Transcript Highlights:

• George's County. George's County.
• and their challenges in their County and their challenges in their county. county. county.
• Mary’s County or Montgomery County.
• Mary's County or Anaonda County or St.
• We can't County or Montgomery County.

Keywords: House streaming session for Saturday, April 11, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 122 members present, heard a prayer, and the Speaker urged members to remain respectful as difficult bills were expected later in the day. The chamber then moved through several ceremonial floor presentations honoring retiring members, including Delegate Barry S. Celebrity and Delegate Pam Queen, with resolutions read congratulating each on their years of service and lasting impact. The House also recognized an “interim birthday caucus” with a lighthearted resolution celebrating members born outside the session, followed by remarks and thanks from the Speaker and members. After the presentations, the House turned to business, including concurrence and nonconcurrence actions on Senate amendments. The chamber refused to concur in Senate amendments to House Bill 339 and House Bill 512, while House Bill 512 was then concurred in, read for final passage, and passed with 118 votes in favor and none opposed. The House also received messages indicating conference committees for several bills, including House Bills 107, 153, 769, 1063, and 1118. The House adopted favorable committee reports on a series of bills, sending many to third reading. These included measures on earned wage access, security guard certification renewal, county board and alcohol licensing matters, animal regulation, veteran status notation, procurement transparency, Public Information Act divorce records, election board qualifications, and a local sourcing database. During discussion of the local sourcing database bill, the minority whip asked whether business groups that had opposed the bill remained opposed after amendments; the floor leader explained the amended bill would require the Department of Commerce to create a searchable Maryland Local Sourcing Portal to connect businesses with local sources of tariff-impacted goods and services.

Transcript Highlights:

• So your county or my county—my county has it.
• So county by county, that number changes, right, depending on the county.
• counties and county commissioners.
• I have to give a shout-out to DeSoto County, Hernando County, Jefferson County, Manatee County, Marion
• County, Osceola County, Putnam County, Santa Rosa County, and Taylor County, for doing the right thing

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce property taxes by lowering assessment caps on non-homestead property, expanding homestead exemptions over time, and allowing local governments to increase exemptions further. The sponsor argued the measure would provide broad property tax relief while requiring revenues to be directed to core services such as public safety, education, infrastructure, and natural resource projects, with a trust fund intended to help local governments transition. Senators raised concerns about the lack of a fiscal score, the effect on counties, cities, school districts, and special districts, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. Several amendments were debated. Senator Polsky’s amendment to explicitly authorize user fees and non-ad valorem assessments to offset lost property tax revenue failed. Senator Avila’s amendment broadening permissible uses of ad valorem revenue to include county constitutional officers and other expenditures approved by local governing bodies was adopted after debate over whether the bill would otherwise underfund essential functions. Senator Smith’s sunset amendment, which would have made the constitutional changes expire after five years, failed. Senator Smith’s amendment to allow tourism development tax revenue to support public safety and education also failed. Senator Graal’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund language was adopted, with supporters arguing the Constitution should not promise an unfunded account. Additional late-file amendments were considered. Senator Berman’s proposal to change the ballot title to more neutrally describe the measure as affecting property taxes and local community service reductions failed. Senator Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal was adopted, preserving school taxes. Senator Smith’s amendment narrowing the non-homestead assessment cap reduction to small businesses only failed. The committee then returned to the bill as amended and continued questioning the sponsor about eligibility, fiscal impacts, and whether the proposal could lead to local governments offsetting lost revenue through special assessments or other charges.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the county.
• . county. county.
• > County,<00:04:11.200> which My county, which Harrison County, which My county, which
• county.
• In 1972, Loun County passed somehow we have radar in Loun County.

Keywords: Highways and Transportation - Room 216, 30 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2269, the Mississippi Fully Autonomous Vehicle Enabling Act. The bill was described as simply extending the repealer date to July 1, 2029. A motion was made that the title was sufficient and the bill do pass, and it passed without opposition. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2614, which would authorize county sheriffs and deputies to use radar on county roads, subject to county board approval and population-based limits on the number of radar units. Senator Thompson said the measure was intended to reduce Mississippi’s high rate of speed-related highway fatalities, not to create revenue or speed traps. He explained that fines would be directed to the Mississippi Department of Education to support driver’s education programs, and that the bill includes a 1,000-foot buffer from municipal limits and a definition prohibiting speed traps. Members asked about engineering reviews of speed limits, opt-in/opt-out authority for supervisors, quotas, body cameras, and how the bill would affect counties that already use radar. Thompson said the bill does not require roadway reassessments, that county boards must approve radar use, that he would not oppose a quota-related amendment, and that a body-camera requirement would be beyond the bill’s scope and could burden departments that cannot afford it. Several senators spoke in support, citing public safety and sheriff support, while one senator raised concerns about transparency and public trust. The committee then voted that the title was sufficient and the bill do pass, and the motion carried.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen with Lane County, Lane County is planning to build a building.
• Yamhill County.
• Roger Nyquist, Linn County.
• County for being great partners with the County of Marion.
• Lincoln County has three haulers that contract with counties and cities in Lincoln County.

Summary: The task force met to focus on funding systems and incentive structures for a proposed regional waste infrastructure effort, including how a future WIPA framework might support solid waste planning in the Willamette Valley. Staff and members heard presentations from DEQ on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, from Business Oregon on the Special Public Works Fund, and from Oregon State Treasury on state bonding capacity and the bond issuance process. Presenters explained how their programs are structured, how projects are scored or approved, what kinds of public entities and projects are eligible, and how interagency coordination and co-funding can work. DEQ emphasized that its revolving loan fund is driven by water-quality benefits and public-health criteria, while Business Oregon described a broader infrastructure loan program for public entities with no scoring system, and Treasury outlined the state’s debt-capacity process and the differences between general obligation and lottery bonds. Members used the presentations to discuss whether similar funding tools could support solid waste infrastructure, especially for transfer stations, regional hubs, and related facilities that may need to be built before Coffin Butte reaches the end of its lifespan. Several questions centered on whether public-private partnerships could qualify, whether equipment inside facilities could be financed, how repayment would work, and whether planning costs could be covered. DEQ and Business Oregon both said they could potentially collaborate on scoring or co-funding, but noted eligibility limits and the need for public ownership in many cases. Treasury said bond capacity is limited and competitive, especially for lottery bonds, and that project authorization generally runs on a two-year cycle, though unused authority can sometimes be reauthorized. In task force discussion, members debated whether the group should pursue a dedicated funding lane for the seven-county region rather than having local governments compete with other statewide needs. Some members stressed the importance of criteria to avoid stranded assets and to ensure funding is available when projects are ready, while others raised concerns about how cities and counties would generate revenue to repay debt during construction and early operations. The group also discussed flow control, system fees, and the need for regional collaboration among counties, cities, and haulers to create enough waste volume to support new infrastructure. Staff noted that pre-session filing materials for the legislature are due September 11, and the chair said the August meeting will focus on organizational structure and identifying partners. During public comment, Representative Kevin Mannix submitted written testimony supporting the WIPA concept and urging the task force to endorse it. Commissioner Bubba King of Yamhill County urged the task force to compare alternatives objectively and warned against adding bureaucracy before evaluating existing infrastructure and costs. Commissioners Kevin Cameron and Roger Nyquist of Marion and Linn counties described regional hub-and-spoke concepts, transfer stations, and intermodal options, emphasizing the need for planning, strategic siting, and collaboration with haulers and local governments.

Transcript Highlights:

• with<00:04:10.560> South counties are border counties with South counties are border counties
• the above counties voted on each County the above counties voted on each County being<00:04:39.919
• <01:29:44.600> County Corrections act counties County Corrections act counties County Probation
• minat toown County uh this County would minat toown County uh this County would then<01:40:29.360
• Carlton County Carlton County on behalf Carlton County Carlton County on behalf of<01:57:32.599> the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• referred to the county attorney. referred to the county attorney.
• Carver County.
• <00:53:54.400> to<00:53:54.480> be county and send to counties to be county and send
• . counties. counties.
• in their county. in their county.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• At one time there was 23 County.
• ,<00:21:27.679> counties comes to cities and counties, counties comes to cities and counties
• And I more so than county roads.
• that still be done through the county? that still be done through the county?
• and the county to rely on the county and the county judge<00:35:20.240> to<00:35:20.400> apply

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:13 Roll Call 00:00:24 Approval of Minutes from September Meeting 00:02:10 Presentation of Special Purpose Governmental Entities Report 00:03:19 Presentation of Kentucky League of Cities Legislative Platform for the Upcoming 2026 Session of the General Assembly 00:15:37 Discussion of Centralized Collection of Net Profits and Occupational License Taxes 00:37:05 Adjournment 00:55:53, 958, all

Summary: The committee received reports on special purpose governmental entities from the Department for Local Government and the Fire Commission. DLG staff described SPGEs as limited-jurisdiction political subdivisions and reviewed the department’s registry, reporting portal, compliance monitoring, and planned system upgrades such as a two-way message center, automated noncompliance notices, and tracking for new entities and board expirations. They reported that, as of October 10, 2025, 69% of SPGEs were active and discussed compliance data by cycle, fiscal year, and district type. The Fire Commission reported that fire department mergers have reduced the number of departments by 16 since last year, largely because of volunteer staffing shortages, while financial disclosure compliance had risen to 94%. The commission also noted 509 compliance reviews, 19 in-house inquiries, seven referrals to outside agencies, and one recent federal prison sentence in a theft case. Members asked whether DLG advises SPGEs on tax rates; staff said it only performs calculations and the entities set their own rates. Questions to the Fire Commission focused on whether department reductions meant station closures; officials explained that most changes were mergers that keep physical buildings in place while combining personnel and finances to meet minimum staffing requirements. They said the trend is spread across the state but is especially pronounced in rural areas. The Kentucky League of Cities then presented its 2026 legislative agenda. Its priorities included modernizing city revenue options, increasing equity in road funding, fixing tax increment financing issues, addressing transient room tax collection from web-based platforms, strengthening emergency response coordination, clarifying massage parlor regulation preemption, correcting unintended consequences of House Bill 606, improving newspaper publication rules, and modernizing procurement statutes. KLC also said it supports allowing all cities to collect restaurant tax revenue, wants cities to receive a larger share of road funds and EV-related revenues, and seeks state collection and remittance of any future local sales tax to comply with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. Members asked about best-value bidding, road-fund equity, Airbnb tax litigation, EV prevalence, and disaster funding applications; KLC said cities currently must accept the lowest bid, the road split should better reflect city street costs, the Airbnb tax case remains pending, EV data by locality has not been studied, and allowing cities to apply directly for disaster funds would reduce reliance on county officials. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the September meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we're going to do our best to do that by requiring all non-VCA counties, those are the 29 counties
• I believe that it is time for Merced County to join these counties.
• What is the difference in structure between Merced County and what was forced upon Fresno County?
• County, so guess what?
• And I've seen what crunch time looks like for the county registrars in my own county.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• County because L.A.
• If, for example, in Napa County, the people of Napa County were to decide to to the people of Napa County
• Well, San Mateo County is a donor county, with a GDP of over $203 billion.
• San Mateo County, Napa County, Alpine County, and Mono County absolutely, by law, do not have to come
• Mike Callagy, the county executive, San Mateo County.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So your county or my county—my county has it. So your county or my county—my county has it.
• So county by county, that number changes, right, depending on the county.
• the 67 counties and county commissioners.
• I have to give a shout-out to DeSoto County, Hernando County, Jefferson County, Manatee County, Marion
• County, Marion County, Osceola County, Putnam County, Santa Rosa County, and Taylor County, for doing

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• County, Fayette County, Gilmer County, Greenbrier County, Lewis County, Lincoln County, Logan County
• County, Randolph County, Ritchie County, Roane County, Summers County, Tucker County, Upshur County,
• Webster County, Wetzel County, Wirt County, Wood County, and Wyoming County.
• County, Randolph County, Ritchie County, Roane County, Summers County, Tucker County, Upshur County,
• Webster County, Wetzel County, Wirt County, Wood County, and Wyoming County.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:55.360> or<00:07:55.840> multi-county projects that are county or multi-county
• In other words, any county that they've approached, their county council, Senator Webb, any county funds
• > any<00:10:47.600> county county council, Senator Webb, any county county council, Senator
• Some counties do good, counties do that? Some counties do good, some<00:20:45.360> don't.
• county um most county agents and and county councils,<00:25:34.080> they<00:25:34.320> depend

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:04 Approval of Minutes 00:36 KOAP Report 00:51, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the June 12 minutes, and then received a presentation from Brandon Reid and Bill McCloskkey of the Agricultural Development Board on the June report and the 25th anniversary of the Agricultural Development Fund. They described a joint anniversary meeting held at the Kentucky Historical Society, thanked staff, and noted that the board presented members with a token of appreciation. They also reported a clean annual audit, with the audit report to be shared more fully at a later meeting. The presenters reviewed June activity and funding decisions, saying the development board approved about $3.3 million and the finance board about $5 million in loans. They highlighted program activity such as advisory council meetings, site visits, project reports, and county comprehensive plans. Specific projects discussed included the Food Chain project, which sought support for equipment and improvements to expand Kentucky product marketing; Miller Rockbridge Farms LLC, which sought county support for a barn for an education program; and Thompson Family Farm LLC, which sought funding for a livestock buying station. The board approved reduced or county-only funding in some cases, including $45,643 for the Food Chain project and county money for the farm projects. Members asked about the meaning and purpose of the county comprehensive plans and how counties use them to guide funding decisions. The presenters explained that House Bill 611 created a structure in which each county council develops a comprehensive plan, updated on a five-year cycle, to prioritize local agricultural investments and evaluate applications. They said county councils work with extension agents and the Agricultural Development Office, and that staff attend meetings, provide training, and help new agents and council members understand the program. Members emphasized that the planning process helps ensure funds are targeted to local needs and supports diversification of agriculture beyond tobacco.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the county and they were developed within that county.
• And frankly, thank you to the local county investments around the county leadership.
• County Program Aid, which supports every county in our state, every county in every one of our districts
• County Program Aid, which supports every county in our state, every county in every one of our districts
• County Program Aid, which supports every county in our state, every county in every one of our districts

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• at least one county fair in my home county, and Senator McEwen's home county of St.
• at least one county fair in my home county, and Senator McEwen's home county of St.
• County fairs literally reach every county in the state, as each county has a county ag society and at
• county.
• county.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:10:14.320> Road County Road J, Beam Avenue, County Road County Road J, Beam Avenue, County
• Counties matter. Counties are local control.
• , Carver County, uh, and a county like those areas.
• And now you have Dakota County, Carver County, Scott County, Anoka County giving up the money that they
• 25.200> County,<02:44:25.600> Anoka Carver County, Scott County, Anoka Carver County, Scott

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• seven uh one for each of the counties seven uh one for each of the counties that<00:04:45.280>
• uh the association of Minnesota counties uh the association of Minnesota<00:32:50.840> counties
• uh<00:48:13.800> County heard from multiple uh County heard from multiple uh County organizations
• The two counties mentioned earlier, Hennepin and Washington County, did use this option in 2024.
• Our senators have commented on how slow the mail has been in Cook County and in Dakota County.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The county clerk is responsible for running elections in each county.
• The county tax assessor is the county voter registrar.
• For our offline county, excuse me, our offline county counties, they use separate vendors to help.
• Your logic and accuracy test, county by county, how are those turning out?
• Sherman County is a precinct-based voting county, but we strongly support. County-wide polling.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• County. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Charles County.
• Charles County previously alluded to.
• I talked with one of the county commissioners up in Randolph County, who is on the national board for
• Louis County. Further discussion, lady from St. Louis County.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the 53rd day by a 123-0 roll call. The chamber received Senate messages on Senate Substitutes for House Joint Resolutions 173 and 174, and committee reports recommending passage of several bills and resolutions, including HB 2180, HB 1870, HB 2596, HB 1866, HB 2852, HB 2855, HB 2536, and HJR 115. Members then took up a series of Senate amendments and conference motions. HB 2180, dealing with notice procedures for blind pension recipients and electronic notification options, was adopted and finally passed 147-1 and then 148-1. HB 1870, updating bankruptcy exemptions and garnishment procedures, was adopted and finally passed 141-9 and 142-8. HB 2596, concerning multiple employer self-insured health plans, was sent to conference after the House refused the Senate substitute. HB 1866, addressing peace officer licensing and school protection officers, had Senate amendments concurred in 149-1 and was finally passed 148-1. The House also passed HJR 115, a proposed constitutional amendment to extend property tax and homestead exemptions to 100% service-connected disabled veterans and their spouses, after extensive debate over fiscal impacts and fairness; it passed 152-0. Later, HB 1736, allowing park sales tax funds to be used for stormwater management and related park improvements, passed 100-52. HB 1887 and related bills on artificial intelligence and transparency passed 145-3, HB 2855 on workers’ compensation fund rate changes passed 152-1, HB 1906 on tax payment schedules for certain township collectors passed 152-1, HB 2297 on fence responsibilities passed 116-35, HB 2142 on the Missouri Film Program passed 93-54, HB 3004 on hardwood industry labeling/truth-in-advertising passed 143-6, and HB 2151 raising income thresholds for a workforce-development program passed 116-32. The chamber also debated and passed HB 2536, which defines male and female by biological sex for certain government-owned or managed multi-occupancy spaces and creates enforcement provisions; it passed 101-48 after strong opposition centered on privacy, discrimination, and enforcement concerns. Finally, the House began perfection work on a substitute for HB 3068 and HB 3049, adopting several amendments, including technical corrections and language changes tied to plumbing and inspection provisions, before the transcript ended mid-consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our county commission is running into an issue, and that is that the county administrator is the only
• allows the county commissions to to allows the county commissions to to [snorts] [snorts] [snorts] uh
• Now they're a growing city, grown 40% past county, Jefferson County.
• In two counties. >> So are there any others in two counties? >> No, sir.
• So, "County." "All right.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for Harden County and Franklin County<00:12:45.600> in<00:12:45.839> 2025 County in 2025
• Judicial Center, Clark County Judicial Center, Greenup County Judicial Center, Knox County Judicial
• Judicial Center, Clark County Judicial Center, Greenup County Judicial Center, Knox County Judicial
• Judicial Center, Clark County Judicial Center, Greenup County Judicial Center, Knox County Judicial
• . counties. counties.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary met without a quorum and heard an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on the judicial branch budget. AOC Director Zach Ramsey and budget director Carol Henderson outlined the branch’s current funding structure, noting that fiscal year 2026 general fund support is about 2.77% of the state general fund, below the National Center for State Courts’ typical 2% to 4% range. They emphasized Kentucky’s unusual responsibility for courthouse facilities, with the judicial branch directly involved in construction, maintenance, and operations across 229 facilities in all 120 counties. AOC said nearly 91% of its general fund is spent on personnel and other non-discretionary costs, and that the branch has long relied on agency revenue, restricted fund carryforwards, and vacancy credits to balance court operations. Members were told that Senate Bill 25 required a $34.5 million transfer into a reserve account, part of which was used to purchase the Chamberlain Avenue building in Frankfort. AOC reported that only $11.9 million remains in restricted funds, while it projects needing about $13.5 million to cover fiscal year 2026 obligations, not including roughly $9 million in flood-related remediation costs for Hardin and Franklin counties, much of which it expects to recover through insurance and FEMA. Looking ahead to the next biennium, AOC said it will seek full funding of court operations at $341 million annually, a $13.5 million increase to bring current services into the base appropriation rather than relying on reserves. It also previewed additional requests, including a 15% across-the-board pay parity plan for Kentucky Court of Justice personnel, replacement of declining master commissioner fee revenue tied to 141 deputy circuit court clerk positions, funding for technology subscription and case management system costs, JAV audiovisual system upgrades, AEDs and medical kits for courthouses, and other staffing and operational needs. Senator Funky Frommeyer asked whether the 15% salary proposal was included in the $13.5 million increase; AOC said it was not, and that it would be an additional request. No votes or formal actions were taken.