Transcript Highlights:

• English learner cross subsidy uh aid English learner cross subsidy uh aid rate<00:03:24.560>
• DCIF clarifying the the kind of aid aid DCIF clarifying the the kind of aid aid administration administration
• It's not merely technical. clarifying um the aid and levy clarifying um the aid and levy adjustments<
• So, we did find places that we could take the money from: telecom equity aid, school library aid, and
• non-public aid for cutting non-public aid for transportation,<00:43:07.359> and<00:43:07.520>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill also establishes a permanent and ongoing aid to school districts, 36 of the school districts
• The new city of Northern is going to receive local government aid under this bill.
• It includes a four-year extension of the local homeless prevention aid, which goes to every county in
• to school districts to and ongoing aid to school districts to 36 36 36 of<00:03:06.200> the<00
• local government aid under this bill. bill. bill.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House considered the conference committee report on House File 2438, the 2026 tax bill. Representative Gomez outlined the main provisions, saying most fiscal changes were tied to federal tax conformity. He also described several other items in the report, including a two-year extension of the pass-through entity tax workaround, a sustainable aviation fuel provision, a one-time $125 million increase in homestead credit property tax refunds, a one-year removal of the cap on the beginning farmer tax credit, a four-year tax exemption for PGA tickets, permanent aid to certain school districts, a direct file program, changes related to homestead resort classification thresholds, local property tax and income tax provisions, local government aid for the new city of Northern, a four-year extension of local homeless prevention aid, and Department of Revenue policy, technical, TIF, local, and public finance items. After the report was presented, the House adopted the conference committee report and ordered the bill repassed as amended by conference. The clerk then gave the bill its third reading as amended. Following third reading, Representative Niska moved to lay House File 2438 on the table. The motion prevailed, and the bill was tabled.

Transcript Highlights:

• , gift aid, institutional aid, or federal aid, enabling them to use such aid for textbooks, housing,
• Devin has married aid.
• And so an act to modernize financial aid access would essentially transform the way financial aid is
• who they distribute aid to, and it would give students the opportunity to take financial aid from the
• and who they distribute aid to and it would give students the opportunity to take financial aid from

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on a broad set of bills focused on making public higher education more affordable and accessible, protecting student information, and changing social work licensure rules. Chair Rogers and Senator Comerford opened by emphasizing the committee’s focus on financial aid, tuition and fee waivers, scholarships, admissions, and institutional changes, and they reminded witnesses about the three-minute testimony limit. No votes were taken during the hearing. A large portion of the hearing centered on the “Super Act” (H. 1423/S. 218), which would eliminate the master’s-level social work licensing exam and create grant support for social work internships. Supporters—including students, practitioners, educators, and advocates—argued that unpaid internships and the exam create financial barriers, worsen workforce shortages, and disproportionately affect Black, brown, older, ESL, and other marginalized candidates. Opponents from the Association of Social Work Boards argued the exam is a necessary public-protection standard, helps maintain uniform licensure, and is important to the social work licensure compact; they said workforce shortages should be addressed through pay, working conditions, and caseloads instead. Committee members asked detailed questions about compact participation, exam accommodations, and how other states such as Rhode Island and Connecticut have handled similar changes. The committee also heard extensive testimony in favor of debt-free public higher education bills (H. 1436/S. 929). Witnesses, including students, faculty, advocates, and Senator Eldridge, said Massachusetts should expand on free community college by covering tuition and mandatory fees at public colleges and universities, with additional aid for living costs for lower-income students. Supporters said student debt delays homeownership, family formation, and career entry, and that the state should use Fair Share revenue to invest in public higher education. Some committee members voiced support but also raised concerns about prioritizing K-12 funding and the cost of expanding free college further. Several witnesses also supported bills to extend tuition and fee waivers to young adults raised by grandparents or other kinship guardians outside the DCF system, arguing that these students face the same trauma and financial barriers as foster youth but do not receive the same benefits. Representative Donato, Joseph O’Leary, Shauna Manning, Sandra Vecchio, Karen Gardner, Judy Walter, Elaine Arsenault, and others described the financial strain on grandparents raising grandchildren and urged parity with DCF-related waivers. In addition, Senator Jake Oliveira testified for a bill to protect public higher education student directory information from data mining and unauthorized sharing, and Deirdre Cummings testified for an open educational resources bill to reduce textbook costs. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on kinship care and college access, with committee members thanking witnesses and indicating follow-up on some bill language issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, the bill significantly increases local government aid and county program aid to counties
• <00:01:11.840> and increases local government aid and increases local government aid and county
• government aid.
• for local government aid. for local government aid.
• aids to local governments were slashed. aids to local governments were slashed.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 4845 was presented as a tax modernization and local aid bill that would adjust Minnesota income tax brackets for inflation, add a new top bracket of 10.85% for high earners, and increase local government aid and county program aid beginning in 2026. Representative Hollins said the bill would strengthen local government funding and require the Department of Revenue to recertify aid distributions. The chair noted the bill would be laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill. Supporters, including St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter? no, Mayor Kelly Her of St. Paul, AFSCME Local 34, and Rebuild Minnesota, argued that cities and counties need more stable revenue to cover rising costs, public safety, human services, and property tax pressure. They said the bill would help local governments meet unmet needs and reduce reliance on property taxes. Opponents from the Minnesota Business Partnership and Minnesota Chamber of Commerce argued the new top rate would hurt competitiveness, talent recruitment, and business investment, especially because many businesses pay through the individual income tax code. Some testifiers also opposed directing more aid to cities that they said restrict housing development, while others urged the committee to address unfunded mandates and fraud instead of raising taxes. During member discussion, Representative Joyce opposed creating another bracket and suggested using cannabis tax revenue instead. Representative Wiener said the state has a spending problem and cited fraud concerns, while Representative Roach questioned whether the bill truly helped greater Minnesota and noted the current LGA appropriation is just over $644 million. Representative Hollins responded that the proposal would mostly benefit greater Minnesota by shifting more of the tax burden to high earners in the metro area. No vote was taken; the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• If legislative aides are covering this and district aides. Mr.
• Aides are in the bill, and they are in sections 3 and 4.
• So, for the district's legislative aides to date.
• When I was trying to hire my district aide, I was specifically told our district aid is part of the $14
• I know that I have the intention of the district legislative aid policy that those aides are in the district

Transcript Highlights:

• Aid schools student support Aid that Aid schools student support Aid that Aid stream<00:21:30.360
• The aid is simply based on the number of non-public schools that request the aid.
• The aid is simply based on the number of non-public schools that request the aid.
• The aid is simply based on the number of non-public schools that request the aid.
• The aid is simply based on the number of non-public schools that request the aid.

Bills: HF984, HF921, HF922

Keywords: education funding, nonpublic schools, counseling services, guidance services, transportation for students, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• Some said, "We want school safety aid Some said, "We want school safety aid for<00:04:05.840>
• You want school safety aid? Let's do it."
• They've asked for school safety<00:10:30.520> aid.
• We've asked for safety aid.
• ,<00:13:14.360> you we should have school safety aid, you we should have school safety aid

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• aid? aid?
• So the building aid um question.
• So I believe in school building aid law.
• <04:08:15.120> on conversation then for building aid on conversation then for building aid
• We did not get any school building aid.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As the building aid moratorum voters.
• was not a priority list for building aid was not a priority list for building aid until<01:40:26.080
• <01:40:48.159> rate amount at the state building aid rate amount at the state building aid
• <01:56:58.080> early aid early aid early improves<01:57:00.400> cash<01:57:00.639> flow
• It was little said about building aid.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate is committed to making sure any modifications to the Foundation Aid formula are responsive
• They include increasing the Foundation Aid by $1.4 billion over the current year for a total of $27.8
• The Assembly modifies the Executive's Foundation Aid proposal by raising the minimum increase for all
• Providing $326.5 million to eliminate the prior year school aid claims check.
• Increasing special services aid by $10.1 million by raising the base per-pupil aid from $4,100 to $4,300

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Education Budget Conference Joint Committee met on March 18 to begin negotiations on the state education budget. Co-chairs Senator Shelley Mayer and Assembly Member Benedetto outlined their chambers’ priorities, with the Senate emphasizing Foundation Aid changes to better support students experiencing homelessness or foster care, English language learners, a minimum 2% increase for all districts, expanded universal pre-K, and continued support for special education programs and nonpublic schools. The Assembly highlighted its one-house proposal, including a $1.4 billion increase in Foundation Aid, a higher ELL and pupil needs weighting, a new weight for students in foster care or housing instability, removal of the pupil needs cap, $600 million for New York City class size reduction, additional community schools funding, and restorations or increases for libraries, teacher resource centers, 4201 schools, My Brother’s Keeper, and educational television and radio. Members from both chambers offered opening remarks stressing education as a top budget priority and expressing confidence that a compromise could be reached. Senator Tedisco focused on school safety and bullying, arguing that parents should be notified when their children are bullied and citing the need to protect students’ ability to learn. Assembly Member Vanel emphasized education as a tool for economic mobility and called for stronger financial literacy instruction. Assembly Member Carroll supported funding for libraries and evidence-based reading programs, while Assembly Member Smith said the Foundation Aid formula remains outdated and urged more support for English language learners, special education, and community schools. Assembly Member Chludzinski stressed local control, criticized the electric school bus mandate, and called for greater support for libraries and fiscal restraint. No votes were taken. The meeting was an opening conference session, with both sides stating their intent to continue negotiations and work toward an on-time budget that reflects shared priorities for students, schools, and libraries across New York State.

Transcript Highlights:

• $68 million for differentiated aid $68 million for differentiated aid that's<00:22:36.320> in
• , So with this special education aid, So with this special education aid, remember<00:22:46.480><
• So, you'll get that differential aid every year. >> And I think also for the differential aid under,
• <00:49:12.720> and pay out for a differentiate aid and pay out for a differentiate aid and
• <00:49:58.079> under, aid under, aid under, for<00:50:00.079> lack<00:50:00.240> of<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The commission met to continue its study of the cost of special education, with the chair emphasizing that the group needs to narrow its focus over the coming year toward specific cost drivers, including the IEP process, Medicaid, charter schools, and EFAs. Members reviewed a draft first report due November 1 and agreed it would be a brief synopsis of prior meetings, with minutes attached. The September 30, 2025 minutes were amended to correct the number of federally funded department staff from 234 to 23, and to revise language about Senator Sullivan’s comments so they reflected concerns about IEP advocates and fees charged to families rather than support for the concept. The amended minutes were then approved unanimously, with abstentions noted for members who were absent. The main presentation focused on how special education costs are handled for students attending charter schools. The DOE representative said there are 804 students with disabilities in charter schools across 88 of the state’s 176 districts, and that the district of residence remains responsible for all services and costs. She explained that students must meet IDEA criteria through district evaluation and parent consent, and that services are determined through individual IEP meetings rather than by a blanket charter-school decision. Members asked how those costs are tracked, whether any students are merely “monitored,” and whether districts separately identify charter-school special education expenses; the answer was that most districts fold those costs into their overall special education budget, though some may break them out as a line item. The discussion then turned to transportation and mileage costs for staff providing services at charter schools. Testimony indicated that districts may use their own staff, contract staff, or contract with a charter school for certified services, and that travel costs are often either built into contracts or absorbed as part of staff time rather than separately reimbursed. Members questioned whether mileage is reimbursed when staff travel to distant charter schools and whether those costs can be isolated in district budgets; the response was that practices vary by district and are not usually broken out by special education function. Several members argued this makes it difficult to determine the true cost of delivering special education, especially given New Hampshire’s model in which the district of residence pays regardless of where the charter school is located. The chair noted the complexity of the system and compared it to the state’s separate tuition and transportation approach for career and technical education centers.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill provides funding for legal aid assistance, which could include many different things.
• The legal aid organizations that have received this funding for the last 26 years, these are some of
• He met with them on the tarmac and tried to secure federal aid.
• Again, the resources that are provided for legal aid assistance are already in. Being used.
• Legal aid in this context has always been bipartisan.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• system and the municipal state aid system and the municipal state aid Street<00:13:22.880> fund
• So, of the dollars that flow into the state aid, the two state aid funds, those then flow out to the
• So, of the dollars that flow into the state aid, the two state aid funds, those then flow out to the
• Local road aid includes county state-aid highways and municipal state-aid streets, along with revenue
• appropriation the municipal state aid appropriation the municipal state aid<00:54:35.240> Street<

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Transportation Working Group met on January 15, 2025, with Chair John Kosnik opening by saying the committee expected to pass a transportation bill this year and emphasizing efficient use of transportation revenues, maintenance of roads and transit, and safety. Members and staff introduced themselves, and several representatives noted their interest in roads, bridges, and regional transportation needs. Kosnik also said he had spoken with Representative Kel about leadership arrangements and stressed that bipartisan support would be needed for a transportation bill. House Fiscal Staff’s Andrew Lee and House Research’s Matt Burus then gave an overview of transportation finance, focusing mainly on highways and transit. Burus explained Minnesota’s highway funding structure, including the constitutional Highway User Tax Distribution Fund and the related Trunk Highway Fund, County State-Aid Highway Fund, and Municipal State-Aid Street Fund. He reviewed the main revenue sources: the motor fuels tax, motor vehicle registration tax, motor vehicle sales tax, portions of the general sales tax tied to auto parts, vehicle rentals and leases, and the retail delivery fee. He noted several changes from 2023 legislation, including indexing of the gas tax, creation of the Transportation Advancement Account, and the retail delivery fee, which began in July 2024 and therefore would affect fiscal year 2025 rather than the fiscal 2024 data shown. The presentation also covered how highway dollars flow through constitutional formulas, including the 95/5 split from the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund, with the 5 percent set-aside used for town roads, town bridges, and flexible highway purposes such as turnbacks. Burus distinguished trunk highway bonds from general obligation bonds and explained that both are debt-financing tools for transportation projects, but with different repayment sources and uses. No votes or formal actions were taken at this informational meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section four, the taconite municipal aid Section four, the taconite municipal aid account.<00:08
• Of of state aid over the last 5 years.
• <00:24:48.720> was their retirement as the state aid was their retirement as the state aid
• providing police aid providing police aid and and and has<00:26:20.560> um has um has um
• <00:32:41.080> would be my understanding that the aid would be my understanding that the aid

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Without the aid, reunification is nearly impossible.
• This also includes parents who have been timed out on aid or have been sanctioned.
• There's no reason why we can't provide direct aid with both.
• AB 363 also expands the available funding that can be used for direct aid.
• We have to bring down barriers to make sure people have access to aid.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard a long agenda of bills focused largely on child welfare, foster care, child care, CalWORKs, mandated reporting, and public benefits. Early items included AB 890, which would ease county transfer rules for nonminor dependents in extended foster care; AB 461, which would replace punitive truancy-related penalties with supportive services for families; and AB 753, which would create an interim associate teacher pathway to help address the child care workforce shortage. Testimony on these bills emphasized barriers faced by foster youth, low-income families, and child care providers, and members expressed support for the general policy direction. The committee also heard AB 926 on foster care visitation, AB 563 on early childhood planning and reporting, AB 601 on standardized mandated reporter training, AB 1074 on CalWORKs reunification aid, AB 822 extending the Commission on the State of Hate, AB 970 creating a Los Angeles County mandated reporter pilot, AB 1161 protecting public benefits during disasters, AB 1172 allowing trained staff to administer emergency seizure medication in community care settings, and AB 363 expanding CalWORKs student supports and work-study. Witnesses generally supported these measures as ways to reduce trauma, improve reunification, modernize reporting and training, and expand access to services. County welfare and child welfare groups, advocacy organizations, and providers largely testified in support, while some bills drew concerns from county representatives about implementation or needed amendments. Several bills were voted out of committee, often unanimously and sometimes as amended, including AB 926, AB 563, AB 601, AB 1074, AB 822, AB 970, AB 1161, and AB 1172; AB 1172 was reported on call. The committee also took up consent items and later voted on subcommittee-held bills AB 461, AB 753, and AB 890, leaving them on call. At the end of the hearing, the committee heard AB 1211, which would protect CalFresh benefits from federal cuts and require a feasibility study on increasing benefits and eligibility; testimony stressed rising food insecurity and the economic importance of food assistance, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• This money is not differentiated aid.
• They receive differentiated aid.
• differentiated aid for those students. differentiated aid for those students.
• whether it's ELLL, differentiated aid whether it's ELLL, differentiated aid for<00:27:14.960>
• They receive differentiated aid. Yes. They receive differentiated aid. Yes.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met to consider eight bills, beginning with HB 443 on the terms of appointment for members of the Higher Education Commission. Department of Education Director Steve Applebee explained that the commission supported a language change to address a holdover issue, but members raised concerns that the bill did not solve the problem of inactive members and might not address the broader question of whether the commission should continue to exist. The committee agreed to retain HB 443 for further work and voted 18-0 to do so. The committee then voted on HB 137, which would allocate excess statewide education property tax funds for local school and municipal purposes. Supporters of ITL argued that using the statewide property tax to reduce the state’s school funding obligation could create a slippery slope and shift more burden to property taxpayers. The committee voted 15-3 to ITL the bill, with a minority report to be written. HB 237, which would prohibit the use of special education and differentiated aid funds on students not receiving special education services, was also ITL’d after members said federal law already governs how IDEA-related funds may be used and that the bill was unnecessary. That motion passed 16-0, with some members not voting because they were out for medical reasons. The committee next advanced HB 354, creating alternative certification pathways for career and technical education instructors. Members said the bill could help recruit qualified tradespeople and retirees to teach in CTE programs, and it was approved 18-0 and placed on the consent calendar. HB 491, establishing a committee to study alternative public education funding methods and reduce reliance on local property taxes, was retained for further study after members said the committee or a subcommittee could continue the work over the year; it passed 18-0. HB 656, concerning local school districts’ authority to accept federal grants, was also retained after discussion focused on transparency, grant conditions, and the need to avoid delays in services; it passed 18-0. The committee then moved on to HB 729, an appropriation for an attorney to recodify education laws, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, for the local government aid.
• <00:09:05.160> funding know, the local government aid funding know, the local government aid
• District aid.
• :09:43.920> annual<01:09:44.319> aid currently does not receive annual aid currently does
• ambulance special district aid. ambulance special district aid.

Bills: HF1016, HF2800, HF156, HF3051, HF526, HF2658, HF2062, HF2801

Keywords: local government aid, Baldwin, taxation, base year formula, municipal funding, population aid, aid penalty forgiveness, Minnesota, city funding, appropriations, HF156, lawful gambling, veterans organizations, licensed veterans organization, Minnesota gambling law, gross profits, lawful purpose, real property repair, facility maintenance, capital assets

Transcript Highlights:

• These initiatives aim to expand financial aid, increase student support, and secure the long-term stability
• of the state's higher education system to ensure that financial aid keeps pace with the real cost of
• that will support nonprofits in increasing the number of high school seniors applying for financial aid
• speakers and underrepresented communities have the tools they need to navigate college and financial aid
• navigate college and financial aid navigate college and financial aid systems<00:02:21.879> additionally

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of Vermont Cares, the state's first AIDS service organization.
• Vermont Department of Health AIDS Vermont Department of Health AIDS Program<00:04:04.120> Chief
• Vermont Cares, the state's first AIDS Vermont Cares, the state's first AIDS service<00:04:08.240
• , Advisory Council on HIV AIDS, Advisory Council on HIV AIDS, and<00:04:30.120> eventually
• serving as executive director of the National Association of People with AIDS.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House began with a moment of silence and read two adopted House Concurrent Resolutions. HCR 298 recognized the importance of the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife’s fish culture program and hatcheries to aquatic sustainability, recreational fishing, education, and the economy. HCR 300 honored the life and work of Terry Anderson, a Vermont AIDS advocate, Democratic Party leader, and longtime activist; members offered personal tributes to his compassion, mentorship, and political leadership, and the resolution was sent to his family and the Vermont Democratic Party. The chamber then took up several bills returned from the Senate. H. 583, relating to clinical decision-making, was explained as having minor Senate amendments adjusting dates and adding collaboration language for Green Mountain Care Board reporting; the House Health Care Committee recommended concurrence, and the House agreed. H. 657, relating to Department for Children and Families programming, was also amended in small ways, including changes to language on Social Security benefits for youth in foster care, certification forms for unaccompanied youth, and an effective date; after debate about whether the bill could affect family separation, the House adopted the Senate changes by roll call vote, 133-2. The House next considered S. 202 on portable solar energy generation devices. The Senate’s changes narrowed landlord-related language and updated appliance efficiency standards; the House Energy Committee then proposed a further amendment striking the Senate’s addition of electric motors from the efficiency list, citing conflicting testimony, and the House concurred with that further amendment. Members also discussed notice procedures between tenants and landlords and the safety rationale for the bill. Finally, the House passed S. 208 on standards for law enforcement identification and S. 212 on potable water supply and wastewater system connections, both in concurrence with proposals of amendment. The House then recessed until 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when it comes to foreign aid there, the United States is completely shut down.
• That's been turned off because of the administration's stop-work order on foreign aid.
• You cannot process a waiver for life-saving humanitarian aid with no personnel.
• Did you see his claim that AID spent $50 million, the U.S. government spent $50 million?
• What just happened to AID happened to the State Department.