Transcript Highlights:

• Um so and we know you all hate tax cuts and, you know, this is a really great headline bill that shows
• we<00:15:01.360> know<00:15:01.640> you<00:15:01.839> all<00:15:02.040> hate
• ><00:15:02.280> tax<00:15:02.640> cuts<00:15:03.200> and, and we know you all hate
• tax cuts and, and we know you all hate tax cuts and, you<00:15:03.640> know,<00:15:03.760>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They're granting 70—I hate to say even a percentage because I don't want to be wrong—but they're granting
• They're granting 70, I hate to say, even a percentage because I don't want to be wrong, but they're granting
• Yeah, there's, yeah, I mean, I hate to get too specific.
• I'm not sitting here complaining—we've won 30 games in the last four years—and I just hate to see what

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I don't hate cops. I do hate bad cops.
• With a passion, I hate bad cops, and I represent a lot of good cops.
• And I'm going to harp on Robb, and I hate to use that as an example, but we're three and a half years

Bills: SB 15

Keywords: law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I don't hate cops.
• I do hate bad cops with a passion, I hate bad cops and I represent a lot of good cops.
• have, I think, in some of these instances that we have now, and I'm, I'm, I'm gonna harp on Rob and I hate

Bills: SB 15

Keywords: law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code

Transcript Highlights:

• I always hate to follow up behind Chair Mariani, but since this is a bill that I'm supportive of, the
• here<00:00:45.320> today<00:00:46.320> um<00:00:47.160> always<00:00:47.399> hate
• ><00:00:47.559> to<00:00:47.680> follow<00:00:47.960> up here today um always hate
• to follow up here today um always hate to follow up behind<00:00:48.399> chair<00:00:48.680><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I hate to even go there because that's really not our job to decide who gets money here and, um, I think
• <00:20:38.720> I<00:20:38.880> hate<00:20:39.039> to picking winners and losers
• I hate to picking winners and losers.
• I hate to even<00:20:39.440> go<00:20:39.600> there<00:20:39.919> because<00:20:
• So I hate to ask the question, but I don't understand how it would work, Mr. Chairman.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sullivan, um, I will ask you to start your speech over again.
• finish in the 1600-meter run and that of my teammate in the 800-meter run as, uh, to create some hateful
• harmed by participation by this individual in the girls' track meet, but we were all harmed by the hateful
• all harmed girls track meet, but we were all harmed by<04:04:08.560> the<04:04:08.800> hateful
• rhetoric of bullies like by the hateful rhetoric of bullies like this<04:04:11.760> representative

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your hate can harm us. Your hate can even end lives, but your hate cannot bring you peace.
• your hate cannot end our movement.
• YOUR HATE CAN HARM US. YOUR HATE CAN EVEN END LIVES, BUT YOUR HATE CANNOT BRING YOU PEACE.
• YOUR HATE CAN WINNER A HIGHER WAGE AFFORDABLE MEDICAL CARE, CLEAN AIR OR LOWER ENERGY BILLS AND YOUR
• HATE CANNOT END OUR MOVEMENT.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the journal, and then moved through a large number of motions to discharge bills from committees and substitute identical Senate bills for third reading. The chamber also received and accepted a Finance Committee report on nominations for Kathleen Mosier as Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Terrence O’Leary as Commissioner of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and John Kagia as Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management. All three nominees were confirmed, with Mosier and O’Leary confirmed unanimously and Kagia confirmed 57-1, with Senator Walczyk voting no. The Senate adopted previously approved resolutions recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month and mourning the death of Susan Irene Wright of Harlem. Senators Brisport and Bottcher spoke at length in support of Pride Month, emphasizing LGBTQ+ history, resilience, and ongoing threats to the trans community. On the Susan Wright resolution, Senators Cleare, Bailey, and Bottcher praised her community leadership, philanthropy, and family legacy, and Assembly Member Jordan Wright was recognized in the chamber. The body then considered and passed many bills on the calendar, including measures on insurance, environmental conservation, public health, education, business law, labor, social services, highway law, and local tax exemptions. Several bills drew brief explanations of vote, including a measure to end higher insurance premiums for widows, a bill to prohibit correctional facilities from denying visitation because of menstrual products or IUDs, and a Medicaid-related bill to expand access to blood pressure monitors for pregnant people. Most bills passed with broad support, though some had notable opposition from a small group of senators. Late in the session, the Senate took up a proposed constitutional amendment on redistricting. Senator Stewart-Cousins sponsored the measure, and Senator Walczyk questioned it extensively, arguing voters had previously approved an independent redistricting process and objecting to changes that would remove the Legislature’s two-thirds map-approval requirement and alter the commission’s role. The sponsor said the changes were needed in response to aggressive partisan redistricting in other states and would still require voter ratification in future sessions. The transcript ends during that debate, with no final vote on the amendment shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Representative Anderson, Chair Anderson, and you know, in preparation for I I really hate to see
• > um<00:48:50.640> see<00:48:50.880> it<00:48:52.000> taken I I really hate
• to see um see it taken I I really hate to see um see it taken from<00:48:52.800> again.
• Or, I mean, and then looking also at the penalty side of it, you know, it's like I would hate to have
• to have a it's like I don't I would hate to have a veterinarian veterinarian veterinarian perform<01

Bills: HF4080, HF3693, HF1857, HF4350

Keywords: agriculture, livestock, retailers, ownership interest, exclusive contracts, meat packing companies, dominant retailers, state law, Department of Agriculture, appropriation, funding, agriculture policy, state budget, animal welfare, cat declawing, animal cruelty, therapeutic procedures, civil penalties, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, aquatic life

Transcript Highlights:

• concern, as expressed last time, was that depending on how long legal proceedings may take, I would hate
• <00:22:21.919> see<00:22:22.120> an<00:22:22.279> animal may take I would hate
• to see an animal may take I would hate to see an animal have<00:22:22.840> to<00:22:23.080>
• your idea down draft legislation hates your idea down inside<02:28:59.120> deep<02:28:59.319>
• > your inside deep down inside they hate your inside deep down inside they hate your idea<02:29

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing on HR 18, a resolution urging New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to seek federal changes that would let very small slaughter plants use custom-exempt inspection criteria with a third-party inspector present, so beef, pork, lamb, and goat could be sold as individual cuts directly to consumers. Representative Judy Aron said the resolution was drafted in lieu of state legislation because the issue is governed by USDA rules, and she noted she was also working on an amendment to ensure the measure covered federal “very small” plants. Representative Miner asked for clarification about custom slaughter versus retail sales, and Representative Scully supported the resolution while suggesting language to make clear it applied only to local end consumers. Joyce Brady of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau testified in support, saying the state’s four USDA slaughterhouses and the bottleneck in custom cutting made the issue important. After no further testimony, the chair closed the hearing. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. For HB 616, members discussed an amendment that had been revised after public comments and Commissioner Jasper’s feedback; Representative Guber said it balanced the competing positions, and Representative Penza and Representative Ger said the language now addressed concerns about animal suffering by allowing euthanasia if a treating veterinarian determines the animal is in extreme suffering. The committee then discussed HB 77, with Representative Penza describing changes to landfill-related standards, including replacing aquifer references with drinking water wells, removing a penalty section, changing discretionary language to mandatory language for the department, and adjusting an in situ soils standard. Members praised the compromise, though Representative Scully raised concerns about the 1,500-foot setback and suggested engineering controls such as berms; Penza responded that current rules do not include such controls and that the setback was intended to address surface spills. Several members said the bill reflected a hard-fought balance and should not be rewritten at the last minute. For HB 505, the freeze-dried food bill, Representative Aron explained that the amendment replaced a simple exemption with a requirement that homestead food operations selling freeze-dried foods from a farm stand, farmers market, or retail food store obtain a homestead food license under RSA 143-A:4. She said the amendment defines freeze-dried foods as fruits, vegetables, and commercially prepared dairy products, and delays the effective date 120 days to allow rulemaking. Members generally supported the approach as a light-touch oversight mechanism for potentially hazardous foods, though Representative Ktoa asked for clarification about how the amendment interacts with existing licensing and inspection exemptions, and Aron clarified that these products would not be exempt from licensing under the relevant law. The committee then turned to HB 250, concerning local authority over dog muzzling, where members broadly supported the amendment as a simple solution, while Representative Ktoa asked about the underlying definition of a vicious dog and whether all listed behaviors would warrant muzzling. The discussion noted that the amendment would allow towns to require muzzling for dogs meeting the statutory definition, while excluding hunting, working, herding, and similar dogs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hate adjourning so early. Anybody else? I hate adjourning so early.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Pre-K-12 Appropriations met with a quorum present, but the chair announced that the committee would not be presenting its budget that day due to a Senate memorandum. The only bill heard was SB 7036 by Senator Corey Simon, which was described as a broad education package strengthening school turnaround tools, early literacy supports, early learning policies, academic interventions, and educator pipeline provisions. Simon explained that the bill would expand educational emergency authority, clarify use of Title I funds for STEM, align charter renewal and dismissal rules, update epinephrine policy, protect gold seal provider status in certain cases, expand VPK summer bridge eligibility, support math and reading interventions, expand agriculture and Algebra I career-based instruction, re-engage students through GATE, and update teacher certification pathways, including computer science. The committee adopted an amendment offered by Simon that removed provisions on temporary door locks and DOE-developed instructional materials and added a GATE startup grant update to expand rule eligibility and allowable implementation costs. The bill drew many appearance forms, with several individuals and the Florida Education Association waving against, while one speaker, Ella Latimore, appeared in support/for the bill. Simon said concerns from the prior stop had been addressed by removing the contested language and noted discussions with the CFO’s office and law enforcement regarding the door lock provisions. After closing debate, the committee approved the bill on a roll call vote and reported CS for SB 7036 favorably. The remainder of the meeting included brief remarks recognizing visiting students from Childs High School and the Rack Pack, comments about community member Misty Cash, and a discussion by Senator Osgood about declining immigrant student enrollment and its budget impact on school districts. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hate adjourning so early. Anybody else? I hate adjourning so early.

Bills: S7036

Keywords: education, epinephrine, charter schools, voluntary prekindergarten, school funding, teacher incentives, student progress monitoring

Summary: The Senate Committee on Pre-K-12 Appropriations met with a quorum present and announced it would not be presenting its budget at this time, per a Senate memorandum. The sole bill on the agenda was SB 7036 by Senator Corey Simon, which was described as a broad education package strengthening school turnaround tools, early literacy supports, early learning policies, academic offerings, and educator pipeline provisions. Senator Simon explained that the bill addresses persistently low-performing schools, Title I use for STEM curricula, charter school renewal and dismissal rules, epinephrine device policies, VPK summer bridge eligibility, disability-aligned interventions, agriculture and Algebra 1 instruction, GATE access, and certification updates for teachers and computer science. An amendment was adopted that removed provisions on temporary door locks and DOE-developed instructional materials and added a GATE startup grant update. The committee heard numerous appearance forms, with many individuals and organizations waving against the bill, while one student, Ella Latimore, appeared and spoke briefly. Much of the exchange with her was lighthearted and unrelated to the bill, but Senator Simon used his closing to note that concerns from the prior stop had been addressed by removing the DOE materials and door-lock language, and he asked for favorable support. The committee then voted on the bill as amended, and CS for SB 7036 was reported favorably. After the vote, members made several informal statements, including remarks about a Valentine’s Day visit from students and appreciation for community member Misty Cash. Senator Osgood also raised a serious concern about declining immigrant student enrollment affecting district budgets, especially in Broward County, and urged the committee to address the issue proactively with school districts. The chair said staff were already working with districts on the matter and that more discussion would follow. The meeting then adjourned after additional light banter among members.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hate teeth. And I should not be a dentist. I'm not a dentist and I hate teeth.
• I hate teeth. Right? You should not—everybody should be in human services.
• So, I hate teeth. So, I hate teeth.
• I should not dentist and I hate teeth.
• I hate dentist and dental hygienist. I hate teeth. teeth. teeth. Right? Right? Right?

Bills: HF1767, HF2068, HF4725, HF4637, HF4638

Keywords: human services, community support, integrated care, disability services, stakeholder consultation, homeless youth, grants, funding, Minnesota, mental health, substance use disorder, education, workforce development, licensure, direct care services, healthcare, long-term care, personal care assistants, employment support, medical assistance

Summary: The Human Services Finance and Policy Committee approved the April 8, 2026 minutes and then heard House File 1767, as amended by the DE4 amendment. Representative Garande explained that the bill, originally intended to codify Integrated Community Supports (ICS), was being redirected because of concerns about fraud vulnerability and program integrity. The DE4 would create a smaller legislative study group to redesign ICS, pause DHS changes for about six months while the group develops a transition plan, continue DHS fraud investigations and enforcement, and ultimately terminate ICS as currently structured. Testimony in support came from Mr. Buck and Zania Harut of the Residential Providers Association of Minnesota, both of whom argued that ICS is unstable, inconsistently implemented, and in need of a new statutory foundation. They said the current system mixes different service models under one rate framework, lacks clear codification, and has shifting policy guidance that creates compliance problems for providers and risks to people receiving services. They emphasized that the bill would preserve oversight and enforcement while allowing time to build a replacement service with clearer rules, documentation standards, and guardrails. Members asked about effects on counties, providers, data, audits, and fraud enforcement. Representative Curran and Mr. Berg said the bill would not change funding structures or DHS’s existing authority to audit, request documentation, investigate fraud, or sanction bad actors, and that the study group would use existing data to identify where problems are concentrated. Vice Chair Gillman supported the study-group approach as a bipartisan, public process and raised concerns about whether the bill would prevent DHS from acting on known fraud; Curran responded that the language was intended to preserve those enforcement actions. The discussion ended without a final vote on the bill in the portion provided, beyond adoption of the DE4 amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because you hate to have a project in the end where everybody's pointing fingers at each other and, uh
• Because you hate to have a project in the end where everybody's pointing fingers at each other and, uh
• to have a project way. because you hate to have a project in<00:54:46.960> the<00:54:47.040><
• to correct my president, but we hate to correct my president, but we have<01:05:22.640> a<01:
• I hate to be the guy that provides a different perspective.

Bills: SF0082

Keywords: registered agents, corporate governance, entity ownership, business regulations, transparency, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and I interact they share labs lab space and I would<00:32:31.440> really<00:32:31.679> hate
• <00:32:31.919> to<00:32:32.080> disrupt<00:32:32.799> the would really hate
• to disrupt the would really hate to disrupt the relationships<00:32:33.679> that<00:32:33.919>
• decides to she hates cockroaches. decides to she hates cockroaches.
• <01:08:25.440> on every household wife that hates on every household wife that hates on cockroach

Bills: SB2350, SB2349, SB2407, SB3320

Keywords: agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, agribusiness, Department of Agriculture, regulatory functions, employee benefits, restorative practices, sustainability, environmental stewardship, local food systems, Native Hawaiian, workforce development, agricultural development, Hawaii Island, property manager, state employment, SB3320, Hawaii, Agribusiness Development Corporation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SP 2350, which would transfer oversight of the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Development Division and the aquaculture and livestock support services branch to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. The Department of Agriculture and ADC both testified, with ADC opposing the bill as written while supporting the goal of strengthening agriculture. ADC said the transfer could create federal operational and coordination risks, jeopardize federal funding and program continuity, and was unnecessary because ADC is a business development entity, not a regulatory agency. The Hawaii Farmers Union also expressed concern that moving the programs could weaken the department’s ability to access federal resources, while the Hawaii Farm Bureau submitted written testimony and the Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association and H-Plan were noted as supporting the measure; the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was noted as opposing it. Much of the discussion focused on aquaculture’s economic potential and the role of regulation, permitting, and funding. Committee members questioned why aquaculture had not grown faster, citing current gross revenues of about $66 million last year, a prior high of $82 million, and a possible long-term target of $500 million. Testimony identified permitting and feed costs as major barriers, along with market conditions and water quality issues affecting producers. ADC described ongoing efforts on feed development, permitting streamlining, coastal-state collaboration on seaweed and restorative aquaculture, and national advocacy for more parity in seafood import standards. Members also pressed the Department of Agriculture on its leadership and priorities, criticizing the lack of bills and resources dedicated to aquaculture and asking whether the department should have more authority to pursue land purchases and development opportunities. The department said it relies on divisions and industry feedback for bill ideas, noted it funds an annual aquaculture survey, and said it was pursuing congressional earmarks and other funding for aquaculture parks, research, and export/import issues. ADC said it would work with the department if the bill passed, but that its current statute does not give it regulatory authority and any such change would require a statutory amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• My senior hates linguistics. He hates words and vocab. He struggles in that, always has.
• My senior hates linguistics. He hates words and vocab. He struggles in that, always has.
• My senior hates linguistics. He hates words and vocab. He struggles in that, always has.
• My senior hates linguistics. freshman. My senior hates linguistics.
• He struggles He hates words and vocab.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Artificial Intelligence Task Force met and adopted the prior minutes before turning to AI in education. Jeff Gagne of the Southern Regional Education Board described SREB’s Commission on AI in Education, which has organized its work into committees on policy, K-12 instruction, postsecondary instruction, and skills development. He highlighted eight commission recommendations covering statewide AI networks, targeted guidance for different user groups, professional development, standards and curricula, local capacity assessments, risk management, procurement, and AI-ready workforce skills. He also emphasized that states need more specific guidance for students, teachers, faculty, administrators, and parents, and that training is essential because many educators have not been prepared to use AI in instruction. Gagne also summarized two recent SREB reports: one on AI-ready workforce skills and one on AI use in K-12 classrooms. The workforce report recommends embedding AI across standards, strengthening computer science and digital learning standards, collaborating with industry and workforce agencies, building AI competencies into training and upskilling, providing educator professional development, and monitoring readiness. He said the report identifies three skill areas: success skills, industry baseline skills, and technical skills. The classroom guidance report promotes responsible AI adoption, with four pillars focused on increasing cognitive demand, streamlining teaching and administrative work, supporting personalized learning, and developing ethical AI users. He also noted that the report includes an AI procurement tool for school districts. Members thanked Gagne for providing outside examples and resources. One member noted JCPS has an introductory AI professional development offering for educators. Gagne said Kentucky’s David Couch serves on the SREB commission and that the commission’s member list and reports are available on SREB’s website. The committee then heard from Travis Powell of the Council on Postsecondary Education, who said CPE had surveyed campuses and found that Kentucky institutions have broadly embraced AI in teaching, research, student services, and administrative operations. He said all institutions have AI-focused degrees, minors, or courses, and many are integrating AI into general education and across disciplines. Powell also said CPE is considering an AI consortium and that campuses are using AI in research partnerships and applied work, while continuing to focus on ethical and effective use.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we are going to take their speech and then this organization is going to manipulate that speech into
• If we are going to take their speech and If we are going to take their speech and then<01:27:19.120><
• going to then this organization is going to manipulate<01:27:21.600> that<01:27:21.920> speech
• /c><01:27:22.320> into<01:27:22.639> what<01:27:22.880> they manipulate that speech
• advocacyoriented or deceptive speech. advocacyoriented or deceptive speech.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the journal, and then moved through announcements and committee scheduling notices. Members recognized visiting groups, including the Adams 12 girls wrestling team and the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, and several representatives announced upcoming committee hearings on bills including House Bill 1317, House Bill 1225, House Bill 1322, Senate Bill 18, and others. The chamber also took a short recess while another committee was meeting. On third reading, the House first laid over Senate Bill 43 until the next day, then considered House Bill 1339, which changes the voluntary legal holiday name on March 31 from Caesar Chavez Day to Farm Workers Day. Supporters said the bill recognizes farmworkers and survivors and reflects recent allegations involving Cesar Chavez; the bill passed 64-0 with one excused. The House then adopted House Bill 1214 on controlled substances licensing (43-21), House Bill 1242 on interlock restricted licenses for impaired drivers (56-8), House Bill 1260 on childcare assistance programs (63-1), House Bill 1188 on securities regulation sunset continuation (43-21), House Bill 106 on designating state higher education institutions as thriving institutions (43-2), House Bill 1197 on the vessel registration program (55-10), and House Bill 1269 on transit access (43-2). The chamber also agreed to make House Bill 1320, Senate Bill 118, House Bill 1195, Senate Bill 88, and House Bill 1304 special orders later that morning. After that, the House resolved into committee of the whole for House Bill 1320, which concerns statutory requirements for ballot title language and accessible language for ballot titles. Representative Luck offered amendment L004 to let proponents of citizen initiatives submit a draft title that would be presumed sufficient unless the title board needed to modify it to meet constitutional and statutory duties. Luck and Bradley argued the change would reduce bias and treat citizen initiatives more fairly compared with legislator-driven measures, while preserving clarity and readability in ballot language. The transcript cuts off before final action on the amendment or bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• They tell us, and we can ask them if they're willing to take questions, but no speeches during public
• When you're asking questions, if you've been called to ask a question, no time for speech.
• to take questions uh but no speeches to take questions uh but no speeches during<02:33:37.880>
• to ask a question uh no time for speech to ask a question uh no time for speech is<02:33:44.560>
• For those of you that knew not been through this, speeches, that's you have a little more opportunity

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee met for an opening/orientation session in which members introduced themselves and explained their interest in the committee. Several members noted backgrounds in trucking, piloting, boating, motorcycles, road safety, or constituent concerns about transportation issues. The chair also noted several absent members and said the committee would first hear agency presentations before covering committee procedures. The Department of Safety gave the main presentation, outlining its seven divisions and how they relate to transportation policy and the Highway Fund. The assistant commissioner emphasized that Highway Fund revenue supports both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Safety, with collections coming largely from the road toll/gas tax, DMV fees, and the new electric vehicle surcharge. He also noted that 12% of Highway Fund revenues go to local road repair through the DOT Betterment Fund, and warned that the fund has had a structural deficit for several biennia, requiring General Fund transfers that may be uncertain this session. He said the department aims to provide data and fiscal context on legislation and fiscal notes. State Police then provided a detailed overview of its structure and operations, including the Operations Bureau, Investigative Services Bureau, and Justice Information Bureau. Testimony highlighted Troop G’s role in vehicle inspections, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, fraud investigations, and consumer complaint handling, as well as statewide staffing shortages. The division reported rising calls for service, motor vehicle stops, DWI arrests, and other arrests despite a vacancy rate of about 17%. It also described aviation, K-9, bomb squad, special events response, SWAT, narcotics, major crime, forensic laboratory, and other specialized units, with statistics on drug seizures, investigations, and lab workload. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's one of those things where you just kind of hate to be an outlier, but the other states are doing
• It's one of those things where you just kind of hate to be an outlier, but the other states are doing
• It's one of those things where you just kind of hate to be an outlier, but the other states are doing
• It's one of those things where you just kind of hate to be an outlier, but the other states are doing
• It's one of those things where you just kind of hate to be an outlier, but the other states are doing

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:10 HB 2 Discussion 00:01:00 HB 2 Vote 00:04:00 HB 544 Discussion 00:05:05 HB 544 Vote 00:06:15 HB 552 Discussion 00:07:00 HB 552 Vote 00:08:40 HB 605 Discussion 00:09:35 HB 605 Vote 00:11:35 HB 606 Discussion 00:12:10 HB 606 Vote 00:15:40 HB 695 Discussion 00:16:25 HB 695 Vote 00:34:05, 958, all

Summary: The Appropriations and Revenue Committee took up several House bills and committee substitutes. House Bill 2, as amended by Senate Committee Substitute 1, was described by Rep. T.J. Roberts as restoring a tax exemption enacted in 2024 by providing refunds with interest to those improperly taxed and creating a cause of action; the substitute also aligned state filing deadlines for certain flood-disaster counties with the federal November 15 deadline. The committee adopted the substitute and then passed the bill with favorable expression. The committee also adopted a title amendment for House Bill 544, which Rep. Jason Petrie said was part of the state’s flood-relief discussion and would allow the guard cap to be used over the biennium rather than annually, effectively increasing the cap from $50 million per year to $100 million over two years; the measure passed with favorable expression. House Bill 552, handled by Rep. Josh Bray after Rep. Kim King’s absence, was described as simplifying tourist commission appointments. The committee substitute added creation of the Kentucky-Ireland Trade Commission and changed marina licensing agreements by exempting private contractors from the model procurement code. The committee adopted the substitute, approved a title amendment, and passed the bill with favorable expression. House Bill 605, sponsored by Rep. Kim King, clarified which grants qualify for a grant program and allowed cities or counties to apply on behalf of water districts or other entities not directly affiliated with them; Rebecca Hearts of Grant Ready Kentucky said the program had matched $103 million of the $200 million allocation, generating about $469.98 million in total project value. The committee adopted the title amendment and passed the bill with favorable expression. House Bill 606, by Rep. Wade Williams, added a capital-oversight reporting requirement for school district general obligation bonds that had been omitted from prior legislation. The committee substitute also made several budget and program adjustments, including moving Regional Training Center funds, accelerating funding for the Grand Lyric Theater, correcting water funding language, removing Odyssey Inc. language from a treatment-related item, fixing a double appropriation to LifeWorks Transition Academy, clarifying carry-forward language, allowing SRO reimbursements for public and non-public schools, and authorizing an additional $10 million in agency bonds for Western Kentucky University athletic facilities. The committee adopted the substitute, approved a title amendment, and passed the bill with favorable expression. The committee then spent the most time on House Bill 695, a Medicaid-related bill. Rep. Adam Bowling said the bill was intended to stabilize Medicaid, create oversight and advisory mechanisms, and address growth in the program. Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander and Medicaid CFO Steve Beckle said they were generally supportive of the transparency and reporting changes but flagged risks, including federal compliance concerns, budget growth from changing the drug rebate treatment, administrative costs tied to MCO rebidding and a managed long-term services study, and some data-collection challenges. Representatives from the Kentucky Association of Healthcare Facilities opposed the section calling for a managed long-term care reimbursement study, arguing it would be costly, duplicative, and likely ineffective, and they warned against managed care models for long-term care. Despite the concerns, the committee adopted the committee substitute by voice vote and moved the bill forward with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• [No audible speech captured.] [No audible speech captured.] Everyone, please find a seat.
• Last term, the best speech I have ever heard in nine years in the House was 47 seconds.
• The best speech I ever heard in this committee was 47 seconds long.
• The best speech I ever heard in this committee was 47 seconds long.
• The best speech I ever heard in this committee was 47 seconds long.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Children and Family Law Committee met on January 28, 2025, and first heard House Bill 322, which would give a parent paying child support the exclusive right to claim the child as a dependent on taxes. Representative Barton, the sponsor, argued that because child support is no longer tax-deductible, the paying parent should at least receive the child tax credit. Committee members and later testimony from New Hampshire Legal Assistance raised concerns that the bill would override court discretion, could disadvantage low-income custodial parents, and would not account for cases where child support payments are small or where parents share support unevenly. Several members noted that judges already allocate dependency claims in divorce orders and can modify those orders when circumstances change. After testimony, the committee moved to ITL (inexpedient to legislate) HB 322. The motion was seconded, discussion continued, and the roll call was unanimous in favor of ITL. The committee then placed the bill on consent and ended the executive session on HB 322. The committee next took up House Bill 325, which would eliminate term and reimbursement alimony in no-fault divorces. Representative Barton testified that alimony in those cases was akin to involuntary servitude and should not survive dissolution of the marriage contract. The hearing then moved into questions about whether alimony is meant to compensate a spouse for sacrifices made during the marriage, such as supporting a partner through school or staying home with children, and the sponsor maintained that post-divorce support should not continue as a marital obligation. The transcript cuts off before any vote or further action on HB 325 is shown.