Transcript Highlights:

• 148 seeks to strip those protections 148 seeks to strip those protections from<00:41:21.119>
• these protections.
• You aren't protecting women or children. You aren't protecting the trans community.
• I represent Rockingham 17, and this is a bipartisan bill that intends to protect free speech in the exercise
• HB 620 is a bipartisan bill that intends to protect free speech in the exercise of religious beliefs.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, with the chair limiting testimony to two minutes and asking for no outbursts so the committee could get through eight bills that day. Representative Kofalt, the prime sponsor, said HB 148 was the same as last year’s HB 396, which passed both chambers but was vetoed by the governor. He explained the bill would allow, but not require, separation by biological sex in bathrooms, locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions, leaving local school boards and administrators discretion to set policies. He argued the bill was meant to address safety and privacy concerns and cited a Milford incident and concerns in several school districts as examples of why local flexibility was needed. Committee members questioned the lack of a definition of “biological sex” and how the bill would be applied. Kofalt said he did not think a definition was necessary because males and females are generally understood, and he said the bill would give local policymakers latitude to make practical rules. He also said the bill was intended to address situations where people might misuse transgender claims to access spaces inappropriately. In response to questions, he said he was aware of issues in Kearsarge, Milford, and Mascoma school districts and had heard of discomfort in the State House, though he did not know all the details. Several opponents testified that the bill would discriminate against transgender and non-binary people and create enforcement problems. Executive Councilor Karen Hill said the bill would roll back New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination protections and conflict with the state’s Live Free or Die values. Alice Wade, a trans woman, said she had used women’s restrooms without incident and argued the bill would invite invasive enforcement and harassment. Representative La Selig said the bill was discriminatory and that bathroom concerns were being confused with unrelated harassment by cisgender males. Betsy Harrington supported the bill, citing a girls’ soccer game at Kearsarge that she said was disrupted by a boy playing on a girls’ team. Rosie Emer and her child testified against the bill, saying bathroom restrictions would increase anxiety and risk for trans and non-binary children. Stephen Scaer and Wendy Stallings supported the bill, arguing sex is biologically fixed and that excluding males from female spaces should not require genital inspections. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Trump would be reelected or not, but they wanted us to try to do anything we could as a state to protect
• They would not be looking at race, nationality, speech, anything else that might be an indicator.
• SB 13 protects New Hampshire communities.
• It helps to better protect residents.
• It helps to better protect residents.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I had this great speech, but they didn't write it down.
• And he protected that. And you might say, how do I know that?
• It does not remove taxpayer protections or public accountability.
• This is in addition to FOIA protections already provided elsewhere in the bill.
• I just want to know if it protects us.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chad Thompson, general counsel for Public Protection Cabinet. Thank you so much.
• public protection cabinet. public protection cabinet.
• where we were to try to better protect where we were to try to better protect individuals<01:27:
• I'm a staff attorney with Kentucky Protection Advocacy.
• Kentucky Protection Advocacy.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then recognized a staff member’s birthday and a guest shadowing Senator Adams. It then moved into informational review of Education and Labor Cabinet, Department of Education regulation 702 KAR 3:30, which sets insurance coverage requirements for school district buildings and structures. Department of Education officials explained that districts are expected to carry coverage at replacement cost and said they understand some districts participate in self-insurance pools with backup policies, but they deferred detailed insurance questions to the Department of Insurance. Senators raised concerns that pooled coverage could leave districts exposed if claims exceed pool limits, and the chair asked KDE to follow up with DOI to confirm districts are adequately covered, especially for bondholders. No vote was taken on the informational review. The committee then reviewed emergency ABC regulations 804 KAR 130:01 through 130:04 implementing Senate Bill 100’s new licensing requirements for tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product businesses. ABC and Public Protection Cabinet representatives outlined the emergency rules governing enforcement, license applications, denial criteria, and transitional licenses. Retail industry witnesses Shannon Stiglet and Brian Clark said they support licensure in principle but argued the rules add duplicative requirements borrowed from alcohol licensing, create confusion about transitional licenses, and may be too burdensome for the roughly 7,000 affected businesses to meet by the January 1 deadline. They also said guidance has been inconsistent and requested the agency revise the regulations, remove requirements not grounded in law, and provide clearer, separate processes for new and existing businesses. Committee members asked whether the industry had worked directly with ABC and noted the public comment period was still open. Witnesses said they had communicated with ABC and the Public Protection Cabinet, but responses had been uneven and they wanted written guidance. Members expressed concern about the short timeline and the need to avoid disruption so businesses can operate legally on January 1. Representative Marzian asked for clarification that the discussion concerned emergency regulations already in effect while ordinary regulations remain in process. No formal action was taken beyond receiving the informational testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our Consumer Protection Division has the CID authority right now. Okay.
• House Bill 1198 is to make two targeted but very important changes to Louisiana law to protect the best
• It bypasses judicial oversight that exists to protect the children.
• Second, it protects against foreign child custody laws.
• Did you hear Senator Aluno's speech? Because that's exactly what he said.

Summary: The House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure met and reported a series of measures, many of them asking the Louisiana State Law Institute to study legal issues. HCR 31 was reported favorably to study the use of the term “foreign” as applied to juridical persons. HCR 61 was reported favorably after discussion about expropriation and carbon capture, with the author agreeing to broaden the study beyond carbon capture alone. HCR 96 was also reported favorably to study civil bench warrants and notice procedures in judgment debtor proceedings. The committee likewise advanced HCR 160, which asks the Law Institute to study property transfer issues and the public records doctrine in light of a recent case. Several bills dealing with court procedure and family law were heard and advanced. SB 68, a constitutional amendment to give the Louisiana Supreme Court authority to discipline out-of-state attorneys in certain circumstances, was amended and reported favorably. SB 76, concerning modification of child custody judgments, was reported with amendments after testimony that it would codify existing standards and add a five-year rule for applying the lower best-interest standard. HB 1198, which prohibits arbitration of child custody and visitation disputes and limits recognition of foreign custody laws contrary to Louisiana public policy, was reported favorably. SB 66, which prioritizes testimony from medical experts in child custody and child-in-need-of-care cases, was also reported favorably after testimony from advocates and medical groups. The committee also advanced measures involving civil litigation and state legal procedures. HCR 38, urging Congress to reform FISA and the FISA court to protect privacy rights, was reported favorably. SCR 19, asking the Law Institute to study long-duration trusts and possible revisions to the Trust Code, was reported favorably. SB 336, allowing civil investigative demands in Medicaid fraud/False Claims Act investigations, was reported favorably after explanation that it would let the Attorney General gather information without filing suit first. SB 139, adjusting interest on personal injury and wrongful death claims against the state or political subdivisions, was reported favorably. Finally, SB 475, dealing with fees for service of process, was reported favorably. HB 668 was voluntarily deferred.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, child protective in there as well.
• So it's a long speech. Sorry about that.
• So it's a long speech. Sorry about that.
• So, it's<01:28:02.320> a<01:28:02.800> long<01:28:03.199> speech.
• it's a long speech. Sorry about that. it's a long speech. Sorry about that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are constantly looking for trends and ways to protect the program.
• We are constantly looking for trends and ways to protect the program.
• We are constantly looking for trends and ways to protect the program.
• We are constantly looking for trends and ways to protect the program.
• Therapy occupational therapy speech Therapy occupational therapy speech therapy<00:46:43.040>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to review the Department for Medicaid Services’ program integrity work. Commissioner Lisa Lee and Program Integrity Director Jennifer Dudinsky outlined Kentucky Medicaid’s structure, funding, enrollment, and spending, including FMAP rates, the size of the Medicaid and KCHIP populations, the number of providers, and 2024 expenditures. They also described the managed care and fee-for-service populations, noting that managed care serves most members while fee-for-service is concentrated in long-term care and waiver populations. Most of the discussion focused on fraud, waste, abuse prevention, and provider oversight. The department described its provider enrollment and certification checks, revalidation requirements, site reviews, fingerprinting for some high-risk providers, and termination grounds such as false application information, Medicare actions, unreported ownership changes, and abandonment of a provider number. Members asked about nonprofit ownership reporting, MCO fraud oversight, and how the department tracks unusual CPT code utilization, especially in behavioral health. The department said it uses data analytics, audits, policy review, and collaboration with behavioral health staff to monitor those trends. Dudinsky explained the division’s four branches: provider licensing and certification, audits and compliance, recovery, and third-party liability/estate recovery. She described prepayment and postpayment audits, referrals of credible fraud allegations to the Attorney General, monthly meetings with the AG’s office, and coordination with the Office of Inspector General, CMS, HHS OIG, MCOs, and other partners. She also explained payment suspensions, stand-downs during law enforcement investigations, and recovery efforts for overpayments, provider/member fraud, and third-party liability. The department said its recovery and avoidance efforts produced more than $251 million in savings so far in 2025. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important to fight for all because when all... ...aren't protected, none are protected.
• It strips away... legal protections that were meant to safeguard our freedoms of speech and religion.
• Legal and protective access to Mifepristone and misoprostol is the only way to protect pregnant people
• Protective Act.
• We're trying to protect women, we're trying to protect young people.

Bills: SB10, SB16, SB6, SB 6, SB 10, SB 16

Keywords: trafficking, prostitution, affirmative defense, victims, criminal justice reform, victim rights, criminal justice, judicial reform, court procedures, mental health services, criminal penalties, court security, SB 6, Woman and Child Protection Act, abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, medication abortion, mifepristone, misoprostol, pro-life

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge you to pass this bill to protect patients and support the dedicated healthcare providers who care
• This bill is needed to protect our current nursing workforce, and I hope to ultimately increase recruitment
• These are not for philosophical speeches, and I'm sorry. I'm trying to keep us on track.
• And we are going to protect you while you're here.
• From her speech and physical therapists, they noted that there were things they were doing that started

Transcript Highlights:

• , enhancement, and restoration of surface waters; protection of groundwater; and protection of drinking
• <01:19:04.639> and use this 30-second elevator speech and use this 30-second elevator speech
• area that we want to Wellhead protection area that we want to protect<01:22:48.679> to<01:22:
• unfortunately that Wellhead protection unfortunately that Wellhead protection area<01:22:54.679>
• Watershed restoration and protection Watershed restoration and protection strategies<01:34:58.520

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've prayed a blessing on families: protection, cooperation, deep mutual humility and kindness, and patience
• THIS MEANS WE PROTECT FLORIDIANS."
• THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will investigate.
• I will slow us down a little bit and modulate my speech, which I never do. Thank you, Mr.

Bills: SJR12, SCR39, SB27, SB29, SB241, SB406, SB414, SB464, SB568, SB578, SB609, SB660, SB689, SB693, SB785, SB857, SB879, SB921, SB922, SB955, SB985, SB993, SB996, SB1008, SB1035, SB1036, SB1059, SB1098, SB1120, SB1122, SB1147, SB1188, SB1197, SB1209, SB1227, SB1245, SB1267, SB1307, SB1321, SB1332, SB1386, SB1396, SB1453, SB1484, SB1494, SB1536, SB1537, SB1596, SB1610, SB1664, SB1741, SB1814, SB1822, SB1841, SB1948, SB2065, SB2155, SB2188, SB2230, SB2406, SB2407, SJR36, SJR12, SJR81, SJR50, SCR22, SCR12, SCR39, SB406, SB689, SB765, SB62, SB666, SB888, SB687, SB847, SB1248, SB504, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB241, SB304, SB1023, SB204, SB609, SB670, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB1539, SB447, SB1119, SB1505, SB1215, SB1302, SB583, SB673, SB681, SB1172, SB955, SB957, SB1120, SB541, SB266, SB1415, SB53, SB1352, SB785, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB711, SB746, SB1404, SB1448, SB507, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB667, SB1059, SB1567, SB310, SB311, SB505, SB1209, SB1210, SB1470, SB264, SB1029, SB1358, SB1364, SB1569, SB1376, SB1228, SB519, SB1350, SB462, SB827, SB1585, SB1396, SB1484, SB1273, SB1741, SB927, SB1227, SB1229, SB1353, SB1464, SB1709, SB1729, SB1733, SB1744, SB1772, SB1841, SB2188, SB1147, SB879, SB1008, SB1536, SB2016, SB1453, SB1173, SB1163, SB996, SB27, SB568, SB1370, SB1321, SB1101, SB860, SB993, SB693, SB1610, SB1537, SB1332, SB1307, SB963, SB493, SB922, SB984, SB619, SB1098, SB1122, SB455, SB522, SB1057, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1877, SB464, SB1277, SB32, SB732, SB660, SB731, SB921, SB268, SB1822, SB1188, SB1589, SB397, SB2230, SB1058, SB1036, SB1267, SB2112, SB1930, SB532, SB1035, SB2155, SB508, SB29, SB292, SB291, SB901, SB1333, SB1436, SB1494, SB964, SB779, SB1378, SB2312, SB1719, SB1386, SB287, SB2143, SB1245, SB261, SB1247, SB1948, SB2406, SB2407, SB1882, SB1197, SB1814, SB618, SB38, SB393, SB2065, SB1371, SB1394, SB1365, SB2243, SB2226, SB2039, SB1919, SB1895, SB1598, SB1493, SB1810, SB1791, SB1706, SB1644, SB1238, SB783, SB458, SB22, SB651, SB897, SB1809, SB1080, SB745, SB826, SB989, SB1320, SB1437, SB2320, SB2289, SB1171, SB664, SB1637, SB27, SB29, SB857, SB879, SB922, SB1098, SB1453, SB1536, SB1741, SB2188, SB2230, SB406, SB689, SJR12, SR358, SR361, SR362, SR368, SJR74, SJR76, SB2408, SB2409, SB2461, SB2462, SB2463, SB2464, SB2465, SB2466, SB2467, SB2468, SB2469, SB2470, SB2471, SB2472, SB2473, SB2474, SB2475, SB2476, SB2477, SB2478, SB2479, SB2480, SB2481, SB2482, SB2483, SB2484, SB2485, SB2486, SB2487, SB2488, SB2489, SB2490, SB2491, SB2492, SB2493, SB2494, SB2495, SB2496, SB2497, SB2498, SB2499, SB2500, SB2501, SB2502, SB2503, SB2504, SB2505, SB2506, SB2507, SB2508, SB2509, SB2510, SB2511, SB2512, SB2513, SB2514, SB2515, SB2516, SB2517, SB2518, SB2519, SB2520, SB2521, SB2522, SB2523, SB2524, SB2525, SB2526, SB2527, SB2528, SB2529, SB2530, SB2531, SB2532, SB2533, SB2534, SB2535, SB2536, SB2537, SB2538, SB2539, SB2540, SB2541, SB2542, SB2543, SB2544, SB2545, SB2546, SB2547, SB2548, SB2549, SB2550, SB2551, SB2552, SB2553, SB2554, SB2555, SB2556, SB2557, SB2558, SB2560, SB2561, SB2562, SB2563, SB2565, SB2566, SB2567, SB2568, SB2569, SB2570, SB2571, SB2572, SB2573, SB2574, SB2575, SB2576, SB2577, SB2578, SB2579, SB2580, SB2581, SB2582, SB2583, SB2584, SB2585, SB2586, SB2587, SB2588, SB2589, SB2590, SB2591, SB2592, SB2593, SB2594, SB2595, SB2596, SB2597, SB2598, SB2599, SB2600, SB2601, SB2602, SB2603, SB2604, SB2605, SB2606, SB2607, SB2608, SB2609, SB2610, SB2611, SB2612, SB2613, SB2614, SB2615, SB2616, SB2617, SB2618, SB2619, SB2620, SB2621, SB2622, SB2625, SB2626, SB2627, SB2628, SB2629, SB2630, SB2631, SB2632, SB2633, SB2634, SB2635, SB2636, SB2637, SB2638, SB2639, SB2640, SB2641, SB2642, SB2643, SB2644, SB2645, SB2646, SB2647, SB2648, SB2649, SB2650, SB2651, SB2652, SB2653, SB2654, SB2655, SB2656, SB2657, SB2658, SB2659, SB2660, SB2661, SB2662, SB2663, SB2664, SB2665, SB2666, SB2667, SB2668, SB2669, SB2670, SB2671, SB2672, SB2673, SB2674, SB2675, SB2676, SB2677, SB2678, SB2679, SB2680, SB2681, SB2682, SB2683, SB2684, SB2685, SB2686, SB2687, SB2688, SB2689, SB2690, SB2691, SB2692, SB2693, SB2694, SB2695, SB2696, SB2697, SB2698, SB2699, SB2700, SB2701, SB2702, SB2703, SB2704, SB2705, SB2706, SB2707, SB2708, SB2709, SB2710, SB2711, SB2712, SB2713, SB2714, SB2715, SB2716, SB2717, SB2718, SB2719, SB2720, SB2721, SB2723, SB2724, SB2725, SB2726, SB2727, SB2728, SB2729, SB2730, SB2731, SB2732, SB2733, SB2734, SB2735, SB2736, SB2737, SB2738, SB2739, SB2740, SB2741, SB2742, SB2743, SB2744, SB2745, SB2746, SB2747, SB2748, SB2749, SB2750, SB2751, SB2752, SB2753, SB2754, SB2755, SB2756, SB2757, SB2758, SB2759, SB2760, SB2761, SB2762, SB2763, SB2764, SB2765, SB2766, SB2767, SB2768, SB2769, SB2770, SB2771, SB2772, SB2773, SB2774, SB2775, SB2776, SB2777, SB2778, SB2779, SB2780, SB2781, SB2782, SB2783, SB2784, SB2785, SB2786, SB2787, SB2788, SB2789, SB2790, SB2791, SB2792, SB2793, SB2794, SB2795, SB2796, SB2797, SB2798, SB2799, SB2800, SB2967, SB3034, HJR1, HJR4, HB9, HB 13, HB22, HB135, HB143, HB195, HB908, HB1392, SB861, SB1013, SJR74, SJR76, SB2408, SB2409, SB2461, SB2462, SB2463, SB2464, SB2465, SB2466, SB2467, SB2468, SB2469, SB2470, SB2471, SB2472, SB2473, SB2474, SB2475, SB2476, SB2477, SB2478, SB2479, SB2480, SB2481, SB2482, SB2483, SB2484, SB2485, SB2486, SB2487, SB2488, SB2489, SB2490, SB2491, SB2492, SB2493, SB2494, SB2495, SB2496, SB2497, SB2498, SB2499, SB2500, SB2501, SB2502, SB2503, SB2504, SB2505, SB2506, SB2507, SB2508, SB2509, SB2510, SB2511, SB2512, SB2513, SB2514, SB2515, SB2516, SB2517, SB2518, SB2519, SB2520, SB2521, SB2522, SB2523, SB2524, SB2525, SB2526, SB2527, SB2528, SB2529, SB2530, SB2531, SB2532, SB2533, SB2534, SB2535, SB2536, SB2537, SB2538, SB2539, SB2540, SB2541, SB2542, SB2543, SB2544, SB2545, SB2546, SB2547, SB2548, SB2549, SB2550, SB2551, SB2552, SB2553, SB2554, SB2555, SB2556, SB2557, SB2558, SB2560, SB2561, SB2562, SB2563, SB2565, SB2566, SB2567, SB2568, SB2569, SB2570, SB2571, SB2572, SB2573, SB2574, SB2575, SB2576, SB2577, SB2578, SB2579, SB2580, SB2581, SB2582, SB2583, SB2584, SB2585, SB2586, SB2587, SB2588, SB2589, SB2590, SB2591, SB2592, SB2593, SB2594, SB2595, SB2596, SB2597, SB2598, SB2599, SB2600, SB2601, SB2602, SB2603, SB2604, SB2605, SB2606, SB2607, SB2608, SB2609, SB2610, SB2611, SB2612, SB2613, SB2614, SB2615, SB2616, SB2617, SB2618, SB2619, SB2620, SB2621, SB2622, SB2625, SB2626, SB2627, SB2628, SB2629, SB2630, SB2631, SB2632, SB2633, SB2634, SB2635, SB2636, SB2637, SB2638, SB2639, SB2640, SB2641, SB2642, SB2643, SB2644, SB2645, SB2646, SB2647, SB2648, SB2649, SB2650, SB2651, SB2652, SB2653, SB2654, SB2655, SB2656, SB2657, SB2658, SB2659, SB2660, SB2661, SB2662, SB2663, SB2664, SB2665, SB2666, SB2667, SB2668, SB2669, SB2670, SB2671, SB2672, SB2673, SB2674, SB2675, SB2676, SB2677, SB2678, SB2679, SB2680, SB2681, SB2682, SB2683, SB2684, SB2685, SB2686, SB2687, SB2688, SB2689, SB2690, SB2691, SB2692, SB2693, SB2694, SB2695, SB2696, SB2697, SB2698, SB2699, SB2700, SB2701, SB2702, SB2703, SB2704, SB2705, SB2706, SB2707, SB2708, SB2709, SB2710, SB2711, SB2712, SB2713, SB2714, SB2715, SB2716, SB2717, SB2718, SB2719, SB2720, SB2721, SB2723, SB2724, SB2725, SB2726, SB2727, SB2728, SB2729, SB2730, SB2731, SB2732, SB2733, SB2734, SB2735, SB2736, SB2737, SB2738, SB2739, SB2740, SB2741, SB2742, SB2743, SB2744, SB2745, SB2746, SB2747, SB2748, SB2749, SB2750, SB2751, SB2752, SB2753, SB2754, SB2755, SB2756, SB2757, SB2758, SB2759, SB2760, SB2761, SB2762, SB2763, SB2764, SB2765, SB2766, SB2767, SB2768, SB2769, SB2770, SB2771, SB2772, SB2773, SB2774, SB2775, SB2776, SB2777, SB2778, SB2779, SB2780, SB2781, SB2782, SB2783, SB2784, SB2785, SB2786, SB2787, SB2788, SB2789, SB2790, SB2791, SB2792, SB2793, SB2794, SB2795, SB2796, SB2797, SB2798, SB2799, SB2800, SB2967, SB3034, HJR1, HJR4, HB9, HB 13, HB22, HB135, HB143, HB195, HB908, HB1392, SB861, SB1013

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border, National Guard, state guard, border wall, border barriers

Transcript Highlights:

• important that they have guardrails so people do not abuse this tax credit because it is important to protect
• I think it's very important that these volunteer hours are protected for employees of businesses.
• that we have guardrails so people don't abuse this tax credit because it's really important that we protect
• public education for 32 years, and organizations or teams, clubs like robotics, maybe even to a degree speech

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development heard House Bill 3359, presented by Representative Wilson on behalf of Representative Riggs. The bill would create a 20% state income tax credit, capped at $10 million annually beginning in tax year 2027, for donations to registered school robotics/STEAM programs. Eligible contributions were described as cash, equipment, software, materials, supplies, and possibly employee volunteer hours, with a six-year sunset. Committee members asked for clarification on whether the credit applies to individuals or businesses, whether volunteer time by parents or other non-experts would qualify, which state agency would administer reporting, and whether the 20% rate should be higher. Wilson said the bill would need clarifying language, including on volunteer eligibility and the reporting department, and said he was open to revisiting the percentage and other details with the sponsor. The primary witness in support was Sarah Waldron, an 18-year-old Westminster Christian Academy senior and robotics team CEO who said she wrote the bill. She argued the credit would help businesses invest in robotics programs, address unequal access across Missouri, and strengthen workforce readiness in STEM and AI. She said the bill was intended to support business employee volunteer hours, not individual volunteer claims, and noted she had drafted an amendment to provide larger credits for under-resourced schools based on free-and-reduced-lunch percentages. Committee members praised her work and discussed how to target aid toward rural and under-resourced districts. One witness testified in opposition, State Public Advocate Arne C. A. C. Dinoff, who said he supported robotics and the student’s effort but opposed the tax credit because of the state’s budget deficit and the broader cost of tax credit programs. He objected particularly to subsidizing volunteerism and said robotics should be supported locally rather than through a state tax credit. The hearing concluded without a vote or other formal action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who doesn't get extra protection?
• Who doesn't get extra protection?
• protected list. protected list. Good. Good. Good.
• It doesn't add any other types of protected speech as harassment.
• It doesn't add any other types of protected speech as harassment.

Bills: SB2567, SB2448, SB3046, SB2231, SB2526

Keywords: harassment, restraining order, temporary restraining order, injunction, protective order, public employer, public servant, public employee, government employee, state employee, legislator, judge, judicial branch, executive branch, local government, political subdivision, workplace violence, threats, stalking, employee safety

Transcript Highlights:

• That funds about 14,200 kids, uh, about half of which have serious disabilities, so speech disabilities
• of which have serious<00:15:39.040> disabilities,<00:15:39.839> so<00:15:40.399> speech
• <00:15:41.040> speech serious disabilities, so speech speech serious disabilities, so speech
• speech disabilities<00:15:41.920> and<00:15:42.160> things<00:15:42.320> of<00:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met without a quorum and first heard from Kentucky Department of Education officials on career and technical education funding. KDE explained that House Bill 499 created a CTE funding formula using 60% weighted full-time equivalent enrollment and 40% incentives, but House Bill 6’s budget language excluded area technology centers (ATCs) from that supplemental funding. KDE requested approval of an additional budget request of $14,789,352 in each fiscal year 2027 and 2028 to include ATCs in the formula and hold local districts harmless. Officials said ATCs serve students from 117 of Kentucky’s 171 districts and argued the change would reduce funding disparities and better reflect the return on investment from CTE programs, citing growth in dual credit and work-based learning participation. Members asked whether the issue would need to be revisited each budget cycle. KDE responded that the problem could be fixed by removing the notwithstanding language from the budget bill, which they said would allow ATCs to be included under the existing statute. Representative Klein supported the request, saying the current clause could lead to stagnation and that the committee should help the program continue to grow. No vote was taken on the CTE item during the portion of the meeting provided. The committee then heard a presentation from PreK for All on expanding preschool access in Kentucky. Advocates said the state’s preschool program has been funded since 1990 and currently serves about 14,200 children at roughly $84 million per year, but that many working families still fall into a coverage gap. They proposed expanding eligibility to 250% of the federal poverty line, which they said would add about 9,600 children at a cost of $40 million in year two, after a planning year. The proposal also included regulatory flexibility for classrooms and partnerships with private child care providers and nonprofits, with speakers emphasizing child care deserts in some counties and citing research that early learning improves kindergarten readiness and later outcomes. No action or vote was taken on the preschool proposal in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of my favorite stories about him is that after he gave his final speech to a joint session of Congress
• I gave this speech: "I have enjoyed my life, its disappointments outweighed by its pleasures.

Transcript Highlights:

• protecting these kids.
• HB 4004 will protect children like mine.
• HB 4004 will protect children like mine in cases where there's one clearly identified protective parent
• HB 4004 will protect children like mine in cases where there's one clearly identified protective parent
• could not intervene to protect my children.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The approach is designed to simultaneously facilitate business investment in the Commonwealth and protect
• I sincerely hope that you'll join me in supporting the legislation before us today to protect the Commonwealth
• First, I would like to congratulate the gentleman from Somerset on his maiden speech a little prematurely

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and received a resignation letter from Rep. Fana Howard of Lowell, effective March 17, 2026, as she transitioned to the Senate. The chamber then took up several procedural orders, including multiple unanimous or voice-vote suspensions of rules and concurrence with Senate petitions, such as referrals on housing and student transportation matters, and a suspension of Joint Rule 12 for a petition involving children served by DCF. The main substantive item was House No. 5264, a fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill totaling about $1.8 billion. Members discussed its use of Fair Share surtax surplus funds for transportation and education, including major support for the MBTA, special education circuit breaker costs, early education and child care, snow and ice costs, regional transit authorities, and other deficiencies such as GIC and sheriff costs. Members also explained the bill’s tax conformity provisions responding to recent federal tax changes, with debate over whether to delay conformity to limit state revenue exposure. The House adopted a consolidated amendment to the bill and then passed it to be engrossed by roll call vote, 150-3. The House also adopted a resolution commending the Admetek Foundation on Prostate Cancer Awareness Day. Several local bills were advanced, including a sick leave bank for a Department of Corrections employee, a bill waiving the minimum age requirement for a Boston police officer, a Nantucket charter bill, a Stoneham public safety bill, and a Malden special police officers bill, the last of which was amended before being engrossed. The chamber also considered Amendment 43 to redistribute $100 million of Fair Share revenue more evenly to municipalities for roads and education; supporters argued the current distribution favored statewide priorities over local aid, while opponents said the formula would not adequately address rural road needs. That amendment was rejected 128-25. The House then recessed several times, observed moments of silence for local public servants, welcomed visiting youth sports teams, and finally ordered adjournment to meet the next day at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a difference between speech and their business.
• And so this provides a layer of protection for Oklahomans.
• There are a lot of protections. They have. The taxpayers have bailed them out more than once.

Bills: HB1245, HB2588, HB3024, HB3172, HB3279, HB3919, HB3306, HB3383, HB3431, HB3435, HB4352, HB3883, HB3942, HB4193, HB4203, HB4303, HB4311, HB4484

Keywords: retirement, pension, public employees, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, benefits, survivorship, contribution rates, disability retirement, owners associations, membership requirements, property ownership, board governance, residency requirements, salary increase, state employees, public finance, bonus limits, job performance, Fair Banking Act, financial institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• Food safety and protecting the integrity of the food supply is the number one priority of food and beverage
• addition, we stand ready to work with Secretary Rollins and are already in contact with her office to protect
• It's a great example and um I did say in a speech recently that our grandmothers got it right um and

Bills: SB 25, SB 314

Keywords: nutrition, health standards, food labeling, education, dietary guidelines, medical education, food safety, school meals, child nutrition, food additives, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• Protecting these workers and volunteers means protecting access.
• Constitutional free speech protections still fully apply.
• By cementing this into California statute, by passing this as law, these protections for youth, protecting
• This is protecting vulnerable community populations that we have seen over the last 12 months. ...protecting
• This is about fairness, consumer protection, and accountability.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety bills, with most of the discussion focused on AB 1650, AB 2014, AB 1886, AB 2126, AB 2624, and AB 2257. AB 1650 would require clearer identification on privately owned vehicles rented or leased to government agencies for enforcement operations; supporters framed it as a transparency and safety measure in response to ICE activity, while no opposition testified. AB 2014 would allow post-conviction habeas relief where gender bias or stereotypes were used at trial and may have affected the outcome; supporters described cases involving sexist and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes, while the California District Attorneys Association opposed the bill as overbroad and likely to restrict relevant evidence, though the author said recent amendments removed the evidence-code provisions and left only the habeas remedy. AB 1886 would extend a 12-month probation presumption to youth in out-of-home placements and those discharged from secure youth treatment facilities; youth advocates supported it as a fairness and rehabilitation measure, while judges, probation officials, and district attorneys opposed it as undoing a recent compromise and limiting individualized decisions. AB 2126 would speed hiring of peer partners in child welfare by creating a narrow exemption process for certain foster-youth-related offenses; it drew broad support and no opposition. AB 2624 would expand the Safe at Home address-confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers; supporters cited threats, doxing, and harassment, while one journalist opposed it over possible effects on reporting, and the author and committee members said the bill preserves press protections and is narrowly aimed at threats and harassment. AB 2257 would restore county authority to create a separate corrections department to run jails instead of the sheriff; supporters argued it would improve accountability and address jail deaths and fiscal problems, while sheriffs opposed it as unnecessary and said sheriffs are already subject to oversight. The committee also noted several bills pulled by their authors and adopted a consent calendar of unrelated measures. Votes were not always taken immediately because the committee was waiting for a quorum, but AB 2624 was moved on a do-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations and left on call, and the chair indicated support or favorable recommendations on several of the other measures.