Transcript Highlights:

• The Mountaineer Charter School Alliance envisions our core functions and services involving advocacy
• Providing shared operational services, such as HR, finance, procurement, and facilities guidance, which
• opportunities to leaders, teachers, and board members to raise both instructional and governance quality
• across the board and to develop our own independent quality assurance standards so that we are ensuring
• It’s basically just the years of service. So it’s more of a retention kind of incentive?

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Tom Franta, founding executive director of the Mountaineer Charter School Alliance. He described the new nonprofit’s goals of supporting West Virginia charter schools through advocacy, legal and compliance assistance, shared operational services, professional development, communications, and network-building. Franta emphasized that charter schools face major facility and financing challenges, and he urged use of existing public buildings, low-interest revolving loans, credit enhancement tools through the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, and federal matching funds to help level the playing field for charter schools, including both brick-and-mortar and virtual schools. Members asked about what he meant by “level the playing field,” and Franta said charter schools receive 99% of basic state aid but lack access to the full range of public education funding and dedicated facilities support, forcing them to divert dollars toward buildings rather than classrooms. He said the goal is to ensure parents choosing a public charter option can expect appropriate funding. After the presentation, the chair announced Senate Bill 171 was removed from the day’s agenda. The committee then considered Senate Bill 166, which creates an exception to West Virginia Invest grant eligibility so individuals who already have a post-secondary degree may still receive support if pursuing an associate degree or certificate in emergency medical services. The committee reported the bill to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and under the original double committee reference, first be referred to the Finance Committee. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 428, with a committee substitute that splits the bus operator title into three pay grades based on years of service and raises the cafeteria manager title from pay grade D to E. Senators asked whether duties would change; counsel and the sponsor said the bill is intended as a retention incentive, with no change in responsibilities, and that the fiscal note would remain the same. The committee adopted the committee substitute and then reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation, again first referring it to the Finance Committee. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• anybody in the state get to approve or object as to the quality of the goods or the Services purchased
• Okay, what if there is a dispute as to the quality of the services rendered between, say, **ISF** and
• We were able to pay for services and have services basically rendered for us all the way through September
• To actually pay an invoice, all the services that we work with are based on paying an invoice for services
• Getting information about these different services and really engaging with these services through that

Transcript Highlights:

• LINES ACROSS SERVICE LEVEL LINES TO TARGET PREPAYMENTS FOR THE HOSPITAL PLANS.
• NEW SERVICES THAT WERE PROVIDED FOR SENATE BILL 7016. FIRST MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES.
• NEW LEGISLATIVE CHANGES WITH THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE MODULE BEING DEPLOYED IN 2024.
• SUBMIT A TESTING TO VOLUNTEER SERVICE HOURS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE 25 HOUR REQUIREMENT.
• THEREBY EXPANDING SERVICE AND COUNTIES THAT DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is making it harder to provide a level of quality service for our communities to expect from their
• harder to provide a level of quality harder to provide a level of quality service<00:04:30.160><
• supervision services.
• supervision services.
• supervision services.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:09.639> that to provide the array of services that to provide the array of services
• We are a medical service first.
• <00:17:17.199> that for the the specialized services that for the the specialized services
• facilities and section one makes quality facilities and section one makes quality assurance<00:22
• Chairman and members of the Health and Human Services Committee. Greetings.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of Child Support Services.
• Long-term services and supports, including home and community-based services, are not impacted.
• We do have a Medi-Cal fee-for-service fee schedule for payment rates in the fee-for-service delivery
• fee-for-service delivery system.
• Emergency services.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the first meeting of the Health Services Committee of the new 2026 session.
• Importantly, this bill is structured to be budget neutral while improving access and quality of care.
• The patient is still getting high-quality care.
• The patient is still getting high<00:08:38.399> quality<00:08:38.800> care.
• Um there's frequent high quality care.

Keywords: 00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 02:05 - Discussion of 26RS HB 178 14:05 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 178 15:05 - Discussion of 26RS HB 280 20:00 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 280 22:00 - Discussion of 26RS HJR 24 24:30 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HJR 24 26:00 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Health Services Committee met for the first time in the 2026 session and established a quorum before taking up three measures. House Bill 178, sponsored by Rep. Kim Moser with support from the Kentucky Psychiatric Medical Association, was presented as a budget-neutral collaborative care model to improve access to mental health treatment in primary care settings. Testimony emphasized workforce shortages, long wait times, stigma, and the potential for the model to reduce costs and improve outcomes by having primary care providers work with behavioral health care managers and psychiatric consultants. The bill received a favorable recommendation by roll call vote. The committee then considered House Bill 280, also sponsored by Rep. Moser. The bill and committee amendment were described as cleanup and policy updates affecting Kentucky Board of Nursing licensure standards, including restoring language related to abuse, neglect, and exploitation in the central registry, preserving the board’s ability to investigate out-of-state applicants, and adding an emergency provision. The bill also updated school medication provisions to allow certain prescribed rescue medications, including bronchodilator inhalers, nebulizers, glucagon, Solu-Cortef, and updated epinephrine delivery. The committee adopted the amendment, approved the bill with favorable expression, and then approved a motion to roll the committee amendment into the House committee substitute. Finally, the committee took up House Joint Resolution 24, sponsored by Rep. Ken Fleming, with a committee substitute adopted first. The resolution was explained as a request for the cabinet to withdraw a previously submitted Medicaid-related waiver application so it could be resubmitted under new requirements tied to House Resolution 1. The committee approved the resolution with favorable expression and also adopted a title amendment. The meeting concluded with notice that the next committee meeting would be Thursday, January 22nd at noon.

Transcript Highlights:

• And $52.5 million for local government fire services. As you can see, Mr.
• And now, Dollars for local government fire services. As you can see, Mr.
• So we had a very good in-depth discussion about outsourcing our inmate health care service and food service
• to provide... ...sourcing our inmate health care service and food service to provide efficiencies, and
• Authorizes Valerie House to provide no-cost grief support services.

Summary: The Senate began with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into floor consideration of the 2026-2027 budget. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented Senate Bill 2500, describing a $115 billion budget that reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental and agricultural programs. Highlights included increased funding for school scholarships and safety, workforce and university programs, Medicaid and child welfare, corrections operations, affordable housing, rural communities, Everglades and water quality projects, and infrastructure. Members then asked detailed questions about several budget items. Senators sought clarification on the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries, charter school capital outlay funding, EASE grants, New College funding, DOC inmate counts and reimbursement, lottery staffing, concealed weapons licensing positions, election security funding, iBudget waiver support, ADAP funding, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, and scholarship and enrollment supplements in K-12 education. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected technical shifts or right-sizing, that some funds were being moved below the line for better tracking, and that several items—such as ADAP and corrections operations—would likely remain conference issues with the House. After questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the budget and implementing measures and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles to prepare for conference. The chamber passed the budget-related bills and several conforming measures, including bills on retirement, fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, court trust funds, judgeships, and K-12 and higher education conforming changes. Votes on the major bills were overwhelmingly unanimous or near-unanimous, and the Senate repeatedly voted to accede to the House’s request for conference on the substituted bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• before the VA through county veteran service officers.
• Quality claims representation before the VA through county veteran service officers.
• veteran service officers.
• We appreciate all your hard work and your service.
• We never stopped working in service of communities.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held an informational hearing on budget issues for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Cannabis Control, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and the California Arts Council. The chair noted there would be no votes. CalVet gave an overview of its programs serving veterans and families, including transition assistance, county veterans service officers, education approvals, housing and homelessness programs, home loans, long-term care homes, and state veterans cemeteries. Members asked about future long-term care needs for aging veterans, staffing and recruitment challenges at veterans homes, and the Yountville steam infrastructure replacement project, for which CalVet sought a $38.8 million reappropriation and said federal reimbursement was expected. CalVet also discussed the role of county veterans service officers in helping veterans file claims and avoid predatory unaccredited representatives. The Department of Cannabis Control described its regulatory role from seed to sale and requested one position to implement SB 1064’s combined activities license. Members and public witnesses focused heavily on the illicit cannabis market, enforcement staffing, and the impact of taxes and fees on the legal market. DCC said it had roughly 87 enforcement positions with about a 15% vacancy rate and more than 200 compliance staff. Its economist presented the 2024 cannabis market report, which found licensed production and retail quantity were up, but retail value and prices were down, with an estimated 11.4 million pounds of illicit production and about 60% of California consumption still coming from the illicit market. Industry witnesses argued the legal market is in crisis, urged repeal of the scheduled excise tax increase, stronger enforcement against illicit cannabis and hemp-derived intoxicants, and expanded retail access. The Department of Consumer Affairs briefly presented nine budget proposals, including a $2.6 million ongoing request to maintain a business modernization system for several boards and bureaus. The Commission on the Status of Women and Girls described its work on economic and educational equity, health care, violence prevention, student rights, and archival and outreach projects, and said its budget request would convert limited-term positions to permanent. A member urged the commission to narrow its priorities toward current issues such as affordability, child care, and women’s health. The California Arts Council outlined its role as the state’s only statewide arts funder and requested restoration of $5 million in local assistance; supporters testified that the funding would leverage additional local investment and help sustain arts access, especially in rural communities. The hearing ended after the non-presentation items were noted and no further public comment was offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lakeland PBS and Pioneer PBS brought veterans' stories to life through firsthand accounts of service.
• the quality of life that we enjoy here.
• : protecting water quality, providing critical habitat, and sequestering carbon.
• <01:02:38.039> protecting<01:02:38.559> water<01:02:38.920> quality Services protecting
• water quality Services protecting water quality providing<01:02:40.160> critical<01:02:40.680

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of services of services for<00:02:27.440> a<00:02:27.599> variety<00:02:28.000>
• So that you're providing services, you're short on services, and you want to add things.
• So that you're providing services, you're short on services, and you want to add things.
• So that you're providing services, you're short on services, and you want to add things.
• child protection services an office. child protection services an office.

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 3 February, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up several bills described as vehicles to keep options open for pending rural health issues, especially the rural health transformation fund and the Greenwood Hospital situation. The chair explained that Greenwood Hospital is struggling financially and operationally, including a Medicaid overpayment dispute in which Medicaid planned to recoup $2 million from a December payment, threatening payroll and continued operation. The committee discussed a proposed committee substitute that would delay recoupment until May 1 and preserve legislative flexibility to help Greenwood if a workable plan emerges. The committee adopted motions for title sufficiency and due pass on the block of bills, including the committee substitute and reverse repealer provisions. The committee then turned to two certificate-of-need bills. One bill, 2474, was presented as a rural hospitals measure that would let certain rural hospitals obtain certificates of need for services such as outpatient dialysis units, ambulatory surgical facilities, and geriatric psychiatric units, with definitions aimed largely at Delta and other rural counties. The chair also included a provision making the state health officer’s licensing decision final and not subject to judicial review, with only a short reconsideration process available. Senator Hill objected, arguing the bill concentrated too much power in the health department, eliminated meaningful court review, and unfairly picked winners and losers instead of letting the market work. The chair responded that the goal was to reduce costly, repetitive litigation and preserve access to care in areas where hospitals struggle financially. The committee then considered Senator Blackwell’s broader CO bill, which would address appeals and litigation more generally by shifting costs to the losing party in CO disputes. A reverse repealer was adopted first, and the chair explained that the bill was intended to reduce endless and expensive appeals while still allowing a limited opportunity for reconsideration. Senators Hill and others raised concerns about limiting judicial review and expanding health department power, while the chair said many states have no judicial review in this area and that the committee was exploring the issue further. The chair said he had asked several members to study the matter and contact the National Council of State Legislatures. The committee ultimately adopted the motions on the bills and amendments by voice vote, with the ayes prevailing each time.

Transcript Highlights:

• > to<00:19:53.960> the services and programming services to the services and programming
• Educational Services the social services Educational Services the social services Educational Services
• , educational services, and religious services.
• and efficiency, upgrading treatment facilities to improve water quality, and extending service to meet
• water quality and extending service<00:41:58.640> to<00:41:58.839> meet<00:41:59.240><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That is combined Aging and long-term care services.
• The other thing that we do is we also offer distribution services.
• And so those are a few of the services we provide, including buyer-side services and many more.
• Some of the specific services that we provide include cultural resource permitting and compliance services
• It's called the Technical Service Provider Program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Service, conservation service for 35 years. My son farms and ranches in a neighboring county.
• Testifying neutrally on behalf of Texas A&M Forest Service, is that correct?
• Uh, my name is Rick Avery, director of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
• We support wildlife services through water conservation programs.
• Uh, representing the Texas A&M Forest Service testifying neutrally, is that correct?

Bills: HB294

Keywords: energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties, sustainability, real estate

Transcript Highlights:

• While Zo does not provide residential broadband service directly and therefore is not as widely known
• , cost-effective services we deliver.
• , cost-effective services we deliver.
• , cost-effective services we deliver.
• wired services through a silicon.<00:14:50.560> Very<00:14:50.800> good.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Zayo Group 00:00:50 Committee Report to LRC 00:18:12, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Michael McCurley, president of Zo Education and a senior vice president with Zo Group, about the company’s role in providing broadband and managed network services to Kentucky schools. He said Zo Education serves all Kentucky K-12 public school districts in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education, offering more bandwidth at lower cost than the prior provider and also providing cybersecurity and network protection. He emphasized that reliable connectivity is essential for instruction, testing, remote coursework, and school administration. McCurley also addressed the ongoing contract dispute involving the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and Open Fiber Silicom, saying Zo Education is not a party to the litigation but is concerned about possible disruption to schools and students. In response to committee questions, he said the company incurred unexpected costs when it had to reroute connections and build alternate network paths, including one school move that cost more than $50,000 to serve a site generating under $2,000 per month. He said outages and incidents are more frequent when Kentucky Wired access is unavailable, and that Zo could not have bid at its current price without access to Kentucky Wired. Committee members discussed the broader implications of the dispute and the state’s broadband structure. Senator Williams said the committee’s priority is avoiding disruption to students and noted concerns about infrastructure purchases and upgrades tied to the network, saying he had not seen clear contractual support for some of the expenditures. He also referenced a future audit and said the committee should preserve options and taxpayer funds. The committee then reviewed its report to LRC, including changes related to infrastructure purchases and water asset management technology, and agreed to submit the report without a committee vote. The chair announced the next meeting would be in January, with no December meeting scheduled, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• customer service, and adherence to the highest industry standards.
• commitment to ethical practices quality commitment to ethical practices quality customer<00:07:48.680
• > service<00:07:49.039> and<00:07:49.199> adherence<00:07:49.639> to<00:07
• :49.800> the customer service and adherence to the customer service and adherence to the highest
• I am the director of Boone County Animal Services.

Keywords: Intro: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:31 Discussion of SB 122: 02:30 Roll Call Vote on SB 122: 26:47, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Agriculture Committee took up Senate Bill 122, a measure dealing with pet stores, breeders, and the scope of local regulation. The chair explained the bill was intended to balance private business rights with local control, and said he wanted to clarify definitions such as qualified breeder, local authority, and where fees and fines would go. He also said he would work on a floor amendment and noted concerns about whether the bill would allow localities to outright ban pet stores or instead only regulate them. The committee first adopted a committee substitute by motion and voice vote. Supporters of the bill, including representatives from Petland and an attorney who had worked on animal-related regulation in Ohio, argued that the bill would create statewide standards, protect responsible pet retailers from what they described as politically motivated local bans, and preserve consumer choice. They said local governments would still be able to inspect, require documentation, and enforce licensing, but not shut businesses down without due process. A senator from Campbell County asked whether the bill would interfere with strong local ordinances; supporters responded that the bill would set standards higher than USDA rules and still allow local regulation, while opposing local bans. Opposition came from the Kentucky League of Cities and representatives of Kentucky animal care and control agencies. KLC said local decisions should remain at the local level and noted that several cities and one county already had ordinances that could be affected; it also said the bill was opposed by its board and might overlap with pending litigation. Animal control representatives said the bill did not clearly define breeder verification or enforcement responsibility, could restrict local authority, and did not address animal care conditions or consumer transparency. After questions and debate, the committee voted on the bill; the roll call ended in a 5-5 tie, and Senate Bill 122 failed to pass out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Environmental Services Department of Environmental Services given<00:25:02.000>
• Department of Health and Human Services.
• There were in the dozen or so high-quality studies.
• high quality high quality studies<04:51:20.878> uh<04:51:21.080> some<04:51:21.240
• <05:06:31.080> we Department of Environmental Services we Department of Environmental Services

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up several bills in executive session, beginning with HB 568 on subdivision regulations concerning water supply. Representative Donnelly moved ITL, arguing the bill would create costly studies, that towns already have jurisdiction over needed studies, and that the issue was not widespread. The committee voted ITL 9-7. HB 582, dealing with safety requirements for personal watercraft, was also moved ITL on the grounds that existing law already covers the issue and the bill was unnecessary after recent action on personal flotation devices. Representative Derby opposed the ITL, saying the bill was a common-sense safety measure and would restore a misdemeanor penalty, but the committee voted ITL 9-7. The committee then retained HB 595, relative to coastal resilience zones, after members said the bill was important but needed more work and time because of its complexity. Members noted it should be revisited later, and the motion to retain passed 16-0. HB 607, funding the Hampton Beach Area Commission and making appropriations, received an ought-to-pass recommendation 15-1, with support from members who described Hampton Beach as an important economic driver and one dissenting member saying the state should not bear the full cost. The committee also adopted Amendment 2025-3 on HB 624, establishing a local river management advisory committee grant program, by a 16-0 vote; the amendment shifted funding decisions to the Department of Environmental Services based on demonstrated need and a first-come, first-served process. The bill as amended then received an ought-to-pass recommendation 16-0 and was placed on consent. Later, the committee retained HB 629, funding the operation, maintenance, and repair of state dams, after members said the dams need attention but the bill required more work because suggested amendments had just been received. That motion passed 16-0. HB 644, concerning drones in state parks, was ITL’d because the Department of Parks and Recreation is already working through rulemaking on UAS use in remote areas, and the committee voted 16-0 for ITL. HB 657, the short notice booking act access for New Hampshire residents to state parks, was also ITL’d at the request of the prime sponsor, passing 16-0. The committee then adjourned and announced a later hearing on HB 663, which would allow the Division of Historical Resources to use a portion of Moose plate funds for administering its grant program; testimony from the sponsor and the division supported the bill as clarifying existing authority, and no final vote on HB 663 was included in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• They may be used to having a customer service rep.
• They may be used to having a customer service rep.
• They may be used to having a customer service rep.
• He was a good guy who did a great service to the parish.
• During his exemplary military service, after his exemplary military service, he returned to Louisiana

Bills: HCR32, HB493, HB679, HB745, HB896, HB1000, HB1024, HB1050, HB1159, HB1172, HB1173, HB1207, HB1208, HB1218

Keywords: Saint Claude Avenue Bridge, Port of New Orleans, backup motors, infrastructure, traffic management, expropriation, property rights, Amite River Basin, drainage, East Feliciana Parish, St. Helena Parish, government authority, traumatic brain injury, identification card, law enforcement training, medical verification, disability rights, special permits, transportation, tandem loads

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on April 21 and considered a series of transportation, licensing, tolling, and public safety measures. It reported favorably House Bill 745, extending special permits for tandem loads hauling containers to and from port facilities; House Bill 1000, a DOTD cleanup bill that clarifies Highway Priority Program reporting and raises the letter-bid contract threshold from $1 million to $3 million; and House Bill 1050, which clarifies commercial driver’s license rules, including age and intrastate/interstate driving limits. The committee also approved House Bill 1172 naming a portion of U.S. Highway 165 in Oberlin the Coulin Brooks Manuel Memorial Highway, House Bill 1218 naming a portion of Louisiana Highway 1090 the Lewis Pat Miramon Memorial Highway, House Concurrent Resolution 32 urging backup motors for the St. Claude Avenue Bridge, and House Bill 1207 on public contracting standards and competition in public bidding. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 896, which responds to tolling issues at the Belle Chasse bridge project. The bill would require toll signage, local toll customer service centers, dispute procedures, and limits on administrative fees, with amendments addressing effective dates, in-person assistance, appeal deadlines, law-enforcement exemptions, and limits on certain charges. The author and witnesses described high administrative fees, long travel distances to customer service locations, and problems with toll bills, while committee members noted the issue was complex and ongoing. The committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also heard House Bill 1159, allowing Jefferson Parish municipalities to use automated speed enforcement devices again under local control. Supporters from Gretna, Westwego, Harahan, and Kenner said photo enforcement reduced crashes, improved safety, and helped limited police resources, while opponents were not emphasized in the transcript. After discussion about whether the measure should be voluntarily or involuntarily deferred, the committee ultimately deferred the bill. House Bill 493, which would prohibit expropriation by the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District in East Feliciana and St. Helena Parishes, drew extensive testimony about reservoir fears and local opposition; the committee voluntarily deferred it. House Bill 679, as substituted, created a driver’s license designation for people with brain injuries and required related law-enforcement training; witnesses described personal experiences with brain injury and the need for officers to recognize communication and behavioral effects, and the committee reported the substitute favorably. House Bill 1173, which waives late fees for certain reinstatement-relief payment plans for driver’s licenses, was also reported favorably, and House Bill 1024 creating a Louisiana Democratic Party prestige plate was approved as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Offers a range of radiochemistry, environmental, and human health monitoring services.
• Do you provide that service to politicians?
• And they are insisting it's affecting their public health and their water quality.
• And it meets whatever quality standards we define, then it's good enough to go.
• Or quality, or met thresholds? So, Mr. Chair, I... I wouldn't know.

Transcript Highlights:

• stations bigger hoist larger service stations bigger hoist larger service areas<00:09:42.440>
• <00:36:27.359> test air quality test air quality test when<00:36:29.160> we<00:36:29.319
• national ambient air quality national ambient air quality standard<00:37:23.119> representative
• <00:37:37.359> talking change talking about air quality talking change talking about air quality
• <00:39:22.359> and we're having with air quality and we're having with air quality and certainly

Keywords: 1183, house