Transcript Highlights:

• Also joining them is Mitchell Singleton, the Florida FFA Director of Leadership Development, Hillary
• Holly, the Florida FFA Director of Development, and Ronnie Simmons, the Florida FFA Executive Director
• My brother's involvement began with a few competitive events and a show steer, and I quickly followed
• Years led me to become a state champion in the creed speaking competition.
• We have 100 acres of ag land going to development every day. How do we stop that?

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture heard a presentation from Florida FFA state officers Gabby Howell and Macy Jordan, who described FFA and agricultural education as a three-part model of classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and leadership development. They highlighted FFA membership growth, Florida’s more than 60,000 members, industry certifications, and state funding that allows all agriculture education students to participate at no cost. Members praised the students and the organization’s role in developing future agricultural leaders. The committee then took up SB 438, which would regulate hemp and hemp extract products, including THC-infused beverages, by adding testing, labeling, retail location, age, and event restrictions, along with penalties and $2 million for testing equipment. Senator Burton said the bill is intended to address public safety, prevent products with illegal THC levels from reaching consumers, and respond to the governor’s prior veto concerns, especially store location and regulation. An amendment clarifying final batch testing was adopted without objection. Testimony was mixed. Supporters, including beverage distributors, law enforcement, and some hemp beverage businesses, backed regulation and said the bill would improve safety and clarity, though some asked for changes to avoid treating specialty beverage retailers like liquor stores. Opponents and some hemp industry representatives argued the bill was too restrictive, would hurt small businesses, and could push products into the black market; they also objected to THC limits, event restrictions, and the proposed regulatory structure. After debate, the committee voted 6-0 to report CS for SB 438 favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• cheer finals that occurred competitive cheer finals that occurred over<00:06:53.600> this<00:
• House Bill 359, an act relating to human growth and development instruction. Representative Tate.
• To Economic Development and Workforce Investment: House Bill 24, House Bill 26, House Bill 29.
• <00:30:01.120> and<00:30:01.440> workforce 32 to economic development and workforce
• 32 to economic development and workforce investment,<00:30:02.720> House<00:30:02.960> Bill

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 00:55 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 11:09 Motion to Act on HR 21 15:13 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 23:52 ConC and Rules Report 29:29 Adjournment 31:04, 958, all

Summary: The House opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum with 96 members present. Routine business followed: absent members were excused, the rules were suspended to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications, and the journal from January 12, 2026 was approved. No bills were taken up on second reading, and there were no committee reports or orders of the day at that point. During announcements, members recognized the Frederick Douglass High School cheerleading squad for winning a state title, and several members noted visits or upcoming events involving Kentucky firefighters and fire chiefs. Multiple committee meeting notices were also shared, and House Bill 244 was withdrawn by its primary sponsor. The clerk then read a long list of newly filed bills and resolutions covering topics including pharmacist reimbursements, immigration enforcement, housing, identity documents, sex-based classifications, school choking prevention, local minimum wages, rental property, labor standards, wages, veterans issues, homelessness prevention, real property appraisers, jury duty, paramedic education, adult performances, sanctuary policies, charitable gaming, court costs, National Guard benefits, child care coverage, and several resolutions. The chamber then considered House Resolution 21, honoring the victims of the UPS Airlines Flight 2976 crash in Louisville and commending first responders. The sponsor described the crash, named the victims, and detailed the extensive multi-agency response. The House opened the board for additional co-sponsors, observed a moment of silence, and adopted the resolution without objection. Afterward, the House recessed briefly for Committee on Committees and Rules Committee meetings, then received committee referrals for numerous bills to standing committees. No floor amendments were introduced, and the House adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is competitive to what they are producing on the market that they have. workforce.
• And so this is really concerning from us in terms of economic competitiveness.
• Competition, skill Development and productivity are the real engines of wage gains and economic mobility
• We were founded on a philosophy of free enterprise and open competition.
• Going to put those labor costs into their bids, and developers, including multifamily developers, are

Summary: The committee held a study on the potential effects of living wage or minimum wage laws in Oklahoma, with the chair emphasizing that the discussion was not intended to advocate for or against State Question 832. The first panel focused on economic and workforce impacts. An Oklahoma Department of Commerce representative argued that living wage calculations vary by region and household type, that Oklahoma’s average wages are already near or above many living-wage estimates, and that higher mandated wages could lead employers to cut hours, reduce hiring, automate, or avoid expansion, especially in rural areas where childcare, healthcare, broadband, and infrastructure constraints also affect labor participation. Committee members asked about wage distributions, rural cost differences, training pathways, and whether higher wages might draw workers or businesses out of state; the witness said many low-wage workers move up over time and that Oklahoma has seen net in-migration. A State Chamber Research Foundation witness then testified that a $15 statewide wage floor would raise payroll costs substantially, especially for small rural employers, and cited examples from California and Seattle to argue that higher wages can reduce hours, jobs, and benefits while increasing consumer prices. She suggested alternatives such as expanding the state earned income tax credit and promoting upskilling through existing education and training programs. A Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry representative described Missouri’s recent voter-approved minimum wage increase to $13.75, rising to $15, along with paid sick leave provisions. She said the chamber opposed the measure because it would raise business costs, hurt rural communities and youth employment, and force some employers to cut hours, reduce hiring, or close. She cited examples from Missouri businesses facing significant added costs and warned that a future ballot initiative could create a patchwork of local minimum wages. In response to questions, she said Missouri’s law did not distinguish by age or industry, that businesses had raised concerns about union contracts and compliance, and that the chamber viewed the measure as harmful to competitiveness. Peter Hansen of NFIB presented the final major testimony, summarizing an NFIB study projecting that a higher Oklahoma minimum wage would produce some short-term GDP gains but longer-term losses, with GDP turning negative by the early 2030s and job losses growing over time. He said businesses respond to higher wage mandates by raising prices, trimming jobs, converting full-time positions to part-time, reducing benefits, and shifting investment toward automation or other capital. He argued that the burden falls most heavily on vulnerable workers such as young or marginal employees, who are less likely to be hired when labor costs rise. In questioning, he acknowledged that higher wages can improve pay for some workers and may have some short-term positive effects, but maintained that the long-term employment and investment effects are negative. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• to be in competition. to be in competition.
• I've watched various communities develop I've watched various communities develop these<00:02:16.120
• <00:04:33.080> a creative you want to be in developing a creative you want to be in developing
• . development. development.
• development in children. development in children.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:10 SB 6 Discussion 00:40 SB 6 Vote 00:13:30 Cochlear Implants 00:16:25, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee heard Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers, which would create an endowed research fund to support collaborative university research in Kentucky. Stivers described the bill as an extension of earlier higher-education research efforts, arguing that Kentucky should build research “hubs” by requiring or encouraging partnerships among universities and outside entities, with potential focus areas including health care, engineering, aerospace, agriculture, and other emerging fields. He said the proposal would establish five research tranches over five years and sought a $30 million endowment for each, generating annual interest to fund consortium-based research and leverage additional private and federal dollars. Senators Frommeyer, Neal, Givens, Boswell, and Richardson spoke in support, emphasizing economic development, job creation, and examples from other research clusters such as Boston and North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The committee voted 12-0 to report the bill favorably to the Senate floor. The committee then received a presentation from Dr. Matthew Bush of the University of Kentucky on pediatric hearing loss and cochlear implants. Bush explained that early hearing detection and intervention is critical because hearing loss in newborns is a neurocognitive emergency that affects language, literacy, and long-term outcomes. He outlined national screening benchmarks, Kentucky’s incidence of childhood hearing loss, and the high educational and societal costs of untreated hearing loss. Bush also highlighted disparities in rural and western Kentucky, where children face delayed diagnosis, longer waits for hearing aids or cochlear implants, and more difficulty accessing follow-up care. He described cochlear implants, the multidisciplinary care they require, and research showing improved language development, quality of life, and cost savings when children are treated early.

Transcript Highlights:

• ’re in a competition.
• We all think we’re in a competition, but I’m not sure we’ve taken it hard enough.
• ’re in a competition.
• ’re in a competition.
• been serving as an economic development been serving as an economic development practitioner<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The forum focused on the University of Minnesota system’s future, with candidates largely agreeing that the five campuses should remain distinct while working more closely together. Speakers emphasized the land-grant mission, the importance of serving Greater Minnesota, and the need for each campus to have a clear value proposition tied to local communities. Several suggested stronger cross-campus partnerships, more use of technology, and more seamless student pathways between campuses, while also noting enrollment declines and the need to preserve campus identities. A second major topic was public trust in higher education and the perceived value of a college degree. Candidates pointed to rising tuition, student debt, and concerns about post-graduation job prospects as key challenges. Proposed responses included better storytelling about university outcomes, stronger partnerships with schools, legislators, and communities, more targeted fundraising and commercialization of research, and clearer evidence of return on investment for students and families. The discussion then turned to athletics, where most candidates described sports as the university’s “front door” but said academics must remain the priority. They raised NIL, revenue sharing, and the need to keep athletics funding separate from core university funding, while also recognizing athletics’ role in campus culture and student recruitment. In later questions, candidates discussed why they sought regent service and how to support diversity, equity, and inclusion, with responses stressing access, belonging, open debate, and meeting students where they are. No formal votes or actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 20 would reduce costly regulations, protect taxpayers, and ensure Kentucky maintains a competitive
• Kentucky maintains a competitive Kentucky maintains a competitive regulatory<00:04:17.000> environment
• <00:25:45.480> Opportunity<00:25:46.480> by<00:25:47.000> welcoming development
• Opportunity by welcoming development Opportunity by welcoming others<00:25:48.840> that<00:25:
• As competition increases, legislators don't tend to do things that are going to anger their constituents

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met with a quorum and first heard Senate Bill 20, sponsored by Senator Matt Nunn, which would bar state agencies from adopting administrative regulations with implementation and compliance costs above $500,000 over a two-year period unless an exception applies. Nunn said the bill is intended to increase legislative oversight, reduce burdensome regulation, and preserve agency authority for routine rules, with exceptions for emergency actions, loss of federal funds, express legislative authorization, and health facility/service matters. Senators asked about the definition of “major economic impact,” whether broader societal costs were considered, and how the legislature could respond quickly to year-round agency rulemaking; Nunn said the bill is meant to force those larger policy choices into the legislative process. Several members voiced concern that the threshold was too low and could tie agencies’ hands, while others supported the bill as a check on regulation. The committee voted to report SB 20 favorably, with some members voting no or passing. The committee then took up Senate Bill 127, sponsored by Senator Shelley Frommeyer, concerning real estate license reciprocity. Frommeyer and representatives from Perry Real Estate College explained that the bill would codify Kentucky’s current education and licensing standards for out-of-state real estate licensees, rather than relying on bilateral agreements that can be terminated by other states. They said the measure was prompted by the end of reciprocal agreements with states such as Ohio and West Virginia, which left students and licensees uncertain, and argued that codifying the standards would provide stability, help military spouses, and support Kentucky’s real estate industry. Senators questioned whether a compact would be better, whether the bill would disadvantage Kentucky licensees seeking to practice elsewhere, and whether it would weaken Kentucky’s leverage in future negotiations. Supporters said the bill only fixes Kentucky’s side of the process and could encourage other states to adopt similar standards; opponents worried it was unilateral and might not produce reciprocity from other states. The committee ultimately reported SB 127 favorably, with several members explaining yes, no, or pass votes, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and where are we less competitive?
• What are the tax rates of our competitive states?
• And we're focusing this interim on the economic development tax expenditures. on the economic development
• This breaks down those economic development tax expenditures.
• Economic development or not.

Transcript Highlights:

• industries, and ensuring that Florida's industries remain competitive and fully staffed.
• And that's been the use of the workforce development capitalization incentive grant.
• Developing a particular space cluster could always be something.
• We boast, we're very competitive.
• In conclusion, BBTC's commitment to CTE and workforce development remains unwavering.

Summary: The Education Postsecondary Committee met to hear an overview of Florida career and technical education (CTE) from Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell and presentations from Big Bend Technical College and Santa Fe College. O’Farrell described Florida’s CTE structure, including career clusters, postsecondary program types, enrollment and completion growth, apprenticeship expansion, and the state’s credentials review process. He said postsecondary CTE enrollment is near 480,000 students and completions reached a record 76,806, with strong growth in nursing, law enforcement, EMT, and other public-safety credentials. He also discussed the CTE audit, which uses retention/success, employment or continued education, and labor-market demand metrics; programs not meeting thresholds would eventually require phase-out plans beginning in 2026. He highlighted the workforce development capitalization grant as a major driver of program expansion and facility renovation, and answered questions about business outreach, construction trades, apprenticeships, and space-industry training. Shelby McCall of Big Bend Technical College described how the college responded to hurricanes, mill closures, and regional economic disruption by expanding rural workforce training. She highlighted aluminum welding, millwright, welding technology, health sciences, and a new advanced manufacturing facility funded by state grants and local partnerships, along with a new LPN-to-RN bridge program. She said the college has strong placement and certification results and is working with employers such as Lippert, NAMO, and others to align training with local demand. Senator Simon praised the college’s role in Taylor County’s recovery and workforce development. Dr. Paul Brody of Santa Fe College said state workforce grants have helped the college expand nursing, skilled trades, apprenticeship, automotive, diesel, and manufacturing programs, including partnerships with Bradford County Technical College, UF Health, Habitat for Humanity, and local employers. He reported growth in CTE enrollment, nursing credentials, apprenticeship enrollment, and job placement rates, and described new efforts in semiconductor training, CDL training, and a charter school model that combines high school, an AS degree, and industry credentials. The committee took no formal action beyond hearing the presentations and adjourned after Senator Berman moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:53.080> they role from in my development they role from in my development they provided
• Children are still developing the tools to cope with their emotions.
• We are here to develop human beings, and uh, there's a lot of challenges.
• We are here to develop human beings, and uh, there's a lot of challenges.
• of the non-competitive grants competit of the non-competitive grants of<01:39:46.440> the<01:

Bills: HF56, HF780

Keywords: HF56, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Hutchinson Area Transportation Services, Hutchinson, McLeod County, transportation facility, vehicle storage, equipment storage, fueling facility, temperate storage, local infrastructure, public works, general obligation bonds, education finance, school funding, state aid, appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• I wanted to develop a staff that also helped to support my patient care.
• And of course, what happened is that gave room and time for hesitancy to grow and develop.
• The modern era, and I would put that in quotations, of economic development incentives actually dates
• and what can eventually be taxable property development. and can be built in less desirable places,
• With contracted economic development studies that show that they will more than pay for themselves.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A group came together to develop an alternative.
• One of these is the development of equity and quality measures.
• If that information about where they are in the development was released, that would provide a competitive
• At the same time that we’ve been developing the wellness coach models, many school districts have developed
• mindful skills. ...developing a lot of skill sets.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We intend to develop those for other industries as well.
• We intend to develop those for other industries as well.
• We intend to develop those for other industries as well.
• We intend to develop those for other industries as well.
• <00:52:49.000> and prioritize their time developing and prioritize their time developing and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is also a $10 million one-time appropriation for BSEC to create a competitive grant program for
• However, we are concerned with the $7.1 million in expenditures proposed from the Unfair Competition
• Accordingly, we recommend rejecting the funding proposed from the Unfair Competition Law Fund without
• So CDCR is really developing this from the ground up.
• So CDCR is really developing this from the ground up.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to review May Revision proposals for several departments and emphasized that no votes would be taken that day. The Legislative Analyst’s Office opened with a warning that the state budget is balanced only through one-time resources and still has structural deficits, recommending that the Legislature avoid new ongoing spending and instead preserve reserves and other solutions. The Judicial Council then presented proposals for language access and interpreter services, appellate court security, a backfill to the state court facilities construction fund, and an extension of the lactation-room mandate; Finance supported the language access item with reporting language and supported keeping the court facilities backfill. Members raised concerns about judicial pay freezes, judge vacancies, and uneven judge allocations across counties, and also asked about the cost and completion of courthouse lactation rooms and remote-hearing infrastructure. The Board of State and Community Corrections items focused on $10 million one-time grants for missing and murdered Indigenous people and for a human trafficking vertical prosecution program. The LAO suggested the Legislature consider whether the Tribal Nations Grant Fund could support the MMIP work, while Finance said it preferred General Fund support and wanted more review before any fund swap. On the human trafficking grant, Finance said the need was clear based on reported cases and California’s share of hotline reports. Members strongly supported MMIP funding and discussed whether ongoing funding would be needed beyond the one-time proposal, while also debating whether BSEC or OES should administer the prosecution grants. The Department of Justice presented antitrust litigation funding, Medi-Cal fraud and elder abuse staffing, organized retail criminal enterprise case completion, and a continuous appropriation for the Victims of Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund. The LAO raised concerns about the Unfair Competition Law Fund’s solvency and recommended rejecting that portion unless DOJ could show the fund could support it without General Fund repayment, and it opposed the continuous appropriation in favor of more legislative oversight. Finance said the fund would remain solvent under current projections and defended the continuous appropriation as necessary to pay victims promptly. Members also clarified that the Medi-Cal fraud unit targets providers, not beneficiaries, and asked about delays in restitution payments. A lengthy portion of the hearing covered CDCR’s May Revision package and the Boston Consulting Group cost-savings effort. CDCR described revised savings from workforce optimization, workers’ compensation, and procurement, but members repeatedly expressed frustration that the promised savings had fallen far short of earlier estimates. The LAO recommended deeper cuts to some parole positions, more detail on proposed eliminations and contract changes, and caution about counting unallocated future savings. CDCR also presented population projections showing continued declines and the LAO again urged the administration to close a prison to reduce ongoing costs. The committee also heard proposals on workers’ compensation, Corcoran honor housing, incarcerated firefighter pay, agricultural food purchasing requirements, menopause care, mental health receiver staffing, resource teams, crisis intervention teams, medical classification staffing, and AI note-taking in electronic health records, with the LAO generally recommending limited-term approvals and reporting requirements while Finance defended ongoing funding and said it was open to additional reporting language.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's up on economic development down in that area and working with Secretary Null, and hopefully good
• And if you're seeing something that is making them not competitive, we need that to be identified.
• wages and those competitive wages enable us to maintain very competitive academic programs and the support
• wages and those competitive wages enable us to maintain very competitive academic programs and the support
• And those competitive wages enable us to maintain very competitive academic programs and the support

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 History of SEEK 00:02:15 Summary of On-Behalf Payments 00:12:40 Discussion on Collection of University Debt Department of Revenue 00:32:40 Northern Kentucky University 00:57:10, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the September 17 meeting, and heard a presentation from Kentucky Department of Education staff on SEEK school funding and KDE on-behalf payments. KDE explained recent SEEK changes, including the guaranteed base per-pupil amount, attendance-based calculations, second-month and January growth, the 2022 change funding kindergarten at 100% instead of 50%, and the existing add-ons for at-risk students, exceptional children, limited English learners, home/hospital instruction, and transportation. Staff also reviewed tier one funding, noting the 2024 increase from 15% to 17.5% and explaining that eligibility depends on local tax effort and property wealth. They also described Senate Bill 6 from the 2025 session as a reporting proposal to include on-behalf costs in education spending totals. KDE staff then outlined on-behalf payments made for districts, including roughly $458 million for Teachers Retirement System contributions, $942 million for health insurance, about $12 million for technology costs, and additional SFCC debt service outside KDE’s appropriation, for a total of about $1.5 billion. Members asked how a future Senate Bill 6 would affect local contributions and whether folding on-behalf payments into SEEK would shift costs among districts. KDE and Senator Gibbons clarified that the bill was intended only as a reporting mechanism and would not change local contribution or district payments; it would simply present a broader total of state education investment. The discussion also noted that Kentucky’s reported SEEK amount alone does not capture all state education spending. Members raised questions about home and hospital instruction data, saying local concerns suggest growth in some communities even if statewide numbers appear stable. KDE said the statewide figure has been relatively consistent but offered to provide district-level trend data. Co-Chair Petrie also asked about the accuracy of SEEK projections and on-behalf calculations, referencing prior concerns from the Office of Education Accountability. KDE responded that it works with the state budget director’s office in a consensus forecasting process and has been reviewing demographic and property-assessment data, including exceptional child counts, to improve forecast accuracy.

Transcript Highlights:

• those varieties. out with this um competitive funding out with this um competitive funding that<00:17
• research staff that are helping develop research staff that are helping develop those<00:19:12.200
• <00:19:36.799> different using these funds to develop different using these funds to develop
• <00:38:11.720> and uh and then not only we developed and uh and then not only we developed
• <00:42:04.480> a they've already uh developed a they've already uh developed a flourishing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we have monthly webinars where we provide them professional development.
• And in those 10 years we have developed 35 programs.
• But we would love to develop more programs.
• And so we at all of our professional development, we talk about working with business.
• They develop meaningful relations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Must use a competitive bid process.
• services were developed. services were developed.
• <00:27:55.640> Uh<00:27:56.040> a checklist that has been developed.
• Uh a checklist that has been developed.
• and 10% for competitive.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, HILLARY HOLLY, FLORIDA FFA DIR.
• OF DEVELOPMENT AND FLORIDA FFA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
• MY BROTHER'S INVOLVEMENT BEGAN WITH A FEW COMPETITIVE EVENTS AND I QUICKLY FOLLOWED SUIT.
• THERE ARE STUDIES UNDERWAY TO DEVELOP REAL MARKETABLE INDUSTRIAL USES FOR HIM.
• WE HAVE 100 ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND GOING TO DEVELOPMENTS EVERY DAY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to its location in the Eagle-For-Shell region, the county has experienced significant economic development
• Harlingen is committed to distinguishing itself as a leader in higher education and workforce development
• Referred to the Committee on Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development, HB 750, by Swanson. changing
• HB 801 by Gervin Hawkins relating to the application for funding a certain workforce development program
• Refer to the Committee on Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here with Secretary of Workforce Development Department, Sweden Nair.
• By reducing unnecessary costs and improving project feasibility, HB 66 helps developments pencil out
• entities into commercial space development and aerospace development.
• My relatives have developed health issues from living near these open wells.
• part of this, and still developing this.

Bills: SB241, SB145, HB2

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level