Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Majority Leader, you may continue.
• I will continue to rise and continue to fight for more and more for this vulnerable population because
• I know that she's going to continue to work with our labor partners who continue to have concerns, so
• As they continue to evolve our technology. We know that it's important.
• So I do appreciate that the author has committed to continuing.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's the statutory limit.
• And then continuing...
• And then continuing, and I stress the word continuing, but continuing to align the legislative amendments
• Okay, I'll let you continue.
• Please continue. Yes, sir.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held an informational hearing on the state capital outlay process, with Roger Husser and Matt Baker of the Division of Administration’s Office of Facilities Planning and Control (FPNC) presenting a detailed review of House Bill 2 and proposed improvements. They said FPNC administers about 54% of the bill, while other agencies administer the rest, and emphasized that the capital outlay program has improved significantly over the last few years, with project expenditures more than doubling due to better cash-flow management, staffing changes, and more efficient project administration. They also explained how the bill is structured by priorities, how the priority-one cash line of credit is capped and adjusted for construction inflation, and how the bill has grown into a much larger, longer-range plan than a true five-year program, especially on the non-state side. A major theme was that the bill contains too many dormant, legacy, and low-priority projects, which creates false expectations and ties up funding. Committee members pressed the presenters on culture change, third-party project management, staffing shortages, and the use of technology and statutory interpretation to speed projects without sacrificing compliance. Husser and Baker said they had reduced internal bureaucracy, used staff augmentation because of hiring difficulties, delegated smaller projects to agencies when appropriate, and improved cash-flow analysis so projects can move forward with less money up front. They also discussed overappropriations, dormant projects, and the need to reappropriate unused funds to projects that can actually spend them. The presenters offered several recommendations and considerations: limit the number and size of new projects, reduce scope creep, require more regular endorsement of long-running projects, consider caps on priority-five funding, impose time limits and reporting requirements on non-state grant projects, and possibly require non-state entities to escrow or otherwise demonstrate their match earlier. They also suggested bundling related projects together, expanding that approach beyond the current pilot, and improving transparency by showing full project funding history and the first year each project appeared in the bill. No votes were taken, and the meeting remained informational, with members generally supportive of the efficiency reforms while also raising concerns about false hope, dormant projects, and the need for clearer expectations and accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• traditionally be their statutory traditionally be their statutory authority<00:05:19.360> and
• Um, so we'll just want to um try to address that a little bit as this conversation continues.
• Um, willing to continue to have conversations about that.
• Um, willing to continue to have conversations about that.
• Um, and continues to seek its next stop here in the House.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Sharper continued: ... Representative Sharper continued: ...
• Representative Sharper continued: ... Representative Sharper continued: ...
• Representative Sharper continued: ... Representative Sharper continued: ...
• Representative Sharper continued: ... Representative Sharper continued: ...
• continue to pay that. Thank you. continue to pay that. Thank you.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 302, which would allow the state treasurer to invest public funds in precious metals and digital assets. The sponsor was not present, so Representative Urs introduced the bill briefly and said he did not know much about it. No one from the Treasury Department testified, and members repeatedly noted the treasurer’s absence. Susan Elme testified against the bill, arguing that these investments are highly volatile and contrary to the treasury’s duty to remain stable and liquid. She said the bill should be killed. In questioning, she estimated the 5% cap in the bill would amount to roughly $10 million, depending on available funds, and said such investing would be more appropriate for an individual day trader than for the state treasury. Members also discussed prior legislative experience with Bitcoin-related proposals and raised concerns about whether the treasury had the staff expertise to manage commodity or digital asset investing. The committee did not take a final vote; instead, it agreed to hold a work session and seek additional information from the treasurer, with a plan to revisit the bill on April 1.

Transcript Highlights:

• Three of those were delayed beyond the statutory time period.
• The committee statutory time period.
• <00:59:52.960> scheme but as the state's statutory scheme but as the state's statutory scheme
• <01:12:08.080> So continuation of past past conflicts.
• So continuation of past past conflicts.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We discussed the fact that the patient compensation fund continues to be a problem, that it continues
• So I'm confident that this work will continue.
• And we'll continue to do that work.
• It continues to happen in the state because of all of these issues that, again, we need to continue to
• I applaud everybody who is continuing to work on this. It can continue to be worked on.

Bills: HB99, HJR5, HM39, HB206, HB213, SB41, SB153, SB165, SB261, SB264

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you all very much for continuing to appreciate your time and working through in terms of having
• But this program gives us the ability to continue that access.
• So, we continue to struggle with the same things that Russ mentioned.
• help us continue that access in areas. help us continue that access in areas.
• the ability to continue that access. the ability to continue that access.

Keywords: 00:00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 00:02:20 - Discussion of 26RS HB 689 00:13:13 - Discussion of 26RS SB 201 00:27:45 - Discussion of 26RS HB 583 00:46:37 - Discussion of 26RS HB 488 00:48:13 - Discussion of 26RS HB 2 01:14:34 - Discussion of Kentucky State Plan Amendment (SPA) 26:0001: School-based Medicaid Services Program 01:18:24 - Public Comment, 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Board met on March 9 with a quorum present and no minutes to approve. The chair reordered the agenda to hear House Bill 689 first. Representative Amy Neighbors presented HB 689, which would authorize Kentucky to seek CMS approval for a Medicaid state-directed payment program for physician and non-physician professional services delivered through qualifying hospital-affiliated groups, beginning January 1, 2026, with retroactive payments for that year. She said the bill is intended to improve access to care in rural and underserved areas, support workforce retention, and generate about $29 million annually in federal Medicaid funds without using general fund dollars. Representatives from Owensboro Health and St. Elizabeth Healthcare testified in support, describing staffing and subsidy pressures, lower Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement, and the importance of the program for maintaining access and quality in rural and safety-net settings. Committee members noted the bill had already passed the House Health Services Committee unanimously and discussed broader concerns about Kentucky’s low reimbursement rates and the need to consider other systems not covered by the proposal. The board then heard Senate Bill 2011 from Senator Donald Douglas and Cody Hunt of the Kentucky Medical Association. The bill would address a Medicaid coding issue by ensuring that coverage limits do not reduce payment to fewer than two evaluation and management service units per provider, per patient, per day. Douglas argued the current one-visit, one-issue limitation forces multiple visits, increases no-shows, and prevents providers from treating the whole patient. Hunt explained that the bill is meant to correct a longstanding regulation that limited E&M services to one per physician per recipient per date of service, which can prevent providers from coding additional medically necessary work during the same visit. He said DMS has already filed a regulatory amendment to fix the problem, but a statutory change is still needed to prevent the issue from returning. He also said the bill is not intended to change reimbursement policy, only coding rules, and that MCO payment practices vary. Members generally supported the concept. Senator Berg asked about fiscal impact and private-payer billing; Hunt said there should be no fiscal impact because the bill does not change payment policy, only coding. Representative Moore said the proposal could reduce costs and improve convenience by avoiding extra visits. Chairman Meredith said the bill illustrated problems with fee-for-service care and supported moving toward a more holistic delivery model. Dr. Schuster raised a drafting concern about the bill summary language, and Hunt responded that the regulatory amendment should address the issue generally for providers. No votes were taken on either bill during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what he said. um continues to be, as you noted, a gem um continues to be, as you noted, a gem
• and continuously upgraded. and continuously upgraded.
• <00:47:49.520> to Our older adult population continues to Our older adult population continues
• We want to remove the source so that it doesn't continue to have the opportunity to spread.
• It's a statutory suggest language.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh so look forward to continuing to speak to those as all of these items move forward.
• to to continuing to speak to<00:03:55.920> those<00:03:56.239> as<00:03:56.879> as<
• If the agency is able to expand its modeling administratively, this potential statutory authority is
• <00:31:21.279> to completeness, a topic that continues to completeness, a topic that continues
• From our perspective,<00:42:56.240> continued<00:42:56.800> economic perspective, continued

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• able to continue to continue to expand able to continue to continue to expand this<01:05:13.440>
• up year-over-year so we are continuing up year-over-year so we are continuing to<01:14:35.000>
• also been impressive and um we continue also been impressive and um we continue to<01:19:10.520>
• ever uh which is fantastic we continue ever uh which is fantastic we continue to<01:20:24.760>
• places for Less dollars and we continue places for Less dollars and we continue to<01:20:48.719>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If there is ambiguity, then our case law and experts have put out canons of statutory construction that
• One, it has to do with statutory interpretation, constitutional or the Delaware Code.
• And if I was fortunate to be confirmed, that's something that I would look forward to continuing to focus
• This bill would allow the DOE to continue to receive reports in the future.
• This bill would allow the DOE to continue to receive reports in the future, as it clarifies that all

Summary: The Senate Executive Committee met in hybrid format and first considered two gubernatorial judicial appointments. Morgan T. Zurn, nominated to the Delaware Supreme Court, described her background in public service, the Court of Chancery, DOJ, and federal clerkship, and answered extensive questions about judicial philosophy, precedent, statutory interpretation, access to justice, AI and deepfakes, corporate law stability, civility, social media, and public confidence in the courts. Christy N. Vitola, nominated to be Commissioner of Family Court, discussed her Delaware upbringing, legal career in family law and child support, and experience with pro se litigants and high-volume dockets; she was questioned about handling family court cases efficiently, the best interests of the child, and correcting calculation errors. No votes on the nominations were taken during the portion shown. The committee then moved to legislation. House Bill 443, concerning background checks for volunteers and mentors in the Department of Education’s mentoring program, was presented as a technical update to allow DOE to continue receiving wrap-back reports and to ensure mentors undergo state and federal criminal background checks. There was no public comment or committee debate on the bill. House Bill 431 with House Amendment 1, sponsored by Representative Bush and Senator Hoffner, would allow composting of yard waste, food residue, and other organic materials to divert waste from landfills, extend landfill life, reduce disposal costs, support farmers by returning nutrients to the soil, and reduce methane emissions; it also preserves county/local control over siting and inspection. Senator Townsend asked whether composting was currently allowed, and Senator Hoffner explained that the bill would authorize it under the stated controls. No public comment was offered on either bill. At the close of the meeting, the chair noted that the bills and nominee backers had been circulated for signatures. Senator Hocker moved to adjourn, Senator Townsend seconded, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of those are statutory, some of those are within FHSAA bylaws and policies.
• So the private schools that hold membership with the FHSAA do not currently have any statutory rights
• They can continue to participate at the high school level.
• So they get that piece, but we continue to point them toward those resources that we've worked alongside
• so that's probably... ...that's probably an area that we really need to take a look at about the continued

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met to discuss Florida’s current “sports choice” rules and high school NIL policy, then heard and passed HB 151. FHSAA officials and Sarasota County Schools staff explained eligibility rules for student-athletes, including GPA, age, semester limits, physicals, insurance, and the different participation options for traditional public, charter, home education, Florida Virtual, and private school students. Members focused on how controlled open enrollment works, whether private school students can play at public schools and vice versa, transfer timing and capacity limits, recruiting restrictions, and the role of local district policies. Sarasota officials said about 400 students in their county participate through non-traditional athletic arrangements, and FHSAA said statewide there are 5,460 non-traditional student-athlete forms on file out of roughly 280,000 student-athletes. The committee then reviewed Florida’s high school NIL framework. FHSAA said students in grades 9-12 may enter NIL deals, with no income cap, but they are barred from agreements involving adult entertainment, alcohol, tobacco/vaping, cannabis, controlled substances, gambling, weapons, political or social activism, and NIL collectives. Students must have a written contract and cannot use school logos or uniforms without permission. FHSAA said about 25 students statewide had NIL deals so far, and Sarasota was first to file. Members raised concerns about recruiting, taxes, financial literacy, mental health, and whether students should be treated as employees, while district staff said they provide education and financial literacy resources but do not review contracts. After the discussion, the committee took up HB 151 by Rep. Abbott. The bill allows students at FHSAA-member private schools to participate in sports at another member school when their own school does not offer that sport, and it removes the current 200-student enrollment limit. An amendment clarifying the private-school language was adopted without objection. A public witness from a small private school supported the bill, saying it would let the school join FHSAA without losing local athletic access for its students. Despite some members raising fairness and funding concerns, the bill passed on a 15-0 vote and was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's the statutory limit.
• And then continuing—and I stress the word continuing—but continuing to align the legislative amendments
• Okay, I'll let you continue.
• Please continue. Yes, sir.
• So we continue to hold out.

Summary: The committee met for an informational hearing focused largely on the state capital outlay process and House Bill 2. Roger Husser and Matt Baker of the Division of Administration/Facility Planning and Control described how the office prepares and administers the capital outlay bill, said the bill has grown substantially over five years, and argued that recent changes in culture, staffing, project management, cash-flow analysis, and use of third-party support have more than doubled project expenditures and improved delivery. Members asked about the use and cost of third-party project managers, delegation of smaller projects to agencies, hiring difficulties, and whether the changes represented better interpretation of existing law versus statutory changes. Husser said some statutes were amended, some internal customs were removed, and the office would provide a list of those changes. He also explained that the office is trying to move away from overly rigid practices and toward faster project completion while still following public-bid and oversight rules. A major portion of the discussion centered on the size and structure of the capital outlay bill, especially the gap between Priority 1 cash capacity and the much larger Priority 5 backlog. Husser said the current annual Priority 1 limit is tied to construction inflation and is about $574 million, with additional surplus funds also available, but that the bill contains far more Priority 5 funding than can realistically move in a five-year plan. He and members discussed dormant projects, scope creep, legacy projects that have sat in the bill for years, and the problem of false expectations for non-state entities. Proposed solutions included limiting Priority 5 to five times Priority 1, requiring annual re-endorsement by members, setting district or project caps for non-state projects, requiring time limits and reporting for grant-like non-state projects, placing matches in escrow, requiring design readiness before submission, and consolidating the many existing reporting requirements into one clearer report. Members also discussed bundling multiple projects under one agency project, which the House had begun piloting for LSU, UL Lafayette, Southern, and DOTD, and which Husser said could improve flexibility, reduce overappropriation, and better reflect actual spending. Baker then explained cash-flow management and the commitment process, saying FPC now analyzes projects annually to estimate what can actually be spent in the next fiscal year and uses commitments to allow projects to proceed when future-year funding is expected. He said overappropriations can result from poor cash-flow estimates, delays, dormant projects, or projects coming in under budget, and that the office is already reworking cash-flow assumptions and reappropriating savings where possible. Members also raised concerns about change orders and low bids; staff said project managers review change orders closely, require concurrence on non-state projects, and sometimes reduce scope to keep projects within budget. After FPC’s presentation, the committee heard the beginning of Louisiana Economic Development’s capital outlay discussion, where LED explained that its projects generally fall into three categories, including the Economic Development Awards Program and Site Readiness Program, both used to support targeted economic development and job creation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Seahawks are playing this weekend, too, and, you know. continue on.
• President, let's just continue to cheer with them.
• President, let's just continue to cheer with them.
• I know I won't live forever, but I will continue to work on this.
• It updates New Mexico's statutory definitions for...

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Vice chair. then to add um to continue >> Vice chair. then to add um to continue
• should continue their work. should continue their work.
• westahu that is part of our statutory westahu that is part of our statutory mandate<00:44:22.319
• plan can continue forward. Thank you. plan can continue forward. Thank you.
• recommendation and provides a statutory recommendation and provides a statutory framework<01:12:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 3019, which would cap ticket resale prices at face value for events in Hawaii and authorize DCCA to enforce violations. DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection opposed the bill and said it preferred a ticket transparency approach focused on upfront disclosure of fees, while supporters argued the measure would curb scalping, bots, and extreme markups. Testimony from the National Independent Venue Association and a concert promoter emphasized that resale does not add inventory and said the bill would protect consumers; committee members questioned DCCA about enforcement and cited examples of very high resale prices for local concerts. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair said the measure would be moved along for further consideration. The committee then heard Senate Bill 3311, which would create the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within DLNR to fund fire-mitigation grants for residential property owners. DLNR supported the bill, saying the need is immediate and that the program is modeled on successful mainland efforts, though the department said it ultimately belongs under the State Fire Marshal once that office has capacity. DCCA’s Insurance Division submitted written comments only. The measure was received without further action in the excerpt. Senate Bill 2979, authorizing DLNR and community-based organizations to enter community co-management agreements for state lands, drew broad support from OHA, community groups, and several individuals, who said the bill would formalize partnerships, strengthen shared responsibility, and help community stewardship efforts. Testifiers clarified that the bill does not require 65-year agreements and said the term should be left to DLNR’s discretion. The committee then moved on without questions or a vote shown in the excerpt. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2351 on the state park special fund, which would allow DLNR to use fund monies for environmental protection programs. DLNR’s state parks administrator opposed the bill, saying the special fund is already fully committed to urgent maintenance and infrastructure needs across an aging park system, and warned that diverting money would weaken the fund’s ability to support parks. The Tax Foundation also submitted written testimony, and a community witness opposed the measure for similar reasons. The excerpt ends as the committee begins Senate Bill 2918, which would require HCDA to establish a community action center in Chinatown; HCDA’s executive director expressed concern about jurisdiction and said the city and county should continue leading that work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, what I would suggest we do is start the hearing and just break to take to continue the vote
• And I hope that that would continuing in the future.
• First, as a member of the President's team, I would fulfill my statutory role of providing objective
• If confirmed, I would ensure that this investment continues to pay off.
• So yes, so continue to work on that as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope that continues to next week.
• House File 99 continues the conversation of this committee around supportive housing.
• Please introduce yourself for the record and continue with your testimony. Thank you, Mr.
• These amazing youth are inspiring and continue to teach us all.
• If we continue to make strides in bettering the lives of our children.

Bills: HF2115, HF2276, HF1644, HF99, HF2068, HF2707, HF2704, HF2406, HF1674, HF1579

Keywords: human services, aging services, disability services, behavioral health, long-term care, nursing home, nursing facility, assisted living, waiver services, medical assistance, Medicaid, case mix reimbursement, PDPM, RUG, direct care and treatment, developmental disabilities, day services, positive support, guardian, conservator

Transcript Highlights:

• C contracts is is is this concept of continuity of care?
• That's a statutory require profit sharing mechanism.
• That is something we continuously monitor.
• So certainly that is something that we continue to monitor.
• So we look forward to having that continue data.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'd like to thank the Lieutenant Governor for his continued trust in me throughout this process.
• next few weeks to craft a final budget that will stay well within all of our constitutional and statutory
• So we'll look forward to continuing the process with that.

Summary: The Conference Committee on Senate Bill 1 convened for its first meeting and established a quorum. The chair explained that the committee’s purpose is to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions of Senate Bill 1, the General Appropriations Bill, and emphasized the importance of producing a final budget that remains within constitutional and statutory spending limits while meeting state needs. The chairs then announced the conferees assigned to each article. On the Senate side, Senator Schwertner will handle Articles 1, 4, and 5; Senator Kolkhorst Article 2; Senator Creighton Article 3; and Senator Nichols Articles 6, 7, and 8. On the House side, Vice Chair Gonzalez will handle Articles 1, 4, and 5; Representative Orr Article 2; Representative Kitzman Article 3; and Representative Walle Articles 6, 7, and 8. No testimony or substantive debate occurred at this meeting. After introductions and assignment of responsibilities, the committee stated it would begin working on the differences between the two budget versions and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state board of Accountancy will continue to have the authority to regulate out of state licenses
• So what we're asking is that you help us, help our businesses continue to grow stronger.
• This is becoming increasingly difficult as the number of local newspapers continue to decline.
• This continuing education requirement can help them identify signs of potential use when interacting
• Uh, cosmetologists and barbers currently must complete 4 hours of continuing education every 2 years.