Video & Transcript Research : '544 LOB @ 11:00 AM Committee webpage: https://www.ncleg.gov/Committees/CommitteeInfo/Senate/147'

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MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

Highways and Transportation - Room 216, 25 March, 2026; 11:45 AM

Highways and Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um any questions from the committee? committee? committee?
  • Do<00:02:32.200> I<00:02:32.280> hear<00:02:32.440> a<00:02:32.480> motion?
  • Thank you so much.<00:02:40.600> Well,<00:02:40.880> thank<00:02:41.080> you<00:
  • But yeah, Chairman Younger, happy to do so, and Vice Chair McClendon, and Senators, I am Kurt Auber.
  • I am a reappointment as well I am a reappointment as well and<00:04:10.440> have<00:04:10.640>
Summary: The committee considered several reappointments and appointments to transportation-related boards. Jerry Waldrop of Hattiesburg, associated with Pam Auto Group, appeared in person for a reappointment and was confirmed after staff noted his oath and statement of economic interest were in compliance. James Morris Richards of Ridgeland appeared by Zoom for reappointment to the Commercial Transportation Appeals Board; he described his long career with KLLM Transport, including serving as president and CEO and overseeing a large refrigerated trucking operation, and his reappointment was also approved. The committee then heard from Curtis Leon Auber Jr. of Hattiesburg for a reappointment. He said he is originally from Pascagoula, attended the University of Southern Mississippi and MC Law, worked at Entergy, served with the Public Service Commission and as chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under President Bush, and is now a partner at Brunini. Members said his paperwork was in order and thanked him for his service. For each nominee, the committee moved to advise and consent, took voice votes with no opposition noted, and approved the appointments. The meeting concluded with a motion to rise and report.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Legislative Session Day 15 (1-28-26)

Kentucky House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:11:10.720> Speaker,<00:11:11.040> we<00:11:11.279> tell<00:11:11.440>
  • So, I ask<00:11:20.000> you<00:11:20.160> to<00:11:20.320> join<00:11:20.560>
  • me<00:11:20.640> in<00:11:20.880> standing<00:11:21.200> with<00:11:21.279>
  • Speaker,<00:11:24.160> I<00:11:24.320> move<00:11:24.480> passage<00:11:25.040><
  • <00:11:51.120> Um<00:11:52.240> can<00:11:52.399> you<00:11:52.560> tell<
Summary: The House convened with prayer and the pledge, recorded 96 members present, excused absences, and approved the journal from January 27, 2026. The Senate clerk announced passage of Senate Bills 17 and 181 and requested concurrence. Committee reports advanced a number of bills on health insurance, judiciary, local government, and transportation topics, including measures on pharmacist reimbursements, hearing aid coverage, feeding and eating disorders, grooming a minor, local government liability, water fluoridation, cigar bars, chickens on residential property, highway pavement markings, motor vehicle titles, and pedestrian issues; all favorable reports were treated as first readings and placed on the calendar. The House then took up and passed House Bill 320 on human trafficking, with the sponsor explaining it would equalize penalties for promoting human trafficking with those for trafficking itself and increase the penalty when the victim is under 18. A member asked whether the bill included additional funding for cyber enforcement; the sponsor replied it was not an appropriation and would not require new funding, though prior budgets had increased support for anti-trafficking efforts. The House adopted a title amendment changing the bill’s title to combating human trafficking. The chamber also passed House Bill 366, which clarifies that materials portraying a sexual performance by a minor include computer-generated images and requires 85% service of the sentence before probation or parole; the sponsor said it was supported by law enforcement and prosecutors. House Bill 389 on reading and writing in schools also passed as amended by House Committee Substitute 1. The sponsor said it would require annual updates to the state dyslexia toolkit, expand professional development and coaching, require local school boards to develop processes for universal screening and diagnostic tools, and add dyslexia instruction to teacher preparation programs; the substitute added conformity with IDEA and revised the instructional language. Members spoke in support of early dyslexia detection and one member noted the bill updated prior legislation associated with former Rep. Bam Carney. House Bill 56, an omnibus Department of Agriculture bill, then passed; it addressed amusement ride inspections, grain warehousing penalties, egg handler licensing renewal timing, exemptions for small producers, and repealed obsolete tobacco and egg marketing board provisions. All three bills passed by roll call with 95 or 94 votes in favor and none opposed, and clinchers were applied. During announcements, members noted upcoming committee meetings and events, including a suits-and-sneakers day and cancer-related breakfast, caucus meetings, and committee meetings. New bills and resolutions were introduced, including measures on local occupational license fees, early learning and child care, tuition waivers, an adult workforce diploma pilot, motor vehicle usage tax, contract procurement, Fish and Wildlife Resources, adoption, veterans’ benefits, Cabinet for Health and Family Services operations, organ donation safety, hate crimes, prescription drugs, and resolutions on the Kentucky-Japan partnership and veterans’ benefits accreditation. The clerk also reported a petition of impeachment filed against Judge Julie Goodman. The House then referred a group of bills to committees, reported floor amendments for House Bills 321 and 416, and adjourned until 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026.