Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:03 Attendance Roll Call: 00:16 Approval of Minutes: 01:17 Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector: 00:01:30 Findings and Recommendations: 21:15 Adjournment: 34:18, 958, all

Summary: The final meeting of the AI Task Force began with a quorum call and approval of the meeting agenda. The committee heard a presentation from Salesforce representatives Paul Bzel and Ed Wallace on AI in the public sector. They described Salesforce’s use of AI in its platform, including Einstein and Agentforce, and emphasized data protection, customer choice among large language models, and the use of guardrails and human oversight. Members asked questions about data retention, security, the number of states Salesforce works with, ROI, third-party models, and whether AI could help modernize legacy COBOL systems. The witnesses said Salesforce uses third-party models, masks data before model processing, does not allow models to retain data after processing, and offers GovCloud/FedRAMP and other security options. They also said AI is best suited to routine government tasks, such as call center support and SNAP-related inquiries, while more complex cases still require human judgment. After the Salesforce testimony, the task force moved to its findings and recommendations report. The findings, adopted by voice vote without opposition, stated that AI is rapidly evolving, is already being used in public and private sectors, that guidelines are emerging, other states are investing in AI research and development, AI is being used in health care, there are both benefits and concerns about AI use, and there is a lack of AI safety legislation. The recommendations called for legislation establishing AI policy standards and ethical-use frameworks, federal action on AI regulation, a legislative definition of artificial intelligence, responsible use of AI in elections, a study on how employer-provided AI training could translate into postsecondary credit, review of health care regulations for HIPAA protections, continued review of laws related to individual likeness, a one-time funding allocation for AI research centers, disclosure requirements for AI chatbots, long-term AI governance models for infrastructure providers, and continued support for utility generation and infrastructure to meet rising energy demand. Members then discussed whether the recommendations adequately addressed AI’s impact on criminal justice and the difficulty of detecting AI-generated content. The chair and co-chair said those concerns were intended to be covered by the recommendation directing the Attorney General to review laws related to individual likeness and continue collaborating with the General Assembly, noting that many issues would likely be resolved through court challenges rather than immediate legislation. The transcript ends as the committee continues discussion of the report.

Keywords: Meeting start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:15 Election Reporting Transparency Technology 00:01:15 Pending Projects and Legacy Projects 00:41:22 School Security Technology 00:45:05, 958, all

Summary: The committee met to approve the minutes from its September 11 and October 9 meetings, and both sets of minutes were approved by voice vote. The main presentation was on election reporting transparency technology, specifically Sea’s “Ballot Verifier” and related “Election Stats” product, which the presenter described as a way to make election results, ballot images, and cast vote records searchable and publicly accessible while preserving auditability. The company said the system lets users filter results by office, district, candidate, ballot question, precinct, and vote type, and download supporting data and official reports to compare published results with underlying records. Representatives from Tarrant County, Texas, described their use of the product in a large, heavily scrutinized jurisdiction with about 1.3 million registered voters. They said public requests for ballot images and cast vote records had become overwhelming, and the tool helped reduce that burden and improve transparency. They also said it was useful during a close constable race recount, where the availability of ballot images and cast vote records helped confirm the original results after a hand count produced discrepancies and the judge ultimately upheld the original outcome. Committee members asked about voter privacy and data integrity. The presenter said the jurisdiction retains the original ballots and cast vote records, that the system uses privacy masking for small precincts where voters could be identified, and that masked records are removed from the server. On verification, the presenter said the system relies on ballot-level identifiers and vendor-generated digital signatures or hashes, though that feature was described as still being on the roadmap and not yet fully implemented. The discussion also included a recommendation that lawmakers consider stronger penalties for ballot doxing.

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Summary: The committee first approved the October 8 meeting minutes and then moved through several contract items on deferred and pool lists. Members questioned a retroactive contract involving the Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions and the Board of Bar Examiners for legal services tied to a Rule 60 original action in the Supreme Court. Officials said the need was time-sensitive, the office had recently been brought under AOC purview, and the contract was new rather than a renewal. Members pressed on the lack of an RFP and the retroactive timing, and the committee approved the contract, while several members said they remained concerned about accountability and future procurement practices. The committee then reviewed Disability Determination Services contracts for medical consultants. Staff explained that the contracts were for individual chart reviews, not in-person exams, and that the work supports large volumes of disability claims and continuing disability reviews. Members asked about the RFP process, the number and type of physicians involved, specialties, and compensation. Officials said the contracts are paid per referral, the amounts are all-inclusive, and most contractors use only a portion of the available budget. Several members voted yes but said the rates seemed high and asked that the agency broaden outreach to attract more physicians and make the process more market-driven. The final major item was a General Assembly contract for an LRC Medicaid reimbursement study. Staff explained that the legislature had already directed the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to conduct a Medicaid reimbursement study, and that the LRC study was intended to provide an independent, concurrent analysis using a different vendor and different questions. They said the work would help inform future legislative action and that an assistant director for health data and analytics had been hired to help coordinate the effort. Members questioned whether two studies were duplicative and whether the results would be used, but the contract was approved after discussion.

Keywords: 0:06 – Meeting start/roll call 0:38 – Approval of minutes 1:13 – Office of the Attorney General 3:07 – Personnel Cabinet 4:08 – Teachers’ Retirement System 5:02 – State Investment Commission & Kentucky Private Activity Bond Allocation Committee 8:23 – Board of Pharmacy 10:30 – Board of Dentistry 11:50 – Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors 13:05 – Board of Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 1:10:42 – Kentucky Housing Corporation 1:11:37 – Board of Emergency Medical Services 1:14:25 – Justice and Public Safety Cabinet – Parole Board 1:15:05 – Transportation Cabinet – Office for Civil Rights and Small Business Development 1:15:48 – Education and Labor Cabinet – Department of Education 1:17:10 – Cabinet for Health and Family Services – Office of Human Resource Management 1:17:51 – Cabinet for Health and Family Services – Department for Public Health 2:12:48 – Cabinet for Health and Family Services – Department for Medicaid Services 2:12:47 – Cabinet for Health and Family Services – Department for Community-Based Services 2:18:35 – Other business; Justice and Public Safety Cabinet – Department of Corrections, 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met with a quorum and approved the minutes before reviewing a series of agency regulations, most of which had staff-suggested amendments for drafting conformity under KRS Chapter 13A. The committee approved without objection the staff amendments for the Personnel Cabinet’s internship interview preference regulation, the Teachers Retirement System’s qualified domestic relations orders regulation, several State Investment Commission and Private Activity Bond Committee regulations, and the Board of Pharmacy’s regulations on assisted living communities, tamper-resistant secure containers, and remote prescription processing. The committee also approved an agency amendment to the Board of Pharmacy regulation excluding assisted living communities from the definition of long-term care facility. A question was raised about the federal volume cap regulation, and agency staff explained it was being updated to preserve flexibility for future federal stimulus or volume-cap allocations. The Board of Dentistry and Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors regulations were also approved with staff amendments, addressing dental hygienist licensure and fees, and professional licensure, reinstatement, continuing development, and incorporated materials. The most extended discussion involved the Board of Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing regulations. The package would clarify definitions, separate full and temporary licensure requirements, adjust fees, revise complaint procedures, remove waiver/extension language for continuing education, create a registry for nonresident interpreters, and update incorporated materials. The main controversy centered on 201 KAR 39:030, which would remove the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) as a qualification for full licensure and instead require national certification. Board counsel and staff explained that EIPA was never a national certification, that the board is statutorily limited to national certifications, and that the change was prompted by changes in credentialing organizations and testing names. They also said an after-comments amendment would grandfather in current EIPA-based licensees and any applicants licensed before the effective date, while adding broader language to allow future nationally recognized certifications. The committee approved the staff amendments, but the chair set aside 39:030 for separate discussion because of concerns raised by members and public testimony. Public testimony on 39:030 was split. Board representatives and counsel said the change was needed to align licensure with statute and to clarify that EIPA is an assessment tool, not a certification, while also noting that the board had already grandfathered current EIPA licensees. Opponents, including Linda Boseman, argued that EIPA had long been accepted in Kentucky and by national organizations, that the state faces a shortage of interpreters, especially in K-12 settings, and that the proposed rule would make it harder for out-of-state interpreters with EIPA credentials to work in Kentucky. She urged the board to allow EIPA 4.0 or better as a basis for full licensure in K-12 settings. No final vote on the contested 39:030 regulation was taken in the portion of the meeting provided, while the other interpreter regulations were discussed and staff amendments approved.

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Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Friends of the Autism Initiative focused on autism diagnosis and treatment access in Kentucky. Representative Mike Kleins explained that his earlier House Concurrent Resolution 51, which would have created an Autism Education Task Force, passed the House but did not advance, and he said the group wanted to keep building momentum. Presenters Molly Debuk, a licensed behavior analyst, Haley Newman, a parent, and TJ Koy, chair of ABA Advocates, described long wait times for diagnostic appointments and ABA treatment, shortages of licensed behavior analysts and behavior technicians, and the impact on families who often travel long distances or pay out of pocket for services. Debuk and Newman gave personal and clinical examples of delayed diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing that early intervention matters and that ABA is widely recognized as an evidence-based treatment for ASD. Newman described waiting nearly two years for a diagnostic appointment, then traveling to Ohio for intensive ABA because Kentucky options were limited; she said her son made major progress in ABA. Koy presented data suggesting autism is among the top five diagnoses in many Kentucky counties and argued that provider networks are inadequate on both Medicaid and commercial insurance sides. He said reported network compliance does not match the practical reality of long waitlists and limited access, and he pointed to low reimbursement rates and workforce shortages as major barriers. In response to questions from members, the presenters said federal and state network adequacy rules and MCO contract language already contain tools that could be used more effectively, and they suggested better scrutiny, metrics, and accountability for managed care organizations. They also said more university training programs, tuition support, and higher rates are needed to recruit and retain providers. The presentation concluded with four recommendations: increase the Medicaid behavioral health fee schedule by 25 percent, ensure compliance with federal network adequacy requirements, strengthen commercial network adequacy enforcement, and invest in university-level training and scholarship programs for behavioral health and behavior analysis.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:16 Presentation of Kentucky League of Cities’ Legislative Platform for the Upcoming 2025 Session of the General Assembly 00:09:02 Presentation of Kentucky Association of Counties’ Legislative Platform for the Upcoming 2025 Session of the General Assembly 00:45:30, 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Local Government met for its sixth and final interim meeting, called to order with a quorum present. The committee first recognized departing members, including Senator Damon Thayer and House members Danny Bentley, Jonathan Dixon, and Jacob Justice, with remarks thanking them for their service. Members also approved the minutes from the October 22 meeting and recognized several guests, including local officials and Kentucky League of Cities representatives. The main presentation came from the Kentucky League of Cities, led by JD Cheney and KLC officers Mayor Rita Dodson, Mayor Paul Sandifer, and Mayor Scott Maiden. They outlined KLC’s legislative priorities for the upcoming session and emphasized the importance of cities to Kentucky’s economy and public services. Their top issues included road funding allocation, arguing that cities spend more on street maintenance than their share of motor fuels revenue reflects; expanding restaurant revenue authority to all cities; and opposing any move to centralize collection of local revenues, especially occupational license taxes. They also said cities should retain taxpayer offsets and should receive a share of future electric vehicle-related transportation revenue. KLC also urged modernization of city revenue options, citing constitutional limits and the need for flexibility as the state shifts toward consumption-based taxes. Additional priorities included monitoring County Employees Retirement System administration, addressing substance abuse, expanding alcohol regulatory license fee authority to all cities, opposing legislation that would shift county jail incarceration costs to cities, and enforcing transient room tax collection by online platforms rather than centralizing it at the state level. No committee votes or formal legislative actions were taken beyond approving the prior meeting minutes.

Keywords: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (presenter - Jeremy Bacon) 00:07:47 Status on Tornado and Flood Relief (presenters - Eric Gibson and Mary Marrero) 00:48:59 Status on Tornado and Flood Relief (presenters - John Hicks and DJ Wasson 01:23:30, 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call and recognition of several retiring members, who offered brief farewell remarks reflecting on their years of service and the breadth of issues handled by the State Government committee, including elections, constitutional amendments, local government, redistricting, and pension reform. One retiring leader urged members not to “tinker” with the 2013 pension reform law, warning that changes could have serious long-term financial consequences for state and local governments. The main agenda item was an informational presentation by Jeremy Bacon of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who described ICE’s role in Kentucky and southern Indiana, the structure of DHS immigration agencies, and ICE’s enforcement mission. He explained that ICE works in the interior of the country through identification, arrest, detention, and removal; relies heavily on cooperation with local jails and law enforcement; and uses detainers as lawful requests to hold non-citizens up to 48 hours after release so ICE can assume custody. He also said ICE in Kentucky has limited staffing, uses alternatives to detention such as GPS monitoring in some cases, and makes case-by-case decisions based on public safety, national security, criminal history, family/community ties, and country cooperation on removals. Committee members asked about how ICE learns when foreign-born individuals are booked into local jails, whether there is a national reporting database, how long detained cases take to reach court, and what factors lead ICE to detain or release someone. Bacon said there is no federal law requiring jails to notify ICE when a foreign-born person is booked, though ICE may learn through local partnerships, fingerprinting flags, or its own screening. He said detained cases typically get a first court date within about a week to 10 days, while non-detained cases can take a year or more. Members also asked about staffing levels, removals, border encounters, and reports involving watchlist individuals; Bacon said Kentucky’s staffing was on the higher side for his experience, did not have Kentucky-specific removal totals on hand, and could not explain broader federal watchlist statistics, though he said he had not seen the reported app-based flight activity in Kentucky.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:01 Discussion of Final Report 00:00:15, 958, all

Summary: The task force held its final meeting on Kentucky’s housing shortage and reviewed its draft report, which was described as a strong, comprehensive summary of the issue. Members emphasized that the report was meant to condense the testimony and ideas heard over the course of the task force, including possible statutory, tax, zoning, and budget-related policy changes that could be pursued in future legislation. The chair noted that the report was available in the meeting materials, and the minutes were approved at the start of the meeting. Members generally praised the process, the staff, and the many presenters and nonprofits that contributed information. Senator Higdon said the group had learned how much larger the housing crisis is than many realize and that there is no single solution, while Representative Burke said the committee had approached the issue with an open mind and looked at all possible solutions. Burke also thanked the staff and presenters and said the report did a good job capturing hours of testimony in a digestible form. Representative Burke proposed an amendment to page five of the report, adding language to the demand-side causes section stating that after the words “increased demand,” the report should add, “though no evidence was presented to support this assertion.” She said this was needed to accurately reflect the record. Senator West asked for the motion to be stated clearly, Burke moved the amendment, and West seconded it. Representative Bridges said he believed many witnesses were qualified but would abstain. A roll call vote was taken, resulting in four yeses, one no, and one pass, and the amendment was adopted. The task force then approved the report as amended by voice vote, making Burke’s change the final amendment. Members said the report would be posted on the LRC website, and the chair thanked the audience, presenters, and staff before adjourning the meeting.

Keywords: 00:00:00 Meeting Start / Roll Call 00:00:32 Approval of Minutes 00:00:58 Office of Education Accountability Report: Student Achievement Lessons 00:01:07 Announcements / Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the minutes, and heard an Office of Education Accountability presentation on the report, “Student Achievement: Lessons Learned From Kentucky’s Relatively Highest- and Lowest-Performing Schools.” OEA staff explained that the study compared schools’ actual performance with statistically predicted performance based on student and community characteristics, used KDE data from 2022-2023, and included site visits to eight higher-impact and six lower-impact schools. The report found that highest-impact schools generally use well-established best practices, while lowest-impact schools more often face barriers tied to leadership skill or will, school culture and climate, student behavior, and staff turnover. Spending levels were not substantially different overall, though highest-impact schools spent somewhat more on instruction and had less teacher turnover and more experienced principals. The presentation emphasized that strong instructional systems, teacher teams, consistent accountability, and positive behavioral expectations were common in higher-impact schools. In contrast, lower-impact schools often lacked consistent instructional support, had more new and alternatively certified teachers, and reported more serious behavior and climate problems. OEA also noted that some turnover factors are outside local control, such as housing costs and nearby competing districts, but said local leadership can still affect working conditions and retention. The report highlighted that even in highest-impact schools, student misconduct still disrupted instruction for many teachers, and that positive relationships and schoolwide behavioral systems were central to success. The report concluded with recommendations focused on school and district improvement planning. OEA said comprehensive plans often give little direct attention to the barriers identified in the study and are widely viewed by educators as burdensome and of limited practical value. It recommended that KDE provide more resources and supports tied to teacher working-condition data, seek additional educator feedback on planning requirements, and submit any needed statutory changes to the Interim Joint Committee on Education. OEA also suggested the General Assembly consider legislation giving KDE clearer direction on school and district plans and, for CSI schools, expanding vendor options to include providers experienced with turnover, school climate, and behavior challenges. During questions, a member asked why building-level impact scores were not being released; OEA responded that it wanted to avoid creating potentially misleading rankings because the model can be affected by factors such as community education levels and special education identification rates.

Keywords: 00:00:00 Meeting Start / Roll Call 00:01:40 Introductions 00:04:40 Effects of Social Media on School Age Individuals 01:16:40 Equal Educational Opportunity Goals Requirements 01:29:42 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Postsecondary Institutions 01:53:24 Announcements / Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and opened with introductions and brief recognitions of Kentucky students and athletes before turning to its main agenda item: the effects of social media and cell phones on school-age children. Co-Chair Tipton said the topic was on the agenda because several bills have already been filed on the subject and he expected legislation to move forward this session. Presenters included Zack Rish, an associate research scientist at New York University and chief researcher for Jonathan Haidt, along with Bourbon County Schools Superintendent Larry Begley and Bourbon County High School Principal Morgan Atkins; Fayette County Superintendent David Lawrence was also present on Zoom. Rish, discussing findings associated with the book The Anxious Generation, argued that childhood has shifted from a play-based model to a phone-based one, with young people spending large amounts of time on smartphones and social media. He cited survey and research findings that many teens spend hours daily on these platforms, that substantial numbers of young people wish some platforms had never been invented, and that this shift has crowded out sleep, exercise, outdoor time, reading, hobbies, and in-person socializing. He also described rising trends in anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, and school loneliness beginning around 2010-2012, saying the pattern appears in Kentucky and internationally and is especially pronounced among girls and younger teens. Rish further cited internal company reports and whistleblower disclosures involving Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok, saying they show significant harms and inadequate moderation of harmful content. He said teachers and youth also identify social media as a major contributor to mental health problems, and he pointed to studies suggesting that reducing social media use can improve anxiety and depression. He concluded by emphasizing that schools and legislators should help create stronger guardrails for children online, noting that young people are overprotected in the real world but underprotected on digital platforms. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Keywords: IJC on Banking and Insurance, 11/8/24 9:30am Meeting Start – 00:00:00 Roll Call – 00:00:12 Approval of September minutes – 00:01:30 Approval of October minutes – 00:01:50 KY Department of Insurance – 00:02:30 KY Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance – 00:30:08 Cryptocurrency Business in KY – 00:56:35 Adjournment – 01:42:30, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the September 17 and October 15 minutes, and observed a moment of silence for former Senator Johnny Turner. The main presentation was from Kentucky Department of Insurance Commissioner Sharon Clark, who gave an overview of the department’s size, licensing workload, consumer complaint and recovery numbers, and the insurance market in Kentucky. She said the department licenses more than 355,000 people and entities, recovered over $25.6 million for consumers last year, and is on pace to recover more than $10 million this year. A major focus was property and casualty insurance, especially disaster-related fraud and storm losses. Clark described escalating contractor and tree-removal fraud tied to tornado and windstorm damage, said the department lacks authority over many of the underlying contracts, and noted its partnership with the Attorney General and local prosecutors. She said recent Kentucky legislation on assignment of benefits and public adjusters is becoming model language nationally. She also reported that workers’ compensation rates were lowered for the 19th straight year, but that property insurance is in a hard market because of severe weather losses, with Kentucky paying out about $167 in claims for every $100 in premiums last year. Clark also reviewed health insurance and market data, saying only about 330,000 Kentuckians are in the commercial health insurance market the department regulates, that four companies will offer individual plans next year, and that the average individual-market increase was 5.88%. She said Kentucky’s overall insurance premium volume was $35.6 billion in 2022 and that premium taxes generated substantial state and local revenue. Members asked about the small size of the regulated commercial market, the impact of inflation and towing/storage costs on claims, the number of health insurers in the individual and small-group markets, and whether state pools or federal mitigation funding could help with catastrophe costs. Clark said no federal action was known yet, but she was hopeful about mitigation funding support and said the department is still internally vetting RAGS software, with a rollout expected after the first of the year.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:07 Approval of Minutes of the October 04, 2024 Meeting: 00:01:17 Agency Updates: 00:01:34 Volunteers of America - Restorative Justice: 00:04:00 Juvenile Probation: 00:55:22, 958, all

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council approved the October 4 meeting minutes after a motion, second, and voice vote. Co-Chair Westerfield offered brief closing remarks about his long service on juvenile justice policy, and Representative Bratcher was recognized as attending her last meeting, with members thanking both for their service. The council then heard a presentation from Volunteers of America Mid-States on restorative justice and its expansion into schools and alternative-to-detention work. Presenters Libby Mills and Dallas Hurley described restorative justice as a victim-centered conferencing model based on evidence-based practices from New Zealand. They explained that the process brings together the harmed person, the youth who caused the harm, and their support persons to discuss impact, accept responsibility where appropriate, and negotiate amends such as restitution, positive supports, or education-related steps. They said the organization now serves youth referrals primarily from the juvenile justice system, but also school-based referrals through JCPS contracts under Title II and Project Prevent, which are intended to address root causes of school disruption and provide family-centered case management and restorative circles. The presenters reported that in fiscal year 2023, 61% of referrals came from juvenile justice, 5% from DJJ, 20% from schools, and 14% from young adult referrals; year-to-date figures were 74% juvenile justice, 3% DJJ, 19% schools, and 4% adults. They also said 88% of referrals in southeastern Kentucky and 94% in Louisville completed the restorative process, with 308 families receiving case management and 419 individuals participating in community events. They noted the ATD contract in Jefferson County has expanded to $3 million over the biennium from about $500,000, and that additional sites are being discussed with DJJ. Council members asked about due process, offense eligibility, staffing qualifications, recidivism data, and where programs should be sited. Volunteers of America said cases are usually referred at arraignment or pretrial, that statements made in the process stay with the program, and that if a case does not complete, it can return to court without penalty; they also said youth who complete the process may have charges dismissed and expunged. They stated the program generally handles misdemeanors and some low-level felonies, excluding gun-related offenses, serious bodily injury, intimate partner violence, and sexual offenses, and that staff have social work or related degrees plus 36- to 40-hour facilitation training. Recidivism and cost-benefit data were not yet available because evaluations are still pending from Eastern Kentucky University and Spalding University. Members generally expressed support for restorative justice, with one prosecutor describing it as effective for youth, especially in property-crime cases, and another member urging attention to service deserts and rural access when expanding sites.

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Summary: The committee opened with a quorum call and a tribute to the late Senator Johnny Turner, with several members offering personal remembrances of his work, character, and commitment to Eastern Kentucky. The committee then approved the September meeting minutes without objection. Members reviewed an amendment to Transportation Cabinet regulation 601 KAR 9:220 on motor vehicle dealer plates. The cabinet explained the change would let prospective buyers take a test-drive vehicle home overnight without a dealer or salesperson present, and would also allow additional dealer plates for good cause in situations such as lost or stolen plates, business needs, or disaster-related disruptions. The committee reviewed the amendment with no objections. The Transportation Cabinet then presented on asset management for bridges and pavements. Officials said Kentucky has more than 9,000 state-owned bridges and over 63,000 lane miles of pavement, and estimated an annual need of about $1 billion to preserve the system. They described current annual investments of about $280 million for bridges and $530 million for pavements, emphasized the value of preventive maintenance and preservation, and said bridge funding remains short of projected needs. Members asked about bridge incidents, resurfacing schedules, and the impact of flat gas tax revenue since 2012; cabinet staff said Kentucky’s state pavement condition is generally on pace, but bridge and maintenance needs continue to outstrip available funding. The committee also received updates on the CAVIS vehicle registration system and the Kentucky electronic lien and titling rollout. Staff reported collections were ahead of last year, Jefferson County had improved after earlier backlog issues, and statewide ELT processing was now active in 117 county clerks’ offices with more than 6,000 transactions completed. Upcoming work includes centralized lien management, online boat renewals, late renewal options, dealership temp-tag printing, electronic sheriff inspections, and insurance system modernization. Questions were answered about lien timing, lease-vehicle issues, and contacts for technical problems, and no votes were taken beyond approving the minutes and reviewing the regulation amendment.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 02:43 Approval of Minutes 03:42 Discussion of the proposed stocking of F1 hybrid largemouth bass in Kentucky waters 04:40, 958, all

Summary: The committee meeting began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum confirmation, and approval of the minutes. Members also observed a moment of silence for the late Senator Johnny Turner, with remarks honoring his service and noting his expected replacement. There were brief recognitions of guests, including birthday wishes for Jason Kenner and acknowledgment of former legislator Chuck Me. No votes beyond the minutes approval were taken. The main presentation focused on a tourism and fisheries project in Eastern Kentucky centered on Paintsville Lake. Representative John Blanton, Jason Kenner of Anglers for Improving Opportunities, and other guests described efforts to improve the lake for bass fishing, including habitat work, threadfin shad stocking, a handicap-accessible boardwalk, grants, and a proposed stocking of F1 largemouth bass. They argued that stronger bass fishing could support local tourism and rural economic development, and said the project has involved local schools and community partners. Steven Bon, a fisheries biologist joining by Zoom, provided the scientific explanation. He described fisheries management as a population-level effort based on carrying capacity, forage, habitat, fertility, weather, and competition, and said the group’s work had already improved conditions at Paintsville Lake. He explained that relative weight testing showed the fish were initially underweight, and that habitat and forage improvements were needed before predator stocking would be effective. He said stocking F1 bass could now be a useful tool to improve growth, size, and genetics, but only in combination with the other management steps already underway.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:30 Approval of Minutes 00:01:38 Kentucky Department of Agriculture 00:01:56 Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation 00:29:27 Kentucky Pork Producers 00:54:50 Kentucky Poultry Federation 01:04:42 Kentucky Dairy Development Council 01:17:28, 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Agriculture Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and heard an update from Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell. Shell reported record ag tag fundraising of $930,000, up $195,000 from the prior year, and urged members to help promote the program as it moves toward a $1 million goal. He also highlighted the department’s ongoing “agriculture as economic development” outreach, including regional meetings, food-as-medicine discussions, and efforts to connect Kentucky farmers with hospitals and school districts as major local food purchasers. Shell outlined several items the department plans to bring in the upcoming session, including a reorganization that would create an Economic Development Division, consolidate some existing divisions, and limit an ethics disqualification policy to KAP employees rather than the entire department. He also said the department will seek a joint resolution to dedicate a $5 million economic development fund for agriculture, along with criteria and metrics for awarding those dollars. He emphasized that the goal is to add an agriculture-specific tool for rural development rather than replace existing economic development programs. Members asked questions about the North American International Livestock Exposition, the commissioner’s pumpkin contest, grain markets, cattle numbers, and international trade. Shell said the North American show is underway and encouraged attendance, noted that he did not win the state fair pumpkin contest but that a Floyd County grower won with a 1,137-pound pumpkin, and discussed market pressures from Brazil’s corn production and the importance of trade policy. He also said Kentucky cattle retention remains low, with about 51% of heifers going to processing, and compared cattle development to the longer-term growth of Kentucky’s poultry sector.