Transcript Highlights:

• Our peer support workers are there to offer a hand so that when they are struggling, they can reach out
• So if you can get started, and just a hint about About the remote for the slides: they say it's very
• are working with have been kind enough to donate their time, all the way down to our peer support workers
• My mother, Teresa, and stepfather, Frank, were essential workers.
• I think that you'll make a great social worker, and I look forward to seeing you in the social work field

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:10:52.079> need<00:10:52.320> a<00:10:52.519> place ready to work these workers
• need a place ready to work these workers need a place to<00:10:53.040> live<00:10:54.040>
• If a worker can't find a home near their place of employment, it makes it harder for them to take the
• In Eagan, 78% of workers use private vehicles to commute to work, only 2.6% use public transit, and 2%
• We'll be doing it remotely. Susan, can you state your name for the record, please?

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 1987, the Minnesota Starter Home Act, and first adopted the A1 author’s amendment, which made minor cleanup changes, removed sections two and three, adjusted ADU language, and tweaked density language. The bill authors described the measure as a bipartisan effort to address Minnesota’s housing shortage by allowing more starter homes, duplexes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units, while also limiting some local zoning barriers and preserving city protections in certain sensitive areas. They emphasized that the state has a large housing gap, rising home prices, and that the bill is intended as one part of a broader housing package. Supportive testimony came from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Housing First Minnesota, Habitat for Humanity, AARP Minnesota, and Americans for Prosperity. These witnesses argued that workforce and starter-home shortages are hurting families, employers, and economic growth; that restrictive zoning and lengthy approval processes raise costs; and that more middle housing and ADUs would expand options for older adults, caregivers, working families, and people seeking homeownership. Several supporters said the bill would reduce regulatory barriers, lower development costs, and help communities add needed housing supply. Opposition or cautionary testimony came from city and municipal representatives, including officials from Cambridge, Eagan, and Mankato, as well as the League of Minnesota Cities and related groups. They argued that local governments already are approving substantial housing growth and need flexibility to manage zoning, parking, infrastructure, stormwater, and community input. They warned the bill could weaken local control, remove practical standards, and create unintended impacts such as more rental conversion in some neighborhoods or development without adequate infrastructure. No final vote on the bill itself was shown in the transcript beyond adoption of the A1 amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• These removals protect ports,<03:35:18.080> safeguard<03:35:18.640> workers,<03:35:19.040
• > and<03:35:19.200> prevent ports, safeguard workers, and prevent ports, safeguard workers
• This left Cape Fox with mostly remote mountainous lands with no productive or economic value.
• > lands<04:40:37.920> with<04:40:38.160> no mostly remote mountainous lands with
• workers, the self-employed, and more. workers, the self-employed, and more.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, December 15, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and have much more travel more remote and have much more travel time<01:23:52.280> and<01:23:
• So all of the shelters and our outreach workers are asked to participate, and they report out on how
• um are asked to participate and workers um are asked to participate and um<03:37:14.000> they
• in the shelter, and PATH workers in community mental health centers.
• All right, so the path workers—this is the individuals who are at the community mental health centers

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee’s Division 3 held a public work session on the Behavioral Health budget on February 27, 2025. The chair opened by explaining the schedule, materials, and deadlines for the budget process, and noted there would be no motions or votes in the division that day. Division of Behavioral Health Director Ktia Fox and DHHS CFO Nathan White then walked the committee through the division’s mission, structure, and budget materials, describing the division’s four bureaus: Mental Health Services, Children’s Behavioral Health, Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homeless Services, along with the policy unit. They emphasized the division’s role in oversight, technical assistance, quality assurance, contracting, and the continuum of care from prevention and early intervention through crisis and residential services. Much of the discussion focused on major programs and funding lines, including the 988 Lifeline contract with Headrest, a technical assistance contract with UNH, Medicaid pass-through payments to New Hampshire Hospital and Glencliff, crisis response services, cold-weather homeless responses, housing supports, and the children’s system of care. Members asked about the UNH contract, the 988 program, crisis stabilization centers, and the peer certification program; Fox explained that the peer certification is a training-and-credentialing pathway for people with lived experience to enter community-based behavioral health work, not a volunteer program. The committee also discussed the “Choose Love” program, which Fox said was created after the Sandy Hook tragedy to build resilience and strength-based emotional regulation in schools and communities. On the children’s side, Fox described the system of care account as the place where many contracted services are budgeted, including community mental health centers, care management entities, rapid response services, and residential programs. Members asked about temporary staffing, and Fox said roughly $500,000 in temporary staff costs shown in the current year would not be spent next year because the money came from a nonlapsing appropriation in HB 1573 for oversight of children’s residential services. She also said provider rate increases were a prioritized need but were not funded in the governor’s current budget, and that the Children’s Behavioral Health Resource Center was not funded, resulting in about a $1 million reduction. The session ended while the division was still moving through the children’s behavioral health slides, including questions about the Fast Forward high-fidelity wraparound program and medication management.

Transcript Highlights:

• and then get workforce uh work workers and then get workforce uh work workers moving<00:55:42.079
• The roads and bridges are getting tore up in Kimmer, Wyoming, but the workers are staying in Evanston
• So those communities are getting the benefits of those workers where the town of Kimmer itself is not
• <02:57:30.319> are Kimmer, Wyoming, but the workers are Kimmer, Wyoming, but the workers are
• where the town of of those workers where the town of Kimmer<02:57:40.960> itself<02:57:41.359

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But as the student population grows and changes, the demands for workers in the technology spaces are
• The highest paying might be the government workers, right? Maybe the superintendent.
• My co-workers are some of my favorite people on the planet.
• Counselors, librarians, social workers, and teachers provide a lot of emotional support, mentorship,
• Schools having designated mental health professionals or social workers that students can reach out to

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• do that inspection work that's needed, these members from HHS, some of them already live in these remote
• do that inspection work that's needed, these members from HHS, some of them already live in these remote

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you have student workers here, I just encourage them to keep going doing great things.
• work with our nation and the council delegates to provide more opportunities and numbers for our PEP workers
• When you see some of these requests come in and you see the amounts, even the remoteness of coming out
• here, when we see those bids come through because there's no housing For the workers, they have to commute
• Some schools, they decide to put a bonus for one school to get more teachers there because of the remoteness

Transcript Highlights:

• One's remote. >> Very good. Thank you. So, we will move to testifiers.
• One's remote. >> Very good. Thank you. So, we will move to testifiers.
• Lastly, we will hear remotely from Bruce Remy.
• And we have one remote testifier, Rick Ren Kaisen.
• access and we're out in the have remote access and we're out in the fields<00:55:00.480> and<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• announce that in accordance with the rules of the Senate, the following members will be participating remotely
• be the following member will be the following member will be participating<00:09:44.720> remotely
• remotely in today's hearing<00:09:45.959> Senator<00:09:46.320> Lang<00:09:46.720>
• We can also, of course, invite them to come remotely, so if they don't want to drive all the way down
• so if they don't want to come remotely so if they don't want to drive<01:19:37.280> all<01:19

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In previous testimonies at another committee, they talked about access, but even in remote areas like
• In previous testimonies at another committee, they talked about access, but even in remote areas like
• In previous testimonies at another committee, they talked about access, but even in remote areas like
• In previous testimonies at another committee, they talked about access, but even in remote areas like
• In previous testimonies at another committee, they talked about access, but even in remote areas like

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Education met on April 1 at 2:04 p.m. and first heard HCR 129/HR 125/HD1, which asks state and county transportation and education agencies to work together on pedestrian safety and traffic congestion around Haiku Elementary School. The Department of Education said it stood on its written testimony, and no other testimony was offered on that measure. The committee then took up HCR 173/HR 169/HD1, urging the Department of Health to begin education outreach and vaccination drive efforts at schools with vaccination rates under 30 percent, starting in the 2025-26 school year. The Department of Education and Department of Health both supported the resolution and stood on their written testimony. Support also came from the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Nurses Association, the Democratic Party of Hawaii Health Committee, and Free Citizens of Malua. A number of testifiers opposed the measure, arguing that vaccination efforts do not belong in schools, that the proposal would pressure families and undermine parental rights and religious freedom, and that it could create liability and misuse public funds. Several opponents also raised concerns about informed consent, government overreach, and vaccine safety. One supporter, Kye Swan, said vaccines are the way to fight infectious disease and asked the committee to pass the resolution so children could be vaccinated before the school year starts. No vote or final committee action on the resolutions was announced in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So our community is small, it's remote. We are a long, long drive from any other hospital.
• 02.480> it's community is small, it's repo, and it's community is small, it's repo, and it's remote
• . remote. remote.
• opportunity to live in one of the most beautiful places in Minnesota, but it is also one of the most remote

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 369 was the main topic, with House authors Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar, Rep. Robert Bierman, and Rep. Dave Baker arguing that the bill would give Minnesota’s 2024 340B law “teeth” by enforcing protections for nonprofit and rural hospitals’ access to the federal drug pricing program. They said the measure costs the state nothing, aligns with similar laws in more than 20 other states, and is needed before adjournment to help hospitals close funding gaps, support services like emergency care, obstetrics, behavioral health, and pharmacy access, and preserve care in remote communities. Several hospital leaders from across greater Minnesota testified that 340B revenue helps keep their facilities viable and that losing it would threaten services and, in some cases, hospital survival. Witnesses described severe financial pressure on rural hospitals, including reimbursement cuts, workforce shortages, inflation, and rising drug costs. Leaders from United Hospital District in Blue Earth, Lakewood Health System in Staples, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, Northshore Health in Grand Marais, Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet, and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby said their hospitals serve as safety-net providers and often operate with thin or negative margins. They emphasized long travel times to other hospitals, seasonal tourism pressures in some areas, and the importance of local emergency, ambulance, inpatient, and specialty services. The Minnesota Hospital Association president also criticized pharmaceutical company messaging and said nonprofit hospitals are working around the clock to maintain access. In response to questions, Zeleznikar said she had considered other enforcement approaches but now supported using the original Senate-passed bill, citing concerns about fraud and the difficulty of alternative enforcement mechanisms. She and hospital leaders distinguished this bill from a separate hospital stabilization-grant proposal, saying both are needed but serve different purposes. No vote was taken at the meeting, and the speakers repeatedly urged House leadership to bring the bill to the floor before session ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will have the ability to approve any type of absence or remote each of our own caucus, so each I will
• type of have the ability to approve any type of absence<00:15:25.639> or<00:15:25.880> remote
• 27.000> of<00:15:27.160> our<00:15:27.399> own<00:15:28.360> um absence or remote
• each of our own um absence or remote each of our own um caucus<00:15:29.079> so<00:15:29.279>
• leased or owned, and at what capacity people were working full-time in office, hybrid, or completely remotely

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House Republican leaders announced that they had reached an organizational agreement with Democrats to organize the Minnesota House and end the session stalemate. Under the deal, Republicans will control the speakership while they hold a 67-66 majority, with Republican chairs on committees and a one-vote edge; if the chamber returns to a 67-67 tie, committees would shift to co-chairs with equal voting. Leaders said the agreement also preserves Republican control of the fraud prevention and agency oversight committee, which will be chaired solely by Rep. Kristin Robbins for two years with a 5-3 Republican majority. The leaders framed the agreement as a way to get lawmakers back to work, pass priority bills, and avoid a special session. They said House Republicans had continued meeting with constituents and interest groups during the delay and were preparing to introduce a large slate of bills, including anti-fraud measures. Rep. Nash said House Files 1 through 3 would be heard the following week in State Government Finance and moved forward; Robbins described them as a new independent inspector general, an accountability measure, and “fraud notes.” The discussion also covered the seating of Rep. Brad Tabke, with Republicans saying they wanted a full Ethics Committee hearing on the election issues before any final action. Leaders said the agreement reflected public pressure to return to work, the pending court case over quorum and organization, and the need to complete the budget on time. They also said the Speaker’s role would be largely full-power rather than a co-speaker arrangement, while some shared decision-making would remain for conferees, absences, and certain administrative appointments.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have so many people working remotely, but they can gather everybody into a conference for several
• days in person, where I know that other states perform this process remotely.
• There's no reason necessarily to spend this... ...perform this process remotely; many of them do.
• In my experience in state government, anything remotely close to approaching this sort of conference

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely.
• The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely. Jones. Jones I. Rarick.
• The clerk will close the roll. participating remotely. Jones. participating remotely. Jones.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This should be an easy green vote for anyone who's remotely serious about ending Minnesota's fraud epidemic
• ethical risks in the grant process and strengthen oversight to better protect taxpayer dollars. who's remotely
• serious about ending who's remotely serious about ending Minnesota's<00:25:22.159> fraud<00:25
• The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely. >> Anderson PE >> Anderson

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House debated a motion to suspend the rules so House File 3843 could be recalled from committee and given second and third readings for final passage. The bill, carried by Representative Baker and supported by Representative Niska, would create a subcommittee of the governor’s workforce development board to vet nonprofit and other applicants for workforce development dollars, with the legislature retaining final authority. Supporters argued the proposal would add an extra layer of scrutiny, reduce fraud risk, and help prevent problems like those highlighted in recent reporting and past nonprofit funding scandals. Supporters repeatedly tied the bill to concerns about fraud in state grantmaking, citing the Feeding Our Future scandal and other nonprofit cases as examples of why more oversight is needed. Representative Baker said the committee process can be overwhelmed by many direct-appropriation requests at the end of session, and that a board-based vetting process would help identify red flags. Representative Enen and Representative Schultz also backed the motion, saying the bill would improve accountability and protect taxpayer dollars. Representative Pinto opposed the urgency motion, saying he supports moving toward more competitive grants but not adding another layer of bureaucracy without a fiscal note or fuller committee process. He argued the bill would not do what supporters claimed and that the legislature already makes funding decisions. After debate, the House took a roll call vote on the motion to suspend the rules. The motion failed by one vote, 67 yeas to 66 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• pursuant to an ITM, ADE must also calculate the percentage of instruction that's provided during a remote
• So if I recall, if a public school or a school goes into remote, for whatever reason, if it is deemed
• educators in those communities decided what was best for their students, and what they did is they did remote
• educators in those communities decided what was best for their students, and what they did is they did remote

Bills: HB2020, HB2032, HB2033, HB2249, HB2313, HB2318, HB2378, HCR2003

Keywords: interference, disruption, educational institutions, public order, conduct rules, statewide assessment, student testing, academic standards, third grade reading, reading retention, promotion and retention, school accountability, assessment window, testing window, test scores, school report cards, nontest data, graduation rates, dropout rates, education data privacy

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 18 and March 4, 2026, then took up HCR 2003, the Protect Girls in Sports in Arizona Act. Supporters, including Superintendent Tom Horne and several athletes and coaches, argued the measure would protect fairness, safety, and privacy in girls’ sports and locker rooms by requiring sports to be designated male, female, or co-ed and by limiting access to certain private spaces. Opponents, including the ACLU and Arizona Education Association, argued the resolution was discriminatory, would function as a bathroom ban, and could create enforcement and privacy problems. The committee passed HCR 2003 on a 4-3 vote, giving it a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard HB 2020, which would make certain threats or disruptions at educational institutions by minors a class 1 misdemeanor instead of a class 6 felony, and passed it 4-3. HB 2032, which shifts the statewide testing window later in the school year and changes related score deadlines, drew support from school leaders who said it would better reflect full-year learning; it passed 6-1. HB 2033, allowing school districts and charter schools to choose paper-and-pencil statewide testing by governing board vote, also passed 6-0 with one member not voting. HB 2318, establishing term limits for school district governing board members, was amended to clarify the limit applies only after two consecutive four-year terms beginning after a specified date; it passed 4-3 despite opposition from the Arizona School Board Association over impacts on rural districts. The committee next approved HB 2378, which changes eligibility rules for School Facilities Oversight Board members so certain architect and engineer members may not have school-construction business interests, passing 4-3. HB 2313, which prohibits teacher strikes or organized work stoppages and reduces school funding if a strike occurs, passed 4-3 after testimony from educators who said it was punitive and could worsen staffing shortages. Finally, the committee considered HB 2249, which expands the Parents’ Bill of Rights to require written parental consent and notification regarding school facilitation of social transitioning and creates significant civil penalties for violations. Opponents warned it was vague, punitive, and likely to chill ordinary school interactions, while supporters said it was needed to stop schools from hiding information from parents. After adopting a six-page amendment, the committee passed HB 2249 on a 4-3 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. >> [clears throat] West.
• the The clerk will call the name of the member<00:32:41.880> participating<00:32:42.720> remotely
• member participating remotely. member participating remotely.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• She'll be here remotely to present on the items of 5A and six loans and one grant requiring action.
• Williams<00:12:27.800> she'll<00:12:28.040> be<00:12:28.199> here<00:12:28.399> remotely
• <00:12:29.480> to Williams she'll be here remotely to Williams she'll be here remotely to

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the January minutes and then received several informational reports on school district tax levies, revenue bonds, lease advertisements, and previously rejected lease transactions. Members were told that one rejected lease for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Hardin County would be canceled and rebid, while a Perry County lease modification for the Energy and Environment Cabinet would proceed. The Kentucky Communications Network Authority also submitted its quarterly capital projects report, and Eastern Kentucky University reported revisions to asset preservation projects. Janice Thomas, Deputy State Budget Director, presented four capital project action items. These included a Kentucky State University Betty White Building renovation funded by USDA grant money, a Department of Education state schools dormitory and cottage renovation appropriation increase because bids exceeded estimates, a restricted-funds scope increase for the Elizabethtown CTC science building expansion, and a pool project report for the Department of Corrections’ KCIW kitchen drain line repair and replacement. Representative Petrie asked about how often the statutory authority for midstream project increases is used and whether bids are typically competitive; Thomas said the increases are used often when bids come in above estimates and that bids are generally competitive, though construction costs have been difficult to gauge. The committee unanimously approved the first three action items, and the KCIW project was reported with no action required. H. Sandy Williams of the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority then presented six loans and one emergency grant. The items included loans for Frankfort’s East Frankfort Interceptor wet weather facility project, Sturgis wastewater improvements, Scottsville inflow and infiltration work, Morganfield wastewater treatment plant planning and design, Western Pulaski County Water District transmission improvements, and Springfield water system planning and replacement work, plus an emergency Kentucky Waters grant for Eddyville following a sewer treatment plant failure and local emergency declarations. After no questions, the committee unanimously approved the seven KIA transactions. Chelsea Couch then presented a Kentucky Housing Corporation conduit issuance for $38.4 million to finance a multifamily rental project in Jefferson County; members asked how the committee participates and were told it was a conduit issuance rather than state debt. The committee approved that item. Finally, the committee heard an informational Turnpike Authority refunding issuance of about $53 million for present value savings, then approved four SFCC debt issues for Henderson, Pulaski, Scott, and Trimble counties to finance school renovations and construction. The meeting ended with notice of the next meeting date and location.

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:43:02.800> who protect the full range of workers who protect the full range of workers
• <02:45:31.040> is workers and then then what a worker is workers and then then what a worker
• a transit worker is one assault too many.
• The frontline workers out on the transit system, which includes the TRIP agents, our facility workers
• , of uh transit officers, what workers, of uh transit officers, what workers, whatever<02:52:02.960

Keywords: 1187, senate, all