Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Abeler explains what helped the human services policy conference committee balance its largest
• Senator Abeler explains what helped the human services policy conference committee balance its largest
• The human services policy bill details the changes made to all of those subject areas this session.
• Joining me now is Republican Senator Jim Abeler, who says the changes impact more than just policy.
• There's the policy bill, which was pretty well worked out.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• finance and policy bill. finance and policy bill.
• members of our higher education policy members of our higher education policy and<00:08:08.400><
• the Office of Higher Education policy the Office of Higher Education policy bill,<00:09:29.680><
• <00:10:14.240> And also making some policy changes. And also making some policy changes.
• , so that big we changed no policy, so that big deficit<00:13:39.160> remains.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House first took up a resolution commemorating Peace Officer Memorial Day and Police Week in Minnesota. Members read a series of “whereas” clauses honoring fallen peace officers, including the addition of three names to the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Honor Roll, and recognizing the service of the state’s more than 10,000 peace officers. The resolution was adopted without objection. The chamber then moved to conference committee reports and calendar actions, including a Rules and Legislative Administration report placing several bills on the calendar for the next day. The main substantive item was the conference committee report on House File 4252, the higher education finance and policy bill. Supporters said the bill included $3 million for identity verification systems to combat enrollment fraud or “ghost students,” $2.7 million to cover a shortfall in the Fostering Independence grant program for foster youth, and $5,000 for tree replacement at Bemidji State University. They also noted the bill did not address the larger state grant shortfall, which several members described as a structural problem. During debate, supporters emphasized the need to stop enrollment fraud and protect foster students’ access to higher education, while also praising the conference committee process and public deliberations. Opponents criticized the bill for failing to fix the state grant deficit and argued that Minnesota students were not being prioritized. After discussion, the House adopted the conference committee report, gave the bill its third reading, and then repassed House File 4252 as amended by conference by a vote of 101 yeas to 33 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will call this meeting of the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee to order and note that we
• What we need to understand today is what communities, particularly in Greater Minnesota, have policies
• Next, we have Libby Murphy, Director of Policy with the Minnesota Housing Partnership. Thank you.
• Restrictive land use and zoning policies artificially restrict the supply of new housing.
• Because dollars and investment matter, but what matters most is good policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the primary expansion of staff is for policy analysts.
• And we think that's different than policy analysis.
• And we think that's different than policy analysis.
• So they're not the policy analysts.
• So we have separate funding already for policy analysts and evaluators?

Bills: HB1220

Keywords: accelerated degree, high-demand occupations, education reform, North Dakota, licensing, 908, all

Summary: The Workforce Development Committee reconvened to discuss House Bill 1119, which would create a child care advisory committee and authorize a Legislative Council program evaluation of child care services. Senator Hogan explained that the bill is intended to review child care licensing rules, child care assistance, and related laws and policies, while also giving child care providers a stronger voice in the rulemaking process. He described the proposal as a new model for legislative program evaluation and noted that leadership had been briefed and was supportive. Committee members raised concerns about the bill’s wording, scope, and structure. Senator Larson questioned the title and several sections, and multiple members suggested making the response language less directive and more collaborative, including changing “shall” to “may” in the section requiring a written response from the Department of Health and Human Services. Members also discussed limiting the advisory committee to the interim, clarifying that the evaluation would focus on child care services rather than broader early childhood programs, and adjusting language about enacted legislation to sound more neutral. The committee also discussed fiscal impact, with Hogan saying the evaluation would be done by Legislative Council staff and that any costs would likely be limited to meetings and existing DHS rulemaking activities. Members compared the proposal to other oversight models, including audit-style reviews and a possible DOGE process, and Hogan emphasized that the bill is meant to evaluate why child care issues keep recurring and why some laws are not fully implemented. No vote was taken; the committee agreed to continue refining the bill and planned to meet again the following Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the policy part that Mr.
• declaring the state's wild rice policy. declaring the state's wild rice policy.
• So travel separate from policy bill.
• That is not tied to the policy.
• continue working on the policy section. continue working on the policy section.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• due to policies like State policies<00:24:14.720> I<00:24:14.880> can't<00:24:15.159><
• <01:37:58.080> have currently have bullying policies have currently have bullying policies
• that addresses bullying and if policy that addresses bullying and if the<02:07:40.880> policy
• the question representative yes policy the question representative yes policy jic<02:15:55.599><
• that policy.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Education Policy and Administration Committee heard testimony on House Bill 71, which would bar public elementary and secondary schools and higher education facilities from being used as shelters for certain non-citizens, with a stated exception for short-term emergency sheltering of up to 72 hours and for community-wide emergency use. Prime sponsor Rep. Juliet Harvey-Bolia said the bill was modeled on federal and out-of-state proposals and was prompted by examples in New York and Massachusetts where schools or other facilities were used as shelters, causing disruption. She argued the bill does not truly “ban” anything, but instead places a condition on receipt of state funds, and said the fiscal note’s projected loss of federal funding was unsupported and should have been described as undeterminable. Committee members questioned the bill’s scope and practical effects, including whether it would apply to vacant school-owned buildings, schools used during summer, charter schools, and situations where other states send people without advance notice. Harvey-Bolia said vacant buildings not functioning as schools would not be covered, and that the bill would still allow short-term emergency sheltering and community-wide use during weather events. She also said the bill would not prevent remote learning, and that its purpose was to avoid displacing students. Several members pressed her on the fiscal note and whether any federal or state program would actually be at risk; she said she found no evidence that funding would be lost and that DHHS had not identified a real threat. A witness from the New Hampshire Association of School Administrators, Jerry FW, raised practical concerns about who would determine eligibility at a shelter site, how the 72-hour limit would be enforced, and whether the bill would apply to charter schools. He also noted that remote learning is no longer an option in New Hampshire, making one of the bill’s stated concerns less relevant. The discussion also included clarification of the terms “refugee” and “asylum seeker,” with members and the sponsor debating the distinction and whether refugees are vetted. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got policy guidance coming.
• Not according to policy. Between there that will lose benefits?
• Not according to policy or the system automation, or that should not happen.
• On the CalFresh side, we are issuing policy guidance within existing federal guidance.
• My name is Aniei Martin with the California Immigrant Policy Center.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got policy guidance coming.
• Not according to policy.
• Not according to policy or the system automation, or that should not happen.
• We’re working policy angles, data-sharing agreements, all at this time.”
• My name is Aniei Martin with the California Immigrant Policy Center.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing focused on the impacts of federal HR1 on CalFresh and Medi-Cal, along with related state mitigation efforts. CDSS, DHCS, DDS, county representatives, LAO, and Finance discussed automatic exemptions, data-sharing between departments, county workload, and the timing of implementation. CDSS said about two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 64 are already known to be exempt in CalFresh, and that administrative data matches could newly exempt about 200,000 of the roughly 955,000 adults potentially at risk. DHCS said Medi-Cal work requirements would begin in 2027 and the department is working to automate exemptions, including for IHSS recipients and some caregivers, while DDS said its population is expected to be covered by auto-exemptions. County welfare directors emphasized that individualized worker contact is critical, that counties need more staffing and stable funding, and that without it they expect delays, higher error rates, and reduced exemption screening capacity. Members pressed for written timelines, county-by-county impact data, and clearer guidance; the administration said it would provide follow-up materials and technical assistance. No votes were taken. The committee then heard a separate discussion on a proposed CFAP expansion or “CFAP Plus” concept to provide state-funded benefits to additional populations affected by HR1, including lawfully present non-citizens and ABODs. CDSS said implementation could not occur before October 1, 2027 because of policy and system-design constraints, and that adding unique eligibility rules would increase complexity and cost. Finance cautioned that any expansion would have General Fund impacts likely in the hundreds of millions to multiple billions. Members asked for cost estimates and technical feedback on trailer bill language, and CDSS said it would review the proposal and respond. The hearing also covered CDSS’s CalFresh strategic plan and mandated reporter training updates. CDSS said it is hiring a strategic plan lead to develop a long-term, data-informed CalFresh plan, and that the revised mandated reporter training is on track for launch in fall/winter 2026, ahead of the July 1, 2027 statutory deadline. The training will include updated content on structural racism, ICWA protections, implicit bias, and the distinction between reporting and supporting families. Members praised the work and asked for continued updates. Later panels focused on Promise Neighborhoods, Stop the Hate, and housing programs. Promise Neighborhood advocates and CDSS described the state’s prior $12 million investment, a positive evaluation showing roughly a 4-to-1 return, and a new proposal to support place-based partnerships and community schools through AB 1969. Stop the Hate grantees and CDSS reported that the program has provided direct services, prevention, and statewide coordination to millions of Californians, and urged reauthorization before funding expires; members asked for best-practice language and discussed focusing future funding on solidarity work, harm reduction, legal services, and education. Finally, CDSS presented on the CalWORKs Housing Support Program and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, saying proposed General Fund investments of $105 million and $55 million would prevent funding cliffs and allow the programs to continue through 2026-27, while the absence of new funding would force reductions in housing assistance, subsidies, and enrollments.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have some housekeeping to do before we get into the policy of the day.
• Steven Santoyo is the K-12 policy analyst assisting Court Mansky.
• Willie Nicolava is a higher education policy analyst assisting Abby.
• Policies that are best for our children.
• Do you have conflict of interest policies? Senator West: Do you have conflict of interest policies?

Bills: SB 2

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Due to their schedules, it's our policy to call elected officials out of turn.
• That was a long-overdue policy measure, and that was eight years ago.
• That was a long overdue policy measure, and that was eight years ago.
• I'm a professor in the Department of Health Law, Policy and Management at Boston University School of
• I left and built a career working on alcohol policy all over the world.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on a large slate of bills related to advertising, economic development, tourism, digital advertising, delivery taxes, and alcohol taxation. The first panel supported H. 3249, which would create a high school trade partnership program linking public schools with private employers, especially in manufacturing, and would offer employers a tax credit for participation. Representative Soder, Uxbridge High School leaders, and others argued the bill would strengthen career pathways, build a skilled workforce, and keep students and jobs in Massachusetts. The committee then heard testimony on H. 3031 and S. 2003 to modernize the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund by dedicating an additional share of hotel occupancy tax revenue to tourism promotion. Tourism and hospitality representatives from Cape Cod, Southwick Zoo, and Indian Ranch said the proposal would not raise taxes but would reinvest existing visitor-generated revenue into marketing that supports jobs, local businesses, and municipal tax receipts. A tech-industry coalition opposed several digital advertising tax bills and a delivery tax bill, warning they would raise costs, create uncertainty, and burden consumers, small businesses, and delivery workers. The largest portion of the hearing focused on S. 2029, which would raise the alcohol excise tax by 10 cents per drink and dedicate the revenue to public health programs. Public health experts, advocates, a student prevention leader, and representatives from Jane Doe, Inc. argued the tax would reduce alcohol-related harms, address decades of inflation-driven erosion in the tax, and generate substantial new funding for prevention, treatment, domestic violence services, and community schools. Committee members asked questions about the current tax structure, inflation, and how the proposal compares with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we know that was embedded in some of our early welfare policies.
• And we know that was embedded in some of our early welfare policies.
• These policies were used to police the households of particularly Black women.
• Diego Samayo, Policy Interoperability Group, on behalf of Karasin, in support.
• Diego Samayo, Policy Interoperability Group, on behalf of Karasin, in support.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the policy considerations around virtual education.
• Lots of this deals with policy.
• On all of the policy, some of our immediate things is the 30 million.
• That's another major policy thing we'll need to deal with on the interim.
• So that was like a policy consideration for you all to consider.

Transcript Highlights:

• Co-chairs Fischer and I could not reach agreement on a lot of the policy, in fact, on any policy.
• , reach agreement on a lot of the policy, reach agreement on a lot of the policy, in<00:02:24.319
• But in the future, policy is why we're here.
• But in the future, policy is why we're here.
• But in the future, policy is why we're here.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the director of tax fiscal policy and elections for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
• I'm the director of tax fiscal policy and elections for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
• I'm the director of tax fiscal policy and elections for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
• At the Minnesota Business Partnership, we support policies that drive growth across the entire state,
• At the Minnesota Business Partnership, we support policies that drive growth across the entire state,

Keywords: 919, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We hope that today's discussion will inform future policy as we work to meet California's urgent housing
• In many cases, these policy goals tend to conflict with one another.
• The problem here is that the MTC's policies impose significant requirements on local jurisdictions.
• More importantly, some of these policies Some of these policies conflict with state statutes and undermine
• If not, they should be required to amend or terminate those policies so that they do increase housing

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Regulatory Authority held its first hearing to examine how California’s regulatory framework affects housing production, affordability, and timelines. Chair Pacheco and Assemblymember Haney framed the discussion around the state’s housing shortage and the need to reduce costs while maintaining environmental, safety, and community protections. The first panel featured housing experts and industry representatives who argued that state regulations, code complexity, utility constraints, and agency review processes add substantial cost and delay to development. Bill Fulton described overlapping state and local land-use authorities and the tension among housing, coastal protection, climate, and wildfire goals. CBIA’s Chris Ochoa and California Apartment Association representative Bob Raymer said building codes, energy mandates, and agency processes have materially increased per-home costs, and they urged more centralized affordability analysis and greater scrutiny of regulatory impacts. The Bay Area Council’s Louis Marante called for a statewide cost target for housing and stronger timelines and accountability for state agency reviews. The second panel brought in state agencies to explain their roles. HCD said its housing element enforcement, streamlining laws, and technical assistance have helped increase production, shorten entitlement timelines, and improve compliance by local governments. CARB said SB 375 is a planning law that does not directly regulate land use, and argued that regional housing assumptions in sustainable communities strategies are not being fully implemented on the ground. The Coastal Commission said it works with local governments to balance coastal protection, sea-level-rise risk, and housing, and noted recent guidance and pilot efforts to streamline housing approvals in the coastal zone. The Energy Commission said its building energy standards are designed to be cost-effective and save consumers money over time, though they can add some design and documentation complexity. Fish and Wildlife and DTSC both emphasized early engagement and collaboration to reduce delays while protecting natural resources and public health; DTSC said it is refining vapor intrusion guidance and using brownfield grants to support redevelopment. The State Water Resources Control Board said it uses general orders and basin planning to provide predictable permitting while balancing water quality, water rights, and housing needs, and noted billions in grants and loans for water infrastructure and site remediation that can support housing affordability. In response to questions from Assemblymember Haney, several agencies described ongoing coordination across departments, including regular meetings among HCD, CARB, the Coastal Commission, and transportation agencies, as well as broader interagency efforts to reduce redundancies and identify pinch points in project delivery. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; the main outcome was informational testimony and discussion of possible future reforms to improve coordination, predictability, and affordability in state regulatory processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• policy of S. 183 without the title. policy of S. 183 without the title.
• And right now, Department of Corrections policies are simply policies.
• policies policies are<00:36:32.760> simply<00:36:33.120> policies.
• policies." that would be fine. policies." that would be fine.
• uh transgender policies as well. uh transgender policies as well.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• testimony on some important uh policy testimony on some important uh policy considerations<00:24
• typically pred predicated on a policy typically pred predicated on a policy reason<00:25:51.520>
• <00:25:56.559> rationale hard to come up with a policy rationale hard to come up with a policy
• benefits and how much from this policy. benefits and how much from this policy.
• We're making policy in the tax committee.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 3524 and House File 3525 and laid both over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill, with no amendments adopted and no vote taken at this stage. HF 3524 would conform Minnesota law to the federal overtime tax deduction, and HF 3525 would conform to the federal tip-income deduction. The author argued both bills would help workers keep more of their earnings, simplify tax filing, support labor-force participation, and provide relief to workers in hospitality, trades, health care, and other industries. The committee heard testimony in support from a restaurant owner, Sandra Weiss of the Finnish Beastro in St. Paul, who said the bills would help tipped workers keep more of their income and would support hospitality businesses. She described her staff as roughly half men and half women, including students and long-term employees, and said front-of-house tipped workers and back-of-house workers face different pay levels. She also said Minnesota’s tip rules and lack of a tip credit create challenges for the industry. During questioning, members discussed wage disparities, the makeup of her workforce, and the practical effects of the proposals. Opposition testimony came from Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project and Eric Bernstein of We Make Minnesota, both of whom argued the bills are regressive, poorly targeted, and costly. They said the deductions would mainly benefit higher earners, violate horizontal equity by treating similar incomes differently, and could encourage compensation restructuring. They also warned the combined cost would exceed $500 million over the 2028-29 biennium and could pressure funding for health care, education, and other public services. Mark Havenman of the Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence similarly criticized the bills on tax fairness and administrative grounds, noting the federal tip deduction framework is still under development and could create enforcement issues. Nonpartisan staff provided revenue estimates showing HF 3524 would reduce general fund revenue by about $365.9 million in fiscal 2027 and HF 3525 by about $126 million in fiscal 2027, with smaller ongoing impacts in later years. Members also raised questions about how the bills would be paid for and what income would qualify under the overtime deduction.

Transcript Highlights:

• But whether you see it as a good policy, it all comes down to policy. What do we want to fund?
• It's just a question of policy.
• <00:32:21.760> that is that since if this is a policy that is that since if this is a policy
• It's just a question of policy. sums. It's just a question of policy.
• Of course we've passed some is a policy.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no downside to paid leave policies. It decreases maternal morbidity and mortality.
• There is no downside to paid leave policies.
• There is no downside to paid leave policies.
• There is no downside to paid leave policies.
• on which policy so the 088<00:21:26.760> was<00:21:26.919> the<00:21:27.080> policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and processes around cybersecurity. ...their policies and processes around cybersecurity.
• Along the same vein of policies, because IT policies are the foundation of any strong cybersecurity program
• As mentioned before, SAO's newest resource is our cybersecurity policy guide.
• As mentioned before, SAO's newest resource is our cybersecurity policy guide from the centers we have
• It also points out that as technology and the threat landscape changes, updated policies, standards,

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s Office cybersecurity performance audits for fiscal year 2025, covering both state agencies and local governments. SAO staff explained that the audits are conducted independently under Initiative 900 and are kept confidential at the entity level, with detailed findings shared directly with the audited organizations. They reported that state agency audits found nearly one-third of assessed safeguards fully implemented on all systems and 227 vulnerabilities across seven agencies, including three critical and 21 high-severity issues. For seven local government cybersecurity audits, nearly a quarter of safeguards were fully implemented on all systems, and auditors identified nearly 300 vulnerabilities, including nine critical and 47 high-severity issues. SAO also summarized its ransomware resiliency audits and critical infrastructure audits for local governments. In six ransomware audits, a little over 35% of assessed safeguards were not in place, while about 60% were at least partially in place. In 39 critical infrastructure audits, focused largely on water and sewer providers, auditors found over 260 vulnerabilities and said more than 10% were critical or high. Staff highlighted that these audits have led to improvements, including one vendor making security changes after SAO testing that were later echoed in a federal advisory. They also described related services such as cybersecurity checkups, policy guidance, and other cyber-related work by the office. Washington Technology Solutions’ state chief information security officer, Ralph Johnson, praised the audits and said they help protect essential public services. He cited a sharp national rise in ransomware incidents against governments and said Washington has used more than $11 million in federal and state cybersecurity grant funds for over 200 projects. In response to questions from Representative Scott, SAO and WOTEC discussed options for addressing urgent vulnerabilities, including compensating controls, grant funding, and low-cost mitigation steps. The committee also discussed how Washington’s program compares nationally, with Johnson saying Initiative 900 is unusually comprehensive and that local governments often seek audits voluntarily. No votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony was offered but none was given.