Transcript Highlights:

• It's about patience and science. Two of my four grandparents died from Alzheimer's.
• science important in supporting science important in supporting and<01:28:47.920><c> getting</c><01:28
• Um the basic science is very important.
• </c> wisely and follow the best science wisely and follow the best science possible<03:00:56.800><c>
• </c><03:21:28.560><c> behind</c> the innovation and the science behind the innovation and the science

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• each of the specialty schools, the cyber school, the school of fine arts, the school of math and sciences
• Uh we are supporting the and sciences.
• Increase of $1 million for computer science, reading coaches in every school, technology coordinators
• Clerk, unlock the machine and the members will vote. computer science, reading coaches in computer science
• and so with some of those of that nature and so with some of those things<02:01:59.119><c> taken</c>

Transcript Highlights:

• That's just the way that it works in nature.
• That's just the way that it works in nature.
• That's just the way that it works in nature.
• So, we have programs that are in nature.
• </c> anytime that we have um a natural anytime that we have um a natural disaster<01:02:12.319><c> or

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, adoption of the minutes, and brief remarks, including birthday recognition for Representative Maseroni and a moment of reflection for a soldier who died during training at Fort Knox. The committee then heard a presentation from Tony Hatton, commissioner of the Department for Environmental Protection and acting director of the Kentucky Division of Water, with Amanda Lefer, deputy commissioner, on the state’s water and wastewater programs and planning. Hatton described Kentucky’s water resources and the Division of Water’s responsibilities, including watershed and nonpoint source work, KPDES discharge permitting, PFAS response, engineering review of water infrastructure, inspections, public outreach, and sampling. He said Kentucky has 428 public water systems, 263 water treatment plants, about 1.9 million service connections, and nearly 97% of the population has access to municipally treated water. He also noted that the state has 43 systems receiving awards for EPA areawide optimization and emphasized operator training, regionalization, and use of GIS mapping and Kentucky Infrastructure Authority data to support planning and funding decisions. Members raised concerns about aging infrastructure, water loss, staffing shortages, and wastewater problems in local systems. Representative Blandon described severe failures in a city system, including major water loss and sewer backups, and asked whether the state could intervene; Hatton said the division inspects treatment facilities and provides compliance assistance but is not authorized to manage delivery systems, though third-party help and emergency funding can be used in some cases. Senator Smith and others shared similar experiences with line loss and system failures, while Hatton pointed to regionalization and funding support as the main tools available. The discussion also highlighted PFAS as an emerging issue, with Hatton saying the department is working with systems to meet anticipated federal requirements by 2029.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are unique because our classes cover all disciplines from STEM to the arts, from social sciences to
• We added a computer science class for 2026, and we're looking at expanding our I've used through my early
• </c><00:06:06.960><c> We</c> from social sciences to humanities.
• We from social sciences to humanities.
• ><c> class</c><00:06:08.800><c> for</c><00:06:09.120><c> 2026,</c> added a computer science class for

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• You could have them in your social studies, but you could have them obviously in your math and science
• You had to actually sit in class; you had to take physics classes or math classes or earth science classes
• Yes, you could, and you know, I used to always think I was able to teach high school science and math
• My mom made that decision when she was getting ready to retire as a science teacher: How many more years
• Given the nature of our profession, we would need to understand, as a qualified plan, given all our investments

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The committee met in executive session first and took up House Bill 3239, adopting a Hurlbert amendment that capped the program at $4 million and then adopting the House Committee Substitute. The substitute bill passed 11-7. The committee then combined House Bill 2913 and House Bill 3228 into one substitute; members discussed that it would not cover student teachers and was intended to start with the current scope and broaden later. The combined substitute passed unanimously, 19-0. In open session, the committee heard House Bill 2195, which would create a Missouri Integrated Safe Driving Program to let DESE vet and distribute safe-driving lesson materials for voluntary use in existing courses starting in 2027-2028. Sponsor Representative Reedy said the bill is intended to improve teen driver safety without a fiscal note. Supporters included AAA Missouri, traffic-safety and motorcycle groups, MoDOT, and the Missouri Insurance Coalition, who cited teen crash and fatality data, the benefits of formal driver education, and the need to address distracted driving, traffic stops, and motorcycle awareness. No one testified in opposition. The committee also heard House Bill 2502, which would clarify how records from closed nonpublic schools and charter schools are transferred and stored so students can later obtain transcripts and graduation records. The sponsor said the bill responds to missing records from closed schools and would direct records to the appropriate public district; a technical correction was noted to avoid including homeschool records. Missouri NEA supported the bill and suggested charter-school performance contracts include compliance expectations. The committee then heard House Bill 2396, which would allow retired teachers to return to PSRS-covered teaching jobs without a time limit, similar to existing critical-shortage provisions. The sponsor argued it would help districts, especially smaller ones, and could benefit teachers and students without harming the retirement system. PSRS/PEERS testified that the bill could raise contribution rates by an estimated 1.44% to 2.45% and raised concerns about behavior changes and IRS qualification issues; Missouri NEA and the Missouri State Teachers Association opposed the bill, saying it would not solve recruitment and retention problems and could damage the retirement system. The Missouri Retired Teachers Association testified for informational purposes, warning that the bill could prompt many eligible teachers to retire sooner.

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal of actuarial science is to find a reasonable assumed rate of return.
• to study, but we both have the same, you know, sort of approach to we want to, the goal of actual science
• is to find a reasonable... approach to, we want to, the goal of actual science is to find a reasonable
• So setting actuarial assumptions is definitely more of an art than a science.
• That is just part of the nature of setting assumptions.

Summary: The Public Retirement System Actuarial Committee met on February 23, 2026, approved the December 18, 2025 minutes, and heard no public comment. The committee then reviewed actuarial valuation reports and, for most systems, accompanying experience studies. The actuaries reported generally favorable investment and demographic experience across the systems, with funded ratios improving and employer contribution rates declining in several plans. They also explained the role of funding deposit accounts, frozen unfunded liabilities in some plans, and how recent legislative changes, especially the move to five-year DROP periods in some systems, affected assumptions and costs. For the Louisiana Clerk of Court Retirement Relief Fund, the committee adopted the valuation and experience study, recognizing a fiscal 2027 minimum recommended employer rate of 14.75%. For the District Attorney’s Retirement System, it adopted the valuation and experience study and recognized a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 3.00%. For the Firefighters’ Retirement System, the committee adopted the valuation and experience study, recognized a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 25.5%, and noted that DROP balances left on deposit will earn the market rate of return of 11.7%. The committee also adopted the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System valuation for both Plan A and Plan B, recognizing fiscal 2027 minimum rates of 20.75% and 8.75%, respectively. It adopted the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System valuation and experience study, recognizing a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 26.5%, a DROP crediting rate of 7.4%, and a policy range up to 29.35% for future contributions. For the Registrars of Voters Employees’ Retirement System, the committee adopted the valuation and experience study, recognized a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 0%, and noted a $207,683 allocation to the Member Supplemental Savings Fund for fiscal 2026. Finally, it adopted the Sheriff’s Pension and Relief Fund valuation and experience study, recognizing a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 7.75%. All motions passed without objection, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal of actuarial science is to find a reasonable...
• The goal of actuarial science is to find a reasonable... ...approach to finding a reasonable assumed
• So setting actuarial assumptions is definitely more of an art than a science.
• So setting actuarial assumptions is definitely more of an art than a science.
• That is just part of the nature of setting assumptions.

Summary: The Public Retirement System Actuarial Committee met on February 23, 2026, approved the December 18, 2025 minutes, and heard actuarial valuation reports and experience studies for several retirement systems. Presenters repeatedly noted strong investment performance, payroll growth, and generally improving funded ratios across the systems, with most plans showing lower minimum recommended employer contribution rates for fiscal 2027. The committee also received explanations of funding deposit accounts, frozen unfunded liabilities in some plans, and how recent legislative changes, including the move to five-year DROP periods in some systems, affected costs and assumptions. For the Clerk of Court, District Attorney, Firefighters, Municipal Employees (Plans A and B), Municipal Police, Registrars of Voters, and Sheriffs systems, the committee reviewed 2025 actuarial evaluations and, where applicable, 2025 experience studies. The actuarial reviewers reported no significant deficiencies and said the valuations were completed in accordance with applicable actuarial standards, generally accepted actuarial practice, and state statutes. The experience studies generally led to modest assumption changes, with some cost decreases from salary, mortality, withdrawal, and asset experience, while some plans saw offsetting increases from retirement or post-DROP behavior. The committee asked a brief question about mortality assumptions and was told the studies use separate male/female and safety/non-safety tables adjusted for Louisiana experience. The committee adopted each valuation and experience study without objection. Key fiscal 2027 minimum recommended employer contribution rates included 14.75% for Clerk of Court, 3.0% for District Attorneys, 25.5% for Firefighters, 20.75% for MERS Plan A, 8.75% for MERS Plan B, 26.5% for Municipal Police, 0% for Registrars of Voters with a $207,683 allocation to the Member Supplemental Savings Fund, and 7.75% for Sheriffs. The committee also recognized DROP crediting rates where applicable and adjourned after completing all agenda items.

Transcript Highlights:

• investigatory and hearing practices that lack the objective, independent structure and adversarial nature
• teaches at Trooper Basic and law enforcement all around the state, our officers are trained with science-based
• And it addresses just really the difference between what the science actually supports and what the presumption
• A 0.05 simply aligns the law with what science has already told us.
• The science is unequivocal, and experience shows us that the policy works.

Bills: HB2220 , HB2362

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: criminal justice training commission, CJTC, law enforcement training, peace officer certification, decertification, corrections officer certification, tribal police certification, police accountability, police oversight, public safety, academy training, in-service training, continuing education, use of force, misconduct investigations, disciplinary hearings, administrative law judge, hearing panel, law enforcement standards, background investigations

Transcript Highlights:

• The center's main goal is to conduct research on improving response to natural disasters, minimizing
• grade and give students the opportunity to graduate with both a high school diploma and associate of science
• giving us a lot of new students and started new masters program with the Masters and Green Marine Science
• And I am the chair of the Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville's Capital Campaign, which the
• Caught cardiopulmonary science, new diagnostics.

Transcript Highlights:

• modification of at least 50,000 square feet for the Energy and Environment Cabinet, Department for Natural
• restricted funds amendment to the postsecondary education Kentucky Community and Technical College Science
• restricted funds amendment to the postsecondary education Kentucky Community and Technical College Science
• restricted funds amendment to the postsecondary education Kentucky Community and Technical College Science
• restricted funds amendment to the postsecondary education Kentucky Community and Technical College Science

Summary: The committee first approved the January minutes and then received several informational reports on school district tax levies, revenue bonds, lease advertisements, and previously rejected lease transactions. Members were told that one rejected lease for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Hardin County would be canceled and rebid, while a Perry County lease modification for the Energy and Environment Cabinet would proceed. The Kentucky Communications Network Authority also submitted its quarterly capital projects report, and Eastern Kentucky University reported revisions to asset preservation projects. Janice Thomas, Deputy State Budget Director, presented four capital project action items. These included a Kentucky State University Betty White Building renovation funded by USDA grant money, a Department of Education state schools dormitory and cottage renovation appropriation increase because bids exceeded estimates, a restricted-funds scope increase for the Elizabethtown CTC science building expansion, and a pool project report for the Department of Corrections’ KCIW kitchen drain line repair and replacement. Representative Petrie asked about how often the statutory authority for midstream project increases is used and whether bids are typically competitive; Thomas said the increases are used often when bids come in above estimates and that bids are generally competitive, though construction costs have been difficult to gauge. The committee unanimously approved the first three action items, and the KCIW project was reported with no action required. H. Sandy Williams of the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority then presented six loans and one emergency grant. The items included loans for Frankfort’s East Frankfort Interceptor wet weather facility project, Sturgis wastewater improvements, Scottsville inflow and infiltration work, Morganfield wastewater treatment plant planning and design, Western Pulaski County Water District transmission improvements, and Springfield water system planning and replacement work, plus an emergency Kentucky Waters grant for Eddyville following a sewer treatment plant failure and local emergency declarations. After no questions, the committee unanimously approved the seven KIA transactions. Chelsea Couch then presented a Kentucky Housing Corporation conduit issuance for $38.4 million to finance a multifamily rental project in Jefferson County; members asked how the committee participates and were told it was a conduit issuance rather than state debt. The committee approved that item. Finally, the committee heard an informational Turnpike Authority refunding issuance of about $53 million for present value savings, then approved four SFCC debt issues for Henderson, Pulaski, Scott, and Trimble counties to finance school renovations and construction. The meeting ended with notice of the next meeting date and location.

Transcript Highlights:

• already explained, achieves these results by simply updating outdated statutes to reflect modern science
• Jennifer Snyder, on behalf of City of Hope and the California Life Sciences, in support. Thank you.
• She tells a story about how much she loves school, particularly science.
• That same little third grader is now finishing her first year of college, and she still loves science
• Jennifer Snyder, on behalf of California Life Sciences, in support.

Summary: The committee heard several health-related bills, beginning with SB 1124, which would require the California Department of Public Health to create and post lung cancer screening eligibility signage at tobacco point-of-sale locations. The author and supporters said the bill is intended to raise awareness of a screening that many eligible Californians do not know exists; retailers raised concerns about signage size, distribution, and notice to stores. The bill was presented while the committee lacked quorum, so no vote was taken at that time. Members then heard SB 1150, which would require clearer patient notice when cancer cases are reported to the California Cancer Registry. The author and committee chair emphasized patient awareness and privacy, while registry and university stakeholders said they appreciated the amendments and would continue working on the language. SB 1400 followed, proposing changes to Alameda Health System governance to give Alameda County more flexibility and direct oversight; county and labor supporters said the current structure is too rigid for today’s health care environment, and no opposition was heard. The committee also heard SB 1094, which would expand substitution of biosimilars and generics to lower prescription drug costs. Supporters, including health plans and Sharp Health Care, said the bill would reduce premiums and out-of-pocket costs, while opponents from biotechnology and rheumatology groups raised concerns about pharmacist substitution, patient switching, and therapeutic equivalence. After quorum was established, SB 1094 passed 6-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1314, which would create a statewide definition for smoke shops, impose a 600-foot buffer from sensitive sites, and restrict nitrous oxide sales; it drew broad support from local government, pediatric, and law enforcement groups and passed 6-0 on call. SB 1309, which would eliminate cost-sharing for medically appropriate lung cancer screening follow-up care, also passed 7-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations after testimony from clinicians, advocates, and insurers. Finally, SB 1199 was introduced to ban copay accumulators, with the sponsor and author arguing it would ensure patient assistance counts toward out-of-pocket maximums and improve medication access.

Transcript Highlights:

• already explained, achieves these results by simply updating outdated statutes to reflect modern science
• Jennifer Snyder, on behalf of City of Hope and the California Life Sciences, in support. Thank you.
• She tells a story about how much she loves school, particularly science.
• That same little third grader is now finishing her first year of college, and she still loves science
• Jennifer Snyder, on behalf of California Life Sciences, in support.

Committee: Senate Health

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm speaking is that I came here in May of this year to chair the Division of Forensic Behavioral Sciences
• A little bit in terms of history, the Division of Forensic Behavioral Sciences was established in 2017
• The department established a formal Division of Forensic Behavioral Sciences within the Department of
• Although the programs displayed on your screen are not formally part of our Forensic Behavioral Sciences
• services embedded in the Department of Psychiatry here at the University and our Forensic Behavioral Science

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• They bring careers such as healthcare, vet science, construction, culinary arts.
• I implement the principles of the science of reading. Doctor, Dr.
• And then they'd be coming into kindergarten behind because of the trickle-down nature of academics, right
• All the high school teachers meet, or all the science teachers meet, or all the kindergarten teachers
• So they have math for an hour, English for an hour, social studies for an hour, science for an hour.

Transcript Highlights:

• Economically challenged individuals that wouldn't usually choose a route to science.
• it is a state economic issue first from a state budget perspective. of our geography is rural in nature
• Heart Attack Prevention Act into 2025 by updating insurance screening coverage to reflect current science
• And then, I won't go into all the science, but the non-calcified plaque is the strongest predictor of
• And there are those categories of everything that meets evidence-based science. All right.

Bills: HB18 , HB37 , HB 116 , HB388 , HB879 , HB913 , HB 1151 , HB2216 , HB2358 , HB2809 , SB577 , SB1590 , SB1782 , SB1887 , SB2744 , HB18 , HB37 , HB116

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• of parental rights the nature of parental rights exist because they're derived from the obligations
• We need to focus on literacy and math proficiency and science and social studies and and eliminate all
• Just a quick comment, not a question, but just what you were saying about the nature of these bills,
• Language arts, math. science, and skilled crafts.
• Homosexuality, degeneracy, and promiscuity as normal, natural, and healthy.

Bills: SB12 , SB1565 , SB13 , SJR12 , SB686 , SB371 , SB204 , SB609 , SB112 , SB400 , SB813 , SB 12 , SB 13

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• We're still learning about the science. We're going through our GHG reduction plan.
• We're still learning about the science. We're going through our GHG reduction plan.
• We're still learning about the science. We're going through our GHG reduction plan.
• So those are projects that we would use the revenue for, projects of that nature cost much more than
• Thank you, Chair. nature cost much more than 8 nature cost much more than 8 million<00:46:53.760><c>

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The joint hearing covered SB 1023, which would create a spay-neuter special fund to reduce pet overpopulation and free-roaming cats, with funding sources including an income tax checkoff. The Department of Taxation had no substantive comment, while the Hawaii Invasive Species Council supported the measure but opposed any trap-neuter-release or re-release approach, saying spay-neuter is important but release does not reduce cats on the landscape. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised concerns about creating another special fund and tax checkoff, saying the fund may not meet statutory criteria and could create administrative burdens. The Hawaiian Humane Society strongly supported the bill, arguing the state currently provides little funding for animal overpopulation control and that the measure would help nonprofits and align conservation and animal welfare goals. Several other supporters testified, including a cat sanctuary representative who described the need for a dedicated funding mechanism and a possible Oahu sanctuary to remove cats from sensitive areas. After questions about the effectiveness of trap-neuter-release and the need for alternative management tools, the committees voted to recommend passage with amendments, including blanking appropriation amounts, moving them into the committee report, setting the effective date to July 1, 2050, and noting Budget and Finance concerns; the recommendations were adopted in both committees, with some members voting with reservations. The hearing then moved to SB 1120, relating to transportation and a clean fuel standard. The Department of Transportation said it supported the intent but wanted more information on economic impacts. Electrify America and Neste supported the bill, saying a clean fuel standard would help finance EV charging, encourage investment, and expand lower-carbon fuel options such as renewable diesel. In response to questions from senators about rural and agricultural transportation needs, witnesses said the standard could support both electrification where feasible and cleaner liquid fuels in the interim for equipment that cannot yet be electrified. DOT also described county transit efforts and said it was working with Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island on assessments for zero-emission bus replacement and charging infrastructure. The committees also heard testimony on SB 586, relating to climate change and zero-emission buses by 2045, with the State Procurement Office supporting the intent but suggesting the language be moved to a different statute; DOT said it was providing pass-through funding to counties and had some zero-emission bus purchases and charging stations on order. The discussion emphasized infrastructure costs and implementation challenges, but no final vote on SB 1120 or SB 586 was described in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot of science and math that goes into those lessons.
• There's a lot of science and math that goes into those lessons.
• </c> advocates for science-based drug policy. advocates for science-based drug policy.
• </c> in five in five should say any natural in five in five should say any natural person<03:44:38.880
• </c><03:47:39.240><c> or</c> from hemp which contain natural or from hemp which contain natural or synthetic

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• state is taking on in the next few years, given the scarcity of resources and what is happening in natural
• And we're very excited and very pleased because what you do with water and natural resources is so important
• demand, but it's very exciting what's happening in Las Cruces because, again, it goes back to our natural
• There have been many conversations here in Doña Ana County over water and our natural resources, which
• We do have the first Bachelor of Science in AI and machine learning at the university in the state.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• representative from the 30th legislative district and the new chair of the House Agriculture and Natural
• It is wonderful to have the chair of the Ag and Natural Resources here.
• You were part of this committee as chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
• I just didn't know if it was a statutory requirement as the chair of the Senate Agriculture and Natural
• exactly the type of collaboration that we can see that works for many districts, but it also has the science

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought

Summary: The Joint Committee on Water Supply During Drought opened its 2025 meeting with member introductions and then held elections for committee leadership. After brief discussion about the committee’s customary rotation and eligibility rules, members unanimously elected Senator Ron Muzzall as chair and Representative Kristine Reeves as vice chair. The outgoing chair, Representative Ybarra, continued presiding for the remainder of the meeting at Senator Muzzall’s request. The committee then heard a presentation from Sage Park of the Roza Irrigation District on current drought conditions in the Yakima Basin. Park described very low reservoir levels, declining water supply forecasts, an early shutdown of deliveries, and the district’s response measures, including a 10-day shutdown, pump-backs, leased water, canal piping, and on-farm conservation. She also noted impacts on growers, including fallowing and removal of thousands of acres of crops, and emphasized the need for continued emergency drought funding, faster and more efficient state lease assistance, and support for fish-related water needs and longer-term drought resiliency funding. Urban Eberhard then presented on the Kittitas Reclamation District and the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. He highlighted extensive on-farm conservation, canal piping and lining, SCADA/telemetry improvements, and the Springwood reservoir project, which is intended to improve water storage, delivery reliability, and fish flows. Members asked about the reservoir’s potential for hydro generation and about effects on groundwater recharge from canal lining; Eberhard said hydro is being considered in feasibility work and that managed aquifer recharge is being monitored and incorporated into planning. The committee did not take any further legislative action beyond the leadership elections.