Transcript Highlights:

• You come from, if you go around that center aisle, you're going to see the picture.
• So, I mean, that's some process that we would have to take to the full commission.
• follow the strict process, you know... ...can still have a process, but you just wouldn't have to follow
• the strict process.
• You know, it doesn't mean you don't have a process.

Keywords: Tribute to Senator Yvonne Miller Work Group, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We thought it would be a better process, and it in fact was a better process.
• We thought it would be a better process, and it in fact was a better process.
• We thought it would be a better process, and it in fact was a better process.
• We thought it would be a better process, and it in fact was a better process.
• We thought it would be a better process, and it in fact was a better process.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development received a presentation from Kentucky Department of Education officials on the final SEEK estimate for fiscal year 2025. Commissioner Robbie Fletcher, Matt Ross, and Chay Ritter explained that SEEK is developed through a consensus process with the Office of the State Budget Director using multiple models and district-level inputs, and that the estimate is a projection made well before actual data are available. They emphasized that the discussion was separate from the pending education-funding lawsuit and described SEEK as one part of a much larger K-12 budget picture. The presenters said the current SEEK estimate shows a statutory shortfall of about $14.7 million, or roughly 0.53% of the appropriation, with additional optional items that could bring the total to about $40.5 million if funds are available. They noted that prior years have sometimes produced excess funds, which are redirected according to budget language rather than automatically flowing back through SEEK. They also reviewed the main drivers of the estimate, including property assessments, average daily attendance, free lunch counts, exceptional child counts, home hospital, and limited English proficiency, and said property assessments have been especially volatile while exceptional child counts and ELL populations are difficult to predict. Members asked about why the estimate missed on some categories, especially special education and ELL, and whether district-level changes were being monitored closely enough. The presenters said KDE does monitor special education counts and will review larger districts and districts with unusual growth, and they acknowledged that exceptional child growth has been hard to forecast. Representative Bojanowski asked about the Cloverport virtual school, and staff said its growth was much larger than projected and accounted for a significant portion of the shortfall. Members also discussed the impact of property value growth, population shifts, illness, and legislative changes on SEEK projections. No vote or formal action was taken, and the meeting ended after questions and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• A QUESTION BASED ON THE I9 PROCESS VERSUS THE E-VERIFY PROCESS.
• IS A VERIFICATION PROCESS INSTANTLY WHEREAS IT CAN BE IN A FILE CABINET.
• IT'S A 45 MINUTE PROCESS. IT'S AN EASIER PROCESS.
• WITH SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER. IN OPPOSITION. DOCTOR RICH TEMPLIN?
• IT IS RURAL COUNTIES TYPICALLY THAT DON'T HAVE A CAREER SOURCE CENTER.

Transcript Highlights:

• process around that. process around that. >> Thank<00:42:51.520> you.
• The newborn screening program process.
• . process. process.
• program integrity processes. program integrity processes.
• <01:37:20.159> So state in processing this change. So state in processing this change.

Bills: HF4609, HF4401

Keywords: infertility, fertility treatment, fertility preservation, IVF, assisted reproductive technology, ART, oocyte retrieval, embryo transfer, egg freezing, sperm freezing, reproductive health, maternity coverage, health insurance mandate, health plan benefits, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, MinnesotaCare, family planning, oncology fertility preservation, chemotherapy

Transcript Highlights:

• And then our secondary career centers.
• So we can ensure that happens in the application of the implementation process.
• We're in the process of—we just went through Legislative Council a week or two ago—so we're in the process
• process now of posting positions and hiring positions 100% dedicated to administering this fund.
• That's a normal process. So you sign up as a vendor. That's a normal process that...

Summary: The committee approved the November 3 minutes and then received an extensive presentation from Arkansas education and workforce officials on how the LEARNS and ACCESS Acts are affecting career and technical education, concurrent enrollment, and postsecondary readiness. Officials said the state’s goal is for students to leave high school employed, enrolled, or enlisted, and reported increases in K-12 CTE enrollment from about 161,000 to 171,000 students and concurrent CTE enrollment from about 12,000 to 16,000. They also described the new success-ready pathways, merit and distinction designations, and how those measures tie into school accountability and graduation outcomes. The discussion then turned to scholarships and grants. Officials explained that ACCESS expanded concurrent credit support, increased funding per credit hour, and broadened eligibility for the Arkansas Academic Challenge and Governor’s Scholar programs by adding diploma-of-merit and diploma-of-distinction pathways. They said the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship itself did not change, but the non-distinguished Governor’s Scholar award now includes diploma of distinction as an additional eligibility route. Members raised concerns about how these requirements apply to private school and homeschool students, and officials said the intent is to ensure those students can qualify if they meet the same standards, though some implementation details are still being worked out. Questions also focused on whether students who explore multiple pathways could be penalized in school letter grades; officials said the system allows multiple ways to earn credit, including AP, IB, concurrent credit, technical certificates, and apprenticeships. Officials also reviewed workforce scholarships and short-term training funding. They said the state is developing policy for the Workforce Challenge and related professional skills training to set an 80-hour minimum and tiered funding, and they discussed the new federal Workforce Pell rules, which they said are very narrow and will likely apply to only a small number of Arkansas programs unless providers repackage training into stackable, credit-bearing pathways. Members asked for lists of eliminated programs, apprenticeships, and data on scholarship recipients, and staff said they could provide those. The committee also heard from Cody Waites on a $35.8 million U.S. Department of Labor cooperative agreement for the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund, which Arkansas will administer nationally. He said the grant will support advanced manufacturing apprenticeships, use a pay-for-performance model, and be distributed to sponsors after apprentices are employed for 90 days, with applications opening January 28 and the state expecting to keep administrative costs under 8-9%.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I apologize again for being late, but, um, Madam Chair and I have met and discussed the process and
• To limit the proximity of petroleum industry operations to population centers with the representation
• I know we have a lot of things happening there between BHI, our new, um, rehab center.
• We also have two school-based health centers, so kind of can tie in a lot of health stuff should you
• So what is that process?

Transcript Highlights:

• would have to be that enrollment process would have to be that enrollment process and<00:13:34.279
• I go to the Hope Center regularly.
• the community I go to the Hope Center the community I go to the Hope Center regularly<00:28:21.600
• regularly I go to other recovery centers regularly I go to other recovery centers regularly<00:28
• <02:26:23.160> of um I am still in the process of um I am still in the process of appealing

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Neil Lad, Deputy Executive Director for the National Sports Center.
• In the process, we have done facilities.
• However, pre-design is a rather complicated process.
• Um, pre-esign is complicated process.
• ,<01:03:21.680> Brainard, Alexandria, Sock Center, Brainard, Alexandria, Sock Center, Brainard

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• in Manchester who comes in at 4 or 5:00 in the morning to process all the motions involved in the YDC
• filing Center in Manchester who<00:19:28.200> comes<00:19:28.440> in<00:19:28.960>
• on behalf of victims and our crisis centers.
• Kyg said that is why this is such an important process for them.
• Kyg said crisis centers also provide safety planning and connection to legal services.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and that process, for all its flaws, is trackable.
• , and that process, for all its flaws, is trackable.
• speak to each other, but are not the same process, right?
• speak to each other, but are not the same process, right?
• And we're in the process of developing listening sessions...

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The inaugural hearing of the newly named House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability focused on how federal policy changes could affect Massachusetts, especially in education, health care, research, infrastructure, climate, and business conditions. Chair LaNatra said the committee was created to monitor federal funding decisions and their impacts on state programs and services. Members introduced themselves, then heard testimony from Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Sarah Mills of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Quentin Palfrey, the governor’s Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure. Howgate argued that the Trump administration and new Congress pose ideological, practical, and process-related risks to Massachusetts, citing proposed cuts to Medicaid, education, research, and other domestic programs. He said federal dollars make up about a quarter of the state operating budget and capital plan, warned against using one-time reserves to backfill ongoing federal cuts, and urged the state to prioritize core services while protecting areas where Massachusetts is especially strong, such as higher education and research. In response to committee questions, he said the House Medicaid proposal would still cost Massachusetts hundreds of millions and that international student and NIH-related changes could harm the state’s labor force and innovation economy. He also advised that the state communicate clearly without overreacting to daily federal developments. Mills testified that AIM members are most concerned about uncertainty, tariffs, Medicaid cuts, and NIH reductions. She said tariffs are raising costs, disrupting supply chains, and hurting small and medium-sized businesses, housing construction, and exporters, with AIM’s business confidence index falling to its lowest level since the pandemic. She said Medicaid cuts would raise employer health costs, reduce productivity, and strain the health care system, while NIH cuts would threaten Massachusetts’ life sciences and academic research ecosystem. In questions, she said AIM has increased federal outreach, is coordinating with the U.S. Chamber and the Massachusetts delegation, and is hearing concerns from employers about immigration compliance and workforce disruptions. Palfrey described the Healey-Driscoll administration’s efforts to maximize federal funding, including a biweekly interagency council, a municipal partnership effort, and a statewide roadshow. He said Massachusetts has secured nearly $9 billion from major federal laws for projects such as the Cape Cod bridges, Allston Multimodal, grid modernization, clean-energy school buses, and broadband. He also said the administration launched a public website to track federal impacts and is working with municipalities, nonprofits, and the Attorney General on grant changes, legal issues, and litigation. In response to questions, he warned that cuts to NOAA, NSF, Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs could affect services and the state budget, and said the administration is tracking changes to federal grant applications and conditions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to meet these challenges head on, and we want to center ourselves in fiscal responsibility.
• I mean it because this budget is people-centered and progress-focused.
• Historic investments in immigrant resource centers at our schools, again... ...investments.
• They have been the heart and soul of this budget process.
• And that is at the center of why I support SCR 89.

Summary: The Assembly convened, initially lacked a quorum, and then completed the roll call, prayer, and pledge. Members observed a moment of silence for the fatal B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base in Assemblymember Lackey’s district. The body then handled a series of procedural motions, including re-referrals of numerous Senate bills to different committees, suspending rules for committee notices, and taking up the budget bill, AB 109, without reference to file for concurrence in Senate amendments. Debate on AB 109, the 2026 budget act, centered on competing views of the state’s fiscal condition and policy priorities. Supporters said the budget balances the current and next year’s budget, reduces the structural deficit, builds reserves, protects health care, schools, housing, food assistance, and other safety-net programs, and responds to federal cuts under H.R. 1. Opponents argued the budget increases taxes and costs, shortchanges schools, underfunds Proposition 36, relies on gimmicks, and does not adequately address public safety, cost of living, or long-term sustainability. Several members also highlighted specific provisions such as hospital support, Medi-Cal and IHSS protections, child care, immigrant legal services, prison closure, and funding for courts and victim services. A motion by Assemblymember DeMaio to return AB 109 to the Senate failed on a roll call vote, 13 ayes to 45 noes. The Assembly then voted on concurrence in the Senate amendments to AB 109; the measure passed, and the Senate amendments were concurred in without objection, with immediate transmittal to the Governor. Afterward, the Assembly moved to the daily file and took up SCR 89, a resolution affirming diversity, equity, and inclusion. Supporters from several caucuses framed DEI as a core California value and a response to federal attacks, while opponents criticized DEI as divisive. The transcript ends during debate on SCR 89, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So all this does is put real food back at the center of our citizens' lives.
• So all this does is put real food back at the center of our citizens' lives.
• Real food back at the center of our citizens' lives. And I'm gonna close with this.
• Nutrition: the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.
• Nutrition: the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The command center is still in San Luis, occasionally. Okay.
• I'm the North Center Precinct in Galveston County.
• A slow approvals process by municipalities can mean.
• Removal process matching the estimate for petition.
• Yeah, the historical exemption over the process of the landowner.

Bills: SB2784, HB23, HB247, HB1533, HB2011, HB2013, HB2273, HB2421, HB2464, HB3120, HB3424, HB3575, HB3788, HB4370, HB4809, HB5057, HB5084, HB5534, HB5668, HJR34, HB23, HB247, HJR34

Keywords: Somervell County, hospital district, board of directors, elections, local governance, staggered terms, third-party review, property development, local government, permits, construction inspection, regulatory authority, land development, liability, occupancy certificate, border security, tax exemption, ad valorem, real property, infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• While effective in ensuring quality standards, research has indicated that the accreditation process
• This accreditation process would be aligned with the best public interest of the state constituents,
• This is a pragmatic shift from the status quo, where accreditors may emphasize process over results,
• at the site of the old Frank Irwin Center.
• This expansion will include a new UT specialty hospital and a new MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard several bills and took no final votes, leaving each measure pending. The first major item, SB 1322 by Senator Hagenbuch, would create a Texas Higher Education Accrediting Commission to evaluate and approve accrediting agencies for public colleges and universities using outcome-based metrics such as retention, graduation, employment, debt, and repayment. Supporters, including Kate Byerley of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, argued the bill would add competition and align accreditation with Texas workforce needs; Senator Menendez questioned the need for a new bureaucracy and noted the $3.6 million fiscal note, suggesting existing reporting and oversight structures could serve the same purpose. The committee then heard SB 1998, which would establish a pediatric subspecialty preceptorship program to encourage medical students to enter pediatric subspecialties. Dr. Lauren Gamble testified in strong support, saying the program would help address shortages and improve access for children, especially in rural and underserved areas. SB 2788, authored by Senator Menendez, would add the PSAT as an accepted assessment for dual credit and Texas Success Initiative purposes; Priscilla Camacho of Alamo Colleges supported the bill, citing strong student outcomes and widespread use of the PSAT as a readiness indicator. Senator Creighton laid out SB 2076, which would remove or modify certain Capitol view corridor restrictions affecting the UT Austin Academic Medical Center project, including the planned specialty hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center expansion. He said the existing corridors are outdated and limit development. The committee also heard SB 1418, a cleanup bill replacing outdated references to ACT Plan with Pre-ACT and removing obsolete SAT subject test language. After brief testimony and no opposition on the later bills, the committee closed public testimony and left SB 1322, SB 1998, SB 2788, SB 2076, and SB 1418 pending before recessing for the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• how the the process for payment went. how the the process for payment went.
• <00:30:50.080> for one dark fiber lease to the center for one dark fiber lease to the center
• and processes and processes Trump<00:43:19.359> the<00:43:19.599> care<00:43:20.960
• Thank you. repairs in the information center uh in repairs in the information center uh in Frankfurt,
• But was it a bid process? A bid process.

Keywords: 0:00:07 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:00:47 Approval of Minutes 0:01:05 Correspondence and Information Items 0:54:15 Lease Rpt from Postsecondary Institutions 0:56:19 Project Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 1:08:46 Lease Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 1:13:00 Rpt from Office of Financial Mgmt - KIA 1:20:00 Office of Financial Management 1:35:50 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with routine business, including welcoming new committee member Senator Reginald Thomas, approving the minutes, and receiving a correspondence report on several information items. Those items included University of Kentucky research equipment funding, UK capital project funding using federal/private funds, debt issues from McGoffin County and Owen County school districts, lease modifications by the Division of Real Properties, asset preservation project revisions at Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University, and Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) information on Kentucky Wired critical infrastructure. The main discussion focused on a dispute over the Kentucky Wired communication shelters, or “huts,” and related payments under KCNA’s agreement with Asellicom/Excel. Brad Kilby of Asellicom testified that KCNA had not paid for the huts, that Asellicom had not received the alleged $8 million or any later payment, and that Asellicom remained the legal owner. Committee members pressed him on whether payment had been received, whether anyone else might have received it, and whether the lawsuit or dispute resolution process clarified the issue. Kilby said no payment had been received and that the matter was part of ongoing litigation. KCNA Executive Director Doug Hendricks and General Counsel Adam Atkins then testified. They said a certified check for $8.5 million was mailed in July, based on the Finance and Administration Cabinet secretary’s determination that $8.5 million was due under the model procurement code, even though KCNA had initially requested about $12 million to cover a worst-case estimate. They said the contract allowed payment in full or in tranches, that the huts were completed and operational, and that KCNA had not received documentation supporting Asellicom’s higher $10.1 million claim. Members expressed frustration over the missing check and the broader implications for Kentucky Wired, and one member requested that the committee obtain all agency requests related to KCNA/Kentucky Wired since inception; the co-chairs said they would look into making that information available. No formal vote was taken on the dispute during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our support to the real-time crime center: one is some of the cameras.
• So that was the real-time crime center.
• And some of it was we were going through that process of trust.
• But we do work with many of the detention centers on that.
• and automate a lot of our data download processes.

Bills: SB100

Keywords: burglary, aggravated burglary, dwelling, criminal law, property rights, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• guess, is what I would say the process. guess, is what I would say the process.
• Uh, Small Business Development Center, Wyoming Women's Business Center.
• Uh, Small Business Development Center, Wyoming Women's Business Center.
• Uh, Small Business Development Center, Wyoming Women's Business Center.
• Uh, Small Business Development Center, Wyoming Women's Business Center.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Amanda Passon, I'm a senior policy analyst at Every Texan, formerly the Center for Public
• we've learned a lot of things that could benefit our state better. and improve the implementation process
• Doctor, I appreciate your testimony and as an anesthesiologist that works in multiple trauma centers.
• It goes through the same rigorous process. that all blood products and in fact the blood that is used
• And so it's $1 million of saving. at one trauma center for the year.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or a gastroenterology center.
• When I deal with the VA Medical Center, it's one of the top. VA Medical Centers in the country.
• Look, we want to keep the caps for us, but let us handle the claims process—strictly the claims process
• That are in the process of developing a license database.
• Okay, so that process is already working. Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oftentimes during session, most of the conversation centers around decision packages.
• We are in a process of renewing how we do those and how we task those and how we prioritize those.
• It is a very difficult process, both for the children and for the interviewers.
• to testify in court when that process comes.
• And heroin, not so much because you have the fentanyl process helping there.

Summary: The committee met to review the Attorney General’s budget and related agency operations, beginning with Legislative Council staff walking members through compliance reports and a blue-sheet base budget document. Staff highlighted current-biennium items such as FTE changes, one-time appropriations, litigation funding, opioid settlement receipts, continuing appropriations, and major special and federal funds. Members asked for clarification on items including the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund, the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit grant funding. Assistant Attorney General Clare Ness then gave an overview of the office’s structure, staffing, and budget pressures. She emphasized the office’s broad statutory duties, the value of its legal services to state and local government, and concerns about attorney pay lagging behind other agencies. Members discussed whether attorney compensation should be benchmarked more consistently across state government and whether some legal work could be consolidated within the AG’s office. Ness also addressed questions about AG opinion turnaround times, boards-and-commissions training, the new-and-vacant FTE pool, operating expense cuts, office leases, and the state’s criminal justice information systems. The crime lab presentation drew significant attention. Director Jennifer Penner described severe space, safety, and infrastructure problems at the current lab, including cramped work areas, glycol leaks, outdated fire and burglar alarms, air-handling limits, and equipment failures that have delayed toxicology work. She said the 2024 study projected a much larger facility would be needed and that the preferred location would be near the current health department site, but in a new building. Members asked about possible evidence risks, backlog status, and whether the proposed building would solve the current problems; Penner said it would and noted backlogs have improved overall, though some delays remain. The committee also heard from the new Medicaid Fraud Control Unit director, who described the unit’s civil and criminal work, federal-state funding split, and examples of fraud such as billing for services not provided or upcoding. The gaming division reported continued growth in charitable gaming and e-tabs, with members expressing concern about large trust-account balances, site competition, and possible misuse of proceeds. Finally, BCI outlined its caseload, cybercrime work, missing Indigenous persons task force, and the surge in CSAM cyber tips; members asked about AI-generated CSAM, and the AG’s office noted that last session’s law increased penalties and expressly allowed AI-generated CSAM to be prosecuted like other CSAM. No formal votes or actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.