Video & Transcript Research : 'procurement reform'

Page 103 of 351
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

February 12, 2026 - 04:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • The purpose of this amendment is to ensure the procurement process happens quickly and gives the agency
  • There is no fiscal impact; there are up to three to five procurement contracts.
Summary: The IT Budget and Policy Subcommittee met with a quorum present and heard two bills. CS/HB 783 by Rep. Sapp would create a coordinated access model pilot program for behavioral health services in Duval, Clay, and St. Johns counties. The bill would contract with the Department of Children and Families and a university partner to provide centralized intake, screening, referral, appointment scheduling, follow-up, and data reporting on outcomes and service gaps. Rep. Young asked about avoiding bottlenecks and what “timely referral” means; Sapp said the proposal is based on an existing Pinellas model and is intended to triage cases by urgency. An amendment clarifying procurement guidelines was adopted without objection, and the bill was reported favorably by a 14-0 vote. The committee then heard HB 1031 by Rep. Rosenwald, which would establish a callback queue pilot program for select state agencies, including Florida Commerce and DCF, so callers can leave a number and receive a return call by the end of the next business day. Rosenwald said the goal is to improve customer service for issues such as reemployment assistance and benefits access, with no fiscal impact and a required report due by December 31, 2027. Rep. Cross spoke in support, noting callback systems reduce frustration for callers. The bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably by a 14-0 vote. At the end of the meeting, the chair noted that budget recommendations for fiscal year 2026-2027 had been submitted to Chair McClure. With no further business, the committee adjourned.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Science, Technology and Energy (02/02/2026)

Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • We are directed by the Public Utilities Commission to exactly how to procure that from the market.
  • We are directed by the Public Utilities Commission to exactly how to procure that from the market.
  • We are directed by the Public Utilities Commission to exactly how to procure that from the market.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • It simply allows cities to procure work that must already go out to bid. And AB 2033...
  • spending a disproportionate amount of time in administrative capacity, just moving projects through procurement
  • Now let me tell you what happens when the same procurement dysfunction is compressed into 24 hours.
  • We don't have deep reserves to absorb this premium cost of delayed procurements. Thank you so much.
  • We believe procurement efficiency and workforce protections can coexist.
Summary: The committee heard eight bills, mostly on local government, housing, and public agency contracting. AB 1658 would make permanent higher change-order authority for Santa Clara and Los Angeles counties on large construction projects; supporters said it would reduce delays and save money on major projects, and the bill passed 6-0. AB 2263 would authorize the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to develop employee-preference affordable housing; supporters said it would help with workforce retention and long commutes, and it also passed 6-0. AB 2134 would require city councils to allow parental leave without forcing members to seek public approval or risk losing their seats; supporters described the bill as necessary to protect new parents in local office, and it passed 6-0. AB 2188 would raise Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s contracting authority to $250,000, with supporters citing administrative savings and faster project delivery; after committee amendments, it passed 6-0. AB 2033 would let general law cities use job order contracting for repair and maintenance work, with safeguards against employee displacement; supporters called it an efficiency tool, while AFSCME opposed it over workforce impacts, and it passed 8-0 after amendments. AB 1768 would authorize Los Angeles County and Contra Costa County to ask voters to approve a temporary transactions and use tax to help offset major federal health care cuts and preserve clinics and public health services. Supporters from community clinics, Planned Parenthood, labor groups, counties, and health organizations said the measure would let voters decide how to respond to funding losses; opponents, including CalTax and some cities, raised affordability and tax-burden concerns. Members also discussed equity concerns within Los Angeles County and the importance of local control. The bill was moved out on a 5-2 vote and left on call. AB 2415 would allow the city of Folsom to shift housing obligations away from its historic district and toward other transit-oriented sites; supporters said it would preserve the historic district while still meeting housing goals, and it passed 10-0. AB 2741, heard at the end of the meeting, would give cities a grace period to fix housing elements that were certified by HCD but later found noncompliant by a court, especially where cities relied on overlay zones. Supporters from the League of California Cities, Redondo Beach, and real estate groups said cities acted in good faith and should not be immediately subjected to builder’s remedy; opponents from California YIMBY and legal aid groups argued the bill would weaken housing accountability and reward noncompliance. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 2741, before a final vote is recorded.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • First to testify on this measure, we have Bonnie Kahakoy, administrator for the State Procurement Office
  • administrator<00:39:19.680> for<00:39:19.920> the<00:39:20.079> state<00:39:20.320> procurement
  • administrator for the state procurement administrator for the state procurement office<00:39:21.200
  • Bonnie Kahakoy, administrator, State Procurement Office, will stand on our written testimony providing
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Finance Jun 26th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Secretary of State could strengthen procurement, county oversight, and data collection processes.
  • For instance, in New Mexico, elections use a centralized procurement system with the Secretary of State
  • Um, first of all, I, I think there are some misguided assumptions on procurement.
  • Procure services we have to by law certify those systems so we're undertaking that process this summer
  • has always been fully involved. um, and, uh, the best and final offer was removed to streamline procurement
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Senate Chamber Mar 22nd, 2025

New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • That this act will have all of the contracts and agreements not subject to the procurement code.
  • OK, so we are now subject to the procurement code. Is that accurate? Mr.
  • President, Senator, why would we have any portion of these expenditures not subject to the procurement
  • Expenditures not subject to the procurement code?
  • I guess the concern would be that if we are not subject to the procurement code for even some of the
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Health Committee Jun 24th, 2026

Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • forward, I will amend the bill in its next committee to remove the requirement that facility operators procure
  • committed to pursuing additional transparency and plan accountability as a key part of dental insurance reform
  • , Consumer and Policy Advocate with California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, and Jason Sullivan
  • My name is Jacqueline Flores, and I'm an advocate with California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform,
  • CANHR is proud to California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, also known as CANHR.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - Part 3 - 05/17/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Out some time frames and activities to ensure we bring forth through the procurement process and the
  • drive it, which we normally would not do as a Legislature, to start to prepare, is to move into procurement
  • providing legislative oversight and monitoring recommendations regarding the planning, financing, and procurement
  • Even though there are some needed reforms, and I voted for this bill in the past, Mr.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • of questions because I know since I've been here on the Senate side, we're trying to find ways to reform
  • And, challenge for challenge, we provide more funding, provide additional reforms, more tools.
  • been with the agency for any length of time, there's just been a constant turnover in efforts and reform
  • And so sticking with one reform effort for more than two or three years is, frankly, allowing us to gain
  • Safe Haven is committed to finding the most effective ways to help people who. to their reformation.
Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard the Legislative Budget Board’s overview of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2026-27 budget, followed by extensive testimony from DPS leadership. The LBB presentation covered funding and staffing changes across driver license services, facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, and border security. The recommendations included added support for customer service staffing and trooper hiring, but did not include several DPS exceptional items such as major driver license staffing and technology requests, new regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio, and other capital projects. Members also discussed proposed rider changes, including a new rider to lapse unused trooper funding and require reporting after recruit schools. Much of the committee’s questioning focused on driver license operations, where senators criticized long call wait times, low call-answer rates, appointment delays, and what they viewed as an overreliance on adding staff rather than improving processes. DPS and LBB witnesses said the agency is pursuing some technology upgrades, including automation, online pre-population of applications, and appointment-system improvements, but acknowledged that the driver license division remains a major problem area. Senators also raised concerns about whether the 2019 efficiency study led to meaningful changes and whether the agency should consider broader process redesign or even a different administrative structure. Colonel Freeman and other DPS officials then defended the agency’s broader law enforcement and border-security work, emphasizing the need for the Williamson County training academy, the 500 additional troopers funded in prior sessions, and continued support for Operation Lone Star. They described DPS’s role in border interdiction, threat-to-life investigations, oilfield theft cases, Capitol and Alamo security, and highway safety, and said the agency is stretched thin by deployments and overtime. Members asked about border reimbursement possibilities, regional staffing differences, pursuit safety, fleet and aircraft replacement needs, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame museum. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE Feb 18th, 2026

ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is utilizing the new program that the Office of Procurement has done, where there are five vendors
  • that can assist us in procurements and development of RFPs.
Summary: The State Insurance Programs Oversight Subcommittee met to review and approve several Employee Benefits Division (EBD) and pharmacy formulary actions. Grant Wallace, director of EBD and the Office of Property Risk, presented a $280,000 Boston Consulting Group contract to help develop the third-party administration RFP, and the committee approved it. The committee also approved the December 2025, January 2026, and February 2026 pharmacy formulary recommendations, along with February 2026 medical drug recommendations. The formulary changes focused on removing prior authorization for injectable migraine CGRPs, replacing a discontinued capsule with a tablet, updating items for FDA guidance, and leaving some drugs not covered when lower-cost alternatives or insufficient efficacy data existed. For February 2026, EBD recommended removing Skyrizi and Renvoke in favor of lower-cost biosimilars and other alternatives, re-tiering several drugs to encourage generics, adding an anti-seizure medication developed by the Department of Defense, and adding a subcutaneous version of Keytruda for faster administration. The medical drug list similarly shifted toward biosimilars and aligned coverage for Skyrizi and Renvoke across pharmacy and medical settings. Members raised broader questions about the impact of new pharmaceutical discount programs such as Trump RX and Mark Cuban Cost Plus, as well as concerns about PBM compliance and whether Navitus might be violating state law or paying affiliate pharmacies more than independent pharmacies. Wallace said the new programs and their effects were still being studied, that EBD was working with Navitus to evaluate pricing opportunities, and that Navitus had said it was in compliance with Rule 118, though additional research and auditing were underway. All items were approved by voice vote, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations and Budget Health Subcommittee Jan 22nd, 2026 at 09:30 am

A&B Health Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:
  • I will draw your attention to, and that's the procurement.
  • There's many things I'm proud of the work the team has done, but procurement operational improvements
  • That's typically a sequencing issue when we are going through a procurement that somebody got out of
  • Because we went through that NOFO process and the way we need to follow procurement, we need to keep
  • Then we'd be working outside the procurement requirements for the notice of funding opportunity.
Keywords: 914, all
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

House Chamber - Wed Apr 30, 2025, 9:00AM HST - Day 59

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Also, diversion infrastructure and pre-trial reforms can eliminate overcrowding and reduce costs.
  • <01:39:54.639> can<01:39:55.119> eliminate and pre-trial reforms can eliminate and
  • pre-trial reforms can eliminate overcrowding<01:39:57.199> and<01:39:57.600> reducing<01
  • to 50,000 would diminish transparency, reduce competition, potentially increase cost, introduce procurement
  • These reforms enhance our ability to prevent harmful organisms from ever entering our islands and provide
Keywords: 910, house, all
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Information Technology Committee Jul 8th, 2026

Information Technology Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're in the procurement process for those right now that help with operational concerns at our districts
  • And it's just an observation that in IT procurement, sometimes in software, if they know what the number
  • Is it, does OMB procure their own product? Or does I, who's the lead on? Own product?
  • Or does I, who's the lead, uh, lead on procuring a product like this when something like this happens
  • this, you know, as a collaborative group, we decided that it would make sense for OMB to be the procuring
Summary: The Information Technology Committee approved the March 26 minutes and received a series of reports from NDIT on major IT projects, the annual report, mainframe modernization, and cybersecurity services. The project portfolio was reported at 116 major projects with a baseline cost of $546 million, overall under budget but modestly behind schedule. Several projects that had been in variance status last quarter were said to have closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning. New startup reports were mostly HHS efforts tied to refugee data management, technical debt cleanup, and legacy application decommissioning, while closeouts included HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT projects with mixed budget and schedule results. In the annual report discussion, NDIT described its service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management reporting, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how revenues and grants flow through the service fund, how NDIT charges agencies for services, and whether customer satisfaction or CSAT scores are tracked and could be reported more regularly. NDIT said it does track service-team CSAT and survey data, and committee members encouraged more regular reporting of those metrics. The committee also discussed application portfolio management, statewide IT planning, and whether agencies should slow new system replacements while the state pursues an ERP system. The mainframe update focused on the state’s ongoing effort to retire legacy systems by about 2030. NDIT and HHS said the work is being managed as a tech-debt program, but progress is slowed by data cleanup, integration complexity, staff retirements, vendor capacity, and federal requirements. Members asked whether there is a coordinated commitment and whether additional vendor support or consultants are needed; NDIT said it is working jointly with HHS and is seeking an RFP to help accelerate modernization. The cybersecurity presentation then shifted to statewide maturity assessments and services. NDIT said it provides endpoint protection, vulnerability scanning, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that assessments are based on CIS controls. Members raised concerns about low participation in the self-assessment process, the lack of mandatory reporting or audit authority, and whether insurance incentives through Enderf or possible State Auditor involvement could improve compliance. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE Apr 28th, 2026

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • When we went through the procurement process to get the bid and get a contractor started there, the estimate
  • that the contracts presented for review this month had been reviewed by her staff and appear to be procured
  • Number four is Commerce Economic Development with Mitchell, William Sela Gates for a new special procurement
Summary: The committee considered and approved several temporary appropriation requests in Section B, including spending authority for the Court of Appeals to pay appointed counsel in criminal appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics airport and aviation grants, and Insurance Department items for workers’ compensation benefits and premium tax refunds. It also approved ARPA-related requests in Section C to return unused federal funds from DHS aging, mental health, substance abuse, and Older Americans Act grants. In Section D, the committee reviewed and approved Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests, including Agriculture grants for wildfire preparedness and forestry capacity, a large Commerce broadband BEAD request, environmental recycling-related reallocations, and Oil and Gas Commission grants for facility repairs and sample preservation. Members questioned the broadband program’s audit process and performance safeguards; the State Broadband Director said the funds are federal, subject to audits, and payments are released only after engineering certification of completed work. The committee also approved DHS reallocations in Section E, including major transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical appropriations to private and public nursing home lines, as well as transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services. The committee then reviewed cash fund requests, miscellaneous federal grants, pay plan and performance fund transfers, methods of finance, and a large set of contracts. A Northwest Arkansas Community College official explained storm-damage repairs and insurance settlement issues, and DHS explained its hospital medical transfer was moving excess appropriation rather than cash. Members also questioned several UAPB tobacco prevention subgrants, especially arts-based outreach, and asked for more data on effectiveness; the committee later voted to expunge and re-refer the J-2 item for further review at a later ALC meeting. Additional discussion covered a DEQ grant to Free Geek of Arkansas for e-waste recycling, a UAPB tobacco program, and various contracts for universities, DHS services, corrections, and public safety. The meeting ended with reports filed for information and a brief member comment thanking others for concern after a tornado in Stone County; no one was injured.
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE Apr 28th, 2026

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • When we went through the procurement process to get the bid and get a contractor started there, the estimate
  • that the contracts presented for review this month had been reviewed by her staff and appear to be procured
  • Number four is Commerce Economic Development with Mitchell, William, Sela Gates for a new special procurement
Summary: The committee heard a series of appropriation requests and contract reviews across multiple sections. In Section B, members approved temporary appropriations for the Court of Appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics, and Insurance-related payments and refunds. Section C ARPA requests from DHS were approved to return unused federal funds. Section D infrastructure-related appropriations, including wildfire preparedness, broadband BEAD funding, forestry support, recycling, and oil and gas sample preservation, were approved after questions about broadband audit controls and performance safeguards. Section E DHS reallocations were approved, including large transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical to private and public nursing home lines, along with smaller transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services; members asked about the source and purpose of the medical services transfer. Sections F and G were reviewed, covering cash fund requests, federal grants, and miscellaneous grants, including community college storm repairs, corrections commissary and maintenance, 911 enhancements, maternal health, disability determinations, state police equipment, digital newspaper archiving, and CDL data improvements. In Section H, the committee reviewed pay plan appropriations and performance fund transfers tied to the new Class and Comp pay plan. Section I reviewed three methods of finance for UA Little Rock, UAMS, and the University of Arkansas system. In Section J, the committee reviewed discretionary grants, including a $1.4 million HIV services grant and nine tobacco prevention subgrants through UAPB. Members questioned the effectiveness, metrics, and addresses of some tobacco-cessation arts-based grantees, especially Arts Absolutely Inc.; after discussion, Representative Kavanaugh moved to expunge the vote on J2 and refer it back for review at a later ALC meeting, and that motion passed. J3, a Department of Energy and Environment grant for propane safety training and e-waste recycling services, was then reviewed. The committee also reviewed contracts in Section K. K-1 ratified emergency management nuclear planning work performed during a transition between agencies. K-2 construction contracts included architectural and engineering services for corrections, National Park College signage, a Razorback Road parking facility, and UAMS cyclotron installation. K-3 intergovernmental contracts covered health, education, autism waiver, stroke, newborn screening, Medicaid evidence review, and radiation testing services. K-4 out-of-state contracts included staffing, IT, tobacco prevention, audit, marketing, planetarium, recruitment, and janitorial services; Senator Irvin noted one contract appeared to belong in the out-of-state list rather than intergovernmental. K-5 in-state contracts covered staffing, cleaning, re-entry and treatment services, foster care and disability services, hearing officers, asbestos abatement, campus IT support, and janitorial work. The meeting ended after a brief personal update from Senator Irvin about tornado damage in Stone County and thanks to members for their concern, followed by adjournment.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

November 19, 2025 - 04:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • FOLLOWING THIS THE AGENCY BEGAN EFFORTS TO PROCURE MANAGED CARE PLAN FOR THE PILOT REGIONS WITH THE PROCUREMENT
  • BECAUSE OF THE WAY FLORIDA GETS ITS VENDORS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES, THAT IS THEY RUN A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • workforce would be utilized for all construction at the Salton Sea, regardless of how the project is procured
  • I've been involved in, I think, almost every design-build procurement law for the last 25 years.
  • So whether they're doing a design-build project specifically in a procurement there or whether it's just
Summary: The committee heard several water- and environment-related bills. SB 72, by Senator Caballero, would modernize the California Water Plan and set long-term water supply targets, including an interim goal of 9 million acre-feet of additional water by 2040. Supporters from water districts, local governments, business groups, and agricultural interests argued the bill is needed to address climate-driven shortages, protect the economy, and improve planning for droughts, flooding, recharge, recycling, storage, and conveyance. Opponents, including environmental and conservation groups, argued the bill could overstate demand, increase costs, and make it harder to protect instream flows and ecosystems. The committee discussed the science behind the 9 million acre-feet target and the need to balance water supply planning with fish and ecological needs. SB 72 passed on a do-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 369, by Senator Padilla, would require a local skilled and trained workforce for all Salton Sea restoration work. The author and sponsors said the bill would protect workers exposed to hazardous conditions at the Salton Sea, create good local jobs in Imperial County, and ensure long-term workforce standards for publicly funded restoration projects. Support came from labor organizations, contractors, and other regional stakeholders; no opposition testified. Members emphasized the region’s high unemployment and the importance of workforce development. The bill passed on a do-pass motion to Labor and Employment. SB 697, by Senator Laird, would update the stream system adjudication process by allowing the State Water Board to use modern technology, such as stream gauges and digitized records, when investigating water rights claims, while still allowing field investigations when needed. The author said the process has not been updated since 1976 and should be streamlined. After amendments addressed stakeholder concerns, there was no opposition testimony. The committee asked whether the bill would affect pre-1914 water rights, and the author said it would not. SB 697 passed as amended to Judiciary. The committee also approved consent calendar items SB 599, SB 609, and SB 765 earlier in the hearing.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • federal lawmakers on behalf of... ...of a municipality are no longer exempt from the competitive procurement
  • that are using taxpayer dollars to lobby the legislature or Congress to engage in the competitive procurement
  • signals to the public that there could be a benefit from adding these services to the competitive procurement
Bills: HB223
WY
Transcript Highlights:
  • So just as background, Title 16 does have a resident preference for procurement of goods and services
  • So just as background, Title 16 does have a resident preference for procurement of goods and services
  • So in Title 9, which is the procurement statutes that apply to other types of things, goods and services
  • There's additional things that may be required under the procurement statutes that even would, you know
  • may be required under the procurement may be required under the procurement statutes<00:34:51.800
Keywords: 916, all
Summary: The joint Minerals Committee met to select interim topics and announced its meeting dates for April 27-28 in Casper, June 4-5 in Casper, and August 27-28 in Cheyenne. Members heard public testimony on several economic development and minerals-related topics and were asked to identify their top priorities for later ranking and consensus. No formal votes were taken during this portion of the meeting. A major topic was removing obstacles to energy development in Wyoming, including possible regulatory, bonding, and permitting barriers. Testimony from the Mining Association and Energy Capital Economic Development supported revisiting barriers to development, similar to the earlier Regulatory Reduction Task Force. Another related topic was industrial siting exemptions on coal mine property, with testimony arguing that mineral-related projects such as rare earths, uranium conversion, and ferroalloys should not have to go through the full industrial siting process when communities have already dealt with similar development. Members also discussed industrial siting bonding requirements, including whether bonding or advance payments should be used to cover impacts on local services and emergency response, especially for projects like solar farms or battery storage. The committee also discussed coal bed methane industrial sovereign zones, tied to House Bill 120, with testimony seeking to include coal bed methane in value-added manufacturing zones. The sponsor said the goal was to create industrial zones that support economic development while protecting scenic values and limiting industrial sprawl. Another topic was sourcing curling stones in Wyoming, which was presented as a lighthearted but potentially useful way to promote Wyoming stone and broader dimension-stone quarrying; a state geologist testified that Wyoming has granite with similar mineralogy to stone used for curling stones elsewhere. Child care as an economic driver was withdrawn. The committee also heard support for a Business Council restructure review, though several members said the Minerals Committee should do the substantive review because the Business Council falls within its jurisdiction, while still coordinating with Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard a proposal for a domestic preference in residential general service contracts, extending Wyoming preference concepts beyond construction into goods and services, with testimony emphasizing local economic multipliers and possible exceptions for federal funding or other procurement limits.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Is there a particular specific amount that's allowed for engineering or procurement for consulting services
  • Is there a particular specific amount that's allowed for engineering or procurement for consulting services
  • Is there a particular specific amount that's allowed for engineering or procurement for consulting services
  • Our procurement for consulting services is, uh, they do a coming from the private sector.
  • And then, having been mayor of Lexon, I envy the procurement section that we have in the cabinet.
Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board met with a quorum, approved the May 21 minutes, and welcomed a new executive branch member, Secretary Keith Jackson of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The board also received two informational items: agency responses to prior questions and amendments made to capital plans after the last meeting. It then heard the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s report on executive branch IT capital project scoring, which reviewed 16 IT requests totaling about $330.5 million. COOT said projects were ranked through an independent panel using standardized criteria focused on feasibility, statewide alignment, readiness, impact, and risk; the CIO recommended moving an enterprise application and artificial intelligence inventory system from rank 11 to rank 4 because of its enterprise-wide impact and connection to Senate Bill 4. The Department of Military Affairs presented its capital plan, describing 43 million in projects for the current period and 13 projects totaling $65 million for 2026–2028, with most funding coming from federal sources and restricted agency funds and no general fund request in the latter period. Its projects included maintenance pool adjustments, a statewide Army master plan, the Somerset readiness center, Shelbyville and Ashland armories, a future home for the Kentucky Army National Guard band, and other facility upgrades. Members asked about the Somerset project’s cost growth and federal delay; the department said the project remains in conceptual design, is awaiting federal MILCON action, and would require a state match of about $9.8 million against $29.6 million federal funding if it is approved. Members also asked about staffing levels, and the department said state employee and Title 32 numbers have been relatively steady, while technician positions have declined. The Department of Veterans Affairs outlined seven projects for 2026–2028, led by a Radcliff Veterans Center HVAC replacement that needs an estimated additional $16 million to finish phase two after phase one was already funded. Other requests included a maintenance pool increase, renovations and exterior upgrades at Eastern and Western Kentucky veterans facilities, a cooling tower replacement at Thompson Hood, and parking lot and lighting improvements. The department said some projects were already in the six-year plan and that the Radcliff phase two could be bid in June 2026 if funded. Members confirmed that a columbarium wall project at Grayson is federally funded. The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented its six-year capital plan, citing more than $3 billion in loan commitments since 1988 and over $5 billion in supported infrastructure projects. KIA requested $298.439 million in the first biennium, including $27.742 million in state match for federal clean water and drinking water revolving funds, $25 million for its state Infrastructure Revolving Fund, $185.697 million in federal capitalization grants, and $30 million in leverage bond authorization for each year of the two federally assisted loan programs. Members asked about drinking-water quality, and KIA said that function is handled by the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Water, not KIA. KIA also said its loan rates currently range from 0.5% to 2.25%, averaging just under 1%, and that its revolving loan programs have had no defaults. The Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet began its presentation at the end of the transcript, with staff identifying themselves, but no project details or board action from that presentation were included in the excerpt.