Transcript Highlights:

• Being<00:02:46.640><c> 12</c><00:02:46.920><c> aye</c><00:02:47.000><c> votes,</c><00:02:47.280><c> no
• Next<00:02:52.520><c> up,</c><00:02:52.720><c> we</c><00:02:52.800><c> will</c><00:02:52.920><c> take
• </c><00:02:53.200><c> up</c><00:02:53.400><c> House</c><00:02:53.640><c> Bill</c><00:02:53.880><c> 504
• ><c> is</c><00:02:55.560><c> the</c><00:02:55.640><c> judicial</c><00:02:56.600><c> branch</c><00:02:
• There<00:02:58.760><c> is</c><00:02:59.040><c> a</c><00:02:59.200><c> committee</c><00:02:59.600><c>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:23 HB 503 Discussion 00:01:00 HB 503 Vote 00:02:17 HB 504 Discussion 00:02:53 HB 504 Vote 00:04:48 HB 500 Discussion 00:05:19 HB 500 Vote 00:29:18 HB 900 Discussion 00:32:02 HB 900 Vote 00:33:00, 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 503, the legislative branch budget, adopting a committee substitute and reporting it favorably. The chair said the Senate version fully funds defined calculations, provides 2% raises in each fiscal year for legislative employees, removes a paragraph on operating expense reductions, and includes $1 million in the first year for a judicial branch salary study. House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget, was then amended and reported favorably; changes included 2% annual raises for judicial employees, revised operating expense language, $1 million each year for county current services, retention of Boyle County fit-up language, reporting requirements for smaller capital projects, full funding for nine judges added in 2022, and removal of furlough prohibitions and certain budget implementation language. Both bills passed the committee unanimously with favorable expressions to the floor. The committee then considered House Bill 500, the executive branch budget, adopting a committee substitute before hearing a lengthy summary of major spending and policy changes. The chair described statewide 2% annual employee raises, agency base reductions with many exemptions, increased school safety and 911 funding, veterans and military funding, local government and severance-related changes, attorney general and auditor funding, pension and retirement system support, education funding changes including SEEK, postsecondary and scholarship provisions, public safety and corrections funding, and multiple capital projects. The chair also highlighted Medicaid-related provisions, including added waiver slots, increased state-directed payments, a 2.5% reduction in managed care vendor payments for plan years 2027 and 2028 with savings redirected to fee-for-service rates, and additional funding for behavioral health and public health programs. The bill was reported favorably after members explained their votes, with several noting they had only recently received the full 228-page bill and wanted more time for detailed review. Finally, the committee adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 900, an appropriation measure for government agencies, and reported it favorably. The chair said the bill remains a work in progress and that one-time funding requests from across the Commonwealth and across party lines would continue to be addressed as the process moves forward. All measures considered during the meeting passed the committee with unanimous or near-unanimous favorable votes, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:02:16.560><c> me</c><00:02:16.800><c> of</c><00:02:17.040><c> the</c><00:02:17.280><c> fact</c><
• her<00:02:17.920><c> father</c><00:02:18.239><c> had</c><00:02:18.560><c> died</c><00:02:18.959><c>
• His neck<00:02:29.200><c> was</c><00:02:29.440><c> pinned</c><00:02:29.840><c> against</c><00:02:30.160
• c><00:02:52.800><c> it</c><00:02:53.040><c> focuses</c><00:02:53.440><c> on</c><00:02:53.760><c> training
• I've<00:02:57.599><c> heard</c><00:02:57.840><c> from</c><00:02:58.080><c> numerous</c><00:02:59.120>

Bills: HF3935, HF2216, HF4354, HF4210, HF4212

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, training, unlicensed personnel, resident rights, safety regulations, nursing home, long-term care, guardian, conservator, arbitration, mandatory arbitration, consumer protection, fee increase, rate increase, price hike, private pay, public funds, Medicaid, waiver services

Transcript Highlights:

• :47.000><c> of</c><00:02:47.159><c> the</c><00:02:47.280><c> parcels</c><00:02:47.640><c> in</c><00:02
• </c><00:02:49.360><c> are</c><00:02:49.560><c> either</c><00:02:49.879><c> educational</c><00:02:50.599
• Lead Lee<00:02:54.920><c> you</c><00:02:55.040><c> know</c><00:02:55.239><c> better</c><00:02:55.440>
• :02:56.959><c> go</c><00:02:57.159><c> up</c><00:02:57.280><c> in</c><00:02:57.480><c> costs</c><00:02
• 02:52.599><c> to</c><01:02:52.760><c> rent</c><01:02:53.400><c> a</c><01:02:53.599><c> place</c><01:02

Bills: HF201, HF217, HF314, HF315, HF406, HF408, HF425, HF426, HF730, HF731, HF652, HF761, HF1079, HF928, HF1017, HF1056, HF1081

Keywords: HF201, Minnesota income tax, tax subtraction, tax deduction, volunteer firefighter, volunteer fire and rescue, emergency responder, ambulance service personnel, EMR, EMS, search and rescue, canine search and rescue, underwater search and rescue, paid-on-call, part-time volunteer, tax relief, state tax law, section 290.0132, drivers license, identification card

Transcript Highlights:

• :12.440><c> at</c><00:02:12.520><c> the</c><00:02:12.600><c> request</c><00:02:13.000><c> of</c><00:02
• And it also<00:02:15.880><c> adds</c><00:02:16.400><c> uh</c><00:02:16.480><c> two</c><00:02:16.680><
• ><00:02:22.760><c> in</c><00:02:23.080><c> uh</c><00:02:23.160><c> House</c><00:02:23.400><c> File</c
• 00:02:47.240><c> A4</c><00:02:47.640><c> amendment</c><00:02:48.360><c> uh</c><00:02:48.520><c> signify
• Motion<00:02:52.520><c> carries</c><00:02:53.080><c> and</c><00:02:53.440><c> House</c><00:02:53.680>

Bills: HF3643, HF3426, HF4222, HF4224

Keywords: Melissa Hortman, Mark Hortman, memorial park, state park, working group, Minnesota Historical Society, Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, Saint Paul, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Administration, Legislative Coordinating Commission, general fund appropriation, park planning, interpretive services, public engagement, state memorial, land use, natural resources, commemorative legislation, environment

Transcript Highlights:

• > projects</c><00:02:02.560><c> prior</c><00:02:02.880><c> to</c><00:02:03.439><c> January</c><00:02:
• :02:15.519><c> I</c><00:02:15.959><c> guess</c><00:02:16.959><c> and</c><00:02:17.160><c> so</c><00:02
• <00:02:23.080><c> um</c><00:02:24.000><c> but</c><00:02:24.239><c> all</c><00:02:24.360><c> of</c><00
• :31.080><c> this</c><00:02:31.800><c> um</c><00:02:31.920><c> we</c><00:02:32.040><c> were</c><00:02:
• </c><00:02:33.800><c> for</c><00:02:34.120><c> this</c><00:02:34.400><c> process</c><00:02:34.959><c>

Bills: HF958, HF688, HF702

Keywords: mental health, behavioral health, psychiatric care, collaborative care model, healthcare funding, service dog, service animal, service dog in training, assistance dog, guide dog, disability rights, housing accommodations, fair housing, landlord, rental housing, homeowners association, HOA, Minnesota human services, accessible housing, reasonable accommodation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:57.720><c> uh</c><00:02:57.959><c> house</c><00:02:58.239><c> file</c><00:02:58.599><c> 56
• </c> as outlined in the current Minnesota as outlined in the current Minnesota statute<00:15:17.639><
• trenches too<01:02:21.640><c> and</c><01:02:22.039><c> I</c><01:02:22.119><c> would</c><01:02:22.359
• :23.520><c> to</c><01:02:23.640><c> sit</c><01:02:23.799><c> down</c><01:02:23.960><c> and</c><01:02:
• </c><01:02:26.000><c> because</c><01:02:26.839><c> everyone</c><01:02:27.240><c> is</c><01:02:27.400>

Bills: HF56, HF780

Keywords: HF56, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Hutchinson Area Transportation Services, Hutchinson, McLeod County, transportation facility, vehicle storage, equipment storage, fueling facility, temperate storage, local infrastructure, public works, general obligation bonds, education finance, school funding, state aid, appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• And<00:02:08.520><c> so</c><00:02:08.720><c> with</c><00:02:08.880><c> that,</c><00:02:09.240><c> we're
• </c><00:02:09.360><c> going</c><00:02:09.479><c> to</c><00:02:09.560><c> have</c><00:02:09.679><c> a<
• </c><00:02:28.480><c> Before</c><00:02:28.720><c> we</c><00:02:28.840><c> do</c><00:02:28.959><c> that
• </c><00:02:29.880><c> Go</c><00:02:29.959><c> ahead</c><00:02:30.080><c> and</c><00:02:30.160><c> come
• We do<00:02:31.840><c> need</c><00:02:32.080><c> to</c><00:02:32.160><c> approve</c><00:02:32.480><c>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:26 Approval of Minutes 00:02:27 LIHEAP Presentation and Public Hearing 00:02:42 Conservation Opportunities in Kentucky 00:29:52, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up a public hearing and presentation on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Shannon Hall of the Department for Community Based Services and Rick Baker of Community Action Kentucky explained that LIHEAP is a 100% federally funded block grant that helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills, avoid utility disconnects, and support weatherization. They outlined the program’s components, eligibility limits, seasonal application periods, and recent participation figures, including tens of thousands of households served through the summer cooling, fall subsidy, winter crisis, and spring subsidy components. They also described weatherization priorities, the partnership with Kentucky Housing Corporation, and the role of Community Action agencies in administering the program statewide. Members asked about Assurance 16, the balance between need and available funding, summer cooling assistance, weatherization measurement, renter versus homeowner participation, and whether federal changes could affect LIHEAP. Hall and Baker said Assurance 16 supports energy-burden reduction through education, case management, and conservation strategies; that funding has generally been sufficient in recent years but crisis funds have sometimes been exhausted quickly in the past; and that summer assistance is primarily electric utility support. They also said weatherization uses return-on-investment testing and that Kentucky still has a large backlog of homes needing service. On federal funding, they said the recently passed federal bill did not directly cut LIHEAP, but future appropriations could still affect it, and any major reduction could leave a gap the state might need to consider filling. The committee approved the minutes and later approved the LIHEAP finding of fact; no members of the public signed up to testify. After concluding LIHEAP, the committee heard a presentation from Heather Jeff of The Nature Conservancy on conservation opportunities in Kentucky. She described the organization’s voluntary land-protection work and highlighted the Cumberland Forest project, a conservation easement on about 55,000 acres in Bell, Knox, and Leslie counties supported in part by a $3.875 million state appropriation. She also reported on mine-land reforestation, elk habitat work, and the rapid allocation of a $2 million appropriation for the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund. Jeff emphasized the economic value of conservation for tourism, hunting and fishing, agriculture, forestry, bourbon, and flood protection, and said the group is finalizing a Kentucky conservation needs assessment and related feasibility research.

Keywords: HI Senate YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9TUCyt1bgM, 2026-07-02T01:23:07+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, 00:00 - Start 00:25 - DM CPN-WAM DEFER 9:50 AM 06:54 - DM WAM 9:55 AM 07:50 - DM WAM 10:00 AM 16:00 - DM WAM DEFER 10:05 AM 19:53 - SB 838 21:55 - DM HRE-WAM 10:15 AM 24:01 - DM WAM 10:30 AM Hearing Notices: CPN-WAM DEFER 9:50 AM https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2023/hearingnotices/HEARING_CPN-WAM_03-02-23_DEFER_.pdf WAM 9:55 AM https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2023/hearingnotices/HEARING_WAM_03-02-23-1_.pdf WAM 10:00 AM https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2023/hearingnotices/HEARING_WAM_03-02-23_.pdf WAM DEFER 10:05 AM https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2023/hearingnotices/HEARING_WAM_03-02-23_DEFER_.pdf HRE-WAM 10:15 AM https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2023/hearingnotices/HEARING_HRE-WAM_03-02-23_.pdf WAM 10:30 AM https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2023/hearingnotices/HEARING_WAM_03-02-23-2_.pdf, 912, senate, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• :32.480><c> an</c><00:02:32.600><c> asset</c><00:02:32.960><c> in</c><00:02:33.080><c> our</c><00:02:
• ><c> know</c><00:02:36.560><c> that</c><00:02:36.880><c> so</c><00:02:37.040><c> many</c><00:02:37.240
• :45.880><c> Um</c><00:02:46.080><c> we</c><00:02:46.200><c> did</c><00:02:46.400><c> invite</c><00:02
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• Minnesota? Minnesota?

Bills: HF4343

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, advertising tax, taxable services, digital advertising, online marketing, marketing services, search engine marketing, lead generation, internet advertising, ad agency, media buying, campaign planning, Minnesota tax law, service tax, broadening tax base, web advertising, promotional services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• 02.240><c> people</c><00:02:02.479><c> could</c><00:02:02.960><c> uh</c><00:02:03.840><c> uh</c><00:02
• <00:02:08.640><c> could</c><00:02:08.800><c> drop</c><00:02:09.039><c> that</c><00:02:09.200><c> at</
• point</c><00:02:09.679><c> if</c><00:02:09.840><c> they</c><00:02:10.000><c> wanted</c><00:02:10.160>
• And so<00:02:19.440><c> there</c><00:02:19.599><c> is</c><00:02:19.760><c> a</c><00:02:20.560><c> a</
• c><00:02:20.879><c> pool</c><00:02:21.120><c> of</c><00:02:21.360><c> people</c><00:02:21.599><c> out

Bills: HF3797, HF3780, HF4068, HF3935

Keywords: long-term care, insurance policy, healthcare, partnership policy, Minnesota, human services, wage increase, support workers, shared services, community first services, medical assistance, sanctions, healthcare services, monetary recovery, government accountability, assisted living, training, unlicensed personnel, resident rights, safety regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• within in agriculture in the future<00:02:53.680><c> Minnesota</c><00:02:54.280><c> FFA</c><00:02:54.800
• ><c> offers</c><00:02:55.280><c> 29</c><00:02:56.280><c> career</c> future Minnesota FFA offers 29 career
• future Minnesota FFA offers 29 career and<00:02:57.000><c> leadership</c><00:02:57.560><c> development
• The language in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116 regarding product prohibitions for certain categories
• </c> throughout especially Greater Minnesota throughout especially Greater Minnesota and<01:02:01.240

Bills: HF1063

Keywords: grain buyers, grain dealer, grain elevator, agriculture, financial reporting, audit, CPA review, independent accountant, financial statement, balance sheet, cash flow, nonpublic data, licensee oversight, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, grain purchase volume, insolvency, nonpayment, warehouse chain, fiduciary duties, producer protection

Transcript Highlights:

• So,<01:02:00.920><c> I</c><01:02:01.040><c> vote</c><01:02:01.560><c> aye,</c><01:02:02.080><c> and</
• </c><01:02:05.120><c> I</c><01:02:05.240><c> hope</c><01:02:05.440><c> this</c><01:02:05.640><c> goes
• <01:02:08.880><c> you</c><01:02:09.040><c> talked</c><01:02:09.360><c> to</c><01:02:09.480><c> me,</c
• > want</c><01:02:13.200><c> to</c><01:02:13.280><c> do</c><01:02:13.400><c> away</c><01:02:13.680><c>
• ><c> policy</c><01:02:17.120><c> only,</c><01:02:18.000><c> not</c><01:02:18.360><c> statutes.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:02 Discussion HB 144 00:00:58 Vote HB 144 00:02:40 Discussion HB 169 00:03:21 Vote HB 169 00:05:02 Discussion HB 568 00:05:56 Vote HB 568 00:28:27 Discussion HB 627 00:32:26 Vote HB 627 01:00:26, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > meet</c><01:02:24.319><c> the</c><01:02:24.559><c> statutes.
• ><c> is</c><02:02:05.760><c> the</c><02:02:05.920><c> golden</c><02:02:06.480><c> I</c><02:02:06.639>
• So depending<02:02:12.000><c> on</c><02:02:12.080><c> when</c><02:02:12.320><c> you</c><02:02:12.480>
• </c><02:02:15.840><c> So</c><02:02:16.000><c> when</c><02:02:16.159><c> you</c><02:02:16.239><c> look
• </c><02:02:22.880><c> a</c><02:02:23.280><c> not</c><02:02:23.520><c> as</c><02:02:23.760><c> rich</c

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:14 Staff Report on the Firefighter Commission Minimum Training Standards and Administrative Spending- 00:02:02 Response from the Kentucky Fire Commission-00:32:06 Judge Testimony on Child Removal-00:42:47 Update on Child Removal and Reunification-01:11:19 Staffing at Kentucky Veteran Centers-01:40:15 Adjournment-02:05:55, 958, all

Summary: The Legislative Oversight and Investigation Committee met without a quorum, so no votes were taken. Staff presented a study of the Kentucky Fire Commission focused on firefighter minimum training standards and administrative spending. The presentation explained that Kentucky’s training standards are built from NFPA guidelines, that the commission currently requires 115 hours for volunteer firefighters and 300 hours for paid firefighters, and that those reduced hours were adopted by removing electives and other non-NFPA content. Staff also said the commission’s IFSAC certification testing for firefighter 1 and firefighter 2 aligns with NFPA standards, but the commission cannot require local departments to train or certify firefighters. Staff recommended that the commission formally promulgate regulations establishing the reduced training hours and work with KCTCS to better separate administrative costs for certain programs so compliance with the statute can be demonstrated. The finance portion of the report said the commission is funded by general fund appropriations for State Fire Rescue Training and by an insurance premium surcharge that supports the Firefighter Foundation Program Fund. Staff reported that the commission stayed within the 5% administrative cap tied to the overall surcharge allotment, but could not confirm compliance with a separate 5% cap for specific programs because KCTCS accounting does not break out those costs in enough detail. Staff suggested the General Assembly may want to clarify what counts as administrative cost in statute. Members asked about investment returns, local fire department funding, and whether training documentation is required; staff said some of those topics were outside the study scope and that IFSAC testing relies on chief certification that a candidate is ready to test. Representatives from the Fire Commission then responded, saying they agreed with the report’s recommendations and would work to clarify the 5% issue with legislators and KCTCS. They explained that the reduction in training hours was intended to remove electives, better align with NFPA standards, and address the difficulty volunteer departments have in getting members to complete lengthy training. Commission officials said training is documented through rosters and annual compliance reviews, and that IFSAC-certified firefighter testing is based on demonstrated skills rather than a required number of training hours. They also said the difficulty in tracking the second 5% cap stems from the way KCTCS’s PeopleSoft system records reimbursements as single transactions, making it hard to isolate administrative costs by program.

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R39NgXNLF0Y, 2026-06-21T07:17:02+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, MEETING START 00:00 ROLL CALL 00:09 HB 1 DISCUSSION 02:04 HB 1 VOTE 32:38 HB 2 DISCUSSION 34:50 HB 2 VOTE 37:26 HB 11 DISCUSSION 38:58 HB 11 VOTE 41:02, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt6BMBMWubM, 2026-06-21T07:17:00+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:05 HB 566 Discussion 02:02 HB 566 Vote 02:37 SB 114 Discussion 04:22 SB 114 Vote 10:50 SB 119 Discussion 12:18 SB 119 Vote 19:04, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:33.120><c> our</c><00:02:33.440><c> thoughts</c><00:02:33.760><c> and</c><00:02:33.880><c> prayers
• </c><00:02:46.080><c> Is</c><00:02:46.240><c> he</c><00:02:46.440><c> Yes,</c><00:02:46.800><c> there
• Have him<00:02:47.840><c> come</c><00:02:48.360><c> forward</c><00:02:48.920><c> and</c><00:02:49.080
• </c><00:02:54.400><c> Can</c><00:02:54.640><c> I</c><00:02:54.720><c> have</c><00:02:54.960><c> a</c>
• Uh<00:02:56.640><c> we</c><00:02:56.800><c> have</c><00:02:56.960><c> a</c><00:02:57.040><c> motion</

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:02 Attendance Roll Call 00:24 SB 73 Discussion 02:40 SB 73 Roll Call Vote 05:05 SB 155 Discussion 06:48 SB 155 Roll Call Vote 14:00, 958, all

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IakWEsVO9E0, 2026-06-21T07:17:06+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Roll Call – 02:03 Senate Bill 7 – 02:41, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:02:03.280><c> Representative</c><00:02:04.079><c> Smith.</c> &gt;&gt; here.
• Representative<00:02:06.240><c> Watkins</c> Representative Watkins Representative Watkins &gt;&gt; present
• &gt;&gt; Representative<00:02:11.520><c> W</c><00:02:11.840><c> Wh</c><00:02:11.840><c> Whitaker.
• &gt;&gt; Representative<00:02:13.760><c> White</c> &gt;&gt; Representative White &gt;&gt; Representative
• &gt;&gt; Representative<00:02:16.160><c> Williams.

Keywords: Meeting start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:56 Approval of Minutes 02:26 Discussion of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and Related Legislative 02:43 Presentation of Geoengineering and Related Legislation 07:42, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with a quorum call and approval of the prior meeting’s minutes. Senator Williams then presented a discussion draft involving KCNA and COOT/Kentucky Wired governance changes. He said the proposal would make the COOT executive director the KCNA director, place the education CIO as chair of a new board of constitutional officers, terminate existing KCNA employees at inception, and return KCNA funds to the general fund. He described the measure as a temporary holding pattern focused on customer connectivity until an audit is completed next summer. Senator West asked whether the bill would change existing Kentucky Wired contracts, and Williams said the contracts would remain in place and COOT would simply handle the work without an extra layer of bureaucracy. No vote was taken; the item was for discussion only. The committee then heard a presentation on geoengineering and related legislation from Rep. John Hodgson, Sen. Rollins, and retired meteorologist Randy Baker. They described geoengineering as attempts to alter climate or weather, including solar radiation modification, stratospheric aerosol injection, marine cloud brightening, and cloud seeding. The presenters distinguished these activities from ordinary jet contrails, crop dusting, ground-level emissions, and airport fog control, and said the proposed Kentucky bill would exclude those ordinary activities. They argued Kentucky lacks a current prohibition on weather modification, said the bill would protect farmland, crops, animal agriculture, aquaculture, and human health, and cited public concern, federal uncertainty, and similar legislation in other states. They also said cloud seeding is used in some western states but remains scientifically unproven and potentially harmful. Members asked about enforcement, federal preemption, and whether other states’ actions could affect Kentucky. The presenters said high-altitude spraying would be difficult to hide, that satellite imagery could detect large releases, and that the bill was intended as an assertion of state sovereignty even if federal law later changed. They also said there were no known active geoengineering projects in Kentucky. The discussion remained informational, with no committee vote or final action taken on either topic.

Transcript Highlights:

• :28.879><c> hi</c><00:02:29.879><c> Senator</c><00:02:30.160><c> ma</c><00:02:30.440><c> blo</c><00:02
• :31.120><c> hi</c><00:02:31.800><c> Senator</c><00:02:32.560><c> Neil</c> Maiden hi Senator ma blo hi
• Senator Neil Maiden hi Senator ma blo hi Senator Neil Senator<00:02:34.440><c> nun</c><00:02:35.440>
• <c> Senator</c><00:02:35.840><c> Rawlings</c><00:02:36.720><c> hi</c><00:02:37.680><c> Senator</c> Senator
• ><c> Senator</c><00:02:41.480><c> Webb</c><00:02:42.480><c> chair</c><00:02:43.000><c> McDaniel</c> I'm

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:02 HJR 31 Discussion 00:00:30 HJR 31 Vote 00:00:45 HJR 53 Discussion 00:01:25 HJR 53 Vote 00:02:20, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered two items tied to prior budget appropriations. The first was House Joint Resolution 31, described as relating to a $5 million appropriation to the Department of Economic Development from the previous year’s budget. Senator Boswell moved approval, Senator Maiden seconded, and the resolution passed on a roll call vote with all members voting aye. The second item was House Joint Resolution 53, which would release design funds for Kentucky State University’s Health Services Center project. Members discussed the amount, with one senator estimating it at about $5.3 million, though the resolution did not specify a dollar figure. Several members expressed concern that they had not met with Kentucky State University and did not have enough detail about the project or the underlying budget, and one member said he wanted to see more sustained improvement from the university before supporting the measure. After the roll call began, multiple members changed their votes from aye to no. The chair noted that the measure failed by a vote of three ayes to five noes. No other business was taken up, though the chair said another committee meeting might be held later that day and members should watch for an announcement from the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill please<00:02:02.119><c> proceed</c><00:02:02.759><c> the</c><00:02:02.880><c> Bill's</c><00:02:
• 02:04.960><c> a</c><00:02:05.119><c> quarter</c><00:02:05.479><c> or</c><00:02:05.799><c> half</c><00
• simple<00:02:08.879><c> bill</c><00:02:09.879><c> it</c><00:02:10.160><c> bill</c><00:02:10.560><c>
• ><c> by</c><00:02:42.680><c> Statute</c><00:02:43.319><c> but</c><00:02:43.440><c> were</c> not come
• to do it by Statute but were not come to do it by Statute but were providing<00:02:44.360><c> these</

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:04 SB 02: 00:01:37 Discussion in Opposition to SB 02: 00:09:49 SB 84: 00:22:19 SB 111: 00:30:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Senator Mike Wilson, which would prohibit incarcerated people from receiving cross-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries, while allowing a tapering period if stopping an existing treatment would cause physical harm. Wilson said the bill was needed to prevent the Department of Corrections from providing such care by memo or policy rather than statute, and he argued the care was elective and not medically necessary. Senators Thomas, Neal, Nemes, Styers, and others questioned whether any gender-affirming surgeries had actually occurred in Kentucky, whether the hormone treatments were physician-prescribed, and whether the bill would override medical judgment; Wilson said the department reported no surgeries, that 67 incarcerated people were receiving cross-sex hormone therapy, and that he would only support treatment if it fit the bill’s narrow medical-harm exception. Public testimony on SB 2 was strongly opposed. Chris Hartman of the Fairness Campaign said the bill would deny medically necessary care, violate the Eighth Amendment, and target a very small and vulnerable incarcerated population. Dr. Jack Skilles testified that gender-affirming care is medically necessary and supported by major medical organizations, warning that denying it could worsen mental health and lead to suicidality. Hannah Callahan, a transgender woman, described being denied hormone therapy while incarcerated and said the interruption caused severe physical and mental harm, including suicidal thoughts. Emma Curtis, Lexington’s Fourth District councilwoman, also urged a no vote, framing the issue as a matter of compassion and religious duty. The committee then voted on SB 2. Senator Neal explained his no vote by saying he was not medically trained and deferred to doctors; Senator Nemes said he wanted clarification that the bill would not stop ongoing treatment; and Senator Styers argued the bill was a poor priority and noted there was no fiscal note and that only 67 people were affected. Senator Wheeler moved the bill, Senator Reed seconded, and the committee reported Senate Bill 2 favorably. Afterward, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 84, sponsored by Senator Steve Rawlings, which would limit judicial deference to state agency interpretations and require courts, not agencies, to interpret ambiguous laws, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision overturning Chevron deference.