Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that concludes the amendments to the egg bill and broadband bill today.
• amendments uh believe that concludes the amendments uh to<00:04:30.960> the<00:04:31.440> egg
• > bill<00:04:32.560> and<00:04:32.880> broadband<00:04:33.360> bill to the egg
• bill and broadband bill to the egg bill and broadband bill today.<00:04:34.759> Uh<00:04:35.759
• and the President Department of Egg and the President Trump's<00:38:09.520> administration,<00

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• transports that at some point produces transports and<00:05:14.120> utilizes<00:05:14.639> eggs
• c><00:05:14.880> for<00:05:15.199> fertilization<00:05:16.199> a and utilizes eggs
• for fertilization a and utilizes eggs for fertilization a woman<00:05:16.720> is<00:05:16.919
• completely dehumanizing for every person, because not every person will produce, transport, or utilize eggs
• This should be offensive to every single person. transport or utilize eggs for transport or utilize eggs

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 435 was taken up with an author's amendment that added a definition of “female,” “woman,” and “girl” based on biological sex. The committee debated the amendment at length, with supporters saying it was needed for clarity and opponents arguing it was unscientific, dehumanizing, and imported from outside model legislation. The amendment was adopted, and the bill was laid over because no fiscal note had yet been received. As amended, HF 435 would require the commissioner of Corrections to house only biological females at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee and to transfer any nonbiological females out within seven days of enactment. Chair Franson described it as a common-sense women’s rights and human rights bill intended to protect incarcerated women. Alicia Beckman, a former Shakopee GED teacher, testified in support, saying the current policy had allowed biological males with violent histories into the facility and created fear, retraumatization, and safety concerns for staff and inmates. Several testifiers opposed the bill. Deva Guy, Lucy Ailia G., Reverend Dr. Justin Saia Tannis, and Jess Braverman argued that the bill would endanger transgender women, scapegoat a vulnerable minority, and conflict with research, the Prison Rape Elimination Act, and constitutional protections. They urged the committee to focus instead on broader prison conditions and safety issues. Committee members also questioned Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell about the placement process; he explained that transgender placements are reviewed through a multi-step process involving behavioral health and medical staff, a gender identity committee, and final review by the deputy commissioner and commissioner. He said 49 people systemwide have identified as transgender. The discussion ended with the bill laid over and the chair noting that a constitutional challenge would likely follow if the bill became law.

Transcript Highlights:

• :51:23.920> uh this bill uh we know that there are uh this bill uh we know that there are uh egg
• lands that are owned by by foreign egg lands that are owned by by foreign entities<00:51:27.799>
• <00:51:36.119> lands<00:51:36.359> are of our state lands or or egg lands are of our
• those lands in egg production continue the<00:51:55.160> succession<00:51:55.640> plans
• opinion so with the Department of egg opinion so with the Department of egg how<00:55:09.119>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered SB 1023, which would create a spay-neuter special fund to reduce pet overpopulation and free-roaming cats, with funding sources including an income tax checkoff. The Department of Taxation had no substantive comment, while the Hawaii Invasive Species Council supported the measure but opposed any trap-neuter-release or re-release approach, saying spay-neuter is important but release does not reduce cats on the landscape. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised concerns about creating another special fund and tax checkoff, saying the fund may not meet statutory criteria and could create administrative burdens. The Hawaiian Humane Society strongly supported the bill, arguing the state currently provides little funding for animal overpopulation control and that the measure would help nonprofits and align conservation and animal welfare goals. Several other supporters testified, including a cat sanctuary representative who described the need for a dedicated funding mechanism and a possible Oahu sanctuary to remove cats from sensitive areas. After questions about the effectiveness of trap-neuter-release and the need for alternative management tools, the committees voted to recommend passage with amendments, including blanking appropriation amounts, moving them into the committee report, setting the effective date to July 1, 2050, and noting Budget and Finance concerns; the recommendations were adopted in both committees, with some members voting with reservations. The hearing then moved to SB 1120, relating to transportation and a clean fuel standard. The Department of Transportation said it supported the intent but wanted more information on economic impacts. Electrify America and Neste supported the bill, saying a clean fuel standard would help finance EV charging, encourage investment, and expand lower-carbon fuel options such as renewable diesel. In response to questions from senators about rural and agricultural transportation needs, witnesses said the standard could support both electrification where feasible and cleaner liquid fuels in the interim for equipment that cannot yet be electrified. DOT also described county transit efforts and said it was working with Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island on assessments for zero-emission bus replacement and charging infrastructure. The committees also heard testimony on SB 586, relating to climate change and zero-emission buses by 2045, with the State Procurement Office supporting the intent but suggesting the language be moved to a different statute; DOT said it was providing pass-through funding to counties and had some zero-emission bus purchases and charging stations on order. The discussion emphasized infrastructure costs and implementation challenges, but no final vote on SB 1120 or SB 586 was described in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the new world screw worm fly lays, eggs, and open wounds and orifices of living tissue.
• Uh, so after copulation, The female will lay eggs on day 7 to 9 of her adult life.
• Uh, the, the eggs will then hatch into larvae after about 12 to 14 hours.
• Uh, the female fly deposits eggs around the wounds, uh, and the wound can be as small as a tick bite,
• They will lay non-viable eggs.

Transcript Highlights:

• on is just the a little bit of a focus on is just the use<00:31:08.279> of<00:31:08.600> egg
• 00:31:09.559> especially<00:31:09.880> our<00:31:10.039> Prime<00:31:10.440> egg
• use of egg land especially our Prime egg use of egg land especially our Prime egg land<00:31:11.519
• represent Murphy you know that<00:32:56.200> you<00:32:56.320> know<00:32:56.639> egg
• > land<00:32:58.120> usage<00:32:58.559> is<00:32:58.840> is that you know egg

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Committee on Energy Finance and Policy met for an informational session and quorum was present, but the chair stated no action would be taken. Members and staff introduced themselves, and Chair Chris Swedzinski outlined the committee’s broad goals of improving Minnesota’s energy system for families and businesses, with an emphasis on affordability, reliability, and development. Several members echoed those priorities, especially concerns about electric reliability, base-load generation, and the needs of rural communities, co-ops, munis, farms, and small businesses. House fiscal analyst Ashley presented a budget overview for the committee’s jurisdiction. She reviewed spending and base amounts for the Energy Resources Division, the Renewable Development Fund, the Petroleum Tank Release Cleanup Fund, and the Public Utilities Commission, and explained that the committee also oversees special revenue and other accounts. She noted that the Renewable Development Fund is supported by utility payments for spent nuclear fuel storage, the cleanup fund by a petroleum distribution fee, and that the Commerce Department receives significant federal LIHEAP and weatherization funds. Members asked about the large increase in the Climate and Economic Development Fund and the status of recent appropriations; staff explained that the 2023 session set a larger target, that about $79 million had been spent from the relevant budget, and that some funds may carry forward. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on community solar gardens. Representative Dave Baker asked for an update on the program, and staff explained that Minnesota has about 1,600 megawatts of solar, with more than 900 megawatts in community solar. Staff said 2023 legislative changes capped annual additions and created new incentives for low- and middle-income participation. Members also discussed concerns about program cost, local siting opposition, and a large interconnection queue; staff said there is a backlog of projects, including a reported 56 gigawatts in the MISO queue, and that utilities need distribution upgrades to handle new capacity. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, many groups testified in favor of this: egg groups, Minnesota milk producers, farm bureau, farm union
• 25.840> many groups testified in favor of this. many groups testified in favor of this. many egg
• Minnesota<00:05:27.199> milk<00:05:27.440> producers,<00:05:28.800> uh egg
• groups, Minnesota milk producers, uh egg groups, Minnesota milk producers, uh farm<00:05:29.919>

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The interview focused on Senate File 3687, a Minnesota bill that would expand school milk choices in the National School Lunch Program. The senator said the measure is modeled on recently passed federal legislation and would allow schools to offer whole milk, 2% milk, flavored milks, and non-dairy alternatives when requested, reversing what he described as the 2010 federal limits to skim and low-fat milk. He argued the bill is about choice rather than mandates and said it could reduce milk waste, increase student consumption, and support healthier decision-making. The senator said the bill has broad bipartisan support and only limited criticism, with the main concern in committee being whether schools would face added stocking burdens. He responded that schools would not be required to offer any specific milk and could adjust orders based on student demand. He also said the bill would benefit Minnesota dairy farmers and local economies by increasing demand for milk produced and cartoned in the state. The interview also touched on Senate File 3686, a separate proposal to create a pilot program for rotational grazing funded through the environmental trust fund. The senator described it as a small but meaningful effort to help beginning farmers, improve pasture management, and support conservation lands, with grants covering up to 50% of fencing or grassland establishment costs, capped at $25,000 per recipient. The segment ended with a lighthearted milk tasting, reinforcing the theme of offering more choices.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:37.520> So,<00:42:37.760> Compar uh egg credit system.
• So, Compar uh egg credit system.
• The village egg cooperative was The village egg cooperative was established<01:10:42.960> based
• <01:21:10.679> Um<01:21:11.679> how heard these stories in in egg.
• Um how heard these stories in in egg.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, yeah, good afternoon and welcome back, I guess, to the egg committee after a well-deserved respite
• <00:05:13.280> Counts,<00:05:13.919> and<00:05:14.160> other with Talis Egg,
• Minnesota's egg and food economy is mired in a great recession for the last two plus years.
• I think it's a pretty exciting opportunity for the whole egg community.
• opportunity for the whole egg community. opportunity for the whole egg community.

Bills: HF2103, HF4508

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, elk, cervidae, cervid importation, chronic wasting disease, CWD, animal health, livestock, wildlife disease, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, state veterinarian, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:12:09.680> but<00:12:10.000> then it created a nest and had eggs, but then it
• And as you walk on the trails, you see the holes where foxes dug up the eggs of the turtles.
• So that has an >> the eggs of the turtles.
• The point is it's going to lay its eggs in that parking lot. [snorts] If I'm John Q.
• The point is it's going to lay its eggs.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:06.559> They Minnesota Department of Egg MDA.
• They Minnesota Department of Egg MDA.
• young people in Egg and outside of Egg. young people in Egg and outside of Egg.
• <00:32:32.559> issues students, we chose to do an egg issues students, we chose to do an egg
• And uh um, and what we saw is uh in 1986, for example, we saw land egg values that had been at $2,400

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Twenty-nine years ago, I married a farm boy and have been an egg worker ever since.
• Egg businesses are hard enough to operate and manage, and this legislative session has strived to make
• Hello, this is Bonnie Little. 29 years ago, I married a farm boy and have been an egg worker ever since
• Egg businesses are hard enough to in the inner city of Massachusetts.
• Egg businesses are hard enough to operate and manage, and this legislative session has strived to make

Bills: AB93, AB204, AB414, AB504, AB598

Keywords: public employees, police officers, benefits, appropriation, law enforcement, medical debt, collection agency, healthcare, consumer protection, financial assistance, occupational safety, air quality, greenhouse gases, employee monitoring, safety program, hemp, hemp products, cannabidiol, CBD, cannabis

Transcript Highlights:

• 23.960> distributes<00:05:24.960> Department<00:05:25.280> of<00:05:25.520> Egg
• <00:05:25.759> food that distributes Department of Egg food that distributes Department of
• Egg food commodities<00:05:26.560> to<00:05:26.800> states.

Bills: SF2077, HF2439, HF841

Keywords: environmental protection, natural resources, wildlife management, public funding, community grants, pollution reduction, waste management, climate change, funding allocations, food support, emergency funding, shelf programs, Minnesota statutes, appropriation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The New World screwworm fly lays eggs in open wounds and orifices of living tissue.
• The eggs hatch into parasitic larvae, and the maggots burrow.
• The female will lay eggs on days 7 to 9 of her adult life.
• It will deposit eggs in mucous membranes associated with the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
• This fly, as you heard, lays its eggs only in fresh... ...living warm-blooded animals.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• solar farm and taking out a couple of panels, we don't have to worry about retiring that land from egg
• production because it was in egg production before we did it.
• have to worry about retiring that land have to worry about retiring that land from<00:30:54.640> egg
• production because it was in from egg production because it was in egg<00:30:56.880> production
• <00:30:59.200> And egg production before we did it. And egg production before we did it.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Egg is very diverse, as you heard: nursery, coffee, hemp, maybe even biofuels.
• Um, egg to school, participate in fpins.
• production and support the expansion of egg crops that take longer to become productive.
• There's a very life stages, eggs, right?
• <02:00:22.880> assistance the Hawaii egg transportation assistance the Hawaii egg transportation

Bills: SB2709, SB3154

Keywords: biosecurity, Department of Agriculture, quarantine, Akamai Arrival Program, importation regulations, pests control, plant health, animal health, compliance mechanisms, environmental review, transportation projects, NEPA, state sovereignty, federal compliance, streamlining, Hawaii Department of Transportation, 912, senate, all

Summary: The hearing began with SB 2709, which would require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules to enforce the Okami arrival program and strengthen quarantine enforcement for plants, non-domestic animals, and microorganisms. The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council supported the bill, as did DAB, saying it would improve biosecurity and make some provisions mandatory rather than optional. Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines supported the goal but raised concerns about language changing inspections from “may” to “shall” for aircraft, warning of possible federal preemption and operational conflicts unless the bill is clarified to align with federal aviation safety, security, and operational requirements. Committee members questioned DAB about inspection timing, scope, and compliance; DAB said the measure is intended to increase enforcement, improve form completion rates toward a 90% goal, and expand beyond airlines to other entry modes, while also noting plans to restore detector dog use and improve software/AI tools for processing forms. Decision-making on SB 2709 was deferred to February 17 at 3:02 p.m. in Room CR229. The committees then took up SB 3154, an administration measure authorizing the Department of Transportation to assume certain National Environmental Policy Act responsibilities for highway, rail, public transportation, and multimodal projects, with the aim of streamlining environmental review. DOT supported the bill and explained that it would allow the department to work directly with federal resource agencies such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife and SHPO rather than routing everything through federal highways. After brief discussion, the Committee on Transportation voted to pass SB 3154 with technical amendments, and the AEN committee followed with the same recommendation; the measure was adopted with five votes in favor. A later portion of the transcript shifted to SB 2374 on the blue economy. DBED said it supported the concept but noted that it already sits on many working groups and would need resources if a new working group is created. DBED suggested the committee could instead request research through a letter or memo, and said agencies including ADC, HTDC, and Agriculture had already begun internal discussions. Testimony in support came from IMUA Alliance, Hawaii Food Policy, and others, emphasizing the potential for blue economy ventures to support survivors, align with climate and cultural goals, and create economic opportunity. No final vote on SB 2374 appears in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, I was going to mention egg layers also.
• That's what my take of that too, so far it's to bring down the price of eggs. No, that'll be all.
• layers right so there's money for egg layers right so there's currently<01:32:04.920> not<01:
• of eggs of eggs um<01:32:26.159> anything<01:32:26.520> else<01:32:27.000> representative
• Our big industry is obviously the turkey industry, and this is highly focused on eggs and egg prices,

Bills: HF47, HF434, HF1503, HF1702

Keywords: telecommunications, installation, certification, safety, underground utilities, HF434, cervidae, deer, elk, moose, chronic wasting disease, CWD, wildlife importation, animal health, biosecurity, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA, USDA exhibitor, species survival plan

Transcript Highlights:

• 21st century got off paper<01:13:05.360> and<01:13:05.679> digitized<01:13:06.239> egg
• forms that can paper and digitized egg forms that can give<01:13:07.199> Jen<01:13:07.679>
• farm and it it rolled out on to the egg farm and it it rolled out on December<01:13:28.400> 24th.
• doing the health I mean the um the egg doing the health I mean the um the egg side<01:15:00.880>
• did the egg forms? did the egg forms?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard seven bills on consumer protection, DBEDT-related matters, and tourism/creative industry issues. On SB 2031, DCCA supported aligning state law with the FTC’s 2025 rule on hidden fees and pricing misrepresentations in live event ticketing and short-term lodging; hotel and financial industry witnesses also testified, and senators asked for complaint and enforcement data. On SB 2129, DBEDT and business groups supported a study of minimum wage impacts, with testimony emphasizing effects on hours, employment, prices, and business viability; a senator asked whether the study could also examine the gig economy and business closures, and DBEDT said that may be possible but would require more research and data access. On SB 2259, which would promote dementia-friendly businesses, DBEDT said the measure fit better with another agency and lacked the department’s expertise, while the Executive Office on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association supported the intent and offered to help with curriculum, branding, and training. Testifiers described dementia as a spectrum and said businesses should be trained to communicate effectively with customers and employees living with the disease; suggested amendments included changing the branding language and requiring at least 85% of employees to complete training rather than all employees. A senator also raised concerns about stigma and whether early-stage dementia should affect a person’s ability to function, and the witness responded that people can often function well in early stages. The committee also heard SB 2577 on sports tourism, which DBEDT and the Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported as a way to better understand which events draw visitors and economic benefits. SB 2578, creating a film commission, drew broad support from DBEDT, Creative Industries, SAG-AFTRA, the Hawaii Film Alliance, the Hawaii Film Office, and others, but several witnesses urged changes to the commission’s composition and authority, including more labor representation and limits on the commission’s ability to adjust the production cap. Senators questioned staffing, costs, and whether current film office employees should transfer to the new commission, and one senator proposed a friendly amendment to add musicians, SAG, IATSE, and Teamsters, though the department cautioned that too many members could make the commission difficult to manage. The transcript ends during discussion of the film bill, with no final votes or committee actions stated for the measures heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Alabama Egg and Poultry Association's omelette breakfast is tomorrow morning from 7:30 to 9 on the
• <00:10:47.920> The<00:10:48.160> Alabama<00:10:48.560> Egg<00:10:48.800>
• The Alabama Egg and Plaza Terrace.
• The Alabama Egg and Poultry<00:10:49.440> Association's<00:10:50.399> omelette<00:10:50.720

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So before grow chickens to get eggs in my parents home.
• impacting people that are trying to do the right thing like my dad who, you know, raises chickens. to have eggs
• , especially in a time when eggs are so expensive.
• So we'll get caught up in, even though they're trying to just raise chickens to have eggs in their own

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please go up to Room 316 for some pizza and egg rolls and some cake and some other stuff if you're hungry
• <00:20:52.720> some<00:20:52.960> pizza<00:20:53.400> and<00:20:53.559> egg
• 00:20:53.760> rolls<00:20:54.159> and<00:20:54.320> some 316 or some pizza and egg
• rolls and some 316 or some pizza and egg rolls and some cake<00:20:54.840> and<00:20:55.000><

Keywords: 1183, house