Transcript Highlights:

• qualifying as coordinated expenditures. expenditures. expenditures.
• Section 4 [00:22:30.630]: Senator Bahr: But I don't know if they'll qualify.
• And then there is a repealer. qualify a voter to to uh utilize agent qualify a voter to to uh utilize
• Does it qualify the results of the election, or does it credentialize?
• part of the election integrity project. part of the election integrity project.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This project has increased our struggle for adequate staffing because we cannot compete with META wages
• We actually don't qualify in this phase, and our son is entering his senior year this fall.
• Without, I'm not asking you to qualify all of those, but have you found any of that in y'all's, since
• Out of the four that I mentioned, three would qualify for the child care assistance program.
• I'm with Project Celebration.

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• 35.079> that we're able to uh continue funding that we're able to uh continue funding that project
• as it goes forward because it project as it goes forward because it has<00:48:37.000> huge<00
• rather than a direct appropriation, again, even if they were the only ones who would technically qualify
• rather than a direct appropriation, again, even if they were the only ones who would technically qualify
• for it um just to have that that qualify for it um just to have that that layer<00:57:17.880> of<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, how many already awarded school projects, how many already awarded school projects, and what dollar
• That's why I said 15 to 20 projects.
• That's why I said 15 to 20 projects.
• transmission projects.
• are identified in the TPP and these are very large projects So. what projects are identified in the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will move the existing requirements for qualified autism service providers, qualified autism
• service professionals, and qualified autism service paraprofessionals from the health and safety insurance
• In current statute, behavior analysts qualify autism service paraprofessionals and qualified autism service
• which again as senator valid air said will relocate the provider qualifications requirements for qualified
• Doing so would ensure fair recognition of qualified professionals and provide greater choice for both

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• interest in a qualified development. interest in a qualified development.
• There are no for-scale housing projects.
• There are no for-scale housing projects.
• There are no for-scale housing projects.
• There are no for-scale housing projects.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What qualifies this great Marylander to lead this chamber is her character.
• So many well-qualified people who put their name forward.
• You introduce the Build to Learn Act to pay for school construction projects.
• You introduce the Build to Learn Act to pay for school construction projects.
• pay for school construction projects. pay for school construction projects.

Keywords: House streaming session for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened for the first day of session and first elected Delegate Luke Clippinger as Speaker Pro Tem. Members nominated and seconded him with remarks praising his leadership, work on Judiciary Committee issues, and ability to mentor colleagues. Nominations were then closed, the House voted by voice, and Clippinger was sworn in. The chamber then opened nominations for Speaker of the House. Multiple members spoke in support of Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, highlighting her personal story, legal background, public service, and committee leadership. Speakers emphasized her work on major policy areas including education, police reform, racial and economic justice, reproductive freedom, and support for historically Black colleges and universities. One member from the minority party also seconded the nomination, saying she had been inclusive and respectful in committee work and legislative process. After nominations were closed, the House voted by voice and elected Peña-Melnyk Speaker of the House of Delegates. She was sworn in and thanked members for their support, reflecting on the diversity in the chamber and the significance of the moment. In her remarks, she also praised outgoing Speaker Adrienne Jones and recognized family members, dignitaries, and colleagues in attendance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, it revises rules for roof-related projects in some technical ways.
• You have to qualify. Then you have to execute.
• You have to qualify. Then you have to execute.
• You have to qualify. Then you have to execute.
• You have to qualify. Then you have to execute.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several member introductions recognizing interns, guests, and advocates. The Rules Chair added CS for CS for SB 622 to the special order calendar, and SB 80 on state land management was temporarily postponed. The chamber then moved through a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills when the measures were identical or nearly identical. The Senate passed SB 200/HB 295 on a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan, requiring DEP to develop a recycling and waste diversion roadmap by 2026; SB 492 on land development and mitigation banking, after adopting amendments related to mitigation credit use and former phosphate mine lands; and SB 494/HB 255 on aggravated animal cruelty, which increases sentencing consequences and creates a searchable FDLE database of convicted animal abusers, with an amendment clarifying the database language. The Senate also passed SB 500/HB 711 establishing the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism, SB 524/HB 1089 adding Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, SB 592/HB 393 revising the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, SB 742/HB 1145 on workforce education, SB 936/HB 827 on a statewide study of automation and workforce impact, SB 964/HB 181 on parole guidelines, SB 976/HB 901 on court-appointed psychologists, SB 1084/HB 1451 on sexual cyber harassment, and SB 1156 on a home health aid program for medically fragile children. Most of these bills were adopted after brief sponsor explanations, questions, and in some cases amendments or House-substitute motions. Debate centered on several policy issues. Senators raised concerns about the constitutional and environmental implications of mitigation banking credits in SB 492, the scope and privacy implications of the animal abuse database in SB 494, the funding and eligibility details of the condo resilience program in SB 592, and the public-school/charter-school balance in SB 822, which drew extensive questioning about enrollment, governance, discipline, accountability, and data sharing before being placed on the third-reading calendar after amendments. The Spectrum Alert bill drew support from members who compared it to the Purple Alert and emphasized the risks faced by children with ASD. The medically fragile children home health aid bill also drew strong support, with senators describing it as a long-needed fix to help families provide in-home care without losing Medicaid coverage. Votes on the measures reported in the transcript were overwhelmingly favorable, with bills passing by margins such as 38-0, 35-3, 37-0, 36-0, and 35-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:26:24.479> severe decision around a qualified severe decision around a qualified severe
• comes to the qualifying severe illness. comes to the qualifying severe illness.
• > severe three uh Roman 3- A qualifying severe three uh Roman 3- A qualifying severe illness<03
• <03:30:33.359> They've qualifying severe illness. They've qualifying severe illness.
• c> illnesses,<03:52:04.479> chronic of qualifying severe illnesses, chronic of qualifying

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also says that if you have a standard project, it requires a 10% match.
• If you have a large project, it requires a 20% match. And that’s basically what the bill does.
• It just changes, after investment, and inserts, for a project to qualify as a large project, just defining
• So if they wanted to have a project and a Seymour project, they would be able to do it down to $1 million
• So if they wanted to have a project and a Seymour project, they would be able to do it down to $1 million

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• qualify for this.
• So damage assessment and project formulation.
• We have several projects: one shovel-ready project and one that's pretty close to being built, and you
• This is 1110 Meacham Drive, a 25-unit project.
• And many years of FEMA projects...

Transcript Highlights:

• For the mill and elevator, we're getting about half of their projected profits.
• You get into the capital improvement projects with the bank.
• I have a question for Representative Kempenich on Section 6, the $20 million for the housing projects
• I guess my question is, it seems that this project got hijacked from that part of the state.
• I guess my question is, seems that this project got hijacked from that part of the state.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2014, the budget for the Industrial Commission, with Representative Kempenich walking through the agency’s major components: the administrative office, Bank of North Dakota, housing finance, Department of Mineral Resources, and the State Mill and Elevator. He described mostly special-fund operations, including bond payments, economic development programs, the rail loan program, the Rebuilder’s Loan Program, housing incentive funding, abandoned well reclamation work, lignite research, litigation reserves, and a capacity purchase arrangement for a future natural gas pipeline. He also explained several one-time funding items, such as grid resiliency grants, housing-related transfers from the Strategic Investment Fund, and enhanced oil recovery funding repurposed from a prior salt cavern study. Members asked about the reduction in housing incentive funding from the Senate version, the use of one-time Strategic Investment Fund dollars for ongoing housing programs, and whether a trigger should be added to increase housing funding later. Kempenich said no trigger was discussed and emphasized that housing needs vary widely across the state. Another exchange focused on the enhanced oil recovery grant program, which he said would be driven largely by the Energy and Environmental Research Center and would use repurposed funds. A longer discussion covered the natural gas pipeline capacity purchase, including its purpose, possible routes, and the idea that the state would be buying capacity rather than immediately building a pipeline. The committee adopted Amendment 25.0181.0207 on a 21-1 vote, with one member absent and not voting. The committee then passed HB 2014 as amended on a 21-1 vote, with one member absent and not voting. Representative Kempenich was designated to carry the bill. The chair then noted this was the final budget hearing for the committee, with one bill remaining to be heard later.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're targeting the just special analytics market, which some project to be in the hundreds of billions
• And one of our projects that we're working on today's were busy adjusting all of the states like our
• Just to give you a sense of where we work, we are statewide and you can see the project Laden.
• It's come in the number of projects that we went through.
• It's about a 30% increase year-over-year in terms of numbers of projects.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• solicit applications, review qualifications, conduct public interviews, and recommend a list of qualified
• solicit applications, review qualifications, conduct public interviews, and recommend a list of qualified
• He's been here before. ...and recommend a list of qualified candidates to the governor for commission
• Our projects include replacing culverts at stream crossings to improve infrastructure and enhance trout
• All of these projects not only benefit wildlife, but also create natural wildfire breaks across the forest

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 20.000] Senator Burton thanked the insurance and banking staff for ensuring the bill’s intent was to qualify
• provide DFS with the authority to have a state-designated digital wallet, which will be held in a qualified
• public deposit, and convert stablecoin payments to U.S. dollars. ...which will be held in a qualified
• requires the department to hold the payment stablecoin they receive through this pilot program in a qualified
• allowing new inspection if the initial inspection is over 24 months old, and extending deadlines for project

Bills: S0158, S0314, S0618, S0684, S0838, S0990, S1000, S1082, S1452, S1494, S1500, S1568, S1706

Keywords: pet insurance, consumer protection, insurance regulation, policy disclosure, agent training, payment stablecoin, financial regulation, anti-money laundering, state oversight, digital currency, financial services, workers compensation, Florida statute, commercial insurance, insurance board, electronic signatures, vehicle titles, insurance regulations, auditing, total loss vehicles

Summary: The Banking and Insurance Committee heard and advanced a wide range of insurance, financial services, and probate bills. Early in the meeting, SB 1000 on trust fund interest for attorney trust accounts was explained as setting a floor and ceiling tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate and was reported favorably. The committee then took up CS/SB 1082 on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program for emergency out-of-network claims. After extensive discussion about the relationship between the state and federal No Surprises Act processes, an amendment was withdrawn due to concerns about clarity and scope, but the bill itself was supported by providers and insurers and was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 684 on electronic signatures for total loss vehicles and vessels, CS/SB 158 on pet insurance consumer disclosures and agent education, SB 1494 expanding breast cancer screening coverage, CS/SB 314 on digital assets and stablecoin issuers, and CS/SB 1500 on uncontested probate procedures and small-estate administration. SB 618 on workers’ compensation insurance was amended to raise the consent-to-rate cap for workers’ compensation policies from 10% to 20% and then reported favorably, with supporters saying it would help keep higher-risk employers in the voluntary market. CS/SB 1568 creating a Florida Stablecoin Pilot Program was amended to remove authority for a Florida coin and limit the program to existing stablecoins, then passed. Later, the committee approved CS/SB 838 on electronic payment convenience fees for retail installment contracts, with the sponsor emphasizing that a fee-free payment option must still be offered. SB 1452, the Department of Financial Services agency bill, was amended and reported favorably; it covered My Safe Florida Home administration, insurance and licensing changes, unclaimed property updates, and other DFS-related provisions. The committee also passed SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, targeting owner-occupied condominiums at or below 80% of area median income, and SB 990 on protected cell captive insurance companies, which supporters said would modernize Florida’s captive insurance laws and encourage more competition. The meeting ended with all listed bills reported favorably and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE AIM TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM TO MEET OUR RISING DEMAND THAT WE HAD TO TURN AWAY OVER 80 QUALIFIED APPLICANTS
• CONDUCTING DIFFERENT RESEARCH AREAS I MENTIONED EARLIER THE BILL ALSO ADDRESSES ON PUBLIC LOSS PROJECTION
• HOURS PER SEMESTER, RULES THE PROVISION OF SETTING ASIDE 10% OF ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
• CURRENTLY IN FLORIDA A NONRESIDENT STUDENT WITH A QUALIFYING ACT SCORE AND THE GRANDPARENT WHO IS A LEGAL
• RESIDENT FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR CAN QUALIFY OR A WAIVER OF THE OUT-OF-STATE FEE AND IN 2324 THERE WERE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's being told he can build one house on his 40 acres because he just qualifies; his road frontage qualifies
• qualifies his Road Frontage qualifies qualifies his Road Frontage qualifies for<00:05:28.120>
• It's called the NECEC project.
• It's called the NECEC project.
• It's called the NECEC project.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn't mean more would qualify. It gives them more options to qualify.
• It doesn't mean more would qualify; it gives them more options to qualify.
• It doesn't mean they'd be more likely to qualify.
• as a Coast Guard-qualified boat captain.
• with CPR, qualified with a drug test, qualified with insurance.

Bills: HR179, HR180, HR181, HR182, HR183, HR184, HR185, HR186, HR187, HCR75, HCR76, HCR77, HCR78, HCR79, HR165, HR166, HR168, HR169, HR170, HR171, HR172, HR173, HR174, HR175, HR176, HR177, HR178, HCR65, HCR66, HCR67, HCR68, HCR69, HCR70, HCR71, HCR72, HCR73, HCR74, SCR34, SB34, SB43, SB52, SB56, SB165, SB173, SB189, SB190, SB260, SB322, SB345, SB374, SB387, SB401, SB448, SB449, SB455, SB487, SB496, SB502, SB505, HB362, HB893, HB990, HB1007, HB1153, HB1243, HR1, HR17, HCR5, HCR4, HCR47, HB55, HB385, HB394, HB396, HB406, HB608, HB622, HB676, HB772, HB897, HB1030, HB1035, HB1038, HB1045, HB1049, HB1056, HB1058, HB1059, HB1092, HB1100, HB1117, HB1160, HB1161, HB1162, HB1177, HB1180, HB1189, HB1216, HB1239, HB1240, HB59, HB74, HB159, HB330, HB364, HB414, HB458, HB525, HB568, HB786, HB1008, HB1033, HB1034, HB1041, HB1062, HB1070, HB1079, HB1112, HB1118, HB1139, HB1151, HB1176, HB1182, HB1196, HB1214, HB1241, HB87, HB115, HB162, HB368, HB433, HB441, HB447, HB466, HB481, HB741, HB1242, SB162, SB349, SB350, SB382, SB383, SB127, SB244, HB977, HB181, HB31, HB664, HB9, HB192, HB225, HB306, HB310, HB366, HB635, HB911, HB1230, HB1236, HB615, HB864, HB1103, HB1175, HB901, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB393, HB459, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB773, HB996, HB1003, HB1082, HB1113, HB1234

Keywords: neighborhood, crime prevention, security districts, law enforcement, community safety, funding, Counseling Day, mental health, Louisiana Counseling Association, community support, mental wellness, Louisiana State University, athletics, NAIA, sports achievements, recognition, success, competition, education, higher education

Summary: The House opened with a prayer, pledge, quorum call, and several personal privileges recognizing guests and special observances, including Junior League Day, Renewable Energy Day, Wholesalers Day, and Sin Law Day. Members also introduced and adopted a number of commemorative resolutions, including condolences, recognitions of schools and community figures, and resolutions related to LSU, ALS Awareness Month, and local festivals. Several Senate and House measures were referred or laid over, and the chamber announced upcoming scheduling changes for House and Senate bills. The most extensive debate centered on House Bill 385, which would require certain TOPS scholarship recipients to repay one semester of aid if they fail to meet academic requirements, subject to listed exemptions and an option to avoid repayment by entering certain high-demand career and technical programs. Opponents questioned the bill’s impact on students, its possible constitutional issues, administrative costs, lack of a fiscal note and implementation details, and whether it would worsen brain drain or convert a merit scholarship into a loan. The motion to recommit the bill to Appropriations failed 34-16, but after continued questioning and criticism, the author later moved to return the bill to the calendar, and that was agreed to. The House then passed House Bill 55, which restricts public disclosure of juror information, after adopting an amendment clarifying that juror interviews are still allowed if jurors choose to participate. The chamber also passed House Bill 394 extending the conditional parole programming period from nine months to 24 months, House Bill 396 making autopsy photographs admissible in criminal proceedings, House Bill 406 directing the Department of Education to study whether it should supervise interscholastic high school athletics, House Bill 622 aligning state criminal history record handling with federal requirements, and House Bill 676 creating the crime of fraudulent patient referrals, or body brokering, with amendments clarifying lawful marketing arrangements. House Bill 1030, concerning reimbursement for non-emergency medical transportation for certain mental health-related services, was taken up with amendments and then temporarily returned to the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• That’s more of a historical projection for appropriation.
• So the budget request is what the projection is—what we do project to receive in actual funds from the
• So the budget request is what the projection is, is what we do project to receive in actual funds from
• the from the projection is, is what we do project to receive an actual funds from the, from the tax
• Is that an actual projection? Not based on our projections. No, sir. Okay.

Summary: The committee heard a series of Arkansas Department of Human Services budget presentations and questions, beginning with the Secretary’s Office and then the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services. Staff described the divisions’ appropriations, funding sources, and major programs, including senior centers, Meals on Wheels, mental health grants, substance abuse treatment, community alcohol safety, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, and crisis stabilization units. Members raised concerns about flat or limited funding for senior services, the use and tracing of federal block grants, the lack of a funding source for the veterans’ mental health grant, and the mechanics of the community alcohol safety and treatment programs. The committee also discussed patient benefits funds at state facilities, transportation for senior center clients, and whether some special-language appropriations or fund balances should be revisited. Executive recommendations were adopted for the divisions considered. The committee then reviewed the Division of Children and Family Services and the Division of County Operations. Questions focused on foster care growth, adoption subsidies, professional fees tied to staff training and onboarding, vacancies, the Children’s Trust Fund, and TANF subgrants. Members asked about the reduction or elimination of TANF funding to child advocacy centers and other subgrantees, and DHS explained that prior reserves had been spent down and that the department was now trying to live within the annual TANF block grant and rebuild reserves. County operations questions also covered summer EBT, SNAP employment and training, the farmers’ market program, and the expected impact of a federal SNAP administrative match change, which DHS estimated would increase state costs by about $24 million annually, with roughly $18 million affecting the current year because the change begins October 1. Executive recommendations were again adopted. Finally, the committee heard from the Division of Developmental Disability Services and the Division of Medical Services. DDS testimony covered vacancies, staffing shortages, human development center construction and repairs, the reopening of the Boonville work training program, and funding for infant infirmary and child/family life programs. Medical Services testimony covered the Medicaid program, the current FMAP rate, the Our Kids B CHIP program, Medicaid payments to schools, nursing home distress funding, and large appropriation lines used to provide flexibility for claims and potential facility closures. Members asked for more detail on school Medicaid payments, reserve balances, and why some appropriations were much larger than actual spending. In each division, the committee moved and adopted Executive REC after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• this is a big project for the cabinet. this is a big project for the cabinet.
• And in the initial start of the project.
• This is an uncommonly big capital project for the cabinet.
• <00:45:34.160> So assets when this project is done. So assets when this project is done.
• <00:45:39.680> for<00:45:39.839> the project is a capital project for the project is

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Human Services met to review budget items carved out in the prior session budget, including long-term care surveyor contracts, funding for local health departments, and expansion of the central laboratory. The committee approved the June 4 minutes and then heard an update from the Office of Inspector General’s Division of Health Care on long-term care certification surveys and complaint investigations. Officials said the $1 million annual appropriation for contracted survey work, along with salary increases and other resources, helped the state reduce its backlog. They reported that Kentucky completed 101 long-term care certification surveys in fiscal year 2024, up from 28 in fiscal year 2023, and had completed 186 surveys by July 7, 2025, with a goal of 40 to 50 more before the end of fiscal year 2025. Outstanding complaints fell from 1,565 at the end of fiscal year 2024 to 695 by July 7, 2025, and outstanding priority-one or immediate-jeopardy complaints were reduced to zero. Members asked about the definition of priority-one cases, survey timing, the number of facilities still overdue, vacancy rates, federal funding reliance, and the use of contract surveyors. Officials said priority-one cases involve serious harm or high risk of harm, that surveys are required within a 12- to 15.7-month window, and that the agency now has 40 contract surveyors and an outside team option. Several members praised the progress but warned that delays in surveys can endanger residents and urged continued funding and monitoring. The committee then began hearing from Mike Tuggle of the Department of Public Health on the Public Health Transformation Initiative, with Tuggle noting the legislation’s importance to public health financing. The transcript cuts off as he began his remarks.