Video & Transcript Research : 'Mankato'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/13/25
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- My bill is looking to impact Minnesota State University of Mankato.
- My bill is looking to impact Minnesota State University of Mankato.
- State system of colleges and universities, I am here today on behalf of Minnesota State University Mankato
- for your support of a bill that will allow our institution to apply for a license with the city of Mankato
- But it is the Mankato area, right? Representative Kia, thank you, Mr. Chair.
Bills:
HF1262, HF1741, HF472, HF1668, HF2055, HF1786, HF1876, HF1089, HF1121, HF509, HF1545, HF2027, HF642
Keywords:
food truck, liquor license, temporary license, community events, catering, municipal regulations, food hall, St. Louis Park, on-sale, intoxicating beverages, food vendors, common seating area, HF472, Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato, MSU Mankato, Taylor Center, special liquor license, on-sale wine license, malt liquor license
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Commerce Committee Meeting - 2025-03-27
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- There's also the Mankato request.
Keywords:
financial institutions, insurance regulation, insurance holding company, group capital calculation, liquidity stress test, NAIC, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, insurer solvency, affiliate transactions, groupwide supervision, internationally active insurance group, lead state commissioner, policyholder protection, hazardous financial condition, deposit or bond, contract for deed, conventional loan, cooperative apartment loan, mortgage interest rate cap, average prime offer rate
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/27/25
Commerce Finance and Policy
Keywords:
financial institutions, insurance regulation, insurance holding company, group capital calculation, liquidity stress test, NAIC, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, insurer solvency, affiliate transactions, groupwide supervision, internationally active insurance group, lead state commissioner, policyholder protection, hazardous financial condition, deposit or bond, contract for deed, conventional loan, cooperative apartment loan, mortgage interest rate cap, average prime offer rate
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The Mankato Regional Airport.
- So, Mankato State, is that the name of the university? Minnesota State University. Mankato.
- Mankato's<00:14:40.839>
Mankato. - I'm like and I'm Mankato's Mankato.
- than the Mankato project. than the Mankato project. Chair<00:29:00.960>
Lee.
Bills:
HF4156, HF3835, HF3995, HF4383, HF4091, HF4084, HF4311, HF198, HF4486, HF4302, HF4309, HF4032, HF3855, HF3673, HF4265, HF4012, HF4339, HF4298, HF3852
Keywords:
infrastructure, wastewater, stormwater, Buhl, state bonds, appropriations, economic development, water infrastructure, grants, capital investment, funding, state regulation, Frazee, North River Drive, infrastructure improvements, HF4383, Minnesota capital investment, bonding bill, Department of Natural Resources, DNR
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- And our is what we've done in Mankato.
- brand new facility in Mankato brand new facility in Mankato for<01:21:26.680>
that <01:21: - And for Bemidji this is Mankato.
- I'm curious how will the new Mankato I'm curious how will the new Mankato facility<01:24:31.600>
- evidence laboratory in Mankato as well.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, for comparison, Mankato is about a 55,000 square foot facility.
- Um for comparison, Mankato is facility.
- comparable in size to the Mankato comparable in size to the Mankato facility<00:08:18.400>
being - We will open Mankato a year from now with about 50 positions down there.
- We will open Mankato that location now.
Keywords:
water treatment, infrastructure, municipal funding, bond issuance, Becker, sewer improvements, sanitation, Hibbing, state bonds, infrastructure funding, capital investment, safety improvements, mobility, U.S. Highway 12, bonds, transportation funding, trails, Prior Lake, bond funding, recreational improvements
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Paul; one is out of Mankato currently.
- Paul; one is out of Mankato currently.
- Paul; one is out of Mankato currently.
- Paul; one is out of Mankato currently.
- Paul; one is out of Mankato currently.
Summary:
The committee first heard from the Minnesota Department of Administration on the governor’s capital budget requests. Commissioner Tamara Grundal described the state’s deferred maintenance backlog, saying Minnesota owns more than 4,800 buildings across 19 agencies, with an estimated replacement value of $11.2 billion and about $2.2 billion in deferred maintenance. She urged continued bonding support for asset preservation, CAPRA emergency repair funding, Capitol Complex security upgrades recommended by the ACAS advisory committee, and a budget-neutral account to help leverage federal funds for renewable energy storage and electric vehicle projects at state facilities.
Members asked follow-up questions about prior security spending and CAPRA use. The commissioner said some 2018 security funds were used for items such as bollards, projectile-resistant glass, key card readers, and security kiosks, but specific details would be provided offline. On CAPRA, staff said recent projects included public safety upgrades, correctional facility repairs, water main and sewer work, roof repairs, lift station repairs, and boiler and steam trap replacements. The commissioner said the account has recently been used heavily, with about $1.9 million remaining, and estimated a typical target range of roughly $3 million to $5 million based on past spending and expected emergencies. A staffer said they did not know whether bonds had been issued ahead of time to fund the reserve and would follow up.
The committee then heard from the Department of Public Safety on BCA capital projects. Commissioner Bob Jacobson and Superintendent Drew Evans said the governor’s proposal includes a new Southern BCA regional office and laboratory in Mankato, expansion of BCA regional office and lab space, and a new Minnesota State Patrol headquarters using trunk highway cash. Evans said the Mankato project is needed because of growth in DNA analysis, digital evidence, controlled substances, cyber tips, and sexual assault kit testing, and because the current St. Paul facility is over capacity. He said the new regional facility would improve turnaround times, reduce travel for scientists and law enforcement, support training, and improve evidence intake and crime scene response in southern Minnesota.
Senator Pappas questioned the increase in the Mankato project cost from about $48 million to $68.6 million. Evans said the increase was driven by rising construction costs and additional specialized laboratory and support-space needs identified during design work with the Department of Administration. No votes or formal actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: DFL Legislators Launch the Climate Superfund Bill - 03/04/26
Transcript Highlights:
- > state<00:04:39.960>
of <00:04:40.120>our In 2024, the Rapidan Dam failed near Mankato - I was raised in Mankato, and I've also lived in Winona and Grand Rapids, but I've spent most of my life
- To Mankato, where two years after a massive flood, the community is still recovering because there aren't
- I was uh raised in uh Mankato, and I've I was uh raised in uh Mankato, and I've also<00:16:29.960>
- <00:19:45.360>
after <00:19:45.640>a To Mankato, where 2 years after a To Mankato,
Summary:
Rep. Athena Hollins and Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart introduced Minnesota’s proposed climate superfund bill, describing it as a way to make major historical greenhouse gas polluters help pay for climate adaptation and infrastructure repair. They said the bill would target large fossil fuel corporations with significant emissions and use the revenue for projects such as stormwater upgrades, bridge and roof protection, erosion control, drinking water protection, cooling cities, and other resilience work. Both lawmakers framed the proposal as a matter of accountability and fairness, arguing that Minnesotans should not keep paying for damage caused by companies that profited from fossil fuel pollution.
Several supporters testified in favor of the bill, including St. Paul City Council Vice President Nyang Kheimey, former legislator and medical student Hunter Cantrell, Unidos Minnesota volunteer Bonnie Becol, and 100% Minnesota’s Aurora Vautrin. They emphasized local climate impacts such as flooding, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, emerald ash borer damage, asthma, and infrastructure failures, and said the costs are increasingly falling on taxpayers, local governments, and vulnerable communities. Kheimey highlighted municipal needs and St. Paul’s own climate investments, while Cantrell focused on environmental racism and health harms, and Becol and Vautrin stressed species loss, community recovery costs, and the burden on residents.
In the question-and-answer portion, Hollins and Johnson Stewart explained that the bill would apply to fossil fuel corporations with at least 1 billion metric tons of carbon emissions and a nexus to Minnesota, not local utilities. They said the State Auditor’s office would determine the assessments owed by companies, while the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency would hold the fund and administer grants. They also said they were looking to models in Vermont and New York and hoped the proposal could attract bipartisan support because it is tied to affordability and shifting costs away from taxpayers and onto polluters. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, and the event ended with the sponsors opening the bill to questions.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/26
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Greater Mankato Growth. So, welcome. Greater Mankato Growth. So, welcome.
- today from Greater Mankato Growth. today from Greater Mankato Growth.
- I'm here to the Greater Mankato region.
- Mankato Growth represents Greater Mankato Growth represents hundreds<00:58:53.320>
of <00:58:53.440 - Greater Mankato Growth respectfully Greater Mankato Growth respectfully encourages<01:00:13.840>
the
Keywords:
workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, paid leave, small employers, employment law, Minnesota Statutes, workforce development, HF4569, Minnesota Paid Leave Law, protected leave, seasonal employee, seasonal worker, hospitality, hospitality industry, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer certification
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- And then next on deck will be Andy Wilke from Greater Mankato Growth. So, welcome.
- <00:30:08.000>
Uh Greater Mankato Growth. So, welcome. Uh Greater Mankato Growth. - today from Greater Mankato Growth. today from Greater Mankato Growth.
- organization in the Greater Mankato region.
- respectfully Greater Mankato Growth respectfully Greater Mankato Growth respectfully encourages<00
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
No NDAs for municipalities 3/11/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a retired physics professor from Minnesota State, Mankato, and a volunteer with Faith in Minnesota
- I want to describe the experience North Mankato had with an NDA.
- ,<00:15:32.720>
and <00:15:32.880>a Minnesota State, Mankato, and a Minnesota State - , Mankato, and a volunteer<00:15:33.480>
with <00:15:33.720>Faith <00:15:34.000>in - At their July 7 meeting, the North Mankato City Council voted unanimously to approve the AUAR, thereby
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Meeting: Senate Committee and House Committee on Capital Investment - 05/17/26
Transcript Highlights:
- Then under the general fund column, there is a state airports appropriation for Mankato of $1.265 million
- 25:41.000>
for is a state airports appropriation for is a state airports appropriation for Mankato - 25:43.840>
million, <00:25:44.400>and <00:25:44.560>a <00:25:44.600>2 Mankato - We're I'm pleased that we have the airport towers funded for Mankato and Duluth.
- And then also um for Mankato and Duluth.
Summary:
The committee took up a large bonding bill and reviewed the final spreadsheet of capital investments. Chairs and members repeatedly thanked staff, House and Senate negotiators, and the Governor’s team for a collaborative process. The bill was described as a statewide package rather than a partisan one, with major funding for higher education asset preservation, DNR projects, public safety, transportation, the Met Council, veterans facilities, corrections, DEED/local projects, and a large water infrastructure section.
House Fiscal staff and Senate fiscal staff walked through the bill line by line. Highlights included University of Minnesota and Minnesota State asset preservation, education and language immersion school funding, DNR trail and flood mitigation projects, public safety facilities, local road and bridge grants, Met Council parks and I/I grants, veterans home and armory funding, corrections projects including the Faribault vocational expansion, and many local economic development and public facility projects across Greater Minnesota and the metro. The bill also included Public Facilities Authority water and wastewater grants, housing rehabilitation funding, historical society grants, a Minnesota Zoo operating transfer, airport appropriations, and several cancellations of prior appropriations to help finance the package.
Members generally praised the bill and the bipartisan work behind it. Some Republicans emphasized the one-time license fee reduction and affordability, while also saying DEED’s business development infrastructure funding was too low. Senator Nelson highlighted long-awaited transportation projects such as Highway 14 and township roads. Senator Dibble supported the transportation investments but criticized the bill for having no transit funding, calling that a major omission. No vote was recorded in the excerpt, but the discussion centered on final review and support for moving the bonding bill forward.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House/Senate Press Conference 4/8/26
Transcript Highlights:
- we heard from local officials, community members from Hermantown, Pine Island, Farmington, North Mankato
- we heard from local officials, community members from Hermantown, Pine Island, Farmington, North Mankato
- In North Mankato, it's Project Deacon. In Farmington, it's Project Bengal.
- <00:10:00.000>
In <00:10:00.080>North <00:10:00.320>Mankato, <00:10:00.920>- In North Mankato, it's Project Loon. In North Mankato, it's Project<00:10:01.840>
Deacon. - In North Mankato, it's Project Loon. In North Mankato, it's Project<00:10:01.840>
Summary:
Lawmakers held a bipartisan press availability on a bill to prohibit local governments and their officials from entering into non-disclosure agreements with private entities. Supporters said the measure is intended to protect transparency, public participation, and Minnesotans’ right to know about local decisions involving land use, public financing, and economic development, especially in cases involving data centers and other large projects. Representatives and senators from both parties described the bill as a response to examples in cities such as Rosemount, Farmington, Hermantown, North Mankato, Monticello, Pine Island, and others, where they said NDAs kept communities from learning about projects until decisions were effectively already made.
The authors argued that the bill is not anti-development or limited to data centers, but instead prevents corporations from using private contracts to circumvent Minnesota’s open meeting and data practices laws. They said Chapter 13 already addresses trade secrets and other confidential information, and that the bill is meant to stop NDAs from creating secrecy around government decision-making. They also said they had heard little organized opposition so far, though they acknowledged questions about how the bill would affect early-stage business recruitment conversations and how local governments, especially smaller ones, would implement the change.
Members also discussed the bill’s legislative path. They said it had previously received unanimous support in committee and was sent to the general register, then moved to the Judiciary Committee at the request of Chair Scott, who wanted a hearing. The authors said they did not believe the bill raised Chapter 13 issues requiring judiciary review, but agreed to the referral as a courtesy and said they were seeking a hearing. They reported that Senate consideration had previously ended in a tie vote, but said momentum was growing and expected stronger support this session. No vote was taken during the press event.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Mohamed, the city of Mankato is an early subscriber to community solar.
- Um, however, at $7 per month per resident, Xcel territory being Mankato, the city residents pay almost
- Senator Mohamed, the city of Mankato is an early subscriber to community solar.
- Senator Mohamed, the city of Mankato is an early subscriber to community solar.
- Senator Mohamed, the city of Mankato is an early subscriber to community solar.
Bills:
HF2438
Keywords:
transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- I am currently a student at MNSU Mankato, and I'm currently in my fourth year student teaching, so I
- I am currently a student at MNSU Mankato, and I'm currently in my fourth year student teaching, so I
- i am currently a student at mnsu mankato i am currently a student at mnsu mankato and<01:19:38.800
- down here in mankato down here in mankato uh<01:19:55.679>
as <01:19:55.840>a <01:19 - keon lewis also a student at mankato keon lewis also a student at mankato state<01:23:04.239>
Summary:
The Education Finance Committee met remotely on February 16, 2022, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the previous day by voice vote. Chair Dabney said the committee was spending the week on public school staffing shortages, especially efforts to increase and retain BIPOC teachers, and introduced testimony on the Collaborative Urban and Greater Minnesota Educators of Color Grant Program (CUGMEC) and the broader Increasing Teachers of Color Act.
Testifiers from St. Thomas, Augsburg, and Hopkins described the history and impact of the legacy educator-of-color programs. Kathleen Campbell said the original Q program was created to address underrepresentation, remove financial barriers, and provide mentorship and culturally relevant support; she argued that when the grant became competitive in 2017 without additional funding, support was spread too thin and student capacity dropped. Audrey Lensmeyer described Augsburg’s East African Student-to-Teacher Program, rooted in community advocacy in Cedar-Riverside, and said it has produced strong completion and licensure outcomes. Keenan Jones shared his path from paraprofessional to teacher and district leader, emphasizing the importance of scholarships, mentorship, and outreach to high school students, including a statewide co-enrollment Intro to Teaching course.
Representative Hassan then presented House File 3079, saying the bill aims to attract, prepare, complete, and retain more teachers of color and American Indian teachers through several grant and program changes, including Closing the Educational Opportunity Gap grants, Cook Mac funding, teacher mentorship and retention updates, and revisions to CUGMEC. He said the bill responds to a severe shortage of BIPOC teachers and that the requested investment is small relative to the state surplus. Student and educator testimony followed, including a third-grade student from Crookston and Ava Roots, both of whom described the importance of having teachers who reflect students’ cultures and experiences. Natalia Benjamin, the 2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, also testified about retention challenges for educators of color and racialized workplace treatment. The committee indicated it intended to lay over HF 3079 for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill, and Representative Richardson moved the bill to be laid over for further consideration.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 04/07/26
Health and Human Services
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Our sponsor is BrightWorks, and Minnesota State University, Mankato, has been a phenomenal partner in
- My intermediate even goes as far south as Waseca and down south of Mankato, so we are bringing Greater
- My intermediate even goes as far south as Waseca and down south of Mankato, so we are bringing Greater
- I got my master's degree from Mankato, and I started that in like 2006, and it was online.
- I got my master's degree from Mankato, and I started that in like 2006, and it was online.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - 03/16/26
Jobs and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- Mankato is kind of a hub. units in rural hospitals. So can you units in rural hospitals.
- Mum said that Mankato is kind of a hub, but in these rural areas there really isn't a lot of bodies.
- I've heard story after story of people waiting almost a full day to get a hospital bed in Mankato.
- And I've heard story after story of people waiting almost a full day to get a hospital bed in Mankato
- Mankato is the center hub of South Central Minnesota.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Luke Frederick represents District 18B, Mankato, Eagle Lake, and Skyline.
- Representative Luke Frederick represents District 18B, Mankato, Eagle Lake, and Skyline.
- If we build Mankato and Buiji today, we will still really be at capacity for all those facilities once
- The Mankato facility will serve southern and then kind of western Minnesota until they get up to where
- Representative Frederick continued that renovating an old building on a university campus in Mankato
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and began with introductions from members and staff, who shared brief personal facts. Chair Franson then announced that the committee would hear the governor’s bonding request for state agencies, starting with the Department of Public Safety. Commissioner Bob Jacobson, BCA Superintendent Drew Evans, and State Patrol Colonel Christina Boich were introduced as the presenters.
The Department of Public Safety focused on three capital projects: a new Southern BCA regional office and laboratory, an expansion of the BCA regional office and laboratory in northern Minnesota, and a new Minnesota State Patrol headquarters funded with trunk highway cash. Evans said the BCA’s St. Paul headquarters is severely overcrowded and that demand has grown because of sexual assault kit testing, digital evidence work, drug evidence, and a sharp rise in cybercrime and child exploitation cases. He said the regional facilities would improve turnaround times, reduce travel for testimony and evidence drop-off, expand training access for local law enforcement, and allow the BCA to serve southern and northern Minnesota more efficiently.
Members questioned the high cost of the projects, including Representative Skraba’s concern about the per-square-foot cost. Evans responded that the facilities are expensive because they are specialized laboratories, not office buildings, and must include costly equipment, HVAC systems, redundant power, and other lab-specific features; he said retrofitting existing buildings would cost about the same as new construction. He also said the Southern Minnesota project had increased from about $48 million to $68.1 million due to final design changes, larger space needs, and rising construction costs. Representative Sexton asked about training availability, and Evans said the new facility would include a classroom for 40 to 60 students and could be used by other agencies at low or no cost. Representative Hansen asked about regional training centers, and Evans said the BCA uses them for specialized training but still needs this classroom-based regional space. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House sends governor higher education finance bill, SF1 6/9/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- If Pell Grants are slashed like they are in the bill that the very people who represent MSU Mankato,
- If Pell Grants are slashed like they are in the bill that the very people who represent MSU Mankato,
- If Pell Grants are slashed like they are in the bill that the very people who represent MSU Mankato,
- If Pell Grants are slashed like they are in the bill that the very people who represent MSU Mankato,
- If Pell Grants are slashed like they are in the bill that the very people who represent MSU Mankato,