Transcript Highlights:

• Senators.
• Passed the Senate.
• Senator again moves ITL. Senator again moves ITL.
• Where are you going, Senator Reagan? Where are you going, Senator Reagan?
• Senator LeBlanc Senator what's that?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You, Senator, you sit on >> Thank you.
• <00:12:14.639> Now, to the New Hampshire Senate. Now, to the New Hampshire Senate.
• So moved by Senator executive session.
• So moved by Senator Murphy,<00:15:28.079> seconded<00:15:28.399> by<00:15:28.720> Senator
• not senator. not senator. >> Oh,<00:49:41.920> sorry. >> Oh, sorry.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator. Are there any questions for Senator Berthel?
• questions for Senator Berthel? questions for Senator Berthel?
• Senator Byrd or Senator Birdsell moves interim study. Do I have a second? Second.
• Thank you, Senator. Senator. Senator.
• Senator Long, do you want to take this one out? have a problem with consent, Senator?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that the Senate passed. that the Senate passed.
• To Senate Bill 586. To Senate Bill 586. To Senate Bill 586. To Senate Bill 586.
• in Senate Education cuz when in Senate in Senate Education when<00:12:05.480> we<00:12:05.560
• Senate position. Senate position.
• Thank you, Senator. Senator Rosenwald. Thank you.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator from Chittenden. Thank you Mr. Senator from Chittenden. Thank you Mr.
• Senator from Windsor. Mr.
• Senator from Windsor.
• >> Show us I, Senator. >> Show us I, Senator.
• Senate Appropriations will also meet at 1:30. Senator from Rutland.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Gonzalez. Senator Reyes. Senator Cabaldon, aye. Senator Choi, aye. Senator Cortese.
• Senator Perez, Senator Cabaldon, Senator Choi: aye. Senator Cortese. Senator Gonzalez.
• Senator Ochoa Bogh: aye. Senator Cabaldon: aye. Senator Choi. Senator Cortese. Senator Reyes: aye.
• Senator Ochoa Bogh: aye. Senator Cabaldon: no. Senator Choi: aye. Senator Cortese.
• Senator Ochoa Bogh. Senator Choi: no. Senator Cortese. Senator Gonzalez.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Durazo: Aye. Senator Arreguín: No. Senator Ashby: Aye. Senator Cervantes: Aye.
• Senator Laird: Aye. Senator Seyarto: No. Thank you. Senator Ashby? Senator Cervantes? Aye.
• Senator Cervantes? Aye. Senator Laird? Senator Seyarto? No. 3-2.
• Thank you, Senator Artole. Senator Choi. Thank you, Chair.
• Senator Laird, aye. Bill passes... Senator Laird, aye.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Smolkwevis: Present. Senator Strickland: Here. Senator Cortese: Here. Senator Durazo.
• Senator Smolkwevis: Present. Senator Strickland: Here. Senator Cortese: Here. Senator Durazo.
• Senator Smallwood Cuevas, aye. Senator Strickland, aye. Senator Cortese, aye. Senator Durazo, aye.
• Senator Smold Chavez: Aye. Senator Strickland: No. Senator Cortese: Aye. Senator Durazo.
• Senator Strickland: Aye. Senator Cortese: No. Senator Ludazzo. Senator Laird: No.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator.
• Thank you, Senator.
• Thank you, Senator.
• Senator Durazo.
• Senators... SB 1309. Senators, SB 1309. Please call the absent members.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and Senators. And thank you, Senator Val... Thank you very much. Mr.
• Chair, Senators, and thank you, Senator Valderas, for your support on this bill.
• Senate Bill 1408...
• Senator, you can continue. We don't have another witness, so. Senator, you can continue.
• Senator Grayson.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Rules will come to order.
• Thank you, Senator. Thank you. We're going to go to Senator Reyes.
• I'll go with Senator Reyes and then Senator Laird.
• Thank you, Senator Laird. Senator Jones. So Senator Laird set it up.
• Senator Laird.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Senator Allen.
• Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Senator. Other senators wish to be recognized for questions?
• Welcome, Senator. Welcome, Senator. Welcome, Senator. Proceed when ready. All right. Thank you.
• Senator Weiner.
• Senators... File item four, SB 877. Senators Jones, Rubio.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I am going to bring him forward, Senator McNerney, SB 925.
• All right, thank you, Senator.
• I see Senator Grayson here.
• We also have planned... as the Senator talks about.
• And next, I see in the room Senator Cabaldon.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Marty: No. Senator Franzen: No. Senator Pratt: Yes. Senator Champion: No.
• Senator Draheim: Yes. Senator Haw: Aye. Senator Dziedzic: Aye. Senator Johnson: Yes.
• Senator Mohamed: No. Senator Murphy: Nope. Senator Pappas: No. Senator Wiklund: No.
• Senator Draheim. Yes. Senator Haw. Aye. Senator Draheim. Yes. Senator Haw. Aye.
• Senator Senator Senator Senator<01:41:02.720> Her.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee took up Senate File 203, a broad housing bill authored by Senator Port. Port described the measure as a package including $50 million in housing infrastructure bonds, MHFA administrative and investment reforms, expanded Greater Minnesota infrastructure grants for workforce housing, manufactured housing bill of rights provisions, and a private equity restriction on large investors buying certain single-family homes starting in 2026. Fiscal analyst Eric Olafson walked through the spreadsheet and said the $50 million bond authorization would add debt service costs over time, with the total estimated debt service for that authorization at about $75.8 million. Senator Draheim raised concern about the growing cost of bonding and said the state should rely more on cash than debt. The committee then adopted two technical amendments. The A21 amendment, described by Port as correcting manufactured housing bill of rights language, aligning MHFA board meeting language, conforming a lived-experience exemption to federal law, and fixing a capacity-building grants reference, was approved without objection. The A20 amendment, offered by Draheim, was also adopted and would give the legislature more control and visibility over MHFA funding and how quickly program dollars are reinvested after agency operations. Members then debated Draheim’s A22 amendment, which would delete the manufactured home park provisions from the bill. Draheim and several Republicans argued the section could function like rent control, could burden good park owners, and might have unintended consequences for park operations and purchases. Port, Senator Boldon’s allies, and other supporters said the provisions were needed to protect residents from rent spikes and private equity abuses in manufactured home communities, where residents own their homes but not the land. The transcript ends during that debate, before any final disposition on A22 or the bill itself is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Senator Nelson, why don't we have Senator Pappas address your question, and then if after Senator
• Chair, Senator Nelson, why don't we have Senator Pappas address your question, and then if after Senator
• Senator >> Thank you, Representative. Senator Pappas.
• Senator Pappas. Okay. Good, correct. Senator Pappas. Okay. Good, Senator<01:09:55.680> Pappas.
• <01:24:25.360> File both Senate File 4766 and Senate File both Senate File 4766 and Senate

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the April 14, 2026 meeting minutes without objection. It then took up Senate File 4860 / House File 4812, the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association bill, which would reduce the employee contribution rate for coordinated members from 9% to 8% starting after June 30, 2026, raise the retiree COLA from 1% to 1.5% beginning January 1, 2027, and increase the state-funded employer contribution by 2.7%. Staff said the bill’s cost is just over $12 million per year over 15 years. Representative Lilly said the bill was intended to bring parity to St. Paul teachers after prior work in this area left some behind. Several St. Paul teachers testified in support, describing financial strain, burnout, and the difficulty of balancing teaching with family responsibilities. Hannah Geimer said the 1% contribution change would make a meaningful difference in her budget as a single parent. Eric Erickson said he and his wife have spent decades working extra hours and coaching, and argued that St. Paul educators pay more and receive less in retirement than other teachers. Arzoo Faroozan Yazdani, a Central High teacher, said the higher contribution rate and lower COLA make it hard to stay in the district and raise a family. Lisa Hodek said teachers are undercompensated for the demands of the job and that the pension disparity has created frustration and a sense of betrayal. Phil Tensic, the SPTRFA director, summarized the request as seeking an 8% contribution and 1.5% COLA to match TRA, and noted that the plan’s members are spread across legislative districts, not just in St. Paul. Members discussed the history behind the pension disparity. Senator Nelson questioned whether “parity” was the right term given the plan’s funding problems and the legacy of the “big red box,” referring to past underfunding. Tensic and Senator Pappas explained that the state had previously allowed St. Paul schools not to contribute for a period of years, that supplemental district and state aid began in 2018, and that the plan is projected to be amortized by 2039 and must be paid off by 2048. Members also noted that the bill and related pension proposals depend on available funding; Representative O’Driscoll and others said no final financing agreement had been reached, though leadership was continuing discussions. The committee received letters of support from Education Minnesota, the St. Paul Federation of Educators, and 40 individual supporters. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm State Senator Jessica Ramos, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Labor, and welcome to our
• This morning, I am joined by Senator Fernandez, Senator Jackson, Senator Mayer, Senator Ryan, Senator
• Zellner, Senator Mattera, and, of course, our ranking member, Senator Rhoads.
• Thank you, Senator Fernandez and Senator Mayer. All those in favor?
• Thank you, Senator Mayer. I second. Senator Ryan. Is it all those in favor?

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Labor, chaired by Senator Jessica Ramos, met for its sixth meeting of the 2026 session and considered seven bills. The committee advanced bills on the minimum wage for employees with disabilities (S-28C), modular construction work (S.2225), COVID-19-related workers’ compensation death benefits (S.6078), withholding of workers’ compensation benefits based on attachment to the labor market (S.6376), paid sick leave eligibility (S.8677), mandatory disclosures in job advertisements (S.8877), and construction reporting pay-up (S.9843). Several members voiced support for the bills, and Senator Rhoads gave extended remarks in favor of S.6078, describing it as a needed reopening of the filing period for families who missed the deadline during the pandemic. Most measures were reported out of committee with little opposition. S-28C was reported to the Disabilities Committee, S.6078 and S.6376 were reported to Finance, and S.8677, S.8877, and S.9843 were reported to the calendar. The committee took voice votes on each bill, with some recorded abstentions or absent-without-recommendation responses noted, but no roll-call vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we start with Senate Bill 2305 by Senator Cooney.
• Next is Senate Print 3413 by Senator Jackson.
• Next is Senate Print 3778 by Senator Conner.
• Next is Senate Print 3778 by Senator Conner.
• The next bill is Senate Print 9766 by Senator Spock. It is Senate Print 9766 by Senator Spock.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met and advanced a series of bills, with little opposition and several members noting support for the committee’s bipartisan approach. Senate Bill 2305 (judgments by confession), Senate Print 3413 (judgments in Article 78 disability pension cases), Senate Print 3778 (annual reporting on the drug treatment court program), and Senate Print 4957 (review of bail data reports by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct) were each moved and reported to the floor. Members emphasized the importance of data collection and reporting, especially on bail and drug treatment courts. The committee also discussed Senate Print 8624, which would allow courts to award community damages against an estate in sexual abuse cases. Supporters described it as an important first step to provide justice for survivors and to create a carve-out from existing limits on punitive damages after death. Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick raised concerns about the dead man statute and evidentiary issues, but said she was willing to work on revisions. The bill was advanced. Other bills reported to the floor included Senate Print 9766, making technical corrections to ensure gender neutrality in admission-to-practice rules and limiting required disclosure of prior law enforcement or criminal justice interactions; Senate Print 9770, concerning alternate jurors in civil cases, with some discussion about its civil-only scope; Senate Print 9792, allowing amendment of Court of Claims filings to correct jurisdictional pleading defects and setting procedures for dismissal for noncompliance; and Senate Print 9794, requiring disclosure of generative AI use in civil actions. Each bill was moved by committee members and approved without recorded opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am out of breath, State Senator Kevin Parker.
• Welcome to the Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications.
• I'm joined by a number of colleagues today, including Senator Rachel May, Senator Gonzalez, Senator Brian
• Kavanagh, Senator Thomas O'Mara?
• Oh, Senator Hinchey as well. No, no worries. No worries. We'll let it end.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications met with Senator Kevin Parker presiding and several colleagues present. The committee considered four bills: S.1551, which would prohibit the release of consumption data; S.2258, which would require emergency notices to customers in certain languages; S.2416, which would release victims of domestic violence from certain contracts; and S.9835, which would require gas and electric corporations to give 30 days’ notice before service rate or charge increases. The sponsor and committee briefly introduced each measure, and no substantive debate or testimony was recorded in the transcript. Each bill was moved and seconded. S.1551 and S.2258 each had one recorded no vote, but both still had enough support to advance. S.2416 and S.9835 were also approved without recorded opposition. All four bills were reported to third reading, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are joined today by our ranking member, Senator Borrello, Senator Brouk, Senator Fernandez, Senator
• Helming, and Senator Ryan.
• Senator Fernandez, Senator Helming, and Senator Ryan. And it's a really busy day.
• Motion by Senator Borrello, seconded by Senator Helming. All those in favor?
• Two without rec: Senator Helming and Senator Borrello. Thank you very much.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Standing Committee on Agriculture considered a full agenda of bills covering animal welfare, school food standards, farm succession planning, microchipping, electronic reporting, and baby food safety. Several measures were reported or advanced without objection, including S.1743 (referred to Codes), S.30738 on a civil remedy for companion animals denied proper care, S.5488 on microchipping certain animals, and S.5689 on authorizing electronic reporting. S.3214B, which would prohibit the sale of foods containing synthetic additives in schools, was advanced to the Education Committee; two members were recorded without recommendation on that bill. The committee also discussed S.4755A, Senator Bailey’s farm ownership succession planning program, though the transcript does not capture a final vote on that item. The most detailed discussion centered on S.8701A, Senator Hinchey’s bill requiring testing of baby food and formula for toxic heavy metals and disclosure of results. Members asked about federal standards, supply-chain impacts, and whether ingredient suppliers should also be covered. Supporters said there are limited federal standards, cited similar laws in California, Virginia, Maryland, and Illinois, and argued the bill would protect consumers without disrupting supply. The bill was then moved to the Consumer Protection Committee. At the close of the meeting, the chair noted the large number of animal-related bills on the agenda and mentioned upcoming Animal Advocacy Day. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have in the room Senator Addabbo, Senator Bynoe, Senator Cleare, Senator Jackson, Senator Liu.
• I don't see Senator Martinez, Senator Salazar, Stavisky, or Sutton.
• I see Senator Tedisco, Senator Weber, and Senator Stec. Thank you. Senator Weber and Senator Stec.
• Senator Liu. No. Senator Liu moves the bill. Senator Cleare seconds. All in favor? Aye. Opposed?
• Senator Stec opposed, Senator Tedisco opposed. Senator Weber? Without rec. AWR.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Education met on April 21 and considered several education-related bills, mostly extensions or technical changes. S-57 (BOCES services to out-of-state school districts), S-150B (small-city school board nominating communication deadlines), S-8904A (BOCES lease terms for properties), S-9148 (exempting certain preschool special services providers from separate Commissioner approval), and S-9611 (extending provisions on certified school psychologists and preschool special education services) were all moved to the floor with little or no opposition. The committee also took up S-2498, which would reduce the required number of lockdown drills in schools from 12 to 10 and adjust the timing of drills. Senator Tedisco spoke strongly against the bill, arguing that repetition is necessary to prepare students and staff for emergencies and that reducing drills would move in the wrong direction on school safety. Chair Mayer responded that the bill still requires a significant number of drills and is intended to reduce trauma, especially for young children. The bill advanced, with Senators Stec and Tedisco opposed and Senator Weber recorded without recommendation. Most other bills were described as aligning existing rules, easing administrative burdens, or extending current law. The committee concluded by noting the meeting was productive and adjourned after moving all listed bills forward.