[0:19] >> GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME. MY NAME IS AURIN CHOWDHURY AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE

[0:25] INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE. AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER OUR REGULAR MEETING FOR

[0:30] TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2025. I WANT TO OFFER A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO

[0:35] ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS, STAFF, AND THE PUBLIC THAT THESE MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE TO ENABLE GREATER PUBLIC

[0:42] PARTICIPATION. THESE BROADCASTS INCLUDE REAL-TIME CAPTIONING AS A FURTHER METHOD TO INCREASE

[0:48] ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROCEEDINGS TO THE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, ALL SPEAKERS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE RATE OF THEIR SPEECH SO THAT

[0:54] OUR CAPTIONERS CAN FULLY CAPTURE AND TRANSCRIBE ALL COMMENTS FOR THE BROADCAST. WE ASK ALL

[1:00] SPEAKERS TO MODERATE THE SPEED AND CLARITY OF THEIR COMMENTS.

[1:06] AND WITH THAT, I WILL HAVE THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PAYNE. >> PRESENT.

[1:11] >> WONSLEY IS ABSENT. VETAW. >> PRESENT. >> ELLISON IS ABSENT. OSMAN IS

[1:19] ABSENT. CASHMAN. >> PRESENT. >> JENKINS IS ABSENT. CHAVEZ. >> PRESENT.

[1:27] >> CHUGHTAI. >> PRESENT. >> KOSKI IS ABSENT. PALMISANO IS

[1:33] ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON. >> HERE. >> VICE CHAIR RAINVILLE. >> PRESENT.

[1:39] >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY. >> PRESENT. >> THERE ARE EIGHT MEMBERS PRESENT. >> LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT

[1:44] WE HAVE A QUORUM. I'LL ALSO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES THAT TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE USING SPEAKER MANAGEMENT SO MAKE SURE YOU SIGN

[1:50] IN. AND WITH THAT, WE HAVE ONE

[1:55] ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY WHICH IS AN UPDATE ON FEDERAL AND STATE ACTIONS AFFECTING THE

[2:01] CITY. I'LL NOW INVITE DIRECTOR TOPINKA UP TO KICK OFF THIS ITEM.

[2:08] >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHOWDHURY AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. JUST WANT TO START BY SAYING IT'S WITH A

[2:15] HEAVY HEART THAT WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT A SUMMARY OF THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I KNOW THE

[2:22] WHOLE STATE IS REALLY REELING FROM THE ASSASSINATION OF SPEAKER HORTMAN, HER HUSBAND

[2:28] MARK AND THE SHOOTING OF JOHN AND YVETTE HOFFMAN. IT'S A SMALL

[2:33] WORLD AT THE CAPITAL, EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW SOMEONE REALLY WELL PERSONALLY, IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE YOU KNOW EVERYONE. SO

[2:40] IT'S HARD TO COME TO TERMS WITH THIS LOSS. AND SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE HORTMAN FAMILY AND THE

[2:49] HOFFMANS AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR RECOVERY. AND CERTAINLY WITH ALL THE LEGISLATORS WE WORK CLOSELY

[2:56] WITH, ESPECIALLY THE MINNEAPOLIS DELEGATION AS THEY WORK THROUGH THIS DEVASTATING TIME. I'LL JUST ALSO NOTE IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY

[3:01] THAT THE HORTMANS WILL LIE IN STATE AT THE CAPITOL ON FRIDAY FROM 12:00 TO 5:00 THAT IS OPEN

[3:07] TO THE PUBLIC. THERE IS A PRIVATE SERVICE ON SATURDAY MORNING, BUT THAT WILL BE

[3:12] LIVESTREAMED FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW. SO WITH THAT, WE KNOW IT'S

[3:19] OBVIOUSLY STILL IMPORTANT TO SHARE ON ISSUES THAT HAPPEN DURING THE SESSION THAT AFFECT THE CITY. SO WE WILL BE

[3:25] PROVIDING A BRIEF UPDATE FOR YOU ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE

[3:30] SESSION. MS. OLSON WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE FOR THINGS HAPPENING RELATED TO THE FEDERAL BUDGET.

[3:37] SO THERE WERE 39 NEW LAWS PASSED IN THE REGULAR SESSION THIS YEAR. AND 15 LAWS PASSED IN A

[3:44] SPECIAL SESSION. IT WAS A ONE-DAY SPECIAL SESSION THAT WAS NEEDED TO FINISH THE WORK ON THE

[3:49] STATE BUDGET. THEY DID COMPLETE ALL THE WORK ON THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 26-27

[3:56] BIENNIUM IS A $66 BILLION BUDGET WHICH IS REDUCED FROM A $72 BILLION BUDGET IN FISCAL

[4:03] YEARS 24 AND 25. SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THE ISSUE AREAS THAT WE EACH FOCUS ON. SO

[4:09] AFTER I FINISH HERE, STEVE HUGHESER WILL COME UP AND

[4:16] INDERIA FALANA. $118 MILLION

[4:23] REDUCTION. THEY DID HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS AROUND SOME

[4:28] INCREASES AND REDUCTIONS AROUND TAX PROGRAMS. THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS THROUGHOUT THE

[4:33] PROCESS OF POTENTIAL CUTS TO GOVERNMENT AID. FORTUNATELY IN THE FINAL TAX BILL THERE WERE NO CUTS TO LGA, ALSO NO CUTS TO

[4:40] COUNTY PROGRAM AID. THAT WAS A GOOD OUTCOME FOR THE CITY. THEY DID REPEAL THE LOCAL CANNABIS

[4:49] AID ACCOUNT. IN THE INITIAL CANNABIS AGREEMENT FROM TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WAS 2% OF THE

[4:55] SALES TAX REVENUE SET ASIDE TO GO TO CITIES AND COUNTIES. 1% TO CITIES. 1% TO COUNTIES. THAT HAS

[5:01] NOW BEEN REPEALED. SO WE WON'T BE RECEIVING THAT LOCAL CANNABIS

[5:07] AID. WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY RECEIVED ANY AID YET. OUR PROJECTIONS WERE THAT IT WOULD

[5:13] BE $250,000 A YEAR. THAT WAS A PROJECTION BASED ON THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAD. IT'S NOT A

[5:19] HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY. OBVIOUSLY IN DIFFICULT BUDGET TIMES ANY DOLLAR HELPS. BUT THAT ACCOUNT

[5:25] WAS ELIMINATED. THEY DID INCREASE THE CANNABIS SALES TAX FROM 10% TO 15%. A COUPLE OF

[5:34] OTHER THINGS IN THE TAX BILL THEY EXPANDED THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT. A COUPLE

[5:40] OF THINGS SPECIFIC TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS THAT WE WERE WORKING ON. ONE WAS A CLARIFICATION AROUND ALLIANCE

[5:46] HOUSING WHICH WAS A SUPREME COURT DECISION FROM A FEW YEARS AGO THAT HAD FOUND THAT

[5:52] CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS DID NOT HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES ON HOUSING THAT THEY OWNED. BUT THE

[5:57] RESULT OF THAT WAS THAT THEN THE RENTERS WHO LIVED IN THAT HOUSING, THE REVENUE SAID THEY

[6:03] WERE LIABLE FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, AND THEY WEREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THE RENTERS CREDIT. SO THE CITY WAS SUPPORTIVE OF A

[6:10] CHANGE THAT WAS ULTIMATELY INCLUDED IN THE TAX BILL THAT CLARIFIED THAT PROPERTIES OWNED

[6:15] BY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS USED PRIMARILY FOR HOUSING ARE NOT TAX EXEMPT. SO IF IT'S

[6:22] AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY PAY THE 4D TAX EXEMPT RATE. BUT THEN THE

[6:29] RENTERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE RENTERS CREDIT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRETTY LOW INCOME RENTERS.

[6:35] SO WE WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT POLICY CHANGE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE TAX BILL. THERE WERE ALSO

[6:42] A COUPLE OF TRIBAL PROPERTY

[6:47] EXTENSIONS. ONE WAS FOR RED LAKE NATION COLLEGE, AND THE MALAX BAND. WE WORKED ON THE LANGUAGE

[6:55] TO MAKE SURE IT WORKED. THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THAT THE CITY WAS ADVOCATING FOR OR WORKING ON THAT DID NOT

[7:02] ULTIMATELY PASS, INCLUDING THE CUP CREDIT WHICH WAS THE CREDIT

[7:08] FOR CONVERTING BUILDINGS FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL OR OTHER USES. GIVEN THE TARGET OF A REDUCTION, THEY JUST WEREN'T

[7:14] ABLE TO FUND THAT THIS SESSION. SIMILARLY, WE HAD A PROPOSAL FOR

[7:20] TIF, FOR ADAPTIVE REUSE. COUNCIL

[7:27] MEMBER CASHMAN HAD COME TO TESTIFY. THE DOWNTOWN TAXING

[7:33] BOUNDARY EXPANSION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FINAL BILL. WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON ALL THOSE ITEMS, WE PRESUME, NEXT

[7:40] SESSION AS WELL BECAUSE THE NEEDS STILL EXIST. MOVING ON TO

[7:47] BONDING. THERE WAS A SMALL BONDING PACKAGE PASSED DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION.

[7:54] $700 MILLION GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDING BILL. A LOT OF THE FUNDING WENT TO STATE ASSETS, AND THEN THERE WERE SOME FUNDING

[8:00] FOR PROGRAMS BUT THERE WERE NO LOCAL PROJECTS NAMED DIRECTLY IN THE BILL. SO THERE WERE SOME

[8:07] FUNDING FOR WATER AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE MAJOR LOCAL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. AND WE WILL

[8:14] BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THOSE FUNDS TO HOPEFULLY GET THE REMAINING $2 MILLION NEEDED FOR

[8:23] THE NICOLLET AVENUE BRIDGE. THERE WAS ALSO A SMALL CASH BILL, JUST $10.5 MILLION. ONE

[8:30] THING TO NOTE FROM THAT BILL WAS THERE WAS $1 MILLION FOR KMOJ

[8:35] THAT WILL GO TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS FOR US TO GRANT IT TO KMOJ FOR THEIR NEW FACILITY

[8:40] THAT THEY ARE WORKING TO BUILD AS PART OF THE BLUE LINE

[8:46] CONSTRUCTION THEY'RE SEEKING A NEW SITE. I WILL ALSO JUST NOTE

[8:51] THAT THERE WAS NOT FUNDING INCLUDED FOR THE WATER YARD. THE $5.7 MILLION FOR THE WATER YARD

[8:58] WHICH RELATES TO THE ROOF DEPOT PROJECT. I'LL JUST SHARE THAT CPED STAFF IS MEETING WITH

[9:04] COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THIS WEEK TO TALK THROUGH WHAT NEXT STEPS MAY LOOK LIKE, AND WILL CERTAINLY UPDATE COUNCIL MEMBERS

[9:10] AS WE KNOW MORE. BUT THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BONDING BILL. MOVING ON TO ECONOMIC

[9:19] DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE. THERE WAS A REDUCTION TO A COUPLE OF DEED PROGRAMS THAT ARE USED IN

[9:27] THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, INCLUDING THE JOB CREATION FUND AND THE REDEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM. BUT THERE WAS A SMALL

[9:33] INCREASE FOR THE MINNESOTA INVESTMENT FUND. THE MINNESOTA

[9:38] INVESTMENT FUND PROVIDES FINANCING TO ADD NEW WORKERS AND RETAIN JOBS. THERE ARE

[9:43] BUSINESSES IN MINNEAPOLIS THAT DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT PROGRAM FROM TIME TO TIME. NEW

[9:50] FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE AND EARLY LEARNING INCLUDED IN THAT JOBS BILL. THERE WAS ALSO AN EXTENSION OF THE $8 MILLION FOR

[9:56] LAKE STREET THAT WAS ORIGINALLY IN THE 2023 TAX BILL, AND THAT

[10:02] MONEY, CPED HAS A GRANT WITH THE GRAVES FOUNDATION WHO IS WORKING WITH LAKE STREET COUNCIL AND OTHERS TO PROVIDE BUSINESS

[10:08] SUPPORT ON LAKE STREET, AND THAT MONEY WAS SET TO EXPIRE JUNE 30TH, BUT IT WASN'T FULLY

[10:15] EXPENDED YET. SO IT IS EXTENDED ANOTHER YEAR TO HELP GET THAT MONEY OUT TO BUSINESSES IN THE

[10:21] COMMUNITY. WHICH IS GOOD OUTCOME. THEY ALSO MADE A FEW MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROMISE ACT, WHICH WAS THE FUNDING

[10:27] PASSED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO HELP WITH RECOVERY ON WEST BROADWAY AND LAKE STREET AND

[10:33] OTHER PLACES AFFECTED BY CIVIL UNREST. SO THEY INCREASED SOME OF THE LOAN AMOUNTS AND MADE SOME OTHER TWEAKS TO THE PROGRAM

[10:39] TO HELP IT FUNCTION A LITTLE BIT BETTER. ONE OTHER ITEM IN THE JOBS BILL WAS A NEW TASK FORCE

[10:46] ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM REFORM WHICH IS OF INTEREST TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. WE

[10:52] RECEIVE DIRECT FUNDING THROUGH THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUND ON A FORMULA BASIS. THAT GOES TO

[11:00] CPED TO OUR JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS LIKE STEP UP, FOR

[11:06] EXAMPLE. AND SO WHAT THE TASK FORCE WILL STUDY IS, YOU KNOW,

[11:11] HOW TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM OF FORMULA GRANTS AND TALK ABOUT

[11:18] WHETHER FORMULA GRANTS VERSUS DIRECT APPROPRIATIONS ARE A BETTER TOOL FOR SUCCESS AND

[11:23] WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. WE ARE GOING TO BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE RESULTS OF THAT TASK FORCE.

[11:31] AND THEN ON LABOR, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT EARNED

[11:39] SECOND SAVE TIME AND PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE. BUT ULTIMATELY

[11:44] NOT A LOT OF CHANGES. ONE EXAMPLE UP HERE IS THAT IT ALLOWS EMPLOYERS TO REQUIRE

[11:50] REASONABLE NOTICE AND DOCUMENTATION IF AN EMPLOYEE IS

[11:57] USING TWO OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF ESST. MAKING SURE OUR

[12:03] POLICIES ARE ALIGNING WITH THE STATE LAW. UNPAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE THE CHANGE THEY ENDED UP

[12:10] AGREEING TO WAS REDUCING THE PREMIUM FOR TAXABLE WAGES. BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER POLICY CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM.

[12:17] THAT'S SET TO GO INTO EFFECT NEXT YEAR. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF MEAL AND BREAK TIME PROVISIONS THAT WERE

[12:24] STRENGTHENED IN THE LABOR BILL. THEY INCLUDED A MISCLASSIFICATION FRAUD IMPACT

[12:29] REPORT. HAVING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR INDUSTRY LOOK AT WORKER MISCLASSIFICATION AND WHAT THE

[12:34] IMPACTS OF THAT ARE ON THE WORKFORCE. SO WITH THAT, I WILL

[12:41] TURN IT OVER TO MR. HUGHESER.

[12:51] >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. FOR THE RECORD, STEVE HUGHESER WITH

[12:56] THE IGR DEPARTMENT. SO ON THE

[13:02] TRANSPORTATION BILL WAS ONE OF THE BILLS PASSED DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION. THE FINAL BILL

[13:08] PACKAGE WASN'T RELEASED UNTIL RIGHT BEFORE THAT LAST DAY. INCLUDED IN THE BILL, THOUGH, WAS AN AGENDA ITEM FROM THE CITY

[13:15] OF MINNEAPOLIS. THERE IS MONEY FOR TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES FOR CITIES OF THE FIRST CLASS. WE

[13:23] ANTICIPATE $1 MILLION PER YEAR FOR FISCAL YEARS 26-27. I THINK

[13:29] THE DISTRIBUTION THAT IS INCLUDED IN THAT ALLOCATION WE ANTICIPATE WILL GET

[13:35] APPROXIMATELY $500,000 PER YEAR FROM THAT ALLOCATION FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, BUT WE'LL GET THOSE DETAILS FROM MnDOT

[13:43] HOPEFULLY SOON. ALSO INCLUDED WAS FUNDING FOR THE WASHINGTON

[13:49] AVENUE BRIDGE SUICIDE PREVENTION BARRIER. THEY USED $2 MILLION

[13:56] FROM THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNT FROM THE METRO AREA TRANSIT TAX AS WELL AS

[14:04] $6 MILLION FROM THAT SAME TAX ALLOCATION TO HENNEPIN COUNTY. THE RAIL LINE FROM DULUTH TO

[14:14] MINNEAPOLIS WAS CUT $77 MILLION FROM ITS $194 MILLION ALLOCATION

[14:20] FROM THE 2023 BILL. THAT DOES LEAVE MONEY TO PROGRESS THAT

[14:26] PROJECT IF THAT OPPORTUNITY ARISES. THAT $77 MILLION WAS REALLOCATED TO FUND THE

[14:32] UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR HOURLY WORKERS IN

[14:42] SCHOOLS. -- WERE CUT FROM THEIR GENERAL FUND ALLOCATIONS. I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT $61 MILLION

[14:48] WAS CUT FROM GENERAL FUND SOURCES. JUST AS A REMINDER THOUGH THAT METRO TRANSIT STILL

[14:54] DOES HAVE THE MONEY COMING FROM THE METRO AREA SALES TAX THAT CAN SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THAT WORK. BUT THAT IS A CUT TO THE

[15:03] OPERATIONS FUNDING. THEY ALSO REQUIRE NOW A BLUE LINE

[15:08] EXTENSION BRT STUDY. MET COUNCIL WILL THEN REEVALUATE THE MODE

[15:14] FOR THE BLUE LINE EXTENSION PROJECT WHICH IS CURRENTLY SET AS A LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT LINE.

[15:21] MET COUNCIL WILL COME BACK WITH A STUDY LOOK AT THE BRT AS A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE. THE BILL

[15:27] ALSO REQUIRES MnDOT TO STUDY A LOCAL COST PARTICIPATION POLICY AND REPORT TO THE LEGISLATOR.

[15:39] I'M AWARE THAT PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME OF THAT WORK AS WELL. SO WE ARE LOOKING INTO

[15:46] THAT FOR NEXT YEAR AS WELL. SOME THINGS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRANSPORTATION BILL. THERE

[15:52] WERE NOT CHANGES TO THE HIGHWAY PURPOSES DEFINITION FOR THE HIGHWAY USER TAX DISTRIBUTION

[15:57] FUND, FUNDING AT THE STATE. ONE THING THAT WAS BEING LOOKED AT WAS WHETHER OR NOT SOME OF THOSE

[16:02] FUNDS COULD POTENTIALLY BE USED FOR THINGS LIKE BRT AND TRUNK HIGHWAYS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

[16:08] BUT THAT DID NOT ULTIMATELY GET INCLUDED IN THIS BILL. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK DONE ON

[16:14] LOOKING AT CHANGES TO THE STATE AID DESIGN STANDARDS FOR MUNICIPAL STATE AID STREETS, AND

[16:21] ALLOWING FOR SOME DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FLEXIBILITY, ENGINEERING TREATMENTS THAT CAN

[16:26] BE DONE TO IMPROVE BIKING, TRAFFIC SAFETY AT INTERSECTIONS. I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK PUBLIC

[16:34] WORKS FOR THEIR HELP IN PARTICIPATING WITH ME TO MAKE SURE THE WORK THAT DID GET DONE THIS SESSION WAS DONE IN A WAY

[16:39] THAT COULD BE HELPFUL TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. PIVOTING TO

[16:46] PUBLIC SAFETY. THE PUBLIC SAFETY BILL DID INCLUDE $103 MILLION

[16:52] ALLOCATION TO THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS FOR GRANTS. THAT INCLUDES WORK FOR CRIME

[17:01] VICTIM SERVICES GRANTS, COMMUNITY SAFETY GRANTS, GRANTS FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS ALL FUNDING THAT THE CITY OF

[17:07] MINNEAPOLIS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR. THIS $103 MILLION

[17:17] ALLOCATION IS A $70 MILLION REDUCTION. SO THERE'S LESS GRANT MONEY AVAILABLE TO APPLY FOR.

[17:31] THE PHILANDO CASTILE POLICE TRAINING FUNDING. IT'S A

[17:37] REDUCTION FROM THE LAST ALLOCATION. THERE WERE UPDATES TO THE DUTY DISABILITY CHANGES

[17:43] RELATED TO THE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS PRESUMPTION THAT WAS PUT INTO LAW A FEW YEARS AGO. THEY

[17:50] DO MAKE THE NEW LAW WOULD MAKE LIMITS TO THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT HEALTH CARE BENEFITS WOULD

[17:55] BE AWARDED TO A PERSON WHO IS FOUND TO HAVE DUTY DISABILITY

[18:00] UNTIL AGE 65 AND THEN UNDER THE NEW LAW IT WILL BE LIMITED TO 60

[18:06] MONTHS OF BENEFIT. EMPLOYEES MAY ALSO ACCESS TREATMENT WHILE THEY'RE REMAINING ACTIVELY AT WORK, AND THEY WOULD ALSO BE

[18:13] ALLOWED TO DO THEIR PTSD THERAPY WITHOUT HAVING TO USE UP SICK

[18:23] TIME. ONE OTHER PIECE THAT DID NOT GET IN THE BILL I DID WANT TO MENTION IS THAT THERE WAS A

[18:30] PREEMPTION OF LOCAL SEPARATION -- THOSE ULTIMATELY

[18:37] DID NOT BECOME PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY BILL. AND THEN TO

[18:45] STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE CANNABIS LAWS WERE CLARIFIED TO SAY THAT CITIES MAY NOT --

[18:53] BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN WITH PRELIMINARY LICENSE APPROVAL UNDER THE ORIGINAL LAW, WE WOULD

[18:59] HAVE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THERE WAS FINAL LICENSE APPROVAL. THIS WILL HELP GET SOME OF THE LOCAL

[19:05] PROCESSES STARTED AT A MORE LOGICAL TIME. THERE WAS ALSO CHANGES TO ELECTION LAW. ONE

[19:11] THAT WE WERE TRACKING A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY WAS THE CHANGING OF THE DEADLINE FOR

[19:17] DROPPING OFF ABSENTEE BALLOTS ON ELECTION DAY. UNDER THE OLD LAW,

[19:22] YOU COULD DROP THOSE OFF UP UNTIL 8 P.M., POLL CLOSURE. AND NOW IT WOULD BE ENDED AT 5 P.M.

[19:29] THOSE THAT DO SHOW UP WITH AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AFTER 5:00 WOULD

[19:35] STILL BE ABLE TO DO AN IN-PERSON VOTING. THERE WERE CHANGES TO THE OPEN MEETING LAW THAT WOULD

[19:42] CHANGE HOW REMOTE PARTICIPATION FOR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN

[19:47] HAPPEN. THERE WERE RESTRICTIONS ON CASES OF MILITARY LEAVE OR MEDICAL REASONS FOR

[19:54] PARTICIPATING REMOTELY. THOSE ARE NOW ELIMINATED UNDER THIS LAW. IT DOES ALLOW FOR THOSE

[20:00] PARTICIPATING, LOCAL ELECTEDS PARTICIPATING REMOTELY TO NOT

[20:06] HAVE TO BE -- THESE ARE ALLOWING FOR LOCAL POLICY TO HAPPEN IN THOSE CASES. AND I WILL TURN

[20:15] THIS OVER TO INDERIA.

[20:21] >> HI. THANK YOU, STEVE. CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS INDERIA

[20:31] FALANA. I'LL BE WRAPPING UP THE STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION, AND THEN I'LL SHARE MORE ABOUT THE

[20:39] 2026 PROCESS. STARTING WITH HOUSING. ZONING AND LAND USE

[20:45] PROVISIONS, THE REFORM SPECIFICALLY WAS AN AREA FOCUS FOR LEGISLATORS THIS SESSION.

[20:50] THERE WERE SEVERAL BILLS MOVING AT ONE POINT. ULTIMATELY,

[20:56] LEGISLATORS COULDN'T REACH A CONSENSUS. INCREASE DENSITY, INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING,

[21:03] AND MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE ACROSS THE STATE. THE AREAS THEY

[21:08] WERE ABLE TO REACH WOULD ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES TO MINNESOTA

[21:15] HOUSING FINANCE OR MHFA IN THEIR SCORING PROCESS THROUGH THEIR REGULAR PROGRAMS. ANOTHER AREA

[21:20] OF FOCUS FOR LEGISLATORS INCLUDES HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS REFORMS. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF

[21:29] CONVERSATIONS AS WELL AS STORIES REPORTED ON INDIVIDUALS BELONGING TO HOAs. AND HOW

[21:36] SURPRISED THEY WERE THAT THEY HAD REALLY HUGE BILLS AND FOR REPAIR THAT THEY DIDN'T DEEM

[21:42] NECESSARY. AS A RESULT OF A WORKING GROUP THAT MEANT OVER

[21:48] THE INTERIM. THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE THEN TURNED INTO BILLS. FOR THE SESSION,

[21:54] NONE OF THOSE BILLS PASSED OUT OF -- WELL THE BILLS PASSED OUT OF THE SENATE. THE SENATE

[22:02] CREATED A MINI OMNIBUS BILL. BOTH BODIES DID NOT PASS THE

[22:07] BILL SO THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHY THERE IS NO HOA BILL,

[22:14] SPECIFICALLY. BUT WHAT THEY DID APPROVE OR COME TO CONSENSUS ON WAS THE CREATION OF A NEW

[22:22] OMNIBUDS PERSON THAT'S GOING TO BE HOUSED WITHIN COMMERCE. THAT WILL BE CHARGED WITH MEETING

[22:29] DISPUTES BETWEEN HOMEOWNERS AND HOAs. FAMILY HOMELESSNESS

[22:35] PREVENTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THERE WAS $8.35 MILLION ADDED TO THIS PROGRAM. NAASSISTANCE TO

[22:45] FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. COVERING RENT, UTILITY PAYMENTS, OR OTHER HOUSING COSTS. HOUSING

[22:52] INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS. THERE WAS $50 MILLION PROERPTD FOR THIS. THESE BONDS ARE ISSUED THROUGH

[23:02] MHFA. PERMANENT RENTAL HOUSING. THERE WERE A FEW UPDATES TO THE LANDLORD AND TENANT LAWS. THERE

[23:08] WAS A LOT OF REFORM IN MAKING THOSE LAWS STRONGER THAN 2023.

[23:14] THE SPECIFIC UPDATES FROM THIS SESSION INCLUDES A LAW THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2024 THAT'S

[23:20] RELATED TO THE HEATING LAW. SO THE SPECIFIC TECHNICAL UPDATE

[23:26] FROM THIS SESSION TO THAT LAW NOW REQUIRES LANDLORDS TO MAINTAIN A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE

[23:35] OF 68 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT IF -- TO INCLUDE KITCHENS AND

[23:41] BATHROOMS. THE NEW LANGUAGE SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT ALSO NEEDS TO INCLUDE KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS. THERE ALSO WAS A

[23:52] CHANGE TO PROVIDE ESCROW ACTION. AND THEN LASTLY -- PRESERVES

[24:01] EXISTING REQUIREMENTS OF PRIVATE INFORMATION. LASTLY, THERE WAS A PROVISION IN THE STATE AND LOCAL

[24:06] GOVERNMENT BILL. BUT ESSENTIALLY IT REQUIRES ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, CITIES AND TOWNS TO PROVIDE LANDLORDS WITH EITHER A

[24:14] PHYSICAL COMPANY OF THE GUIDE OR A LINK TO THE GUIDE ONLINE WHEN ISSUING OR RENEWING RENTAL

[24:20] LICENSES. THIS WAS A BILL THAT WAS REALLY PUSHED BY HOMELINE

[24:26] MINNESOTA. THEY WERE THE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE LANDLORDS HAVE EASY

[24:32] ACCESS TO INFORMATION TO THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AS WELL AS THOSE OF THE TENANTS.

[24:39] MOVING ON TO ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT. THERE WAS A

[24:45] CONTENTIOUS PUSH TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF SUNSETTING THE

[24:50] PROGRAM. ULTIMATELY IT DID NOT GET DONE. THERE WAS LOTS OF DISCUSSION SURROUNDING THIS. IT

[24:55] HAS BEEN NOTED THAT THIS WAS THE ONE THING THAT WAS HOLDING UP THE BILL FROM FINISHING UP. THE

[25:03] BILL DID MOVE. ULTIMATELY IT WOULD HAVE ENDED THE PROGRAM IN

[25:08] 2028. BUT IT DID NOT PASS SO THAT IS NOT A POSSIBILITY. NEXT, THE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

[25:14] SO WITH THE UNPRECEDENTED

[25:20] UNCERTAINTY OF THE FEDERAL LOW -- THE STATE'S ENERGY ASSISTANCE LANGUAGE WAS UPDATED. SPECIFICALLY IT INCLUDES AN

[25:26] EXPANSION OF THE DEFINITION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES TO BE LOW INCOME HOUSE HOLD. THAT WILL NO

[25:32] LONGER RELY SOLELY ON THE FEDERAL DEFINITION FROM HUD. AND THEN THERE WAS SOME MONEY THAT

[25:39] WENT OR THAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING GRANTS, AND THE MINNESOTA RELIEF

[25:45] PROGRAM. THESE TWO PROGRAMS ARE HOUSED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THEIR

[25:50] FORESTRY DIVISION. THE FUNDING GOES TOWARDS THE REMOVAL AND

[25:58] PLANTING OF SHADE TREES -- OR STORMS. AND THE GOAL IS TO

[26:05] ESTABLISH A MORE DIVERSE COMMUNITY FORESTRY. AND THEN FOR

[26:12] HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. SO THIS BUDGET AREA, THERE'S TWO. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND

[26:18] THEN HUMAN SERVICES. THESE TWO AREAS EXPERIENCE THE BUDGET

[26:25] CUTS. CUT $270 MILLION FOR THE UPCOMING TWO FISCAL YEARS.

[26:32] $820 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 28 AND 29. THERE WAS VERY LIMITED NEW SPENDING AND LOTS OF CUTTING

[26:39] FOR EXISTING PROGRAMS. MINNESOTA CARE COVERAGE WAS RECOVERED FOR UNDOCUMENTED ADULTS. LEGISLATION

[26:47] TO END UNDOCUMENTED ADULT IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY FOR

[26:53] MINNESOTA CARE WAS ONE OF THE MOST CHARGED. IT WAS A PART OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE

[26:58] GOVERNOR AND ALL FOUR CAUCUS LEADERS. THE NEW LAW STATES THAT

[27:03] UNDOCUMENTED ADULTS AGE 18 YEARS OR OLDER CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN MINNESOTA CARE WOULD NO LONGER

[27:09] BE ELIGIBLE AFTER DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR. CHILDREN WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN COVERED.

[27:18] UNDOCUMENTED ADULTS ENROLLED IN MINNESOTA CARE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO ENROLL ANYMORE. AND

[27:26] CANNABIS USE PREVENTION THAT SPECIFICALLY WAS ALLOCATED DURING THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH

[27:33] ORGANIZATIONS WAS CUT DURING THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THIS

[27:40] LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THAT FUNDING WAS RESTORED. THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY SHIFTING AROUND

[27:47] EXISTING FUNDS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. AND THE FUNDING IS TO BE USED FOR

[27:53] CANNABIS EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT WILL ADDRESS SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND PREVENTION, ESPECIALLY IN

[27:59] YOUTH AND PREGNANT AND BREAST FEEDING INDIVIDUALS. FOR BRIDGE TO SHELTER. WE WORKED WITH

[28:04] HENNEPIN COUNTY THIS SESSION TO ADVOCATE FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BRIDGE TO SHELTER LEGISLATION. THIS LEGISLATION

[28:10] WOULD HAVE PROVIDED FUNDING FOR SPECIFIC SERVICES SUCH AS 24-7

[28:18] OPERATIONS FOR EXISTING SHELTERS, AND MANAGEMENT. THERE ARE OFTEN FUNDING GAPS IN THESE

[28:26] AREAS HENCE WHY THIS WAS OF SUCH IMPORTANCE. WITH A LACK OF

[28:32] AVAILABLE FUNDING, THE BRIDGE TO SHELTER BILL DID NOT RECEIVE ANY FUNDING. AND THE EMERGENCY

[28:37] SERVICES PROGRAM, THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION TO BE

[28:43] ADDED TO THE BASE FUNDING. HOWEVER, THESE FUNDS DID NOT

[28:48] MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CUTS TO THIS PROGRAM AND THERE CONTINUES TO BE $11 MILLION

[28:57] FISCAL YEAR 26 AND 27 FOR RENOVATIONS TO CONTINUE TO APPLY TO. AND THEN ONE OF THE CITY'S

[29:05] NON-PROFIT PARTNERS, AVIVO AND THE AVIVO VILLAGES WAS APPROVED

[29:10] TO RECEIVE THE SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICE RATE WHICH WILL HELP.

[29:17] THE FUNDING THAT THEY NOW WILL RECEIVE WILL SPECIFICALLY GO TO THEM. MEANING THEY DON'T HAVE TO COMPETE FOR FUNDING. AND

[29:24] ALLOCATES A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF MONEY PER BED FOR ONE PERSON. SO I BELIEVE THE CURRENT RATE IS

[29:31] $495. SO THIS MONEY CAN GO TOWARDS THE OPERATION AS WELL AS THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE. AND THEN THIS IS

[29:39] GOING TO THE RATE APPLIES TO THEIR TWO FACILITIES. THE ONE IN MINNEAPOLIS AND THE OTHER ONE IS

[29:47] IN SAINT CLOUD. THE SAFE HARBOR PROGRAM. THE FUNDING ENSURES

[29:54] THAT SEXUALLY EXPLOITED YOUTH CAN RECEIVE TRAUMA INFORMED SUPPORT AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES. THERE WAS FUNDING MADE

[30:02] AVAILABLE THIS SESSION. $931,000 IN FISCAL YEARS 26 AND 27 FOR THIS PROGRAM. SO I WILL PAUSE

[30:07] HERE. FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

[30:13] >> THANK YOU. I'LL ASK MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

[30:28] COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON THIS BILL. I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME FUNDING

[30:35] FOR BRIDGE FOR YOUTH WHICH IS A SHELTER IN MINNEAPOLIS. ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT OR COULD YOU JUST

[30:40] FOLLOW UP WITH ME ON THE AMOUNT THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO THEM.

[30:45] >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN, I'D BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU SPECIFICALLY. I KNOW THAT THE SAFE HARBOR

[30:52] PROGRAM, THOSE YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THAT FUNDING. >> OH, OKAY. >> BUT I'LL FOLLOW UP SPECIFICALLY YOU WITH YOU ON THE

[31:00] AMOUNT THAT WAS APPROPRIATED TO

[31:06] THEM. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED

[31:11] WITH THE CUB CREDITS AND THE TIF, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TIE UP

[31:17] THE COMMITTEE TIME HERE. PERHAPS THE RIGHT PERSON. KATIE, COULD YOU CALL AND SET THAT UP. LET ME

[31:23] LOOK THROUGH MY NOTES HERE. ONE OTHER. I'D ALSO LIKE TO TALK IN

[31:30] DETAIL ABOUT THE MnDOT STUDY ON LOCAL COST PARTICIPATION. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS THAT

[31:36] YOU, STEVE? >> YEAH, COUNCIL MEMBER. >> IS THIS WHERE THE CITY IS IN

[31:42] ESSENCE REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE TO STATE ROADS AND COUNTY ROADS?

[31:48] >> YEAH, CHAIR CHOWDHURY, COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, YEAH, CURRENTLY THERE IS A POLICY THAT

[31:55] MnDOT HAS THAT DETERMINES WHAT PROJECT ELEMENTS AND HOW THAT COST IS DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL

[32:00] GOVERNMENTS. SO USUALLY BOTH COUNTY AND CITY WOULD HAVE, AND

[32:07] ANY MnDOT TRUNK HIGHWAY PROJECT THERE WOULD BE A COST THAT WOULD COME TO THE CITY. SO YES. THIS

[32:14] WOULD LOOK AT THAT POLICY TO SEE HOW THE COSTS ARE DISTRIBUTED.

[32:19] >> THANK YOU. THAT DOES INCLUDE ROADS THAT THE COUNTY REBUILDS? >> CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBER,

[32:26] THIS WOULD BE FOR MnDOT ONLY. THE COUNTY COST SHARE POLICY WOULD BE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. WE

[32:32] HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNTY. I'M AWARE WE HAVE TALKED TO THE COUNTY. THIS WOULD

[32:37] BE SEPARATE FROM THAT. THIS WOULD ONLY BE FOR MnDOT ROADS. >> GREAT. I HAVE A LITTLE

[32:43] INSIGHT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU AS WELL ON THAT. MAYBE YOU CAN CALL ME PRIVATELY. >> ABSOLUTELY.

[32:49] >> THANK YOU. LAST, I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS WOULD BE DIRECTED TO. BUT I SEE THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED

[32:56] THE LEGISLATIVE FOR THE NEXT SESSION TO DISCUSS BANNING HANDGUNS IN THE CAPITOL. IS THAT

[33:03] SOMETHING WE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON AS IT RELATES TO CITIES? >> CHAIR CHOWDHURY AND COUNCIL

[33:08] MEMBER RAINVILLE, YES, I THINK THIS WAS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT. THE COUNCIL

[33:18] HAS, WE'VE LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE ON WHAT WE CAN BE RESTRICTING IN THE PAST. I THINK

[33:24] IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A RENEWED DISCUSSION AGAIN IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT EVENTS. BUT YES, WE WILL ALSO BE MONITORING.

[33:33] IT OBVIOUSLY IMPACTS THE WORK THE TEAM DOES AT THE CAPITOL AND

[33:40] SAFETY WHEN WE'RE CONDUCTING OUR WORK. WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT VERY CAREFULLY AND REPORTING

[33:46] THAT BACK. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT I'LL CALL ON

[33:52] COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. INTERESTINGLY, I HAD SOME

[33:57] SIMILAR QUESTIONS FOR MR. HUSER. I THINK YOU MENTIONED THERE WERE

[34:03] SOME LOOSENING, I GUESS, OF

[34:08] RESTRICTIONS AROUND MINNESOTA STATE AID HIGHWAYS AND TRUNK ROADS OR WHATEVER. AND I'M JUST

[34:16] CURIOUS, CAN YOU SPEAK MORE IN

[34:26] DEPTHLY. >> YEAH, CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBER JENKINS, SO IT WAS

[34:32] PROPOSED CHANGES TO -- STATE AID STREETS IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. FOR THOSE CITIES OVER 5,000, WE RECEIVE STATE AID

[34:41] MONEY FROM THE GAS TAX AT THE STATE LEVEL. IT'S CALLED THE

[34:49] HIGHWAY USER DISTRIBUTION FUND. WHEN YOU SPEND THOSE DOLLARS, THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS TO THE

[34:58] ENGINEERING AND THE TYPES OF DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT CAN BE ON THOSE CERTAIN STREETS THAT ARE

[35:04] DESIGNATED BY EACH CITY THAT GETS THAT FUNDING. WHAT THIS PART OF THE BILL WOULD HAVE PROPOSED TO BILL AND THIS IS A

[35:11] SENATE PROVISION, WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR FLEXIBILITY FOR THINGS LIKE LANE WIDTH OR OTHER

[35:18] TYPES OF PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE, AND TRAFFIC SAFETY ELEMENTS AT

[35:23] INTERSECTIONS, ON THOSE COMPONENTS. THIS ENDED UP NOT BEING PART OF THE FINAL BILL. SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY.

[35:31] BUT THIS IS PROBABLY A TOPIC THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY. I THINK

[35:36] IT WAS A GOOD DISCUSSION BUT THERE PROBABLY WASN'T ENOUGH TIME TO GET EVERYBODY THAT NEEDED TO BE IN AGREEMENT ON

[35:42] AGREEMENT ON THAT. >> OH, OKAY. I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD YOU TO SAY IT DID. >> SORRY IF I MISSPOKE.

[35:48] >> GREAT. AND THEN I WILL JUST REITERATE, I THINK I'VE BEEN A

[35:55] VOICE FOR BANNING GUNS IN CITY HALL FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SO

[36:03] REALLY HOPE WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP AS YOU MENTIONED ON THE CAPITOL BAN ON HANDGUNS AND

[36:10] WEAPONS OR WHATEVER. BUT YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO

[36:19] PUT IN ANOTHER REQUEST TO LOOK AT CITIES AS WELL. THANK YOU.

[36:27] >> THANK YOU. MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO GET INTO

[36:33] DISCUSSION? OKAY. I WILL JUST

[36:40] PUT MYSELF IN QUEUE THEN. I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC

[36:45] QUESTIONS I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THE IGR TEAM JUST SEPARATE FROM THIS MEETING, AND I THINK IT

[36:51] WOULD BE HELPFUL TO MAYBE SET UP A DEBRIEF MEETING FROM THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH ME,

[36:58] VICE CHAIR RAINVILLE, PRESIDENT PAYNE, COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT, TO JUST TALK ABOUT WLA WHAT

[37:05] ACHIEVED BUT ALSO WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND KIND OF

[37:11] SOME OF THE LESSONS LEARNED AS WE UNDERSTAND THAT NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IT'S AN

[37:17] ELECTION YEAR. AND SO THE MAKE-UP OF THE CHAMBERS AREN'T

[37:25] GOING TO BE THE SAME. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROFOUND AMOUNT

[37:31] OF GRIEF AND LOSS THAT ALL OF US FEEL, ESPECIALLY YOU AS OUR

[37:39] INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS TEAM. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE TIME AS WE HAVE IN OTHER

[37:48] MEETINGS BUT AS WELL AS THIS ONE TO SAY THAT POLITICAL VIOLENCE OF ANY KIND IS UNACCEPTABLE.

[37:54] IT'S ON US TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER SIDE YOU'RE ON, IF YOU'RE SEEING THINGS THAT ARE

[38:00] LEADING UP TO THAT TYPE OF ESCALATION, TO CALL IT OUT. IT'S

[38:06] HARD WHEN IT'S ON YOUR SIDE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO SO. IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT THIS

[38:12] HORRIFIC ACT THAT WAS TAKEN WAS MEANT TO STRIKE FEAR IN

[38:19] COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS FROM SPEAKING UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO

[38:24] SPEAK UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN AND WHAT WE FEEL IS RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT

[38:31] SPEAKER HORTMAN WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DO. THAT WAS

[38:37] SOMETHING THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANNI GAN AND -- IN

[38:50] HER MEMORY. AND I JUST WANT TO

[38:57] SAY THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR TOPINKA, STEVE HUSER, INDERIA

[39:05] FALANA, LAUREN OLSON. LAUREN, I KNOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO PRESENT IN JUST A SECOND HERE. BUT YOU ALL

[39:11] HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL JOB. THIS WAS EXTREMELY

[39:17] DIFFICULT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. BUT YOU STUCK IN THE FIGHT. YOU PUT IN THE REALLY, REALLY LONG

[39:22] HOURS. SET ASIDE TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILIES TO DO THE WORK OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AND ON

[39:28] OUR BEHALF. YOU SPENT TIME WITH THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION IN MINNEAPOLIS OVER AT THE CAPITOL,

[39:35] BUT YOU ALSO WORKED WITH 13 COUNCIL MEMBERS AND A MAYOR AND MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS. AND I

[39:41] THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

[39:47] I ALSO APPRECIATE AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE WE WENT THROUGH A TOUGH LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU

[39:54] WERE ABLE TO EKE OUT SOME REALLY, REALLY BIG WINS THAT

[40:00] WERE DIFFICULT. LIKE WE DID NOT SEE A CUT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID, AND THAT STARTED AT A

[40:08] $20 MILLION CUT. WE WEREN'T SURE WE WERE GOING TO GET ANY BONDING DONE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET

[40:13] THE FUNDING FOR NICOLLET AVENUE BRIDGE. AND YOU HEARD US AS

[40:19] COUNCIL MEMBERS WHEN WE SAID WE REALLY, REALLY SEE IT AS A PRIORITY TO FIGHT FOR THAT WATER

[40:24] YARD FUNDING, AND YOU STUCK WITH US IN THAT FIGHT EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT GET THAT OUTCOME AND

[40:31] YOU'RE GOING TO STICK WITH US AFTER THE FACT TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS THAT'S RIGHT AND

[40:37] JUST. YOU ALSO SPENT A LOT OF TIME MAKING SURE BAD THINGS

[40:43] DIDN'T HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY THE PREEMPTION ON LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ON SEPARATION

[40:50] ORDINANCES. YOU HELPED COUNCIL MEMBERS GET READY TO TESTIFY, AND SEND IN LETTERS WHEN

[40:56] NECESSARY. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS

[41:03] LEGISLATIVE SESSION. COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN FOR TESTIFYING. YOUR WORK ON DOWNTOWN

[41:09] REVIOLATIONIZATION. SAME WITH YOU, VICE CHAIR RAINVILLE. YOU MADE IT A REALLY BIG POINT TO

[41:17] PUSH FOR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION. AND SHOWING UP AS A VICE CHAIR. COUNCIL MEMBER

[41:27] KOSKI, IN YOUR EFFORTS FOR TRAFFIC CALMING. WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME FUNDING THAT WILL HELP

[41:35] US IN THIS TOUGH BUDGET YEAR. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON FOR JOINING ME AND STANDING UP FOR

[41:42] OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AND KIND OF RAISING THE ALARM OF THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS, AND THE

[41:47] NECESSITY OF THESE RESOURCES. IT'S REALLY HARD TO SEE WE DIDN'T GET THE BRIDGE TO SHELTER

[41:54] FUNDING. HOWEVER, THIS LEADS INTO WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DEBRIEF IN TERMS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH

[41:59] THE COUNTY, AND THEN ALSO LOOKING INTO NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHAT WE CAN WIN. JUST

[42:04] REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SHOWING UP AND KIND OF LAYING IT OUT WITH

[42:11] SUCH GREAT CLARITY FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AT THIS

[42:16] SESSION. COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ, FOR BEING MORAL AND CLEAR VOICE ON IMMIGRATION AND STANDING UP

[42:23] FOR OUR UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS. REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF THE WAY THAT YOU REPRESENTED US

[42:29] AS A CITY COUNCIL AND HELD PEOPLE'S FEET TO THE FIRE ON WHAT OUR VALUES ARE. THAT

[42:36] UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE ARE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. THEY'RE NOT ILLEGAL AND THEY DESERVE HEALTH

[42:42] CARE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE AND

[42:48] COUNCIL MEMBER CHUGHTAI IN YOUR EFFORTS AS LEADERS OF OUR COUNCIL AND SHOWING UP TO THE

[42:53] MEETINGS THAT WE HAD THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AND ALSO JUST BEING A MOMENT'S NOTICE AWAY WHEN YOU'RE NEEDED.

[43:02] OUR CITY ATTORNEYS TEAMS FOR PROVIDING US SAGE LEGAL ADVICE

[43:09] BOTH AT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BUT OBVIOUSLY THE CHAOTIC AND UNSTABLE NATURE OF THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND HOW THAT ALL PIECES

[43:15] TOGETHER WITH THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO HERE. AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR MINNEAPOLIS

[43:24] DELEGATION AS WELL. THEY REALLY, REALLY SPENT TIME MAKING SURE

[43:29] THAT THEY HEARD FROM THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND THEY STUCK TO

[43:35] THEIR VALUES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO THE FIGHT TO PROTECT UNDOCUMENTED HEALTH CARE, AND

[43:41] JUST BEING A REALLY STRONG VOICE THERE, AND HEARING US ON OUR LOCAL PRIORITIES. IT WAS NOT

[43:47] EASY FOR THEM AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALSO IN GRIEF AND MOURNING. AND I THINK THE WORK

[43:52] THAT THEY DID FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS SHOULD BE HELD UP.

[43:57] AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE ALSO THINKING ABOUT LIKE THE WHAT IFS AND WHAT COULD HAVE BEENS. AND I

[44:05] HOPE AS WE DEBRIEF THIS SESSION AND KIND OF TAKE SOME TIME TO HEAL, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE

[44:12] HAVE INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATION ARE MORE FRUITFUL AND COLLABORATIVE. WE CAN BE MORE

[44:18] STRATE STRA STRATEGIC AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO

[44:24] GET WINS FOR OUR CITY EVEN THOUGH THE CONDITIONS ARE DIFFICULT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY ALL OF THAT TO PUT A CLOSE TO A

[44:33] VERY, VERY NOTE WORTHY LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS TIME AROUND AND JUST A HUGE THANK YOU, AGAIN, TO THE

[44:40] INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS TEAM. AND WITH THAT, WE CAN MOVE TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL UPDATES.

[44:48] WELCOME BACK, MS. FALANA. >> WE HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE, CHAIR CHOWDHURY. >> OKAY. PERFECT.

[44:55] >> AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026

[45:02] POLICY LIAISON TEAM AND THE PROCESS. OUR ANNUAL PROCESS THAT OUR DEPARTMENT HOSTS. IT'S

[45:08] COORDINATED BY OUR DEPARTMENTS. BUT THE PLT TEAM ITSELF CONSISTS

[45:15] OF DEPARTMENT STAFF FROM ACROSS THE ENTERPRISE. TASKED WITH

[45:21] EVALUATED OR PROPOSING CHANGES TO AGENDA OR POLICY MAKING DOCUMENT. THEY'RE POLICY

[45:27] FOCUSED, TECHNICAL, AND THEY CAN BE LANGUAGE UPDATES TO OUR AGENDA OR POLICY POSITIONS. OUR

[45:33] DEPARTMENT WILL THEN PRESENT THESE PROPOSALS TO THE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER. AND THEN ADOPTION OF THE FINAL

[45:39] AGENDA WILL OCCUR IN EITHER NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER.

[45:45] >> GREAT. I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE IN QUEUE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[45:50] >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. CHAIR CHOWDHURY,

[45:57] JUST ONE MORE COMMENT BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MS. OLSON FOR A FEDERAL UPDATE. THANK YOU FOR

[46:03] YOUR KIND WORDS. I WANT TO GIVE

[46:08] THANKS TO OUR AIDE IN THE

[46:15] AUDIENCE TODAY. HELPED US REALLY STAY ON TOP OF THINGS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK AND APPRECIATE HER BEING HERE TODAY.

[46:20] JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT AS WELL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[46:29] >> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M LAUREN OLSON, SENIOR GOVERNMENT

[46:34] RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE HERE TO PROVIDE A FEDERAL UPDATE. I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY DIGESTED A LOT OF

[46:40] INFORMATION THIS MORNING. IT IS MY INTENTION TO TRY TO MOVE THIS

[46:46] EXPEDITIOUSLY. SO I MIGHT NOT COVER EVERY DETAIL ON THE SLIDES. SO YOU CAN LET ME KNOW

[46:52] IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS WE GO. AS ALWAYS, THERE'S ALLO THE

[46:58] -- A LOT IN THE FEDERAL LEVEL. IT'S REALLY AN EXTREMELY CRITICAL TIME RIGHT NOW ABOUT

[47:05] FEDERAL SPENDING AND PRIORITIES. SO AL LOT IS GOING TO BE

[47:12] HAPPENING. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON TO MAYBE ORIENT YOU TO

[47:18] THE DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. EXCUSE ME. SO

[47:23] RECONCILIATION BILL, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. AS YOU KNOW, RECONCILIATION IS A

[47:29] SPECIAL TOOL THAT IS WHEN YOU WANT TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO REVENUES OR SPENDING IN THE

[47:37] BUDGET. IT SHOULDN'T REALLY TOUCH ON POLICY ISSUES. IT NEEDS TO BE A COMPLETE AGREEMENT

[47:42] BETWEEN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE TO USE THIS SO IF THEY AGREE THEN THERE'S NO SENATE

[47:48] FILIBUSTER INVOLVED AND IT CAN PASS THE CHAMBERS WITH A SIMPLE

[47:56] MAJORITY. PROVING A LITTLE BIT HARDER THAN SOME MAY HAVE EXPECTED. AND THE GOAL WAS TO

[48:16] HAVE THIS WRAPPED UP BY JULY 4TH. THERE IS ACTION BY

[48:24] JULY 4TH SO THAT CAN BE RECONCILED AND ACTED UPON IN AUGUST. SO WE'VE DISCUSSED THE

[48:33] HOUSE BILL BEFORE. ONE OF THE PRIMARY GOALS OF BOTH BILLS IS TO EXTEND THE TAX CUTS THAT WERE

[48:39] MADE IN 2017. JUST THE COST OF DOING THAT IS ABOUT

[48:45] $4.5 TRILLION. YOU'LL SEE THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. PEOPLE DO DIFFERENT MATH WITH

[48:50] THE NUMBERS. BUT IT ADDS TO A DEFICIT AND THAT'S A MAJOR POINT OF DEBATE AS THIS CONVERSATION

[48:57] GOES FORWARD. OTHER MAJOR PRIORITIES WERE TO INCREASE MILITARY SPENDING, INCREASE FUNDS FOR IMMIGRATION

[49:03] ENFORCEMENT. I THINK PEOPLE ARE

[49:10] ALSO VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE HUGE DEBATE ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF CUTS THAT ARE PROPOSED IN THESE BILLS

[49:17] AND THE HOUSE WAS DIRECTED TO

[49:22] CUT $880 BILLION FROM MANDATORY SPENDING CATEGORY. AND THAT CATEGORY ESSENTIALLY IS MADE UP

[49:30] MOSTLY OF MEDICAID. THERE'S BEEN CHANGES TO WORK REQUIREMENTS,

[49:37] INCREASED ELIGIBILITY TO TERMINATIONS AND OTHER CHANGES IN THERE THAT WOULD RESULT IN

[49:43] APPROXIMATELY 11 MILLION PEOPLE LOSING COVERAGE. IN MINNESOTA,

[49:52] 1.3 MILLION MINNESOTANS RELY ON MEDICAID. IN THE HOUSE BILL, THEY TRIED TO LIMIT PROVIDER

[49:58] TAXES. THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY NO NEW PROVIDER TAXES. WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE NUANCES OF

[50:05] PROVIDER TAXES, ESSENTIALLY, THE PROVIDER TAXES ALLOW STATES TO GET A HIGHER REIMBURSEMENT RATE

[50:11] AND GET MORE MONEY FROM THE FEDS BECAUSE THE FEDS NEED TO MATCH CERTAIN INVESTMENTS. SO THIS IS

[50:17] A BIG POINT OF CONTENTION IS WHAT TO DO WITH PROVIDER TAXES.

[50:23] WE'LL SEE MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE SENATE BILL. AND THEN THERE'S

[50:29] ALSO SOME CHANGES TO SNAP PROPOSED IN THE HOUSE BILL THAT WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF

[50:36] PEOPLE ELIGIBLE. THERE ARE

[50:42] VARIOUS TAX DEDUCTIONS THAT TRIED TO FALL THROUGH ON THE PRESIDENT'S PROMISES LIKE TIPPED

[50:48] INCOME, FOR EXAMPLE. SO THAT WOULD COME IN A FORM OF A TAX

[50:53] DEDUCTION. SO YOU WOULD STILL -- YOU WOULDN'T SEE THAT IN YOUR PAYCHECK RIGHT AWAY. IT WOULD BE

[50:58] A TAX DEDUCTION OF UP TO

[51:05] $25,000. YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THOSE TAX BENEFITS EXPIRE AT THE

[51:11] END OF 2028 IN THE HOUSE BILL. THERE ALSO IS YOU CAN DEDUCT

[51:18] YOUR OVERTIME PREMIUM PAY IF YOUR INCOME IS UNDER $160,000. IN THE HOUSE BILL, THAT CAN BE

[51:24] DEDUCTED IN FULL. AGAIN, THAT EXPIRES IN 2028. THE BILL MAKES

[51:31] THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL TAX CREDIT THROUGH

[51:39] 2028. IT CREATES THESE ACCOUNTS FOR CHILDREN BORN THROUGH 2028.

[51:45] AGAIN, IT EXPIRES THEN. THERE'S A $4,000 TAX DEDUCTION FOR

[51:51] SENIORS AS A WAY TO OFFSET TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY. THERE ARE CHANGES TO STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS

[51:58] LIKE THE UNDERGRAD LOANS WOULD NOT BE SUBSIDIZED. SO YOU WOULD BE PAYING INTEREST DURING

[52:05] SCHOOL. LIMITS ON LOANS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS. CAPS ON HOW MUCH TOTAL LOANS YOU

[52:12] CAN GET. CHANGES TO INCOME DRIVEN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS. THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCES OF

[52:17] COURSE IN THESE BILLS. ON THE

[52:26] SENATE SIDE OF RECONCILIATION BILL, IT ADDS EVEN MORE DEBT WITH A COST OF ABOUT $5 TRILLION

[52:33] RIGHT NOW. IT MAKES DEEPER CUTS TO MEDICAID THAN THE HOUSE BILL. HAS SOME DIFFERENT WORK

[52:40] REQUIREMENTS. A BIG PLACE WHERE THE SENATE IS TRYING TO CUT ON

[52:46] MEDICAID IS ON THAT PROVIDER TAX AREA. TRYING TO REDUCE HOW MUCH

[52:51] THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO REIMBURSE AT THE RATE THAT STATES GET REIMBURSEMENT. SO THE

[52:59] PROVIDER TAX CONTINUES TO BE A BONE OF CONTENTION BECAUSE A LOT OF STATES HAVE REALLY COME TO

[53:08] RELY ON THAT LEVEL OF SUBSIDY OR HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO RED STATES AND

[53:13] BLUE STATES HAVE COME TO REALLY DEPEND ON THAT. AND IT ALSO

[53:21] AFFECTS THE ABILITY TO REIMBURSE HOSPITALS AND SERVICES, AND ENSURE THAT THEY CAN STAY IN

[53:28] BUSINESS TO PROVIDE SERVICES.

[53:35] THE SENATE BILL ALSO HAS PROVISIONS RELATED TO THINGS LIKE TAX ON TIPS. AGAIN, YOU CAN

[53:43] REDUCT TAX ON TIPS TO SOME EXTENT. A CAP OF YOU CAN ONLY

[53:51] DEDUCT $12,500. INCREASES THE

[53:59] AMOUNT YOU CAN DEDUCT FOR SENIOR

[54:04] CITIZENS. THE SENATE IS MORE OPEN AND ADVOCATING FOR SOME OF THE GREEN ENERGY TAX CREDITS. SO

[54:09] THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO KEEP SOME OR SLOWLY PHASE THEM OUT.

[54:14] ALTHOUGH THE ELECTRIC CAR CREDIT PHASES OUT. AND SOME THAT WILL HELP YOU IN YOUR HOME TO HAVE

[54:22] SOLAR HEATING BE MORE EFFICIENT WOULD BE MORE QUICKLY PHASED OUT. SO WITH RECONCILIATION,

[54:28] AGAIN, IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSES. IT'S NOT

[54:36] MEANT TO ADDRESS POLICY QUESTIONS. SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED VERY RECENTLY IS THE SENATE

[54:42] PARLIAMENTARIAN HAS LOOKED AT THE BILL TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE CERTAIN PROVISIONS THAT WOULD BE POLICY ORIENTED AND

[54:48] THEREFORE NOT ALLOWED. SOME EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT THEY CUT OUT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT COMPLY

[54:54] FOR EXAMPLE THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO CUT THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU, BASICALLY

[55:00] ZERO THEM OUT. THAT MEANT ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATING THEM FUNCTIONALLY BY TAKING THE MONEY

[55:07] AWAY. THAT WAS A POLICY DECISION. SOME POLICIES WERE EXEMPTED FROM NEPA REVIEW. YOU

[55:13] CAN BUY YOUR WAY AROUND NEPA REVIEW. THAT VIOLATED THE RULE.

[55:18] OTHER EXAMPLES ARE REPEALING TAIL PIPE EMISSIONS STANDARDS

[55:23] NOT ALLOWED. LIMITS ON GRANTS TO

[55:34] SANCTUARY CITIES. PROHIBITING IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE NOT YET CITIZENS OR LAWFUL PERMANENT

[55:39] RESIDENTS FROM PARTICIPATING IN SNAP. I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR EVEN THOUGH THESE THINGS MAY NOT

[55:47] BE ALLOWED IN A RECONCILIATION BILL, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T

[55:52] BE IN OTHER WAYS. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE KIND OF BIG

[55:58] TOPICS THAT MIGHT BE WORTH NOTING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS IN THE HOUSE BILL WAS

[56:06] BASICALLY WOULD HAVE RESTRICTS FEDERAL COURTS ABILITIES TO HOLD

[56:12] PEOPLE IN CONTEMPT OF VIOLATING COURT ORDERS. THE SENATE WHEN THEY GOT A HOLD OF THE BILL

[56:18] REMOVED THAT LANGUAGE. HOWEVER, THEY REMOVED SOME OTHER BAD LANGUAGE, IN MY OPINION,

[56:24] REQUIRING THAT IF YOU SEEK A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER, AN

[56:30] INJUNCTION -- THAT WOULD BE A HUGE, YOU KNOW, A HUGE AMOUNT

[56:36] THAT'S NOT REALISTIC. YOU KNOW.

[56:41] SO BUT THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN DETERMINED THAT WAS JUST NOT APPROPRIATE ANYWAY

[56:48] FOR A RECONCILIATION BILL. WITH ALL THESE ISSUES YOU KINDA DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN RESURFACE IN

[56:53] DIFFERENT WAYS. ANOTHER KINDA

[57:00] TOPIC TO KEEP AN EYE ON IS REGULATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. THE HOUSE BILL

[57:06] INCLUDED A 10-YEAR MORATORIUM ON STATE AND LOCAL LAWS ON

[57:13] ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. THE THOUGHT IS NOT TO INCUMBER THIS

[57:20] TECHNOLOGY. AND THE SENATE BILL, THEY TRIED TO MAKE SURE THEY

[57:27] WEREN'T GOING TO VIOLATE THE BYRD RULE. SO THEY REFRAMED IT AND SAID YOU ARE PROHIBTD TO

[57:37] REGULATING IF YOU WANT CERTAIN MONEY. THE PARLIAMENTARIAN SAID

[57:45] THIS DID NOT VIOLATE THE BYRD RULE. THERE ARE MEMBERS WHO FEEL

[57:52] STRONGLY ABOUT STATES RIGHTS, INCLUDING GOP MEMBERS THAT FEEL YOU SHOULD NOT TRY TO RESTRICT

[58:00] STATES FROM DEVELOPING LAWS, AND THAT THERE'S ALSO POTENTIAL

[58:06] VALUE AS WE ARE LEARNING TO HAVING STATES AND PEOPLE EXPERIMENT OR DIVE INTO THIS

[58:12] ISSUE. SO THIS REMAINS A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC. SOME OTHER

[58:20] ONGOING ISSUES REGARDING THE RECONCILIATION BILL. AGAIN,

[58:26] THERE'S A NUMBER OF MEMBERS WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE

[58:31] AMOUNT OF DEBT THAT THEY'RE CREATING WITH THIS BILL. SO THAT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE. AND

[58:37] THEN ANOTHER MAJOR TOPIC IS THE AMOUNT OF THE SALT DEDUCTION. SO

[58:45] THE STATE AND LOCAL TAXES. CURRENTLY, YOU CAN DEDUCT FROM

[58:51] YOUR STATE AND LOCAL TAXES WHEN YOU ITEMIZE. SOME OF THE STATES WITH HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES WOULD

[58:56] LIKE TO SEE THAT INCREASED. THAT CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR -- SINCE IT IS COSTLY, THAT CONTINUES TO

[59:03] BE AN ISSUE OF DEBATE ABOUT THE VALUE OF THAT. MEDICAID RELATED

[59:09] CUTS CONTINUES TO BE A BIG ISSUE, INCLUDING THAT PROVIDER TAX ISSUE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

[59:15] AGAIN, PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE KNOW THAT IT COULD IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITIES.

[59:21] THERE'S ALSO MAJOR CONCERN ABOUT IMPACTS TO RURAL HOSPITALS. I THINK THE SENATE IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO TRY TO SUBSIDIZE OR

[59:30] STABILIZE RURAL HOSPITALS TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERN. SO THAT'S

[59:36] GOING TO BE AN ONGOING DISCUSSION. AND AGAIN, THE SUPPORT FOR GREEN ENERGY TAX

[59:42] CREDITS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.

[59:50] MOVING ON TO A DIFFERENT TOOL. JUST WANT YOU TO BE KIND OF AWARE OF RESCISSIONS. SO THERE'S

[59:57] ALSO A RESCISSION PROCESS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. RESCISSION IS A

[1:00:02] TOOL THAT IF YOU HAVE UNSPENT MONEY, YOU CAN POTENTIALLY CANCEL THAT MONEY. BUT CONGRESS

[1:00:09] NEEDS TO MAKE THAT DECISION ULTIMATELY. BUT THE WHITE HOUSE ORIGINATES THE REQUEST TO CANCEL

[1:00:15] UNSPENT FUNDS. IT'S LIMITED TO DISCRETIONARY FUNDS. THERE'S NO

[1:00:20] FILIBUSTER. MONEY THAT IS RESCINDED CAN THEN BE DIRECTED BACK TO TREASURY WHERE IT CAN BE

[1:00:26] USED FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE, POTENTIALLY. SO THE WHITE HOUSE TRIGGERED THE RESCISSION

[1:00:33] PROCESS. SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY

[1:00:42] MOSTLY CUTS TO THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND THE

[1:00:49] CUTS THAT DOJE INITIATED, AND

[1:00:55] OTHER SUPPORT. AND SUPPORT FOR HIV AND AIDS PREVENTION ARE EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS HERE. SO

[1:01:03] IT'S A TOTAL OF $9.4 BILLION THEY WOULD LIKE TO RESCIND. SO

[1:01:09] CURRENTLY, THIS IS ON A SPECIFIC TIME TABLE BECAUSE RESCISSION HAS A SPECIFIC PROCESS AND THE

[1:01:14] HOUSE HAS ALREADY AGREED TO DO THIS BASICALLY, AND NOW IT'S IN THE SENATE'S HANDS. IF THE

[1:01:20] SENATE DOES NOT -- IF THEY DON'T ACT BY JULY 18TH, THEN THE MONEY

[1:01:27] SHOULD BE SAFE. BUT THE SENATE, OTHERWISE WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE SENATE DOES ON THIS. SO

[1:01:33] THAT'S CURRENTLY PENDING. SO

[1:01:38] WE'VE GOT RECONCILIATION. WE'VE GOT RESCISSIONS. AND WE'RE ALSO

[1:01:43] REALLY HAVING THE CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET PROCESS. SO THE FISCAL

[1:01:50] YEAR STARTS OCTOBER 1ST. AS YOU KNOW, THOUGH, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON

[1:01:56] FOR THEM TO USE CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS TO NOT ACTUALLY ADOPT THE BUDGET CLOSE TO THAT

[1:02:02] FISCAL YEAR. BUT THERE ARE ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE FISCAL YEAR

[1:02:08] 26 BUDGET. WHAT I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH BRIEFLY HERE IS JUST WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE PROPOSED,

[1:02:14] AND SOME OF THE TOP LINE NUMBERS FROM WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS TO SEE. BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW,

[1:02:20] IT'S REALLY IN THE HANDS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHERE THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THEIR

[1:02:25] PROPOSALS. BUT THEY DO FEEL, I THINK A LOT OF MEMBERS DO FEEL PRESSURE AND WANT TO ALIGN WITH

[1:02:31] THE PRESIDENT'S GOALS. SO THE BUDGET, I MEAN, YOU CAN KIND OF

[1:02:36] IMAGINE THE GIST OF THIS. BUT THERE'S AN INCREASE IN DEFENSE

[1:02:42] SPENDING. THERE IS 22% OVERALL CUT IN DISCRETIONARY SPENDING. A

[1:02:48] COUPLE OF AREAS WHERE THERE'S VERY SIGNIFICANT CUTS WOULD BE CUTS TO HUD. THERE'S PROPOSAL TO

[1:02:57] CONSOLIDATE VARIOUS RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, CUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. IT WOULD

[1:03:05] HAVE A HUGE IMPACT TO US AND OTHER COMMUNITIES. SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO HUD ARE PROPOSED.

[1:03:11] ANOTHER AREA VERY SIGNIFICANT CUTS WOULD BE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. $33 BILLION CUT

[1:03:18] PROPOSED. YOU KNOW, CUTS TO CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL. CUTS TO THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL

[1:03:25] HEALTH SERVICES. THERE'S A LOT OF CONSOLIDATION OF PROGRAMS BEING PROPOSED IN THE 2026 BILL,

[1:03:32] INCLUDING SAMSA AND OSHA AND SOME KIND OF STRANGE

[1:03:38] CONSOLIDATIONS GOING ON. IT WOULD ADD $500 MILLION FOR

[1:03:45] ROBERT KENNEDY'S MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN INITIATIVE TO LOOK

[1:03:52] AT FOOD AND ADDITIVES. I MAY NOT BE DESCRIBING THAT VERY WELL. I

[1:04:03] FEEL LIKE I SKIPPED. DID I SKIP ANYTHING? OH. MORE CONSOLIDATION

[1:04:12] OF PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH

[1:04:17] DISABILITIES. CUTS TO FEMA PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS. CUTS TO

[1:04:22] CYBERSECURITY. RANDOM INCREASE TO RAIL FUNDING. I JUST NOTICED

[1:04:28] THEY DO LIKE THAT. RAIL SAFETY FUNDING. CUTS TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. SO AS I SAID, RIGHT

[1:04:38] NOW THE HOUSE IS REALLY -- THIS IS THE WHITE HOUSE PROPOSAL. THE

[1:04:44] HOUSE IS WRESTLING WITH THEIR PROPOSAL. AND SO ALL THESE

[1:04:49] THINGS ARE HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY. I GUESS I'LL JUST STOP THERE.

[1:04:55] >> THANK YOU, MS. OLSON, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND YOUR WORK ON KEEPING TRACK OF THIS. I KNOW

[1:05:03] IT IS NOT EASY. I PUT MYSELF IN QUEUE. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION

[1:05:09] AND IT'S MAYBE MORE OF A FOLLOW UP TO YOUR PRESENTATION. YOU SHARED A NUMBER OF PLACES WHERE

[1:05:17] THERE'S POTENTIAL TAX CUTS. ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU CAN DO SOME RESEARCH AND SHARE

[1:05:23] BACK WITH US IS WHAT DOES A TAX CUT IMPACT LOOK LIKE FOR THE WEALTHIEST INDIVIDUALS IN OUR

[1:05:28] COUNTRY. I THINK MANY OF US HERE

[1:05:37] REPORTING ABOUT HOW, WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING, WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS PUSHING FORWARD WOULD GIVE

[1:05:44] REALLY, REALLY LARGE TAX CUTS TO THE MOST WEALTHY. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO UNDERSTAND WHO WOULD BE

[1:05:50] IMPACTED AND WHO IS JUST REALLY BENEFITING FROM THIS BILL. AND

[1:05:55] THEN A QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS WHAT'S THE TIME LINE THAT CONGRESS IS ON FOR COMPLETING

[1:06:03] RECONCILIATION AND THEIR WORK ON THIS? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS I

[1:06:10] NOTED WITH RECONCILIATION, THE PRESIDENT'S ORIGINAL GOAL WAS TO HAVE THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS

[1:06:17] COMPLETED BY JULY 4TH. THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL GOAL. MOST

[1:06:23] RECENTLY, THOUGH, I'VE HEARD I FEEL LIKE MAJORITY LEADER THUNE

[1:06:28] IS TRYING TO GET HIS BILL THROUGH THE SENATE BY JULY 4TH.

[1:06:34] I THINK IT WAS VICE PRESIDENT VANCE WAS TALKING ABOUT AUGUST

[1:06:39] FOR A TIMELINE TO COMPLETE THE RECONCILIATION BILL. I DO, IN

[1:06:46] GENERAL, THEY'VE WANTED TO WRAP THIS UP BEFORE THEY GO ON AUGUST RECESS. BECAUSE BY THE TIME THEY

[1:06:51] EVEN GET BACK FROM AUGUST RECESS, THEY'RE ALREADY REALLY STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT THE

[1:07:01] FISCAL 26 YEAR BUDGET. NOW THE SENATE ALSO BELIEVES THAT, OR

[1:07:07] MAJORITY LEADER THUNE FEELS LIKE THE HOUSE JUST NEEDS TO ACCEPT WHATEVER IT IS THE SENATE PASSES

[1:07:12] SHORTLY FOR THEIR RECONCILIATION BILL. IF THE HOUSE IS WILLING TO

[1:07:18] ACCEPT THE SENATE BILL, THAT COULD ALL MOVE QUICKLY. IT'S NOT CLEAR I THEY WILL. IF THERE

[1:07:24] WILL BE ENOUGH VOTES IF THEY BOTH AGREE ON THE BILL. SO WE'LL SEE. >> THANK YOU. YEAH. WE WILL SEE.

[1:07:34] I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMAN. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANKS FOR THE UPDATE, LAUREN.

[1:07:41] THIS IS REALLY EGREGIOUS AND TERRIBLE. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THEY WANT TO INCREASE DEFENSE

[1:07:47] SPENDING, WAS IT 13%? AND THEN CUT ALL THESE THINGS THAT IMPACT

[1:07:53] US ACTUALLY LOCALLY. IT'S JUST REALLY TERRIBLE. AND I'M SURE OUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES ARE

[1:07:59] GOING TO STAND WITH US IN OUR GOALS. SO THERE'S NOT A LOT THAT

[1:08:05] WE CAN DO BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE ALREADY ON OUR SIDE. AT LEAST I WOULD HOPE THEY ARE IN TERMS OF OPPOSING THIS. BUT I DO

[1:08:12] HAVE ONE QUESTION WHICH IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT FROM CONSTITUENTS WHICH IS

[1:08:20] THE CORPORATE BROADCASTING BUDGET CUT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET THAT IS

[1:08:25] OR THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO?

[1:08:30] >> YOU KNOW, I'M REMEMBERING A NUMBER BUT I'M JUST GOING --

[1:08:37] BECAUSE BASICALLY THE $1.6 BILLION I THINK IS THE

[1:08:43] FUNDING THROUGH 2027 FOR THEM. BUT HOW MUCH OF THEIR TOTAL, YOU

[1:08:48] MEAN HOW MUCH OF THEIR TOTAL BUDGET IS THAT. >> RIGHT. >> I'M REMEMBERING A NUMBER BUT

[1:08:55] I'M RELUCTANT TO RELY ON IT. >> WOULD YOU MIND FOLLOWING UP WITH ME? I DID HAVE SOME

[1:09:02] QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS ON THIS. I THINK THIS IS PARTICULARLY BAD BECAUSE OF HOW

[1:09:08] UNDER EDUCATED WE SEEM TO BE ON CIVICS AS A NATION. AND YOU

[1:09:15] KNOW, PROPAGANDA AND DISINFORMATION ARE DEFINITELY TOOLS OF AUTHORITARIANISM THAT

[1:09:21] WE NEED TO BE COUNTER ACTING WITH ACCURATE AND GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATE OF

[1:09:27] OUR GOVERNMENT. AND SO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CUT. AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT

[1:09:34] THE IMPACT IS AND BE ABLE TO TRACK WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS WITH THAT PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.

[1:09:40] >> I'LL FOLLOW UP ON IT. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE

[1:09:46] ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO GET INTO QUEUE FOR DISCUSSION? OKAY.

[1:09:56] SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO RECEIVE AND FILE THAT PRESENTATION. AND

[1:10:02] WITH THAT, WE'VE CONCLUDED ALL BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TODAY. AND WITHOUT

[1:10:07] OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED.