noted the numbers were estimates and referenced a 2024 Legislative Auditor finding that Minnesota lacked an adequate, coordinated approach to proper worker classification, while saying progress had been made since then.
Several industry witnesses then testified in support of stronger enforcement. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA said misclassification remains rampant in parts of construction, especially drywall, stucco, thin stone, and broadband installation, and argued it is tax, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation fraud that harms law-abiding contractors and taxpayers. Matt Wollers of Braxton and Sons said his company loses bids to competitors that misclassify workers, creating a labor-cost advantage of 30% or more, and asked for meaningful enforcement rather than new legislation, including regular unannounced jobsite visits. Jesse Madison of Purple Tally Productions said misclassification is anti-competition and described examples from live events and entertainment, urging front-end checks on workers’ compensation, unemployment coverage, and W-2 versus 1099 status before work begins. The next testifier, Ben Ballou of the Minnesota Nurses Association, began his remarks as the transcript ended.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/5/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I did share it with our chairs both in the House and Senate, and at that point in time received no comments
- I did share it with our chairs both in the House and Senate, and I at that point in time received no
- The response said that the report being referred to is the one heard yesterday in House Legacy on the
Summary:
The committee approved the March 3 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on state grant-management requirements. Deputy Legislative Auditor Katherine Tyson outlined the main controls agencies must follow, including pre-award risk assessments for grants of $50,000 or more, reimbursement as the preferred payment method, limits and documentation requirements for advance payments, and monitoring obligations for active grants. She emphasized that these controls are intended to reduce improper payments and fraud, but also require staff time and strong internal systems. In response to questions, she said advance payments are used in some grants but reimbursement is more common, and noted that agencies can add controls such as retaining a portion of funds, surprise visits, or audits. She also said surety bonds are required in some state programs, but not generally for grants, and that this could be a policy discussion for the executive branch.
The committee then received a Department of Natural Resources presentation on the new Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund community grant program created in 2023 law. DNR officials said the program is intended to expand access to ENRTF funding, especially for communities affected by pollution and environmental degradation, and to support projects such as environmental education, resource restoration, trail work, and aquatic invasive species management. They said the department will use the same grants team that handles Outdoor Heritage Fund and LCCMR grants, which already manages a large volume of grants, and that the advisory council application is open through April 10.
DNR described its implementation plan as similar to the Conservation Partners Legacy program, with both standard and expedited grant rounds, technical assistance, and use of technical experts. Differences include no match requirement, allowance for fiscal agents to help smaller organizations, and more flexibility for administrative expenses to reduce barriers to participation. Officials said the program will follow state grant rules, including pre-award financial reviews and monitoring, and will use the 5 percent administrative allowance to support both oversight and grantee assistance. They also said the report’s suggestion of advance payments for grants under $50,000 was raised for discussion, but they did not dispute the auditor’s emphasis that reimbursement is the preferred approach.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/5/26
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Time being 8:15, the House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee will come to order.
- I talk about it, you know, it's the basic maintenance you do on your house, right?
- I talk about it, you know, it's the basic maintenance you do on your house, right?
- I talk about it, you know, it's the basic maintenance you do on your house, right?
- maintenance to the house. maintenance to the house.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Economic impact of immigration enforcement 3/5/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Howard, I will move House File 3480 before the committee and be re-referred to Ways and
- Uh, House File 3480 is frankly a very straightforward and simple bill which calls for an independent
- Uh, we've had entire sectors turned on its head from the agriculture economy to housing and construction
- 00:02:22.640>
to head from the agriculture economy to head from the agriculture economy to housing - <00:02:23.440>
and <00:02:23.640>construction housing and construction housing and construction
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Establishing a property tax task force 3/5/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I will move House File 3396. I will now move the A1 amendment. Any questions on the amendment?
- We now have House File 3396 as amended.
- I will move House File 3396 as amended later for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.
- I will<00:02:37.680>
move <00:02:38.160>House <00:02:38.440>File <00:02:38.680>- > 3396<00:02:39.880>
as <00:02:40.120>amended will move House File 3396 as amended - > 3396<00:02:39.880>
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 3/5/26
Higher Education Finance and Policy
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The House will come to order. Prayer by the chaplain.
- reading of House File number 2169. >> Second reading of House File number 2358. >> Second reading of
- House File number 3425. >> Second reading of House File number 3428. >> Second reading of House File
- number 3440. >> Second reading of House File number 3615. >> Second reading of House File number 3709
- Introduction and first reading of House Files 3923 through 4046. Motions and resolutions.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota Zoo bonding request 3/5/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The good news is the new wing will house all the medical suites, all the modern equipment, all the, you
Summary:
The Minnesota Zoo presented its infrastructure and animal health needs to the committee, beginning with an educational demonstration featuring Aspen, a North American porcupine. Staff used the animal to explain porcupine biology and correct common myths, including that porcupines cannot shoot their quills and that the quills are not poisonous. Members asked about the animal’s natural predators and care, and staff explained that porcupines are protected by their quills but can still be preyed on by animals such as bobcats, cougars, great horned owls, and fishers.
Zoo leadership then shifted to the facility request, describing the zoo as a major state attraction and education center with about 1.4 to 1.5 million annual visitors, nearly 100,000 students served, and significant economic impact. They said the 50-year-old campus is in poor condition, with a third of its 125 structures in poor or crisis condition and more than $78 million in deferred maintenance, creating safety risks for visitors, staff, and animals. The zoo said it is seeking to use the governor’s recommended $4 million for critical life-support and infrastructure needs.
The main funding request discussed was an additional $6 million for the zoo’s animal hospital project. Zoo officials explained that the original plan for a standalone new hospital was no longer affordable, so they are now proposing a new wing attached to the existing A Building hospital. The extra funds would renovate A Building for staff, storage, and support spaces, remove asbestos, meet code, and improve safety so the new hospital can function as intended. Members asked about incidents at the zoo, and staff described examples such as close calls with animal enclosures and injuries tied to aging facilities and outdated equipment. No vote or formal action was taken in the transcript.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Judicial branch supplemental funding 3/5/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, we're going to move House File 3874. Actually, Chair Lee. >> Thank you, Madam Chair.
- I believe in the House and the Senate.
- So, House File 3874 is laid over.
- House.
- So, House File will move on to um House.
Summary:
The committee took up House File 3874 and laid it over for possible inclusion in a finance bill. The Minnesota Judicial Branch, represented by State Court Administrator Jeff Shorba and Chief Judge Michael Fritz, presented a supplemental funding request focused on two main areas: judicial safety and security, and the employer share of Minnesota Paid Leave costs. Shorba said the branch was grateful for prior budget support but noted it did not receive salary increases for staff or judges and did not get funding for juror per diem. He explained that the branch is seeking funding for personal data protection, home security, two additional judicial security positions, security for the chief justice at public events, and a revived courthouse security grant program.
Much of the testimony centered on rising threats against judges and court staff. Shorba and Fritz described increases in incidents, threats, and disturbances, and Fritz gave several examples of threatening behavior involving judges’ homes, personal information, and online doxxing. They argued that the branch needs better threat assessment, coordination with local law enforcement, and security measures at homes, courthouses, and online. Members expressed support for the concerns and asked questions about how threats are currently handled and whether state patrol officers assigned to security duties would need additional training.
The second major topic was the judicial branch’s request for funding to cover its employer contribution to Minnesota Paid Leave, which took effect in January 2026. Shorba said the branch followed MMB’s calculations and expected the cost to be addressed through broader state government funding, but the branch did not receive an operational adjustment. He said the branch is now having to hold positions open to absorb the cost. Members questioned why the request was not included in the earlier budget process, and Shorba responded that the branch believed the issue would be handled centrally and later learned it had not been funded for the judiciary. No vote on the funding requests was taken in the discussion shown.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Interagency Council on Student Attendance created 3/4/26
Transcript Highlights:
- Our last bill up for consideration today is House File 3585.
- Housing policy is attendance policy.
- <00:18:14.960>
insecurity, shaped by housing insecurity, shaped by housing insecurity, transportation - <00:18:33.520>
Every strongly supports House File 3585. - Every strongly supports House File 3585.
Summary:
The committee heard House File 3585, as amended, which would create an interagency council on student attendance and re-refer the bill to education finance. Representative Keeler moved the bill and an A1 amendment that corrected the council’s placement from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to the Department of Education; the amendment was adopted. Keeler and Representative Bakeberg described the bill as the product of several years of bipartisan work on chronic absenteeism and truancy, emphasizing that attendance problems involve multiple systems and require ongoing coordination rather than a single-agency response.
Testimony was strongly supportive. Matt Shaver of Allies cited statewide chronic absenteeism data and argued that schools cannot solve the problem alone because root causes such as housing, transportation, health, and economic instability lie outside school control. Assistant Commissioner Angela Mansfield of MDE said the task force and pilot districts showed coordination gaps and supported the council, while also noting MDE’s Compass staff would need permanent funding to carry out the work. Ashley High Totower of Hennepin County’s BEET program said attendance is a public health, child welfare, transportation, housing, and economic issue, and Kenneth Avon of the Minneapolis Foundation said absenteeism is an ecological problem requiring cross-sector coordination.
Student witnesses also supported the bill but urged stronger youth representation. Henry Brick of Catalyst for Systems Change said students understand the causes of absenteeism best and proposed expanding student seats on the council from one to five. Ava Northrup of the Minnesota Youth Council said youth voices should be more than symbolic and suggested two youth representatives, one from the metro and one from greater Minnesota, plus additional youth task forces or panels. In member discussion, Representative Lawrence questioned whether the council duplicated existing MDE work, asked who would coordinate the group, and raised the lack of a sunset; Keeler and Bakeberg said the Department of Education would coordinate and that a sunset could be considered later. Other members asked about fiscal impact, and the chair said a fiscal note had been requested and the bill would move on to education finance.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Autonomous vehicles regulated 3/4/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- >
Minnesota <00:18:19.520>will passing House File 3513, Minnesota will passing House File - ><00:19:46.080>
a <00:19:46.320>strong House File 3513 creates a strong House File 3513 - The chamber supports House File 3513.
- [clears throat] chamber supports House [clears throat] chamber supports House File<00:36:02.960>
- I helped her by uh wrong uh house.
Summary:
The committee took up House File 5313, a bipartisan bill to create a statewide framework for autonomous vehicles in Minnesota. The author said the bill is intended to improve safety, provide regulatory clarity, avoid a patchwork of local rules, and support economic development and mobility for seniors and people with disabilities. The bill was described as a work in progress, and the committee adopted three author amendments: A12, a technical correction; A15, which states MDOT and Public Safety can absorb the bill’s incidental costs within existing resources; and A14, which added clarifying airport-related language requested by the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport/MAC.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation testified in support of continued discussion but said the bill needs more work in several areas, including an annual MDOT permitting process for AV operators, defining operational design domains, adding stronger enforcement authority, clarifying remote assistance roles, and requiring fully automated vehicles to be registered with Public Safety. MDOT said it has worked with the governor’s connected and automated vehicles council and more than 70 stakeholders on recommendations. Industry and transit witnesses strongly supported the bill, citing existing AV deployments and safety benefits. Southwest Transit’s CEO said its Eden Prairie AV service has carried 27,000 riders over 112,000 miles with no accidents, strong customer satisfaction, and increased ridership. A Whimo representative said the bill would create regulatory certainty and help expand AV deployment.
Several public witnesses emphasized accessibility and safety. A disability advocate described how autonomous vehicles could improve independence for people who cannot drive, including those with epilepsy and other disabilities, and urged passage of the bill. A former 911 dispatcher and state patrol employee said AVs could reduce crashes and protect drivers, pedestrians, and officers, contrasting a dangerous human ride-share experience with a safer autonomous ride. Another disability advocate and blind Minnesotan testified that AVs could help address transportation barriers, though he also noted ongoing discrimination problems with ride-hailing services for blind riders with guide dogs. After the amendments were adopted, the bill was moved to the Commerce Committee.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Surveillance-based price and wage discrimination prohibited 3/4/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Next up is Representative Greenman with House File 3794.
- They are not using price clearing<00:04:19.600>
houses. - So, they don't know um clearing houses.
- For these reasons, we cannot support House File 3794 as drafted.
- <00:24:09.360>
File reasons, we cannot support House File reasons, we cannot support House
Summary:
House File 3794, as amended by the A4 amendment, was heard in committee. Representative Greenman described the bill as a ban on surveillance-based pricing and wage discrimination, with a disclosure requirement for companies using automated data to set individualized prices or wages. The A4 amendment was adopted; Greenman said it updated language based on attorney general and stakeholder feedback and added a burden-shifting provision that would let consumers or workers establish a presumption, which companies could then rebut with data. Greenman and supporters argued the bill would stop companies from using personal data and AI tools to charge different prices to different people, while still allowing ordinary market-based discounts and clearly offered group discounts such as those for veterans, students, or teachers.
Supportive testimony came from the Minnesota Farmers Union, a neighborhood bookstore owner, Consumer Reports, and a small business owner. They said surveillance pricing undermines fairness, transparency, and competition, and cited examples such as different online prices based on location, browser history, or loyalty-program data. Testifiers also warned that AI-driven pricing and discounting can be opaque and discriminatory, and that small businesses cannot compete with large firms that control more data. Consumer Reports said consumers should not have to use workarounds like VPNs to compare prices and noted that some discounts based on personal data may also need sunlight and guardrails.
Opposition came from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Progress. They argued the bill’s definitions are too broad and could sweep in ordinary business analytics, loyalty programs, targeted promotions, inventory tools, and even spreadsheets, creating compliance risk and discouraging innovation and investment. They also warned the bill could burden small businesses and interfere with workplace management and compensation decisions. During member discussion, several legislators voiced support for the bill as a transparency and fairness measure, while one member noted that the most egregious examples appear to be in e-commerce and said the committee was laying the bill over for further consideration.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/4/26
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Um this uh housing care uh uh Schultz.
- That's in the House or the Senate. Like literally that didn't follow our own rules.
- That's in the House or the Senate. Like literally that didn't follow our own rules.
- That's in the House or the legislature.
- that you're going to lose your house. that you're going to lose your house.
Summary:
The committee met on March 4, 2026, and focused almost entirely on an update and oversight discussion of the Promise Act, including its grant and loan programs. The chair opened by explaining that the committee wanted to better understand how the 2023 law was implemented, how funds are still being deployed in greater Minnesota and the metro, and whether adjustments made in 2024 and 2025 were working as intended. The minutes from March 3 were approved at the start of the meeting.
Deputy Commissioner Kevin McKinnon of DEED outlined the program’s legislative history, funding structure, eligibility rules, and oversight process. He said the grant side has about $94 million available, with $16 million going to the Minnesota Initiative Foundations and $86 million to the Neighborhood Development Center, plus administrative and technical assistance set-asides. He noted legislative changes over time, including shifting the revenue eligibility test to the prior year, adding a home-office deduction requirement for businesses using a home address, and maintaining a preference for applicants who had not received more than $10,000 in prior state assistance. McKinnon said about $22 million had been awarded to 35 businesses at the time of the update, and that the loan program has $30 million appropriated, with about $9.5 million lent so far. He also described the application, verification, audit, and payment process, emphasizing that partners handle intake and DEED conducts final review and random audits.
Shahir Ahmmed of the Neighborhood Development Center described the round-one and round-two grant process in more detail. He said NDC spent about nine months building the application platform, launched round one in June 2024, received more than 3,000 applications, and later paused awards while DEED and legislators clarified the law. He reported that 651 applications were approved in the first round for just under $9 million, and that round two launched in September 2025 with a goal of distributing up to $50 million in remaining grant funds. Ahmmed also explained the step-by-step applicant process, including email confirmation, eligibility screening, document upload, identity verification through Plaid, and final DEED review. He said applicants commonly use funds for payroll, equipment or inventory, rent, and utilities. The chair indicated there would be further testimony from other program partners and then member questions, but no votes or formal actions were taken on the Promise Act itself during this portion of the meeting.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Rehabilitative mental health service providers 3/4/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The next bill on the calendar is House File 3520. >> Jeff Fisher. >> Jeff Fisher. >> You're doing joint
- So, I would renew my motion to have House File 3520 be laid over, please.
- House File 3520, as amended, is laid over for possible inclusion.
Summary:
House File 3520, as amended by an A1 technical amendment from DHS, was heard in committee. The bill was described as a policy-only measure aimed at modernizing mental health statutes to reduce confusion, ease staffing burdens, and improve recruitment and retention in a workforce facing shortages. The author said the bill was developed with mental health stakeholders over several years, shared with DHS, and intended to have no cost unless provisions are later flagged for fiscal impact.
Chris Westgard of Touchstone Mental Health testified in support and walked through the bill’s main provisions. Section 1 would exclude weekends and holidays from the 10-day deadline for completing diagnostic assessments after admission to intensive residential treatment services, which he said would reduce weekend and holiday work for limited staff. Section 2 would clarify statutory language governing the behavioral health fund’s coverage of intensive residential treatment and residential crisis stabilization services. Section 3 would update Youth ACT rules by allowing board-certified psychiatrists with relevant clinical experience to serve as prescribers, making registered nurses optional team members, and allowing teams with demonstrated experience to serve children and youth ages 8 to 20.
Members raised questions about statutory wording, including the use of “notwithstanding” and the term “qualified provider.” Nonpartisan staff said the bill could be tightened with a cross-reference if it advances. There was no public testimony against the bill. The committee laid House File 3520, as amended, over for possible inclusion.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House DFL Press Conference 3/4/26
Transcript Highlights:
- I co-chair the House Energy Committee.
- My name is Esther Agbaje, and I represent a House District in Minneapolis. Housing is expensive.
- Supply is a factor in the high cost of housing.
- Supply is a factor in the high cost of housing.
- <00:10:33.000>
affordable address housing affordable address housing affordable affordability
Summary:
House DFL leaders held a press event outlining an affordability agenda focused on housing, child care, health care, groceries, energy, and taxes. Speakers argued that Minnesota families are being squeezed by rising costs and income inequality, and said the caucus would pursue policies aimed at lowering everyday expenses and shifting more costs onto corporations and wealthy residents. Representative Bierman said health care costs are pushing people to skip care and called for system reforms, including moving toward a more universal model and reducing the role of insurers and pharmacy benefit managers.
Representative Kotiza-Wazhushk said the caucus is pushing for universal or low-cost child care, expanded pre-K and community-based care, and a bill to stop grocery surveillance price gouging. Representative Acomb and other energy leaders said the House DFL wants to lower utility bills through more energy assistance, weatherization, renewable energy support, limits on utility cost recovery for lobbying and executive pay, and stronger PUC authority to prevent shutoffs and limit rate increases. Representative Agbaje described housing as unaffordable for many renters and homeowners, cited a shortage of housing units, and said the caucus supports restricting private equity and corporate purchases of single-family homes.
Leader Stevenson framed the agenda as a response to a budget picture that he said reflects gains for corporations and wealthy Minnesotans, and he criticized federal tax policy and Medicaid cuts. In response to questions about cost, he said several proposals would not require state spending, while others could be funded by looking at new revenue and at those who benefited most from recent tax changes. The event also included a detailed explanation of the grocery surveillance pricing proposal, which would restrict the use of personal data and AI to set individualized prices and limit rapid electronic shelf price changes. No votes were taken.