Transcript Highlights:

• This fee does not come from the Kentucky Treasury.
• This fee does not come from the Kentucky Treasury.
• This fee does not come from the Kentucky Treasury.
• This fee does not come from the Kentucky Treasury.
• This fee does not come from the Kentucky Treasury.

Keywords: This meeting will take place upon Recess of the Senate Chambers. There is not an exact time for this meeting therefore a placeholder time for the live stream has been set for 12:30PM est. Meeting Start: 00:03 Attendance Roll Call: 00:12 HB 321 (Rep. Johnson): 00:49 HB 340 (Rep. Hampton): 05:10 HB 520 (Rep. Fugate): 08:55 Adjournment: 32:26, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government considered three bills. House Bill 321, sponsored by Rep. DJ Johnson and supported by the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Realtor Association, was amended by committee substitute and adopted unanimously. As amended, it extends training deadlines for planning commission and board of adjustment members and adds required training on how planning and zoning policies affect housing supply and accessibility. The committee substitute also limits appeals of final board of adjustment actions to persons or entities claiming injury who own real estate in the same zone as the affected property. The bill passed 8-0, and a title amendment was adopted. House Bill 340, sponsored by Rep. Tony Hampton with support from law enforcement and federal security representatives, would create a new section of KRS Chapter 13 to require criminal justice agencies to provide criminal history records for federal suitability or fitness background checks and allow a $25 fee for records requests reimbursed by the federal government. It also conforms juvenile records law to the new process. The committee approved the bill 9-0 with no opposition. House Bill 520, sponsored by Rep. Chris Fugate and backed by the Kentucky Sheriff's Association, Kentucky Police Chiefs Association, and Kentucky League of Cities, generated the most debate. The bill and committee substitute would exempt certain open police investigation records from disclosure under the Open Records Act when an agency says release could harm an investigation or reveal informants or witnesses. Several senators raised concerns that the “could” standard was too broad and could weaken transparency, while supporters argued it was needed to protect ongoing investigations, witnesses, and officers. The committee initially failed the bill 6-4, then after additional vote changes and discussion, reconsidered it and advanced the amended bill with favorable expression 6-4 to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• what that fee is? what that fee is? >> How<01:12:25.040> much? >> How much?
• E Central that cost recovery fee is.
• But it could be much access fee.
• >> That's why we don't charge the fee >> That's why we don't charge the fee because<
• access fee. Thank you. access fee. Thank you.

Bills: HF3830, HF3688

Keywords: utilities, rate cases, cost recovery, reporting requirements, gas infrastructure, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• review fee.
• Uh the fee hiccup that I mentioned.
• I seem to only indicate a reduction in a fee, the general fee from 500 to 250 and the square foot from
• from reduction in a fee, the general fee from reduction in a fee, the general fee from 500<01:52
• intentional to reduce that fee. intentional to reduce that fee.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, just like the other 90 flat fees Well, just like the other 90 flat fees that<03:23:53.920>
• fee as part of this budget.
• If I know this bill would establish a salt seller fee on bulk salt, and if I know this fee will be the
• Just a little more fee?
• just a little more fee? just a little more fee?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It repeals the bond language that's currently in statute and replaces that with a fee to be collected
• OK, and so we're replacing it with a $2,000 fee.
• So instead, this will allow a $2,000 fee, which is about average for what the bonds actually cost themselves
• Is this an annual fee that they pay, or do they pay it for a period Of time, and then they don't have
• So the fee is an annual fee, as was the bond.

Bills: HB3011, HB3143, HB3144, HB3881, HB3519, HB3522, HB3530

Keywords: alcoholic beverages, personal use permit, manufacturing, excise tax, Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, medical marijuana, license transfer, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, moratorium, business regulation, commercial grower licenses, licensing restrictions, agriculture, alternative nicotine products, vaping, regulations, manufacturing standards, packaging requirements, penalties, Attorney General

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, a $150 counsel fee is imposed on each indigent adult.
• their indigent status that they're also unable to pay the $150 fee within 180 days.
• Additionally, a $150 counsel fee is imposed on each indigent adult.
• their indigent status that they're also unable to pay the $150 fee within 180 days.
• The $150 counsel fee that's currently imposed on each indigent adult, easing the financial burden on

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held its inaugural hearing of the session, led by Chair Michael Day and co-chair Senator Lydia Edwards, and reviewed a large slate of bills and constitutional amendments. The chair laid out hearing procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, priority for in-person witnesses, and deadlines for reporting constitutional amendments and House bills. The committee heard testimony on 29 proposals, with many witnesses and advocates speaking in support of measures they said would clarify the law, improve access to justice, or address public safety and fairness concerns. Several bills drew extensive testimony. Supporters of H.1686/S.1254 urged creation of a commission to study intentional misrepresentation of service animals, citing disruptive and dangerous encounters with fake service dogs and the need to protect legitimate service-dog teams. H.1649/S.1168 on court transcriber fees received strong support from transcribers and CPCS, who said rates have been frozen at $3 per page since 1988 and should be raised to $4.50, with an automatic CPI adjustment; they also described the work as time-consuming and essential to the justice system. H.1768/S.1037 on indigency was backed by CPCS, which said the bill would update eligibility rules, reduce unnecessary six-month reassessments, and eliminate the $150 counsel fee for indigent adults. H.1723/S.1193 to remove the charitable immunity cap was supported by legislators and attorneys who argued the current $20,000/$100,000 caps leave seriously injured people undercompensated and make Massachusetts an outlier. The committee also heard testimony on S.1046 regarding adoptions, with multiple adoptive parents, attorneys, and agency representatives describing recent probate court interpretations that have disrupted out-of-state surrender and finalization practices. Witnesses said the bill would restore predictability and allow birth parents outside Massachusetts to use either their home-state law or Massachusetts law, while preserving ICPC safeguards. Senator Feingold testified on H.1748/S.1109, “Conrad’s Law,” to criminalize coercing someone into suicide, arguing Massachusetts should join most other states in creating a specific offense rather than relying on involuntary manslaughter charges. Representative Donahue supported H.66 to remove “so help me God” from the constitutional oath of office. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee simply heard testimony and thanked witnesses, with chairs indicating they would continue reviewing the bills and written submissions.

Transcript Highlights:

• damaged by the board's failure to comply with this chapter, can seek damages including attorney's fees
• Madam Chair, members, HB 2946, Municipalities Counties Development Fees, modifies development fees charged
• Madam Chair, members, HB 2946, Municipalities Counties Development Fees, modifies development fees charged
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2834, claims against HOA's filing fee.
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2834, claims against HOA's filing fee, passed the Commerce Committee

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of bills and resolutions, with staff giving brief descriptions and members flagging which items were on consent, had unanimous committee votes, or should be pulled for further discussion. Topics included education, health care, public safety, labor, water, taxation, housing, and elections. Several measures were noted as party-line or mixed votes, while many others were reported as unanimous and placed on third-read or consent calendars. Among the more discussed items were bills on school and labor policy, including a proposal to prohibit teacher strikes, a measure restricting school district bond actions, a bill requiring school safety protocols and assigning felony penalties for noncompliance, and a resolution limiting public money for labor organization activities. Members also raised concerns or requested further review on bills involving pharmacist testing authority, expired opioid antagonists, a county sheriff-related measure, a housing affordability district proposal, and a tobacco/vape regulation bill. Some measures were explicitly pulled from consent, including a Medicaid audit resolution, a budget-related pay-withholding resolution, and several education and public safety bills. The caucus also heard multiple health and human services measures, such as genetic counselor licensing, nursing board and pharmacy board continuations, foster care rights, psychiatry access funding, and free school meals. In addition, there were water and energy bills on Colorado River management, groundwater, transmission-line review, and renewable energy valuation, plus election and campaign-related proposals. The meeting ended with announcements, including an upcoming Colorado River breakfast briefing and an internal award recognizing Representative Brian Garcia, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• these costs are a direct pass-through to riders, and it's reflected on rider receipts as the booking fee
• You could be able to see a reduction in the amount that's charged as a fee in terms of the insurance
• Riders will see savings directly in their booking fee as these insurances come down.
• There are six of them supported by an access line fee.
• That very same month, my Comcast bill, an internet bill, showed up with an access line fee.

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee heard three bills. SB 371 by Senator Cabaldon would reduce uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage requirements for transportation network companies from $1 million to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, with committee amendments adding findings and declarations, higher limits than originally proposed, and a joint study on UM/UIM impacts. Supporters, including Uber, Lyft, business groups, and some consumer advocates, argued the bill would lower fares and increase driver earnings by reducing insurance costs. Opponents, including consumer attorneys, labor groups, and consumer watchdog organizations, warned it would cut protections for riders and drivers and might not guarantee savings would be passed through. The committee approved SB 371 on a due-pass basis and re-referred it to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote. The committee then heard SB 716 by Senator Durazo, which would create a Home Internet Lifeline Program to let eligible low-income households apply Lifeline subsidies to home broadband service. Proponents said the bill addresses broadband affordability after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program expired, and that it would help students, workers, and families access reliable internet. Opponents from the wireless industry objected to the funding mechanism, arguing the surcharge would fall unfairly on wireless consumers, while one broadband group moved to neutral after amendments. The bill was approved on a due-pass basis and sent to Appropriations, but the roll was held open and later completed with the bill passing 7-1. The committee also took up SB 480 by Senator Archuleta relating to autonomous vehicles as a consent item, with no presentation or debate. It was approved on a due-pass basis and re-referred to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly focused on affordability, consumer protection, and whether savings from the bills would actually reach riders, drivers, or households.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a couple of pieces of policy the Senate had that we accepted, and also some fee increases that
• They pertain to grain license fees and to food handling fees. So, they are in the bill.
• to uh grain license fees and to food<00:01:27.600> handling<00:01:28.000> fees.
• So, they are in the food handling fees.
• One of the things some um some fees.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up the conference committee report on House File 2446, the agriculture budget bill for the Department of Agriculture. Representative Anderson explained that the conference agreement kept the core House and Senate priorities while accepting some Senate policy provisions and fee increases, including grain license fees and food handling fees. He said the overall target was reduced, but major programs were preserved, including funding for the Board of Animal Health, egg emergency and inspection programs, elk and wolf compensation, milk processing capacity, farm safety and innovation, a new bioefficiency program to reduce fertilizer use in limited areas, and increased meat inspection funding. Representative Hansen and several other members urged adoption, describing the bill as a bipartisan “hybrid” that reflects changing agriculture and includes both traditional farm support and newer priorities. Supporters highlighted food assistance and worker protections, including funding to offset federal cuts to local food purchasing and milk distribution programs, farm-to-school and early care programs, avian flu testing, urban agriculture, and a study to expand Olmsted County’s soil health and nitrate reduction work. Some members noted concerns about fees, while others emphasized support for all types of agriculture, cottage food bakers, and the role of farm workers. After debate, the House adopted the conference committee report and advanced the bill. Following further discussion, the bill was repassed as amended by conference on a roll call vote of 130 ayes and 4 nays, and its title was agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• fuels from the retail delivery fee. fuels from the retail delivery fee.
• members and how the retail delivery fee members and how the retail delivery fee applies.<00:47:13.520
• <00:47:36.240> to Applying the retail delivery fee to Applying the retail delivery fee to
• Like, I think it's not what the delivery fee was intended for.
• It doesn't matter what you make the fees. It doesn't matter. The cost is irrelevant.

Bills: HF3131, HF3436, HF3106, HF3241, HF3531

Keywords: cancer, disability, parking certificates, transportation, state law, school bus, schoolchildren, student safety, traffic safety, stop arm, flashing red lights, amber lights, passing a school bus, 20 feet, vehicle stopping distance, driver duties, school transportation, Minnesota traffic law, school bus law, bus stop signal

Transcript Highlights:

• Were there any talk on developers who are developing impact fees to help pay for the water supply?
• of the budget or get ahead of the governor on any fees issues.
• of the budget or get ahead of the governor on any fees issues.
• of the budget or get ahead of the governor on any fees issues.
• of the budget or get ahead of the governor on any fees issues.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A few big ones that we're waiting for are the fees.
• The fee for the newspaper publication was $2,046.65.
• The other fees associated with this were, with their lawyer fee, $1,250.85.
• And then the fee for the newspaper publication was $2,046.65. The other fees are was $2,046.65.
• The other fees associated with this was, with our lawyer fee, was $1,250.85.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The remaining revenues come from five other sources, examples of which are launch fees at state parks
• and also boater safety certification fees.
• It's in the tax and fee unit within the finance division.
• It's in the tax and fee unit within the finance division.
• How do the fees DOH collects from program operators compare to its costs, and how does its fee model

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• licenses within licenses uh fees licenses within licenses uh fees non-consensual non-consensual
• another example with regard to the fees another example with regard to the fees so<01:19:45.040>
• <01:20:12.000> be want to set a fee and have that fee be want to set a fee and have that fee
• The fees can be, even if you're giving them the authority, so that you would say to collect the fees
• Though, if there is authority for fees, fees may be charged for different services.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held an orientation for new and returning members of the House committee on agencies and administration, with introductions from members and staff. Chair Carol Maguire outlined her expectations for hearings: keep questions focused on the bill, be respectful to witnesses, and use the committee’s orientation opportunities to learn about the jail staff, retirement system, and Office of Professional Licensure. Members also discussed related assignments on other bodies, including the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules and the Joint Committee on Employee Classification, and noted that some members already serve on those panels. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the State Building Code and the committee’s upcoming workload. Members explained how the state code is intended to provide a common baseline while allowing limited local options, and why municipalities must formally adopt and publish any local amendments. They reviewed several anticipated bills: a consolidation bill to gather building-code enforcement materials in one place, a bill to update the state energy code, a bill to restrict municipal adoption of building-code changes, and a bill to update the electrical code. Members also discussed how building codes apply to older homes and commercial buildings, and why code updates are important for safety and clarity. The chair said the committee had 36 bills currently scheduled, including many early bills that must move by March 6 because they will be heard by two committees. She said the committee would use subcommittees for harder bills, with three subcommittees this year: pensions, licensing, and likely state building code. She also outlined the hearing schedule, including lighter bills on February 12 and the expectation of executive sessions later in the month. No votes were taken during the orientation, but members were told that public hearings do not require a quorum and that hard copies of bills would be distributed by committee staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our fees increase across the state. Our fees increase across the state.
• . their mailing mailing and postage fees. their mailing mailing and postage fees.
• and half of that fee is going to go to and half of that fee is going to go to and half of that fee is
• Now with this floor licensing fee. Now with this floor licensing fee.
• We were that fee was well there's not. We were that fee was well there's not.

Bills: HJR 4, HJR 6, HB 195, HB 13, HB 143, HB 135

Keywords: occupation tax, securities, financial regulation, tax exemption, legislative amendment, capital gains tax, realized gains, unrealized gains, investment income, asset sale, capital assets, wealth tax, estate tax, trust tax, tax limitation, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, property tax, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows an institution to charge a security fee to a student or student organization, but it prohibits
• such a fee from being based on the content of The expression.
• or charge a fee based on that with this language.
• is and charge the same fee for all.
• That's kind of why I envisioned them deciding what the high point is and setting the fee and basing It

Bills: SB1477, SB1480, SB1593, SB1633, SB1670, SB1725, SB1726, SB1735, SB1632

Keywords: education, concurrent enrollment, students, age restrictions, academic access, apprenticeship, career education, youth programs, employment, technology centers, SB1593, OSU Tulsa, Oklahoma State University/Tulsa, Board of Trustees, higher education, university governance, A&M Board, Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, presidential search, board rules

Transcript Highlights:

• notable difference is in the Contractual Service Category, the agency has a lot of public manager fees
• expand on the bar language that they have some concerns about for the investment-related management fees
• On average in the 300s, we are paying about 0.17 of a percent in asset manager fees.
• So we are in concurrence that we'd like to see the agency start using building use fees.
• And so we've really had kind of a chicken and egg problem with the building use fees.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You would have to double those fees, right?
• We have a $172 registration fee, while Louisiana's is $504.
• Vehicle registration fees were going to hit UNI.
• And so Can you kind of give an update on the electric vehicle fees?
• There's also electronic storage fees, which we know are also costly.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are not negotiating fees. Page 8 defines... They are not negotiating fees.
• said, well, we're going to set those fees. fees.
• 1417, which eliminated certain fees to be paid by indigent defendants.
• 1417, which eliminated certain fees to be paid by indigent defendants.
• That's funding from special funds, from fees.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and handled a mix of conference committee appointments, appropriations bills, policy bills, and House amendments. Early in the session, the chamber appointed conference committees for SB 2399 and for House-amended SBs 2213 and 2354, and also named conference committees for HB 103, HB 1308, and HB 1169. The Senate then took up several appropriations measures, including HB 1612, which creates the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at UND; the Senate adopted an amendment shifting the funding to a one-time $250,000 Community Health Trust Fund appropriation with a required $250,000 match from other sources, and the bill passed 39-7. HB 1193, the “Back the Blue” grant, was amended to make the funding one-time and focus on officer retention, then passed 41-5. HB 1329, a government spending database proposal for school districts, was amended into a legislative study and passed 42-4. HB 1020, the water budget, received extensive amendments reducing and reallocating funding across major water projects, adding studies and oversight changes, and passed 45-0 with the emergency clause. HB 1581, a tribal tourism grant, also passed 40-6. The Senate rejected HB 1330, which would have authorized divestment from direct investments in Chinese companies; after debate over the prudent investor rule, trade impacts, and whether the bill singled out one nation in law, it failed 20-26. HB 1534, limiting property valuation increases, and HB 1266, adjusting the disabled veterans property tax credit, both failed unanimously or nearly so after committee recommendations against them. HB 1566, which would have created a regulatory framework for a product discussed as kratom, was amended on the floor to convert it into a study and then passed 31-15. The chamber also passed HB 2241 on charter schools after a House amendment changed the funding formula to the statewide average from the prior year, and HB 2022, the indigent legal counsel budget, after House changes added funding flexibility, offset lost fee revenue, and included a study on a public defender office. The Senate concurred in several House amendments and then passed a number of Senate bills. SB 2375, allowing joint negotiations between dental providers and insurers under Attorney General oversight, passed 44-2. SB 2251, clarifying that open records requests during state audits should be referred to the audited agency, passed 46-0. SB 2159, related to nuclear energy research, passed 43-3 after House amendments required Industrial Commission approval and consultation with the radioactive waste advisory council. SB 2155, changing gratis antelope license rules, passed 30-16 after debate over landowner rights and tag distribution. SB 251, setting fees and an audit for the Private Investigative and Security Board, passed 44-2. SB 2280, the prior authorization health insurance bill, passed 43-3 with a House-added study and consumer protections. SB 2023, the Racing Commission budget, passed 41-5 after a House change made internship funding one-time. SB 2232, changing prenatal substance exposure reporting requirements and related toxicology rules, passed 44-2. SB 2241, authorizing public charter schools, passed 39-7. The session ended while the Senate was still processing SB 2022’s final passage vote, but the bill had already cleared concurrence on House amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the cost of basic banking is too high, there are unpredictable fees.
• Second, reduce penalties and surprise fees that debank the financially vulnerable.
• People would have saved over $100 billion in overdraft fees, check cashing fees, and payday loan fees
• Well, that $10 fee then becomes another $10.
• What do you pay, like a $5 overdraft fee?