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.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are three policy pathways. The first one is around... There are three policy pathways.
• There are nine strategies across those three policy pathways and 28 options.
• But then they offered our earthquake policy, and it's a voluntary product.
• Instead, it is a bailout for utilities dressed up in policy language.
• We believe a distinct policy solution for a contingency or backup fund for POUs does warrant a policy

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome everybody to Education Policy Committee.
• And with policies to meet local needs.
• So, I see where it say local boards of education may adopt a policy. >> Line 57.
• >> adopt a policy. >> adopt a policy. >> Line<00:25:50.640> 57.
• parents say you will adopt this policy parents say you will adopt this policy because<00:26:47.600

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• phone and smartwatch policies phone and smartwatch policies sponsored<00:36:18.320> by<00
• One that was just doing a pilot policy and then some that had no policies at all.
• They can make the policy their own.
• One that was just doing a pilot policy and then some that had no policies at all.
• One that was just doing a pilot policy and then some that had no policies at all.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• uh policy from the plans? uh policy from the plans?
• Can is mandates we have on our policies?
• :35.839> Minnesota Health Policy Director, Minnesota Health Policy Director, Minnesota Business
• And that kind of health policy priority for for our health policy priority for for our membership<00:
• Policies that help stabilize care costs.

Bills: HF3388, HF400

Keywords: HF3388, Minnesota premium security plan, reinsurance, health insurance, group health carriers, MCHA, MNsure, individual market, premium stabilization, carrier assessment, health insurance assessment, premium security plan account, state innovation waiver, high-risk pool, reinsurance payments, healthcare premiums, insurance carriers, deferral of assessment, financially impaired condition, HF400

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from the prior day and then heard House File 400, a bill described as a defrayal measure for health insurance mandates. Representative Perryman said the bill would not block future mandates, but would require the state to pay the added costs of any new mandated benefits so those costs would not be shifted to premium payers. She and supporters framed the bill as a way to protect affordability for Minnesota employers, workers, and families, especially in the fully insured market. Testimony in support came from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Council of Health Plans. They argued that Minnesota has a high number of mandated benefits, that each new mandate adds cost to premiums, and that businesses—especially small and midsize employers—are already struggling with rising health insurance costs. The health plans representative said the bill would use the existing Commerce defrayal process to reimburse plans for eligible mandate-related claims, allowing those costs to be removed from premium rates. Several members echoed support, saying the bill would improve transparency by showing the fiscal impact of proposed mandates and help prevent people from being priced out of coverage. Members also explored how mandates apply in the market and how premiums are set. Deputy Commissioner Julia Dryer explained that, unless otherwise specified, mandates generally apply to the individual, small group, and fully insured large group markets, while self-insured ERISA plans and other markets are generally outside that scope. Representative Elkins noted that the affected market is relatively small and said small businesses are increasingly moving to self-insured plans because of cost. He and others raised concerns about affordability, while Representative Smith argued that mandates often ensure needed care and that the bill shifts costs to taxpayers rather than insurers. Representative Bacham added a personal example from tribal self-insurance, saying preventive physicals had saved lives and asking whether other factors besides mandates are driving insurer costs. No amendments were offered, and the bill was laid over for possible future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• enforcing those policies.
• those policies.
• for what cell phone policies look like. for what cell phone policies look like.
• to a policy won't be a big move. to a policy won't be a big move.
• > policies.

Bills: HB0159

Keywords: student rights, free expression, K-12 education, speech protection, religious views, political speech, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Johnson and I am the chief policy Johnson and I am the chief policy officer<00:02:31.920> with
• In terms of policy, I'll do quickly a policy recommendations moving forward. So that's our...
• In terms of policy, I'll do quickly a policy recommendations moving forward. So that's our...
• Policy recommendations.
• It's a policy issue.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:07 Roll Call 00:00:25 Discussion of Lexington’s Housing Affordability Partnership 00:02:26 Discussion of Northern Kentucky’s Housing Blueprint 00:30:12 Discussion of Religious Institution Land Use 00:57:33 Discussion of Free-Market Solutions to Kentucky’s Housing Crisis 01:04:18 Adjournment 01:26:37, 958, all

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and began informally, with members noting this was the final information-gathering meeting on housing before a November meeting to discuss findings and report back to the LRC. The main presentation focused on the Lexington Affordable Housing Partnership, a public-private effort supported by a $10 million state allocation. Presenters described Fayette County’s housing shortage, citing a gap of more than 22,000 units, rising home prices, and the challenge of assembling land and capital for affordable projects. The partnership explained that five local banks created a $3 million capital investment fund to buy and hold land at no interest, with deed restrictions keeping the site at 80% or below area median income and allowing the banks to seek Community Reinvestment Act credit. The first project is a 12.5-acre former Transylvania University baseball field, planned for about 242 units, including detached homes, townhouses, garden-style apartments, and senior housing. Speakers said the project required extensive neighborhood engagement and zoning/development approvals, but that the planning phase is now largely complete and infrastructure work should begin soon. Financing details included roughly $64 million in additional funding through tax credit equity, market-rate loans, city support, Kentucky Housing Corporation resources, and donations from nonprofit partners. Developers said the multifamily bond applications are due to Kentucky Housing Corporation the next day, and they expect the land purchase to be repaid into the revolving fund once the property is entitled and closed, allowing the original $3 million to be redeployed for future projects. They estimated rental units could be filled within about six months of completion, while for-sale units would come online over 12 to 36 months. In discussion, members asked about regulatory barriers and project timelines. Presenters pointed to rising construction costs tied to new federal and state requirements, and one member highlighted the need to continue reviewing planning and zoning reforms to speed development plan approvals and reduce delays. The group also endorsed a possible statewide $20 million housing fund, a residential infrastructure fund, and efforts to avoid additional regulatory burdens on housing development.

Transcript Highlights:

• more about in their review of the policy more about in their review of the policy items.
• over to we're going to start policy over to we're going to start policy discussion.<00:46:50.319
• The resident tuition policy. I'm Okay. The resident tuition policy.
• Is there any the OHI policy bill.
• <01:26:17.600> Hopkins, policy bill. Mr. Hopkins, policy bill. Mr.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Higher Education Finance and Policy Conference Committee met publicly to compare House and Senate positions on the higher education budget, with the chairs emphasizing transparency and alternating gavel control. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through a spreadsheet of differences across the Office of Higher Education and Minnesota State, including major items such as state grants, childcare grants, work study, tribal college grants, emergency assistance grants, hunger-free campus grants, student parent support, direct admissions, paramedic scholarships, and several medical residency and fellowship programs. The House and Senate also differed on administrative funding, campus sexual assault reporting, and a House FY25 cancellation that would be carried forward. Members discussed several of the larger policy and funding choices. The Senate explained its increase for Minitex as support for operating costs and statewide access to information. The House explained its cuts to student parent support and other items as necessary to work within a zero target and to prioritize direct aid to students, while the Senate said it focused on direct appropriations and access-related programs. On hunger-free campus grants and emergency assistance grants, the Senate said it was changing the distribution method and direct appropriations rather than reducing the overall money, while the House noted differences in whether nonprofit institutions remained included. The committee also reviewed Senate-only additions and reductions in Minnesota State, including free course materials, Lake Superior College remediation, and changes to the Kids on Campus appropriation. A representative from Lake Superior College testified that the PAS remediation funding would help address contamination issues at an emergency training site near Lake Superior and that the money was shifted from the Kids on Campus initiative. No final conference agreement or vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee continued discussing differences and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the policy director for the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative.
• We can't start making good policies that are moving us forward until we start collecting that data.
• policies and laws are still having damaging impacts generations later today.
• The Agriculture Equity Network and other groups like ours rely on policy for change.
• Animal Law and Policy Program.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Agriculture opened its first hearing by outlining procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, written testimony options, and the plan to hear 27 bills in docket order. The committee then took testimony on H.11/S.53, a resolve promoting equity in agriculture, with advocates from the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, Southeastern Mass Agricultural Partnership, and urban farming organizations describing racial and economic disparities in farming, lack of data on BIPOC farmers, barriers to land and capital, and the need for a commission to collect information and recommend policy changes. Committee members asked questions about the importance of data collection and future policy development, and the bill was repeatedly urged to be reported favorably out of committee. Testimony also supported H.118, which would create a special commission to examine the strengths and sustainability of the Commonwealth’s emergency food network. The Amherst Survival Center described serving 1.6 million meals last year and explained that food pantries are now functioning as essential parts of the state’s food system while relying heavily on donations, volunteers, and unstable funding. Members discussed the need for a more holistic look at food security infrastructure. The committee then heard H.119/S.60 on climate change impacts on farms and fisheries, with regional planners and farm advocates describing flood damage, rising costs, canceled federal climate-smart funding, and the need for direct state support for adaptation, resilience, and infrastructure improvements. The committee also heard testimony on H.125/H.142/S.65, a healthy soils bill, from landscape professionals who said construction sites often leave poor or stripped soil and that the bill would require better post-construction soil standards to support healthier landscapes and reduce long-term maintenance and environmental problems. Finally, the committee took extensive testimony on H.127, which would prohibit aquaculture of octopus for human consumption. Supporters, including legislators, scientists, veterinarians, students, and animal welfare advocates, argued octopus are highly intelligent and sentient, cannot be farmed humanely, and that octopus aquaculture would create environmental harms such as waste runoff, pressure on wild fish stocks, and ecosystem disruption. No votes were taken during the hearing; the bills were heard and testimony was received.

Transcript Highlights:

• , let's have the best policy we can have.
• , let's have the best policy we can have.
• , let's have the best policy we can have.
• , it, but if we're going to have a policy, it, but if we're going to have a policy, let's<00:33:58.080
• let's have the best policy we can have. let's have the best policy we can have.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum and approved the journal. The House clerk communicated that the House had passed House Bills 34 and 306 and requested concurrence. The State and Local Government Committee reported Senate Bills 20 and 68 favorably, and several new bills and resolutions were introduced, including measures on Kentucky-grown agricultural procurement, an endowed research fund, unemployment insurance, postsecondary education, wrongful conviction compensation, massage therapy, local fiscal reporting, and a resolution honoring John and Debbie Rogers. The main floor action was on Senate Joint Resolution 23, as amended by Senate Committee Substitute 1, declaring Kentucky a “food is medicine” state and directing state agencies to advance food-as-medicine initiatives. The sponsor described the resolution as a statewide framework to connect nutrition, health care, agriculture, and local food systems, emphasizing partnerships with the Kentucky Hospital Association and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, better health outcomes, and support for Kentucky farmers and rural communities. Senators from Taylor and Callaway spoke in support, citing local examples and the goal of building Kentucky-based solutions rather than importing them. The committee substitute was adopted by voice vote, and the resolution then passed 35-0. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 56 honoring Elder Nathan Craig and Sister Amy Craig, and Senate Resolution 33 honoring Robert E. “Bob” Pernell, Sr. Senate Resolution 22, honoring Brian J. Hat, was likewise adopted. After the day’s business, the Senate recessed for meetings of the Rules Committee and the Committee on Committees. Later, the Committee on Committees referred Senate Bills 1-4 to Education, Senate Bill 48 to Judiciary, and Senate Bills 84 and 102 to Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection. Several members made announcements about upcoming committee meetings and events, including the VMAP committee, Judiciary, the Kentucky Japan Caucus, the Kentucky Israel Caucus, and an American Cancer Society action day.