Video & Transcript Research : 'Brainerd'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/17/26
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- If you've ever come into the Brainerd area, you'll probably recognize a number of these facilities if
- the former railroad yards in Brainerd. the former railroad yards in Brainerd.
- If you've ever come into the Brainerd If you've ever come into the Brainerd area,<00:34:08.679><
- <00:35:10.560>
and <00:35:10.680>for Brainerd and for Brainerd and for >> [snorts - , the metro where his is in in Brainerd, the metro where his is in in Brainerd, that<00:37:43.160
Keywords:
alcohol consumption, nursing homes, assisted living, resident activities, Minnesota Statutes, seasonal liquor licenses, resorts, intoxicating liquor, county board, Brainerd, Northern Pacific Center, event center, liquor license, on-sale license, alcohol sales, special law, local option, Minnesota liquor law, chapter 340A, Sunday sales
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport. Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport.
- c><00:19:21.760>
sales <00:19:22.120>tax Brainerd is still collecting sales tax Brainerd - >
dollars Brainerd collected 1.5 million dollars Brainerd collected 1.5 million dollars about< - <00:23:36.720>
the Brainerd the Brainerd the property<00:23:38.400>taxes <00:23:38.880> - Brainerd I'll just give you an example.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- My name is Chris Evans and I am the Director of Brainerd Public Utilities in Brainerd, Minnesota.
- Brainerd Public Utilities. Thank you again for the question.
- Brainerd Public Utilities serves the city limits of Brainerd, as well as some territory within the city
- Trent Hawkinson, Brainerd Public Utilities Operations Manager. Thank you.
- So it's a great baseload opportunity for the city of Brainerd.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Plastic bottle excise tax proposed 3/10/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- My name is Danny Lock, and I serve as the finance manager for Brainerd Public Utilities in Brainerd,
- Brainerd Public Utilities provides water, wastewater, and electric service to the city of Brainerd and
- While we appreciate the funding PFA has administered so far, Brainerd still has more than a thousand
- Brainerd is not unique.
- Brainerd is not unique.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Press Conference: Introducing Legislation to Streamline Minnesota’s Permitting Process - 02/13/25
Transcript Highlights:
- , um, that is a beautiful part of the state, Senator, but of course I would uh argue that it's a Brainerd
- , um, that is a beautiful part of the state, Senator, but of course I would uh argue that it's a Brainerd
- Well, I'm here today to agree with Representative Heintzeman that the Brainerd Lakes area is the most
- , um, that is a beautiful part of the state, Senator, but of course I would uh argue that it's a Brainerd
- Well, I'm here today to agree with Representative Heintzeman that the Brainerd Lakes area is the most
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- And there is a Senator Heineman provision that allows the city of Brainerd to issue a liquor license
- It is a good bill and thank you, members. provision that allows uh provision that allows uh Brainerd,
- <00:08:51.839>
the <00:08:51.920>city <00:08:52.120>of <00:08:52.200>Brainerd - ,<00:08:53.280>
to <00:08:53.440>issue Brainerd, the city of Brainerd, to issue Brainerd - , the city of Brainerd, to issue a<00:08:53.880>
liquor <00:08:54.160>license <00:08:54.600
Summary:
The Senate convened under call, established a quorum, and heard a prayer and pledge. The main legislative business was House amendments to Senate File 2511, the liquor bill authorizing various municipalities to issue liquor licenses. Senators described it as a bipartisan “one-off” liquor bill with local provisions, including a St. Louis Park food hall license, Minneapolis food hall licenses, a Rochester Chateau Theater provision, expanded University of Minnesota liquor licensing flexibility, Brainerd’s Northern Pacific Center license, seasonal resort licensing, and a care-facility “granny happy hour” provision. Senator Wesenberg asked about a proposed 17-year-old server provision, and Senator Klein said it had been dropped and was never part of the Senate language.
The Senate concurred in the House amendments to SF 2511, advanced it to third reading, and passed it on final passage by a vote of 56 ayes to 10 nays. The chamber also adopted committee reports, took up a confirmation calendar item, and unanimously confirmed Joseph Sullivan to another six-year term on the Public Utilities Commission after Senator Frentz reported unanimous committee support and cited broad stakeholder backing.
On special orders, the Senate passed House File 3741, which modernizes educational assistance for children and spouses of prisoners of war and deceased veterans by moving coverage under the Minnesota GI Bill and increasing the benefit to $750; it passed 66-0. The Senate also passed Senate File 3622, a 97-page technical and conforming update to the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act. Senator Kroon highlighted changes for small common-interest communities, insurance responsibility in mixed-use buildings, buyer disclosure, court-rule alignment, and lien priority definitions. An A2 amendment delayed the effective date of a separate 308C cooperative housing rewrite for one year to allow more consumer-protection work; after discussion involving Senators Kroon, Dibble, and Westrom, the amendment was adopted, and SF 3622 then passed 67-0. The Senate later adjourned until the following Wednesday.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House transportation committee hears HF795 2/24/25
Transcript Highlights:
- have scheduled, like, weekend, many vacation around where they need to go, whether they're in the Brainerd
- have scheduled, like, weekend, many vacation around where they need to go, whether they're in the Brainerd
- have scheduled, like, weekend, many vacation around where they need to go, whether they're in the Brainerd
- have scheduled, like, weekend, many vacation around where they need to go, whether they're in the Brainerd
- have scheduled, like, weekend, many vacation around where they need to go, whether they're in the Brainerd
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Cloud and the Brainerd area and seven different counties.
- Cloud and the Brainerd area and seven different counties.
- Cloud and the Brainerd area and seven different counties.
- Cloud and the Brainerd area and seven different counties.
- Cloud and the Brainerd area and seven different counties.
Summary:
The committee met under a new Senate power-sharing arrangement with co-chairs, began with member and staff introductions, and then received a jurisdiction overview from Senate counsel. The overview explained that the Labor Committee’s jurisdiction has not changed from the previous biennium and covers fair labor standards, minimum wage, workers’ compensation, occupational safety and health, and related agencies and boards such as the Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Mediation Services, PERB, and the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals. It also noted that some topics, including paid leave, fall under other committees, while earned sick and safe time remains within Labor and Industry jurisdiction.
Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach and Josiah Moore then gave a detailed Department of Labor and Industry presentation. They reviewed the department’s funding sources, emphasizing that workers’ compensation funds and construction codes/licensing revenues make up most of the budget, while the general fund is a small share. They described the department’s major divisions, including workers’ compensation, construction codes and licensing, labor standards, nursing home workforce standards, and OSHA consultation and compliance, and highlighted practical examples of their work.
Examples included return-to-work assistance for an injured worker, compliance training that reduced penalties for self-insurers and claim administrators, and use of the Special Compensation Fund when an employer lacked workers’ compensation insurance. The labor standards section highlighted enforcement actions involving unpaid overtime, pregnancy and parental leave retaliation, wage deductions, and child labor violations, along with totals for 2024 collections and inquiries. The presentation also noted the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board’s adopted rules, the expansion of construction licensing exams statewide, and OSHA consultation programs such as Min-SHARP and MINSTAR, including a Minnesota employer that recently achieved MINSTAR status. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Investments and Pensions Oversight Oct 8th, 2025
Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Brainerd for being here.
- Brainerd, forgive me.
- Brainerd, that's fascinating.
- Brainerd: what is the U.S. median on state contracts?
- Brainerd, I'm going to ask you a question, and maybe you've seen it, maybe you haven't.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, January 16, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Together, Ken and Tess have been the trusted voices that many in the Brainerd area listen to as they
- Together, Ken and Tess have been the trusted voices that many in the Brainerd area listen to as they
- Together, Ken and Tess have been the trusted voices that many in the Brainerd area listen to as they
- Together, Ken and Tess have been the trusted voices that many in the Brainerd area listen to as they
- Together, Ken and Tess have been the trusted voices that many in the Brainerd area listen to as they
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Baxter over the years has become an economic hub for over 96,000 Brainerd Lakes area residents, 11,000
- >> Madam Chair, Senator Nelson, the wastewater component thereof is a facility that is owned by Brainerd
- With that, we are working collectively with the city of Brainerd and the BPU commission with the capital
- With that, we are working collectively with the city of Brainerd and the BPU commission with the capital
- and Brainerd Public Utilities for the last upgrade to the plant when it was constructed.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm currently a speech-language pathologist in the Brainerd Public Schools, where I've worked for the
- I am also a graduate of Brainerd High School, and I've had the privilege of spending most of my career
- I'm currently a speech-language pathologist in the Brainerd Public Schools, where I've worked for the
- I am also a parent of two graduates of Brainerd High School.
- , Um as I said, I'm from Brainerd, Um as I said, I'm from Brainerd, Minnesota<00:36:49.000>
and
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 2/24/26
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So we've got Alexandria, Brainerd, uh, Grand Rapids, uh, skipping down Hibbing, Virginia up on the Iron
- So we've got Alexandria, Brainerd, uh, Grand Rapids, uh, skipping down Hibbing, Virginia up on the Iron
- So we've got Alexandria, Brainerd, uh, Grand Rapids, uh, skipping down Hibbing, Virginia up on the Iron
- So we've got Alexandria,<01:20:48.920>
Brainerd, <01:20:49.680>uh <01:20:49.800>Grand - <01:20:50.080>
Rapids, Alexandria, Brainerd, uh Grand Rapids, Alexandria, Brainerd, uh Grand
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 4/3/25
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- My name is Chris Evans and I am the director of Brainerd Public Utilities in Brainerd, Minnesota.
- How many customers does Brainerd Public Utilities serve? Uh, thank you for the question.
- And so the public utilities serves the entire city of Brainerd.
- Uh, public Brainerd Public Utilities serves the city limits of Brainerd as well as some territory within
- So, it's a great baseload opportunity for the city of Brainerd.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 04/08/26
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- often complain when people said, you know, northern Minnesota and even if they were talking about Brainerd
- often complain when people said, you know, northern Minnesota and even if they were talking about Brainerd
- :52:54.840>
were <00:52:54.960>talking <00:52:55.320>about <00:52:55.560>Brainerd - <00:52:56.600>
If <00:52:56.800>you they were talking about Brainerd. - If you they were talking about Brainerd.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Next up, we have Director Paul Sandy from the Brainerd Public Utilities. Welcome.
- I'm the public utilities director for Brainerd Public Utilities.
- Brainerd Public Utilities provides water, wastewater, and electric service to the city of Brainerd and
- Brainerd is not alone.
- Brainerd is not alone.
Keywords:
emergency shelter, grant program, homelessness, capital investment, Minnesota Statutes, appropriation bonds, public funding, housing, infrastructure bonds, funding, appropriation, Minnesota constitutional amendment, public debt, state bonds, general obligation bonds, information technology, IT infrastructure, software licenses, technology modernization, capital improvements
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House energy panel OK's bill to lift MN's moratorium on new nuclear power plants 1/21/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Marty Cyer, I represent Brainerd Public Utilities. I just wanted to stand in support of the bill.
- We are looking to have legislation this year to upgrade the hydro facilities at Brainerd.
- hopefully the committee will be seeing legislation from Representative Heintzeman to upgrade the Brainerd
- Legislation this year to upgrade the hydro facilities at Brainerd.
- hopefully the committee will be seeing legislation from Representative Heintzeman to upgrade the Brainerd
Summary:
House File 9 was heard as a proposal to alter Minnesota energy policy by creating exemptions and “off-ramps” from the state’s 2023 clean energy requirements. The bill would expand hydroelectric power’s eligibility, end the moratorium on new nuclear plants, delay certain carbon-free energy compliance requirements for utilities that do not meet a retail rate benchmark, restrict demolition of fossil fuel plants under that same benchmark, support carbon capture and sequestration, and expand the sales tax exemption for residential natural gas and electricity used as primary heat year-round. The author moved the A1 amendment, which clarified that the carbon capture policy language does not create a state funding obligation; the committee took up the amendment with no discussion and proceeded to a vote, though the result was not stated in the transcript. The bill was then referred to the Committee on Taxes.
The author and supporters argued the bill is needed to improve reliability and affordability, especially during extreme cold, and said current mandates are forcing coal retirements faster than replacement generation can be built. They cited MISO and NERC reliability concerns, Xcel’s proposed rate increases, and the need for an “all-of-the-above” energy approach that includes nuclear and hydro. Supporters also said the bill would help keep energy costs down for families and businesses and would allow Minnesota to use existing generation assets longer if rate targets are not met.
Testimony from the Minnesota Rural Electric Association and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce supported the bill’s emphasis on reliability, affordability, nuclear power, hydroelectric power, and carbon capture. The Chamber said Minnesota’s electricity costs have become less competitive for businesses and argued that stable, affordable power is essential for economic growth and future technologies such as AI. The Minnesota Utility Investors also supported allowing new nuclear and all hydro power to be considered. In contrast, the Prairie Island Indian Community opposed lifting the nuclear moratorium without a viable long-term waste solution, describing its long history living near the Prairie Island nuclear plant and spent fuel storage and urging continued consultation on the issue. Xcel Energy said it supports low rates and sees nuclear as one option, but emphasized that any support for lifting the moratorium depends on full participation by the Prairie Island Indian Community and that decisions about retiring fossil plants should remain within the existing Public Utilities Commission resource planning process.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Human Committee Meeting - 2026-04-09
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- We do this across eight locations throughout Minnesota, going from Duluth, Virginia, Brainerd, St.
- If we take a look at the Brainerd area, we serve 64 youth with housing and 65 youth through our street
- <00:52:42.680>
Cloud, Duluth, Virginia Brainerd, St. - Cloud, Duluth, Virginia Brainerd, St.
- If we take a look at the Brainerd that.
Keywords:
human services, community support, integrated care, disability services, stakeholder consultation, homeless youth, grants, funding, Minnesota, mental health, substance use disorder, education, workforce development, licensure, direct care services, healthcare, long-term care, personal care assistants, employment support, medical assistance
Summary:
The Human Services Finance and Policy Committee approved the April 8, 2026 minutes and then heard House File 1767, as amended by the DE4 amendment. Representative Garande explained that the bill, originally intended to codify Integrated Community Supports (ICS), was being redirected because of concerns about fraud vulnerability and program integrity. The DE4 would create a smaller legislative study group to redesign ICS, pause DHS changes for about six months while the group develops a transition plan, continue DHS fraud investigations and enforcement, and ultimately terminate ICS as currently structured.
Testimony in support came from Mr. Buck and Zania Harut of the Residential Providers Association of Minnesota, both of whom argued that ICS is unstable, inconsistently implemented, and in need of a new statutory foundation. They said the current system mixes different service models under one rate framework, lacks clear codification, and has shifting policy guidance that creates compliance problems for providers and risks to people receiving services. They emphasized that the bill would preserve oversight and enforcement while allowing time to build a replacement service with clearer rules, documentation standards, and guardrails.
Members asked about effects on counties, providers, data, audits, and fraud enforcement. Representative Curran and Mr. Berg said the bill would not change funding structures or DHS’s existing authority to audit, request documentation, investigate fraud, or sanction bad actors, and that the study group would use existing data to identify where problems are concentrated. Vice Chair Gillman supported the study-group approach as a bipartisan, public process and raised concerns about whether the bill would prevent DHS from acting on known fraud; Curran responded that the language was intended to preserve those enforcement actions. The discussion ended without a final vote on the bill in the portion provided, beyond adoption of the DE4 amendment.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- learned that there are two under construction right now at Anoka-Ramsey and Century College, and Brainerd
- Prospective cities include Duluth, Sauk Centre, Brainerd, Blackduck, Crookston, Tyler, Blue Earth, Albert
- Prospective cities include Duluth, Sauk Centre, Brainerd, Blackduck, Crookston, Tyler, Blue Earth, Albert
- Prospective cities include Duluth, Sauk Centre, Brainerd, Blackduck, Crookston, Tyler, Blue Earth, Albert
- Prospective cities include Duluth, Sauk Centre, Brainerd, Blackduck, Crookston, Tyler, Blue Earth, Albert
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 1/21/25
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I represent the Brainerd Lakes area.
- There’s always opportunities in my part of the state, the very most central part of the state, the Brainerd
- I represent the Brainerd Lakes area.
- There’s always opportunities in my part of the state, the very most central part of the state, the Brainerd
Summary:
The committee met for an organizational hearing of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. Members and staff introduced themselves, with several legislators noting their backgrounds in farming, mining, water management, and outdoor recreation, and the chair reviewed draft committee rules emphasizing decorum, quorum, timely starts, and submitting bill hearing requests to the committee administrator. The committee also heard from nonpartisan staff and caucus staff who will support the committee this session.
House Research and House Fiscal staff then provided an overview of the committee’s jurisdiction and the major agencies and programs it oversees. The presentation covered the Department of Natural Resources, Pollution Control Agency, Environmental Quality Board, Board of Water and Soil Resources, Metropolitan Council regional parks and water resources, Conservation Corps of Minnesota, Minnesota Zoological Board, Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Staff summarized the main statutory chapters and subject areas under each, including wildlife, state lands, mining, water use, air and water permitting, environmental review, wetlands, drainage, and natural resources funding.
The finance portion explained the committee’s appropriation types and major funding sources, including direct, statutory, and open appropriations. Staff highlighted the general fund, bonding, the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Game and Fish Fund, and the Heritage Enhancement Account, along with how those dollars are typically used for parks and trails, habitat, land acquisition, flood and drainage projects, and agency operations. Members also discussed whether DNR and BWSR responsibilities in overlapping water statutes can conflict; staff said responsibilities are generally clear in statute, though conflicts can occur and are usually resolved.