Video & Transcript Research : 'counties authority'

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KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • We are going to go with the Deferred Compensation Authority update. Uh, Chris, I know.
  • I'm the executive director for the Kentucky Public Employees Deferred Compensation Authority.
  • The TRS Board of Trustees is given statutory authority to do that under KRS 161.675(4).
  • TRS board of trustees is given uh the TRS board of trustees is given statutory<00:25:10.320><c> authority
  • to do that under KRS statutory authority to do that under KRS 161675 161675 161675 subsection<00:25:
Summary: The Public Pension Oversight Board met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and heard updates from the Kentucky Public Employees Deferred Compensation Authority and the Teachers Retirement System. The deferred compensation update highlighted continued growth in assets to about $4.787 billion and roughly 88,000 participants, strong retention from auto-enrollment, a marketing campaign tied to pay raises that generated additional participation, and a new self-directed brokerage account expected to launch July 1 of the coming year for participants with at least a $40,000 balance, allowing up to 25% of their account to be moved into the brokerage window. The director also described the free financial planning service, which has been used by about 3,500 participants with a high return rate, and said the plan is currently in a fee holiday; if fees are charged, they are capped at $237 per year for most participants. Members asked questions about who provides the CFP service, the fee structure, and the brokerage eligibility threshold. The director said the CFP service is provided through the authority’s service bundle with Nationwide, not as a separate paid service, and explained that the fee cap and current fee holiday are intended to keep the program low-cost. Board members praised the deferred compensation program’s performance and asked for a copy of the legislation referenced in the presentation. TRS then presented on retired teachers’ health insurance. Barnes first clarified how declining federal contributions for federally funded school positions affect the retirement annuity trust, explaining that if those federal dollars fall, the amounts would need to be covered through the SEEK formula and that the projection for those contributions is about $80 million over the next three years. He then reviewed TRS retiree health coverage, distinguishing between KEHP for retirees under 65 or not Medicare-eligible and MEHP for Medicare-eligible retirees, and explained that TRS recently completed RFPs for both prescription drug and medical coverage. TRS will keep Express Scripts for prescription drugs, but will move the Medicare Advantage medical plan from UnitedHealthcare to Humana on January 1, 2026, while keeping the plan design, provider access, and out-of-pocket structure largely unchanged, with a new hearing-aid benefit of $500 per ear. Barnes also reported the 2026 premium and contribution changes: the maximum TRS contribution toward KEHP will rise to $1,144.96 from $930.76, an 18% increase that he said will require roughly $15 million to $16 million more in the state budget, while the MEHP premium will drop to $200 per month from $210. He said the TRS board has statutory authority to set these amounts and that the changes will have mixed actuarial effects, with the KEHP increase being negative overall and the MEHP decrease positive.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Healthcare Committee Apr 30th, 2025

Healthcare

Transcript Highlights:
  • And they also wanted to add a section to give them the authority to enact rules and regulations.
  • HB425 is a collaborative effort with the Alabama Department of Mental Health, County Mental Health Associations
  • , County Commissions, the Alabama Council for Behavioral Healthcare, and the Behavioral Alliance of Alabama
Bills: HB441, HB425, HB416
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee Apr 15th, 2025

County and Municipal Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • We did work through some issues on this dealing with some counties or municipalities that may not...
  • counties or municipalities that may not have a website.
  • In Jefferson County, we have a Jefferson County fund. We have Jeffco... Jefferson County fund.
  • cities may not — small towns may not even have a website, but that it be posted at city hall or in a county
  • courthouse or whatever that. a county courthouse or whatever that would just simply be running it off
Bills: HB407, SB306, SB320, SB321
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Municipal Apr 29th, 2026

Municipal

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're under, so we're coming to you to seek that authority.
  • We're under, so we're coming to you to seek that authority.
  • You're superseding their authority, so they could put that on the ballot.
  • And I would ask if the author would... ...want to voluntarily defer.
  • Co-author to the resolution. Yes, they'll pass around a co-author. Okay, members, that wraps us.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Community Safety Jan 22nd, 2026 at 08:00 am

Community Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 2156 relates to the authority of the Attorney General's Office investigators, and there are
  • by a law enforcement agency in that capacity when the item was issued, and the person is still authorized
  • The substitute provides that peace officer includes any general authority, limited authority, or specially
Summary: The Community Safety Committee met in executive session to act on several bills previously heard in public hearings. House Bill 1228, dealing with certification of toxicology labs for blood and breath analysis, was amended to allow use of a private lab with an out-of-state expert available for pretrial interview and virtual trial appearance if requested by the prosecutor and agreed to by defense counsel, and to require a Washington State Patrol report on implementation and backlog reduction by October 1, 2031. The committee adopted amendments 261 and 341, withdrew amendment 340, and reported the bill out with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 1982, expanding vacatur eligibility for convictions tied to exercise of treaty Indian rights and requiring Office of Public Defense representation, was advanced as a proposed substitute that reorganizes the statute and clarifies hunting-rights eligibility; it was reported out due pass. House Bill 2156, concerning Attorney General investigators’ authority to obtain email search warrants, also passed out of committee after a roll call vote of 6-3, with supporters citing efficiency and opponents wanting more stakeholder work. The committee next considered House Bill 2165, creating the gross misdemeanor of false identification as a peace officer. The proposed substitute moved some conduct from criminal impersonation into the new offense, narrowed defenses, and defined “peace officer” to include state, local, reserve, and federal officers. Members raised concerns about clarity, honorary or reserve officer issues, and possible unintended effects, but the substitute was adopted and the bill was reported out 8-1. House Bill 2173 was held because a Senate companion is moving. House Bill 2203, creating reckless interference with emergency operations and allowing recovery of emergency response costs, was amended to reduce penalties in some cases and shorten license suspensions; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill out unanimously. House Bill 2220, relating to the Criminal Justice Training Commission, was deferred to a later executive session. The committee also advanced House Bill 2362, the so-called 0.05 impaired driving bill, after a divided debate. Supporters argued lower blood alcohol limits reduce deaths and injuries, while opponents raised concerns about toxicology backlogs, court capacity, racial disproportionality in traffic stops, disability-related enforcement issues, and the lack of a broader second-chance policy for DUI convictions. The bill passed 5-4. House Bill 2403, modifying failure-to-register offenses for sex offenders and kidnapping offenders, was reported out 6-3 after debate over whether the offense should remain treated as a sex offense. Finally, House Bill 2464, requiring private detention facilities and local law enforcement to report incidents to the Department of Health, passed 6-3 amid arguments over transparency and whether the issue should be addressed at the federal level. The committee then adjourned.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/17/26

Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • To section 5, around delegating authority to a county agency or local unit of government to inspect a
  • This authority is delegated to the county agency, and providers pay a $2,100 annual fee per site to the
  • </c><01:47:10.400><c> to</c><01:47:10.520><c> a</c><01:47:10.560><c> county</c> around delegating authority
  • to a county around delegating authority to a county agency<01:47:11.240><c> or</c><01:47:11.360><c>
  • ><c> the</c><01:47:19.360><c> county</c> authority is delegated to the county authority is delegated
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee 3/12/26

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:07:33.440><c> In</c> people in every Minnesota county. In people in every Minnesota county.
  • And in 22 counties in disabilities.
  • </c> system worked I had gone to our county system worked I had gone to our county many<00:26:15.840>
  • </c> counties and our communities. Thank you. counties and our communities. Thank you.
  • Uh, this question is for the author.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm Emily Callaway, and I represent Jefferson and Bullitt Counties. >> Brandon Lincoln, the state FOP
  • So cities and counties may offer private sector benefits to our retired police officers if they hire
  • So cities and counties private benefits.
  • Those positions, county police, or sheriff police through the counties, those are all exempt from paying
  • police um through the counties sheriff police um through the counties um<01:04:32.400><c> those</c><
Summary: The Public Pension Oversight Board met on February 13 and approved the minutes after establishing a quorum. The committee then took up three pension-related bills, beginning with Rep. Callaway’s proposal to allow certain retired police officers with 15 to 19 years of service to be rehired by local law enforcement agencies. Callaway and Brandon Lincoln of the FOP said the bill is intended to help recruitment and retention, especially for departments facing staffing shortages, and emphasized that it would be optional and would not allow double-dipping. Committee members raised concerns that lowering the service threshold from 20 to 15 years could create an unfunded liability and weaken the pension system, and several members said they did not yet fully understand how the pension and insurance provisions would work. The sponsor said she was open to working on the bill, and the chair noted the committee would continue to examine it with help from KPA staff. The second bill, presented by Rep. Lewis with Brandon Lincoln and Jeff Taylor, addressed probationary employees in CS agencies, including firefighters and police officers. The bill would let certain former probationary employees purchase service credit for time spent in probation, and would extend line-of-duty death and disability protections to employees who are injured or killed during probationary service. Testimony said the measure is optional for employers, could be used as a recruitment tool, and would allow employees within six months of the probationary period to buy back the time themselves if they choose. Members generally supported the concept, noted a negligible fiscal note, and discussed whether current employees could buy back older probationary periods; the sponsor said the bill did not appear to allow that, though he was open to further discussion. Throughout both bills, members focused on whether the proposals would create new pension costs or liabilities and how they would interact with existing retirement tiers and contribution rules. Several members asked for clarification on whether rehired workers would contribute to the pension system, whether employers would pay normal cost or any contribution at all, and whether the bills would affect future retirement benefits. The sponsors and witnesses repeatedly said the measures were limited, optional, and intended to address staffing and fairness issues without changing the core retirement system, but the committee did not take final action on the bills during the discussion.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Jan 27th, 2026 at 04:00 pm

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Public-Private Partnership, and the Washington State Charter School Commission must exercise their authority
  • bill will just bring, even though there's no fiscal note for the state, there's a fiscal note for counties
  • just remind the committee that, in fact, since the time of the original legislature, we once had county
  • We once had county school boards.
  • The authorizations and directives apply to OSPI, school districts, charter schools, and state tribal
Summary: The House Education Committee met in executive session on House Bill 1662 and House Bill 1683, then moved into public hearing on House Bill 2534, House Bill 2557, and House Bill 2594. HB 1662, as a third substitute, would require several education-related boards and commissions to transition to independent administrative services and operational independence, with OSPI providing transition support through the 2027 fiscal year. Members and the prime sponsor emphasized agency independence and better use of funds; the committee voted 19-0 to report the bill out with a do pass recommendation. HB 1683 would set minimum numbers of school directors elected by director district for certain school districts, with the substitute changing enrollment thresholds and effective dates. Supporters said it would improve representation for parents and students, while opponents argued it would impose an unfunded mandate and micromanage local districts. The committee approved the substitute bill 11-8, also with a do pass recommendation. During public hearing, HB 2534 drew broad support from school officials, military family advocates, and education groups. The bill would expand enrollment flexibility for military-connected students, allow pre-arrival enrollment, extend proof-of-residency timelines, and require quicker handling of IEP and Section 504 transfers; several witnesses supported the goal but asked for a technical amendment to avoid shortening evaluation timelines. HB 2557 would require school districts to provide parents or guardians a copy of special education evaluation reports five school days before eligibility meetings; supporters said this would help families prepare, while school psychologists and some district staff warned it could compress already tight evaluation timelines and delay services. HB 2594 would codify McKinney-Vento homeless student protections into state law, assign related duties to OSPI and districts, and require periodic state reporting; it received strong support from advocates, school staff, and the prime sponsor, who said it would strengthen stability, accountability, and access for homeless students. The committee adjourned after public testimony, noting the bills could be eligible for executive action the following week.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
  • And they also wanted to add a section that gives them the authority to enact rules and regulations.
  • HB425 is a collaborative effort with the Alabama Department of Mental Health, County Mental Health Association
  • , County Commissions, the Alabama Council for Behavioral Healthcare, and the Behavioral Alliance of Alabama
Bills: HB441, HB425, HB416
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • These sales often occur in high-traffic, unincorporated areas where counties currently lack legal authority
  • This authority currently applies to Hidalgo County, Cameron County, El Paso County, and Webb County.
  • It also includes county authority to regulate other types of roadside vendors like food and merchandise
  • Of the Senators in Collin County, nor any other county around this state.
  • Is Dallas County okay? Senator, Dallas County has reviewed the bill.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • No counties like Senator Blanco's county and your county.
  • Senate Bill 14 passed last session authorizing this and having the parent authorization on this particular
  • , Nueces, and Lubbock County.
  • Members, any questions for the bill author?
  • The Chair recognizes the bill author on House Bill 4224.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House State Government Committee Feb 18th, 2026

State Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:11:07.519><c> now</c> have the Alabama Space Authority now have the Alabama Space Authority now
  • We thought it would and Morgan County.
  • We also did some things like authority.
  • </c> bylaws and this gives the authority. bylaws and this gives the authority.
  • have the authority for the new<00:12:28.480><c> complex.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Conservation Feb 5th, 2026 at 09:09 am

Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:
  • I am a Farmers Insurance agent based in McKinley County in the city of Gallup.
  • What's happened in rural communities like McKinley County and other counties that I work with customers
  • I'm the deputy director of the New Mexico Finance Authority.
  • That took place in the Roswell-Chaves County area.
  • We authorize them for funding, but those project costs...
Bills: SB154, SB187, SB193, SM3
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Conservation Feb 5th, 2026

Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:
  • I have been working in Taos County on the high road to Taos at Zia Queen Bees.
  • I am a Farmers Insurance agent based in McKinley County, in the city of Gallup.
  • So what's happened in rural communities like McKinley County and other counties that I work with customers
  • I'm the Deputy Director of the New Mexico Finance Authority.
  • We authorize them for funding, but those project costs do change over time.
Bills: SB154, SB187, SB193, SM3
Summary: The Senate Conservation Committee first took up Senate Memorial 3, presented by Senator O’Malley on behalf of Senator Bergman and a group of Rio Doso High School students and Wild Friends. The memorial asks state agencies to participate in a no-cost workshop on insect identification, ecology, monitoring, and management, and to help educate the public about insects. Students, conservation specialists, and an entomologist testified that insects are essential to pollination, ecosystems, agriculture, and biodiversity, while also noting declining insect populations and the need for more public understanding. Some senators raised concerns about the memorial’s wording, including whether it should be broadened from insects to arthropods and whether the Department of Agriculture, rather than Game and Fish, should be involved. The committee discussed timing and implementation, and the sponsor agreed to work on amendments. The memorial passed on a due pass motion by a vote of 8-0, with one excused. The committee then heard Senate Bill 154, which would require wildfire-related homeowners coverage to include flood damage caused by post-fire conditions for a five-year period. Senator Duhigg and the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance argued the bill responds to the Ruidoso fires and subsequent flooding, noting that many homes were destroyed by mudslides and that flood insurance is often unavailable or inadequate. Supporters, including Ruidoso officials, affected residents, and attorneys, said the bill would help homeowners recover from cascading wildfire and flood losses. Opponents from the insurance industry and business groups warned the bill would be an outlier, could significantly raise premiums, and might reduce availability of homeowners insurance statewide. Committee members questioned how the mandate would work, whether it should be optional, and how costs would be allocated. The bill passed on a 5-4 vote. Finally, the committee briefly heard Senate Bill 187, which appropriates $202,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Finance Authority’s Water Project Fund for future water projects authorized by the legislature. The Finance Authority said the funding would help address a gap between available money and the 113 recommended projects, totaling about $522 million, including water conservation, flood prevention, storage, wastewater, and watershed projects. Members asked for more detail on the locations and types of projects, and the Finance Authority said it would provide the list from the companion authorization bill. The committee then moved the bill forward on a do pass motion.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Finance Jan 29th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 1717 authorizes cities and counties to establish a sales and use tax remittance program for
  • House Bill 1717 authorizes cities and counties to establish a sales and use tax remittance program for
  • It would authorize a new county-imposed public utility tax.
  • It would authorize a new county-imposed public utility tax.
  • And it would authorize a county to impose a public health clinic property tax levy at a rate of up to
Summary: House Finance heard briefings on several tax and housing-related bills, including HB 1717 on a local sales and use tax remittance program for affordable housing, HB 1859 on expanding affordable housing opportunities on religious organization property, HB 1960 on a renewable energy excise tax, HB 2133 on making a senior center property tax exemption permanent, HB 2135 on extending a disabled veterans housing tax preference, HB 2140 on tax treatment for land transferred to government entities, HB 2442 on a broad package of local tax and levy authorities, and HB 2559 on a local option excise tax on short-term rentals for affordable housing. Staff also described proposed substitutes and amendments for each measure, including changes to administration, eligibility, effective dates, tax credits, voter-approval requirements, and JLARC review provisions. During executive action, the committee adopted amendments to HB 1960 clarifying tax administration and JLARC independence, while rejecting an Orcutt amendment that would have adjusted property tax levies for renewable energy projects. The committee also adopted a technical correction to HB 2133 and an effective-date amendment to HB 2135. Amendments to HB 2442 and HB 2559 that would have required voter approval or provided state tax credits were rejected. Members debated the policy impacts of local taxing authority, housing affordability, and tax burdens on property owners, veterans, seniors, and short-term rental operators. The committee voted to report HB 1717, HB 1859, HB 1960, HB 2133, HB 2135, HB 2140, HB 2442, and HB 2559 out of committee with do pass recommendations. HB 1960 passed on a recorded vote of 11 ayes and 4 nays; HB 2442 and HB 2559 each passed 9-6; the other measures were approved by voice vote, generally 15-0. The meeting then adjourned.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/29/2026 - House Rural Economic Development

Rural Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • ... ...Cochise County, Navajo County, parts of Pinal, and parts of Coconino.
  • We've got a sliver of Maricopa County and a bigger sliver of Pima County.
  • They left out La Paz County.
  • County approved it.
  • Goldwater Institute then sued the county after the county started to collect the taxes.