Transcript Highlights:

• lower court decisions, including a majority Trump-appointed federal district court, finding that our maps
• violated Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting strength. congressional maps
• fairly represent congressional maps fairly represent black<01:04:05.240> voters,<01:04:05.600
• :04:16.400> Section<01:04:16.800> 2<01:04:17.280> of<01:04:17.400> the maps
• likely violated Section 2 of the maps likely violated Section 2 of the federal<01:04:17.880> Voting

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > a<00:41:14.160> look<00:41:14.240> at<00:41:14.319> the<00:41:14.560> map
• <00:41:14.800> that's<00:41:15.200> uh >> If you take a look at the map that's
• So this is a map of Kentucky that shows the gray areas are where we have a DPA office situated in that
• So this is a map of Kentucky that shows the gray areas are where we have a DPA office situated in that
• Counties on that map are saying, “Why can't I have the same lawyer all the time?”

Keywords: Opening and Roll Call 00:28 Public safety Cabinet 01:09 Juvenile justice MH Facility: 04:30 Department of Corrections Repair and Replacement: 10:29 Department of Criminal Justice Flat Track 19:05 KSP : 27:02 Department of Public Advocacy : 37:35, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard capital project requests from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for fiscal years 2026-28. The cabinet described its large statewide footprint and said its facilities face significant deferred maintenance, with the governor’s budget proposing full funding for maintenance pool requests, including an additional $60 million for the Department of Corrections’ maintenance pool and cash funding through investment income. Officials said the projects were based on facility assessments and were presented as necessary public safety investments rather than wish-list items. For the Department of Juvenile Justice, the main requests were $35 million for a high-acuity mental health treatment facility and $45 million each for two new female detention facilities. Officials said the mental health facility would fill a gap for youth needing psychiatric care, while the female facilities were needed to support a regional detention model and address overcrowding; they noted the current female population has grown by 50% since July 2024. Members asked about locations, and staff said they were considering western Kentucky abandoned mine land and available land in Fayette and Jefferson counties, with current female placements in Boyd County and Warren County. For the Department of Corrections, officials requested funding for critical mechanical, electrical, plumbing, roof, and structural repairs, including $15.78 million for Kentucky State Penitentiary utilities infrastructure and additional funding for North Point Training Center projects. They also highlighted two re-entry initiatives: a KCTCS partnership for a re-entry campus at North Point and the East Kentucky Applied Manufacturing Institute at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex, both aimed at reducing recidivism through intensive training and job preparation. Members asked about the KCTCS re-entry model, and DOC explained it would be a more immersive, campus-style program than current prison-based vocational classes. The Department of Criminal Justice Training discussed projects at its Richmond campus and the planned Western Kentucky Training Center, including a replacement flat track and campus access road at Richmond and added training features in Madisonville. Officials said the Richmond changes were needed because EKU construction had removed the existing flat track and would affect access, while the Western Kentucky project would expand training capacity and reduce travel for law enforcement agencies. The Kentucky State Police then outlined the final phase of the statewide emergency radio system replacement, estimated at about $17.5 million, and said the system is being built in geographic phases; members asked how long completion would take, and staff estimated roughly four years after funding, assuming no major inflation spikes. No votes were taken, and the meeting remained informational with member questions and staff responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there's a map that's online.
• state.<00:28:58.720> Um,<00:28:59.120> there's<00:28:59.360> a<00:28:59.600> map
• Um, there's a map that's online. state. Um, there's a map that's online.
• > set<00:47:57.680> up<00:47:57.760> a<00:47:58.000> road<00:47:58.240> map
• <00:47:58.480> that I I'm going to set up a road map that I I'm going to set up a road map

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call and approval of the prior minutes, including a requested correction to Thomas Han’s statement about a Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters subcommittee studying the timber yield tax and current use forest land tax assessment formula. The correction was adopted, and the minutes were then approved as amended. The main agenda item was a hearing of landowners on forest taxation and carbon credits. Several scheduled speakers canceled, so the committee received a letter from Ross Karen, a Coos County landowner and forester, who opposed carbon credit sales because of “leakage” and argued that diverse local markets and productive forests are better than carbon sales. Aean Kelly of White Mountain Lumber and the Randolph Town Forest also testified, saying many Coos County landowners and forest managers have declined carbon credit offers because they do not fit New Hampshire’s working-forest tradition. He argued that carbon agreements should be treated on a level playing field with traditional harvesting and that, if they are to be encouraged, they should face a fiscal adjustment comparable to the timber tax. Kelly also gave a detailed history of the timber tax, explaining that it was created in 1948 to replace uneven local property taxation on standing timber, discourage clearcutting, and stabilize the tax base while preserving working forests. He said the tax was intended to be collected when timber is harvested, not to stop logging, and that a later commission found the 10% rate roughly matched the revenue towns lost. In response to questions, he said pre-1948 assessments varied widely by town and tax collector, and that carbon projects today are already being valued by sophisticated models, so he believes carbon should be included in the assessment system. He also said short-term carbon agreements may simply monetize existing forest value, while 100-year agreements raise enforceability concerns. No votes or other formal actions were taken beyond approving the amended minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when they showed us that map, you saw this water tree, if you will.
• You looked at it on the map, and it serviced several communities.
• If you look at the map, it's something like that.
• I've seen maps that take from the Gulf all the way up to the Panhandle from the 1940s forward.
• I don't want to get into the specifics, but there are state brackish zones that they've mapped.

Bills: SJR12, SCR39, SB7, SB8, SB27, SB29, SB125, SB241, SB371, SB396, SB406, SB464, SB568, SB578, SB608, SB617, SB660, SB689, SB693, SB707, SB731, SB732, SB763, SB779, SB836, SB854, SB857, SB875, SB878, SB879, SB906, SB920, SB921, SB922, SB942, SB965, SB985, SB996, SB1029, SB1035, SB1036, SB1059, SB1084, SB1098, SB1101, SB1185, SB1188, SB1321, SB1332, SB1366, SB1388, SB1396, SB1453, SB1484, SB1494, SB1536, SB1563, SB1596, SB1610, SB1619, SB1737, SB1738, SB1741, SB1816, SB1822, SB1841, SB1939, SB2155, SB2188, SB2230, SJR36, SJR12, SJR81, SJR50, SCR22, SCR12, SCR39, 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, SB406, SB985, SB1119, SB1505, SB1215, SB1302, SB583, SB673, SB681, SB1172, SB608, SB955, SB957, SB1120, SB541, SB1737, SB266, SB1415, SB125, SB53, SB1352, SB785, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB578, SB711, SB746, SB942, SB1404, SB1448, SB1738, SB507, SB689, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB763, SB667, SB1059, SB617, SB1567, SB310, SB311, SB505, SB1209, SB1210, SB1470, SB264, SB1029, SB1358, SB1364, SB1569, SB1376, SB1228, SB519, SB878, SB1350, SB462, SB827, SB1585, SB1396, SB920, SB1484, SB1273, SB1741, SB7, SB927, SB1227, SB1229, SB1353, SB1366, SB1464, SB1709, SB1729, SB1733, SB1744, SB1772, SB1816, SB1841, SB2188, SB1147, SB879, SB1008, SB1536, SB2016, SB1453, SB1173, SB1163, SB996, SB27, SB568, SB1370, SB1321, SB1101, SB906, SB860, SB1563, SB993, SB693, SB1610, SB1537, SB836, SB1332, SB1307, SB963, SB493, SB922, SB984, SB1084, SB619, SB1098, SB1122, SB455, SB522, SB1057, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1877, SB464, SB1277, SB32, SB732, SB660, SB731, SB921, SB268, SB1822, SB1188, SB1939, SB1589, SB397, SB1388, 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, SB7, SB125, SB578, SB608, SB617, SB763, SB836, SB878, SB906, SB920, SB942, SB985, SB1084, SB1366, SB1388, SB1563, SB1737, SB1738, SB1816, SB1939, SB406, SB689, SR327, SR346, SR351, SR352

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:

• We're always monitoring heat maps in a call center to see when the calls are going over and when we have
• So they give us heat maps. We do our own map so we can place people in the right amount of time.
• We're always monitoring heat maps in a call center to see when the calls are going over and when we have
• So they give us heat maps. We do our own map so we can place people in the right amount of time.

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then received a quarterly update on major IT projects from NDIT. Staff reported the portfolio included 116 major projects totaling about $546 million, with the overall portfolio under budget but slightly behind schedule. They reviewed projects over the 20% variance threshold, including an Industrial Commission grants management system and DOT’s roadway pre-construction replacement, and then heard startup and closeout reports from HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT. Several previously troubled projects were closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning; some projects finished under budget and ahead of schedule, while others were significantly behind schedule or over budget but were now closed or being remediated. The committee also reviewed NDIT’s annual report, including service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how service-fund revenue and grant administrative charges are accounted for, how chargebacks work, and whether NDIT tracks customer satisfaction scores. NDIT said it does track CSAT-type measures in some service areas and has survey data, but it is not planning another customer survey this summer. Members encouraged more regular reporting of customer satisfaction, service-level metrics, and performance data to help guide future improvements. A major portion of the meeting focused on the state’s mainframe modernization effort. NDIT said the overall effort is still targeting about 2030, with multiple HHS and DOT projects underway and a $15 million tech-debt appropriation already removing some components. Staff described the main obstacles as data cleanup, complex integrations, limited staff capacity, retirements, and vendor constraints, and said they are seeking a vendor with modernization support in the next contract cycle. Members pressed for clearer accountability and faster progress, and NDIT and HHS emphasized that they are working jointly but need continued support and better tools. The committee then heard a cybersecurity update on NDIT’s statewide services and maturity assessments. NDIT explained that it provides vulnerability scanning, endpoint protection, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that these services are tied to a cybersecurity maturity assessment based on CIS controls. Members questioned the sharp drop in participation since 2020 and whether the self-assessment should be mandatory or tied more strongly to StageNet access or insurance incentives. NDIT said participation is voluntary, but Enderf is now requiring annual assessments to keep a 4% insurance discount, and members discussed whether stronger requirements or audit authority may be needed. The meeting ended as the committee began a follow-up discussion on BEAD broadband connection costs and why some locations are much more expensive to connect than others.

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:31:29.919> The<00:31:30.159> map<00:31:30.320> you're<00:31:30.559> seeing
• The map you're seeing now on results.
• 00:31:49.440> the<00:31:49.679> election<00:31:50.159> the Our projects, as the map
• And so, so now I feel like we have a better road map than we have ever had. you're three to five years
• a<00:48:45.920> a<00:48:46.160> better<00:48:46.400> road<00:48:46.720> map

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Energy and Environmental Protection met at 9:00 a.m., approved the June 3 minutes, and heard a presentation from the Department of Parks and the Finance Cabinet on Kentucky State Parks capital projects. Commissioner Mark Keelin and Scott Baker described the scope of the state parks system, the ongoing coordination with DECA/Finance Cabinet, and the status of projects funded through House Joint Resolution 76, House Bill 553, House Joint Resolution 56, and House Bill 6. They said 36 of 44 state parks have received renovations or upgrades, with 66 projects completed and 17 under construction, and outlined work on campgrounds, utilities, wastewater systems, broadband, building systems, safety upgrades, ADA improvements, pools, golf courses, marinas, and lodge accommodations. The presenters highlighted several completed or active projects, including campground upgrades at Carter Caves, Ken Lake, and My Old Kentucky Home; utility and grid-resilience work at parks such as Kentucky Dam Village and Kincaid Lake; wastewater projects at parks including E.P. Tom Sawyer, Carter Caves, Dale Hollow, and Blue Licks Battlefield; and building and hospitality renovations at parks such as Lake Barkley, Baron River, and Cumberland Falls. They also noted completed playground upgrades, lock system replacements, beach refurbishment, and golf course improvements, and said the parks system is managing additional internal projects beyond those discussed. The department emphasized that parks often serve as sheltering locations during disasters and that infrastructure replacement is a high priority. Scott Baker then explained DECA’s role in managing the Commonwealth’s capital construction program, saying it oversees about 1,300 active projects across 28 cabinets and agencies, including 149 parks projects. He described DECA’s team-based approach, with dedicated project managers and field staff assigned to parks, and said monthly status meetings and more frequent check-ins are used to keep projects moving. In response to committee questions, Keelin and Baker said projects are assigned to DECA based mainly on the need for architectural or engineering services, while smaller or less complex work can be handled in-house by parks staff or the P11 construction crew. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• They won't know that until we pass new maps.
• So they don't know what district they reside in currently because the maps were found invalid in Calais
• They won't know that until we pass new maps.
• Louisiana is the only state that was directly involved in the Kale case, which voided our maps, which
• So, like, if we use the example of the maps, and we say that we have an oath to uphold the Constitution

Bills: HR275, HR276, HR277, HR278, HR279, HR280, HR281, HR282, HR283, HR284, HCR112, HCR113, HR265, HR266, HR267, HR268, HR269, HR270, HR271, HR272, HR273, HCR107, HCR108, HCR109, HCR110, HCR111, SCR63, SCR66, SCR67, SB414, SB484, SB513, HR168, HR174, HR194, HR216, HR264, HCR54, HCR74, HCR79, HCR85, HCR87, HCR94, HCR95, HCR97, HCR98, HCR104, SCR23, SCR29, SCR33, SCR38, HB75, HB705, SB54, SB56, SB72, SB79, SB97, SB105, SB123, SB125, SB129, SB163, SB171, SB252, SB287, SB375, SB386, SB461, SB466, HR84, HR188, HR205, HR3, HR197, HR243, SCR19, SCR3, SCR6, SCR18, SCR11, SCR22, SCR2, SCR20, SCR24, SCR35, HCR6, HB301, HB359, HB657, HB675, HB680, HB727, HB39, HB58, HB112, HB134, HB155, HB187, HB287, HB462, HB782, HB825, HB846, HB903, HB904, HB929, HB941, HB962, HB1200, HB4, HB623, HB944, HB986, HB1098, HB1222, SB45, SB58, SB71, SB81, SB92, SB100, SB109, SB141, SB156, SB181, SB203, SB204, SB205, SB207, SB213, SB214, SB216, SB229, SB257, SB274, SB290, SB304, SB374, SB379, SB396, SB410, SB425, SB427, SB429, SB479, SB522, SB34, SB164, SB172, SB198, SB208, SB232, SB281, SB286, SB317, SB322, SB334, SB380, SB385, SB409, SB417, SB421, SB430, SB439, SB447, SB458, SB510, HB842, HB633, HB1191, HB625, HB1255, HB251, HB582, HB646, HB819, HB998, HB1257, SB197, SB436, SB78, HB901, HR20, HR74, HCR65, HCR71, HB284, HB302, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1240, SB82, SB89, HB258, SB149, SB382, SB441

Keywords: highway maintenance, signage, transportation safety, DOTD, infrastructure, public safety, federal grants, job creation, carbon storage, carbon dioxide storage, carbon capture and storage, CCS, mineral rights, mineral owners, oil and gas, disposal wells, injection wells, advanced drilling, carbon sequestration, Louisiana energy policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Sound land use planning and environmental protection is not merely about maps and zoning and open space
• So the state has done ember maps, fire ember maps that show areas that are particularly prone.
• threshold, adding basic reporting and state oversight requirements, creating a shot clock for final maps
• Water agencies already prepare 20-year urban water management plans, and the Subdivision Map Act requires
• a binding water supply verification before any project over 500 units can record a final map.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on wildfire resilience, land use, and local government transparency. SB 911 by Senator Becker would require notification to fire enforcement agencies when a home in a high fire severity zone is sold with an agreement for the buyer to bring the property into defensible-space compliance; the California Association of Realtors said it would drop opposition if the bill is amended to use the preliminary change of ownership report, and the bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 994 by Senator Cabaldon would bar local officials from signing nondisclosure agreements that prevent them from sharing information with the elected decision-makers of their jurisdiction; supporters framed it as a transparency measure, and it also passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 1041 by Senator Riggins would expand PACE financing for wildfire home-hardening improvements and add consumer protections, but it drew strong opposition from homeowner advocates, county treasurers, bankers, and others over predatory lending and lien concerns; it passed 3-2 and remained on call. The committee also considered SB 1075 by Senator Reyes, which would require local governments in AB 617 communities to consider air-quality reduction measures in land-use approvals for industrial and commercial projects. Environmental justice groups supported the bill as a way to implement community air plans, while counties, cities, business groups, builders, trucking interests, and others opposed it as duplicative of CEQA and a barrier to investment and jobs. After debate over local control and environmental justice, the bill passed 3-2 and remained on call. SB 958 by Senator Cabaldon would advance the Midway Rising redevelopment project in San Diego, replacing a former arena and parking lots with housing, affordable units, parks, and a new entertainment venue; with no opposition voiced, it passed 3-0 to Appropriations. Another wildfire-related measure, SB 1182 by Senator Allen, would require local governments to consider insurance availability in safety planning for development in high fire hazard areas and direct state technical guidance on the issue. Supporters said insurance access is now a key indicator of risk, while some members questioned whether the bill would add useful information or burden local governments; the bill received a 1-1 vote and remained on call. The committee then began hearing SB 1116 by Senator Caballero, a starter-home/infill housing bill creating a streamlined ministerial path for small projects up to 10 units, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or a vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Uh, Madam Chair, uh, Representative, there's a map.
• >> Uh, Madam Chair, uh, Representative, there's a map.
• >> Uh, Madam Chair, uh, Representative, there's a map.
• > believe<00:36:28.079> you<00:36:28.400> guys<00:36:28.560> may there's a map
• I believe you guys may there's a map.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met on October 23, 2025, approved the September 25 minutes, and heard several informational presentations on occupational licensing and workforce access. The first major topic was the dietitian licensure compact, presented by Rep. Vanessa Gracel, Whitney Duddy, and Caitlyn Bison. They said the compact would be revenue-neutral, improve licensure portability, support military families, expand telehealth and rural access, and preserve state regulatory authority. Testimony noted that 15 states had joined the compact, including Ohio and Tennessee, and that Kentucky would have a seat on the compact commission if it enacted the measure. Members asked about bordering states and possible telehealth competition concerns; witnesses said they had not seen evidence of harmful effects in other compacts and described the compact as expanding access rather than displacing local providers. The committee then heard testimony on music therapy licensure, with Chris Millet, Laura Elliot Buckner, and Dr. Kimberly Cinemore speaking in support of Senate Bill 42. They described music therapy as a clinical, board-certified profession requiring formal education, supervised training, and national certification, and argued that state licensure would protect the public, clarify scope of practice, and help retain Kentucky-trained professionals. Witnesses said the bill would not require new state funding, could be administered through a self-sustaining licensing structure, and would not prevent others from using music in their work. In response to questions, they said licensure could help open doors to insurance, waiver, and HSA reimbursement, but would not guarantee coverage. Finally, the committee heard testimony on expanding physician access through a provisional licensure pathway for internationally trained physicians. Adam Meyer of the Cicero Institute said Kentucky faces a severe physician shortage, especially in rural areas, and argued that qualified international physicians should not have to repeat residency if they meet strict criteria, including an employment offer, prior training and experience, good standing, U.S. exam passage, and a three-year provisional period before full licensure. Rapender Carr of Baptist Health supported the concept, saying it could help fill hard-to-recruit positions across the state and improve access in rural markets. No votes were taken on these policy topics during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, if there's any, any maps or, or charts, I'll make sure I note that the page number, uh, that I'm
• Um, if you refer to the map on page 23, uh, in regards to the current status in Mexico, uh, there was
• , excuse me, the dispersal grid ends right there, uh, to the left of that darker green color on the map
• If you refer to the the the map on the next page, it's kind of busy there, um, but if you will note there
• Please refer to slide 4 for a detailed map, and it's very similar to what Doctor Dingus had, had shown

Transcript Highlights:

• So this diagram maps out four different types of program setup, depending on whether a program is built
• indicates we have an area where there's a lot of speeders or whatever the case is, we can go and search the map
• , and this is a map of Spokane.
• As you can see, yes, there's I-90 traveling right through the map, and there's a large area of speeding
• And you can see on the map the peaks and the areas, so you can see exactly where they're gaining the

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sharply weakened protections under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, making it harder to challenge maps
• Another invitation for states to redraw maps in ways that diminish communities while pretending neutrality
• When maps are manipulated, when neighborhoods are carved apart, are stacked together for political convenience
• times, we have seen battles over voting rights and voting ID laws, polling place access, purges, and maps
• Maps can be drawn, but movements can rise. Rights can be attacked, but they can also be restored.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, approval of the prior day’s journal by a 120-0 roll call, and a successful motion to suspend House Rule 98 so members could wear hats on the floor. The chamber then spent time on introductions of special guests, including the Eugene High School Class 2 basketball champions, family members of members, and other visitors. One member also used a personal privilege speech to respond to the U.S. Supreme Court’s voting-rights ruling, arguing it weakens protections for Black voters and other communities of color and calling for expanded access to the ballot. The House received committee reports recommending passage of House Substitute for House Bill 2426 and Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bills 863 and 866. It then agreed to a motion to go to conference on the property-tax omnibus, Senate Bills 1066 and 1088. On third reading, House Bill 3329 passed 142-0 to repeal expired tax credits, and House Bill 3405 passed 138-0 to clean up SALT deduction language and improve tax-credit accounting. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2426, a parental-rights bill, failed on a 70-60 vote after opponents argued it would burden schools and could endanger vulnerable students, while supporters said it affirmed parents’ fundamental rights. The House also took up House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1233, a professional licensure bill dealing with CPA licensing and other occupational-licensure provisions. Members adopted an amendment removing compact language, an amendment allowing APRNs and physician assistants to perform nursing-home physicals was offered but then withdrawn after the sponsor objected, and the bill ultimately passed 129-6. Finally, the chamber debated House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1408, a transportation package centered on allowing MoDOT to raise rural interstate speed limits up to 75 mph, with multiple amendments added or removed. The bill drew sharp debate over speed limits, vehicle inspections, DOR language, and road safety, and members also began considering an amendment to add specialty license plates for women’s professional sports teams such as the Kansas City Current and a future WNBA franchise.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were the first state in the country to set up this mechanism for drawing maps, and setting aside the
• So this would add two more independents to the... mechanism for drawing maps and setting aside the good
• In terms of how states do it, it's all over the map.
• I know the Supreme Court has long held that even up to a 10% deviation in mapping legislative districts
• the same time, even back then, they did not allow a similar variation when it comes to congressional maps

Bills: SB1246, SB1338, SB1428, SB1443, SB1501, SB1566, SB1571, SB1645, SB1646, SB1663, SB1688, SB1805, SB1808, SB1825, SCR1023, SCR1029, HB2079, HB2080, HB2130, HB2239, HB2324, HB2375, HB2610, HB2619, HB2620, HB2716, HB2745, HB2749, HB2837, HB2857, HB2968, HB4064, HB4066, HB4087, HB4130, HCR2048, HCR2058

Keywords: homeowners associations, foreclosure, common expense liens, condominiums, special assessments, unit owner, public benefits, eligibility, immigration status, documentation, Arizona law, county governance, supervisorial board, population-based representation, local government, elections, noise pollution, environmental nuisances, building permits, urban development

Transcript Highlights:

• when I first met you and you presented us with the data on China, and I specifically remember the maps
• , and you cannot erase those maps from your head.
• And visually in your maps, you represented it with the color red of China taking over, becoming number
• And those are the data points related to the map that I showed you back in the day, which is: 20 years
• Cali-Baja is not simply a point of entry or a line on a map.

Summary: The joint hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on California-Mexico Bi-National Affairs and the Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee focused on the USMCA and how the agreement affects California’s economy, jobs, supply chains, and competitiveness. Opening remarks emphasized California’s heavy trade dependence on Mexico and Canada, the importance of stable trade rules, and concerns that tariffs or uncertainty could harm workers, small businesses, agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, and border communities. Members said the hearing would help inform a future legislative report or resolution on California’s priorities for the agreement’s review. Academic and policy witnesses argued that the USMCA is central to North American economic integration and California’s role in it. Testimony from UC San Diego and CETYS University described California and Mexico as co-producers rather than simple trading partners, highlighting sectors such as medical devices, aerospace, semiconductors, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. Witnesses also warned that the upcoming review could involve not just trade but security and immigration issues, and they urged a stronger, longer-term agreement with more certainty, better border efficiency, and new tools such as specialized technician visas, binational certification standards, innovation zones, and a technology fund. Go-Biz and chamber representatives said USMCA provides predictability, market access, and support for small and medium-sized businesses, while also creating compliance burdens through rules of origin, labor standards, and customs procedures. They pointed to California’s trade missions, export support programs, and state-level cooperation with Mexico and Canada as ways to help firms participate in regional supply chains. Mexican government and business representatives said the agreement is largely functioning well, that Mexico’s public consultation process received nearly 800 submissions and about 2,000 chapter-specific comments, and that many stakeholders favor maintaining or extending USMCA. No formal votes were taken; the committee heard testimony and asked witnesses for follow-up information to inform its report and future recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the map that you see in front of you, you will see the department has provided training across the
• If you turn to the back page of your map, it will include an embedded QR code with a student and family
• Chair, Senator, this map actually does not include Bernalillo.
• Training because that training occurred after we completed our map.
• So you can, when I was presenting, I said, Data into our map.

Transcript Highlights:

• demonstrating our commitment to enforcement and transparency, last year we unveiled online an interactive map
• that shows that We unveiled online an interactive map that shows where our inspections are being conducted
• And while we have challenges fixing EnviroStore itself, we decided we would launch this map so that people
• Launch this map so that people had easy-to-use, readily available information about where DTSC is conducting
• DTSC has made some progress in this effort, for example, through its interactive inspection map, as Director

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on DTSC’s implementation of SB 158 reforms, including enforcement, community engagement, fee stability, the hazardous waste management plan, permitting backlogs, and the Safer Consumer Products program. Senators and Assembly members emphasized protecting overburdened communities and asked how DTSC and the Board of Environmental Safety are using their authority to improve accountability, reduce delays, and address hazardous waste facilities and consumer product chemicals. The hearing also included discussion of extended producer responsibility programs and whether DTSC can support them more efficiently, including through coordination with CalRecycle. DTSC Director Katie Butler said the department is now more transparent, accountable, and fiscally stable, citing stronger enforcement actions, an interactive inspections map, expanded community outreach, and emergency response work on the Los Angeles wildfire cleanup. She said DTSC has made progress on fee reform, the hazardous waste management plan, cleanup grants, permit renewals, and safer consumer products rulemaking, including adding microplastics to the candidate chemical list. Board Chair Andrew Rakestraw said the board has held multiple public meetings and hearings, is working on fee rates and performance metrics, and is revising the hazardous waste management plan after public comment, including removing a proposal to send certain contaminated soil to municipal landfills. He also noted remaining concerns about fee structure, permit delays, and the pace of the safer consumer products program. Public witnesses offered sharply different views. A representative of the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance said SB 158 reforms have improved permitting and transparency, but urged more attention to risk-based decision-making, reduced duplication, and possible General Fund support for plan implementation rather than relying only on fees. Earthjustice argued DTSC remains too slow and that communities continue to suffer from long-delayed permits and weak protections, urging the Legislature to take a more active role and to prioritize eliminating hazardous substances rather than minimizing costs. Committee members pressed the witnesses on permit renewals, community impacts, and the pace of the safer consumer products program, while DTSC defended its progress and said further legislative collaboration may be needed on hazardous waste management and emerging waste streams.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the packet that you're receiving, there are a couple of maps from NERDL, which is a citizen science
• On those maps, purple dots indicate places where over 1,000 pellets have been found in 10 minutes.
• The Houston Chronicle examined and mapped more than 54,000 wells in Texas oil and gas operations that
• of PFAS contamination from biosolids, bringing multiple bills to the Oklahoma legislature to track, map
• The published EPA map of PFAS contamination sites lists wastewater treatment plants as sources of PFAS

Bills: HB1341, HB1674, HB4028, SB2321

Keywords: hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• collected 15 years of data from the DLE, the AG, and Judiciary, partnered with agencies to begin mapping
• collected 15 years of data from the DLE, the AG, and Judiciary, partnered with agencies to begin mapping
• agencies<00:13:17.839> to<00:13:17.959> begin<00:13:18.639> uh<00:13:18.760> mapping
• ><00:13:19.079> the<00:13:19.199> data<00:13:19.440> to agencies to begin uh mapping
• the data to agencies to begin uh mapping the data to draft<00:13:19.920> pipelines<00:13:20.440

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Judiciary heard the Judiciary’s budget presentation from Brandon Kimura and other court administrators. The Judiciary outlined its mission and access-to-justice programs, including specialty courts, self-help centers, online small claims dispute resolution, and e-reminders. It requested an operating budget of $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027, along with 17 permanent and one temporary position, and described a series of staffing and program requests tied to specialty courts, district court operations, technology, and public guardianship. Major program requests included making women’s court permanent by converting seven temporary positions to permanent and adding a substance use counselor; expanding truancy court and the Early Education Intervention Program on Oahu; and making the driving while impaired court permanent. The Judiciary also sought staffing and funding for the new Wahiawa District Court, including security, janitorial, IT, clerical, bailiff, and social worker support, plus an additional district court judge and staff in Kona. Technology requests included cybersecurity tools and a cybersecurity unit, enhanced email protection, and replacement of aging network switches. Other operating requests included continued funding for the Criminal Justice Research Institute, restoration of 12 positions cut during the pandemic, and added support for the Office of the Public Guardian. For capital improvement projects, the Judiciary’s top priorities were $4 million to design a new South Kohala District Court, $900,000 to replace an aging AC chiller on Kauai, and $5 million for lump-sum facility preservation work. Members asked questions about purchase-of-service contract rates, implementation of court-appointed fee increases, federal grant dependence, specialty court effectiveness, truancy court outcomes, and the condition of the Ewa District Court site. Judiciary witnesses said they were working to raise provider rates through contracts and a separate bill, cited low recidivism and reduced petitions as evidence that specialty courts and truancy efforts are working, and said the Ewa site has significant foundation issues that may require further assessment or a different location.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this map shows two of the shared conference rooms that have been created.
• So this map shows two of the shared conference rooms that have been created.
• First of all, for the F-MAP, for fiscal year 2027, we were estimating a 52.52% F-map.

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum present and approved the March 18 minutes. The committee first heard an update from the Petroleum Council on oil and gas activity, which described North Dakota production as holding steady around 1.1 to 1.2 million barrels per day despite lower prices and market volatility. The presentation emphasized that efficiency gains, longer laterals, and improved completion technology are allowing operators to sustain output while activity shifts north in the Bakken. Members asked about gas taxation, natural gas liquids, flaring, and enhanced oil recovery; the witness said gas is taxed by volume, most liquids are handled through oil lines or gas processing, and the state’s EOR pilot projects and new gas infrastructure are intended to help hold production flat and expand future recovery. The committee then received a presentation from the Tax Department on the federal “big beautiful bill” and its effect on North Dakota income tax collections. The department explained that most of the federal changes were extensions of existing Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions, but several items — including the larger standard deduction, senior deduction, tip and overtime exclusions, auto loan interest deduction, and business expensing changes — affect state collections. Revised estimates showed a smaller-than-expected impact on individual income tax, with the department suggesting a net cash effect in the range of roughly $30 million to $35 million when business and individual effects are combined, plus a possible one-time distortion from large oil-field transactions in fiscal year 2025. Members asked which provisions apply to standard versus itemized returns, and the department clarified that most of the individual provisions apply broadly, while the SALT-related item is itemizer-specific. OMB then reported on major capital projects and facility funding. Updates included Capitol grounds improvements such as 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding, augmented reality displays for the Rough Rider Hall of Fame, tree management and lighting studies, and restroom and parking reconfiguration in the tower. OMB also described security upgrades at the governor’s residence, where human remains were discovered on site and are being handled with historical and legal review. The state hospital project in Jamestown remains on schedule for substantial completion in winter 2027 and opening in spring 2028, with costs currently estimated a little over $292 million and a line of credit expected to be drawn in April 2027. The North Central State Office Building in Minot is under construction, with a $5.6 million line of credit already accessed. OMB also reported on the State Facility Maintenance Fund, noting about $1.1 million spent so far on projects such as the Liberty Memorial Building roof and foundation work, Capitol window replacement, boiler replacement, and kitchen remodeling. Finally, Legislative Council staff reviewed the interim compliance report on legislative intent and state trust funds. The report highlighted the status of multiple lines of credit, including those for the state hospital and Minot office building, and noted that the executive budget will likely need to include repayment planning for about $350 million of expected outstanding balances. Other updates included the Bank of North Dakota profit transfer schedule, litigation pool spending, the new Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, the Missouri River Correctional Center planning effort, HHS items such as FMAP and child care assistance, Job Service’s unemployment insurance modernization project, and DPI school aid turnback estimates. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This map compares states to one another, with darker-colored states having a greater degree of concern
• The bottom right map speaks to youth who needed substance use treatment in the last year but did not
• As you can see on the map here, CCAR is serving DCF regions 1, 2, and 5, which is the western part of
• Basically, you go through the process, you share some information, there's a mapping pathway, which if

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The meeting opened with approval of the April minutes and brief administrative updates, including notice that House Bill 5447 had passed both chambers of the General Assembly. Speakers reflected on the bill’s key provisions, which include eating-disorder working groups, an evidence-based screening requirement for school-based health centers beginning July 1, 2027, and a DSS-led feasibility process to explore an inpatient psychiatric facility for young adults ages 14 to 21. New staff introductions were also made for the Behavioral Health Advocate’s office and the TCB team. A major portion of the meeting focused on marketing and outreach for urgent crisis centers (UCCs) and the broader youth crisis continuum. Daydream Communications presented research showing low public awareness of UCCs but strong interest once families learn about them, with parents wanting specialized, compassionate care, clear expectations, insurance clarity, and bilingual support. United Way described its parallel work on a statewide crisis continuum marketing toolkit, using the SAMHSA framework of “someone to talk to, someone to respond, and somewhere safe to go,” and outlined plans to distribute consistent messaging through websites, social media, flyers, and community venues. Members emphasized coordinating with existing platforms and ensuring the marketing reflects the actual experience at UCC sites. DCF then presented on adolescent substance use services, citing data showing high need and low treatment access among Connecticut youth. The department reviewed its ASAM-based continuum, SBIRT efforts in outpatient psychiatric clinics, medication-assisted treatment access, and statewide services such as MST, MST emerging adults, STRIDE, multidimensional family therapy, youth recovery supports, and the AIM matching tool. A new young people peer support program was highlighted, with referrals accepted from families, hospitals, community providers, DCF, youth diversion, and the judicial branch. Questions addressed parent consent, peer matching, and whether the AIM tool could be linked through 211. The meeting concluded with an update from the Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board and its regional boards and grant-funded initiatives. Presenters reviewed the state suicide prevention plan, regional coalition work, postvention response, lethal means safety efforts, and the 988 capacity improvement grant that supports Connecticut’s centralized 988 contact center at United Way. They also shared youth suicide risk data from the Connecticut Youth Risk Behavior Survey, noting recent declines in reported suicidal ideation and attempts, and provided resources for training and materials. No formal votes were taken beyond the approval of the April minutes.