Video & Transcript Research : 'Local Government Code'

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HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm government relations manager for the International Code Council.
  • code that guides the counties and, just as importantly, governs state building projects.
  • an updated statewide code that guides the counties and, just as importantly, governs state building
  • talk about the building code itself, the electrical code, the plumbing code.
  • agency at the federal state government agency at the federal state or<00:47:09.599> local<00:
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The Committee on Housing held a public hearing on January 31 and heard testimony on a series of housing and building-code bills. The first major item, HB 1 relating to building codes, drew sharply divided testimony. Supporters, including BIA Hawaii, Grassroot Institute, Dr. Horton, and several builders and trade groups, argued the current code-adoption process is slow, fragmented, and costly, and that reform would help housing production. Opponents, including Sierra Club Hawaii, AIA Hawaii, ICC, and labor representative Kiko Bosi, said the bill would weaken public safety, reduce statewide consistency, and could leave tenants and first responders at greater risk. No vote was taken during the hearing, and members asked questions about the effect of a governor’s emergency proclamation suspending the Building Code Council and about county authority over code amendments. The committee then heard HB 745 and HB 1321, both also relating to building codes. Grassroot Institute supported both measures, saying the system is broken and needs streamlining, while BIA Hawaii and others emphasized the cost burden of repeated code updates. Opponents, especially Bosi and ICC, argued that the bills would undermine the State Building Code Council’s role, create confusion, and prioritize cost over safety; Bosi also said labor should be included in any code discussions. Members questioned whether counties can remove state code provisions and whether the state code already supersedes county codes, and one member noted the need for clarity and consistent enforcement rather than a wholesale overhaul. Later, the committee heard HB 284 on housing, HB 761 on county permitting and inspection, and HB 738 on historic preservation. HB 284 drew support from several housing and real estate groups, while DLNR opposed it. On HB 761, HHFDC supported the bill, DLNR warned that the proposed changes could jeopardize Hawaii’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, DAGS said it would likely need to duplicate county permitting staff, and the Department of Planning and Permitting opposed it; Grassroot Institute and NAIOP supported it. For HB 738, HHFDC, DLNR, Grassroot Institute, Hawaii YIMBY, NAIOP, and others supported the measure, with Grassroot and NAIOP suggesting clarifications so expedited review would also cover mixed-use projects and better define the scope of work. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on these bills during the hearing.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, July 21, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In some cases, zip codes are misaligned with local boundaries.
  • In some cases, zip codes are misaligned with local boundaries.
  • In some cases, zip codes are misaligned with local boundaries.
  • In some cases, zip codes are misaligned with local boundaries.
  • 04:09:54.800> receive ensures that local governments receive ensures that local governments receive
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Elections Apr 3rd, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, I'll start with local government control.
  • Local government and local elected officials, such as those who pass county budgets and oversee elections
  • I urge the committee to leave local issues to local officials and voters and vote no on HB 1489.
  • applications at government agencies and at government offices.
  • One part of the code. I'm not, you the legislature already this bill was on local consent.
Bills: HB304
DE
Transcript Highlights:
  • Often come with pretty strong finances, and that as a state and as a local government and a municipality
  • And that money could go to the local government to help them...
  • And that money could go to the local government to help them.
  • So I think a local government would be very happy to have this when you balance how much money are they
  • This simple change to the code will benefit Delawareans by allowing them to patronize a trusted local
Summary: The committee heard several bills, but much of the meeting focused on House Bill 306, which would require disclosure when a consumer is interacting with a chatbot rather than a human. Sponsor Senator Townsend described it as a consumer protection measure and said the bill is meant to keep pace with rapidly changing AI technology. Committee members and witnesses raised concerns about the bill’s enforcement structure, especially private rights of action and penalties that could apply even without actual consumer harm. The Department of Justice said the bill would apply where the conduct has a Delaware nexus, and that the disclosure requirement is the key consumer protection. Industry witnesses and chambers of commerce opposed the bill as drafted, arguing it would create broad compliance burdens and expose businesses to excessive litigation risk without a harm requirement or clearer safe harbor language. Earlier in the meeting, the committee discussed House Bill 429, which would update Delaware’s step therapy exception process to include biosimilars and interchangeable biologics. Senator Poore and supporters from Highmark and the Department of Insurance said the bill would modernize insurance law, improve access to effective treatments, and reduce costs; they cited national savings from biosimilars and said the bill has agency support. Members asked about Delaware-specific savings, patient switching, and how the process would work, but no vote was taken during the discussion. The committee also heard House Bill 310, which would exclude large data centers from Blue Collar Jobs Act tax credits; the sponsor said the bill is intended to ensure large energy users contribute more to state and local revenues, while supporters and opponents debated competitiveness and community impacts. House Bill 406, on allowing insureds to choose their auto repair shop, and Senate Bill 347, a cleanup bill related to medical debt collection and personal property levies, were also presented without opposition in the hearing. House Bill 253, concerning who may receive letters testamentary or of administration, was described as a cleanup to align statute with existing practice. The committee approved the meeting minutes, but the transcript does not show final votes on the bills discussed.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

January 20, 2026 - 09:30 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is just an option for local governments to exercise, not a mandate?
  • Do local governments have an option to delay it if they can't afford it right now?
  • and municipalities and local governments.
  • more looking at it as an information source for local governments.
  • Coming from local government, we've seen through the pandemic or just from a busy time in local government
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Committee on Housing (04/15/2025)

Housing

Transcript Highlights:
  • Local governments protect those rights.
  • <01:08:14.319> governance undermines the very local governance undermines the very local governance
  • SB 84 is not an attack on local government.
  • SB 84 is not an attack on local government.
  • SB 84 is not an attack on local government.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MI

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Session 26-06-25

Michigan Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill will be referred to the Committee on Local Government.
  • The bill will be referred to the Committee on Local Government.
  • The bill will be referred to the Committee on Local Government. Mr.
  • Secondering of the bill to bill to be referred to the committee on local government.
  • Secondering of the bill, the bill to refer to the committee on local government. Mr.
Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, and attendance showing a quorum. Several senators were excused, and the chamber received communications including House Concurrent Resolution 8, which was referred to the Committee on Government Operations. The Senate also took up introductions and referrals of several bills, including Senate Bills 1078-1082 and House Bills 4727, 4728, 4729, 4959, 1545, 5254, 5255, 6071, 6072, and 6073, with most being referred to committees or, for some medical-debt and consumer-protection bills, sent to the Committee of the Whole by suspension of the rules. In Committee of the Whole, the Senate considered Senate Bills 535, 536, 1011, 1041, 1042, and 1043. SB 535, 1041, 1042, and 1043 were amended, while SB 536 and 1011 were reported without amendment; all were recommended for passage. The Senate then concurred in the amendments and advanced the bills to third reading. On final passage, SB 433 passed 35-0; SB 535, 536, and 1011 each passed 35-0; and SB 1041, 1042, and 1043 each passed 20-15. Floor remarks focused on SB 1011 as a way to lower small-business health insurance premiums, and SBs 1041-1043 as anti-price-gouging measures during emergencies. Later, the Senate discharged Senate Bill 913 from the Appropriations Committee, suspended the rules, and moved it through Committee of the Whole and to final passage the same day. SB 913, which amends the Michigan Trust Fund Act, passed 20-12 with 6 excused after Senator Albert argued in opposition that it would continue $75 million annual funding to the MEDC and amount to corporate welfare. The Senate then adjourned until Tuesday, June 30 at 10:00 a.m.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Community Affairs Mar 11th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • SENATORS, THIS BILL SEEKS TO PREVENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS FROM ENACTING
  • THE BILL TAKES POWER AWAY FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND HANDS IT TO BIG GAS COMPANIES LIKE TAMPA ELECTRIC
  • YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENT. >> THE AMENDMENT CLARIFIES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN REVIEW
  • IF THE GOVERNMENT CHECK TO MAKE SURE WE MEET TODAY'S CODE IT SHOULD BE GOOD 24 MONTHS FROM NOW UNTIL
  • IS A DIRECT NEXUS TO BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC TOOL THEY PRESENT A LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
WV
Transcript Highlights:
  • The federal government requires that.
  • It's largely codified by Code Section 21-5I-4.
  • All right, so we've identified multiple code conflicts and some circular... ...identified multiple code
  • Disclosures pursuant to 17A to A7 of the code.
  • There's another section of code.
Keywords: 994, senate, all
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Apr 8th, 2025 at 01:00 pm

North Dakota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The question on local dollars: there are no local dollars that go into charter schools unless the people
  • Your local community, the people in your local community can... ...over the place, your local community
  • These charter schools will be asked for by locals.
  • The local portion that's imputed in the per-pupil payment, that tax has already been levied locally,
  • They don't get any pennies from that local issue.
Keywords: 908, all
Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. The chamber received notice that the governor had signed several bills, and the Speaker appointed conference committees after the Senate failed to concur with House amendments on Senate Bills 2180 and 2330. The House also approved several sixth-order amendments without objection before moving into reconsideration and final action on House Bill 1300, which concerns legislative term limits. After procedural motions to reconsider and undo concurrence, the House voted to do not concur on HB 1300, sending it back to the chair’s lap for further negotiation. A major portion of the meeting focused on Senate Bill 2232, which changes mandatory reporting rules for prenatal exposure to controlled substances and alcohol. Supporters said the bill is intended to keep pregnant women in prenatal care by removing an automatic CPS report if a woman tests positive but enters and stays on a treatment plan; opponents argued it weakens protections for unborn children and creates vague standards for mandated reporters. The House passed the bill 57-36. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 2280 unanimously, establishing timelines and standards for prior authorization in health insurance, and passed Senate Bill 2186, which creates a civil remedy for interference with court-ordered parenting time, a child custody review task force, and related reporting requirements. The House then took up Senate Bill 2239, an apprenticeship grant program with a $1.1 million appropriation, but rejected it 14-79 after the committee said the program lacked a clear administrative home. Senate Bill 2241, creating a framework for public charter schools, generated extensive debate over school choice, local control, funding, staffing, and rural impacts; supporters emphasized flexibility and community-driven options, while opponents warned about diversion of funds and weak guardrails. The bill passed 64-29. The House also passed Senate Bill 2024, the Department of Environmental Quality budget, after discussion about federal funding uncertainty; Senate Bill 2374, updating property insurance laws and market rules; Senate Bill 2216, creating a waterfowl habitat restoration stamp; Senate Bill 2245, allowing certain duck and goose hunting from anchored floating craft; and Senate Bill 233, establishing a distressed ambulance services process, which drew questions about how affected districts and neighboring services would be involved.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

S/C on Transportation Funding Apr 14th, 2025

S/C on Transportation Funding

Transcript Highlights:
  • government with local or federal.
  • Currently, there's a conflict with the transportation code and the government code.
  • The committee substitute solely amends the government code to exempt the sk from the general revenue
  • When a local government leader issues a mandatory order, uh, with that, uh, Mr.
  • Many, many local governments lack adequate resources to fund the essential transportation projects.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development May 21st, 2025

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • Texas Realtors administers ethics complaints for all local realtor boards, removing the potential local
  • The local board of directors then elects the state and then on to the national, but on a code of ethics
  • That is a local choice for each MLS.
  • Well, like, we don't need that gover government, governing system.
  • That's not a violation of, of our code.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Executive Departments and Administration (01/28/2026)

Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • and Spa Code, International Residential Code, and National Electrical Code.
  • regular codes. regular codes.
  • code.
  • <01:02:20.480> It's code. It's a more relaxed code. It's code. It's a more relaxed code.
  • However, this bill is not a mandate on any local government nor any private business.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Despite this, some local governments have enacted ordinances that run counter to state law.
  • Motion to pass as amended to the Assembly Committee on Local Government. Haney, Patterson, I.
  • For local governments, SB 748 delivers critical benefits.
  • For local governments, SB 748 delivers critical benefits.
  • My background is in local government.
Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee met with a quorum and announced that SB 340 would be moved to a later hearing. The consent calendar included HR 44, SB 233, and SB 410, which were later approved. The committee then heard several housing-related bills, with testimony largely focused on streamlining accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules, regional planning, and homelessness response. SB 9 would require local agencies to submit ADU ordinances to HCD within 60 days and respond to HCD findings within 30 days, or the ordinance would become null and void and state standards would apply. Supporters, including California YIMBY, Casita Coalition, UnidosUS, Housing Action Coalition, and Power California, argued the bill would strengthen enforcement of existing ADU law and reduce local barriers. The bill passed 7-0 with two abstentions and was sent to the Assembly Local Government Committee. SB 486 would exempt UC and CSU projects from having to analyze a no-project alternative under CEQA while requiring the universities to share enrollment forecasting data and participate in regional sustainable communities planning. It passed 9-0 and was referred to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. SB 748, as amended, would expand funding and authority for safe parking sites and related services for people living in RVs or vehicles, using encampment resolution funding and requiring reporting by the California Interagency Council on Homelessness. The City of Compton, the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association, and the League of California Cities supported the measure, emphasizing public health, neighborhood safety, and humane alternatives to displacement. The committee members discussed the limits of current encampment cleanup approaches and the need for services and temporary shelter; the bill passed 11-0 and was sent to the Assembly Human Services Committee. SB 543, a cleanup bill for ADU and junior ADU law, clarified review timelines, size standards, and consistency with existing ADU statutes; it also passed unanimously and was referred to the Assembly Local Government Committee.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Criminal Justice Apr 22nd, 2025

Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • It took government code 51.903.
  • It took government code 51.903.
  • Sections 4, and then Sections 5 and 6 of the bill, both address 51.901 and 51.903 of the Government Code
  • government.
  • And I don't think nonprofits use government vehicles. They don't use government vehicles.
Summary: The committee heard and laid out a series of criminal justice bills, with public and invited testimony on restitution, juvenile justice, child abuse reporting, public-safety protections, organ trafficking, property fraud, disaster-response worker protections, fentanyl exposure, emergency data disclosure, insurance-fraud investigations, blood warrant execution, human smuggling, and TJJD advocacy access. Several measures drew support from prosecutors, clerks, law enforcement, utility companies, and victims who described real-world harms and delays in current law; opposition or caution came from civil-rights and advocacy groups on bills involving expanded criminal liability, data disclosure, and juvenile-facility access. Most bills were left pending after testimony, with the committee later voting out SB 127 favorably and placing it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1666 would streamline restitution payments for parole or mandatory supervision cases by requiring TDCJ to include victim information when forwarding payments, shortening the period before unclaimed funds go to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, and clarifying confidentiality and contact procedures; county clerks supported it as an efficiency measure. SB 2776 would let TJJD disclose certain information, with written consent, to support the Credible Messengers Program, and SB 127 would extend limitations periods for failure-to-report child abuse and concealment offenses, with testimony emphasizing delayed discovery of abuse and the need for accountability. SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting or interfering with peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers, and SB 456 would raise penalties for organ purchasing/trafficking and create a more specific criminal framework for the offense; both drew strong support from law enforcement and victims. The committee also heard SB 2611 on real property theft and deed fraud, which would create separate offenses for real property theft and fraud, add a ten-year limitations period, require criminal judgments to be filed in county property records, and expand restitution and title-clearing remedies. Witnesses described forged deeds, stolen church and family properties, and long, costly efforts to restore title; county clerks and prosecutors said the bill would help victims and streamline civil remedies. SB 482 would increase penalties for offenses against utility workers during declared disasters or evacuation orders, prompted by reports of threats and assaults during Hurricane Beryl; utility representatives said the bill is needed to keep mutual-aid crews coming to Texas. SB 1234 would add fentanyl to the endangerment statute for vulnerable people, while SB 816 would allow providers to disclose electronic data in immediate life-threatening situations; both drew support from prosecutors and criticism from civil-rights advocates concerned about overbreadth and liability protections.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Human Services May 5th, 2026

Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • codes, the doctor codes, and the hospital codes.
  • on to those procedure codes and hospital codes.
  • were added to Procedure codes or admission codes.
  • , the Medicaid codes, and the ERS-T-R-S codes.
  • Local IDD authorities are the units of local government under contract with the Health and Human Services
Keywords: 1184, house, all
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Apr 17th, 2025

Alabama Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • code of Alabama 1975 and section 28113 code of Alabama 1975 and section 28113 code of Alabama 1975 as
  • require local boards of education to to require local boards of education to to require local boards
  • Government must be Government must be Government must be transparent.
  • codes. currently authorized in state codes.
  • And that's the code the code the code definition. A license, and we talked definition.
Keywords: 920, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Welcome to the Assembly Local Government Committee hearing.
  • Chair and members of the Local Government Committee.
  • Chair, and members of the Assembly Local Government Committee.
  • And so my concern, having served both in real estate and in local government, is that in local government
  • And so my concern, having served both in real estate and in local government, is that in local government
Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard a long agenda of local government, housing, transportation, and public safety bills. Early items included SB 762, which would give certain local governments a voter-approved path to seek additional local sales tax authority to address fiscal pressures; SB 1400, which would modernize Alameda Health System governance and give Alameda County more flexibility and oversight; and SB 1408, which would authorize Contra Costa County to place a renewal of its transportation sales tax on the ballot. Supporters for those bills included local officials, county representatives, labor groups, fire and police organizations, and transit advocates, while no organized opposition was presented on those measures in committee. The committee also heard SB 1272, which would give homeowners more time to correct certain inherited code violations and allow an affidavit process for buyers who did not know about the violation at purchase. The bill drew support from the California Apartment Association and opposition from code enforcement and county groups, who argued it would reduce local enforcement discretion and create health and safety risks. After questions about disclosure and enforcement, the committee approved SB 1272 as amended and re-referred it to Appropriations. SB 1055, dealing with procurement flexibility for Pajaro flood control and levee repairs, also passed as amended and was sent to Appropriations. Later, the committee approved SB 1379, which would separate the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner and create an independent medical examiner system. The author and supporters argued the change was needed for transparency and independence in in-custody death investigations, while opponents raised labor, cost, and governance concerns; some opposition was softened after the author agreed to employee-protection amendments. The committee also passed SB 1172, limiting consultant compensation and adding transparency rules for local tax-sharing agreements, and several housing bills from Senator Grayson: SB 1003 on pro-housing infrastructure financing districts, SB 1014 on early disclosure of infrastructure requirements for housing projects, and SB 1169 on extending tentative vesting map validity. The committee took votes on consent items and later add-ons, with most measures passing on bipartisan or unanimous votes and several being re-referred to Appropriations or Housing and Community Development as appropriate.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Apr 15th, 2025 at 01:00 pm

North Dakota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The diversion project started at $1.8 billion for local share in Fargo.
  • And I'm talking to local share. It's a much higher price than that.
  • We only fund at 38% of the local share.
  • Senator Roarer is chairman of the State and Local Government Committee and moves that the Senate do concur
  • So the State and Local Government Committee concurs with that amendment.
Keywords: 908, all
Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and handled a mix of conference committee appointments, appropriations bills, policy bills, and House amendments. Early in the session, the chamber appointed conference committees for SB 2399 and for House-amended SBs 2213 and 2354, and also named conference committees for HB 103, HB 1308, and HB 1169. The Senate then took up several appropriations measures, including HB 1612, which creates the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at UND; the Senate adopted an amendment shifting the funding to a one-time $250,000 Community Health Trust Fund appropriation with a required $250,000 match from other sources, and the bill passed 39-7. HB 1193, the “Back the Blue” grant, was amended to make the funding one-time and focus on officer retention, then passed 41-5. HB 1329, a government spending database proposal for school districts, was amended into a legislative study and passed 42-4. HB 1020, the water budget, received extensive amendments reducing and reallocating funding across major water projects, adding studies and oversight changes, and passed 45-0 with the emergency clause. HB 1581, a tribal tourism grant, also passed 40-6. The Senate rejected HB 1330, which would have authorized divestment from direct investments in Chinese companies; after debate over the prudent investor rule, trade impacts, and whether the bill singled out one nation in law, it failed 20-26. HB 1534, limiting property valuation increases, and HB 1266, adjusting the disabled veterans property tax credit, both failed unanimously or nearly so after committee recommendations against them. HB 1566, which would have created a regulatory framework for a product discussed as kratom, was amended on the floor to convert it into a study and then passed 31-15. The chamber also passed HB 2241 on charter schools after a House amendment changed the funding formula to the statewide average from the prior year, and HB 2022, the indigent legal counsel budget, after House changes added funding flexibility, offset lost fee revenue, and included a study on a public defender office. The Senate concurred in several House amendments and then passed a number of Senate bills. SB 2375, allowing joint negotiations between dental providers and insurers under Attorney General oversight, passed 44-2. SB 2251, clarifying that open records requests during state audits should be referred to the audited agency, passed 46-0. SB 2159, related to nuclear energy research, passed 43-3 after House amendments required Industrial Commission approval and consultation with the radioactive waste advisory council. SB 2155, changing gratis antelope license rules, passed 30-16 after debate over landowner rights and tag distribution. SB 251, setting fees and an audit for the Private Investigative and Security Board, passed 44-2. SB 2280, the prior authorization health insurance bill, passed 43-3 with a House-added study and consumer protections. SB 2023, the Racing Commission budget, passed 41-5 after a House change made internship funding one-time. SB 2232, changing prenatal substance exposure reporting requirements and related toxicology rules, passed 44-2. SB 2241, authorizing public charter schools, passed 39-7. The session ended while the Senate was still processing SB 2022’s final passage vote, but the bill had already cleared concurrence on House amendments.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government has called to order.
  • Code Section 9101, requires local, county, and state criminal justice agencies to comply with the current
  • Code Section 9101, requires local, county, and state criminal justice agencies to comply with the current
  • Code Section 9101, requires local, county, and state criminal justice agencies to comply with the current
  • Local, county, and state criminal justice agencies are required to comply with the current U.S. code
Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government considered three bills. House Bill 321, sponsored by Rep. DJ Johnson and supported by the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Realtor Association, was amended by committee substitute and adopted unanimously. As amended, it extends training deadlines for planning commission and board of adjustment members and adds required training on how planning and zoning policies affect housing supply and accessibility. The committee substitute also limits appeals of final board of adjustment actions to persons or entities claiming injury who own real estate in the same zone as the affected property. The bill passed 8-0, and a title amendment was adopted. House Bill 340, sponsored by Rep. Tony Hampton with support from law enforcement and federal security representatives, would create a new section of KRS Chapter 13 to require criminal justice agencies to provide criminal history records for federal suitability or fitness background checks and allow a $25 fee for records requests reimbursed by the federal government. It also conforms juvenile records law to the new process. The committee approved the bill 9-0 with no opposition. House Bill 520, sponsored by Rep. Chris Fugate and backed by the Kentucky Sheriff's Association, Kentucky Police Chiefs Association, and Kentucky League of Cities, generated the most debate. The bill and committee substitute would exempt certain open police investigation records from disclosure under the Open Records Act when an agency says release could harm an investigation or reveal informants or witnesses. Several senators raised concerns that the “could” standard was too broad and could weaken transparency, while supporters argued it was needed to protect ongoing investigations, witnesses, and officers. The committee initially failed the bill 6-4, then after additional vote changes and discussion, reconsidered it and advanced the amended bill with favorable expression 6-4 to the floor.