Transcript Highlights:

• This is also a longstanding municipal finance practice that has been considered in prior legislative
• of the public to report and to cooperate with these animal movements.
• Legislative support for targeted salary adjustments has improved recruiting.
• We had legislative, Chairman Larson had legislation in 2013 to allow co-location.
• As far as specific legislative matters, Mr.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Well, I'd like—otherwise the work won't have the cooperation that we need, and the work won't be
• And if why would you be concerned that the hospitals would not cooperate with you if you don't have this
• be concerned that the hospitals would be concerned that the hospitals would not<00:21:38.640> cooperate
• 39.679> if<00:21:39.919> you<00:21:40.159> don't<00:21:40.320> have not cooperate
• with you if you don't have not cooperate with you if you don't have this<00:21:41.120> quote<

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 17 February, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered three House bills. House Bill 515, described as a measure allowing radiologist assistants to discuss preliminary findings with physicians after a test, was presented as identical to an earlier bill and passed on a title sufficient, do pass motion without debate. House Bill 1637 would create a fetal and infant mortality review panel under the Department of Health to align state law with federal requirements and mirror existing maternal mortality review work. The bill prompted extended questioning about broad exemptions from the Open Meetings and Public Records Acts, with Senator Blunt and others expressing concern that the language was too broad and could shield records beyond individual patient privacy. Dr. Edney of the Department of Health testified that the protections were needed so hospitals and providers would share sensitive information for performance improvement and mortality review work, and that final reports would still be issued. After the debate, Senator Blunt moved to lay House Bill 1637 on the table subject to call, and the motion passed. The committee then took up House Bill 814, which would raise fees for inspections and investigations of food establishments and wastewater systems; it was described as a Department of Health measure supported by the regulated entities because they want inspections. The bill was characterized as maintaining an arm’s-length relationship between regulators and regulated parties, and it passed on a title sufficient, do pass motion. The chair closed by noting the committee had completed its agenda and would not meet the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this piece of legislation allows for there to be equity in the way in which people have the ability
• And that's what gets to solutions on difficult questions legislatively.
• For those of you who, you know, sometimes people look at us and they think legislators, you know, we're
• Our mission is to promote industry best practices and practical and effective legislation that ensures
• So since you're on the tail end of the legislative process, do you—pardon?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And submitted 17 projects for legislative review this morning.
• ASU states due to an internal error, the contract with C-Bond began prior to receiving legislative review
• Presidio was awarded through a state cooperative contract, so it's not sole-source? Correct.
• Like, for legislators to talk to their schools specifically about what we're... ...doing here for them
• Refresh my memory, I know, but as it is right now, whenever legislation is passed, do we have a fiscal

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 17 on page 9 establishes a legislative task force on local sales taxes.
• The Plymouth special legislation also grants a five and six-year rule extension to 10 and 11 years, and
• Sections 22 and 25 grant special legislative authority to the cities of Marshall and Oakdale that would
• Committee, thank you so much for producing a good bill and for the cooperation. Thank you.
• And I really enjoy working with Chair Gomez, Patrick, your Community Legislative Assistant.

Bills: HF2730, HF2257, HF2768, HF1932, HF2437

Keywords: local government debt, municipal bonds, county bonds, capital improvements, public financing, bond issuance, public hearing, notice period, bond guarantee, Minnesota Public Facilities Authority, volume cap, private activity bonds, housing finance, residential rental bonds, LIHTC, low-income housing tax credits, redevelopment, courthouse financing, jail financing, law enforcement center

Transcript Highlights:

• With this legislation, is it an after, is it a, is it an after?
• Is there anything in this legislation, Mr.
• is an ideology, or legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1960.
• But produce amazing individuals with this legislation.
• My goal here is to highlight the many contradictions in this. legislation.

Bills: SB37, SB1489, SB452, SB724, SB1067, SB1741, SB1273

Keywords: higher education, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council, ombudsman, faculty governance, decision-making, transparency, public meetings, department head, employment approval, public institutions, institutional oversight, education, funding, accountability, state budget, school performance, employment, Texas legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation ensures we continue to lead the way.
• They were removed in coordination, cooperation with the Department of Justice.
• Policy Institute does not support this legislation.
• Florida legislature, legislators should focus on serving Floridians.
• So this legislation is not serious about curbing illegal immigration.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :34:26.399> those<00:34:26.720> of legislators, including some of those of legislators,
• So, any questions from legislators?
• , collaboration, cooperation, collaboration, cooperation, communication<01:36:01.679> and<
• So again, I'm concerned about the agency collaboration, cooperation, and then decision-making.
• cooperation and then decision making. cooperation and then decision making.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that certainly extends to your legislative staff, who I know does a lot of the work.
• Simply making a legislative choice to decriminalize them.
• But we tried to advance some legislation to secure funding for them.
• Several members proposed legislation to try to increase that fee, but that legislation did not move in
• Again, we did see some legislation around this area.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and the National Conference of Insurance Legislators picked up the Alabama law.
• Um, and the National Conference of Insurance Legislators picked up the Alabama law.
• picked up the Insurance Legislators picked up the Alabama<00:21:59.039> law.
• Commissioners and state legislators like yourselves.
• ,<00:49:12.800> coordination connectivity, cooperation, coordination connectivity, cooperation

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The interim task force on disaster prevention and resiliency met for its fourth meeting and focused heavily on insurance markets, affordability, and mitigation. Cochairs noted they are working toward recommendations for a later fall meeting. The main presentation came from David Snyder of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, who said the insurance industry sees itself as part of the problem and part of the solution because it ultimately pays for losses created by natural conditions, development choices, and construction practices. Snyder described rising losses from natural catastrophes, inflation-driven increases in rebuilding and repair costs, more development in disaster-prone areas, wildfire exposure, severe convective storms, hail, and roof damage. He argued that Kentucky should avoid the mistakes he attributed to California, where regulatory responses contributed to a strained insurance market and greater reliance on the FAIR Plan. He said Kentucky’s private market appears to be functioning better, with relatively few FAIR Plan policies, and urged lawmakers to preserve that market through risk-based rates and policies that do not worsen availability. He recommended a broad mitigation strategy involving stronger building codes, land-use decisions, stormwater infrastructure, public access to risk data, and incentives for resilient construction. He highlighted programs such as the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, fortified-home standards, wildfire-prepared community practices, and examples from Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida showing that mitigation can produce quick returns and insurance discounts. He also suggested catastrophe savings accounts, flexible coverage options, and a whole-of-government approach that includes the insurance department, building-code agencies, first responders, FEMA, NFIP, and NOAA. In questions, a legislator asked about the prognosis if carriers continue exiting markets and if nothing is done to address affordability and accessibility. Snyder said he could not predict market exits but stressed that regulators should monitor the market closely, use available data, and focus on loss prevention and mitigation. He said insurers want to do business in Kentucky and that the long-term solution is coordinated action among public and private stakeholders to reduce risk and keep coverage available.

Transcript Highlights:

• Distinguished legislators.
• Distinguished legislators.
• So I just want to thank our legislators.
• legislative body.
• So I just want to thank our legislators.