Transcript Highlights:

• One is securing the homeland, and the other is fighting America's wars.
• Texas Veterans Commission.
• We're all part of the basic fabric of our national security.
• We do this in conjunction with the Texas Veterans Commission.
• They understand that and they have the secure facility.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:16.880><c> and</c> to the public service commission and to the public service commission and
• </c> and physical security aspect of it. and physical security aspect of it.
• , congratulate the commission.
• ,</c> and I want to um thank the commission, and I want to um thank the commission, congratulate<01:01
• </c><01:04:01.599><c> for</c> again, want to thank the commission for again, want to thank the commission

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:10 Approval of Minutes 00:01:19 Helping Power Kentucky's Growth (LG&E/KU) 00:01:39 Update from Kentucky's Electric Cooperatives 00:47:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the previous meeting, and then heard a presentation from LG&E and KU representatives Caroline Clark and John Bevington on economic development, energy demand, and the utility’s role in supporting Kentucky’s growth. Bevington described the company’s service territory, generation fleet, and recent economic development activity, including 76 projects supported in 2024, more than $2.8 billion in private investment, and over 3,000 new jobs. He emphasized that data centers are now the dominant driver in the pipeline, with 22 data center projects representing about 8.7 of the 9.7 gigawatts of potential demand, alongside other manufacturing and commercial projects. A major focus was how data centers choose sites and how utilities respond. Bevington explained that hyperscale data centers typically approach utilities first because they need transmission-level access, and that utilities then conduct internal analyses, estimate infrastructure needs, and require financial security before proceeding. He said the company is working through formal transmission studies and long-lead infrastructure planning, and noted that Kentucky’s sales tax exemption for data centers helped attract interest. He also outlined the economic benefits of data centers, citing an announced Louisville project of 525 megawatts and about $11 billion in investment, with an estimated $500 million in new tax revenue over 10 years, plus broader job and GDP impacts. Members asked about whether data centers could generate their own power, the reliability of the pipeline numbers given confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, and cybersecurity concerns. Bevington said the company does not assume all pipeline projects will materialize in Kentucky and instead assigns probabilities to avoid overbuilding. He also said he was not the right person to address cybersecurity in detail but offered to return to a committee focused on IT or security. In response to questions about future supply, he said LG&E and KU are adding generation through a 120-megawatt solar facility in Mercer County, a 120-megawatt solar purchase in Marion County, and a 645-megawatt natural gas combined-cycle plant in Louisville, with PSC approval recently granted for additional generation and related system upgrades.

Transcript Highlights:

• background, how you ended up both on this and the Sentencing Commission.
• I was actually appointed to the Sentencing Commission.
• This Sentencing Commission has grown through the years.
• Is chairing this commission, this authority, and thank you for your public service.
• That was huge for our country's national security, and you were a part of that.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next item, D2, is Commerce Economic Development Commission.
• G5 is a Department of Disability Determination for Social Security Administration.
• G5 is a Department of Disability Determination for Social Security Administration.
• Number 10, Tobacco Settlement Commission with UCA.
• So it actually does include the buy, and then their commission is part of it also.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• General counsel of the Texas Animal Health Commission, Dr.
• So COPEG is the is the commission, US US Panama commission that produces the flies, and we're working
• And, uh, a level 2 security, I mean, which is doable.
• When it came to border security, Texas decided not to wait on Washington to act.
• They won't call Texas Health Commission and say, hey, I think I have a screw worm.

Transcript Highlights:

• The security, yes, is regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, so they have to come in and evaluate
• Their employees sit on many boards and commissions and nonprofits in our city.
• You know, you talked about Senator about the security issue.
• There are some attendance and security items and then some logistical items.
• The thing about the California Coastal Commission is, you can imagine, the California Coastal Commission

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to hear a series of presentations on the economics, financing, workforce, and community impacts of advanced nuclear deployment in North Dakota. William Bridge of Nucleon Energy presented the committee’s economic impacts and private-sector financing report, estimating construction and operating job impacts, local spending, and state/local tax effects for hypothetical SMR projects. He said the report assumes first-of-a-kind costs are still high, used a $6 million per megawatt nth-of-a-kind proxy, and estimated peak construction workforces of about 500 for a 200-MW plant and 1,000 for a larger facility, with roughly 100 operating jobs for a 200-MW plant. Committee members questioned security costs, capital cost assumptions, water and transmission siting constraints, and whether the model included fuel and waste; Bridge said the report included initial fuel in capital cost and that waste disposal is funded through existing federal mechanisms. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning efforts. She described declining labor-force participation, retirements, and the need for a much larger future workforce, and said NEI has organized recommendations around career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and nontraditional recruitment. She highlighted tools such as the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, timing for training relative to plant development, and whether advanced manufacturing would reduce staffing needs; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. The committee also heard from Gary Yaco, mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota, who described Prairie Island’s role in his community. He said the plant provides a large share of local property tax revenue, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to emergency preparedness funding and training, and is broadly supported by the city despite periodic protests and public concerns. He emphasized the plant’s security, regular drills with local and federal responders, and the absence of problems with dry cask storage. Later, Benton Arnett of NEI discussed the current financing landscape for advanced nuclear, explaining how tax credits, federal loan support, off-take agreements, and new business models are helping projects move forward. He said early projects face high upfront costs and long lead-time procurement, but that investor confidence is improving as federal policy and regulatory streamlining continue. The committee asked about waste funding, comparisons with natural gas, the effect of political shifts on investor confidence, and whether the market will narrow to a few winning technologies; Arnett said the industry is still sorting that out, but expects clearer winners in the late 2020s and early 2030s. The meeting concluded with an introductory presentation from Julie Kazeraki of DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, who said the office is focused on accelerating nuclear deployment through financing support.

Transcript Highlights:

• using professional, licensed security personnel.
• from the Class D and Class G licensing required of professional security services.
• requirements as a paid security service.
• The Legislative Budget Commission.
• And I'd like to talk about the Legislative Budget Commission.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• using professional, licensed security personnel.
• from the Class D and Class G licensing required of professional security services.
• requirements as a paid security service.
• The LBC was designed to serve this function... ...Legislative Budget Commission.
• And I'd like to talk about the Legislative Budget Commission.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, the reviews are scheduled by a five-member citizen commission.
• And just as a note, the Citizen Commission endorsed all legislative auditor's recommendations.
• So this is a phased approach that would require a commission to produce an independent expansion plan
• Banks have the ability to leverage that deposit to a certain extent, both in loans and securities.
• We've got the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

Summary: The committee first received a JLARC work session on the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering nine tax preferences and recommending legislative action on eight. JLARC reviewed natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income housing developers, and several shorter reviews including senior center property tax relief, a disabled veteran adapted housing remittance, trade convention nexus treatment, wholesale sales of fertilizer/pesticides/seed, a hazardous substance tax exemption for pesticides stored for out-of-state shipment, and three energy-related preferences for a silicon smelter. JLARC generally recommended continuing preferences that met stated or inferred objectives, modifying some to improve reporting or performance metrics, and allowing the unused silicon smelter preferences to expire. The Citizen Commission endorsed JLARC’s recommendations, and committee members asked a few clarifying questions, including about trends in travel agent/tour operator beneficiaries and the housing exemption’s performance metric and data issues. The committee then heard a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 5754, which would create a Washington State public bank. A presentation from California public banking advocates and the Bank of North Dakota described public banks as government-owned financial institutions intended to keep public funds working locally, support lending for housing, infrastructure, and community development, and partner with community banks and credit unions. Committee questions focused on leverage, liquidity, constitutional issues, and how the model would interact with existing state investment and debt structures. Staff summarized the bill’s structure, including activation conditions, governance, powers, and fiscal impacts, noting the fiscal note was largely indeterminate and startup costs could be significant. Public testimony on SB 5754 was divided. Supporters included statewide elected officials, county and city officials, labor, educators, community advocates, and residents, who argued the bank could lower borrowing costs, improve access to capital, keep public money in Washington, and help finance infrastructure, housing, and disaster resilience. Opponents included community bankers and county treasurers, who warned about risks to safety and liquidity of public funds, questioned the need for a new institution given existing programs, and argued the proposal lacked a proven track record in Washington. The hearing concluded with no vote taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The commission purpose is to commission.
• /c><00:03:54.640><c> establish</c> meeting, the commission will establish meeting, the commission will
• </c> January 1 of each year, the commission January 1 of each year, the commission must<00:04:02.159>
• </c> terms of the PAS advisory commission. terms of the PAS advisory commission.
• ><01:04:40.880><c> window</c> security officers, high-rise window security officers, high-rise window

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• security.
• as your secured sockets when you go into your bank, and in some cases it's more secure depending on
• So I have a little on security.
• sockets</c> about as secure as your secured sockets about as secure as your secured sockets when<00:30
• </c> cases it's le it's it's more secure cases it's le it's it's more secure depending<00:30:45.200><

Bills: HB1697, HB1678, HB1679, HB2282, HB1940, HB1671, HB1481, HB2015, HB2207, HB2486

Keywords: natural hair braiding, registration, Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Act, public health, sanitation, cumulative voting, associations, unit owners, board of directors, elections, Hawaii Revised Statutes, condominium, association meetings, electronic voting, proxy voting, mail voting, insurance, premium increase, policy cancellation, licensing

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1697, which would exempt natural hair braiders from licensing requirements under certain conditions. The DCCA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology said it recognizes braiding as within the scope of cosmetology practice but warned that a broad exemption could create consumer protection gaps, especially around sanitation training, tool use, and enforcement. Supporters from the Institute for Justice and the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii argued the current licensing regime is overly burdensome and unrelated to braiding, citing the 1,250-hour training requirement, high tuition costs, barriers for low-income entrepreneurs, and the fact that many other states already exempt braiders. Committee members asked whether a standalone sanitation course or similar training could address the board’s concerns, and the board said it would bring that idea back for discussion. The committee also noted 16 written testimonies in support and 2 in opposition. The committee then took up HB 1678, relating to condominium and planned community association elections using cumulative voting. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Association of Parliamentarians, said the bill would clarify that cumulative voting applies to all candidates, including write-ins, and would help resolve confusion in association elections. One testifier urged the committee to remove proxy voting, calling it an abuse of power in some associations, while another asked whether cumulative voting and proxies could be manipulated to stack votes. In response, the parliamentarian explained that cumulative voting and proxy voting are different, that proxies simply allow someone to vote on another’s behalf, and that existing deadlines and counting procedures reduce opportunities for abuse. Testimony also emphasized that electronic or mail voting can be secure and efficient, and that the bill would make the process clearer and more democratic. Finally, the committee heard testimony on HB 1679, which would clarify an association board’s authority over electronic meetings, electronic voting, voting without a meeting, and mail voting without a meeting. Supporters said the measure would clean up statutory language, make electronic voting optional, and fix problems created by a 2024 change that made written-consent timing rules difficult to use for association actions. They also said the bill would clarify that proxies are only used at meetings, not for actions taken without a meeting. One opponent argued the bill needs further amendment because electronic voting is not well defined and could be abused, and questioned the neutrality of parliamentarians testifying on condominium bills. No votes were taken on any of the measures during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whether that's a city council or county commission or a state legislature...
• , or city councils, or communities or county commissions or city councils.
• Do they trust the people that they voted for for their city council and their county commission to be
• I think our city councils and our boards of county commissions are talented people who care about the
• campaigns, we are asking to increase the cap on the Ethics Commission revolving fund to ensure that

Summary: The House convened, took a roll call, and heard the daily prayer and Pledge of Allegiance before several special presentations. Members recognized recipients of the Oklahoma Seal of Biliteracy, the Fort Gibson High School wrestling team, the Doctor of the Day Dr. Jason Lees, the Nurse of the Day Teddy Cole, and the 32nd Annual Cattlemen’s Leadership Academy group. The chamber then stood at ease while awaiting the Senate and later convened a joint session with the Senate to honor the Oklahoma National Guard. In the joint session, Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell presided over Oklahoma National Guard Appreciation Day. Chaplain Josh Byrd delivered the invocation, Major General Thomas Mancino and Representative Hildebrandt spoke in praise of the Guard’s service and history, and Lieutenant Colonel Neil Harvey read the proclamation. Speakers highlighted the Guard’s deployments, disaster response, and the commemorative arch and museum projects. The joint session was then dissolved. Back in the House, members considered Senate Bill 2060, the Build Act, which would authorize master development districts and alternative infrastructure financing for residential and other developments. Supporters said it would help finance roads, water, sewer, and other infrastructure without creating public debt, while opponents argued it created an unelected quasi-government entity with strong lien powers, limited local control, and similarities to State Question 833, which voters had rejected. After debate, the House passed SB 2060 by a vote of 54-40. The House also adopted and passed several committee reports and bills with emergency clauses: House Bill 4042, appropriating funds to the Department of Commerce for census-related technology and staffing, passed 90-6 with the emergency approved; House Bill 4037, increasing the Ethics Commission revolving fund cap as its oversight duties expand, passed 91-0 with the emergency approved; and House Bill 4043, appropriating resources to Oklahoma Task Force One and the Department of Emergency Management, passed 93-3 with the emergency approved. The House then recessed until 12:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> about security versing transparency. about security versing transparency.
• And<00:07:44.040><c> security</c><00:07:45.120><c> for</c> And security for And security for our<00:07
• That helps with security.
• I did hear a motion from Doc Stater to go with the Senate position. secure. So, secure.
• </c> secure. And I stand for questions. secure. And I stand for questions. Anybody? Anybody?

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The conference committee met on Senate File 2028, an elections-related bill concerning public logic and accuracy testing of voting equipment. The House explained its changes: extending notice from two to four days, removing language that limited the number of people in the room so the testing could be more open to the public, and adding language about resealing equipment after testing. The Senate side said the bill was largely technical but focused on balancing transparency with security and suggested a middle-ground notice period and a minimum number of people in the room rather than an open-ended crowd size. County clerks Mary Langford and Julie Freeze testified in support of maintaining strong security and discretion during testing. They said clerks already notify party chairs and candidates through email, social media, and other means, and argued that two days’ notice is workable because election logistics can change at the last minute due to weather, missing materials, or equipment issues. They emphasized that testing should remain public, but that clerks need flexibility to manage room size and protect equipment and chain of custody, especially in smaller or more secure spaces. Other members discussed whether the bill should be delayed, but witnesses said clerks would continue to make testing publicly available even without the bill and that the Senate version better preserved the balance between visibility and security. The committee ultimately moved to the Senate position, and the conference committee report passed on a roll call vote with all members voting aye, including Representatives Lock, Lucas, and Yen, and Senators Dockter and Erlandson; Senator Keiser was recorded as no.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> addition to the commission. Good luck. addition to the commission. Good luck.
• </c> serve impartially on the commission. serve impartially on the commission.
• </c> Marine Fisheries Commission. Marine Fisheries Commission.
• So the land conservation commission commission commission can<00:58:21.040><c> use</c><00:58:21.800><
• </c> Conservation Commission. Conservation Commission.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up several gubernatorial nominations, beginning with GM 640 for Juanita Rio Colón to the Commission on Water Resource Management. Public testimony and the nominee’s remarks strongly emphasized her water-system management background, Native Hawaiian stewardship values, and representation for Molokai. Committee members praised her qualifications and neighbor-island perspective, and also discussed broader concerns about reforming the Water Commission, including a separate bill to create a more independent authority and reduce politics in water decisions. Colón said she supported the restructuring effort and would serve with integrity and attention to constitutional water rights and climate resilience. The committee then heard GM 639 for Moses Haia III to the same commission. DLNR and OHA testified, and Haia described his long legal career, prior work on the Waihole contested case, and experience with Native Hawaiian rights and water law. Members asked about his ability to serve impartially given his advocacy background; Haia acknowledged that some may perceive a conflict from his prior work but said he did not believe it was a reasonable conflict and would follow the law and balance competing interests. The discussion again returned to the proposed Water Commission restructuring, which Haia said he supported as a way to provide independence and balance. Next, the committee considered GM 649 for Gilbert Coloma to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. DLNR and other testifiers explained that this was a new interstate commission created under the 2024 act, with Hawaii joining six U.S. states to address fisheries issues across state boundaries. Coloma, a commercial fisher from Hilo, said he brought more than 40 years of industry, cultural, and traditional experience and would represent Hawaii’s fishing communities. Members asked about the commission’s structure, meeting rotation, and funding, and were told the state covers dues through special funds. The committee also briefly took up GM 692 for Riley Smith’s reappointment to the Board of Land and Natural Resources. The Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council supported him, while Sierra Club Hui raised concerns about prior decisions affecting Native Hawaiian rights and public trust resources. Smith said he supported more residential uses in East Kapolei if the necessary planning and environmental review changes were made, and he began responding to questions about prior BLNR litigation before the transcript cut off.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yost to come up from the Tax Commission. This is really kind of his bill. So welcome.
• I'm here on behalf of the State Tax Commission to share with you guys Senate Bill 1345 around secure
• So what you see before you today has contemplated and proposed a definition of what secure electronic
• That is where a taxpayer would go and create an online profile in the secured environment.
• When it comes to a secured electronic environment, And if I leave anything out, please clarify.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to add a security contract so that we have an on-call security vendor.
• Sometimes it's contract security.
• Just to say, security was a very broad statement, and your security is incredibly important.
• A lot of the requests are really about security. The security piece isn't just for the judges.
• Process in terms of securing that area. Security at the courthouse is so critical.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, and the Washington State Charter School Commission
• Provisions requiring the State Board, the PESB, the FEP, and the Charter School Commission to wholly
• Boards and commissions were established as independent agencies at separate times and, as staff noted
• Boards and commissions serve a unique and important role in the policymaking process.
• Marcus Hardin, Executive Director of the Washington State Charter School Commission.

Bills: HB1662, HB1683

Keywords: education agencies, administrative independence, superintendent, education reform, agency authority, education, school boards, district adjustments, administrative boundaries, educational governance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, and the Washington State Charter School Commission
• The State Charter School Commission are directed to exercise their authority to operate independently
• Provisions requiring the State Board, the PESB, the FEP, and the Charter School Commission to wholly
• Under the current administrative structure, boards and commissions pay currently around 15% indirect
• Marcus Hardin, Executive Director of the Washington State Charter School Commission.

Summary: The House Education Committee held public hearings on two bills. House Bill 1662 would move several education-related boards and commissions—the State Board of Education, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, and the Charter School Commission—toward operational independence from OSPI by July 1, 2027, including separate administrative services, asset and employee transfers, and transition planning by OFM. The prime sponsor and supporters said the bill would improve transparency, fiscal accountability, and agency flexibility, while OSPI-related testimony emphasized that small agencies need more nimble administrative support. No one testified in opposition; the hearing record noted 2 pro, 1 con, and 5 other sign-ins, and members were told the bill was substantively the same as the version passed the prior year except for date changes. The committee then heard House Bill 1683, which would require most school districts with 2,000 or more students to elect at least some school board members from director districts rather than entirely at-large, with larger districts needing more district-based seats and districts under 2,000 students exempt. The sponsor and supporters argued the change would improve geographic and demographic representation, especially for lower-income communities and communities of color, and would help ensure school boards reflect the students and families they serve. Opponents, including a school directors association representative, said the bill would be an unfunded mandate, reduce local control, and create added election costs and recruitment challenges; one witness also suggested the bill should consider broader proportional-representation options. Staff noted that 23 districts would currently be out of compliance, and the hearing record showed 12 pro, 163 con, and 2 other sign-ins. No executive action was taken on either bill during this portion of the meeting. At the end of the hearing, the chair reminded members that several bills heard that week would be on next Thursday’s executive session agenda, urged prompt amendment requests, and announced that the committee would adjourn to caucuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• While current law also allows the option of Social Security, this option is not always made available
• AB 2417 merely ensures the option of Social Security as a retirement benefit is provided to community
• Many greenhouse systems, especially in agriculture, Specified findings by the Energy Commission.
• Restrictions in the bill provide that these sales be done through a fixed-pane security window and security
• Sales be done through a fixed-pane security window and security drawer and available for walk-in storefronts

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's from the Department of Energy, Environment, Oil and Gas Commission.
• It's to purchase an AV system for the Real Estate Commission.
• Peyton Murphy, counsel for the Land Commission. Thank you.
• And I find it really hard to approve money to go to the Board of Election Commission and Ethics Commission
• We're already paying for security. It's very secure inside the gates.

Keywords: 1204, all