ENOUGH.

JUST LET ME KNOW TO KEEP GOING WITH THEM ON IT AND I’LL.

YEAH.

PERFECT.

YEAH.

AND THEY’RE USUALLY LONG WINDED ON MOST QUESTIONS, SO I’M HOPING IT’LL BE A THING.

YOU’LL JUST HAVE TO SAY IT ONCE AND THEN THEY’LL.

YEAH.

CARRY IT.

GOOD MORNING REPRESENTATIVE.

GOOD MORNING.

HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?

I’M DOING WELL.

I’M.

NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

I MEAN, I’M SURE YOU’RE ALL AWARE OF THAT, BUT NOW I GOTTA GET BUSY ON THE FARM, TOO.

SO.

AND I’VE GOT A DAUGHTER THAT’S A GRADUATION PARTY THIS WEEKEND, SO.

OH, NOTHING GOING ON HERE.

IS THAT BETTER?

BE A STRONG CUP OF COFFEE THERE.

GOOD MORNING, REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CAR.

YEAH.

I’M JUST GOING TO GRAB ONE THING.

HANG ON.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO IS THIS THE FINAL FINAL WEEK OF THE REPORT?

THIS IS IT.

YEP.

YEP.

SO WE GOT THREE OF YOU ON THE SHOW, AND WE’LL BE TICKING OFF ALL THE ISSUES, SO IT SHOULD GO PRETTY QUICK.

OKAY.

YEAH.

OKAY.

BECAUSE USUALLY THIS STARTS AROUND.

IT STARTS AROUND THE SPRING BREAK, DOESN’T IT?

THE THE LEGISLATIVE REPORT.

YEAH.

AROUND MIDWAY THROUGH THE THE SESSION.

SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FIRST PART.

SO, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW FROM THE SESSION, IT’S JUST KIND OF GETTING READY AND STUFF AND NOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AT THAT POINT.

SO WE’D LIKE TO START WITH THE ACTION AND THE FUNNELING STARTS HAPPENING.

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST YEAR WE’VE DONE A SHOW POST SESSION.

AND NORMALLY WE END ON A CLIFFHANGER OF LIKE, WELL, THEY’RE IN THEIR LAST WEEKEND.

I HOPE THEY GET IT ALL DONE.

AND THEN SOMETIMES SOME OF THE OTHER SHOWS THAT ARE ON THE STATION WILL DO KIND OF A WRAP UP AND I GUESS I DON’T KNOW IF YOU SAW THE MESSAGE FROM OUR PRODUCER, BUT THERE’S ANOTHER FRIDAY NIGHT SHOW THAT WE’RE GOING TO FILM A SEGMENT FOR THAT.

I KNOW REPRESENTATIVES LESNICA AND KOZLOWSKI HAVE AGREED TO, AND IF YOU CAN STICK ON FOR ANOTHER TEN MINUTES OR SO, WE WE’RE GOING TO FILM ANOTHER SEGMENT.

IT’S CALLED IN BUSINESS.

OKAY.

AND SO WE, WE FILM ANOTHER SEGMENT THAT IS JUST HOW THE SESSION IMPACTED BUSINESS.

AND IT’S ONLY LIKE TEN MINUTES.

OKAY.

SO IF YOU’RE WILLING TO STICK ON, THAT’D BE GREAT.

IF YOU CAN’T REALLY UNDERSTAND, I KNOW NATALIE AND LISA CAN HANDLE IT AS WELL.

SO EITHER WAY.

GOOD MORNING, REPRESENTATIVE KOZLOWSKI.

LEASH, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

I CAN.

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

LOUD AND CLEAR.

YEAH.

GREAT.

WELCOME, EVERYBODY.

HELLO.

CATCH UP ON SOME SLEEP.

TRIED.

THAT’S WHY WE HAVE COFFEE.

YEAH, THERE’S.

THERE’S COFFEE HERE.

SO.

YEAH.

SO FOR A FEW OF YOU, YOU’VE BEEN ON THE SHOW ALREADY THIS YEAR, BUT JUST WALK THROUGH KIND OF WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO.

SO WE’RE GOING TO RECORD THIS LIVE TO TAPE.

SO WE’RE GOING TO GO THROUGH IT UNLESS THERE’S A BIG TECHNICAL BREAKDOWN ON SOMETHING OR I SCREW UP IN THE TELEPROMPTER AT THE BEGINNING, WE’LL JUST KIND OF GO THROUGH IT FOR ALMOST AN HOUR, AND I’LL INTRODUCE YOU ALL A COUPLE OF THINGS TO, TO THINK ABOUT IS, NUMBER ONE, YOUR MICS ARE GOING TO BE LIVE THE WHOLE TIME.

SO WHEN I’M DOING THE INTRO AND THE OUTRO, JUST KNOW THAT WE CAN HEAR.

SO I’M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING FUNNY OR DANGEROUS THAT YOU NEED TO REACT TO, BUT JUST KEEP IT DOWN WHILE I’M DOING THOSE.

WHEN WE GET TO THE Q&A PORTION, WHEN YOU’RE ANSWERING QUESTIONS, WE’LL BE EDITING AND YOU’LL SEE ON YOUR SCREEN THAT WE WILL PROBABLY CUT TO WHOEVER’S TALKING FOR A WHILE SO THAT YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON IN VIEW.

SO IF YOU’RE FEELING LIKE YOU NEED TO SCRATCH YOUR NOSE OR DRINK ANOTHER SHOT OF CAFFEINE, KNOW THAT YOU CAN PROBABLY DO THAT.

IF YOU’RE WATCHING THE YOUR SCREEN.

WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE IS TALKING AND YOU CAN SEE THE CAMERA CUT TO THEM.

SO YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE’RE GOING TO GO THROUGH LIKE A WHOLE BUNCH OF THE ISSUES WITH PAST AND DIDN’T PASS AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK.

IT’S A LITTLE HARDER ON ZOOM TO KIND OF HAVE CONVERSATION, BUT FEEL FREE TO RESPOND TO EACH OTHER IF THAT FEELS APPROPRIATE TO YOU.

AND I’LL, AND WE’LL LET THAT BREATHE.

BUT I’LL ALSO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING AND MAKE SURE WE GET THROUGH A BUNCH OF TOPICS.

WE MAY GET TO A QUESTION.

WE WERE DOWN AT DULUTH IN SAINT LOUIS COUNTY DAYS AND ASKED A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES WERE AND TO ASK A QUESTION, AND WE MAY DO THAT AS WELL.

AND IF WE DO THAT, YOU’LL SEE VIDEO LIKE THIS OF THE QUALITY.

THE BONDING BILLS ARE REALLY BIG ONE.

I MEAN, SO YOU’LL SEE THAT.

AND THEN HE’S GOING TO ASK A QUESTION OF YOU.

AND SO IF WE GET TO THAT WE MAY WE MAY DO THAT AS WELL.

AND THEN MY.

Q SINCE WE’RE NOT IN THE STUDIO AND I CAN’T GIVE YOU THE HURRIED PANIC LOOK, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WRAP UP AT A CERTAIN TIME TO MAKE THIS ALL FIT.

THE Q THAT YOU’LL NEED TO LISTEN TO IS, WELL, WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT, AND I’M GOING TO ASK YOU ONE FINAL QUESTION.

AND THAT TRULY MEANS LIKE.

AND YOU’RE ALL STATE REPS SO WE CAN PICK ON THE SENATE.

THERE ARE NO SENATORS HERE.

SO I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS CAN FIGURE THIS OUT.

BUT KEEP YOUR ANSWER TO LIKE 20 OR 30S.

AND I’LL TRY TO ASK A QUESTION WHERE YOU CAN LIMIT YOURSELF.

BUT JUST IF YOU HEAR ME SAY, WE JUST HAVE A MINUTE OR TWO LEFT, THAT’S THE Q OF LIKE, WE JUST NEED A 20 OR 30 SECOND ANSWER, AND WE’VE GOT TO GET TO THE END OF THE SHOW.

AND SO THAT’S THIS PIECE OF THE SHOW.

AND THEN AS OUR PRODUCER SHARED WITH YOU ALL, WE’RE GOING TO TAPE A SEGMENT FOR ANOTHER PBS SHOW CALLED IN BUSINESS RIGHT AFTER THIS, ONLY FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES.

AND SO WE’LL WRAP THIS SHOW UP, AND THEN I WILL INTRO THE NEXT SHOW AND JUST ASK YOU BASICALLY A QUESTION OR TWO ABOUT HOW THE SESSION IMPACTED THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE’LL SAVE THAT FOR THE SECOND SHOW THAT THAT WE WILL RECORD.

SO I JUST SAID A LOT OF STUFF AT YOU, AND I’LL JUST SEE IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE START.

ALL GOOD.

I THINK I’M GOOD.

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

YEAH.

LISA, I’M GETTING A REQUEST IN MY EAR FROM OUR PRODUCER.

IF YOU COULD PUSH YOUR CAMERA BACK A BIT SO WE CAN GET YOUR FULL HEAD IN THE SHOT.

SO EITHER GET YOUR COMPUTER TO GET A HAIRCUT.

SO MY HAIR IS ALL.

YEAH, IT LOOKS JUST LIKE MINE.

YOU’RE GOOD.

OKAY.

THEY SAY THAT’S GOOD.

I HAVE PEOPLE TALKING IN MY EAR.

IT’S KIND OF FUN.

SO IF YOU GUYS ARE READY, WE CAN GET STARTED.

SURE.

ALL RIGHTY.

SURE.

READY TO GO?

GOOD, GOOD.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT.

I’M YOUR HOST, TONY SERTICH.

THE 2026 MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS OFFICIALLY COME TO A CLOSE, WITH LAWMAKERS WRAPPING UP WORK ON A NUMBER OF KEY ISSUES IMPACTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

TONIGHT, WE’LL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT WHAT MADE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, WHAT WHAT DIDN’T, AND WHAT THE RESULTS OF THIS SESSION COULD MEAN FOR YOU.

JOINING US TODAY IS REPRESENTATIVE LISA KOZLOWSKI, A DFLER FROM DULUTH REPRESENTING DISTRICT EIGHT B. ALSO WITH US IS REPRESENTATIVE NATHAN NELSON, A REPUBLICAN FROM CLOVER TOWNSHIP NEAR HINCKLEY, REPRESENTING DISTRICT 11 B, AND REPRESENTATIVE NATALIE ZELEZNICAR, A REPUBLICAN FROM FREDENBERG TOWNSHIP REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE B. WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.

SO NOW THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED SUNDAY, LATE INTO THE EVENING.

YOU HAD SOME RETIREMENT SPEECHES ON MONDAY.

SO YOU’RE ALL WORKING ON KIND OF A LACK OF SLEEP, I GUESS OVERALL, A QUESTION VIEWERS HAVE FOR US ALL THE TIME IS, WHY DO YOU ALL WAIT TO THE VERY LAST MINUTE TO PASS THESE HUGE BILLS?

WHY DON’T YOU GET YOUR WORK DONE EARLIER IN SESSION?

WHAT ARE THOSE REASONS?

AND REPRESENTATIVE KOZLOWSKI, WE’LL START WITH YOU.

SURE.

WELL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US ON THE SHOW TODAY.

IT’S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

AND YEAH, THE THE WORKINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE WHEN WE START EVERY OTHER YEAR, ONE YEAR, WE GET TO START IN JANUARY AND GO ALL THE WAY TO MAY.

THIS WAS OUR SHORTER SESSION.

AND IT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE DEADLINES THAT ARE SET UP BY CONSTITUTION THAT DETERMINE WHEN WE START AND WHEN WE END.

AND FROM THERE, WE ALSO WORK BACKWARDS OFF OF BUDGET TARGETS.

WE GET A CHANCE TO WORK THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE ALL SET HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INCLUDING AND CENTERING AND GROUNDED IN THE VOICE OF OUR DISTRICTS, BUT ALSO OF MINNESOTA BROADLY.

AND SO THAT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD PUBLIC PROCESS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AS WELL AS WORKING THROUGH TO THE END.

A LOT OF THE WORK ACTUALLY THIS YEAR IS SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT COMING IN IN A 67, 67 TIE IS MANY MEMBERS WANTED TO SEE MORE INDIVIDUAL BILLS.

WE COULD TAKE THEM ON BY TOPIC, AND WE ACTUALLY SAW A LOT OF THAT.

OF COURSE, AT THE END, IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO THE AGREEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE STRUCK IN WHAT WE CALL THE GLOBAL AGREEMENTS ACROSS LEADERSHIP, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE COME TO AN ORDERLY END BY MIDNIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

WE’RE GOING TO GET TO A LOT OF THOSE SPECIFICS IN A MINUTE.

BUT, REPRESENTATIVE LESNICA, WHY DOES IT SEEM TO SOME VIEWERS THAT ALL THE BIG DECISIONS HAPPEN IN THE DARK OF NIGHT, CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT?

I THINK THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION.

I USED TO WONDER THE SAME THING.

AND NOW THAT I’M THERE, I CAN UNDERSTAND THERE’S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO START IN COMMITTEES.

AND THEN ONCE A BILL PASSES A COMMITTEE, THEN IT ALSO HAS TO HAVE A COMPANION BILL IN THE SENATE AND HAS TO PASS IN THE SENATE.

IF ALL THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, THEN IT CAN BE PLACED ON THE GENERAL REGISTER AFTER IT GOES THROUGH THE RULES COMMITTEE AND IT MAKES ALL OF IT STOPS.

IF IT HAS A FINANCIAL OBLIGATION TO IT, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO WAYS AND MEANS.

SO IT HAS MANY STOPS AND MULTIPLE COMMITTEES GENERALLY FOR A BILL TO EVEN GET TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

BUT WHY IT TAKES TILL END OF SESSION IS BECAUSE ALL THE COMMITTEES HAVE GLOBAL TARGETS THAT ARE AGREED UPON IN A TIE WITH A 6767 ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

EXACTLY, EXACTLY THE PRIORITIES.

AND THEN AT THE LAST WEEK OF SESSION FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAT I’VE SEEN, IT HAS BEEN THAT THE LAST WEEK IS GETTING THOSE FINAL BILLS DONE THAT NEED TO BE DONE FOR POLICY, AND THEN DEALING WITH IT’S A NON BUDGET YEAR THIS YEAR IN 26.

SO WE WERE FACED WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT BUDGET ISSUES TO DEAL WITH THIS YEAR.

AND SO THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME ON VARIOUS ISSUES THAT POSSIBLY WOULDN’T BE GENERALLY HAPPENING IN A NON BUDGET YEAR, BUT I THINK IT WENT REALLY WELL.

WE GOT OUT OF SESSION IN A IN A STATESMAN LIKE MANNER THIS YEAR.

AND I THINK THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE.

WE GAVELED OUT ON TIME.

THERE WON’T BE A SPECIAL SESSION.

AND YOU KNOW, IN THE PRIOR BIENNIUM, WHAT I SAW IN MY FIRST TERM WAS A 1400 PAGE BILL HAPPENED IN THE LAST HOURS WHERE NOBODY COULD SEE THE BILL.

THE COMPUTERS WERE DOWN.

AND SO IT WAS IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING FOR THE PUBLIC.

AND THIS YEAR THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN.

AND SO I THOUGHT IT WENT REALLY SMOOTHLY.

REPRESENT NELSON, YOUR TAKE ON THE END OF SESSION?

I THINK THE THE OTHER TWO HAVE PRETTY WELL WRAPPED, YOU KNOW, SUMMARIZED IT WELL.

AND I WILL JUST SAY IT’S, YOU KNOW, JUST TO ADD THAT WE PROBABLY PASSED MORE SINGLE SUBJECT, SMALL BILLS THIS SESSION THAN I HAVE IN MY EIGHT YEARS THAT I’VE SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND, AND I THINK THAT’S A SAYS A TESTAMENT TO A 6767 TIE.

THE BILLS THAT DID PASS THAT WERE STANDALONE, THAT WERE SIGNED INTO LAW EARLIER IN THE SESSION BY THE GOVERNOR.

THEY WERE BIPARTISAN.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET AGREEMENT IN THE HOUSE AND THEN ALSO IN THE SENATE.

AND THEN WITH THAT, MOST OF THEM REALLY HAD LITTLE TO NO BUDGET IMPACT.

AND AND WHEN WE WHEN WE COME INTO THE THE FINAL AGREEMENT, I’LL KIND OF LIKEN IT TO PACKING FOR A TRIP, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON VACATION, BUT MAYBE YOU DON’T HAVE ROOM FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT.

AND SO AS IT COMES DOWN TO THAT FINAL, FINAL AGREEMENT BEING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET HERE IN MINNESOTA, WE WE CAN’T HAVE ANYTHING THAT SETS THAT BUDGET OUT OF BALANCE.

SO THAT’S REALLY KIND OF THE THE FINAL PACKAGE OF BILLS.

THE FINAL THING THAT ENDS UP, YOU KNOW, END UP IN THE VEHICLE ENDS UP REALLY HAVING TO BE A GLOBAL AGREEMENT.

AND REALLY OTHERWISE WE CAN, WE CAN SPEND SOME FUNDS IN AREAS OR HAVE SOME THINGS THAT ARE END UP REALLY MESSING UP THE FINAL PACKAGE.

AND THAT’S, THAT’S REALLY WHY IT ENDS UP BEING ONE FINAL PUSH AT THE VERY END.

AND IT ALSO CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DYSFUNCTIONAL WORKPLACE THAT WE’RE IN.

ANYTIME THEY HAVE STRONG OPINIONS ON EITHER SIDE.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE’VE GOT TO GET THOSE THINGS ACROSS THE LINE.

AND I THINK THAT’S A BIG PART OF IT.

BUT OVERALL, IT’S REALLY BALANCED BUDGET MAKES THE THE BIGGEST THING.

AND I THINK IT’S A GREAT THING THAT WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, BUT IT DOES MAKE IT IT REALLY IS THE REASON THAT THERE’S A BIG PUSH AT THE VERY END.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE YOUR ANALOGY AND START TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE ITEMS THAT MADE IT INTO THE CAR ON THE TRIP.

AND WE’LL START WITH THOSE FIRST.

AND REPS WILL START WITH YOU.

ONE OF THE MAJOR TOPICS OF DISCUSSION WAS FRAUD.

THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE KNOW THERE WAS A SPECIFIC COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE TWO MAJOR PIECES THAT PASSED WAS AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL AND SOME MORE TOOLS FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

DO YOU FEEL WHAT WAS PASSED IS GOING TO HELP COMBAT SOME OF THE FRAUD WE’VE SEEN IN MINNESOTA?

I ABSOLUTELY DO.

I MEAN, WHAT I’VE LEARNED IS THAT THIS THIS FRAUD HAS BEEN GOING ON AT A LEVEL THAT BEGAN IN 2019.

AND THE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS FOUND ALMOST $9 BILLION IN ALLEGED FRAUD.

AND WE’VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY CLOSE TO 50 PROSECUTIONS AND MONEY CLAWED BACK.

SO IT ISN’T AN ALLEGATION ANYMORE.

IT’S REAL.

SO I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE LEGISLATIVE BODY NOW, THROUGH THE INDEPENDENT OFFICE, IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SELECT THE CANDIDATES TO GIVE A ROSTER TO WHOEVER THE GOVERNOR IS REPUBLICAN, INDEPENDENT, OR DEMOCRAT, SO THAT THEIR SEPARATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

YOU CAN’T HAVE THE THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORTING TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE AG OFFICE, AND THEY’RE MONITORING ALL THEMSELVES.

AND SO WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF SITUATIONS THROUGH THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AUDIT REPORTS.

OUR PET REPRESENTATIVE, PATTY ANDERSON, WAS A STATE AUDITOR ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

SHE WORKED DILIGENTLY LAST YEAR.

THEY HAD A BICAMERAL, BIPARTISAN DEAL.

AND THEN IT KIND OF FELL APART IN THE HOUSE THIS YEAR.

AND THEY BROUGHT UP A NEW BILL, WHICH REALLY WAS EXACTLY THE INTENTION THAT SENATOR GUSTAFSON AND REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON HAD BEEN WORKING ON FOR TWO YEARS.

SO I’M REALLY EXCITED THAT IT FINALLY PASSED.

I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE PROSECUTING POWERS TO IN THAT EXECUTIVE OR THAT INDEPENDENT BRANCH, AND THEY’RE GOING TO BE AUDITING THE AGENCIES.

PART OF THE ISSUE HAS BEEN THE FRAUD IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WHERE WE’RE THE BIGGEST BUDGET WE HAVE OF SPENDING COMES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

THAT AUDITOR, THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, WAS IN THAT DIVISION.

AND SO WHEN ALL THE ALLEGATIONS CAME FROM THE EMPLOYEES, WE HAD DHS WHISTLEBLOWERS THAT WENT VIRAL BEFORE CHRISTMAS STATING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE’VE BEEN REPORTING THINGS FOR YEARS AND WE’VE BEEN DEMOTED, WE’VE BEEN HARASSED.

SO WE WE PUT TOGETHER A NEW LINE FOR THAT FOR, FOR REPORTING.

AND, AND I THINK THE FACT THAT WE STARTED A FRAUD COMMITTEE BECAUSE REPUBLICANS WERE AT THE TABLE WITH A TIE THAT ALLOWED US TO GET THE FIRST EVER FRAUD COMMITTEE.

AND WE WE HAD NUMEROUS AGENCIES HAVING TO COME IN TO TESTIFY AND TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND THE PUBLIC IS SEEING NOW ACCOUNTABILITY WHERE THIS INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL WILL BE ABLE TO HOLD AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE AND PROSECUTE.

WE NEED TO MONITOR INTERNAL FRAUD WITHIN OUR OWN AGENCIES, NOT DOING THEIR JOB AND REPORTING WHEN THEY KNOW THAT PROVIDERS HAVE HAD A 700 SPIKE IN IN UTILIZATION, THAT’S A FLAG THAT COMMON BUSINESS PRACTICE WOULD SAY THIS ISN’T RIGHT.

SO THERE WAS NO SITE VISITS.

AND THEN MAKING SURE YOU’RE GOING TO DEAL WITH IT, STOP PAYMENT AND INTERNALIZE, DO AN INTERNAL REVIEW.

THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN.

AND SO WE PUT A LOT OF PROVISIONS IN PLACE THIS YEAR ON NONPROFIT GRANTS, ON INTERNAL AGENCY WORK, AND THEN BUSINESS PROVIDERS, WHEN THEY’RE THEY WEREN’T VETTED.

ALL THE RULES WERE TAKEN AWAY DURING COVID.

SO ALL THESE COMPANIES STARTED UP IN WAYS THAT NO BUSINESS WOULD HAVE EVER STARTED BEFORE COVID.

AND SO WE SHUT THE DOOR ON ALL OF THOSE THINGS SO THAT WE HAVE THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR THE GREAT PROVIDERS.

WE LOST A GREAT WE LOST PROVIDERS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA THAT WERE GREAT PROVIDERS BECAUSE EVERYBODY FELL UNDER THE BUCKET OF FRAUD.

WHEN WE HAD THE GOVERNOR SET UP A SYSTEM WITH OPTUM IN OCTOBER AND HAD A PREPAYMENT REVIEW BECAUSE THE FRAUD WAS SO SIGNIFICANT.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT WIN FOR MINNESOTA.

IT’S GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE TEETH IN IT IN THE SENSE OF THEY’RE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND THEY CAN PROSECUTE.

SO I THINK IT’S WONDERFUL.

AND IT WAS BIPARTISANLY SUPPORTED IN THE SENATE, IN THE HOUSE.

SO THAT’S GREAT NEWS.

REPRESENTATIVE NELSON, YOUR THOUGHTS IS WHAT PASSED GOING TO HELP STEM SOME OF THE FRAUD THAT WE’VE SEEN IN MINNESOTA?

I BELIEVE THAT WHAT PASSED WILL HELP THAT.

AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HEARTBURN BECAUSE I DON’T LIKE GROWING GOVERNMENT.

BUT I THINK ALSO THERE IS SOME AS A REPRESENTATIVE SAID, THERE’S SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES THERE, THAT THERE’S A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LEGISLATORS THAT ARE PART OF NAMING THE OR GIVING A LIST OF NAMES FOR WHO TO SELECT.

SO THERE’S NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT IT’S NOT JUST FALLING UNDER ONE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

AND, AND BEING INDEPENDENT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS SO THEY CAN GO IN AND ALSO, PROBABLY THE MOST KEY ISSUE IS HAVING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES ALSO IN MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN GO AFTER THOSE THAT ARE COMMITTING FRAUD, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE NECESSARY.

THERE’S A LOT OF GOOD THAT IS HAPPENING THROUGH IT.

BUT WHEN SOMEBODY TAKES AND USES THE ABUSE OR ABUSES, THE BENEVOLENCE OF THE STATE, THAT’S A PROBLEM.

KOZLOWSKI YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE MEASURES THAT WERE PASSED AND HOW THAT MAY ADDRESS FRAUD IN MINNESOTA?

GREAT.

I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH.

AND WE DID DECISIVE ACTION THAT MINNESOTANS REALLY WANTED US TO TO COME IN AND SHUT THIS DOOR AND COMBAT FRAUD.

AND REALLY PROUD OF THE AS WAS MENTIONED, THE BIPARTISAN WORK, GOOD WORK IN THE HOUSE AND AND IN THE SENATE AROUND THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SUBPOENA AND PROSECUTORIAL POWER, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ARE SEPARATED, YOU KNOW, I ALSO WANT TO CALL OUT THAT MINNESOTANS WILL GET A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THOSE INDEPENDENT BODIES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO SHUT THE DOOR TO FRAUD WITH MINNESOTANS AT THE FRONT OF IT.

I KNOW THAT WE ALSO DID REALLY GOOD WORK AROUND THE ESTABLISHING THE MEDICAID FRAUD UNIT, WHICH SHOUT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUE, REPRESENTATIVE MATT NORRIS, AS WELL AS REP PATTY ANDERSON ON THE WORK WITH THE OIG OFFICE AND MANY OTHERS WHO HAD A HAND IN THAT.

THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE SAW COMING INTO SESSION AND THROUGHOUT THE KIND OF VILLAINIZATION AROUND PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AROUND WHOLE INDUSTRIES SUCH AS CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.

AND I THINK WE CAN BOTH UPLIFT AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND, YOU KNOW, APPLAUD THOSE FOLKS FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY’RE DOING WHILE ALSO SHUTTING THE DOOR AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE BACKSTOPS ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT SECTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY THAT MINNESOTA TAXPAYERS ARE PUTTING FOR OUR FOR THE GOODS AND SERVICES THAT THAT WE ARE PROMISED AND WE DELIVER ON THOSE.

ALSO, JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE DID REALLY GOOD WORK AROUND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TACKLING FRAUD AND OTHER AVENUES, WHETHER THAT’S THROUGH DEED AND THE GRANT MANAGEMENT AND ACROSS SALES PROCESSES IN MINNESOTA.

HOUSING, I THINK, IS A STANDOUT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE TALKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN ABOUT HOW THE OVERSIGHT AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK OVER THE YEARS, THAT THOSE PROGRAMS JUST HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME LEVEL OF FRAUD.

AND SO HOW CAN WE USE THAT AS A BLUEPRINT ACROSS OTHER AGENCIES WHO ARE ALREADY DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB IN MINNESOTA HOUSING?

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT SAME APPROACH IS TAKEN ACROSS ALL ALL THE STATE SECTORS AND THE AGENCIES?

AND I’LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF MOVING US BACK TOWARDS THE PUBLIC GOODS AND MAKING THOSE WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, ARE GREATEST EXAMPLES COME FROM WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN GOVERNMENT DELIVERS THOSE SERVICES AND WHETHER IT’S MISCLASSIFICATION, WHICH THE AG’S OFFICE IS SPENDING OVER A QUARTER OF THEIR TIME TACKLING, ACTUALLY EMPLOYER FRAUD, WHICH IS FUNDS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO WORKERS, FUNDS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO TAXPAYERS BY WAY OF INCOME AND OTHER TAXES.

AND WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, LUNCH LADIES, LUNCH PEOPLE, THEY’RE THEY’RE NOT COMMITTING FRAUD.

THEY’RE GETTING THE FOOD OUT TO THE STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOLS.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO REPLICATE.

WE WORKED REALLY HARD ON THE DFL SIDE WHEN WE PASSED PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE THAT WE DON’T OUTSOURCE THAT, SUCH AS TO AFLAC.

WE’VE SEEN THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT THAT WE TAKE THAT IN-HOUSE INDEED, AND CONTINUE TO PUT THOSE MEASURES AND MAKE SURE THAT GOVERNMENT IS WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE AND THAT THOSE SERVICES AND GOODS ARE GETTING TO TAXPAYERS, AS PROMISED.

SO ONE OTHER ASPECT OF THIS, YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT AUDITS AND OVERSIGHT, WHICH HAPPENS AT THE END, BUT LOOKING AT LOOKING AT FRAUD ON THE FRONT END OF THINGS, SOMETHING RELATED THAT WAS PASSED WAS FUNDING TO INCREASE IT AND UPGRADE IT AT BOTH STATE AID AGENCIES, BUT ALSO FOR COUNTIES.

REPRESENTATIVE NELSON, CAN YOU BRIEFLY SPEAK TO IF YOU FELT THIS WAS ALSO AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WHAT WAS PASSED THIS SESSION?

YES, I THINK IT’S A IT’S A GREAT THING.

AND LAST LAST SESSION I HAD WORKED ON THAT WAS KIND OF ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES WAS GETTING FUNDING FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICES INFORMATION SYSTEM, SSIS.

AND SO THERE’S TWO KIND OF UNITS THAT THE COUNTY USES SSIS AND THEN THEY HAVE THE MAX SYSTEM.

AND YOU KNOW, BOTH OF THESE SYSTEMS RAN UNDER DOS.

I THINK THERE’S PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT A DOS SYSTEM IS ANYMORE.

ANYWAY, MOST YOUNG, YOUNGER PEOPLE, BUT IT’S A SYSTEM THAT’S QUITE STABLE, BUT IT’S ALSO VERY OLD.

AND IT’S THE, THE MAX SYSTEM WAS FROM, I THINK 1989 WAS WHEN THAT WAS ROLLED OUT.

I THINK FOR MY GENERATION.

YOU REMEMBER PLAYING OREGON TRAIL AND GAMES LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A GREEN SCREEN AND IT WAS CURRENTLY A GREEN SCREEN.

AND SO NOT NOT HAVING AUTO POPULATING FIELDS AND NOT HAVING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LITTLE WARNING, IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE SOMETHING FILLED OUT CORRECTLY, THAT IT WOULD CATCH THAT.

AND SO IT WAS A SYSTEM THAT DESPERATELY NEEDED UPDATING AND REALLY TYING INTO A, IT HAD KIND OF HAVE A PATCH AND A BAND-AID FOR A LONG TIME.

AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME.

AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE SYSTEMS CONSTANTLY RUNNING.

AND SO AS WE DO THAT, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO.

SEAMLESSLY USE OUR CURRENT SYSTEM WHILE INTEGRATING A NEW ONE.

SO IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF FUNDS.

AND THERE’S A VERY COMPLEX SYSTEM.

SO I THINK IT’S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUR OUR SOCIAL WORKERS AND OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND, AND AS WELL AS AT THE STATE, BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE TO THOSE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

KOZLOWSKI DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD ON THE INVESTMENTS IN IT UPGRADES?

YEAH, I HONESTLY COULDN’T AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE NELSON MORE.

THE INVESTMENTS OF 75 MILLION IS GOING TO GO AND MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE BRINGING OUR HUMAN SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.

I’LL SAY, HAVING SERVED ON THE TAX COMMITTEE, WE HEARD FROM COUNTIES AND TRIBAL NATIONS ACROSS THE STATE OVER AND OVER AND OVER ABOUT THIS OUTDATED SYSTEM IN WHICH, JUST FOR REFERENCE, I WAS BORN IN 1988, AND THIS SYSTEM CAME ON BOARD IN 1989.

THAT’S WAY TOO OLD, OUTDATED.

IT HAS LED TO A LOT OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE SLOWER SERVICE DELIVERY, WORSE IN PROGRAM INTEGRITY, AND REALLY WORSENED RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT OF EMPLOYEES.

WE GOT A CHANCE TO WALK THROUGH THIS SYSTEM OF JUST ONE SNAP ENROLLMENT.

THAT TOOK ABOUT 45 MINUTES PLUS FOR THAT SOCIAL WORKER TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THE APPLICATION.

THEY SHARED WITH US THAT IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM A YEAR TO TWO YEARS TO REALLY CHAMPION AND GET UP TO SPEED ON MANAGING THIS CUMBERSOME SYSTEM.

AND SO I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

IT’S REALLY BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

LIKE I SAID, THIS MODERNIZATION IS GOING TO MEAN FASTER SERVICE DELIVERY, BETTER PROGRAM INTEGRITY.

A LOT OF THE THE STOPPING OF FRAUD AND MISUSE AND.

MAKING SURE THAT WE’RE COMBATING THAT ON THE FRONT END HAS TO DO WITH BRINGING THIS SYSTEM ONLINE FOR CREDENTIALING.

USERS IN THE SYSTEM.

SO IT’S NOT JUST THE IT UPGRADE.

I WOULD SAY IT’S REALLY ABOUT HOW WE’RE CONTINUING TO DELIVER ON THAT PROMISE OF GOVERNMENT WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND IF THESE INVESTMENTS WEREN’T MADE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, COUNTIES WOULD HAVE TO USE PROPERTY TAXES TO INVEST IN THESE SYSTEMS.

LET’S TAKE A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES.

THERE WAS A PROPOSAL OF INCREASING THE PROPERTY PROPERTY TAX REFUND PROGRAM.

REPRESENTATIVE LESNICA, CAN YOU TALK A BIT ABOUT THAT?

THAT PROPOSAL THAT WAS PASSED?

WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE TOP THINGS I HEARD FROM EVERYBODY BACK HERE IN THE DISTRICT WAS MY PROPERTY TAXES ARE UNSUSTAINABLE.

AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, MORE PEOPLE LEAVING MINNESOTA.

AND THE REASONS A LOT OF THEM ARE LEAVING THAT WHEN I’VE ASKED THEM IS TAXES, TAXES REGARDING SENIORS, YOU KNOW, STILL HAVING TO PAY THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX IN MINNESOTA FOR THE HIGHER INCOME LEVELS.

AND SO THEY’RE LEAVING AND OR THEIR PERSONAL INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE TAXES.

AND SO PROPERTY TAXES WERE A BIG DEAL TO THEM.

IT CAUGHT THEM OFF GUARD.

AND THAT HAPPENED LARGELY BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY MANDATES PASSED AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT WENT TO THE SCHOOLS AND THE COUNTIES AND THE CITIES.

BUT THESE IDEAS DIDN’T COME WITH FUNDING.

AND SO THEN IT ENDS UP BEING, WHEN YOU MANDATE THINGS FOR THE SCHOOLS AND THE CITIES AND THE COUNTIES TO DO, THEY HAVE TO GET THAT FROM PROPERTY TAX OWNERS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS UNFORTUNATE TO ME THAT WE DIDN’T SEE MORE MANDATE RELIEF FOR PROPERTY TAXES WHEN WE HAD $18.5 BILLION SURPLUS.

I MEAN, WE DIDN’T SEE ANYTHING FOR PROPERTY TAXES IN THE SENSE OF REFORMING THE HOMESTEAD OR ANY OF THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS OR EVEN VETERANS, YOU KNOW, WITH DISABLED VETS, WE TRIED TO PASS THE BILL TO HAVE THEM HAVE A HIGHER EXEMPTION BECAUSE HOUSING VALUES ARE GOING SO HIGH, BUT EVERYTHING GOT BLOCKED.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR PEOPLE ARE GETTING IF THEY MAKE, I THINK, UNDER $145,000, THEY’RE GOING TO GET A, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS BACK OR A LITTLE UNDER THAT.

I WISH IT WAS MORE IT NEEDS TO BE MORE BECAUSE THE PROPERTY TAXES AND THE VALUATIONS ARE GOING SO HIGH THAT, YOU KNOW, IT’S SOMETHING IT’S NOT AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.

AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT I’M GOING TO CONTINUALLY BE WORKING AT, IS TO MAKE SURE WE’RE NOT PASSING BILLS THAT ARE IDEAS THAT AREN’T, THAT AREN’T FULLY VETTED TO BE FUNDED.

BECAUSE IF WE’RE GOING TO GO INTO A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THAT IS JUST PASSING AN IDEA, BECAUSE THEN THE PEOPLE THAT COME BACK HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT WAS CREATED BY AN IDEA.

SO AND THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE PAYING THEIR PROPERTY TAXES EVERY YEAR.

SO YEAH, IT’S, IT’S GREAT TO HAVE SOMETHING, BUT A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS WHEN PEOPLE ARE PAYING THOUSANDS AND THEIR PROPERTY TAXES ARE $5000 OR $10,000 OR WHATEVER THEY ARE, WHEREVER THEY LIVE IN THE DISTRICT IS, IS BECOMING UNSUSTAINABLE.

SO WE’RE GOING TO BE AT IT AGAIN TO, TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES.

KOZLOWSKI SERVING ON THE TAX COMMITTEE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS INCREASE IN IN THE REFUND PROGRAM?

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A BIG TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.

AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE WE SEE IT CUTTING THE OTHER WAY AND HAD SOME VERY LIVELY DEBATE AND CONVERSATION WITH MINNESOTANS, ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO H.R.

ONE.

AND THAT ACTUALLY PERTAINS TO THE IT MODERNIZATION.

WE’RE SEEING THAT OVER 140,000 MINNESOTANS ARE SET TO LOSE THEIR HEALTH CARE, OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US, WE ARE SEEING MANDATES AND ADDED ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS ON TO COUNTIES WHO ARE TELLING US THAT THEY JUST CANNOT HANDLE ANY MORE STRAIN.

WE’RE SEEING THAT SAME BURDEN ON OUR HOSPITALS AND OUR SAFETY NETS THAT ARE ALREADY AT THE BRINK, AND WE’RE SEEING THAT ON HOMEOWNERS, ON RENTERS.

AND SO THIS BILL IS ONE THAT WE CAME TOGETHER ACROSS THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WITH VERY DIFFERENT VISIONS OF HOW TO TACKLE OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT ARE ARE REALLY COMING DOWN UPON US FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND WE DID THAT WITH A NUMBER OF WAYS, AS WAS MENTIONED ALREADY, THE $125 MILLION TO GET A RELIEF TO HOMEOWNERS.

WHAT I REALLY ADVOCATED, AND WHAT MANY OF US ALSO FOUGHT FOR, WAS TO SAY THAT RENTERS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT.

RENTERS ALSO PAY AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITIES, AND IT’S UNFAIR THAT OUR HIGHER INCOME EARNER PROPERTY OWNERS ONLY GET TO BENEFIT THAT.

BUT WE DID ALSO TAKE MEASURES HERE WITH TAB RELIEF, HOLIDAY AND OTHER WAYS THAT WE’RE ABLE TO HELP WITH MINNESOTANS WHO WE KNOW ARE, ARE STRUGGLING TO PUT GROCERIES ON THE TABLE, GAS IN THEIR CAR.

AND WHAT WE HEAR IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT IS THAT THE RENT AND MORTGAGES ARE JUST TOO DANG HIGH.

ONE OF THE OTHER BIG BILLS THAT GENERALLY IS UNDER CONSIDERATION THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS A CAPITAL INVESTMENT OR BONDING BILL, AND THIS IS WHEN THE STATE BORROWS MONEY AT A LOW INTEREST RATE TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT HAVE REGIONAL OR STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE.

YOU ALL PASSED A $1.2 BILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL.

AND WHEN YOU DO THIS, YOU NEED TO GET A SUPERMAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS IT, BECAUSE IT IS BORROWING MONEY OF THAT $1.2 BILLION, ABOUT A THIRD OF THE FUNDING WENT TO WATER TREATMENT INFRASTRUCTURE.

REP SAM NELSON, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL AND ANY SPECIFIC PROJECTS YOU’D LIKE TO LIFT UP THAT YOU WERE REALLY PROUD OF?

YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND I THINK IT’S THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL.

AS YOU SAID, IT TAKES A SUPERMAJORITY TO PASS.

AND I THINK THIS BILL WAS THE HIGHEST.

IN MY RECOLLECTION, AND I THINK I’VE HEARD SOME FROM MORE SENIOR MEMBERS THAT IT’S THE THE MOST HIGHEST VOTE RECEIVING CAPITAL INVESTMENT OR BONDING BILL THAT HAS BEEN OUT THERE.

AND SO I THINK IT REALLY SPEAKS A LOT TO BEING IN A TIE AND MAKING SURE, YOU KNOW, REALLY HAVING TO PRIORITIZE.

EVERY AREA OF THE STATE.

AND ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I THINK THAT THAT WE SEE IS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE CLEAN WATER FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY, BUT EVERYBODY DOWNSTREAM.

AND ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I HAD A BILL THAT I HAD IN IT WAS THE IN RUSH CITY AREA.

IT’S EXTENDING A SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM.

AND REALLY IT’S A IT’S AN IMPORTANT BILL.

BUT ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PARTS ON THAT WAS IT’S ABOUT A $3 MILLION PROJECT.

AND MUCH OF THAT IS FEDERAL FUNDS THAT CAME THROUGH.

AND SO WE HAD TO HAVE SOME STATE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

AND AND THE IMPORTANT PART WAS WE HAD TO GET THIS DONE THIS YEAR.

OTHERWISE, WE RISK LOSING THE FEDERAL SIDE OF THE FUNDS.

SO THERE’S NUMEROUS BILLS IN THE THAT HAD PROJECTS THAT HAD BEEN FUNDED VERY MUCH IN THE SAME WAY THAT THERE’S A THERE’S A MATCHING FEDERAL OR MAYBE SOME LOCAL DOLLARS.

AND TO BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE NEEDS REALLY SPREAD OUT THE THE COST TO COMMUNITIES AND MAKING THE, THE WATER PROJECTS REALLY MAKING CLEANER WATER FOR, FOR MINNESOTA AND EVERYBODY DOWNSTREAM.

KOZLOWSKI ANY PROJECTS YOU’D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AT THIS POINT?

YES, I’M ABSOLUTELY THRILLED WITH THE $1.2 BILLION INVESTMENT.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES MORE EQUITABLE TO REALLY DETERMINE THE TRAJECTORY OF WHERE WE’RE GOING ECONOMICALLY, AS WELL AS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE TAKING CARE OF OUR ASSETS, THAT WE NEED TO PRESERVE INTO THE FUTURE.

AND WE HAD A $1.2 BILLION BILL TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE.

WE HAD REQUESTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TOPPLING OVER $7 BILLION.

SO WE KNOW THE NEED IS THERE, EVEN WITH A LARGE TARGET, WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO WITH ALL OF THE CAUCUSES COMING TOGETHER, SOME HERE IN DULUTH, THAT I’M REALLY PROUD, ACTUALLY, REPRESENTATIVE ZELEZNICAR AND I TEAMED UP ON A NUMBER OF THESE TO MAKE SURE WE GET THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

BUT FOR ME PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, THE AIRPORT TOWER, SEEING THAT PROJECT THROUGH OR HEADING OVER TO A GROUNDBREAKING TODAY, THAT $4 MILLION IS GOING TO UNLEASH THE FEDERAL INVESTMENTS AS WELL AS THE LOCAL INVESTMENTS HERE.

THAT’S THE GATEWAY TO THE GLOBE FOR US IN ECONOMIC DRIVER, THE DULUTH WATER PLANT, CITY OF DULUTH.

THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO GO TO FIX.

FOR ACTUALLY ISSUES THAT THE EPA, AS WELL AS MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, CAME IN A NUMBER OF YEARS AND SAID THAT WE NEED TO MAKE FIXES TO FILTERS, DIFFERENT SYSTEMS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE WE’RE DELIVERING WATER FOR DULUTH, BUT ALSO TO OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES FOR YEARS TO COME FOR THE DULUTH DELEGATION AND FOLKS ACROSS THE AISLE, THE HRA UNION GOSPEL MISSION IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT, IMPACTFUL, TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS THAT WE COULD INVEST IN THAT’S GOING TO BRING ON NEW UNITS OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

IT IS GOING TO BRING AN ENGAGEMENT CENTER, A WARMING SPACE, SHOWERS, ALL OF THESE PLACES.

THAT’S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DIGNITY FOR OUR UNHOUSED RELATIVES, AND ALSO HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE REALLY INVESTING IN OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, WHICH IS STRETCHED.

WE’VE SEEN A 53% INCREASE IN UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

AND SO THIS IS COULDN’T COME AT A MORE VITAL TIME, AS I MENTIONED, THAT WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WALKS BACK, THEIR COMMITMENTS, LIKE WE’VE SEEN, ESPECIALLY AROUND HOUSING AT THE STATE, WE HAD TO STEP IN ALREADY THIS YEAR.

WE INJECTED $9 MILLION AT THE START OF THE SESSION AND ANOTHER FOUR IN OUR HOUSING BILL TO PLUG THE HOLES.

AND SO THIS IS ANOTHER WAY THAT WE’RE MAKING SURE THAT WE’RE WE’RE STANDING IN THE GAP FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THE LAST THING I’LL JUST SAY, THERE’S SO MUCH WE COULD GO ON AND ON.

BUT PERSONALLY, I ALSO WAS ABLE TO GET THE $1.3 MILLION TO DO OUR LAND TRANSFER.

REMATRIATION OF THE FOND DU LAC BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA.

THIS IS A LAND TRANSFER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, AS WELL AS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, LAND THAT WAS STOLEN AND TAKEN, BUT THAT WILL BE RETURNED, REPRESENTING A 10% OF THE ORIGINAL 3400 ACRES OF OUR HOMELANDS.

IN THE HEART OF IT, THAT WILL BE BACK IN TRUST WITH THE BAND, BUT ALSO WILL MAKE SURE THAT FOR THE TIMBER INDUSTRY, THE RESEARCHERS, THE BUSINESSES THAT RELY ON WHAT HAPPENS AT THAT FORESTRY CENTER WILL CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE FOR FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.

IT CERTAINLY SEEMED THAT NORTHERN MINNESOTA DID A GOOD JOB OF GETTING RESOURCES FROM THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL.

REPRESENTATIVES.

LESNICA ARE THERE OTHER PROJECTS YOU’D LIKE TO LIFT UP AND TALK ABOUT?

YEAH, I THINK IT WAS WONDERFUL FOR THE TRADES, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, FOR THE BUSINESS, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE THROUGH THE CAPITAL BINDING AND REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECTS.

FROM THE TOP OF MY DISTRICT, WE GOT SOME IMPORTANT FUNDING TO HELP GET THE UTILITIES ON THE MAIN DRAG THROUGH HIGHWAY 61 IN DOWNTOWN TWO HARBORS, TO HELP COMPLETE THAT PROJECT SO THAT IT WOULDN’T FALL ON THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS THERE.

AND THAT GOT TO THE FINISH LINE, AS WELL AS UTILITY EXPANSION FOR RICE LAKE, UTILITY EXPANSION FOR PROCTOR, WHICH BOTH OF THOSE WILL LEND ITSELF TO MORE HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL GROWING THEIR COMMERCIAL TAX BASE.

IN ADDITION, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SEWER PIPES REPLACED FOR THE NORTH SHORE SANITARY DISTRICT, WHICH WILL PROTECT LAKE SUPERIOR, WHICH WAS IMPORTANT TO MANY.

AND SO THAT IS AN OLD DECAYING SYSTEM.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO DELIVER DOLLARS FOR THAT.

AND I’M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE REGIONAL THINGS TO YOU KNOW, I WAS THE WORKED LIKE A REPRESENTATIVE, KOZLOWSKI SAID.

I WAS THE AUTHOR, BUT WE WORKED TOGETHER AS COAUTHORS ON THIS BILL FOR THE DULUTH AIRPORT TOWER.

AND WE’LL BE GOING TO THE GROUNDBREAKING TODAY.

AND THAT’S JUST A WONDERFUL THING FOR THE REGION, AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANT RENOVATIONS TO THE DECK WHERE YOU’RE BRINGING IN, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TO THIS ENTIRE REGION WITH EVENTS THAT HELP THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

AND I WAS EXCITED TO BE THE AUTHOR ON THE EVENTS FOR MINNESOTA, BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE MORE EVENTS COMING TO DULUTH, ROCHESTER, MINNEAPOLIS.

AND NOW WE’RE GOING TO GET THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DRAFT IN MINNESOTA THROUGH THIS EVENTS, MINNESOTA EVENTS.

AND SO I WANT TO SEE US.

SO I HAD A BILL TO HAVE NO TAX DOLLARS, NO ADDITIONAL TAX GENERAL FUND MONEY, BUT TO UTILIZE OUR EXISTING RESOURCES TO GROW OUR EVENTS IN MINNESOTA, LIKE THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DRAFT.

AND THAT WOULD GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO DULUTH TO.

I’D BE REMISS AS AN IRON RANGER TO SAY THAT THERE WERE PROBABLY SEVERAL PROJECTS EVEN FURTHER NORTH, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NO RANGE LEGISLATORS ON ON THIS SHOW TODAY, BUT SEVERAL PROJECTS UP NORTH AS WELL.

WE’RE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME.

WE’LL COME BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT NOW I WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME TO GET SOME RESPONSES FROM YOU ON SOME QUESTIONS WE RECEIVED FROM VIEWERS.

AND THE FIRST TOPIC WHERE WE GOT SEVERAL QUESTIONS IS AROUND THE ISSUE OF CHILD CARE.

AND TO SUM UP, WHAT VIEWERS TALKED ABOUT IS CHILD CARE WAS REPEATEDLY DESCRIBED AS A CRISIS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

YET MANY FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS ARE LEAVING FEELING THAT LITTLE HAS CHANGED AND THERE WASN’T MEANINGFUL PROGRESS THIS SESSION.

SO WE’LL START WITH YOU.

LESNICA.

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, GOT DONE ON THE ISSUE OF CHILD CARE THIS SESSION?

WELL, CHILD CARE HAS BEEN A BIG DEAL TO ME AS A WORKING MOM.

I USED FAMILY CHILD CARE CENTER BASED CHILD CARE.

I HAD SOMEBODY THAT LIVED IN OUR HOME FOR A WHILE, AND I ALSO USED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

SO MY PERSPECTIVE HAS BEEN WE NEED TO HAVE A PLATFORM AND, AND POLICY THAT’S GOING TO ALLOW ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS TO THRIVE.

AND WHEN I LOOKED AT ALL THE DATA IN MY FIRST TERM, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE WE’VE LOST 50% OF OUR FAMILY CHILD CARES.

AND REALLY, WE’VE JUST HELD OUR OWN ON CENTERS.

BUT IT, IT HAS BEEN VERY DEVASTATING.

AND SO THEY SAY WE HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A DESERT OF CHILD CARE.

IT’S TRUE.

SO WE HAVE AN ISSUE ON THE SIDE OF PROVIDER, ENOUGH PROVIDERS AND ENOUGH SLOTS WHEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR, TWO YEARS TO FIND AN INFANT SLOT, THAT’S UNACCEPTABLE.

WE DID IN 23 CHANGE AND WE GREW THE VOLUNTARY PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS, WHICH I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.

I THINK IT’S WONDERFUL, BUT I KNEW THAT IF THREE YEAR OLDS WERE GOING TO LEAVE THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS, THAT PRESCHOOL, AGE FOUR, WAS GOING TO LEAVE THE FAMILY CHILD CARE MODEL AND THE CENTER BASED MODEL THAT IS THE ONLY GROUP OF AGE BRACKET WHERE THEY TEND TO MAKE MONEY.

THEY LOSE MONEY ON INFANTS AND THEY AND THEY BREAK EVEN ON TODDLERS.

SO I WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE STABILITY FOR OUR CENTERS, FREESTANDING CENTERS, AND OUR FAMILY CHILDCARE.

SO I WORKED REALLY HARD IN CHILDREN FAMILY TO GET THE RATIOS INCREASED FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE.

WE GOT THAT PASSED THIS YEAR THROUGH A NEW LICENSE.

THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I ALSO WORKED HARD TO ON THE MODERNIZATION.

I MET WITH NUMEROUS DAYCARE PROVIDERS ON FAMILIES AND AND WITH CENTERS, AND I TOURED THE ENTIRE STATE.

AND SO WHILE WE DIDN’T GET A BILL THROUGH THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE COMPLETED MANY OF THOSE ITEMS, GOT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BILL, AND WE GOT IT DONE.

WHILE IT’S NOT PERFECT, WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING ON ISSUES FOR CHILD CARE.

TWO OF THE THINGS I’M MOST PROUD OF.

TWO OF MY BILLS RAN THROUGH THE TAX BILL THIS YEAR THAT PROVIDE A TAX CREDIT FOR EMPLOYERS WHO ARE GOING TO INVEST IN CHILD CARE FOR EMPLOYEES.

SO WHETHER THAT’S, YOU KNOW, PAYING FOR SLOTS OR BUILDING ADDITIONS OR GROWING CHILD CARE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEY’RE GOING TO GET A TAX CREDIT.

AND THE OTHER ONE WAS FOR ACTUAL, THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE THAT HAVE FLEXIBLE BENEFIT ACCOUNTS THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER.

RIGHT NOW, THEY CAN ONLY HAVE $5,000 FOR A DEDUCTION IN THEIR FLEXIBLE SPENDING.

IT’S GOING UP TO 7500.

SO THAT’S $2,500 OF SAVINGS FOR FAMILIES THAT USE CHILD CARE.

SO I’M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE GOT THAT TO THE FINISH LINE.

AND I WORKED REALLY HARD WITH THE TAX COMMITTEE ON THAT.

AND I WORKED WITH PEOPLE UP ON THE RANGE AND WITH THE BUSINESS OF CHILD CARE AND MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE CHILD CARE LANE THAT WANTED TO SEE THINGS HAPPEN.

AND I AGREE WITH THEM WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

WE NEED TO DO MORE.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, BALANCING REGULATIONS.

WE HAD REGULATIONS ON TESTING SOIL AT NATURE BASED CHILD CARES.

WE HAVE HARTLEY AND DULUTH.

WE HAVE MANY FAMILY CHILD CARES THAT ARE NATURE BASED AND CENTERS.

SO WE HAD TO GET REASONABLE.

AND A LOT OF THE REGULATION REFORM, WE DEALT WITH THAT THIS YEAR.

AND WE ALSO MADE IT SO THAT CENTERS CAN HAVE FLEXIBILITY WITH THEIR ASSISTANTS SO THAT THEY CAN MODIFY AND, AND, AND USE STAFFING AS THEY NEED WITHOUT VIOLATING ANYTHING WITH CHILD PROTECTION OR SAFETY.

SO WE, I THINK OUR, I THINK A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENED AND NOT ENOUGH, IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT WE ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND MY GOAL IS TO STABILIZE THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY.

REPRESENTATIVE KOZLOWSKI, YOUR THOUGHTS ON OUR VIEWERS SAYING NOT ENOUGH DONE, VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN CHILD CARE THIS SESSION.

I, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO AGREE, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR CHILD CARE ADVOCATES WHO HAVE BEEN AT THE CAPITOL IN COMMUNITY, WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH US FOR SOLUTIONS TO OUR CHILD CARE CRISIS THAT CONTINUES TO JUST COMPOUND WITH MANY, MANY CHALLENGES AND A LACK OF INVESTMENT.

YOU KNOW, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

AND RIGHT NOW, MINNESOTA IS NOT PAYING AN INVESTING IN CHILD CARE AND MAKING IT THE PUBLIC GOOD THAT IT IS.

WE’VE SEEN OTHER STATES LIKE NEW MEXICO COME TOGETHER AND FIND WAYS TO GET DEDICATED, SUSTAINED REVENUE TO MAKE SURE THAT NO FAMILY PAYS MORE THAN 7% OF THEIR INCOME ON CHILD CARE.

RIGHT NOW, IT’S REALLY HEARTBREAKING.

WE SAW THE LAKESIDE EARLY LEARNING CENTER IN MY DISTRICT CLOSE ITS DOORS AFTER EVERY ATTEMPT.

WE KNOW THAT MANY CHILD CARE CENTERS ARE ONE BURST PIPE, ONE BAD BREAK AWAY FROM CLOSING ITS DOORS.

JUST AS THIS CENTER DID TO THE 60 FAMILIES IN DULUTH WHO ARE NOW SCRAMBLING BECAUSE, AS WAS MENTIONED, IT’S MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS, ON A WAITING LIST.

ONE OF THE MOST HEARTBREAKING STATS THAT I SAW WAS FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE SURVEY THAT ASKED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS ABOUT THEIR PAY, AND 1 IN 3 PROVIDERS IN MINNESOTA INDICATED THAT THEY’RE NOT EVEN TAKING PAYROLL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN COVER PAYROLL FOR THE REST OF THEIR STAFF.

SO WE KNOW THEY’RE RELYING ON THINNEST, THINNEST MARGINS AND 80 TO 90% OF THEIR REVENUE IS GOING TO PAY THE STAFF A WAGE THAT ISN’T EVEN WORTHY OF THEM.

AND SO AT THE LEGISLATURE, THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WE PUT OUR PRIME FOCUS ON.

I WILL SAY THAT’S ONE OF THE BIG HEARTBURN AREAS THAT I HAVE.

WALKING AWAY FROM THE SESSION, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THE CASE IN THE BONDING BILL AS WE HAVE THAT CHILD CARE IS INFRASTRUCTURE JUST THE SAME AS OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES AND WATER.

AND WE DID GET THE $2 MILLION IN THERE FOR CHILD CARE, CAPITAL GRANTS FOR REHAB PRESERVATION.

BUT WE NEED MORE.

WE NEED TO BOOST THE ANTE AND INJECT ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.

THERE WAS THE WORK AROUND IT MODERNIZATION, WHICH HAD MANY PLUSES AND ALSO SOME ONGOING ISSUES, BUT AROUND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE LOWER THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS WHILE TACKLING, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS IN IN TERMS OF CHILDCARE AND THE TAXES REALM, WE WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE HISTORIC CHILD CARE CREDIT, AS WELL AS THE DEPENDENT CHILD CARE TO GET THAT RELIEF FOR FAMILIES, FOR CHILD CARE.

I MEAN, I’LL TELL YOU THE THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE WAS WHEN I HAD TO STOP PAYING FOR CHILD CARE FOR MY CHILD, BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT THE SAME AS WHAT I WAS BRINGING HOME OR COVERING FOR MY MORTGAGE.

AND SO THAT’S WHAT OUR FAMILIES ARE DEALING WITH EVERY DAY.

AND IN DULUTH AND IN THIS AREA, AS WE KNOW, WE’RE WE’RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE CHILD CARE, WHETHER IT’S IN-HOME CHILD CARE CENTERS GO JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER OUT.

AND YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE A CHILD CARE CENTER FOR MILES AND MILES.

AND SO WE HAVE DESERTS.

WE HAVE AFFORDABILITY GAPS, AND WE HAVE BIG WORK AHEAD OF US.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT DID NOT GET RESOLVED WAS AROUND SCHOOL SAFETY AND SCHOOL VIOLENCE.

AND SO I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO HEAR FROM ALL THREE OF YOU ON THIS.

REPRESENTATIVE NELSON, WE’LL START WITH YOU.

IT REALLY FELT LIKE IT CAME DOWN TO TWO ISSUES THAT COULDN’T GET RESOLVED.

ON THE SCHOOL SAFETY SIDE OF THINGS.

IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS PRESSURE BETWEEN WHERE FUNDING COULD COULD GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND THEN AN ASSAULT WEAPON BAN AND A LIMIT OF MAGAZINES, A NUMBER OF ROUNDS IN A MAGAZINE.

THE SENATE TOOK A VOTE AND PASSED A PASSED A BILL THAT DEALT WITH BOTH OF THESE ISSUES.

THE HOUSE TOOK A PROCEDURAL VOTE BUT NEVER ACTUALLY TOOK A VOTE ON THIS ISSUE.

REPRESENTATIVE NELSON, YOUR THOUGHTS ON ON THAT PROPOSAL AND WHY IT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD?

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST UNFORTUNATE THINGS ABOUT IT IS THAT WE DIDN’T DO COULDN’T DO ANYTHING ON SCHOOL SAFETY BECAUSE THERE WAS TYING, TYING A GUN VOTE WITH SCHOOL SAFETY.

AND YES, THERE’S SOME MAYBE SOME CORRELATION THERE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT IS THERE’S TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.

AND BEING THAT THEY THEY WERE TIED TOGETHER, I THINK IT WAS DONE INTENTIONALLY TO, TO MAKE A VOTE.

THAT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO VOTE FOR.

I, I THINK IT’S IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE’VE HAD A VERY SIGNIFICANT ACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR OWN LEGISLATORS, ONE OF OUR LEGISLATORS, ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES, THIS ALMOST A YEAR AGO.

AND WE DID A LOT OF SAFETY MEASURES AROUND THE CAPITAL, AROUND THE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING THERE.

AND NONE OF THAT WAS TIED DIRECTLY WITH GUN VIOLENCE.

IT WAS SOLELY IN THE NAME OF KEEPING LEGISLATORS AND THE STAFF AND EVERYBODY WHO WORKS AT THE CAPITOL SAFE.

YET AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN IT CAME TO STUDENTS, IT WAS GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY TIED TO TO TIED TO GUNS AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE WAS BANS.

AND, AND THAT’S JUST UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT PUT POLITICIANS AHEAD OF STUDENTS.

AND I THINK THAT’S JUST A TERRIBLE PLACE TO BE.

REPRESENTS YOUR THOUGHTS.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, MANY ADVOCATES SAID SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TAKEN A VOTE TO SEE WHERE LEGISLATORS WERE AT BEFORE WE GO INTO ELECTION SEASON.

SO ON THAT QUESTION, AND THEN JUST MORE BROADLY ON THE ISSUE.

YEAH, I THINK I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE QUESTION IS, AND I AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE NATHAN NELSON, AND WHAT HE SAID IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WE DEALT WITH IN THE CAUCUS.

I WAS I SUPPORTED THE THE BILL THAT WAS ON CAPITOL SECURITY.

THERE WAS A LOT OF LAYERS TO THAT, BUT THERE WAS NO GUN BILL TIED TO THAT.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, THERE SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN BECAUSE THERE ARE THEY ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.

AND, YOU KNOW, PROTECTING THE SECURITY AT THE CAPITOL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, I ALSO HAD A LOT OF HARDSHIP VOTING FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS WE WERE DEALING WITH US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS BEFORE WE WERE DEALING WITH SCHOOL SAFETY.

AND I, YOU KNOW, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT LAKEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I DROVE TO LAKE LAKEVILLE IN MINNESOTA TO SEE THE SHIELD ACT, TO SEE WHAT THEY HAD DONE.

AND IT WASN’T HARDENING OUR SCHOOLS.

IT WAS JUST BEING WISE.

I MEAN, WE CANNOT LEGISLATE SOMEBODY BEING OR THEIR MORALITY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON.

AND WE HAVE WE KNEW WE HAD A 40% INCREASE AFTER COVID IN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ACROSS THE STATE, AS MOST STATES HAVE HAD VARYING LEVELS OF, OF MENTAL HEALTH.

AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO SEE THE SYSTEMS THAT WERE AVAILABLE AND WHAT SCHOOLS THAT DISTRICT CHOSE TO DO THAT.

AND IT WAS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO, TO WORK WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND ACTUALLY SEE IT FIRSTHAND, NOT JUST AN IDEA ON PAPER, AND TO SEE WHAT OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN DOING.

AND THE PARENTS THAT I TALKED TO REALLY WANTED THAT.

I FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL SCHOOLS HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY, WHETHER IT’S CHARTER SCHOOLS, THE SAME FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

AND THAT WAS A BONE OF CONTENTION.

YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

I DIDN’T SEE ANY REASON WHY A PRIVATE SCHOOLS WOULDN’T BE PROTECTED THE SAME WAY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT SAFETY IS THERE AND LEARNING.

AND AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE OTHER STATES HAVE DONE INITIATIVES TO THAT.

I’VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND.

AND IT’S IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I, I LOOKED AT THE THINGS OF THE ANONYMOUS REPORTING.

REPRESENTATIVE NADEAU DID A GREAT JOB WRITING A BILL.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT ADDRESSED THINGS THAT MADE SENSE TO ME AS FAR AS MAKING SURE THAT IF YOU IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, KNOW SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

AND IN, IN MANY OF THESE CASES THAT HAVE INVOLVED TRAGEDY, THERE HAVE BEEN CLUES AND THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAY AFTERWARDS, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE SEEN THIS AS A, AS A, AS A FLAG AND, AND WHY THEY DIDN’T.

I CAN’T ANSWER TO THAT.

BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS LOOK AT SOLUTIONS THAT, THAT THAT WOULD PREVENT SOME OF THIS, SOME OF THESE THINGS GOING FORWARD.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY WERE TIED TOGETHER.

AND I THINK IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL THING TO TIE THEM TOGETHER BECAUSE IT WASN’T TIED TOGETHER IN THE SITUATION WITH THE WITH THE CAPITOL SECURITY.

AND WE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ON THE CAPITOL SECURITY.

IT WAS A BIG INVESTMENT.

AND WE SAW CHANGES AT THE CAPITOL OF COMING THROUGH THIS YEAR, WHICH I WAS OKAY WITH BECAUSE WE HAD, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TRAGEDIES TO DEAL WITH.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR JUDGES AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE SAFE.

BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE AND THEIR WORK ENVIRONMENT, WORK ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS SCHOOL AT K THROUGH 12.

AND SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT SOME THINGS THROUGH THIS YEAR, BUT NOT THE LEVEL OF THE PACKAGE OF SCHOOL SAFETY THAT WE HAD PUT TOGETHER, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, PREVENTION AND EQUIPMENT AND CAPITAL INVESTMENTS FOR THE SCHOOLS THAT WAS ALL AVAILABLE IN THE PACKAGE AND, AND THE REPORTING.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE GOT SOME THINGS DONE THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK WITHOUT A DOUBT, WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A LOT MORE DONE ON THAT.

AND THERE WILL BE MORE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ON THE SITUATION, HOW IT WENT, IT WAS VOTED ON AT COMMITTEE LEVELS.

IT DIDN’T PASS.

WE’RE AT A 67, 67 AND AND EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE’S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON DIFFERENT TOPICS.

AND ON THIS TOPIC, IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS THERE WAS SOLUTIONS.

WE HAD MANY SOLUTIONS THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD BEFORE THE LAST NIGHT OF SESSION.

AND TO DEAL WITH THIS IN A, IN A MEANINGFUL WAY WHERE WE COULD LOOK AT LIKE, WHAT CAN WE DO?

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HOLD, YOU KNOW, CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE DOING FOLLOWING THE LAWS THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF LAWS IN PLACE WHERE WE’RE JUST RINSE AND REPEAT CRIMINALS ARE BEING ARRESTED.

YOU KNOW, THEY GOT PULLED OVER, BUT THE POLICE ARE TELLING ME OVER AND OVER THEY CAN’T DO ANYTHING.

THEY FOUND A GUN, BUT THE GUN WASN’T A PART OF THE ARREST.

AND, AND SO YOU’RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY A SLAP ON THE HAND.

AND AND THAT’S NOT OKAY.

AND MINNESOTANS SEE THAT.

AND SO WE CAN’T YOU KNOW, I HAVE DEAR FRIENDS WHO HAD A SON ASSASSINATED IN THE LATE 90S AND HAVE TOLD ME OVER AND OVER HOW DEVASTATING IT WAS.

I’VE CRIED WITH THEM NUMEROUS TIMES.

I UNDERSTAND THE HEARTACHE.

BUT THEY ALSO TOLD ME THESE THESE JUVENILES AND AND ADULTS HAD A LONG RAP SHEET, A LONG, LONG RAP SHEET.

THERE WERE SO MANY FLAGS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED WHERE THEIR SON WAS MURDERED.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES.

WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS BACK IN THE SCHOOLS AFTER 2023, WHEN THE LAW WAS CHANGED.

AND THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO HAVE THESE SCHOOL RESOURCES IN THE SCHOOL SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THERE’S A TRUSTED ADVISOR TO BE TRIAGING THESE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN DO THINGS.

NOBODY WANTS TO SEE A TRAGEDY HAPPEN THAT ANYBODY THAT’S PARTICIPATING ON THIS PANEL, WE COME AT IT FROM DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

BUT I KNOW THAT ALL OF US WANT TO PROTECT KIDS, AND WE’RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING TO DO THAT.

GRETCHEN KOSLOWSKI, YOU PARTICIPATED IN A SIT IN, ACTUALLY FOR GETTING A VOTE ON THIS MEASURE.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON BOTH THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN AND SCHOOL SAFETY ISSUES THAT DID NOT GET ADDRESSED THIS SESSION?

GREAT.

I’LL SAY, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO THIS SESSION, WE HAD YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS OF VIOLENCE THAT HAS CONTINUED TO ESCALATE AND GROWN.

IT IS NOT NEW.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WE ARE COMING IN WITH THE STING OF THE GRIEF OF OUR FOREVER.

SPEAKER, MELISSA HORTMAN AND MARK AND GILBERT AND OUR COLLEAGUE SENATOR HOFFMAN AND HIS FAMILY, AS WELL AS MANY OF US BEING ON THE ASSASSINATION LIST WITH FROM ANNUNCIATION.

THE NEXT DAY AFTER ANNUNCIATION WAS A SHOOTING WITHIN OUR LATINO COMMUNITY AT A SCHOOL.

AND BEFORE THAT, I CAN THINK BACK TO PARKLAND, TO THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB, TO THE AURORA MALLS.

AND AFTER EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS WHERE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LEAN INTO IS ACTUALLY GOING AFTER THESE GUN MANUFACTURERS.

WHO PROFITS THE MOST IN A SYSTEM OF VIOLENCE IS ACTUALLY THE GUN MANUFACTURERS.

AFTER EVERY SCHOOL SHOOTING, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN IN THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF OF WEAPONS.

AND WHAT THIS THIS BILL WAS DOING, WHAT THIS PACKAGE, WHAT THE WHOLE SIT IN THE PURPOSE WAS, IS TO JUST SAY, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR VOTE YES OR NO, MINNESOTANS DESERVE TO KNOW WHERE THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS STAND ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

AND SO THAT IS WHY I ULTIMATELY MADE THE DECISION WITH MANY COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITY TO BEGIN THE SIT IN AND SAY, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.

WE.

WE DO NEED TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THIS BILL, WHICH IT DOES, THAT IT TACKLES THE HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

WE HEARD FROM STUDENTS WHO SAID BEING ABLE TO LOWER THAT DOWN TO, I BELIEVE THE HOUSE BILL HAD IT 12 BULLETS EVERY SECOND MATTERS THAT IN THAT TIME THAT THE SHOOTERS ARE RELOADING WITH THOSE WEAPONS OF WAR IS A TIME THAT THEY HAD TO BE ABLE TO ESCAPE, TO GET BEHIND A BENCH, TO GET BEHIND ANOTHER WALL TO SAFETY, AND ALSO AROUND STRENGTHENING OUR RED FLAG LAWS, WHICH WE PASSED.

AND I’LL SAY IN MINNESOTA, THERE’S BEEN OVER 468 USES OF THOSE, AND PREDOMINANTLY, I’M VERY PROUD THAT PROUD THAT WE DID THIS WORK, BUT SAD THAT IT IS HAPPENING, THAT DULUTH IS THE HIGHEST USER OF THE RED FLAG LAWS.

IT’S WORKING.

WE’VE SEEN THAT HERE IN A SCHOOL IN DULUTH, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME TIME, GET A PAUSE AND GET THE PERSON HELP AND GET THOSE WEAPONS OUT OF THEIR HANDS.

WE ALSO HAVE PASSED BACKGROUND CHECKS.

THIS BILL ALSO TOOK MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE REGISTERING WEAPONS, SO THAT FOLKS WHO WE KNOW WHO HAS WEAPONS, AND WE KNOW PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE WEAPONS, DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE, AND THAT THEY GET THE PAUSE NEEDED, WHICH IS WHAT SOCIAL WORKERS, WHICH IS WHAT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE SAYING.

JUST 36 HOURS WOULD HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, A DEATH BY A SUICIDE OR A SCHOOL SHOOTING AND THAT COMMUNITY AND THOSE PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO REMAIN SAFE.

WE REGISTER OUR CARS, WE REGISTER, REGISTER OUR SNOWMOBILES.

I THINK MINNESOTANS ARE SAYING IT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO DEMAND THAT WE DO THE SAME THING FOR FIREARMS.

AND I’LL SAY THAT WE KNOW THAT GUN VIOLENCE DOESN’T HAPPEN IN A VACUUM.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET ACROSS, AS WAS MENTIONED, IS THE ANONYMOUS THREAT REPORTING, WHICH ALSO REPRESENTATIVE KERRY BRAUER, WHO IS ON OUR HOUSING COMMITTEE, UNDERSTANDS THAT IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT PREVENTING THE VIOLENCE AT THE THE POINT OF CRISIS, BUT LONG BEFORE WE NEED TO INVEST IN HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE.

AND SO THIS PACKAGE THAT INVESTS IN EDUCATION WITH THE ANONYMOUS THREAT REPORTING, ALSO INVESTS $10 MILLION IN COMPENSATORY AID, WHICH IS GOING AT A TIME WHEN MENTAL HEALTH, SPECIAL EDUCATION, HOLISTIC WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE ARE BEING DESTABILIZED.

FOR MINNESOTANS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT OVER CRIMINALIZING OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT WE ARE HAVE UNDERFUNDED HISTORICALLY AND CONTEMPORARILY, THAT WE’RE MAKING SURE THAT WE’RE GIVING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR SENIORS, EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF OUR SOCIAL FABRIC, TO BE ABLE TO GET THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE HOUSING, THE ACCESS TO FOOD, TO BE ABLE TO LIVE A LIFE IN, AFFORD A STABLE, HEALTHY LIFE THAT DOESN’T PUT YOU INTO, IN THE MOMENTS OF CRISIS.

AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE REALLY AFTER HERE.

WELL, WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT, AND I WANT TO GET TO AT LEAST ONE MORE TOPIC THAT RECEIVED A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, AND WE COULD PROBABLY SPEND A WHOLE SHOW ON IT.

AND THAT IS DATA CENTERS.

ONE PROPOSAL IN PARTICULAR SEEMED TO HAVE SOME MOMENTUM, AND THAT WAS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO BE BARRED FROM SIGNING NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS, MADE SOME PROGRESS, BUT ULTIMATELY DID NOT BECOME LAW.

AND SO, LIKE I SAID, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE DATA CENTER ISSUE, BUT I JUST WANT TO FOCUS ON THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR.

WHY DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS ISSUE DID NOT GET OVER THE FINISH LINE?

PRESIDENT NELSON, WE’RE GOING TO START WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND YOU KNOW, DATA CENTERS, THEY’RE THEY’RE DEFINITELY A VERY TOUCHY SUBJECT.

AND I THINK THERE’S SO MUCH THAT WE RELY ON WITH OUR WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY AND THINGS.

BUT AS THERE’S THEY’RE GROWING AND KIND OF THE NEWS AROUND THEM OF, YOU KNOW, THE WATER USAGE, THE ENERGY USAGE AND, YOU KNOW, THE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT OF, YOU KNOW, MANY BUSINESSES USE THEM WITH, WITH LOCAL, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COMING IN, WHETHER IT’S A LARGE STORE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK IT’S, YOU KNOW, I DON’T KNOW THE FINAL DETAILS OF WHY IT ENDED UP STOPPING, BUT I THINK THAT THAT THEY CAN BE A USEFUL TOOL.

HOWEVER.

I THINK WITH THE UNCERTAINTY, IT IS ALSO DANGEROUS TO, TO NOT KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

REPRESENTATIVE KOSLOWSKI.

YEAH.

THIS IS A TOPIC THAT IS FRONT AND CENTER HERE IN THE NORTHLAND WITH.

WE’VE SEEN THE THE PROPOSED SECRET PROJECT LOON, AS IT’S BEEN DUBBED.

BUT THAT IS JUST ONE OF THOUSANDS OF DATA CENTERS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND MANY OF THEM HYPERSCALE RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

AND WITH THE BANNING OF THE NDA SENATOR MCQUAID AND SENATOR MCEWEN SHOUT OUT FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THE SENATE SIDE.

I KNOW MYSELF, REPRESENTATIVE EMMA FREEMAN.

AND KIND OF AN INTERESTING COALITION.

WE HAD MANY REPUBLICAN MEMBERS SUPPORTING SAYING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TRANSPARENCY, THAT MINNESOTANS, AGAIN, DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND IN THE PUBLIC, AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES.

I MEAN, IF WE WERE TO ANY ONE OF US INTRODUCE A BILL CALLED HIF, YOU KNOW, 76, YOU COULDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE BILL.

YOU HAD NO IDEA WHAT COMMITTEES IT WENT THROUGH.

YOU HAD NO IDEA WHAT WOULD COME OUT OF THAT BILL THAT WOULD NEVER FLY.

AND SO WHAT WE’RE SEEING IS THAT FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE ALSO COMING AND SAYING THAT THEY DON’T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY ARE NEGOTIATING BACKROOM DEALS WITH COMMUNITY, NOT AT THE FRONT AND CENTER.

THAT BILL WASN’T ABLE TO GET ACROSS, THOUGH, BECAUSE WE HAD MANY CORPORATE INTERESTS AT AT HAND WORKING, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE.

AND WE DID MAKE A FINAL PUSH ON THE SENATE.

THAT BILL PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE.

IT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AS AN AMENDMENT ON THE SENATE SIDE, IN ADDITION TO PUSHING FOR A STATEWIDE MORATORIUM.

I WOULDN’T EVEN CALL IT A MORATORIUM.

I WOULD JUST CALL IT A PAUSE.

IT WAS A TWO YEAR PAUSE TO SAY WE SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT THE LOCAL ENERGY GRIDS.

THE WATER USES THE ENVIRONMENT, MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE EMBEDDING TRIBAL CONSULTATION BEFORE WE’RE BRINGING THESE ON BOARD IN.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT GET THE SUPPORT.

AND SO THAT WILL BE THINGS THAT WE’RE COMING BACK.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I’LL JUST SAY THAT IS CONCERNING FOR ME AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR ENERGY CONCERNS, IS WE’RE BEING BROUGHT FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO THIS INHUMANE AND UNJUST WAR WITH IRAN.

AND WHAT WE’VE DONE WITH GAZA AND OTHERS AROUND FOSSIL FUELS THAT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR.

WE NEED TO PUSH MORE THAN WE NEED TO LIFT THE NUCLEAR MORATORIUM SO THAT WE CAN GET ENERGY TO POWER THESE DATA CENTERS.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD REALLY HAVE A HOLISTIC, COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION AS A STATE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE FUTURE THAT WE WANT AND THAT WE’RE PROTECTING, AND AT WHAT COST.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT THAT MINNESOTA IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO ASK.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I’M VERY PROUD THAT WAS ABLE TO DO THIS YEAR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE EMBEDDING FURTHER TRIBAL CONSULTATION AND PUBLIC PROCESS INTO, OF COURSE, THE STATE AGENCIES LIKE MPCA, DNR, BUT ALSO THE LESSER KNOWN ONES LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BOARD.

I’D BE REMISS.

REPRESENTATIVE ZELEZNIK ARE 30S ON NDA’S AND WHY I THINK IT OVER THE FINISH LINE.

YEAH, I MEAN, I AUTHORED A BILL TO HAVE NO ELECTED OFFICIALS SIGN A NONDISCLOSURE FOR THE DATA CENTERS.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY THAT IS A REALLY NEW CONCEPT.

TECHNOLOGY IS MOVING REALLY FAST.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

SO I DIDN’T I DIDN’T HAVE ANY CONCERNS WITH THAT AT ALL AND SUPPORTED THAT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE’S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ON THE DATA CENTERS.

I MEAN, DULUTH LED THE WAY WITH DATA CENTERS.

WE HAVE A DATA CENTER, YOU KNOW, ON RICE LAKE ROAD, RIGHT BEHIND THE UNITEDHEALTH BUILDING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TRYING TO GET MORE TO COME TO THE AREA IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS THESE ARE HAPPENING, WHETHER IT’S IN MY COMMUNITY OR SOMEBODY ELSE’S COMMUNITY, THIS CONVERSATION NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT’S THAT’S ALL FAIR AND ALL VALID.

AND SO WE NEED TO WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS, UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE SCOPE OF IT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO HEARING MORE OF THE CONVERSATIONS NOW THAT I’M BACK HOME.

AND, AND WE’LL HAVE MORE FACTS AND DATA TO KEEP HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

SO I’M HEARING ACTUALLY FROM UP TOP ON THIS WHOLE NDAA ISSUE THAT WE HAD A LITTLE DIFFICULTY.

AND SO IF WE COULD JUST TAKE THE QUESTION AGAIN FROM EACH OF YOU.

AND WHEN I’M LOOKING AT THE TIME, WE REALLY ONLY HAVE 30S APIECE ON THE ON THE NDAA QUESTION, AND I’M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I’M JUST GETTING IN MY EAR.

SO I HATE TO MAKE YOU ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AGAIN, BUT IF YOU COULD, WE’LL JUST KIND OF PRETEND LIKE I’M JUST STARTING THE QUESTION ON NDAS AGAIN, AND THEN WE’LL TAKE IT FROM THERE.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

THE WONDERS OF TECHNOLOGY HERE.

AND SO I’LL GO TO YOU.

AND IF WE CAN KEEP IT, KEEP IT TIGHT, THAT’D BE GREAT.

AND SO UPSTAIRS, ARE WE GOOD TO GO?

ALL RIGHTY.

SORRY ABOUT THIS.

WE’LL DO THIS QUICK.

SO ONE OF THE OTHER TOPICS THAT IS RECEIVING A LOT OF TALK UP HERE IN THE NORTHLAND IS DATA CENTERS.

AND WE COULD SPEND A WHOLE SHOW TALKING ABOUT MANY OF THE ISSUES SURROUNDING DATA CENTERS, BUT REALLY WANT TO FOCUS THIS CONVERSATION ON NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS.

AND THERE WAS A BILL PUT PUT TOGETHER TO BAN PUBLIC OFFICIALS FROM SIGNING NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS.

AND SO I WANT TO GET BRIEFLY YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

REPRESENTATIVE NELSON.

THANK YOU.

AND I DON’T KNOW THE FINAL DETAILS OF WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WITH THE WHY IT FELL APART.

BUT I THINK WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND I THINK THAT’S IT’S AN IMPORTANT PART.

AND AND I THINK THE DISCUSSIONS WILL CONTINUE NEXT BIENNIUM.

KOZLOWSKI YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHY NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS DIDN’T MAKE IT OVER THE FINISH LINE?

I’LL SAY THAT THERE WERE HIGHER INTERESTS, POWERFUL CORPORATE INTERESTS, AS WELL AS SQUARELY IN IN THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP THAT WHEN THIS BILL CAME TO COMMITTEE AND IT DIED ON A PARTY LINE VOTE.

AND THAT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE WE HAD REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS ACROSS A BROAD COALITION, MAKING SURE THAT MINNESOTANS KNOW WHAT THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE DOING AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE’S A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

LESNICA YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHY NDAS DID NOT GET OVER THE FINISH LINE?

I THINK THERE WERE COMPETING PRIORITIES.

I THINK THAT’S A TRUE STATEMENT.

I WAS AN AUTHOR OF THE CHIEF AUTHOR FOR BANNING ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS ON THE DATA CENTERS, AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT IT’S A NEW BUSINESS LINE, AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT’S REALLY GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF ENERGY.

IT’S NOT THE FIRST ONE IN OUR REGION.

I WAS I LEARNED IN ALL MY RESEARCH THAT WE HAVE A DATA CENTER RIGHT OFF OF RICE LAKE ROAD BEHIND UNITED HEALTH.

AND SO THAT OCCURRED.

AND OVER TEN YEARS AGO, I BELIEVE, WHEN WE GOT OUR FIRST DATA CENTER.

AND SO TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING.

AND SO WE HAVE TO FIND SOLUTIONS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE THE CITIZENS INVOLVED IN UNDERSTANDING ALL THEIR QUESTIONS ON WATER AND NOISE AND AIR AND, AND ALL THE HOW IT’S GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF US.

AND SO I THINK THOSE ARE FAIR QUESTIONS.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE’RE GOING TO GAIN MOVING FORWARD AND, AND WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE AND BALANCE THOSE OUT IN A IN A HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE WAY.

AND I THINK WE’LL GET THERE.

WELL, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN A WHOLE BUNCH MORE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

I’D LIKE TO THANK REPRESENTATIVES KOZLOWSKI, NELSON AND ZELEZNIK FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING, ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS AND SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS.

THIS IS OUR LAST SHOW OF THE SEASON, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WATCHING FOR THE TEAM HERE AT PBS NORTH.

I’M TONY SERTICH.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

ALL RIGHT.

SORRY ABOUT THAT TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY ON THAT LAST ONE.

REALLY UNFORTUNATE FROM OUR END.

SO APOLOGIES AND APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE ON THAT.

WE’RE GOING TO NOW QUICKLY MOVE OVER AND DO JUST TEN MORE MINUTES IF THAT STILL WORKS FOR FOLKS.

YEAH, I JUST GOT A QUICK YEP.

NO WORRIES.

GO AHEAD.

I’M GOING TO GRAB ONE THING TO.

YEP.

DO IT.

ALL RIGHT.

HANG ON.

I NEED A JOIN FROM MY PHONE IF THAT’S OKAY.

MY THE SHUFFLE OF TRAVEL.

I CAN’T FIND MY COMPUTER CHARGER.

OKAY.

BACK.

OKAY.

REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE GONE?

REPRESENTATIVE KOZLOWSKI IS GOING TO BE SWITCHING DEVICES, SO IT’LL JUST BE A MINUTE HERE.

OKAY?

AND THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT.

I AM WONDERING, AND I’M IF YOU TURN IT SIDEWAYS, REPRESENT KOZLOWSKI, WOULD THAT BE FULL SCREEN FOR US?

YES.

IF I CAN HAVE AN IDEA.

PERFECT.

LET’S SEE.

BE ABLE TO TRY TO HOLD IT.

IS THAT NOT A GREAT ANGLE?

WELL, IT LOOKED BETTER WHEN YOU WERE SITTING DOWN AND IT WAS IT WAS DOWN.

IT WAS OKAY.

I THINK IF YOU HOLD IT, IT MIGHT BE TOO JIGGLY.

SO IF YOU COULD SET IT DOWN.

YEAH.

OKAY.

I TRUST YOUR CORE STRENGTH, BUT TEN MINUTES IS A LONG TIME.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR ANOTHER SHOW ON PBS NORTH CALLED IN BUSINESS.

AND SO IT’S REALLY I’LL REINTRODUCE YOU ALL.

AND THEN IT’LL BE A SPECIFIC QUESTION OR TWO ABOUT THE IMPACTS, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS IMPACTS FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITIES UP NORTH, AND PROBABLY GOING TO GET LIKE, IT’S ONLY IT’S PROBABLY LESS THAN TEN MINUTES.

AND SO PROBABLY ONE ANSWER APIECE.

AND MAYBE A SECOND QUESTION THAT WE’LL WRAP IT UP.

KOZLOWSKI YOU GOOD TO GO.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

GREAT.

HELLO AND WELCOME BACK TO IN BUSINESS.

I’M TONY SERTICH.

WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE END OF THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR OUR REGION.

JOINING US TODAY IS REPRESENTATIVE LEACH KOZLOWSKI, A DFLER FROM DULUTH REPRESENTING DISTRICT EIGHT B. ALSO WITH US IS REPRESENTATIVE NATHAN NELSON, A REPUBLICAN FROM CLOVER TOWNSHIP, NEAR NEAR HINCKLEY, REPRESENTING DISTRICT 11 B AND REPRESENTATIVE NATALIE ZELEZNICAR, A REPUBLICAN FROM FREDENBERG TOWNSHIP REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE B. WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION JUST WRAPPED UP, AND THE MAIN QUESTION ON VIEWERS MINDS IS WHAT WERE THE WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THIS SESSION ON OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

RESIDENTS WILL START WITH YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU.

AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THOSE THAT HAVE S CORPS AND LLCS WAS TO HAVE THE PASS THROUGH ENTITY BE PROTECTED THIS NEXT YEAR.

AND SO IN THE TAX COMMITTEE THAT THAT GOT WORKED ON AND WE PASSED THAT.

AND SO THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK WILL HELP THE TAX, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, THOSE BUSINESSES, AND THERE’S MANY OF THEM THAT WANT TO PARTNER TO TRY TO HELP EMPLOYEES AND THEIR WORKFORCE HAVE CHILD CARE.

SO WHETHER THEY’RE GOING TO RESERVE SLOTS IN AN INDEPENDENT CHILD CARE CENTER OR FAMILY CHILD CARE CENTER, OR THEY’RE GOING TO ADD ON AN ADDITION, IT WILL ALLOW THEM A LANE TO DO THAT AND PARTICIPATE WITH THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND SO I THINK THAT’S A GREAT OPTION FOR THEM.

AND THEN I’M EXCITED TO SEE THE THE EVENTS ARE HAPPENING WITH THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DRAFT COMING TO MINNEAPOLIS.

I WORKED REALLY HARD ON TRYING TO GET MORE A NEW PATHWAY FOR FUNDING SO THAT THE MINNESOTA EVENTS CAN VET THESE THESE REALLY RENOWNED EVENTS, WHETHER IT’S WRESTLING EVENTS OR GYMNASTICS OR THE OLYMPICS TRIALS, ALL THESE THINGS.

MINNESOTA SHOULD BE ON A FRONT LINE OF TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE.

THAT WILL BRING REVENUE TO DULUTH AT THE DECK.

IT WILL BRING REVENUE TO PLACES LIKE SAINT CLOUD, ROCHESTER, MINNEAPOLIS, SAINT PAUL.

AND SO I’M REALLY EXCITED FOR SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE THAT WILL HELP THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND THE THE SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE.

AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE WERE ABLE TO GET DONE, AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO.

I MEAN, MANY HAVE ASKED ABOUT PAID LEAVE.

AND WHILE WE AUTHORED BILLS TO TRY TO HELP ON THE PAID LEAVE, THAT WASN’T GOING TO HAPPEN IN A 6767 TIE.

AS FAR AS THE BUSINESSES WITH VERY FEW EMPLOYEES ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO COMPETE IN THIS AND TO HAVE HAVE THE ABILITY TO COVER PAYROLL RIGHT NOW WHEN THEY HAVE, THEY DON’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE REPLACEMENTS.

AND SO WE HAVE SOME THINGS TO WORK ON.

BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A FEW THINGS DONE FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO REPRESENT.

NELSON.

WHAT IMPACTS TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAPPEN DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

I THINK SOME OF THE AS REPRESENTATIVE ZELJEZNICAR STATED, SOME OF THE FEDERAL CONFORMITIES ARE IMPORTANT.

THE WHAT THE TAXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND, AND ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I’M PROBABLY MOST DISAPPOINTED THAT WE COULDN’T GET SOME CHANGE IN WAS THE, ON THE PAID, PAID LEAVE, WE’VE GOT A LOT OF SMALL EMPLOYERS OR SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS IN MY DISTRICT AND PROBABLY ALL ACROSS THE STATE, REALLY, THAT THAT ARE PAYING INTO IT, THAT ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT ON ON PAID LEAVE.

BUT YET IT’S A COST ON THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

IT’S MORE PAPERWORK, MORE, MORE WORK.

AND WE REALLY, WE REALLY ABLE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AROUND THAT.

AND THAT’S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE COULDN’T ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS IS THE THE FEDERAL CONFORMITY ON THE TAX ISSUES.

REPRESENTATIVE KOZLOWSKI, HOW ARE BUSINESSES GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

ARE.

AND THEN SHE’S GONE.

OKAY.

WE’RE GOING TO LOOK TO SEE IF WE CAN TRY TO GET HER BACK.

OUR PRODUCERS ARE TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HER.

SO JUST HANG TIGHT FOR A SECOND.

ALL RIGHT.

THERE THEY ARE.

THERE WE ARE.

I CAN SEE YOU.

OKAY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

AND CAN HEAR YOU?

I CAN HEAR ME.

OKAY.

YEP.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

CAN I JUST START OVER?

YEAH.

WE DIDN’T HEAR A WORD, SO I’M GONNA.

I’LL ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN AND THEN YOU CAN GO, OKAY?

OKAY.

REPRESENTATIVE KOZLOWSKI, HOW ARE BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

THIS BUSINESS COMMUNITY REALLY CAME TOGETHER TO SHARE THEIR NEEDS, CHALLENGES, SUCCESSES, AREAS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LEAN INTO AS A STATE LEGISLATURE TO BE A STRONG PARTNER, TO MAKE SURE OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY AND OUR STATE ECONOMY CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND GROW AND EXPAND, WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WORKERS ARE GIVEN A FAIR SHAKE AT BEING ABLE TO HAVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND AFFORD THEIR LIVES.

AND SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I’M PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REACH BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON IS THE PASS THROUGH ENTITIES, AS WAS MENTIONED.

THAT’S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR MANY OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

TALK TO MANY OF THEM ABOUT ACCESSING THAT IMPORTANT FEDERAL CREDIT AND DEDUCTION.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE DID THAT I WAS PROUD WE WE HEARD MANY CONCERNS AND HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.

AND I KNOW THERE WAS A BUMP IN THERE FOR EMPLOYERS TO ACCESS THE FREE FML CREDIT, JUST TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF THERE.

WE SAW THAT PROGRAM.

MINNESOTANS ARE USING IT IN DROVES AND IS MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE ACCESSING, YOU KNOW, TIME AWAY WITH THEIR BABIES, TIME AWAY TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE CONTINUING TO KEEP OUR EAR TO THE GROUND AS WE HEAD FORWARD TO GET THAT RELIEF FOR, FOR BUSINESSES WHO WANT TO DO RIGHT BY THEIR EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, MIGHT BE HAVING A LITTLE CHALLENGE WITH IT.

AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS I JUST GOT TO SAY, THE HOUSING BILL IS PROBABLY THE THING THAT WALKING OUT OF IF YOU HAD SAID WE WERE GOING TO GET $165 MILLION WITH ZERO IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND IN A BUDGET NEUTRAL WAY IN A TIED LEGISLATURE, WE WOULDN’T HAVE BELIEVED YOU.

AND THAT LOOKS LIKE $100 MILLION OF HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS, WHICH FOR NORTHERN MINNESOTA, THAT’S BEEN OUR BREAD AND BUTTER TO BE ABLE TO BUILD MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING, BE ABLE TO PUT OUR TRADES AND LABOR UNIONS TO WORK, CREATE THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS THAT’S GOING TO BRING ON OVER 2200 NEW HOMES, IS ESTIMATED.

AND ALSO GOT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO CO-CHAIR.

EGO ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WAS JUST A TREMENDOUS PARTNER AND COMING TOGETHER TO SAY, WE ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE OUR WORKFORCE SHORTAGE ISSUES UNLESS WE SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS.

AND WITH 100 000 UNITS SHORT, THIS IS GOING TO BRING ON, LIKE I SAID, THOSE 2200 NEW UNITS.

WE ALSO INVESTED IN MORE GREATER MINNESOTA WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT LOOKS LIKE SEWER WATER HOOKUPS, AS WELL AS NEW HOMES.

AND WE’RE ABLE TO GET THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE WE WE HEARD ACROSS THE STATE, BUT REALLY DIRE HERE IN SAINT LOUIS COUNTY, WHERE WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE CONTINUING TO TO CARRY THE BURDEN OF THE HIGHEST EVICTIONS IN MINNESOTA.

AND THAT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE IMPACT THAT IS HAVING IN SAINT LOUIS COUNTY.

WHETHER YOU’RE A MINER WHO IS, YOU KNOW, SEEN A DOWNTURN IN YOUR MIND OR YOUR IN SOMEBODY WHO IS JUST LOSING HOURS OR YOU’VE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN, IN THE WALK BACK OF COMMITMENTS THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE 3% OF THOSE $40 MILLION THAT I WAS PROUD TO OFFER, THAT LEGISLATION WILL COME RIGHT HERE TO SAINT LOUIS COUNTY, AS WELL AS 9% THAT WILL BE GOING OUT TO EVERY TRIBAL NATION.

AND WE HEARD FROM EMPLOYERS OVER AND OVER THAT WE CAN’T EXPAND, WE CAN’T GROW UNLESS WE HAVE THESE DOLLARS FOR HOUSING.

AND THIS WILL BE SUPERCHARGED.

MAKING SURE THAT WE’RE PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE’S HOMES FOR WORKERS RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

REPRESENTATIVE KOZLOWSKI SPOKE ABOUT WORKFORCE AND THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL.

NELSON, CAN YOU TALK A BIT ABOUT THOSE TWO ISSUES AND HOW THEY MAY BE SUPPORTING OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD?

YES.

THANK YOU.

I THINK ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS ON THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT IS, YOU KNOW, WE’RE WE’RE CLEANING UP OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, SOUND, WE’RE PRESERVING ASSETS, BUT WE’RE ALSO PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT’S GOOD JOBS ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND ALL ACROSS OUR REGION.

AND, AND I THINK THAT’S, THAT’S SO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES IS WHEN WE LOOK AROUND THE STATE AND WE SEE THE NEED FOR WORK, HAVING HAVING HOUSING THAT MATCHES THE REALLY THE AFFORDABILITY OF THE HOUSE OR OF THE, OF THE LIVING, WHEREVER THEY’RE GOING TO LIVE IS TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE PAY FOR THE RENT OR PAY THE MORTGAGE, WHATEVER WITH THAT.

AND, AND HAVING THE HOUSING THAT MATCHES THAT IS SO CRUCIAL.

YEAH, I COULDN’T AGREE MORE.

I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE PILOT PROJECT FOR SAINT LOUIS COUNTY AND LAKE COUNTY, FOR THE MINNESOTA NICE HOME SHARE PROGRAM, WHICH IS BASICALLY AN AIRBNB PLATFORM FOR SENIORS TO RENT A ROOM IN THEIR HOUSE.

SO WHILE WE’RE WE’RE WORKING TO GET MORE HOUSING TO HELP BUSINESSES BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES TO LIVE.

THIS IS A SOLUTION FOR PEOPLE AND FOR THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF SIDE.

IT HELPS SENIORS WHO HAVE A VERY FIXED INCOME STAY IN THEIR HOME LONGER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A WAY TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOME.

AND THAT HAS BEEN A JOY TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU’RE TAKING YOUR FIRST JOB, YOU MIGHT BE IN COLLEGE, YOU MIGHT BE WIDOWED, YOU KNOW, SINGLE, WHATEVER YOUR SITUATION IS, IT ALLOWS THE SENIORS TO FIND THE MATCH THAT WORKS FOR THEM TO RENT A ROOM FOR THEM.

AND MOST OF THESE RENTS END UP BEING LIKE 800 TO $1000.

SO IT’S REASONABLE, AFFORDABLE RENT FOR THE WORKER AND FOR AND IT GIVES INCOME FOR THE SENIORS.

SO I’M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I’M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.

SPENCER.

I GOT THE NUCLEAR STUDY PASSED.

AND SO THAT’S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW DOES BUSINESS THRIVE AND GROW, WE HAVE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE ENERGY.

THE 2040 PLAN THAT WAS PASSED IN 2023 IS A WIND AND SOLAR ONLY PLAN.

BUT RIGHT NOW, OUR GRID IS REALLY DEPENDENT ON COAL, NUCLEAR AND NATURAL GAS.

AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG BASELINE LIKE THE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT USE NUCLEAR DO, SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE OUR OUR ELECTRICAL COSTS AND REDUCE OUR ENERGY COSTS SO THINGS CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, FOR BUSINESSES.

ON TOP OF THAT, I’M EXCITED TO SEE THE THE HELIUM BE ABLE TO HAVE A PATHWAY TO HAVE THE THE MINERAL ARTICLES UPDATED THIS LAST SESSION SO WE CAN WE CAN GET GOING AND START DOING WHAT WE CAN TO HAVE THE NORTH THRIVE WHEN THE NORTH THRIVES WITH MINING AND THE HELIUM DEPOSITS THAT ARE HERE, AND CO2 DEPOSITS, WE HAVE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE WAY FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WHILE WE PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, WE ALSO CAN LEAD.

WHEN PEOPLE HAVE JOBS, THEN THERE’S SO MANY OTHER BENEFITS AS FAR AS MENTAL HEALTH AND PEOPLE HAVING OPPORTUNITIES.

AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY THAT IS GOING TO HELP THE BUSINESSES IS THE FEDERAL CONFORMITY, WHERE PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE BODIED, DISABLED PEOPLE ARE EXCLUDED, PREGNANT PEOPLE ARE EXCLUDED, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE ON MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR PEOPLE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

BUT IF YOU’RE ABLE BODIED ADULT, 18 TO 64 IN ORDER TO HAVE YOUR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK 20 HOURS A WEEK OR VOLUNTEER 20 HOURS A WEEK, OR BE IN SCHOOL 20 HOURS A WEEK.

AND I THINK THAT’S GOING TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR THE WORKFORCE FOR FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

YOU SEE HELP WANTED SIGNS ALL OVER THE PLACE OR REDUCED HOURS IN HOSPITALITY ESPECIALLY.

AND SO I THINK IT’S GOING TO HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE FOR THE EMPLOYERS AND ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT’S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON PASSED IN THE 90S, AND I SUPPORTED THAT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A WORTHWHILE THING FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE PURPOSE AND TO HAVE THEIR SELF ESTEEM FOR THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH, BE POSITIVE, AND ALSO TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT’S GOING TO BE SOMETHING ELSE THAT I THINK WILL HELP THE COMMUNITY.

KOZLOWSKI.

LAST WORD.

THIS SESSION’S IMPACT ON BUSINESSES AND WORKERS.

I’LL JUST SAY THAT WE ARE HAVING A BIG INVESTMENTS IN OUR BUSINESSES, AND WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE SUPPORTED, BUT ALSO PUTTING A LOT OF WORK INTO DEFENDING OUR LABOR UNIONS AND GROWING, MAKING IT EASIER TO START AND JOIN AND GROW.

A LABOR UNION.

WORKER POWER IS REALLY WHERE THE FUTURE IS GOING AS WE FEND OFF THE AI THAT IS BARRELING FORWARD IN MINNESOTA AND CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE WEALTH INEQUALITY AND RACIAL WEALTH GAPS IN MINNESOTA.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU TO ALL THREE OF YOU.

A WONDERFUL, GREAT JOB.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

GET SOME REST, THE THREE OF YOU, AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ENGLISH.

WHAT’S THAT?

YEAH.

WE’RE RIDING IN THE CAR TO GET TO THE AIRPORT.

I’M SURE SHE DOES TOO.

SO TIME TO GET OUT OF HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

HAVE A GREAT DAY, EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU.

OH, YES.

OH!

OH, YEAH.

WELL, WE WOULDN’T SAY IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE WE’RE DONE.

OKAY.

THANKS.

FOR THE DATA CENTER.

YEAH YEAH YEAH.

NO THAT’S FINE.

THAT’S I LIKE HOW YOU FRAMED IT AS, OH, WE NEED IT.

SO I WAS LIKE, THAT’S PERFECT.

I KNOW, I KNOW IT’S GOING TO CAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE IT.

NO IT’S FINE.

YEAH.

OKAY.

I HAVE EXTRA TIME TILL FRIDAY.

WE ACTUALLY DID I FIND IT SO THOSE WERE THE FIRST GENERAL QUESTIONS WE GOT THAT WERE SENT IN ON SUNDAY.

YEAH.

BUT I NOTICED BEFORE THE MCEWEN ZELEZNIK EPISODE ON FRIDAY, BUT IT WAS IN THE AFTERNOON.

SO BEFORE WE DID IT, IT WAS LIKE SIX QUESTIONS FOR FOR MCEWEN.

OH, REALLY?

YEAH, YEAH.

BUT WE ALREADY RECORDED THE EPISODE, SO WE COULDN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

BUT THERE WERE LIKE SIX QUESTIONS.

THREE OF THEM LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE FROM THE SAME PERSON WITH DIFFERENT.