Transcript Highlights:

• He tracks my legislation.
• He tracks my legislation. He calendar. He tracks my legislation.
• of tell me what to do, and you can get us back on track.
• </c><04:26:21.439><c> I</c> and you can get us back on track. I and you can get us back on track.
• </c><04:29:10.319><c> and</c> prepared, keeping us on track and prepared, keeping us on track and ensuring

Transcript Highlights:

• that necessarily have a way of tracking that um<00:30:29.360><c> in</c><00:30:29.600><c> any</c><00:
• </c> like just steady cameras to track like just steady cameras to track activity<01:21:31.600><c> and
• </c><01:23:33.120><c> We're</c> also for fireworks um tracking.
• We're also for fireworks um tracking.
• </c> other positions is that we can't track other positions is that we can't track their<01:24:27.199

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:27:38.080><c> So</c> tracking well on time here. So tracking well on time here.
• </c> time um been watching tracking time um been watching tracking regulating<00:41:27.680><c> uh</c>
• Tracking this on a public network allows for efficiencies and really impacting downstream.
• That kind of active tracking protects your consumers as well. "Thank you." "Hi, Jim Kish here.
• </c> to track that asset around. to track that asset around.

Summary: The commission met with a quorum, approved the agenda, and approved the November 12 minutes after a motion, second, and unanimous voice/online consent. The chair said the meeting would include two presentations—one from Noah Herman of Fortress Global and one from John Kicko and team from Hedera—followed by discussion of the commission’s next steps and public comment. The chair also noted he was still seeking a clerk for note-taking. Herman’s presentation focused on stablecoins, blockchain use cases, and operational considerations for states and other institutions. He described Fortress as an enterprise crypto-wallet and treasury platform serving corporates, governments, and nonprofits, and used examples such as Save the Children and a large global commodities firm to illustrate custody and treasury management on blockchain rails. He said stablecoins are designed to maintain a U.S. dollar peg, are increasingly backed by treasuries and subject to greater transparency, and are being adopted by major firms and payment companies because they can improve speed, reduce cost, and simplify payments. He also highlighted market growth, including claims that stablecoins now represent a significant share of on-chain activity and are a major holder of U.S. Treasuries. He identified custody as a key issue for state and institutional use, outlining qualified custody, managed custody, and self-custody models. He said the main practical challenge for the commodities client was moving funds safely and quickly across global time zones and that blockchain rails could solve problems that traditional banking rails could not. He framed the broader trend as one of accelerating institutional adoption, citing recent acquisitions and product launches by Visa, Stripe, Citi, and PayPal as evidence that stablecoin infrastructure is becoming mainstream.

Transcript Highlights:

• People can track what they're eating.
• People can track what they're eating.
• People can track what they're eating.
• </c><01:38:31.040><c> this</c> oversees the SNAP program, tracks this oversees the SNAP program, tracks
• </c> So there is an inherent cost in tracking So there is an inherent cost in tracking that<01:57:47.760

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call and housekeeping, including moving standing attendees to an overflow room and asking the audience to avoid interruptions. The task force then heard testimony from Allison Adams of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, who presented statewide health trend data showing Kentucky ranked 41st overall and 44th in health outcomes, with especially poor performance on premature death, chronic disease, diabetes, and vaccination rates. She emphasized that Kentucky has the highest rates of residents with multiple chronic conditions, that diabetes remains above the national average, and that childhood immunization rates have worsened. She also highlighted major provider shortages in rural areas, noting that 43 of 120 counties meet shortage criteria and that more than half of primary care providers are concentrated in Fayette and Jefferson counties. Adams urged the task force to focus on prevention, early intervention, access to care, physical activity, and healthier school and community environments, and said the foundation is prepared to share results from its demonstration projects. Task force members asked follow-up questions about the age range for chronic-condition data and whether the diabetes figure reflected type 1 or type 2 diabetes; Adams said the chronic-condition measure spans all ages and that the diabetes figure likely reflects type 2, though she offered to provide the full report. The task force then approved the minutes from the prior meeting. The committee next turned to SNAP benefits and heard from Lisa Dennis, commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services, and Roger McCann, director of the Division of Family Support. They explained that SNAP is not only a food assistance program but also a public health and family stability tool, arguing that poor diet contributes to chronic disease and that food insecurity is linked to family stress, child welfare involvement, and neglect-related CPS referrals. They cited research showing that more generous SNAP policies are associated with fewer CPS reports, fewer substantiated reports, and fewer foster care placements, and said SNAP helps reduce risk and promote stability across vulnerable populations including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pregnant women. They also described SNAP-Ed as the nutrition education component that teaches healthy eating, cooking on a budget, and how to use fresh produce, but warned that recent federal legislation eliminates federal funding for SNAP-Ed beginning in federal fiscal year 2026. McCann outlined the remaining SNAP outreach and employment-and-training components, noting that outreach is typically run by nonprofits with a 50% match and that employment and training funds job-skills programs to help recipients move toward better jobs and self-sufficiency. The discussion emphasized that access to nutritious food, education, and job supports are all part of improving health outcomes and reducing food insecurity.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're trying to track that at the national level and then understand exactly how that's impacting
• Um, loss of USDA staff is another big piece that I know we're all tracking because those folks are so
• So, we're trying to track, you know, is it pending? Has it been awarded?
• Um, and as a result of not actually tracking much of that at the federal level and certainly not tracking
• </c> not tracking it at the state level. not tracking it at the state level.

Summary: The joint informational briefing focused on how federal policy changes, tariffs, funding cuts, the federal shutdown, and delays in the farm bill are affecting Hawaii agriculture and food access. Opening remarks emphasized Hawaii’s heavy dependence on imported food and farm inputs, the state’s vulnerability to disruptions in USDA services, and the need for stronger state, county, and community coordination. Speakers also noted that immigration enforcement and broader global supply-chain pressures can affect local farm labor, production, and food availability. Sharon Herd, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, described both positive and negative federal impacts. She said Hawaii has benefited from some recurring grants and a large new $8.8 million federal grant, but also reported about $22 million in losses from suspended or terminated grants, including farm-to-school and water-related projects. She said some USDA programs, such as microgrants for food security and FISMIP, are currently suspended, while the specialty crop block grant remains active. She also said Hawaii farms declined from 7,328 to 6,569 between the 2017 and 2022 censuses and argued the state cannot rely on imports alone to feed its people. Amanda Shaw of Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii presented findings from federal funding cut reports. She said the first report, in March, identified about $88 million in potential cuts, and the newer report found $64.7 million in confirmed cuts and about $175 million in potential cuts. She said federal shifts are creating uncertainty for farmers, food-system organizations, and school and community food programs, and noted that 4,000 to 5,000 Hawaii farmers could receive less money because of changes to payment-factor provisions for socially disadvantaged farmers. She also said Hawaii has lost 18% of local USDA staff since September 2024, with possible further national reductions expected. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, and the chair noted that any legal questions, including the reported SNAP changes, would be for the Judiciary Committee to assess later.

Transcript Highlights:

• um data better but also not only track um data better but also produce<00:15:58.480><c> some</c><00:
• which pages and numbers P not tracking which pages and numbers P page<00:55:16.079><c> 902</c><00:55
• over 100 questions from us um tracking over 100 questions from us um most<01:03:13.079><c> of</c><01
• Yes, I don't have that with me, but we are tracking that information.
• <01:28:53.199><c> and</c><01:28:53.440><c> so</c> track and so track and so the<01:28:55.880><c> difference

Summary: The Division of Long-Term Supports and Services presented its budget and program overview as part of the Department of Health and Human Services operating budget review. Leadership described the division’s three bureaus—Aging and Adult Services, Developmental Services, and Family-Centered Services—and explained that the division provides guidance, technical assistance, quality monitoring, and contracted provider oversight across the lifespan. Members also discussed staffing, with reported vacancy rates of 4% in Aging and Adult Services, 15% in Developmental Services, and 6% in Family-Centered Services; the division said the higher BDS vacancy rate is partly due to the small number of authorized positions. The governor’s budget had left eight positions unfunded in the division, including three in Aging and Adult Services and five in BDS. A major topic was the division’s roadmap initiatives, especially building a system of care for healthy aging and strengthening developmental disabilities systems through a new reimbursement rate structure. The division said it contracted with an actuary to study DD service costs and found rates had not been reviewed since 2017 and were significantly below actual costs and other states’ rates, contributing to provider shortages even when services are authorized. Members asked about the impact on service delivery and whether rates would need to rise overall; the division said its strategy is to focus on lower-cost services that help people remain in the community. The division also reported waiver enrollment figures, including about 4,161 people on the Choices for Independence waiver, 3,688 average nursing facility residents, 5,061 people on the DD waiver, 228 on the acquired brain disorder waiver, and 488 children on the in-home support waiver, while noting there is no funding waitlist but provider availability remains a constraint. The division highlighted IT modernization as a major accomplishment, especially moving Adult Protective Services and Developmental Services into the New Heights system. Officials said these changes improve case-note access, data retrieval, service authorization tracking, and transparency for providers, and they asked for future oversight discussion focused on IT leverage. Members noted that New Heights maintenance is budgeted in the Office of the Commissioner under class 27 and suggested better transparency on system costs and benefits. The division also reported that it closed out a long-running CMS corrective action plan for BDS on July 1, 2023, and said it is now focused on strengthening the system rather than compliance alone. Other discussion covered the Aging and Adult Services bureau’s name change from Elderly and Adult Services to Adult and Aging Services, intended to avoid negative connotations and better reflect preventative services. The bureau described Adult Protective Services trends involving scams, financial exploitation, self-neglect, and isolation, and explained that it administers the CFI waiver, determines medical eligibility for nursing facility level of care, and braids funding from Medicaid, state funds, Older Americans Act money, Social Service Block Grants, and other grants. Members asked about waiver growth targets and federal consequences if enrollment remains below projections; the division said it would explain the shortfall in a future waiver amendment and did not anticipate a federal penalty. The meeting ended without any votes or formal actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're able to track that back to, um, to a degree.
• They have to track it back to where it came so it does cost money on their part to deal at their end
• Maybe those practices that right track.
• They have to track it back to came from.
• </c> done grants for tracked wheelchairs. done grants for tracked wheelchairs.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• The people that aren't there, that are usually not even in the U.S., that you can't track down.
• And the two um can't track down.
• Because you've got a defendant or a John Doe if you can't track them down and they don't reply.
• So, we currently and track them down.
• We don't let the arsonist put out the fire. their track record is littered with their track record is

Bills: HF1392 , HF2233 , HF695 , HF2228 , HF1289

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I can barely keep track of what we're doing on the state level.
• I'm definitely not keeping track of what's going on in the United Kingdom.
• In its tracks in the courts.
• And it's very frustrating when we... in its tracks in the courts.
• Computers, badges weren't tracking my every year.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• However, it is challenging to track from a municipality perspective, to track security deposits and when
• </c><00:36:49.920><c> track</c><00:36:50.320><c> to</c><00:36:50.560><c> track</c><00:36:51.119><c> security
• </c> perspective um track to track security perspective um track to track security deposits<00:36:52.079
• We would But we would need to track it.
• </c><01:34:06.480><c> racing</c> liquor and did uh horse tracks racing liquor and did uh horse tracks

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• Weather apps were described as notorious for tracking users.
• Weather apps were described as notorious for tracking users.
• Weather apps are notorious for tracking you.
• Weather apps are notorious for tracking you.
• </c> hypothetical where they're being tracked hypothetical where they're being tracked through<00:53:

Bills: HF3794 , HF3408

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:33:56.440><c> Chair,</c> be able to keep things on track, Chair, be able to keep things on track
• </c> use of tracking use of tracking uh<00:56:25.400><c> devices</c> uh devices uh devices that<00:56
• Uh of being able to use a tracking tracking tracking a<00:58:25.320><c> vehicle</c><00:58:25.720><c>
• </c> being able to deploy these tracking being able to deploy these tracking devices<00:59:02.640><c>
• where</c><00:59:04.320><c> that</c> devices to help um track where that devices to help um track where

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The numbers again: 6,200 course sections that we've been able to track.
• </c><00:09:56.640><c> to</c> universities that are on track to universities that are on track to implement
• I'm going to been ever un able to track I'm going to just<00:10:17.160><c> even</c><00:10:17.360><c>
• </c> enrolled that we've been able to track enrolled that we've been able to track in<00:10:27.279><c
• Are they tracking data about the student, and then how is that protected?

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, the freight rail track bisects the one reliable road on and off the reservation.
• Third, the freight rail track bisects the one reliable road on and off the reservation.
• It has been replaced on both sides of the railroad track, but it's not been replaced underneath the track
• </c><01:25:28.480><c> constructed</c> side of the railroad tracks constructed side of the railroad tracks
• the track yet this here underneath the track yet this here should<01:25:51.480><c> eventually</c><01

Bills: HF458 , HF459 , HF461 , HF449 , HF450 , HF965 , HF1280 , HF612 , HF615 , HF616 , HF622 , HF650 , HF651 , HF1045 , HF972 , HF851 , HF644 , HF1050

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• The council did not adequately document its decisions or track costs related to non-conformance reports
• The council did not adequately document its decisions or track costs related to non-conformance reports
• costs related to non-conformance track costs related to non-conformance reports<00:07:47.120><c> the
• </c><00:36:22.520><c> of</c> it's very easy to keep track of it's very easy to keep track of additions
• especially on a $2 billion tracking especially on a $2 billion project<00:37:55.119><c> so</c><00:37

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Mechanism in place to track known vulnerabilities.
• It makes it sound like they're just not tracking their things.
• It makes it sound like they're just not tracking their things.
• just not tracking their things where<00:48:14.400><c> uh</c><00:48:14.599><c> also</c><00:48:14.920>
• to Sol to um uh believe we are on track to Sol to um uh get<01:21:47.560><c> these</c><01:21:47.719>

Bills: HF1060 , HF1062

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And we do have, we track those ratios very closely on the male to female ratios.
• And we know this because it tracks in Arkansas this way: the percentage of females in the harvest goes
• considerable amount of money, like in the millions of dollars, having Oklahoma State University researchers track

Bills: HB4128 , HB3659 , HB3270 , HB3145

Committee: House Wildlife

Keywords: wildlife conservation, hunting regulations, mountain lions, black bears, archery season, senior citizens, licensing fees, waterfowl, nonresidents, public lands, farmed cervidae, chronic wasting disease, genetic resistance, wildlife management, agriculture, wildlife tagging, Cervidae family, feral swine, exotic wildlife, conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• A grandmother in rural Texas, who's voted in every election since LBJ, now has to track down a birth
• Tracking down flagged voters and reporting it to the state.
• Requiring millions of individuals to track down and submit this additional documentation places an unnecessary

Keywords: legislation, public policy, testimony, committee meeting, debates

Summary: The committee meeting involved various discussions pertaining to legislative initiatives and public policy concerns. Members engaged in debates around significant topics, highlighting their diverse perspectives. The atmosphere was lively with members presenting arguments for and against certain measures. Testimonies from the public were also a key feature, shedding light on community sentiments related to proposed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We track this very granularly.
• Um, but we track that actually daily, but can provide a monthly report to the committee.
• We track this very granularly.
• We we track this uh ve can follow up. We we track this uh ve very<01:02:47.520><c> granularly.
• Um, but we we track different volume.

Bills: SF0032 , SF0010 , SF0001 , HB0001

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• And so there's a lot of work that goes into whether it's a big track of land or a small track of land
• of land or a small it's a big track of land or a small track<00:26:20.559><c> of</c><00:26:20.720><c
• of land, it takes the same amount track of land, it takes the same amount of<00:26:22.640><c> work.
• So, we need to be able to track at every stage of the funnel, all the way from awareness to action.
• And then the other key metric they're tracking is connection of individuals to job opportunities.

Summary: The subcommittee met with leaders of the First Frontier Appalachian Trail System for an update on trail development, economic impact, and funding needs. Speakers said the system has expanded from 18 to 21 counties over the past year, with interest from additional counties, about 450 miles of trails currently open, and a goal of surpassing 1,000 miles within two years. They described the project as primarily an economic development effort that is already drawing public and private investment, supporting lodging and campground businesses, and creating new enterprises such as guide services, repairs, and recovery services for ATVs. The presentation highlighted permit sales, which began on a soft-launch basis earlier in the year and are now available both physically and online. Permits cost $25 per year for in-state residents and allow riding on First Frontier trails. Officials also discussed landowner agreements, saying the standard license agreement is modeled on Hatfield-McCoy, is favorable to landowners, and can be ended with 60 days’ notice. They said the agreements, along with patrols and cleanup efforts, help address trespassing and illegal dumping while encouraging property owners to participate. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Captain Jason Sloan reported 638 hours of patrols under the memorandum of agreement since January 1 and said the partnership has focused on safety, enforcement of existing laws, emergency planning, and cleanup support. The group also cited partnerships with the National Forest, Onyx Off-Road, ARC, and Yamaha, and said a Jeep Jamboree in Lee County drew 237 registered participants, mostly from out of state. They said a GNCC race in Knox County is being pursued for spring. The authority requested $3.5 million for the next two-year budget cycle and said it needs additional staffing, including two full-time trail development coordinators and part-time office help, to keep up with growth. Members praised the project’s progress and its potential to boost tourism and regional economic development.