Transcript Highlights:

• We talk about farm retailers and the rest, right? So, that's a way that we target market.
• We talk about farm Minota Mascot.
• We talk about farm retailers<00:37:52.880> and<00:37:53.119> the<00:37:53.280> rest,
• There's a couple of pigs on a farm, and they say, ‘Isn't this great?
• There's a couple of pigs on a farm, and they say, ‘Isn't this great?’

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Rural districts serve low-income and farming communities.
• program feeds the manufacturing communities within Carlton County. districts serve lowincome and farming
• districts serve lowincome and farming communities<00:02:37.800> we<00:02:37.959> are<00
• are actively retiring<00:10:22.680> from<00:10:22.920> manufacturing<00:10:23.800> farming
• <00:10:24.160> And retiring from manufacturing farming And retiring from manufacturing farming

Bills: HF827, HF1258, HF2387, HF2388, HF2534, HF2016

Keywords: education, school funding, consolidation aid, financial support, Minnesota Statutes, education finance, ice arena, school districts, cooperation agreement, equal sports opportunities, school milk program, nutrition, food waste, kindergarten, public schools, supplemental revenue, charter schools, funding, state appropriations, general education funding

Transcript Highlights:

• I think everyone here would agree that the farm is a business.
• Well, do I exempt the whole return or just the part that's for the farm?
• And if it's the part that's for the farm, how do I determine it?
• Because not everybody charges per farm.
• Very few people charges per farm.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In one recent case, an abusive employer threatened not to renew visas for nearly 100 farm workers, using
• I forget the exact number, but like 40 to 50 percent of workers on farms are undocumented.
• I forget the exact number, but like 40 to 50 percent of workers on farms are undocumented.
• I forget the exact number, but like 40 to 50 percent of workers on farms are undocumented.
• I forget the exact number, but like 40 to 50 percent of workers on farms are undocumented.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Union, and I'm here to share MFU's strong support for this bill and also relay that of the Minnesota Farm
• I grew up immersed in agriculture on a family farm in Herman, Minnesota, and I'm also a proud former
• leaders next generation of agricultural leaders the<00:21:27.799> Minnesota<00:21:28.279> farm
• farm Farmers Union understands<00:21:30.039> the<00:21:30.240> importance<00:21:30.840
• I grew up immersed in agriculture on a family farm in Herman, Minnesota, and I'm also a proud former

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• them are not ready to enter into a normal, healthy life, so they use regenerative principles on the farm
• She said the regenerative principles in the farm teach them to be cowboys, which gives them experience
• said goats, with this bill, would it help you as far as protecting those houses that you have, the farms
• Barns<01:10:36.400> and<01:10:36.600> the<01:10:36.800> the have the the Farms
• the Barns and the the have the the Farms the Barns and the the housing<01:10:37.239> for<01:10

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I went to school in Washington state, and they had a correctional farm.
• Uh, they had a dairy as well as farming.
• <00:26:52.240> state, Um, I went to school in Washington state, and they had a correctional farm
• Uh, they had a dairy as well as farming.
• We do have a farm operation at Waiawa Correctional Facility and a farm operation, particularly a hydroponic

Bills: SR185, HB2452, HB2329, HB2272, HB2273, HB2335, HB1656, HB2207, HB2289, HB1854, HB2581, HB20, HB2296, HB1707, HB2297, HB1890, HB2241, HB2474, HB1688, HB2546, HB1574, HB1546, HB2218, HB1163, HB1514, HB1749, HB2385, HB1576, HB1974, HB2022, HB1973, HB2005, HB1894, HB1515, HB1718, HB1591, HB2475, HB1721, HB1864, HB1946, HB1920

Keywords: Department of Education, capital improvement program, performance audit, infrastructure, transparency, state bonds, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, bond authorization, state debt limit, constitutional debt limit, Article VII Section 13, Hawaii bonds, state borrowing, public finance, capital improvement projects, supplemental appropriations, judiciary appropriations, refunding bonds, reimbursable bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• And it had revolved around the ability to build farm housing and for the ability of non-agricultural
• And it had revolved around the ability to build farm housing and for the ability of non-agricultural
• And it had revolved around the ability to build farm housing and for the ability of non-agricultural
• Next up, we have Farm here. Anybody else present wishing to testify?
• Farm here. Anybody else present wishing to testify?

Bills: HB1881, HB2218, HB1956, HB2151, HB1845, HB1844, HB2103, HB2424, HB1650, HB376, HB2599, HB1861

Keywords: land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, DLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Board of Land and Natural Resources, BLNR, public lands, public trust resources, community co-management, co-management agreement, community-based organization, Native Hawaiian, malama aina, ahupuaa, subsistence, cultural resources, religious practices

Summary: The committee on Water and Land met on February 10, 2026, with Chair Mark Hashem outlining strict testimony rules and noting a time constraint because of later hearings and floor session obligations. The committee then took up several bills, hearing mostly supportive testimony on HB 1881 relating to land use, HB 2218 relating to DLNR/community management, and HB 1956 relating to freshwater waves, while HB 1845 relating to the Land Use Commission drew legal concerns and opposition. HB 2151 relating to building materials had no substantive testimony presented in the excerpt, and the committee moved through it quickly. On HB 1881, testimony focused on protecting North Shore lands from overdevelopment. A supporter described the area as valuable precisely because it remains largely undeveloped, and a member asked whether the bill’s restrictions on “finculars” would affect existing or future private residential installations; the response suggested the bill was aimed at future commercial uses and that grandfathering or personal-use exceptions might be possible, but the exact wording would need legal refinement. HB 2218 received broad support from OHA, DLNR, Kua, Sierra Club, Hui Maka Aana, the Honlay Initiative, and others, who said the measure would expand community-based co-management across DLNR divisions, build on existing park partnerships, and produce real benefits such as better stewardship, safer access, local jobs, and stronger community trust. Members asked about the bill’s five-year review structure, how multiple community groups would be handled, and whether the model could apply to ocean or nearshore areas; DLNR said the board would retain authority, agreements would be non-exclusive and subject to review, and the department was still working through how the approach would function across different divisions and marine settings. For HB 1956, the Attorney General offered technical comments, urging clearer definitions of “residing” and “freshwater way,” clearer timing for citations and arrests, and more explicit procedural safeguards and agency roles. On HB 1845, the Attorney General and Land Use Commission raised concerns that the bill could conflict with constitutional protections for important agricultural lands and could not be reconciled with existing voting requirements; the LUC also said commissioners cannot vote by proxy under sunshine law and warned that the bill could allow too few commissioners to approve major boundary changes. Members questioned how the bill would work in counties without designated important agricultural lands, and the LUC explained that Kauai is the only county to have completed the IAL process, while the broader statutory process remains county-driven and has been the subject of litigation. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• kibbutz, where she lived between 1965 and 1967, kibbutz and the kibbutzim, the moshavim, or Jewish farming
• Kabbutz, where she lived between 1965 and 1967, Kabbutz, and the Kabutsim, the Moshevim, or Jewish farming
• When Palestinian Arabs came to farm the land, they and their parents and grandparents, who had been farming
• When Palestinian Arabs came to farm the land, they and their parents and grandparents who have been farming

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• expansion to the definition of an agricultural product to include floriculture and also to allow market farms
• 55:21.680> market floraulture and also to allow market floraulture and also to allow market farms
• :23.280> less<00:55:23.520> than<00:55:23.920> 15<00:55:24.240> acres, farms
• , those being less than 15 acres, farms, those being less than 15 acres, to<00:55:25.319> qualify<
• managed forest land and class two adding floriculture and making statements about the policy on market farming

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need more farms to support the farm-to-school program.
• We need more farms to support the farm-to-school program.
• So I... the farm to school program. And as COVID the farm to school program.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard several housing-related bills and resolutions. HB 1298 HD3 would create a government employee housing revolving fund and a government employee 99-year leasehold rent-to-own program; testimony was generally supportive from HHFDC, labor groups, and the Maui Chamber, with the Tax Foundation and Budget and Finance raising concerns about the revolving fund. The committees recommended passage with non-substantive amendments for clarity and consistency, and the motion was adopted. HB 741 H2, which would exempt certain affordable housing projects financed by a certified nonprofit CDFI from prevailing wage requirements, drew support from housing advocates and opposition from several construction unions; the chairs said they were concerned about the labor objections and deferred the measure, with the labor committee agreeing to defer it as well. The housing committee then took up HB 417 HD1, which creates a housing efficiency and innovation subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund and allows HHFDC to transfer funds between the subaccount and the main fund without legislative approval. Testimony was largely supportive. The chair described a series of amendments, including changing the funding-efficiency standard, adding perpetual affordability language, allowing any land tenure type, broadening eligible financing tools, adding priority criteria for mixed-income projects and government-employee projects, and inserting blank appropriations tied to a requested $75 million per year and a $75 million subaccount appropriation for the HCDA 99-year leasehold project. The committee recommended passage with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. HB 422 HD1, which would repeal school impact fees and move remaining balances to the school facilities special fund, drew broad support from housing and taxpayer groups and opposition from the Department of Education and some individuals. The School Facilities Authority and DOE argued the current system had not produced enough usable land or school sites and suggested narrowing the exemption to government housing projects’ construction costs instead of repealing the fee entirely. Members pressed DOE and SFA on how much land had actually been obtained and whether the fee had been effective; the discussion highlighted concerns about unused balances, school overcrowding, and the role of the Land Use Commission and county zoning in securing school sites. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion shown. The committee also heard STR 60/SR 45, urging HHFDC to develop a plan to meet housing demand, and STR 77/SR 60, addressing continued eligibility for housing credits for certain projects after repeal of Act 31; both sets of resolutions had HHFDC support, with DHHL supporting STR 77/SR 60 and Johnny May Perry opposing both.

Transcript Highlights:

• costs for farmers while also depriving farmers of the ability to make timely repairs on critical farming
• costs for farmers while also depriving farmers of the ability to make timely repairs on critical farming
• costs for farmers while also depriving farmers of the ability to make timely repairs on critical farming
• <00:31:22.480> equipment<00:31:23.440> including critical farming equipment including
• critical farming equipment including tractors<00:31:25.519> uh<00:31:25.639> in<00:31:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up is Brian Mamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau, in support.
• Next up is Brian Mamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau, in support. The chair asks, 'Any questions?'
• Next up is the Hawaii Farm Bureau. Brian Mamoto is in support.
• <00:03:36.720> Bureau<00:03:37.080> Brian next up of ho Farm Bureau Brian next up of
• ho Farm Bureau Brian mamodo<00:03:38.879> in mamodo in mamodo in support<00:03:40.959> La<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several measures on agriculture, energy, stadium governance, and hotel consumer protections. On SB 448 relating to agriculture, Agra Business Development Corporation and the Hawaii Farm Bureau testified in support of a proposed conservation easement acquisition in Central Oahu; the chair asked follow-up questions about the exact location, cost, and agricultural potential of the land, and the witness said the parcel had good soil and water and was former pineapple land, with cost still to be provided. On SB 827 relating to meat processing, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism said the state needs more meat-processing capacity and that any grant program should complement, not compete with, existing efforts; the Attorney General’s office warned the bill lacked legally sufficient standards for grants of public money under the state constitution and offered draft standards. Several industry and chamber witnesses supported the measure, while discussion focused on the need for brick-and-mortar or modular facilities, infrastructure costs, federal inspection needs, and access for hunters and neighbor islands. The committee then took up SB 1269 relating to geothermal resources, which drew broad support from county officials, energy consultants, utility representatives, and community advocates, with one witness opposing it. Supporters described geothermal as a viable, indigenous, firm baseload energy source that could help reduce Hawaii’s high electricity costs and support clean energy goals; one witness emphasized prior work in New Zealand and another urged the state to move forward with exploration. A DBEDT representative explained that the department is coordinating geothermal-related work with the Hawaii Technology Development Corp., the University of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Energy Office, noting a prior $3 million appropriation, phase-one community engagement work, and plans to seek a contractor for geoscience and exploration in phase two. Members pressed DBEDT to explain how this bill fits with other geothermal measures moving through different committees, and the chair asked the department to review SB 993 and better coordinate the package of geothermal bills. On SB 1337 relating to the Stadium Authority, the stadium manager testified in support of clarifying quorum rules, explaining that the authority currently has eight seated voting members out of nine possible voting seats and that the bill would help ensure voting members are counted for quorum; he said meetings have not been delayed. Finally, on SB 883 relating to hotels, the Attorney General’s office raised First Amendment and contract-law concerns and recommended adding a purpose statement and a non-impairment savings clause. Unite Here Local 5 and other supporters said guests should be notified of hotel service disruptions such as construction, closures, or labor disputes, while opponents questioned who would enforce the law, what penalties would apply, and whether the measure could require hotels to pay damages even without a complaint. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they're going to just say, I just want to sell the family farm or the family house.
• And they're going to just say, I just want to sell the family farm or the family house.
• You're going to see so many more comps. the family farm or the family house, you're going to see so many
• Earlier today, one of the requirements in statute, because of the farming and ranching operation I have
• Earlier today, one of the requirements in statute, because of the farming, ranching operation I have,

Summary: The subcommittee of the Tax Reform and Relief Committee met to begin its study of the feasibility and desirability of revising the content of the real estate tax statement to improve property tax transparency. Legislative Council staff reviewed the study directive under House Bill 1176 and the statutory requirements for tax statements, including required line items such as true and full value, mill levy, legislative tax relief, primary residence credit, and the Legacy Fund portion of that credit. The Tax Department then explained how the current uniform statement is prescribed and approved, and noted that changes are typically driven by statute and implemented collaboratively with counties and vendors. County officials from the North Dakota Association of Counties described the full annual tax cycle, from county budgeting and valuation notices to budget hearing notices, levy certification, cap calculations, and final tax statement mailing. They emphasized that counties and auditors do extensive coordination with taxing districts and neighboring counties, and that the process is labor-intensive and often manual. Members discussed the limited public response to budget notices and tax statements, the difficulty of explaining the legislative tax relief line, the 3% cap and valuation issues, and whether more frequent assessments or different timing would improve understanding. Several members and witnesses noted that many taxpayers only engage when they receive their final bill, and that clarity may be more important than adding more detail. NDACO also presented a rough cost survey from eight counties, estimating an average tax statement cost of about 74 cents and a statewide total near $600,000 for printing and mailing tax statements alone, with outsourcing generally cheaper than in-house printing. Witnesses noted that House Bill 1176 added other mailings and notices, increasing county workload and cost beyond the statement itself. The committee then heard from software vendors, who explained how their systems handle tax billing, budget notices, valuation notices, primary residence credit processing, and tax levy calculations, and they identified the 1600/1685 primary residence credit and discount interaction as a current programming challenge. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on gathering testimony and identifying issues for possible future recommendations or bill drafts.

Transcript Highlights:

• My community has over 60 working farms.
• My community has over 60 working farms.
• We move to this community because of the rural and agricultural right-to-farm community that it is, and
• We are a rural community characterized by working farms, and we are also a right-to-farm community.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a long public hearing focused mainly on two sets of issues: proposals to amend or repeal the MBTA Communities Act, and bills to allow local rent stabilization. Committee chairs opened by explaining the hearing would be tightly managed because of the very large number of speakers, with testimony limited to two minutes per person and written testimony still accepted by email. Members and witnesses were called in a mix of in-person and virtual order throughout the hearing. On the MBTA Communities Act, several legislators and local officials argued the law is too rigid and should be revised to account for local conditions. Speakers from small, rural, or infrastructure-limited communities such as Hanson, Halifax, Marshfield, Winthrop, Dracut, Carver, Rehoboth, and others said the law’s one-size-fits-all approach does not fit towns with limited water, sewer, transit access, or buildable land. Some filed bills would repeal the law, exempt certain communities, or create appeals processes based on infrastructure, environmental, or historical constraints. Supporters of the law’s changes emphasized local control and the need to avoid forcing development where communities believe it is impractical or inconsistent with town character. A large portion of the hearing was devoted to rent stabilization legislation, especially S. 1447 and related House bills. Supporters included legislators, city councilors, tenant advocates, labor leaders, housing nonprofits, public health organizations, and residents who described sharp rent increases, displacement, homelessness risk, and the strain on working families, seniors, students, and people with disabilities. They argued local-option rent stabilization would let municipalities cap excessive increases and prevent no-fault evictions while preserving flexibility for local conditions. Opponents, including small landlords and property owners, said rent control would discourage investment, worsen housing quality, burden responsible owners, and drive small landlords out of the market. Some witnesses also supported a Cape Cod/Island transfer fee bill and a suburban infrastructure fund, arguing those would provide local revenue for housing or roads. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, taking the livestock, farm and ranch, all of that out of the state fair.
• uncommon to see people, you know, riding horses along the ditches and to see people, you know, with farm
• animals and big, big farms.
• So we enjoyed Farm animals and big, big farms. So we enjoyed it as well.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're saying, the state is telling us to put this type of housing in, but we have zero farm workers
• cities and other local municipalities where we have similar bills like this that require whether it's farm
• They're saying, the state is telling us to put this type of housing in, but we have zero farm workers
• Beth Smoker with the California Food and Farming Network in opposition. Thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard a long agenda focused largely on child welfare, child support, homelessness, and child care. Early items included AB 2083, which would authorize a regional child care special district for Marina Valley and Paris; AB 1579, which would expand the Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program to allow additional CDSS-approved residential models; and AB 1628, which would extend California’s safe surrender window for infants from 72 hours to 30 days. AB 1579 drew strong support from county human services agencies and providers who said the current crisis residential model has been financially and operationally unworkable, and opposition from youth advocates who argued the bill would move away from the original small, community-based crisis model. AB 1628 was supported by fire chiefs and child abuse prevention advocates as a way to give parents more time to make safe decisions after childbirth. The committee also took up AB 1634 on the “Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids” specialty license plate program, AB 1643 on automatic enrollment into child support services after a support order is finalized unless a parent opts out, and AB 1708 on the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program. AB 1634 sought to raise specialty plate fees and change the distribution formula to generate more funding for child safety and injury prevention; the chair raised concerns about reallocating money away from CDSS, and the bill received a no recommendation from the chair but still advanced on a 5-0 vote with some members not voting. AB 1643 was backed by child support agencies and anti-poverty advocates as a way to reduce barriers and increase participation, while opponents argued it could undermine parental choice and raise concerns for families with domestic violence or informal arrangements; it passed 6-0 as amended. AB 1708, supported by many cities, would require more meaningful engagement with smaller jurisdictions in HHAP planning and funding decisions; the committee emphasized that it does not guarantee funding but creates a process for smaller cities to be considered, and it passed 5-0. Later, the committee heard AB 2395, which would standardize and expand access to the state child support debt reduction program for low-income parents with government-owed arrears. Supporters said the current program is inconsistent across counties and leaves eligible parents unaware of relief options, while opponents, including receiving parents and child support officials, warned that reducing arrears could harm families who are owed support and that the program should remain case-by-case. Members discussed the tension between relieving uncollectible debt and protecting custodial parents; the bill advanced 4-0. The final item shown was AB 1914, which would require local governments to include child care in planning efforts, including general plans or separate child care plans. The author and witnesses argued that child care is essential infrastructure tied to workforce participation, economic development, and disaster planning, and the bill drew support from child care and planning advocates as the committee continued its hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm from Reading, California, and founder of Roots Farm Education.
• when we... ...where we are supporting home-educated families, but what makes us unique is we are a farm
• My two kids currently go to Roots Farm. Oh, excuse me.
• So my name is Crystal Williams, and the organization is with Roots Farm, and I support this bill.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard SB 1067, which would require annual math screening for students in kindergarten through second grade beginning in 2028-29 to identify early numeracy difficulties and connect students to evidence-based support. Senator Weber and supporters, including EdVoice and UC Davis researcher Dr. Charles Wilkes, argued that California’s math outcomes are too low and that early screening is a quick, developmentally appropriate tool that would not mandate curriculum or high-stakes testing. Opponents, including the California Mathematics Council, county superintendents, and CTA, said the bill adds a mandate without funding, could narrow instruction, and may lead to premature labeling or deficit-based thinking. Committee members discussed how the screeners would work and whether they would identify disabilities or simply flag students needing further assessment; the bill was left on call due to lack of quorum at the time of the hearing. SB 1110 was also presented as a child care subsidy administration measure that would stabilize funding for alternative payment programs and better distinguish administrative overhead from direct family services. Senator Becker and witnesses from the Child Care Resource Center and Every Child California said the bill would help providers manage enrollment, compliance, staffing, and payment timelines as the state transitions to enrollment-based funding. No opposition testimony was offered, and the bill received a favorable committee comment, but no vote was taken because quorum had not yet been established. The committee then heard SB 1374, which would allow public higher education institutions to seek temporary restraining orders on their own behalf when they face credible threats of violence not directed at a specific person. CSU and San Diego State University representatives described incidents where threats against a campus could not be addressed through current restraining-order law, and said the bill would close that gap and improve campus safety. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill was left on call pending quorum. Later, the committee discussed SB 1321, which would direct the State Auditor to review remedial education and student preparedness at selected UC and CSU campuses after a UC San Diego report showed a sharp decline in incoming students’ math preparation. Supporters, including the author and a community college union representative, said the audit would help identify the scope of basic-skills gaps and inform policy. Some members raised concerns about bypassing the usual audit-request process, but the bill was placed on hold for absent members. The committee also heard SB 1086 on microschools, which would direct model ordinances and statutory definitions for these small learning settings; after extensive questioning about definitions, oversight, and local land-use issues, the bill was moved on a do-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and placed on call. Finally, SB 1181 was presented as a limited pilot program to allow Central Valley schools to communicate with regional threat assessment centers about credible safety concerns, with the author and a victim’s mother describing it as a prevention tool after a student homicide; committee members expressed support for stronger coordination and guardrails, and the bill was discussed further as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm from Reading, California, and founder of Roots Farm Education.
• when we... ...where we are supporting home-educated families, but what makes us unique is we are a farm
• My two kids currently go to Roots Farm. Oh, excuse me.
• So my name is Crystal Williams, and the organization is Roots Farm, and I support this bill.

Summary: The committee heard SB 1067, which would require annual math screening for kindergarten through second grade students beginning in 2028-29 to identify early numeracy difficulties and connect students to evidence-based supports. Senator Weber and supporters, including EdVoice, UC Davis researcher Charles Wilkes, and several education and community advocates, argued that California’s math performance is too low and that early screening would help close gaps before they widen. Opponents, including the California Mathematics Council, county superintendents, and the CTA, said the bill could narrow instruction, overemphasize deficit-based measures, and should instead be paired with stronger investments in teacher training and implementation of the California Mathematics Framework. Committee members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals while discussing how the screener would work and what kinds of follow-up supports would be needed. The committee also heard SB 1110 on child care subsidy administration, which would restructure funding for alternative payment programs and core contracts as the state moves to enrollment-based funding. Supporters said the bill would stabilize child care providers, improve payment timelines, and better reflect the administrative work of enrolling families and managing services; there was no opposition testimony. SB 1374, supported by the CSU and UC systems, would allow public higher education institutions to seek temporary restraining orders when credible threats are directed at a campus rather than a specific person. Supporters described recent campus threats that created safety concerns but did not fit current restraining-order law; there was no opposition. Senator Nilo presented SB 1321, which would direct the State Auditor to review remedial course use and student preparedness at selected UC and CSU campuses after a UC San Diego report showed a sharp decline in incoming students’ math readiness. Supporters argued the audit would help identify gaps in college readiness and the effects of K-12 changes, while some members raised concerns about bypassing the usual legislative audit process; the bill was held on call. The committee then took up SB 1086 on microschools, which would define microschools and direct model ordinances for local land-use regulation. Supporters said it would create a clearer path for small, individualized learning communities, but several members questioned whether the concept was sufficiently defined and whether the state had enough information to draft model ordinances; the bill was also placed on call after a quorum was established. Finally, SB 1181 was presented as a limited pilot program in Central Valley counties to connect schools with regional threat assessment centers when credible safety concerns arise. The author and supporters, including the mother of a student killed in a shooting and several students, said it would improve early intervention and communication; committee members raised privacy and federal-sharing concerns but indicated support, and the bill was moved forward on a vote once quorum was present.

Transcript Highlights:

• existence for over 125 years and is Minnesota's largest food advocacy organization, advocating for farm
• > food advocacy organization advocating food advocacy organization advocating for<00:03:49.280> farm
• :50.800> Uh<00:03:51.080> before<00:03:51.400> I<00:03:51.480> get for farm
• Uh before I get for farm table to fork.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3603, and Representative Olson first offered and had adopted an A1 author’s amendment. Olson then explained that the bill would direct the Commissioner of Children, Youth and Families to seek a USDA waiver allowing Minnesota to bar SNAP purchases of items subject to state sales tax, such as prepared foods, chips, soft drinks, and candy. He argued the goal was to promote healthier nutrition, noted that other states have similar waivers, and said the change could help Minnesota qualify for significant federal rural health care funding. Public testimony was divided. Patrick Garofalo of the Minnesota Grocers Association opposed the bill, saying SNAP is a supplemental program and that the proposal would be difficult to administer at retail stores, create confusion, and expose retailers to serious penalties for mistakes. He argued the state tax code is not a nutrition standard and pointed out inconsistencies, such as some candy-like products still being taxable or some healthy items being treated as prepared food. Will Hagen of Minnesota Retailers also opposed the bill, warning it would require costly point-of-sale changes, retraining, and would turn store employees into enforcers while creating cross-border shopping problems. Matt Schmidt of the American First Policy Institute supported the concept, saying SNAP should emphasize nutrition and that restricting unhealthy purchases would reduce taxpayer subsidies for junk food and soda. Members then debated the bill’s logic and practicality, including questions about which snacks would or would not be allowed under the tax-based standard. Representative Sencer-Mura offered an H2 amendment, framed as applying the same restrictions to legislators’ own per diem spending; Representative Hansen responded that the comparison was not equivalent and raised concerns about household circumstances and accessibility. The H2 amendment was put to a vote and did not prevail. The committee then continued member discussion on the bill.