Video & Transcript Research : 'tools'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/26
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- This makes the state housing tax credit and contribution fund a unique tool that can incentivize private
- <00:03:36.400>
that <00:03:36.640>can <00:03:36.959>incentivize a unique tool - that can incentivize a unique tool that can incentivize private<00:03:38.400>
investment <00:03 - <00:09:57.519>
It <00:09:57.760>drives tax credit is a powerful tool. - It drives tax credit is a powerful tool.
Keywords:
affordable housing, housing finance, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, low-income housing tax credit, LIHTC, Section 42, compliance period, housing stability, rental housing, affordable rental housing, homelessness, housing insecurity, housing supply, preservation, recapitalization, distressed properties, regulatory relief, local affordable housing aid, Interagency Council to End Homelessness
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Dec 17th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- tool that does not regularly inform other long-term planning processes.
- So we have created tools to help districts, and we are currently working on developing a budget tool
- that will be a budget viewing tool at the school level.
- It's a powerful tool. Can you just comment on that? Thank you, Mr.
- It's about assessing every existing compliance framework, compliance tool, strategic planning tool to
Summary:
The committee first heard a presentation on strategic resource management in public education. LESC staff and PED officials argued that New Mexico has increased school funding, but local budgeting and planning remain fragmented and overly compliance-driven. They described long-term pressures including declining enrollment, rising special education costs, falling cash balances, changes in federal funding, and leadership turnover, and said schools need more intentional multi-year planning tied to student outcomes. They also outlined the many disconnected planning requirements schools must complete, compared New Mexico’s current approach with Ohio’s three-year budget forecasting model, and recommended continuing multi-year appropriations, adding $2.5 million for state grants in the unified application, and directing LESC, LFC, and PED to develop a long-term financial planning proposal. PED said it is working to reduce administrative burden through school accreditation, a unified application for federal and state funds, and internal alignment of guidance and coaching, with pilot schools reporting time savings and better alignment. Members raised concerns about four-day school weeks, the burden on small districts, the need for outcomes and return on investment, and whether the state should move toward a two-year or three-year planning cycle; staff clarified that the proposal was to streamline or eliminate redundant requirements, not add another layer.
The committee then received an update on the Educator Fellows program. PED described it as a Grow Your Own pipeline that employs candidates as supplemental educational assistants while they work toward licensure, providing salary, benefits, paid leave, mentoring, and coursework support. Officials said the program helps address teacher shortages, improves student-to-teacher ratios, increases workforce diversity, and supports the Martinez-Yazzie action plan. They reported 370 current fellows across 86 LEAs and about 180 schools, with many fellows being people of color, first-generation college students, or second-career educators; roughly 85 are expected to become certified this year. A local HR director from Belen testified that the program has been especially valuable in small communities, where fellows are already rooted in the community and several have moved into teaching roles. Members asked about high school recruitment, tuition, retirement and benefits, the relationship to the Higher Education Department’s Grow Your Own scholarship, and the role of university partners. PED said fellows choose among accredited higher education partners, the program is separate from the scholarship but complementary, and the state is also building an apprenticeship model and seeking to expand the program to more LEAs, though some districts are on a waiting list because of funding and local match requirements.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- I also want to stress that it's important that we use a validated tool and also strip the age of 65 and
- /c> that it's important that we use a that it's important that we use a validated<00:34:10.440>
tool - and also strip the age of validated tool and also strip the age of 65<00:34:12.960>
and <00:34 - be used during the annual Wellness tool be used during the annual Wellness visit<00:37:27.760>
um - that it needs to be a validated tool that it needs to be a validated tool because<00:37:39.119><
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 72 on pharmacy drew only support, with testimony from the University of Hawaiʻi system, the Board of Pharmacy, pharmacists, and others; no questions were raised. HB 237 on peer support programs also received broad support from the Department of Health, DHS, early learning officials, families, and advocates, with testimony emphasizing the value of peer-to-peer mentoring and support for parents, youth, and people with disabilities; no opposition or questions were noted.
HB 250, the prior authorization bill, generated the most discussion. SHPDA supported a revised version focused on reporting prior authorization practices and creating a nonbinding working group to develop automation standards, while PCMA, HMSA, Kaiser Permanente, and others raised concerns about duplicative pharmacy requirements, unintended consequences, and alignment with federal timelines and reporting. Several medical groups and individual patients supported the measure, describing delays and burdens caused by prior authorization. A committee member asked whether the bill’s working group differed from a similar group in Senate Bill 1449, and the witness said it was intended to be the same.
HB 303 on health care preceptors was supported by the Department of Health, University of Hawaiʻi, nursing and health care organizations, and the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, which asked that pharmacists’ residency programs be specifically tied to national accreditation standards. HB 341, relating to issuance of SPURS to assist the Hawaii Island Community Health Association, drew support from the health center and related groups. HB 692 on Preschool Open Doors received extensive support from early learning, education, family, labor, and community organizations; testimony stressed the shortage of child care and preschool slots, especially on Kauai, and the need to expand access for families. Committee members asked about adding family child care providers and about licensing/certification barriers, and DHS said the bill was focused on current licensed child care facilities and that certification issues were a separate, broader problem. HB 700 on cognitive assessments also drew strong support, with the Department of Health, the Executive Office on Aging, disability advocates, the Alzheimer’s Association, caregivers, and others urging use of a validated cognitive assessment tool during annual wellness visits and asking that the age 65 threshold be removed; some witnesses supported keeping the data-collection portion as a pilot and emphasized early detection and reporting.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Jan 15th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
Transcript Highlights:
- So we have to have the right tools.
- But we need the tools.
- Is it a different set of tools? Is it employing technology?
- But it's not the only tool. It's one tool, right, for making a diagnosis.
- Those tools don't make diagnoses.
Summary:
The committee held its first meeting and received an overview of the Pre-K-12 education appropriations jurisdiction and base budget. Staff explained that education funding is driven largely by enrollment and per-student formulas, with most money coming from state and local sources. The presentation highlighted the major budget areas: early learning, the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), non-FEFP K-12 programs, federal programs, and the State Board of Education. Members asked about instructional materials funding and how scholarship students who return to public schools are counted and funded; staff explained that instructional materials remain in the base and that funding depends on survey timing, with districts ultimately funded through the enrollment count process.
The committee then reviewed federal IDEA funding for students with disabilities. Department of Education officials explained how IDEA Part B funds are split between state set-asides and local educational agencies, and noted that Florida ranked fourth nationally in total IDEA Part B funding and received a 95% state determination for meeting IDEA requirements. They also described the bureau’s responsibilities, including monitoring, dispute resolution, instructional support, and the Hope Florida unit for ages 3 to 5. Members asked for more information on student performance outcomes and how the state measures success beyond compliance, and the department agreed to provide follow-up data.
The final major topic was the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS), including associate centers, multidisciplinary centers, and specialized centers for deaf/hard of hearing and visually impaired students. Presenters described services such as child find, family support, assessments, professional learning, accessible instructional materials, and technical assistance. Committee members focused on whether families and schools have equal access to services across the state, how IEP disputes and reevaluations are handled, and whether more support is needed for parents, teachers, and rural districts. FDLRS representatives said they do not write IEPs but help connect families to districts, provide training and assessments, and support compliance and data collection; they also emphasized staffing and resource needs, especially for low-incidence disabilities and multilingual family outreach.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Agriculture and Water Management Committee Jun 17th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Agriculture and Water Management Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So to that effect, we worked on developing a way within the tool that exists.
- This tool is going to be fairly easy to implement if we have an accord here.
- It's just a change on our part in how we're actually addressing this tool.
- It's just a change on our part in how we're actually addressing this tool.
- It's a good tweak on the tool that has been working for 10 years on this.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Agriculture and Water Management Committee Jun 17th, 2026
Agriculture and Water Management Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So to that effect, we worked on developing a way within the tool that exists.
- This tool is going to be fairly easy to implement if we have an accord here.
- It's just a change on our part in how we're actually addressing this tool.
- It's a good tweak on the tool that has been working for 10 years on this.
- So that’s really all I have on the tool itself. I’m happy to take any questions.
Summary:
The committee met in Fargo and approved the minutes from the March 31 meeting before hearing a series of informational presentations focused on North Dakota agriculture, water, and research. NDSU President David Cook opened with remarks about NDSU’s land-grant mission, emphasizing statewide service through research, teaching, and extension, and highlighting examples such as the Lilac Agriculture startup and the university’s role in applying research to real-world problems. He said he intends to spend time listening across the state to better understand local needs.
The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study projected significant potential for expanded irrigation acreage, especially in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau, and estimated major economic gains from irrigation, including higher farm returns and support for value-added agriculture. Members discussed water permits, surface water versus aquifers, infrastructure, drought resilience, and the role of legal drains in improving productivity and generating economic activity. The presenters also noted that the full report is available online.
Dr. Greg Lardy followed with NDSU’s required interim report, outlining the university’s agricultural research and extension system, including the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, seven research-extension centers, and the economic importance of agriculture to the state. He highlighted recent research impacts such as new crop varieties, potato breeding successes, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, weather-network tools, and 4-H programming. He also described NDSU’s budget priorities: restoring the governor’s proposed 10% cuts, additional operating support, and deferred maintenance funding. Committee members asked about the new agricultural field lab, storage sheds, and NDSU’s partnership with Grand Farm.
The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor presenting water-related research, including data center cooling, water reuse, smart irrigation, and a feasibility study on co-locating data centers with greenhouse and aquaculture production. Members asked about water use, ownership, and whether the concepts were operational or still speculative. Finally, North Dakota AgTech presented its NSF-funded innovation engine work, describing startup commercialization, on-farm trials, workforce development, and partnerships with NDSU, UND, tribal colleges, and other land-grant institutions. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the prior meeting minutes.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Higher Education Committee Jun 9th, 2026
Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- We need access to best practices and tools that help ensure that students are applying what they learn
- perform jobs that have historically... ...attempt to have AI tools perform jobs that have historically
- guardrails on the integration of AI tools in CSU classrooms and campuses.
- As AI tool adoption has expanded, its impact on human workers and jobs has grown.
- As AI tool adoption has expanded, its impact on human workers and jobs has grown, and the need to enact
Summary:
The Assembly Higher Education Committee met to hear several Senate measures focused on artificial intelligence in higher education. Senator Niello presented SCR 82, which encourages California’s higher education segments to coordinate on best practices for AI use, including academic integrity, teaching standards, and faculty/student engagement. Testimony was generally supportive, with one community college faculty representative raising concerns about preserving faculty purview, academic freedom, and segment-specific governance. The resolution was adopted and re-referred to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee on an 8-0 vote.
The committee also heard SB 928 by Senator Cervantes, which seeks to protect CSU faculty employees from being replaced by AI and to clarify that faculty positions, including instructional and certain non-instructional roles such as librarians, counselors, and coaches, must be held by humans who meet CSU minimum qualifications. Support came from the California Faculty Association and labor groups, who argued that AI should augment rather than replace faculty and that guardrails are needed to protect jobs and student support. Members asked for clarification about the bill’s scope, and the author and witnesses explained that it was intended to mirror CSU faculty definitions and not apply to classified or administrative workers. The bill passed the committee on a 10-0 vote and was sent to the Assembly Floor.
The committee also approved a consent calendar containing SB 308, SB 892, and SB 968 on a 7-0 vote, with the roll kept open for additional members to add on. Several members also requested to be added as co-authors on the AI-related measures. The chair announced the next hearing date and then adjourned the meeting.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Do you have the tools, or what kind of tools do you have, or do you need new tools in order to address
- With respect to the tools we have to address something, I've found that the tools in our TWDB toolbox
- , whether they're science tools, whether they're planning tools or financial assistance tools, I think
- There's a lot of tools we can use, but that's regulatory.
- What are the factors that we already have some tools there.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
December 10, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- MILITARY FAMILIES AND DIRECTS OPPAGA TO EVALUATE TINY HOME STRATEGIES FOR REAL DATA WITH INNOVATIVE TOOLS
- WE ARE NOT JUST DEVELOPING NEW TOOLS, WE'RE DEVELOPING AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY SO THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME
- AND THOSE TOOLS WERE RIGHT ON, RIGHT WHERE THE DAMAGE WAS.
- WE USE THESE TOOLS CAN HELP US PREDICT WHAT WORK TO DO WHEN.
- IT'S EXCITING AND WE THINK IT WILL BE A KEY TOOL TO HELP GROWERS PLAN FOR MARKETS. >> Chair Salzman:
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
ALC-HIGHER EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 18th, 2026
ALC-HIGHER EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- As you know, AI really is a tool just like a computer, and history repeats itself.
- So if we teach AI in schools and we teach students how to use it as a tool, then we'll dissuade them
- This really places the ethical and responsible use of AI tools center stage.
- Another quote from Ronald Reagan: AI is a very powerful tool.
- AI is a very powerful tool.
Summary:
The meeting opened with a report on annual solvency certification for institutions of higher education, which required no action and was to be distributed later. The main presentation focused on artificial intelligence in K-12 and higher education, delivered by students from Arkansas State University, the University of Central Arkansas, and Valley View High School. They argued that AI is becoming central to education and the workforce, especially as Arkansas adds major data center investments, and said students should be taught to use AI responsibly so they can compete for jobs, improve internships, and keep talent in-state. They also emphasized concerns about academic integrity, cybercrime, and the need for ethics training and district-level guidance.
The presenters shared survey findings from educators in several Arkansas districts, saying most teachers support teaching responsible AI use, believe students without access to AI will be disadvantaged, and want training and district-level management. They described existing AI uses at Arkansas colleges, including AI tutors, AI-generated practice exams, homework feedback tools, and classroom applications in business, climate science, and urban forestry. They also proposed an AI library built on the state’s Access Act infrastructure so K-12 and college students could access shared AI tools and resources across Arkansas.
Committee members asked about student attitudes, classroom concerns, and whether AI could help standardize course materials and objectives across institutions. The presenters said reactions among students are mixed, with arts students especially worried about copyright and originality, but that many recognize AI’s real-world value. A UCA representative added that faculty training, ethics discussions, and academic dishonesty guidance are already underway there. The chair thanked the students, noted their work on related research projects, and then moved to a second presentation from Pine Bluff community leaders.
The Pine Bluff group described community-based school support efforts, including the Pastors on Patrol program, mentoring, anti-bullying and nonviolence training, drug and vaping education, leadership clubs, and a youth diversion effort for students at risk of detention. They said their work is aimed at improving school climate, encouraging citizenship and scholarship, and reducing negative behavior. Members praised the group’s efforts and asked about expanding the programs to other districts; the presenters said their model and curriculum can be shared and adapted. The meeting ended after the chair thanked both groups and adjourned with no further business.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Psilocybin therapeutic use program established 3/9/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We need more options and tools in the toolkit.
- We need more options and tools in the tool kit.
- I urge you to unlock this tool to provide help to provide hope. Thank you, Mr.
- It's so exciting to be a real tool for healing.
- It's so exciting to be a real tool for healing.
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- We have tools in the toolbox on the federal side to obtain indictments for those individuals and get
- Uh we have<00:14:26.480>
tools <00:14:26.800>in <00:14:26.959>the <00:14:27.120>< - It's yet another tool in the tool shed for law enforcement.
- And so I see this as a tool for that.
- And so I see this as a tool for that.
Keywords:
theft, penalties, larceny, criminal offense, felony, Wyoming, absconding, law enforcement, criminal justice, 916, all
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Transcript Highlights:
- Cut It Out provides the tools and resources to act when domestic violence is suspected or confided to
- Their proper maintenance requires very specialized knowledge, tools, and standards training.
- These independent shops may not have all the specific tools and training that our Volvo Car retailers
- the watch, got the tools, stopped the watch.
- Feedback on awkward access, special tools, and software steps is reconciled with lab data.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard testimony on a wide range of bills involving consumer protection, auto regulation, alcohol licenses, and professional licensure. A major focus was legislation to require a one-hour domestic violence awareness training for salon and cosmetology licensees (H.323/S.200), supported by District Attorney Marion Ryan, law enforcement, and a salon industry witness who described the program’s value in identifying and helping victims. The committee also heard strong support from the Attorney General’s office for auto consumer protection legislation (S.228/H.379) that would expand used-car warranty protections, extend the Lemon Law return period to seven days after receipt of the vehicle, raise the mileage cap to 200,000 miles, and increase dealer surety bonds to $50,000. Independent dealers opposed those changes, arguing they would burden small businesses and that dealer education, not expanded liability, was the better solution.
The committee also took testimony on bills related to vehicle financial products and repair information. A trade association supported GAP waiver legislation (H.4188/S.281), saying it would create clear consumer protections and standard disclosures. On right-to-repair and heavy-duty vehicle service information (S.266), engine and truck manufacturers supported an exemption for commercial vehicles, while others argued that releasing service data to the general public could create safety, cybersecurity, and emissions risks. The committee then heard extensive testimony on auto dealer franchise and warranty reimbursement legislation (S.201/H.406), with dealer groups supporting changes to warranty labor reimbursement and manufacturer groups opposing them as costly and unnecessary. Manufacturers from GM, Volvo, Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda, and others said their current time-study and appeals processes already compensate dealers fairly and that the bill would raise costs for consumers.
In addition, the committee heard testimony on H.333, which would move auto damage appraiser licensing from the Division of Insurance to the Division of Occupational Licensure. Collision repair advocates supported the change, saying the current board structure leads to repeated dismissals of complaints and lacks accountability, while emphasizing that the bill is intended to protect consumers and ensure proper repair reimbursement. The hearing also included testimony in support of a local alcohol license petition for Westwood and a separate local alcohol measure for a town grant license. At the end of the hearing, the chairs announced that all docketed bills had been heard, noted that a joint poll would be held on H.4184, and the committee voted to adjourn by voice vote.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- We know that some of these tools may not work for some municipalities.
- We are giving them an additional tool, a good tool, that they can use to resolve and not have to monitor
- This, as I've said, is a no-win situation, but the tools are there.
- revenue in the way that makes the most sense for them using local option tools.
- We really see these tools, along with a suite of others, as necessary in this moment.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on several property and local tax bills. The main focus was H.56, the Municipal Empowerment Act, which the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, MAPC, and Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo supported as a package of local options and administrative reforms. Supporters said municipalities need more tools to relieve pressure on property taxes and fund services, citing proposed increases to local meals and lodging taxes, a new local vehicle excise surcharge, senior property tax relief, one-year override flexibility for emergencies, and central valuation of telecom and utility property by DOR. The administration said the bill was based on municipal listening sessions and was intended to give cities and towns optional, not mandatory, revenue tools. Opponents, including the National Federation of Independent Businesses, argued the tax increases would hurt restaurants, hotels, tourism, and small businesses and add to affordability concerns.
The committee also heard testimony on H.3211, dealing with deeds excise receipts, from Norfolk County Commissioner Richard Staidi. He said Norfolk County is financially stable but needs additional revenue for major capital needs at its agricultural school, especially a new cafeteria and other aging facilities, and also to support county programs such as veteran transportation services. On S.2020, a bill to allow settlements of tax liability, Greater Boston Legal Services, the Asian American Civic Association, and several individual taxpayers urged creation of a more workable offer-in-compromise process at DOR. They said the current system is too subjective, requires an unaffordable $5,000 threshold, lacks clear standards and appeal rights, and leaves low-income taxpayers stuck with unmanageable debt, license suspensions, or business closures. Supporters said the bill would give both taxpayers and DOR a practical way to resolve liabilities and bring people back into compliance.
The committee also took testimony on S.1966, which would require nonprofits selling property to disclose any back-tax obligations to buyers. Senator Peter Durant said the bill was prompted by a personal experience in which a tax bill arrived after a nonprofit property purchase was already completed, and he argued the disclosure would prevent buyers from being surprised by retroactive tax liability. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed the session after hearing from all scheduled witnesses.
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House State Government Committee Jan 14th, 2026
State Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Um actually the tools that are powerful.
- Parents, there's tools out there for parents. Guess what? I'm a good parent.
- I don't know, I haven't seen many of their tools. And you know how many parents go out there?
- Uh, parents, there's tools out there for parents. Guess what? I'm a good parent.
- I don't know, I haven't seen many of their tools. And you know how many parents go out there?
Keywords:
firearms, possession, Class 1 municipalities, criminal penalties, federal law, stolen firearms, prohibited persons, HB114, Alabama Sunset Law, sunset bill, Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama, dental board, dental licensing, dentist regulation, professional licensing, occupational licensing, healthcare regulation, licensure board, state agency continuation, agency sunset review
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- clear that our local officials making bail determinations day in and day out. need this discretionary tool
- This would be a tool for the judiciary, yes.
- And for those judges who then, when this is. a tool, fail to implement that tool, I think that's a wake-up
- safety and protecting the citizens. of this state, of your county, and how you would not want this tool
- As a tool, to request a no bond in the most violent, in the most serious.
Bills:
SJR 5, SJR 36, SJR 5, SJR 5, SR 105, SR 121, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28
Keywords:
bail, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, public safety, constitutional amendment, school safety, mental health, emergency response, education policy, law enforcement, SR 121, Senate Resolution 121, Pete Alfaro, Pedro Cuellar Alfaro, Pedro Alfaro, Baytown, Texas Senate tribute, in memory, memorial resolution, condolence resolution
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Because while there are some good tools in the toolbox, we don't want to hand over every tool and end
- that, maybe not because we didn't think it through, that somebody takes the discretion that such a tool
- If it is utilized, is that a tool you want to leave in the toolbox is the real question you're asking
- I believe this adds another tool in the toolbox for prosecutors and investigators to move forward with
- You know, is it or is it a tool among many tools that that individual or individuals are going to use
Keywords:
HCR 40, House Concurrent Resolution, Operation Lone Star, border security, southern border, Texas border, reimbursement, federal reimbursement, Congress, immigration, migrant crossings, illegal immigration, Texas National Guard, Department of Public Safety, DPS, human smuggling, cartel, fentanyl, border enforcement, public safety
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Government and Veterans Affairs Apr 11th, 2025 at 02:15 pm
Government and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- arguably it's... you know, it... ...but arguably it's, you know, it might be considered an auditing tool
- But my understanding was using that free tool was optional... ...information that would be helpful.
- But my understanding was using that free tool was optional.
- And if that information is required to use that tool, I just might choose not to use the tool.
- Because obviously, we’re all starting from somewhere, right, if you’re going to use the tool.
Summary:
The committee resumed discussion of a campaign finance reporting bill and related amendments, focusing on whether the new reporting system should require beginning and ending fund balances for candidate committees and other entities. Representative Koppelman said he supported the modernization and software improvements, such as auto-populating donor information and aggregating contributions, but opposed making running balances mandatory because he viewed them as unnecessary for reporting and potentially burdensome. He also raised questions about language on contributions and expenditures, including whether certain uses of property or deposits were being classified correctly.
Secretary of State Mike Lau responded that the questioned language on pages 5 and 6 was existing law, but said the beginning and ending fund balance on page 13 was important to the new system because it would allow amended reports to populate correctly across years. He said removing that requirement would effectively create two separate systems, and that the vendor could implement changes only if required by law. Members discussed whether the balance information could be hidden from the public, whether a zero-start approach would work, and whether an opt-in checkbox could avoid requiring all filers to use the same format.
The committee did not take a final vote. Instead, the chair said the bill would go back to the subcommittee, with Representative Steiner and the Secretary of State’s office to continue working on the issue, and Representative Koppelman included in further discussions. The chair indicated the group would meet again later in the week to try to move the bill forward.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Sub. on Economic Development, Pub. Protection, Tourism, and Energy (2-17-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- , they should be in that funds and tools, they should be in that high<00:19:50.400>
growth <00: - And the reason we're trying to create flexibility and tools, we've had some suppliers or what I call
- And the reason we're trying to create flexibility and tools, we've had some suppliers or what I call
- And the reason we're trying to create flexibility and tools, we've had some suppliers or what I call
- But you got to create tools really care.
Summary:
The Budget Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Energy and Environment, and Tourism met for its fourth meeting and approved the February 10 minutes. The committee then heard a presentation from the Cabinet for Economic Development, led by Secretary Jeff Noel, with staff from the cabinet and Kentucky Innovation. The presentation focused on the cabinet’s strategy, including workforce, entrepreneurship, innovation, infrastructure, and placemaking, and emphasized a goal of supporting higher-wage jobs while tailoring programs to urban, non-urban, and rural “heritage communities.”
The cabinet reviewed several funding tools and programs, including economic development bond funds, EDF funds, KBI, the Kentucky Innovation Pool, KSTC-related startup and commercialization programs, veteran workforce programs, and Bluegrass State Skills Corporation training funds. Officials said many projects take years to close and that funds are often committed before they are actually disbursed because reimbursements occur after project completion. They also said Kentucky is less competitive than before because of changes in tax policy and that EDF funds are increasingly important to remain competitive with other states.
Members asked about whether previously allocated money remained available, whether some funds could be clawed back, and the status of the Blue Oval project. The cabinet said it is oversubscribed, with some committed dollars likely to go unused and be reoffered to other projects. On Blue Oval, officials said progress had been made and described negotiations tied to repayment and job creation requirements. They also discussed the Ford/SK loan structure, saying the companies may assume the full $250 million obligation and that repayments would be required if job targets are not met. The presentation closed with discussion of workforce coordination and the need to connect economic development projects with training and support systems, including possible ripple effects for rural suppliers and related businesses.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, February 10, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- These funds will allow the center to purchase cutting-edge tools and equipment for the Discovery Lab,
- THESE FUNDS WILL ALLOW THE CENTER TO PURCHASE CUTTING EDGE TOOLS AND As challenges continue to plague
- But because these de-escalation tools are misclassified under federal law, the consequences are real
- The bill ensures less-than-lethal devices are treated for what they are: tools in de-escalation, not
- Position of strength because of this tool, not a position of weakness.