Transcript Highlights:

• So, in consulting with Chair Friend, we agreed that the bill should go to a first then to bonding.
• I have witnessed the powerful and palpable bond between Burnsville's police officers and firefighters
• powerful Brothers I have witnessed the powerful and<00:14:15.399><c> palpable</c><00:14:15.839><c> bond
• </c><00:14:16.160><c> between</c><00:14:16.480><c> burnsville's</c> and palpable bond between burnsville's
• and palpable bond between burnsville's police<00:14:17.560><c> officers</c><00:14:17.959><c> and</c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, the bonds. All right. Thank you. I, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• What is the bond bill? What? Do they have drama about the bond bill? I hope not. They're not. What?
• Can we recognize our bond members really quickly who worked so hard to get this done?
• Where are our bond members? Nobody wants to take credit for this?
• It's a pleasure to serve on bond with you.

Summary: The House met on June 30, 2026, with opening ceremonies, guest introductions, a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence for two deceased community members. Members also adopted Consent Calendar 29, which included House Concurrent Resolutions 153, 154, and 156, and passed House Concurrent Resolution 157 directing the State Lottery to report on iLottery options to support traditional lottery retailers, as amended to set a February 15, 2027 reporting deadline. The chamber then considered several bills on agriculture, telecommunications, health, fire service standards, corrections, elections, and education. Among the measures passed were Senate Bill 53 on the Delaware Farm to Community Program, Senate Bill 307 on PSC authority for Lifeline telecom carriers, Senate Bill 339 clarifying advance health care directives, Senate Bill 235 extending manufactured home rent increase rules, Senate Bill 325 updating firefighter/EMS background check and membership standards, Senate Bill 309 discharging incarceration-related balances, Senate Bill 324 on constable-related handgun purchase exemptions, Senate Bill 94 on respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication access, and Senate Bill 293 creating a licensure pathway for summer camp providers in the Purchase of Care program. The House also passed Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment to protect the right to marry regardless of race or gender while explicitly preserving religious freedom. The bill drew extended debate, with supporters framing it as a safeguard against future rollbacks of marriage equality and opponents raising concerns about constitutionalizing an issue already in statute; several members explained changed votes and personal reflections before the final roll call, which passed 28-12. House Bill 188, which would allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary, also passed after amendment, despite some opposition over party-system effects. Two measures were tabled or amended after debate: Senate Bill 233 on removing snow and ice from vehicles was initially tabled to consider a truck-driver exemption amendment, then the amendment failed and the bill later passed as amended; and Senate Joint Resolution 19 on studying health care costs was tabled briefly pending legal clarification. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404, creating a three-year pilot program for AI and extended reality in schools, passed after testimony from the Department of Education emphasizing guardrails, data privacy, and teacher oversight. The transcript ends as House Bill 478 is being read in, but no final action on that bill appears in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• They create cultural connections with the land, and they create safe family bonding.
• That includes bonds. Right now, you're not allowed to... The general ballot that includes bonds.
• Right now, you're not allowed to have a bond on a general election because it is a partisan ballot.
• Currently, schools are limited and can only place these bond and levy elections on the regular local
• It will simply allow bond questions to be on the general election. Thank you so much. Senator vote.

Bills: SB83 , SB106 , SB107 , SB123 , SJR1 , SB83 , SB106 , SB107 , SB123 , SJR1

Committees: Senate Senate Education , Senate House Education

Keywords: ecological monitoring, sustainability, tribal engagement, education, research funding, graduate scholarship, higher education funding, New Mexico, appropriation, financial aid, out-of-school programming, education funding, youth programs, affordability, nonprofit organizations, defibrillators, public schools, health and safety, emergency response, school elections

Transcript Highlights:

• There were missing United States savings bonds.
• There were missing United States savings bonds.
• And so each guardian has both a bond number and a registration number, or is that a different number?
• Each guardian could have a bond number and a registration number.
• I am not wholly familiar, but I believe that some guardians can work under somebody else's bond.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive updates on implementation of House Bill 1349, which created guardianship transparency measures, and on the Department of Elder Affairs’ Office of Public and Professional Guardians (OPPG). The Clerk of Courts Operations Corporation described the statewide guardianship database for judges and a public-facing website, noting the system went live in March 2025 after a soft launch in 2024. Officials said the database now includes information from all 67 clerks, with 388 users, about 6,400 wards, and 518 professional guardians. Members asked about unique identifiers, data duplication, training, and how the system is being used; CCOC said it is working to use registration numbers as identifiers, improve search functions, expand training, and seek continued funding. Secretary Michelle Branham then outlined OPPG’s implementation of HB 1349 and its broader oversight role. She said the department has doubled education requirements, expanded transparency through the Sentry system, and brought investigations fully in-house in August 2024. She described the complaint and investigation process, including legal sufficiency review, regional investigators, mandatory in-person interviews, and possible outcomes ranging from corrective training and fines to suspension or revocation. Members asked about complaint categories, disciplinary actions, whether guardians can be suspended during investigations, and how older cases are handled; the secretary said most complaints are administrative/technical, serious allegations are referred to law enforcement, and one older case discussed remained ongoing. The Auditor General’s office presented its operational audit of OPPG, covering July 2022 through January 2024 and follow-up on prior findings. The audit identified problems with monitoring private professional guardians and public guardian offices, complaint processing timeliness, incomplete public profile information, late registration renewals, failure to assess contract penalties, weak collection safeguards, missing follow-up on required public guardian reports, lack of needed rules, and Sentry system access/security controls. In response, Secretary Branham said the department does not dispute the findings and has already taken corrective steps, including launching Sentry, hiring additional monitors, moving investigations in-house, adding automated renewal reminders, updating forms, and drafting new rules. She also said the department plans to seek subpoena power and stronger fines in the next legislative session. The subcommittee took no formal vote and adjourned after members’ questions were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• about in this committee that I think is important to bring out is what the requirements are to pass a bond
• If you did it in a February or a June special, they'd take a two-thirds vote to pass that bond issue.
• odd-numbered year, in an April election, and this is the way it is now, in an April election, you can pass a bond
• issue... ...and this is the way it is now, in an April election, you can pass a bond issue with a four-sevenths
• talking about school districts, I'm talking about any of the taxing districts that might need to put a bond

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Summary: The Special Committee on Property Tax Reform met in executive session and considered three measures. House Bill 3354 was amended to clarify language concerning the blind pension fund rate, with members discussing whether the revised rate would be 2.75 cents and whether the fund would remain adequately supported. The committee adopted the amendment, rolled it into a substitute, and then voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 3354 do pass by a 13-0 roll call. The committee then took up House Bill 2925, which had been narrowed to standardized ballot language for property tax-related elections after removing the original November election scheduling requirement. Members discussed the purpose of the change, the different vote thresholds for bond issues in various election types, and concerns about whether the ballot language problem actually existed. The substitute was adopted, and House Committee Substitute Number Two for HB 2925 was voted do pass by 12-1, with Representative Hales voting no. Finally, the committee considered House Bills 3253 and 3254 together, but the substitute focused on a smaller set of provisions: assessor training, monthly installment payments, partial payment during appeal, and electronic records/electronic communication options. The most detailed discussion concerned the revised appeal-payment process, which would let taxpayers pay last year’s amount while appealing, then settle the balance within 30 days after resolution, with interest tied to CPI or 5 percent and a $10 fee to offset revenue that would otherwise go to certain funds. The substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for HB 3253 and HB 3254 was reported do pass unanimously, after which the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• money that can go towards principal and interest, do we anticipate that that's going to lead to more bonding
• , like bonding more money for roaddes or why do we think we need that extra money in that area?
• Just in anticipation of what those future bonds may be, this may not actually be spent, but as It says
• I think this is just the anticipation of current bonds or current projects that are on the board.
• But it, I mean, as future bonds may come on board, then there may be the need to increase that or increase

Bills: HCR1006 , SB1226 , SB1239 , SB1309 , SB2132 , SB1189 , SB1344 , SB1295 , SB1355 , SB1998 , SB1330 , SB1297 , SB1338 , SB1546 , SB1378 , SB1859 , SB1333 , SB1341 , SB1377 , SB1990

Keywords: campaign finance, election spending, political spending, money in politics, constitutional amendment, Citizens United, free speech, ballot measures, elections, corruption, dark money, outside spending, foreign influence, special interests, corporations, unions, federalism, self-government, political equality, term limits

Transcript Highlights:

• And for a lot of these EMS agencies to just go in and buy them and, and not bond them and have lower
• um, what this bill initially does is it just, it gives the uh Medical Service Act the capability to bond
• When you say that we, they, uh, rural areas were bind the ambulances but not bonding them, I'm not sure
• Whenever we used to buy fire trucks, we could bond the money in our fire fund, and there's not that option
• And so this just brings everything in line to where you can bond that money. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Thirdly, amending chapter 206E, HRS, to authorize HCD to issue community facilities district bonds to
• Fourthly, provide legislative authorization for HCDA to issue bonds under new HRS 206- to finance infrastructure
• legislative authorization for hcda to legislative authorization for hcda to issue<00:02:53.959><c> bonds
• 55.040><c> HRS</c><00:02:55.640><c> 206-</c><00:02:56.640><c> and</c><00:02:56.760><c> the</c> issue bonds
• under new HRS 206- and the issue bonds under new HRS 206- and the amount<00:02:57.120><c> of</c><00:

Summary: The committee first took up HB 229 HD1, a transportation measure previously heard jointly with another committee. Members recommended passing it with amendments. The amendments would shift the left-lane restriction from a speed-based standard to apply to vehicles over 10,000 pounds and vehicles towing another vehicle or trailer on roads with three or more lanes in the same direction. The committee also indicated the Judiciary Committee would handle the penalty amounts, while preserving exemptions for passing, left turns, public transit, school buses, and emergency vehicles, and keeping the bill limited to counties with populations over 500,000. The motion was adopted without discussion. The committee then considered HB 1 HD2 relating to the HCDA and transit-oriented development financing. The proposed amendments would give HCDA authority to develop parcels outside community development districts, allow community facilities districts within TOD zones, authorize CFD bonds and HCDA bonds to finance infrastructure, especially transit infrastructure, and incorporate the structure and intent of SB 1669, along with technical changes. The committee recommended passage with amendments, and the measure was adopted. Later, the committee heard HB 1167 HD1, an emergency appropriation to the Department of Transportation. DOT testified in support and clarified that the requested appropriation was $1 million from state highway funds. The committee recommended passing the bill with amendments, including changing the defective date to July 1, 2025 and noting the $1 million request in the committee report for further consideration by Ways and Means. The motion passed, with the chair, Senator Kanuha, and Senator Dort voting in favor and the vice chair excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had the bonding capacity for 16 million and I thought it was foolish to tie up all of that bonding
• We had the bonding capacity for 16 million and I thought it was foolish to tie up all of that bonding
• We had the bonding capacity for 16 million and I thought it was foolish to tie up all of that bonding
• We had the bonding capacity for 16 million and I thought it was foolish to tie up all of that bonding
• We had the bonding capacity for 16 million and I thought it was foolish to tie up all of that bonding

Summary: The committee met for its sixth meeting, established a quorum, and approved the minutes from the October 21 meeting. The main agenda item was a presentation from Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) leaders and county officials on jail funding and jail-system reform. Speakers said county jail costs have reached crisis levels, citing large and rising general-fund subsidies in counties such as Hardin, McCracken, and Warren, and noting that county general-fund contributions to jail funds have increased by 76% since 2019. KACo outlined a three-part legislative approach for the upcoming session: incentivizing regional jails, clarifying responsibility for pre-trial felony detainees, and redefining the model for housing state inmates in county jails. On regional jails, they proposed one-time state construction funding, statutory changes to allow former county jails to serve as 96-hour holdover facilities, broader participation of jailers on regional jail authority boards, an increased supplement for closed county jails, and a one-time payment for counties that close local jails and join regional facilities. Union County Judge Adam Onan described his county’s savings from contracting with Webster County and said regionalization can reduce costs where feasible. Harlan County Judge Executive Dan Mosley focused on pre-trial felony detainees, saying counties bear the full cost of housing people awaiting trial for long periods, sometimes years, and that pre-trial time is later credited toward state sentences. He argued the state benefits from that credit and referenced prior bills that would have reimbursed counties for time-served credit. Shelley Hampton then proposed replacing the current per diem model for state inmates with contracts requiring the Department of Corrections to pay actual housing costs and to support programming such as substance abuse treatment, cognitive behavioral programming, re-entry services, workforce training, and academics. No votes were taken on the jail proposals, and the meeting ended with the presentation and discussion of the county recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is reflected in the bond sale each year.
• So you can see there, and we talked about... ...in the bond sale each year.
• that bond sale, right?
• We spend money, and then the portion that is spent, we sell bonds, but guess what?
• You have to pay off the bonds to which it’s obligated.

Summary: The committee met for an informational hearing focused largely on the state capital outlay process and House Bill 2. Roger Husser and Matt Baker of the Division of Administration/Facility Planning and Control described how the office prepares and administers the capital outlay bill, said the bill has grown substantially over five years, and argued that recent changes in culture, staffing, project management, cash-flow analysis, and use of third-party support have more than doubled project expenditures and improved delivery. Members asked about the use and cost of third-party project managers, delegation of smaller projects to agencies, hiring difficulties, and whether the changes represented better interpretation of existing law versus statutory changes. Husser said some statutes were amended, some internal customs were removed, and the office would provide a list of those changes. He also explained that the office is trying to move away from overly rigid practices and toward faster project completion while still following public-bid and oversight rules. A major portion of the discussion centered on the size and structure of the capital outlay bill, especially the gap between Priority 1 cash capacity and the much larger Priority 5 backlog. Husser said the current annual Priority 1 limit is tied to construction inflation and is about $574 million, with additional surplus funds also available, but that the bill contains far more Priority 5 funding than can realistically move in a five-year plan. He and members discussed dormant projects, scope creep, legacy projects that have sat in the bill for years, and the problem of false expectations for non-state entities. Proposed solutions included limiting Priority 5 to five times Priority 1, requiring annual re-endorsement by members, setting district or project caps for non-state projects, requiring time limits and reporting for grant-like non-state projects, placing matches in escrow, requiring design readiness before submission, and consolidating the many existing reporting requirements into one clearer report. Members also discussed bundling multiple projects under one agency project, which the House had begun piloting for LSU, UL Lafayette, Southern, and DOTD, and which Husser said could improve flexibility, reduce overappropriation, and better reflect actual spending. Baker then explained cash-flow management and the commitment process, saying FPC now analyzes projects annually to estimate what can actually be spent in the next fiscal year and uses commitments to allow projects to proceed when future-year funding is expected. He said overappropriations can result from poor cash-flow estimates, delays, dormant projects, or projects coming in under budget, and that the office is already reworking cash-flow assumptions and reappropriating savings where possible. Members also raised concerns about change orders and low bids; staff said project managers review change orders closely, require concurrence on non-state projects, and sometimes reduce scope to keep projects within budget. After FPC’s presentation, the committee heard the beginning of Louisiana Economic Development’s capital outlay discussion, where LED explained that its projects generally fall into three categories, including the Economic Development Awards Program and Site Readiness Program, both used to support targeted economic development and job creation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Items were not available for inspection, and performance bonds were not obtained for certain projects
• for inspection, and performance bonds were not obtained for certain projects in excess of $50,000 as
• It is from our bond account.
• We put our bond account in a separate account as advised, and it was with the main account in the same
• There were two reports that were certified to the Governmental Bonding Board and also referred to the

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Summary: The committee met to review a large slate of education audit reports, with most of the discussion focused on the Blytheville School District. Legislative Audit summarized serious repeat findings in the FY24 and FY25 audits, including missing supporting documentation for payroll, receipts, disbursements, journal entries, and Title I spending; unreconciled bank balances; capital asset recordkeeping problems; missing performance bonds; and payroll errors. Audit staff said the lack of documentation led to qualified opinions on the financial statements, and the reports were referred to the prosecuting attorney and attorney general. Members questioned how the district had reached that point, what safeguards existed under state takeover, whether prior administrators had moved on to other districts, and how much money might need to be repaid. District and Department of Education representatives said Blytheville was under Level 5 intensive support, had a new superintendent, new finance staff, and a management contract with AMS, and that corrective action plans were underway. A motion to refer the matter to the Professional Licensure Standards Board was discussed, then withdrawn so the former superintendent, Dr. Veronica Perkins, could testify; she said the district had longstanding staffing and process problems, denied intentional wrongdoing, and described the changes now being made. The committee ultimately held the Blytheville report over until the September meeting and then filed it later in the meeting after further discussion. The committee then reviewed several other repeat-finding reports. KIPP Delta Public Charter School had multiple repeat issues involving missing documentation, improper use of Title I and federal funds, weak bank reconciliations, collateralization problems, capital asset recordkeeping, related-party transactions, and journal entry approval; that report had already been referred to the First Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney and the Attorney General. KIPP representatives said they had replaced personnel, improved oversight, and were working with outside support to correct long-standing finance problems, including a prior $3.6 million variance that they said had been reduced to zero. Hope Academy of Northwest Arkansas, which had voluntarily closed effective June 30, 2025, had repeat findings tied to financial statement errors, bank reconciliations, leave records, non-payroll expenditures, and journal entries; its former superintendent said the school closed without owing money to the state and that the organization had shifted its work into a new project serving students with behavioral needs. The committee also heard brief presentations on Brinkley, Lee County, and Marvel school districts. Brinkley’s repeat findings involved misclassified and unrecorded revenues and investments tied to bond and settlement accounts, plus bank reconciliation issues; the district said it had a new finance team, was working with outside support, and had reduced its variance to zero. Lee County’s repeat finding involved capital assets, including a bus that had been disposed of but remained on the asset list and several purchased items that were not added promptly; the superintendent said the district had improved overall and corrected the issue. Marvel’s repeat finding involved payroll errors, with one certified employee overpaid and another underpaid due to clerical mistakes. In each case, district representatives described corrective steps, and the committee voted without objection to file the reports that were ready for disposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1091 and CAP were designed to fill this gap, and with a potential state affordable housing bond on
• Yes, that's what we're hoping, that there would be money in the bond specifically for this program.
• Yes, that's what we're hoping, that there would be money in the bond specifically for this program.
• And is that currently within that bond, or is this something that you folks are working toward adding
• Several points: One, this is already in both versions of the housing bond legislation.

Committee: Senate Housing

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1091, which would create the Community Anti-Displacement and Preservation Program within HCD to help nonprofit developers, community organizations, and local governments acquire unsubsidized rental housing and preserve it as affordable housing or homeownership opportunities. The author and supporters from Enterprise Community Partners, the Unity Council, and several housing and tenant groups argued that acquisition-preservation is a proven, cost-effective way to prevent displacement and homelessness. There was no opposition testimony. Members discussed funding, with the author and chair noting the bill is intended to be supported through the housing bond or other appropriations. The committee voted the bill do pass to Judiciary, with broad support and no recorded opposition. The committee then took up SB 904, which would codify and expand the wildfire rebuilding coordination and permitting streamlining used after the Los Angeles-area fires, including HCD-led review of permitting and code barriers and reporting on recovery lessons. The author said the bill is meant to speed rebuilding after future wildfire disasters and avoid repeated delays seen in places like the Camp Fire. Members raised concerns about the cost and repetition of requiring multiple agencies to produce reports after each disaster, and about e-permitting mandates for smaller jurisdictions. The author responded that the bill is meant to capture lessons from different fire contexts and that some concerns could be addressed with amendments. The bill was moved do pass to Emergency Management and was reported out with sufficient votes, though kept on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 1007, which would change HOA assessment rules by tying annual increases to inflation rather than allowing up to 20% increases, and would require clearer annual budget disclosures and evidence for fines. The author and supporters said the bill would improve transparency and protect homeowners from steep fee hikes, while opponents from community manager and HOA industry groups warned it could underfund reserves, force larger special assessments, and add duplicative paperwork. Several senators expressed support for the bill’s goals but raised concerns about the inflation cap, the need for flexibility for insurance and maintenance costs, and the visual-aid disclosure requirement. The author said amendments are forthcoming and that the bill will look different in the next committee; no final vote is reflected in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1091 and CAP were designed to fill this gap, and with a potential state affordable housing bond on
• Yes, that's what we're hoping, that there would be money in the bond specifically for this program.
• Yes, that's what we're hoping, that there would be money in the bond specifically for this program.
• And is that currently within that bond, or is this something that you folks are working toward adding
• One, this is already in both versions of the housing bond legislation.

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, section 11 pertains to the state agricultural society bonding authority.
• It increases the bonding authority limit.
• It increases the bonding authority limit.
• It increases the bonding authority limit.
• It increases the bonding authority limit.

Bills: HF9

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: energy policy, renewable energy standard, carbon-free standard, solar standard, hydroelectric, hydropower, electric utility, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, renewable portfolio standard, carbon capture and sequestration, CCS, greenhouse gas emissions, climate policy, nuclear power plant, certificate of need, fossil fuel plant demolition, utility compliance delay, beneficial electrification, sales tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 143, Representative Elliot, an act relating to fiduciary bonds.
• House Bill relating to fiduciary bonds.
• >> To communicate with the body. >> Yes, sir. >> The capital bonds and capital projects and bond oversight
• The capital bonds and and capital &gt;&gt; Yes.
• The capital bonds and and capital projects<00:25:51.440><c> and</c><00:25:51.600><c> bond</c><00:25:51.840

Transcript Highlights:

• The money on the pension side was then replaced with a series of bonds the Commonwealth issued and paid
• </c><00:04:16.359><c> the</c> replaced with a series of bonds the replaced with a series of bonds the
• That could adversely impact the ledger sheets of the districts and cause their bond rating to change,
• and even cause bonds to cost more for the districts and they pay more on interest unnecessarily.
• rating to change and even their bond rating to change and even cause<00:21:11.360><c> bonds</c><00:21

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 545, a routine claims bill. Representative Tim Truett explained it as a measure to pay debts the Commonwealth owes. The bill received a motion, a second, and a roll call vote, and passed with favorable expression and no nay votes. Members then considered House Joint Resolution 54, which related to the Kentucky State Fair Board’s expansion plan. The chair explained that the resolution simply acknowledged receipt and approval of the plan so previously appropriated funds could be released. The resolution passed by roll call with no nay votes and was reported favorably to the floor. The main discussion centered on House Bill 694, concerning the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System medical insurance fund and the 2010 “shared responsibility” agreement. The bill would redirect employer contributions from local districts from the health side to the pension side once the plan reaches 100% funded. The chair and Senator Givens argued the bill was a continuation of the state’s long-term commitment to TRS and taxpayer responsibility, while Senator Neal raised concerns about fairness, the timing of the change, and whether the original agreement and statutory trigger for TRS board recommendations had been honored. Testimony from KEA President Eddie Campbell and former Jefferson County Teachers Association president Brent McMahan supported the 2010 agreement but urged the committee to pause the bill, saying the parties should return to the table and that the current proposal could conflict with the original understanding, create actuarial and legal issues, and potentially affect school district finances and bond ratings. Despite those concerns, the committee voted 8-1 to pass House Bill 694 with favorable expression, with Senator Neal voting no and explaining his objection as a process and good-faith concern.

Transcript Highlights:

• What was the bond bill? What? Do they have drama about the bond bill? I hope not.
• Can we recognize our bond members really quickly who worked so hard to get this done?
• Where's our bond members? Nobody wants to take credit for this?
• It's a pleasure to serve on bond with you.
• And I'm going to thank Representative Gray and all the members of the Bond Bill Committee.

Summary: The House convened with quorum, offered prayers and moments of silence for community members who had recently died, and recognized several guests and family members in the chamber. After routine communications and passage of consent calendar 29, the chamber took up a series of measures on the main and colored agendas, with several bills and resolutions passing by voice vote or roll call. Among the measures approved were House Concurrent Resolution 157, which as amended requested a State Lottery report on options to support traditional lottery retailers; Senate Bill 53 on the Delaware Farm to Community Program; Senate Bill 307 on PSC authority for Lifeline telecommunications carriers; Senate Bill 339 clarifying health directive forms in mental health facilities; Senate Bill 235 on manufactured home community rent increases; Senate Bill 325, as amended, updating fire prevention and volunteer fire/EMS background check rules; Senate Bill 309 on inmate work and discharge of incarceration-related balances; Senate Bill 324 on deadly weapons and constable agency representatives; Senate Bill 293 on youth camp child care licensing; Senate Bill 94 on respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication delivery; and Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment protecting the right to marry regardless of race or gender while preserving religious freedom. House Bill 188, changing Delaware primary elections to allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary, also passed after debate. Two measures drew extended discussion and amendments. Senate Bill 233, requiring snow and ice to be removed from vehicles, was tabled once, then later amended and passed after debate over whether the law was workable for truck drivers and other vehicle operators; a proposed truck-related exemption amendment failed. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404, creating a pilot program for artificial intelligence and extended reality in schools, passed after testimony from the Department of Education emphasizing guardrails, privacy, and educator oversight, alongside concerns from members about data, bias, and long-term effects. Several items were tabled or reconsidered during the session, and the House adjourned after completing the day’s business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fifty percent of whatever would be available from a bond is allocated first toward life safety projects
• Currently, the state has authorized a total of $805 million in bond authority for projects supported
• through the state lease revenue bond.
• Currently, the state has authorized a total of $805 million in bond authority for projects supported
• through the state lease revenue bond.

Summary: The subcommittee first noted that item one on the Imagination Library update was being pulled pending review of newly received receipts, invoices, and backup documentation from the State Library and the Department of Finance. The chair said the committee would continue reviewing the materials and later determine whether additional oversight and accountability measures are needed regarding taxpayer funds and implementation of the program. The main discussion focused on the California Community Colleges budget request. Chancellor Christian described strong post-pandemic enrollment recovery and asked the Legislature to fund 3% enrollment growth, change the funding formula to use the highest of the three years rather than a three-year average, and remove the 10% growth cap to avoid unfunded FTES. She also urged support for the Governor’s proposals on COLA, deferral repayment, the Common Cloud Data Platform, credit for prior learning, and Calbright College, while adding requests for AI literacy funding, a Rebuild L.A. workforce effort, veterans services, and support for the Chancellor’s Office. Senators raised concerns about high district reserves, part-time faculty conditions, veterans’ credit pathways, and enrollment fraud; Christian said reserves are complex but should be addressed district by district, and that identity verification and AI tools are being used to prevent fraudulent enrollments. Finance and LAO staff then reviewed the student-centered funding formula and enrollment growth proposals. DOF said the Governor’s budget fully repays $408.4 million in deferrals, provides a 2.41% COLA, and includes funding to cover current-year apportionment costs; LAO recommended prioritizing those proposals but suggested beginning enrollment growth funding in 2026-27 rather than revising the current-year target. Chris Ferguson said most districts are growing, that 54 of 72 districts would benefit from a formula change favoring current-year enrollment, and that unfunded growth remains a concern. On facilities, staff explained that deferred maintenance needs are about $2.2 billion, with projects prioritized by life safety, modernization, and capacity needs. The final item was Calbright College. President Menon said Calbright serves more than 6,200 adult learners statewide, with strong completion and wage gains, and asked for the Governor’s proposed $38 million ongoing increase. She and staff emphasized Calbright’s flexible, competency-based model, its partnerships with employers and other colleges, and its role in serving working adults and caregivers. LAO questioned the proposed funding level and recommended moving Calbright onto the student-centered funding formula in the future to better tie funding to enrollment and outcomes, while Calbright argued its structure is different from traditional colleges and needs separate treatment. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fiscal year 2025, the Bond Commission managed 55 series of bonds, totaling $6.5 to $6.6 billion in
• of over $116 million over the life of the bonds, or $72 million in net present value savings.
• In fiscal year 25, the bond commission managed 55 series of bonds, totaling $6.5,6.6 billion in principal
• over $116 million over the life of the bonds, or $72 million of net present value savings.
• Um, Amedee, just one quick question in regard to the bond rating.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard the House Fiscal Division’s FY 2027 budget presentations for the State Treasury, Public Service Commission, Department of Civil Service, and Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Treasury’s recommended budget was about $15 million with 74 positions, funded largely by self-generated revenue. Treasury staff highlighted strong investment returns, record unclaimed property recoveries, a new ACH option to speed and reduce the cost of payments, a School Transparency portal that helped uncover questionable school spending, and a new online portal that has sped up processing of cooperative endeavor agreements and related payments. Members praised the transparency work and faster payments, and asked about bond ratings, CEA oversight, and the public accessibility of the transparency site. The Public Service Commission’s FY 2027 budget was presented at $11.5 million, entirely self-generated, with most spending on personnel; commissioners said salary and market adjustments were needed to address heavy attorney and auditor turnover. Civil Service’s FY 2027 budget was presented at $28.7 million, with major funding from interagency transfers and general fund, and officials explained recent pay-plan and special entrance rate changes intended to improve recruitment and retention across state agencies. Members asked how those compensation changes were developed and whether market studies supported them. The Agriculture and Forestry budget was presented at $91.4 million, with major funding from statutory dedications, general fund, and federal dollars, and the commissioner described severe pressure on farmers from low commodity prices, drought, freezes, wildfires, storm damage, and labor shortages. The Agriculture and Forestry discussion was the longest and most detailed. The commissioner said the state is working to expand markets, reduce costs, and help farmers through federal assistance, while also seeking more equipment and fuel for wildfire response after a severe fire weekend and ongoing drought conditions. Members raised concerns about storm-damaged timber, soil and water conservation funding, and the loss of federal dollars that depend on local technicians. The commissioner explained the wildfire suppression subfund, the role of severance taxes, and the limits of current firefighting equipment and staffing. He also discussed the seafood sector, especially shrimp and crawfish, saying imported seafood, currency changes, tariffs, and H-2B worker shortages are hurting Louisiana producers and processors. He said the department is testing imported seafood for antibiotics, wants more authority to hold contaminated product, and is pursuing legislation to support seafood promotion and testing. Members also asked about wood chips, rail transport, timber severance reporting, and incentives for wood pellet use, and the commissioner said the department is exploring new markets, including overseas buyers for wood and agricultural products. No formal votes or bill actions were taken in the portion provided; the meeting consisted of budget presentations, agency testimony, and member questions and comments. The tone throughout was supportive of the agencies’ work, with repeated praise for Treasury’s transparency efforts, Civil Service’s compensation reforms, and Agriculture and Forestry’s advocacy for farmers, foresters, and seafood producers.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the short-term sponge bond account after the tribal infrastructure fund, the Colonias, Water Trust
• through not sponge bonds but the interest off of sponge bond is that true bonds through not sponge bonds
• , but the interest off of sponge bond, is that true?
• Speaker, gentlelady, it was not bonded, but yes. Okay, thank you. Mr. Speaker, gentlelady.
• million for three bond issues.

Bills: HB145 , HR1 , HB80 , SB29 , SB37 , HB206 , SB193 , SB58 , SB64 , HB153 , HB195 , HB234 , HB248 , HB255 , HB279 , HB287 , HB292 , HB303 , HB309 , HB371 , SB30 , SB35 , SB40 , SB43 , SB48 , SB96 , SB143 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM39 , HM29 , HM43 , HM59 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50

Summary: The meeting opened with prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of announcements and personal remarks. Members then spent a large portion of the session honoring Representative Joanne Ferrary, who announced she will not seek re-election. Speakers from both parties praised her persistence, mentorship, and work on public safety, environmental protection, health care, women’s rights, and advocacy for workers and families. Ferrary thanked colleagues and said she hoped to continue supporting initiatives in the interim and beyond. The House also recognized Representative Matthew McQueen, who is running for commissioner of public lands and will leave the legislature after this term. Members highlighted his work on conservation, land grants, wildlife protection, legislative drafting, and his reputation for principled, detailed review of bills. McQueen thanked colleagues and said he hoped to remain involved in the building in another capacity. The House then moved to third reading and passed House Bill 371, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute creating a temporary funding source for land grants and acequias from remaining sponge bond revenues. Supporters said it would provide a more stable, long-term funding mechanism for acequia and land grant infrastructure while preserving existing funding streams and requiring legislative appropriation and annual reporting. Some members raised concerns about oversight and the lack of a sunset or review clause, but the bill passed 63-2. The chamber also passed House Bill 248, authorizing $392 million in general obligation bond capacity, by a vote of 65-0. The House then debated House Bill 153, a committee substitute creating a market-based framework for carbon reduction and economic development. The bill includes an environmental product declaration act, a low-carbon materials rebate, and an industrial carbon reduction grant program. Supporters said it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions while encouraging economic development and new technology at industrial facilities. Members questioned the timing of the grants, anti-donation concerns, and whether companies would receive funding only after making investments, and sponsors explained that entities must pre-certify and then apply after beginning production or retrofits. Debate was ongoing at the end of the excerpt, with no final vote shown on HB 153.