Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I'm happy to defer to your lead on those discussions about what mandates meet the costs, but if
• treated in Minnesota Mr chair I'm happy treated in Minnesota Mr chair I'm happy to<00:05:08.039> defer
• 08.520> your<00:05:08.680> lead<00:05:08.919> on<00:05:09.280> those to defer
• to your lead on those to defer to your lead on those discussions<00:05:09.919> about<00:05:10.160
• with the maintenance that it brought<01:37:37.600> forward<01:37:38.520> um<01:37:38.760

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For those, if anybody's watching or here, HB 648 was deferred by the author, Representative Brass.
• So we will defer. Representative Brass, so we will defer HB 648.
• cost is not just the camera; it's the storage, the website housing, the technical support, the maintenance

Bills: HCR95, HB4, HB244, HB615, HB648, HB1049, HB1201

Keywords: sales tax, exemptions, credits, rebates, uniformity, legislative rules, fiscal report, constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, delegates, state election, ratification, Louisiana, public meetings, broadcast, transparency, government accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• Typically, they're being asked to defer those as well to try to keep the costs below...
• Typically, they're being asked to defer those as well to try to keep the costs below.
• poured into wildfire safety, into hardening the grid, implementing new technologies, and stepping up maintenance
• But in the settlement to injured parties, and, you know, defer to some extent to injured parties, the

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on the California Earthquake Authority’s SB 254 report and broader options for reforming California’s utility wildfire recovery system. The chair framed the discussion around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the scale of wildfire-related costs on utility bills, and the need to weigh trade-offs among survivors, ratepayers, utilities, insurers, and taxpayers. The first panel featured wildfire survivors William Abrams and Joy Chen, who described long delays in compensation, housing insecurity, and what they viewed as a system that protects utility shareholders more than victims. They urged greater transparency, clearer accountability for utility spending and safety performance, faster and fuller compensation for survivors, and reforms such as independent audits and better alignment of utility incentives with wildfire prevention and restitution. The second panel began with Tom Welsh of the California Earthquake Authority, who explained that the SB 254 report was intended as a broad inventory of policy pathways rather than recommendations. He described the report’s process, including stakeholder submissions, workstreams, and a convergence process, and outlined the current wildfire fund structure: utilities remain liable, the fund reimburses eligible claims after a covered wildfire, and the CPUC later determines prudency and possible reimbursement back to the fund. RAND’s Lloyd Dixon summarized compensation data, saying utilities paid about $38 billion between 2017 and 2024, with major shares going to injured parties, insurers, and public entities, while litigation costs and survivors’ own losses remain substantial. He noted that legal fees and delays reduce the amount survivors ultimately receive. Utility and public-interest witnesses offered differing views on the report’s pathways. PG&E’s Tyson Smith said the report shows inaction is the worst outcome and argued for community wildfire risk reduction, equitable allocation of catastrophe costs, and state-led resilience tools. LADWP’s Fernando Valero emphasized the vulnerability of municipal utilities and cities, and supported inverse condemnation reform, a state-sponsored liability insurance framework, damages and subrogation limits, and stronger insurance access. Consumer Attorneys of California’s John Fisk argued that IOU-caused fires are not natural disasters but the result of negligence and sometimes criminal conduct, and opposed reducing utility liability while supporting stronger oversight and audits. The Public Advocates Office’s Nathaniel Skinner focused on affordability, saying ratepayers already bear large and growing wildfire costs and warning against shifting more costs onto bills without measurable risk reduction and tighter accountability. Committee members then began questioning witnesses about what counts as measurable mitigation, how to define full and fair compensation, and how any fast-pay process should work.

Transcript Highlights:

• certifications or licenses if personnel, providers, or their affiliates have stalking-related convictions or deferred
• Senator, we know that each time that major voter roll maintenance is done, you don't to remove folks
• an early detainer on these individuals so that if... prosecution was declined or the prosecutor deferred
• required to choose one or all of those options. and participate and would have access to grant money. to defer

Keywords: HCR65, HCR19, Senate resolutions, memorial, community impact, legislative proceedings

Summary: The recent Senate meeting primarily covered two resolutions, HCR65 and HCR19, both of which were passed unanimously with little to no opposition. HCR65 was introduced in memory of Tracy Lee Vincent of Longview, while HCR19 was presented to honor the late Terrell Lynn Roberts of Angleton. The meeting included brief addresses from several senators, who shared personal reflections on the impacts of the individuals being honored and expressed gratitude for their contributions to the community. This collaborative atmosphere showcased the members' capacity for camaraderie and respect, emphasizing the importance of human connection in legislative proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Demolition reduces deferred maintenance, reduces energy consumption, saves operating costs, and reduces
• Demolition reduces deferred maintenance, reduces energy consumption, saves operating costs, and reduces
• their project cost, and that the board has a policy about setting aside tuition and operating and maintenance

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee opened with quorum and decorum reminders, then approved the minutes from February 26, 2026. Members briefly set aside a planned follow-up on GO students from Minnesota State after being told the questions had been fully answered, and moved on to Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College’s storm damage presentation. Bemidji State President John Hoffman and facilities staff described the June 21 derecho that hit Bemidji, causing widespread roof, window, tree, and infrastructure damage across both campuses and the surrounding community. Hoffman said the institutions were already recovering from pandemic-era enrollment and budget losses, but had improved new student enrollment, retention, fundraising, and deficits before the storm. He emphasized that the campuses were well insured, but that restoring the tree canopy and campus character would take far longer than repairing buildings. Facilities worker Brent Steinmets gave a personal account of the storm response and cleanup, describing days of chainsaw work, debris removal, window repairs, and stump grinding, and noting that many employees were also dealing with damage at their own homes. Members asked what kind of funding request was being made, and Hoffman said Chair Duran was preparing a bill tied to the storm damage and reforestation needs, while alumni had already raised more than $80,000 through a “Replanting Our Roots” campaign. He said the institutions had spent about $50,000 in deductible costs and another $25,000 in unreimbursable overtime, and had hired a landscape architect to plan reforestation. Members also asked about enrollment growth and staffing reductions; Hoffman said overall enrollment was up a little more than 2% since fall 2022, new student enrollment had risen 17%, NTC headcount was up 75%, and the campuses had reduced about 30% of instructional faculty and close to 30% of overall employees while reorganizing programs and administration. Discussion also focused on preserving liberal arts and applied liberal arts offerings, with Hoffman saying the institutions were emphasizing critical thinking, communication, citizenship, interdisciplinarity, and human intelligence alongside workforce training. No vote was taken on the storm-related funding proposal during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will help implement our deferred stewardship actions as it relates to archaeological and cultural
• And then we're asking for monies for basic improvements of maintenance and repairs of Post Park.
• :39:34.480> help<01:39:34.639> implement<01:39:35.119> our<01:39:35.440> deferred
• will help implement our deferred will help implement our deferred stewardship<01:39:36.239> actions
• maintenance and repairs of Post Park. maintenance and repairs of Post Park.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• maintenance maintenance expenses<00:18:42.440> there's<00:18:42.840> additionally<00:18
• And so, is there certain items that are not allowed to be paid for because it's operations and maintenance
• That was part of our negotiations, what was considered operations and maintenance.
• We utilized statutory language around operations and maintenance and then some of the accounting standards
• So things like new construction doesn't generally come under operations and maintenance, or other some

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• without utility-level oversight, and the absence of clear financial protection for the long-term maintenance
• without utility-level oversight, and the absence of clear financial protection for the long-term maintenance
• It looks like school districts forced to cut programs, lay off teachers, defer maintenance, and ask local
• It looks like school districts forced to cut programs, lay off teachers, defer maintenance, and ask local
• “The Supreme Court deferred it back to the Superior Court to meet this obligation.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, this may be COT later, to defer to who, and it may differ from cabinet to cabinet as well.
• We just have to make sure that it's a secured environment and that, you know, I would defer to the agencies
• know,<00:17:40.920> I<00:17:41.000> would<00:17:41.520> I'd<00:17:41.640> defer
• ><00:17:41.880> to<00:17:42.000> the<00:17:42.200> agencies know, I would I'd defer
• to the agencies know, I would I'd defer to the agencies on<00:17:42.960> that.

Keywords: Investments in Information Technology Improvement & Modernization Projects Oversight Board will met upon adjournment of both chambers. The time set is noon on YouTube, But the official time will likely vary based on chamber proceedings. Meeting start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:00 Tools for Managing Remote Work Kentucky Personnel Cabinet 00:00:30 Kentucky Transportation Cabinet 00:20:20 Cabinet for Health and Family Services 00:33:10 Housing, Buildings and Construction 00:47:40 Commonwealth Office of Technology 00:56:20, 958, all

Summary: The committee received testimony from Personnel Cabinet Secretary Mary Elizabeth Bailey and Deputy Secretary Robert Long on the state’s telecommuting policy. Bailey explained that telecommuting in the executive branch is governed by a statewide policy requiring eligible employees to work in the office three days a week and telecommute up to two days a week. Eligibility depends first on the position, not the person: public-facing jobs, roles requiring special equipment or insecure document handling, and other duties that cannot be performed remotely are not eligible. Employees and managers must complete training, sign agreements, comply with safety and IT requirements, and telecommuting privileges can be revoked for poor performance or discipline. She said the cabinet audits compliance and that telecommuting has helped maintain services during inclement weather, disasters, and building renovations. Bailey also said about 33% of the workforce is hybrid, 11% telecommutes full-time, and 56% does not telecommute. Members asked about cost savings, eligibility, discipline, and technology requirements. Bailey said she did not have statewide cost-savings figures and referred that question to the Finance and Administration Cabinet. She said employees must have reliable connectivity and appropriate equipment, but there is no fixed broadband speed requirement; if an employee cannot connect, they must come into the office. She also said telecommuting postings indicate whether a position is eligible, and that performance issues are handled through progressive discipline rather than being ignored. Transportation Cabinet officials then described how their agency manages remote work. Deputy Secretary Mike Hancock, along with IT and human resources leaders, said the cabinet follows the executive branch policy and actively manages telecommuting employees through Microsoft Teams, VPN access, daily standups, project tracking, and manager oversight. They said more than 2,600 of the cabinet’s 4,000 employees cannot telecommute because their jobs are public-facing or field-based, while about 35% are eligible to telecommute up to two days per week. The cabinet also has 13 state employees and 94 contract employees working full-time remotely in IT. Officials said telecommuting has improved recruitment and retention, supported emergency response and weather operations, and allowed the cabinet to continue working during storms and other disruptions. Members asked about phone equipment, monitoring, and “mouse jiggler” devices; officials said phones are often forwarded to personal or state devices, Teams shows real-time availability, and managers rely on daily accountability and project management tools to monitor work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, typically the way it maintenance.
• <01:17:19.600> Um,<01:17:19.920> the defer to their testimony.
• Um, the defer to their testimony.
• >> I I would actually respectfully defer >> I I would actually respectfully defer back
• >> I defer, uh, Representative Hall would defer that to the folks behind me as they come. Okay.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with procedural announcements about report turnaround, amendment submission methods during split operations, a possible January 29 session, the governor’s State of the State on February 5, parking, cafeteria opening, and the plan to finish work by February 10. It then moved into executive session on HB 1123, which would require certain companies to post salary ranges on public job listings. Representative Granger moved ITL, arguing the bill would interfere with negotiations, especially for higher-level jobs, and raise compelled-speech concerns. Supporters, including Representatives Schultz, Sullivan, Cahill, Staub, and others, said salary ranges help applicants avoid wasted time and travel, improve transparency, and are already a common workplace disclosure. The committee voted 10-9 to ITL HB 1123. The committee next took up HB 177, concerning a definition of remote work in labor law. Representative Murphy moved ITL, saying the bill could burden employers, create vague obligations, duplicate existing protections, and potentially require intrusive compliance measures. Representative Sullivan described a proposed amendment that would narrow the bill to a definition of remote work and remove broader requirements, but the committee ultimately voted 11-9 to ITL HB 177. Members also noted that the amendment had not been fully circulated in time and that the issue might merit further review. Finally, the committee opened HB 1352, a workers’ compensation bill focused on repricing and payment practices. The sponsor withdrew an initial ITL motion and moved OTP after amendment review. Members discussed concerns raised at the hearing about delayed payments, third-party administrators, and the need for better accountability. Representative McKenzie’s amendment would define good faith, create a voluntary three-year dispute-resolution pilot, restore fines to prior levels, and add reporting/accountability requirements for carriers that miss the 30-day payment deadline. Several members supported the amendment as a way to help small businesses and providers, while others said repricing needed broader study through the workers’ compensation advisory council. The Department of Labor explained that the amendment would require carriers and related payers to report missed determinations to the department and would increase oversight of payment timeliness.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I was actually wondering if I could defer my time to somebody who came from Prescott, if there's
• health care professional or the date of filing of a dissolution of marriage, legal separation, maintenance
• healthcare professional or the date of a filing of a dissolution of marriage, legal separation, maintenance

Bills: HB2041, HB2144, HB2239, HB2321, HB2371, HB2594, HB2661, HB2662, HB2793, HB2968, HB2995

Keywords: child neglect, financial resources, behavioral health, Christian Science treatment, parental rights, child support, preborn children, retroactive support, medical expenses, child welfare, child care, grant program, low-income, early learning, infrastructure, economic growth, security freeze, credit reporting, dependent children, parental notification

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Representative Gress, I would have to defer to the proponents on that.
• We clarified maintenance responsibilities and created notice requirements, I wanted to hear concerns
• We clarified maintenance responsibilities and created notice requirements to ensure others in the room

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2307, as amended, which would require the Department of Health Services to contract with out-of-state secure mental health facilities when Arizona beds are unavailable for certain involuntary commitment cases involving defendants found dangerous and incompetent. The sponsor and supporters framed it as an emergency stopgap to prevent individuals who are deemed non-restorable from being released because Arizona lacks secure behavioral health beds, while opponents argued it would raise due process, disability rights, family access, and cost concerns, and questioned whether the state could even implement such interstate placements. After debate, the committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and advanced HB 2307 on a 6-5 due pass vote. The committee then heard House Bill 2083, which updates diabetes-related coverage language in health plans to include newer devices and supplies such as continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and smart insulin pens. Supporters said the bill modernizes outdated statutes and improves access and outcomes for people with diabetes, while an insurer representative offered soft opposition, warning that writing these items into statute could create a state mandate and potential cost exposure, especially if the language is read to include GLP-1 medications. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and moved HB 2083 forward on an 11-1 due pass vote. Next, House Bill 2673 was heard, addressing mental health screening and treatment for incarcerated people. The sponsor said the bill was being reworked into a study committee concept after stakeholder feedback, but the underlying proposal would require prompt evaluation of prisoners showing mental disorder symptoms and faster referral for treatment. A family member testified about her son’s severe deterioration in jail and death, while an attorney opposed the bill as overbroad and legally problematic. Despite the sponsor’s indication that the bill would become a study committee, the committee voted 12-0 to give HB 2673 a due pass recommendation. The committee also advanced House Bill 2923, which revises timelines, procedures, and notice requirements for judicial review of court-ordered mental health treatment; supporters said it clarifies outdated language and improves communication with families, while opponents argued it shifts burdens onto patients and could prolong confinement. HB 2923 also received a 12-0 due pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so what is our ongoing maintenance and sustainability plan?
• And then again, you've heard it already, but it's building maintenance.
• Thank you. questions that we deferred from panel one and specifically around some available state funding

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're trying to talk to those, you know, people who can be deferred, can be deflected.
• Trying to talk to those people who can be deferred, can be deflected.
• And so they were successful in deferring people to They were successful in deferring people to Haven
• You'd rather have everyone deferred, and you're not the only one.
• So we're going to defer them on services and the quality and what they are.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have some critical deferred maintenance that needs to be taken care of in order for us to continue
• So, the $81 million request, that's primarily for other repair and maintenance projects, not related
• projects for the convention center, and the other repair and maintenance projects are primarily, my
• projects for the convention maintenance projects for the convention center<01:26:39.760> and<
• projects are prim my maintenance projects are prim my estimate<01:26:43.760> was<01:26:44.400

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:46:54.960> I maintenance, and abandonment of wells.
• I maintenance, and abandonment of wells.
• <03:20:13.520> town class six road it's not mainten town class six road it's not mainten town
• with no difference in in maintenance. with no difference in in maintenance.
• <03:59:30.720> vehicles, enough to take maintenance vehicles, enough to take maintenance vehicles

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'll defer to you, Mr. Chair, and the author for trying to find that window.
• done by GridLab has shown that rigorous distribution planning and grid investments actually can be deferred
• I'm happy to defer what the senator has. I just don't know the procedure you're going by, Mr.
• to move forward with infrastructure investing, but they're not as motivated to move forward on maintenance
• So has anyone discussed having a guaranteed return on investments on maintenance, which would prevent

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's really critical, the maintenance and repairs that they provide in our community.
• Costs, the maintenance costs, battery, excuse me, and there's an increased cost on battery replacement
• Coming from diesel, what it would cost to pay for that, and then maintenance and batteries.
• The diesel battery is listed here as zero, and the maintenance of the electric school bus is $25,000
• And the maintenance of the diesel school bus is about $100,000, so that's a difference of about $75,000

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes the direct support workers, the maintenance folks, the cleaners, everything needed to provide
• Can I have to defer, as a family from Monroe. They traveled all in from Monroe. Okay.
• Maintenance funding is the starting line for what Louisiana families and economy require, not the finish
• But you cannot solve a growing crisis with maintenance funding alone.

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• fixtures must be in compliance with building and plumbing codes, and also provide standards for maintenance
• So those applications might need an engineering analysis, an operation and maintenance manual, proof
• An operation and maintenance manual, proof of flowage easements, or just additional analysis.
• of all sections to assure that the department is upholding its regulatory responsibilities while deferring

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first approved the December 3 minutes, then heard a request from the Board of Clinical Laboratory Practice to amend its proposed rule on exempt test methods to add certain closed-system DNA/RNA tests, including rhinovirus. After testimony explaining that the board had considered late comments from BioMérieux and wanted the rule record to reflect that review, the committee agreed to a limited amendment and passed the motion unanimously. The Department of Agriculture then outlined broad rule updates affecting dairy, eggs, poultry, pesticides, animal health, environmental mitigation, and the Egg Product Utilization Commission. The commissioner said the changes mostly clarified existing requirements, updated references, and reduced some burdens, such as easing dairy hauler training/licensing timing and clarifying out-of-state grade A milk language. Members asked about dairy industry decline, the APUC scoring system, and the rationale for the milk-hauler and out-of-state milk provisions. The State Board of Dental Examiners presented extensive rule changes tied to recent legislation and workforce issues, including a new professional health program for dentists, expanded duties for assistants and hygienists, broader local anesthetic authority for hygienists, and fee increases to fund the program and cover administrative costs. Testimony from Dr. Edward May strongly supported the professional health program based on his own recovery experience. The committee also heard from Game and Fish on rules easing some guide/outfitter experience requirements, allowing electronic exams, and modifying boating safety equipment rules, with no public comment and no fiscal impact. Later, Health and Human Services received approval for an extension to update tattoo/body art rules and a separate motion to repeal an obsolete nurse aide training chapter. HHS also described nursing facility rule updates, lodging sanitation revisions, and related clarifications on licensing, safety, pest control, and fire requirements. The Department of Environmental Quality received an extension for septic-system installer rules, and also presented rules for above-ground storage tanks and water/wastewater operator certification, including new fees and third-party testing options. The Industrial Commission’s oil and gas division described multiple rule changes, some withdrawn after comments, including drilling unit flexibility, site stability, wildfire authority, and streamlined transport/reporting procedures. Finally, DPI began presenting several rule packages, including school construction loan limits, school bus standards, cooperative agreements, special education rules for public charter schools, and new math curriculum and intervention requirements.