Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know if ironic is the right word, or maybe tone deaf, that on a day where we have a moment of
• I don't know if ironic is the right word, or maybe tone deaf, that on a day where we have a moment of
• program allocation, an increase of $9.8 million in the operating cost for the Florida School for the Deaf

Summary: The House met on the final day of session, swore in Representatives Boyles and Hodgers, and observed a moment of silence for the Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as for Representative Rosenwald’s father. The chamber then moved into final budget work, with leaders outlining the plan to take up H.J.R. 5019, HB 7031, HB 5017, HB 5015, and then the general appropriations act once the Senate transmitted it. H.J.R. 5019, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand the budget stabilization fund, was explained and amended to raise the rainy day fund cap, require annual deposits, and allow withdrawals for critical state needs by a two-thirds vote; it passed 100-1. The House then adopted the conference report on HB 7031, the tax package. The bill repeals the business rent tax and aviation fuel tax, delays the natural gas fuel tax, creates or expands several sales tax holidays and exemptions, including permanent exemptions for disaster-preparedness items, hunting/fishing/camping items, and ammunition and firearms-related purchases, and makes changes to property, corporate income, local tax, and economic development provisions. Members debated the removal of recurring housing trust fund and transit-related revenue streams, the new ammunition exemption, and the data center tax changes; supporters argued the package reduces taxes and preserves annual budget flexibility, while opponents raised concerns about housing, transportation, and gun violence. The conference report passed 93-7. HB 5017, creating a debt reduction program funded by a recurring transfer to retire state bonds early, passed unanimously. HB 5015, the state group insurance conforming bill, which directs DMS to develop a formulary management plan and codifies the administrative health insurance assessment, also passed. The House then began explanation and questions on the fiscal year 2025-26 general appropriations act, described as a $115.1 billion budget that is down $3.8 billion from the current year and includes more than $12 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs summarized major spending areas, including pre-K-12 funding increases, health care funding for Medicaid, KidCare, nursing homes, opioid treatment, and mental health, transportation and economic development funding, environmental and water projects, higher education, state administration, justice, and information technology. Questions focused on school vouchers, inflationary pressures on school districts, and the adequacy of funding for housing, transportation, and other priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• She was now deaf in the left ear; she could only hear in the right ear.
• She was now deaf in the left ear; she could only hear in the right ear.
• She was now deaf in the left ear; she could only hear in the right ear.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several health-related measures, with most of the discussion focused on SB 1419, SB 1494, and SB 1495, which were taken out of order to accommodate ASL/Death Blind Task Force testimony. SB 1419, relating to Act 253 (Session Laws of Hawaii 2023), drew support from the Department of Human Services and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, with testimony emphasizing use of the term “low vision” and support for the program timeline. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, including technical changes and updated appropriation fiscal years, and the motion was adopted unanimously by the members present. SB 1494, concerning hearing aids, drew broad support from disability advocates and others who argued that hearing aids improve health, reduce accidents, and may help reduce dementia risk. Testifiers also urged that the bill define hearing aids as prescription hearing aids rather than including over-the-counter devices, and the Department of the Auditor and Insurance Division raised cost and coverage questions. The committee recommended passage with amendments, changing the coverage approach to optional coverage similar to vision and dental and requesting a sunrise analysis for prescription hearing aids; that recommendation was adopted. SB 1495, which exempts hearing aids from the general excise tax, also received support, while the Attorney General flagged a possible single-subject issue and the Tax Department estimated a potential $1.1 million revenue impact. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including deletion of the challenged language, technical fixes, and noting the revenue estimate; that recommendation was adopted. The committee then moved through additional measures with mostly supportive testimony. SB 1421 on medical records prompted questions about what happens when a solo practitioner dies or closes practice, and the discussion centered on ensuring patients can obtain records, including a proposed amendment requiring a successor provider to send records to the patient’s last known address. SB 1422, dealing with a special fund and vital statistics funding, was supported by the Department of Health, which said the special fund did not meet criteria and that deposits should instead go to the Vital Statistics Improvement Special Fund. SB 1423 on certificate of need exemptions for Department of Health facilities drew support, with discussion of possibly extending exemptions to dialysis and behavioral health/psychiatric services; the Department indicated it would not oppose that change. SB 1424 on credentialing of health care providers also received support, and SB 1425 on the State Emergency Medical Services Committee focused on reducing quorum requirements because many members are active first responders and cannot always attend meetings. The committee also heard support for SB 1426 on emergency medical services, SB 1431 on viral hepatitis, and SB 1433 on harm reduction, with testimony on hepatitis outreach funding and syringe access best practices; for SB 1433, the Department of Health identified a blank in the bill and recommended a six-month period for the syringe-possession exception.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fell on deaf ears. I was told it was making prisons out of schools. Didn't want that.
• <00:36:24.120> Fell<00:36:24.280> on<00:36:24.400> deaf Couldn't get a hearing
• Fell on deaf Couldn't get a hearing.
• Fell on deaf ears.<00:36:24.880> I<00:36:24.920> was<00:36:25.040> told<00:36:25.280

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We continue to meet with our deaf and hard of hearing working group as they continue to provide guidance
• We continue to meet with our deaf<00:20:06.640> and<00:20:06.760> hard<00:20:06.960>
• of<00:20:07.080> hearing<00:20:07.520> working<00:20:07.960> group deaf and
• hard of hearing working group deaf and hard of hearing working group as<00:20:08.920> they<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm actually sort of co-chairing the commission for the deaf and hard of hearing, going through the
• 00:34:42.200> commission<00:34:42.640> for<00:34:42.840> the<00:34:43.000> deaf
• <00:34:43.280> and<00:34:43.399> hard<00:34:43.600> of the commission for the deaf
• and hard of the commission for the deaf and hard of hearing<00:34:44.120> going<00:34:44.359>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I can give you an example of a student with special needs that's blind and deaf that needed manipulatives
• ><00:09:30.800> that's<00:09:31.120> blind<00:09:31.440> and<00:09:31.680> deaf
• with special needs that's blind and deaf with special needs that's blind and deaf that<00:09:32.880

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 1334, which would remove the Education Freedom Account scholarship organization’s authority to approve “any other educational expense” under the EFA statute. The prime sponsor, Representative Porchelli, said the bill would narrow the law to the specifically listed qualifying expenses, avoid broad interpretation, and shift any questions to the Department of Education or the legislative oversight committee. In response to questions, she said she did not think the open-ended category had been needed and that the statute already clearly lists allowable expenses. A representative of the Children’s Scholarship Fund testified in opposition, saying the category is used rarely but is important for unusual cases, especially students with special needs, and that removing it could create unintended consequences. After testimony, the chair closed the hearing on HB 1334. The committee then heard HB 1513, which would move several EFA reporting and oversight requirements from administrative rules and the contract with the Children’s Scholarship Fund into statute. Representative Porchelli said the bill would consolidate existing requirements on timely responses to oversight requests, publication of expense reports by category and provider, and transmission of eligibility and enrollment data to the Department of Education. She described the bill as mostly a clarification and transparency measure rather than a substantive policy change. Members asked about the meaning of “timely access,” the 45-day deadline, whether the contract already covered these duties, and whether the scholarship organization had ever failed to comply. The Children’s Scholarship Fund said it had generally met the 45-day deadline, had not knowingly refused information requests, and that the quarterly reporting requirement could add cost; the sponsor said the DOE had provided guidance and was neutral. The hearing on HB 1513 was then closed. Finally, the committee heard HB 1256, which would repeal the state librarian’s authority to award scholarships for graduate library school attendance at American Library Association-accredited schools. Representative Drago said the law was unnecessary because the state does not currently have a state librarian, scholarships are not typically granted by statute, and he objected to the ALA accreditation requirement and what he described as the association’s political advocacy. In questions, he clarified that the bill targets the accreditation requirement rather than a specific school and said he did not think the state should direct taxpayer-funded scholarships toward ALA-accredited programs. A member raised First Amendment concerns, but the sponsor said the issue was not speech itself, only the use of taxpayer dollars and state law to support that direction. The transcript cuts off before any vote or final action on HB 1256.

Transcript Highlights:

• All 171 of our school districts and all KDE agencies, including Kentucky School for the Deaf and Blind
• Kentucky School KDA agencies including Kentucky School for<00:27:49.520> the<00:27:49.600> Deaf
• <00:27:49.720> and<00:27:49.840> Blind for the Deaf and Blind for the Deaf and Blind

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Commonwealth Office of Technology 00:01:00 Department of Education 00:21:00 Transportation Cabinet 00:35:30 Secretary of State 00:45:15 Cabinet for Health and Family Services 00:56:11 Discussion of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and Related legislation 01:09:11, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and then focused first on the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s legacy systems and two specific projects. COT officials said many agencies have made progress moving off legacy applications, with remaining mainframe systems slated to be retired through RFPs or other work orders. They also described a legacy funding pool of $10 million per biennium used to help agencies transition. The two projects discussed were the Kentucky aerial photography and elevation data program, which provides statewide aerial imagery and lidar data for GIS, E911, environmental, transportation, and other uses, and a citizen identity and access management system intended to give residents a single login for state services. Officials said the GIS program costs about $1.2 million annually to host and maintain, with data acquisition costing several million more per year, and that the citizen identity system would cost about $2.5 million per year after an initial three-year COT investment. Members asked about duplication of funding, licensing, local government use, and whether multi-factor authentication would be required; COT said the GIS data is being acquired as statewide unlicensed data and that MFA would be available but not yet mandated statewide. Committee members pressed COT on costs, overlap with cabinet-level IT spending, and the practical benefits of the GIS and identity projects. COT explained that GIS hosting is generally covered through enterprise assessments billed quarterly to agencies, while the new aerial data is intended to benefit the whole state and local partners. On the identity project, officials said it would centralize authentication for citizens who use state systems, improve compliance with zero-trust and NIST-related security expectations, and reduce help desk and maintenance burdens through self-service account tools. Members also discussed whether the system would extend to local governments; COT said it would be a Kentucky.gov-style state login for users inside the state identity infrastructure, not a local-government system. The Department of Education then testified that it does not operate mainframes or major legacy systems, having moved long ago to cloud-based, off-the-shelf products and vendor-supported services. KDE officials described a strong emphasis on staff cybersecurity awareness, standardized statewide systems, vendor risk-sharing, and reducing sensitive data exposure, including efforts to move away from student Social Security numbers. They also highlighted a transition from Microsoft Active Directory to Identity Automation, which they said will improve identity management and make multi-factor authentication universal across K-12. In response to questions about Kentucky Wired and internet service, KDE said all 171 school districts and KDE agencies have been moved to a new next-generation internet service through ENA by Zayo, with strong satisfaction, e-rate savings, and better reliability. Officials warned that any internet disruption would immediately affect attendance, grades, student records, payroll, security systems, and communications across the K-12 system.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the elderly, disabled, blind, deaf, and exemption reimbursement fund that I'm creating.
• Um the the um elderly, disabled,<01:18:02.800> blind,<01:18:03.120> deaf<01:18:03.280><
• c> and<01:18:03.520> exemption disabled, blind, deaf and exemption disabled, blind, deaf and

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the concerns of atheists shouldn’t fall on deaf ears, but it should be heard properly.
• And the concerns of atheists shouldn't fall on deaf ears, but it should be heard properly.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Washington County administrator Alan Massey, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several gallery recognitions. The chamber adopted the special order report and then took up a series of bills on the special order calendar. Early measures included CS/HB 967 on electronic payments to local governments, which passed 110-0, and HB 127 requiring cursive writing instruction in grades 2-5, which passed 111-0 after members spoke about literacy, signatures, and heritage. CS/HB 453 on high school diploma requirements passed 111-0 and would allow certain students to use Special Olympics participation for PE credit and marching band for PE and arts credit. The House also passed CS/HB 237 on use of professional nursing titles, which requires APRNs using the title doctor to clarify they are APRNs, by 111-0. The chamber then debated HJR 583, a proposed constitutional amendment on religious expression in public schools. Supporters said it would codify existing statutory protections for student and school personnel religious expression and let voters decide; opponents argued it was unnecessary, could create confusion, and risked constitutional problems involving school-sponsored prayer and the separation of church and state. After structured debate, the resolution passed 93-17. The House next passed CS/HB 363 on dental therapy, which creates a licensed mid-level dental provider and drew sharp debate over access to care versus patient safety; it passed 80-29. HB 375 on autonomous practice by certified registered nurse anesthetists passed 78-28, and HB 301 on psychiatric mental health APRN autonomous practice passed 88-18. Later, the House passed HB 863 on arbitration for Citizens Property Insurance disputes, giving policyholders a choice between arbitration and court, by 105-3, and HB 1399 on property insurance affiliates, which increases oversight of insurer-affiliate transactions, by 160-3. Members also heard and advanced a local claims bill, HB 6517, for relief of Eribeito and Sanchez Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg, describing severe injuries allegedly caused during an arrest and transport; the bill was rolled over for third reading at the end of the transcript. Throughout the day, members also paused for multiple recognitions of visiting students, local officials, professional groups, and community organizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to oppose the bill primarily at the request of the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• 02:11:31.760> the request of the um commission for the request of the um commission for the deaf
• Uh I came deaf and heart of hearing.
• <02:13:05.599> and<02:13:05.760> heart to the commission for the deaf and heart to
• the commission for the deaf and heart of<02:13:06.159> hearing.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1085 by Joint Budget, an act for the Department of Education, Arkansas School for the Deaf

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Scott Plower, on behalf of the deaf caucus. Could you give any proposal for that caucus?

Bills: SF0121

Keywords: pharmacy, collaborative care, healthcare, prescriptions, patient safety, Wyoming Pharmacy Act, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are voting on Senate Bill 83FN, establishing an elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf property tax exemption

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first went into executive session on SB 83, which concerns an elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf property tax exemption reimbursement fund, lottery-related changes, and a voluntary statewide self-exclusion database. Representative Ulery moved to retain the bill, saying more work was needed to make the bill clear. The motion passed 17-0 with three members absent, and SB 83 was retained in committee. The committee then took up SB 249FN, a bill relative to the uncompensated care and Medicaid fund. Representative Ulery offered House Amendment 2025-2465H, which was described as incorporating a recent agreement between the state and hospital parties into state law and setting the stage for future action. Medicaid Director Henry Litman explained that the agreement keeps the Medicaid enhancement tax at 5.4%, uses directed payments rather than traditional DSH payments, and is intended to be budget-neutral for the state while increasing hospital payments through a higher federal match. He also said critical access hospitals would continue under the existing directed-payment approach, and that the agreement includes a mechanism to revisit the arrangement if federal law changes substantially. New Hampshire Hospital Association President Steve Hearn said the association supports the amendment and the bill as amended, calling the settlement fair and beneficial to hospitals and the Medicaid program. The amendment and the subsequent ought-to-pass-as-amended motion both passed 18-0. At the end of the meeting, the chair said the committee had now gone through all of its bills and had retained nine in total, with a future meeting planned in September or October to review retained bills. Members briefly discussed possible future committee of conference work and noted there would be no House session that Thursday. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think he's deaf. I'm not sure. I'm an aye. Aye. You're all right.

Bills: HB1784, HB1245, HB1268, HB2116, HB2193, HB2206, HB1739, HB1889, HB1904, HB3172, HB4225, HB4352, HB3625, HB4263

Keywords: education reform, local control, student outcomes, curriculum changes, school funding, retirement, pension, public employees, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, benefits, survivorship, contribution rates, disability retirement, deferred option plan, service credit, contributions, distributions, HB2116, Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, OLERS

Transcript Highlights:

• must tell you this is appalling and pictures are worth a thousand words and it seems to be falling on deaf

Bills: HB2013, HB4163, HB4810

Keywords: property owners associations, chickens, urban farming, land use, homeowner rights, agriculture, municipal regulation, governmental requirements, farm management, inspections, border control, trade, state funding, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that we do have two special needs schools: Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind and Olana
• needs schools are uh Hawaii School<00:22:14.559> for<00:22:14.720> the<00:22:14.880> Deaf
• and<00:22:15.200> the<00:22:15.280> Blind<00:22:15.600> and School for the Deaf
• and the Blind and School for the Deaf and the Blind and then<00:22:16.000> also<00:22:16.320>
• schools that could fit in that definition that are outside of Olana and the Hawaii School for the Deaf

Bills: HB1977, HB1764, HB1934, HB2533, HB1790, HB2181, HB1870, HB2140, HB2468, HB2358, HB1588, HB1688, HB1986, HB2030, HB2195, HB1949, HB1695, HB1950, HB2094, HB2115, HB2297, HB2336, HB2416, HB2049

Keywords: maternal health, infant health, mobile application, Medicaid, healthcare access, state programs, music education, public concerts, Hawaii State Library, cultural collaboration, music accessibility, libraries, education, reading programs, early childhood, nonprofit, community engagement, teacher retention, Hawaiian language education, special needs schools

Transcript Highlights:

• the chemical checks and the things like that that the high school coaches can do, and it falls on deaf
• the chemical checks and the things like that that the high school coaches can do, and it falls on deaf
• the chemical checks and the things like that that the high school coaches can do, and it falls on deaf
• the chemical checks and the things like that that the high school coaches can do, and it falls on deaf
• the chemical checks and the things like that that the high school coaches can do, and it falls on deaf

Bills: SF0035, SF0090, SF0072

Keywords: education, cell phones, smart devices, school policy, student conduct, school property, rental fees, youth activities, education policy, Wyoming legislature, teacher licensure, teacher mobility, interstate compact, education compact, licensure reciprocity, reciprocal certification, teacher certification, professional teaching standards board, out-of-state teachers, military spouse

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:10:50.240> the Funding for the Perpetual Center of the Arts and the State Academy for the Deaf
• Section 9 on page 189 provides the base operating appropriation for the Minnesota Statemies for the Deaf
• appropriation for the Minnesota Statemies<01:48:34.159> for<01:48:34.320> the<01:48:34.400> Deaf
• /c><01:48:34.800> the<01:48:35.320> Blind<01:48:36.320> and Statemies for the Deaf
• and the Blind and Statemies for the Deaf and the Blind and that<01:48:36.719> was<01:48:36.880

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 199, the A3 proposes providing funding to the Metro Deaf School in the amount of $150,000 in
• On line 199, the A3 proposes providing funding to the Metro Deaf School in the amount of $150,000 in
• funding<00:21:47.200> to<00:21:47.360> the<00:21:47.440> Metro<00:21:47.760> Deaf
• providing funding to the Metro Deaf providing funding to the Metro Deaf School<00:21:48.320>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a very unique position: I am fluent in American Sign Language and serve individuals who are deaf
• I have a very unique position: I am fluent in American Sign Language and serve individuals who are deaf
• 01:29:04.520> individuals<01:29:05.040> who<01:29:05.159> are<01:29:05.320> deaf
• <01:29:05.760> across serve individuals who are deaf across serve individuals who are deaf

Keywords: 1187, senate, all