Video & Transcript Research : 'October 14'

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KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Primary and Secondary Education. (2-25-26)

Primary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • >> Yes.<00:14:30.240> House<00:14:30.480> Bill<00:14:30.800> 469<00:14:31.680
  • House Bill 469 passes with the expression<00:14:32.880> of<00:14:33.040> opinion<00:14:
  • :14:34.720> the<00:14:34.880> House<00:14:35.120> floor<00:14:36.079> with
  • the committee<00:14:36.800> sub<00:14:37.120> attached<00:14:37.519> there<00:14
  • <00:14:47.040> Our<00:14:47.279> next<00:14:47.440> bill<00:14:47.760> for
Summary: The House Standing Committee on Primary and Secondary Education met and first considered House Bill 383, which concerns military-connected students with IEPs and 504 plans. The sponsor explained that the bill, as amended by a committee substitute and then a committee amendment, is intended to emphasize Kentucky’s priority for military children and to have their existing or new plans adopted within 30 days of arrival to the greatest extent possible, while documenting cases where that is not possible. Members spoke in support, including references to military families who would benefit. The committee adopted the substitute and amendment and then passed HB 383 favorably to the House floor with the committee substitute attached. The committee next heard House Bill 469, which would require school board candidates to undergo a background check and can test before appearing on the ballot. The sponsor said the bill was prompted by concerns about school board access to children and school buildings, and that the cost would be paid by the candidate. Members asked about the criteria for disqualification and the open records exemption; the sponsor said the background check would use existing pass-fail criteria and the records exemption would protect candidates from embarrassment if they failed. The committee passed HB 469 favorably with the committee substitute attached. House Bill 586 was then considered, clarifying that sunscreen is not a medication in schools. The sponsor and a student advocate testified that some districts treat sunscreen as an over-the-counter medication, limiting student use without a provider order, and argued the bill would help prevent sunburn and skin cancer by allowing students to use sunscreen more freely. Members praised the advocacy and asked about the medication issue; the sponsor said the concern came from dermatology stakeholders. The committee passed HB 586 favorably to the House floor. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 621, which would move special education caseload and class-size limits from regulation into statute. The sponsor said the bill responds to proposed Department of Education changes that worried special education teachers, would slightly increase class-size maximums when a paraprofessional is present, and would not affect waiver procedures, preschool caseloads, or speech-language pathologist caseloads. Members asked about the rationale and supporting data for the limits; the sponsor said there are no federal guidelines and the bill was meant to preserve current regulatory numbers. The committee passed HB 621 favorably to the House floor, and then adjourned.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Legislative Session Day 5 (1-12-26)

Kentucky House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • House<00:14:07.760> Bill<00:14:08.079> 324,<00:14:08.800> an<00:14:08.959> act
  • House<00:14:13.199> Bill<00:14:13.440> 325,<00:14:14.160> an<00:14:14.320> act
  • House<00:14:18.560> Bill<00:14:18.880> 326,<00:14:20.000> an<00:14:20.160> act
  • House<00:14:48.800> Concurrent<00:14:49.279> Resolution<00:14:49.839> 23,<00:14:
  • <00:14:56.240> House<00:14:56.480> Joint<00:14:56.800> Resolution<00:14:57.360
Summary: The House convened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum with 95 members present. The journal from Friday, January 9, 2026 was approved, absent members were excused, and House Resolution 21 was taken from the Committee on Committees and brought to the floor without objection. Several committee and meeting announcements were made, including cancellations for various standing committees and notices that the Government Contract Review Committee and Oversight Investigation Committee would meet upon adjournment. The House also adopted House Citation 4, a citation of adjournment honoring Bill Nickel, with remarks describing him as a respected community member and friend. After the citation, members continued making committee announcements, including that the House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance would meet at noon the next day. The clerk then reported the introduction of numerous new bills and resolutions, covering topics such as grand jury service, criminal trespass, postsecondary admission and funding, sex crimes, cultured meat products, railroad crossings, firearms and concealed weapons, property tax exemptions, name/image/likeness rights, landlords and tenants, child care, child welfare investigations, government social media accounts, peace officer training, economic development incentives, residential safety, pre-trial release, and several resolutions on highways, property taxation, Medicaid waiver withdrawal, and food-as-medicine initiatives. The Committee on Committees and Rules met and referred House Bills 164, 176, 184, and 265 to Banking and Insurance, and the House adjourned without objection until 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
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  • :00.320> you<00:14:00.399> for<00:14:00.560> the<00:14:00.680> opportunity
  • ><00:14:01.160> the thank you for the opportunity the thank you for the opportunity the auditor
  • <00:14:01.560> has<00:14:01.680> spoken<00:14:02.079> well<00:14:02.279> enough
  • <00:14:02.480> for<00:14:02.639> me The auditor has spoken well enough for me, although
Summary: The House State Government Committee met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 491 by Representative Steve Riley. The committee adopted a proposed committee substitute, then heard that the bill would raise the threshold for certain capital project and equipment purchases from $200,000 to $500,000, remove a requirement for a special board meeting when replacing a board of regents member, allow certain employees or contractors to perform capital construction work up to $500,000, remove limits on retired police officers working at postsecondary institutions, and speed release of pension information to employers. Members asked about reporting and oversight of the higher threshold, and the witness said the records are maintained by institutions and available upon request. HB 491 passed on a 19-0 roll call vote. The committee then heard House Bill 738 by Representative Griffey, relating to state personnel and the constitutional officers. The bill would give independently elected constitutional officers more flexibility to hire unclassified employees and set salaries for classified employees up to the midpoint without Personnel Cabinet approval, while leaving pay scales, appropriations, and funding limits unchanged. Representative Griffey and witnesses from the auditor’s office said the measure was intended to reduce red tape, address salary compression, improve pay equity, and help recruit and retain staff; they also said it would allow offices to fill policy roles needed for audits and other work. Members questioned the fiscal note, salary caps, and whether the bill would affect future budget requests. The bill passed 18-1, with one pass, and the chair noted it would move favorably to the House floor. After those bills, the committee briefly welcomed Taiwan’s consul general, Elliot Wang, and Representative Adam Bowling spoke about Kentucky’s relationship with Taiwan, including trade, investment, and prior assistance during disasters. Wang described Taiwan’s economic ties with the United States, ongoing trade and investment developments, defense and education cooperation, and people-to-people exchange programs, noting Kentucky was the first state to sign an education cooperation MOU with Taiwan in 2021.