Transcript Highlights:

• Just one thing, that being in the trades, when you went to construction, and that we're not going to
• trades when and you went to construction trades when and you went to construction and<00:43:10.160
• I think if we were to expand our definition of AI, some of those construction jobs would also be impacted
• I think if we were to expand our definition of AI, some of those construction jobs would also be impacted
• I think if we were to expand our definition of AI, some of those construction jobs would also be impacted

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• permits or combined license construction permits or combined license from<00:08:05.919> the<00
• permit, and then they have a certain number of years to actually start construction.
• and there can be start construction and there can be extensions<00:33:35.519> on<00:33:35.679
• These represent costs incurred even before the construction and operation costs.
• Is this a structure that is going to take place after the construction of the units and be rates that

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 03:09 SB 57 Discussion 04:03 SB 57 Roll Call Vote 38:37 SB 172 Discussion 41:27 SB 172 Roll Call Vote 50:23, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including a prayer, the pledge, recognition of an Energy and Environment Cabinet leadership academy group, a roll call establishing quorum, and approval of the previous meeting’s minutes. The main item was Senator Danny Carroll’s presentation of legislation to create a nuclear-ready site readiness pilot program in Kentucky. He said the bill is intended to help build a nuclear ecosystem in the Commonwealth by supporting early site permits, construction permits, or combined licenses, with the state contributing up to $25 million per project and a total of $75 million for up to three projects. He emphasized safeguards such as refundable funding if conditions are not met, legislative rather than authority-only selection of projects, and oversight by the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (NIDTA). He also described related provisions on cost recovery through the Public Service Commission, tax incentive eligibility for nuclear ecosystem projects, training and consultant support for the authority, and eligibility for fusion projects. Carroll and Rodney Andrews said the proposal is meant to attract utilities, developers, and large industrial users such as data centers, and to spread projects geographically, with particular attention to Eastern Kentucky and other rural areas. They said selection criteria would include site suitability, prior site use, regional economic need and impact, geographic diversity, additional investment, federal funding status, and whether a community has applied to be designated nuclear-ready. They stressed that communities would not be forced to host reactors and could choose which parts of the nuclear ecosystem to participate in. Carroll also said the bill could help Kentucky compete with states like Texas and Tennessee, and Andrews said industry contacts viewed the proposal as a signal that Kentucky is open to investment. Members generally expressed support for the bill and its goals, while asking about taxpayer exposure, site size, permitting, grid needs, national security, and reactor technology. Carroll said the state’s direct commitment would be capped at $75 million, with any additional cost recovery depending on PSC approval and project specifics. He said small modular reactor sites would be much smaller than traditional plants, and described a model in which a utility partners with a developer and a data center, with power contracts helping offset costs over decades. On security and technology, Carroll and Andrews said newer reactors would still be subject to the same standards as larger units, and Andrews explained that next-generation designs may use different fuels and materials such as TRISO and high-assay low-enriched uranium. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided, and the chair noted time limits and that additional members still had questions, including one witness expected to speak against the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Price of construction, Mr.
• We all know that wages are going up, uh, the cost of construction is going up, and, um, you know, this
• I mean, the highest cost of any amount of construction is labor.
• What is the cost of construction on the average project?
• So if, if I was building a pro if I was in charge of a school and a construction job at a school and

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:17:28.480> It that was requested for construction.
• It that was requested for construction.
• increases in energy costs, construction increases in energy costs, construction costs,<00:38:10.960
• That purpose is even more critical today with rising construction costs straining school budgets.
• construction costs straining school<00:47:33.440> budgets.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development met for an information-gathering session and opened by clarifying that the subcommittee would not be voting on budget requests. Because there was no quorum at first, the committee did not take up approval amendments. The first presentation focused on a budget request to incentivize national certification for school social workers and school psychologists. Rep. Vanessa Gracal, along with Amy Oats and Leslie Gilpin, argued for a $500,000 annual appropriation to provide $2,000 salary supplements to nationally certified school social workers and school psychologists working primarily in their certification areas. They said the stipend would help recruit and retain professionals amid shortages, noted that current Kentucky certification numbers are low, and explained the rigorous certification and renewal requirements. In response to questions, they said there is currently no appropriation for this purpose in HB 500 and none they were aware of in HB 6 in 2024. The next topic was school facility funding needs, led by Rep. Bob McCool, Johnson County Superintendent Tom Cochran, Commissioner of Education Robert Fletcher, and other district representatives. They described the “gap funding” issue for school construction projects that had already started before COVID-era inflation sharply increased costs. Johnson County and Harrison County were highlighted as examples of districts that had already committed local funds, passed nickel taxes, and begun construction but now need additional state support to finish projects. Speakers emphasized that many projects were audited and approved, that the state has already funded about half of the gap, and that roughly $130 million more is being sought in HB 500 to complete the remaining work. They stressed that unfinished projects would leave districts with half-built schools and that completing them would bring long-term savings and better facilities for students. The committee then turned to testimony from KASA representatives on the impacts of HB 500 as introduced. The witnesses discussed the importance of school psychology and school social work certification, the benefits of advanced training for student services, and the need to recognize and support highly qualified staff. A member asked whether HB 500 or HB 6 included an appropriation for the certification stipend, and the witnesses answered no. The meeting also included a motion to approve the minutes from the prior meeting once a quorum was present, and the minutes were approved by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• in recent years so being constructed in recent years so when<00:21:20.200> I<00:21:20.320>
• <00:25:12.520> few<00:25:12.720> years standards for construction few years standards
• for construction few years later<00:25:13.200> they<00:25:13.320> created<00:25:13.640
• uh and then every stage of construction uh and then once<00:25:48.799> they're<00:25:49.000><
• materials that are quote construction materials that are quote compatible<00:47:13.640> with<

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:01 Roll Call 00:16 HB 211 Discussion 02:55 HB 211 Vote 16:30 HB 160 Discussion 18:50 HB 160 Vote 52:06 Adjournment 57:35, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Local Government met for its first meeting of the year, established a quorum, and heard two bills. House Bill 211, sponsored by Representative Chris Lewis, would create a definition for cigar bars and allow indoor cigar smoking in qualifying establishments if they meet criteria such as deriving at least 15% of gross income from cigar-related sales, restricting entry to those 21 and older, prohibiting cigarettes and vaping, and requiring a smoke-free area for deliveries. Lewis and Louisville Metro Council member Anthony Pantini described the bill as a small-business and tourism measure modeled on Tennessee law, while the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and a St. Elizabeth physician opposed it, arguing it would undermine local smoke-free ordinances and expose patrons and workers to harmful secondhand smoke. Several members raised local-control concerns, and Lewis said he was open to local governments making decisions on less restrictive approaches. The committee adopted a committee substitute and then approved HB 211 on a roll call vote, with multiple members voting yes and several no votes, sending the bill forward as amended. The committee then heard House Bill 160 from Representative Susan Whitten, with Logan Haynes of the Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute. They said Kentucky faces a housing shortage of roughly 200,000 units and that starter homes are increasingly unaffordable, making manufactured housing an important part of the solution. Whitten said the bill would treat manufactured housing more like site-built housing while still allowing local governments to enforce cosmetic standards such as roof pitch, exterior facade, and foundation material, and she emphasized that HOA, deed, and historical preservation restrictions would remain in place. Haynes argued that modern manufactured homes are federally and state inspected, more energy efficient, faster to build, and more affordable than site-built homes, and he said the bill would not open the door to older-style mobile homes or single-wides except in limited narrow-lot situations. Representatives from the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties expressed concerns about the bill’s current language, saying land-use decisions should remain local and warning that the definition of qualified manufactured home and the bill’s treatment of local standards could have unintended consequences. They said they appreciated Whitten’s willingness to work with them and indicated they hoped to continue negotiating amendments as the bill moved forward. No vote on HB 160 was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Charter but a different new construction Charter but a different new construction new<00:24:52.640
• process construction in the construction process construction in the construction process yeah<00
• You got KH to Alamana Construction, KH to Alamana Land, Leeward Construction, or charter.
• You got KH to Alamana Construction, KH to Alamana Land, Leeward Construction, or charter.
• or since their initial construction or since their initial construction waiting<00:51:34.240>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is that's construction money.
• It comes out of state construction.
• the capital construction. the capital construction.
• uh school capital construction items. uh school capital construction items.
• <01:45:26.960> is million on capital construction is million on capital construction is pretty

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The current system of construction and maintenance is simply not viable.
• The current system of construction and maintenance is simply not viable.
• <00:52:35.680> and various aspects of con constructing and various aspects of con constructing
• The Supreme Court highway construction.
• , or what constitutes proper construction, or what constitutes proper construction, reconstruction

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• allocated for lead service line removal since 2023, and nearly all of it will be exhausted by the 2026 construction
• unbelievably proud to say that about 6,000 of those will have been replaced by the end of this construction
• by the end of this construction season. by the end of this construction season.
• Representing more than 14,000 skilled construction workers who build and maintain the infrastructure
• If this legislative session does not act in the next two weeks, next year's construction season will

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House and Senate capital investment leaders held a public discussion focused primarily on lead service line removal and the need for a new bonding bill. Rep. Fue Lee and Chair Jeff Franzen said Minnesota’s existing state and federal lead-line funds will be exhausted by the 2026 construction season, warning that without action there would be no lead removal program in 2027. They framed the issue as a bipartisan public health and infrastructure priority, emphasizing that no amount of lead is safe and that regular capital investment is needed to keep communities moving forward. Testimony from Raquel Vasquez of St. Paul Regional Water Services, Bradley Peterson of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, and Joel Smith of LiUNA Minnesota and North Dakota described the scale of the problem and the progress made so far. Vasquez said St. Paul’s pilot program is working, with costs coming down and about 6,000 of roughly 26,000 local lead service lines expected to be replaced by the end of the season, but warned that 18,000 to 20,000 would remain without more funding. Peterson said there are about 100,000 known lead service lines statewide and more than 200,000 still being assessed, with replacement costs averaging $10,000 to $15,000 per line. Smith stressed that funding gaps would stall momentum, leave at least 90,000 lead pipes in the ground, and cost the state thousands of union jobs. In response to questions, Sen. Sandy Pappas said she supports including $100 million in appropriation bonds for lead service lines in the Senate bonding proposal, while acknowledging the need is closer to $250 million. House leaders said they were discussing the size and contents of the bonding bill and were considering both general fund cash and appropriation bonds, with affordability for homeowners a key concern. The chairs also discussed broader bonding priorities, including other water, sewer, road, and facility projects, and noted that decisions would depend on whether leadership can reach agreement on a final bonding package before the end of session.

Transcript Highlights:

• that such business does not violate noise, garbage, or light ordinances; whether a dwelling is constructed
• the town can’t add to the State Building Code with respect to building materials or methods of construction
• 00:25:14.120> is ordinances uh whether a dwelling is ordinances uh whether a dwelling is constructed
• on or offsite which allows constructed on or offsite which allows for<00:25:16.200> manufactured<
• this is where or methods of construction this is where you<00:25:36.480> get<00:25:36.600>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• coming and was able to do most of the preliminary work to prepare for the need to begin immediate construction
• coming and was able to do most of the preliminary work to prepare for the need to begin immediate construction
• coming and was able to do most of the preliminary work to prepare for the need to begin immediate construction
• coming and was able to do most of the preliminary work to prepare for the need to begin immediate construction
• coming and was able to do most of the preliminary work to prepare for the need to begin immediate construction

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that would be projects that were running under budget that had extra funds left over during construction
• contingency during construction.
• about five to six percent to account for the fact that not all projects use their project, their construction
• contingency during construction.
• And some of those savings were identified through projects that are in construction, nearing completion

Bills: SB406

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that would be projects that were running under budget that had extra funds left over during construction
• contingency during construction.
• about five to six percent to account for the fact that not all projects use their project, their construction
• contingency during construction.
• And some of those savings were identified through projects that are in construction, nearing completion

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on May 26 and first took up Senate Bill 406, which authorizes the city of Slidell to seek voter approval for a local hotel and motel occupancy tax. The bill was described as a local measure giving the city council authority to place the tax on the ballot, with members noting that similar taxing authority exists in many other municipalities. Representative Wiley moved favorable passage, there was no objection, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then received an update from the Division of Administration’s Office of Facility Planning and Control on capital outlay savings identified through cash-flow review and project “scrubbing.” Officials said they found about $50 million in savings from updated cash flows, over-appropriations, projects bid under budget, and reduced appropriations in bundled projects. They explained that bundling projects, including some LED-related projects, allows agencies to shift savings within a bundle and manage overruns or underruns more flexibly. Members praised the savings work but asked whether the process could be moved earlier so the House could benefit sooner, and whether similar reviews could be expanded to other administering agencies and non-state projects. One member raised concerns about whether some projects, including schools and certain NGO-related items, should qualify for capital outlay funding at all, and urged a review of the statutory definition and project approval criteria. Staff said they would look at the definition, review recommendations from prior discussions, and consider ways to tighten the process. The committee then adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• materials and also how of construction materials and also how the<00:18:51.760> national<00:18
• These are all efforts to retrofit or construct new homes using to mitigate per potential damage from
• that are construction materials that are available<01:01:52.319> here<01:01:52.799> really
• And there is a beautiful building there owned by a law firm, constructed from proceeds of construction
• uh a law firm constructed from proceeds of<01:19:26.080> uh<01:19:26.480> construction<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• On progress in general, construction for housing is up.
• On progress in general, construction for housing is up every single year since 2018.
• And I'll just say, the two most expensive times in the process are pre-construction, when you're sort
• of looking at the delays that Jeff described in terms of construction cost increases.
• You're sort of looking at the delays that Jeff described in terms of construction cost increases.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on the Governor’s 2025 reorganization plan to split the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into two new agencies: a Business and Consumer Services Agency and a California Housing and Homelessness Agency. Administration officials said the change would give each side more focused leadership, improve consumer protection and regulatory oversight, and better align housing and homelessness policy with the state’s broader housing goals. Leaders from the Department of Consumer Affairs, Cannabis Control, Alcoholic Beverage Control, and Financial Protection and Innovation all voiced support for the business-side reorganization, while housing officials emphasized that the new housing agency would help streamline funding, compliance, and coordination across programs. Members raised concerns about timing, budget impacts, office space, and whether the split would actually reduce bureaucracy. The administration said the plan would be included in the May Revision, was intended to be cost-neutral, and would not require fee increases for licensees or additional office space. On the housing side, officials said the new Housing Development and Finance Committee would work toward a single application and more coordinated award process for affordable housing funding, while preserving CalHFA’s statutory and financial independence. They also said the reorganization would improve compliance monitoring, data collection, and coordination with local governments, including Los Angeles homelessness programs. Public testimony was largely supportive. Industry groups representing beverage distributors, craft brewers, wine, mortgage lenders, and housing organizations backed the business-side split, and housing advocates such as Housing California, the California Housing Partnership, and the California Housing Consortium supported the housing agency concept and the proposed one-stop-shop approach. Several witnesses urged that tax credits, bonds, and other funding sources be better coordinated, and some said the plan should be paired with additional state investment and implementation resources. No formal vote was taken; the hearing was informational.

Transcript Highlights:

• She also liked a good mystery story like what construction grant have a very special construction grant
• <01:07:05.760> grants to name the library construction grants to name the library construction
• Murphy uh, construction<01:07:10.880> grants<01:07:11.280> program.
• Anyone who construction grants program.
• The first one is improvement projects to renovate, expand, and construct libraries.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We did, and it has been a tremendously successful program throughout the state—many jobs, many construction
• We did, and it has been a tremendously successful program throughout the state—many jobs, many construction
• <00:32:37.480> and center equipment uh construction and center equipment uh construction and
• <01:08:56.839> is the world yet once con construction is the world yet once con construction
• <01:27:29.880> maintenance trades during construction maintenance trades during construction

Bills: HF1277, HF1006

Keywords: data centers, tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, economic development, employment growth, property tax, abatement, land bank, redevelopment, political subdivision, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• is $3.5 million, and it will significantly increase the scoring to compete for federal military construction
• is $3.5 million, and it will significantly increase the scoring to compete for federal military construction
• That means the Minnesota National Guard can expect to receive military construction funding for a new
• Not much money considering the number of our facilities and today's current construction costs.
• The good news is the state never asks to pay 100% of our facilities' construction and maintenance costs

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Minnesota Senate Subcommittee on Veterans heard a Department of Military Affairs presentation on bonding, tuition benefits, and cyber response. The department requested $3.5 million in design funding for a new hangar at the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, citing safety problems with the aging 1950s-era hangars and the need to improve the wing’s competitiveness for future federal military construction funding. It also sought $2.5 million for asset preservation at Army facilities statewide, emphasizing that state dollars are often matched by federal funds. A National Guard lieutenant also testified about the State Tuition Reimbursement Program, describing how it helped pay for her undergraduate and doctoral education and reduce student debt. The committee also received an update on Minnesota National Guard cyber operations, including the response to the July 2025 ransomware attack on the City of Saint Paul. Testimony described the cyber coordination cell’s role in planning, interagency coordination, and support during the incident, including helping re-image about 500 computers and assisting with network recovery. Members heard that the Guard’s cyber teams conduct extensive partner engagement and are prepared to support state and local entities when civil resources are exhausted and the incident exceeds local capacity. Three bills were then heard and advanced. Senate File 4075, as amended, would implement recommendations from the task force on Special Guerrilla Unit and regular forces veterans from the Secret War in Laos, including eligibility and benefit changes; the committee adopted an amendment and passed the bill to the full committee. Senate File 3956, as amended, would clarify that the Department of Veterans Affairs may partner with veteran-serving organizations using nonmonetary resources to address food insecurity, homelessness, and suicide prevention; it was also referred onward. Senate File 4056, as amended, would add veteran or military status as a protected class under the Minnesota Human Rights Act; testimony supported the change, including concerns about service members losing educational opportunities while on state active duty, and the bill was passed to the full committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sustained demand for construction across commercial, industrial, and infrastructure sectors.
• Fewer jobs, fewer construction opportunities, and lost economic momentum.
• My name is Stephanie Maez, and I'm representing the New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council
• context of what that overall income or impact on tax revenue will have with those jobs with the construction
• Construction workers are coming in.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The lion's share of the work on the majority of projects that we see is done by the Construction Programs
• They may ask for $20 million so they can design a big project and construct it, but maybe they really
• That gets to, again, updating of particular numbers for construction costs, permits, and anything else
• technical assistant, either from the Environment Department's construction...
• Any kinds of issues that come up during the construction project are addressed.