Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair, and subcommittee members, and the public.
• That is 86.5001 FTE for a public relations officer.
• So, **Representative Pettigrew:** Can you tell me, is this a brand new idea to have a public relations
• Who were doing dual duties. So, that's just not accurate. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• We've put it out more to the public.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• school, a public charter school, a non-public school, or the education freedom account. faith. faith
• school, a public charter school, a non-public school, or the education freedom account.
• </c> some type and the public school system? some type and the public school system?
• </c><01:36:55.679><c> and</c><01:36:56.000><c> public</c> public schools who have and public public schools
• </c> if you're not in the public schools? if you're not in the public schools?

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• The third priority would be active-duty Title 10 military service members. This is a great bill.
• Unfortunately, many public schools provide instruction on some... ...of God.
• Idaho Family Policy Center knows this because we filed public records requests with every Idaho public
• There are 116, and 107 responded to our public records request.
• Thank you. ...and 107 responded to our public records request. Thank you.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't poorly on public schools.
• Yet, we hear critics of public education freedom shout to keep public dollars in public schools.
• </c><02:17:56.639><c> Well,</c> public dollars in public schools.
• Well, public dollars in public schools.
• It worked just fine. public school choice system, our public public school choice system, our public

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Remind us that while we may differ in our views, we should be united in our duty to serve the people
• our country for 36 years as a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, including tours of duty
• He continued his public service with the U.S.
• Bernie dedicated his life to public... Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Bernie dedicated his life to public service to Richmond and our Commonwealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public testimony, we'll take public testimony, but we'll also open for at the end and I am testifying
• Budget Board and I'll be presenting on the Summary of Recommendations. for the Texas Department of Public
• They get a $5,000 signing bonus to help them relocate to their new duty stations that that has been very
• This is for high performers and this is for hard-to-fill duty stations positions.
• And we wouldn't ask, it's hard to ask, with all the public safety threats, it's hard to ask for bricks

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• here to talk about how many mine inspector positions we have, where they're located, what their job duties
• And you ask about duties, so the first thing, inspections according to statute.
• And you ask about duties, so the first thing, inspections according to statute.
• And you ask about duties, so the first thing, inspections according to statute.
• c> is</c> Another duty that our mine inspectors do is training.

Summary: The Tourism and Energy committee received a presentation from Gordon Sloan, Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, and Deputy Commissioner David Fields on the Division of Mine Safety. They outlined the division’s structure, saying it has four branch offices in Madisonville, Harlan, Hazard, and Pikeville, with 36 inspectors total, plus administrative staff and several headquarters specialists. They also explained that four additional inspectors are on sick leave or workers’ compensation and will not be backfilled, and confirmed that inspectors work from offices rather than from home. The presentation focused on mine safety duties and staffing needs. Sloan said underground licensed mines must receive six inspections annually, including mine safety analyses, an electrical inspection, roof inspections, and regular inspections of airways, returns, belts, and miner safety equipment. He also described the division’s mine rescue responsibilities, including providing rescue coverage where operators do not have their own teams, maintaining teams within an hour’s drive of mines, and supporting training and certification. The division also conducts 17 training courses and about 8,000 to 9,000 trainings per year. Members were given updated mine and employment figures. Sloan reported 126 licensed mines in 2024 across the branch areas, with 61 active all year and others idle or later abandoned. He said Kentucky had 4,683 miners in 2024, with average employment of 4,509, and noted that the state had gone 34 months without a mining fatality since March 2022. He also said the division provides rescue services for 16 underground rock quarries, three highway tunnels, and three underground military training sites. In response to questions, Sloan said the division does not plan to refill the four vacant inspector positions because staffing is adequate statewide, and he said he would provide additional historical mine data later. The committee took no formal action and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so also, though, I do ask for those who are giving public testimony.
• The public testimony before we go to committee.
• Won't do public works.
• And give your public testimony.
• The EMT that was on duty decided that he needed to be flown out.

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• like food, medicine, and child care, even as the extreme rhetoric rises in this chamber and in the public
• </c><00:02:43.920><c> Square</c> in this chamber and in the Public Square in this chamber and in the
• Public Square we<00:02:44.959><c> will</c><00:02:45.200><c> not</c><00:02:45.480><c> stop</c><00:02:45.920
• </c> purposeful public purposeful public service<02:15:48.520><c> thank</c><02:15:48.719><c> you</c>
• of the office on discharge the duties of the office on which<02:42:37.880><c> you</c><02:42:38.160><

Transcript Highlights:

• for public comment, and you have up Two minutes each to address us.
• For allowing this public comment time.
• And I've been amazed at the diversity within the non-public schools of our state.
• Anyone else for public comment? Anyone else? Public comment. Sorry, my mic was off.
• The law now mandates free, high-quality meals for all public schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:49:00.000><c> sector</c><00:49:00.400><c> is</c> public sector is public sector is is<00:49:03.280
• I actually made a comment in a public meeting one time.
• I actually made a comment in a public meeting one time.
• I actually made a comment in a public meeting one time.
• Senator May public safety officers.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The founders intended public service to be a temporary duty, an honorable calling to some...
• The public service to be a temporary duty, an honorable calling to serve the country for a term or two
• And as far as educating the general public, what is the plan to educate the general public?
• And now is the time when we need you to do your duty.
• All in favor to end the public hearing, aye. Right, the ayes have it. The public hearing has ended.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs

Summary: The hearing of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs was opened by Chair Joe McGonagle and Vice Chair Senator Mike Rush, who noted that Chair John Velis was deployed with the Massachusetts National Guard. The chairs explained the hybrid format, three-minute testimony limit, live streaming, and filing deadlines, and said the committee would hear 11 House bills and eight Senate bills dealing with federal and overseas issues. Much of the hearing centered on competing resolutions about Article 5 constitutional conventions, along with related resolutions on D.C. statehood, child labor, Citizens United, and Cambodia. Supporters of H. 4692 and S. 284, a joint resolution to rescind all prior Massachusetts Article 5 convention applications, argued that old resolutions from the 1930s and 1970s could be used to count Massachusetts toward the 34-state threshold for calling a federal constitutional convention. Testifiers from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, Reproductive Equity Now, labor groups, and others warned that a convention would have no clear rules, could not be reliably limited to specific topics, and could put civil rights, reproductive rights, labor protections, and other constitutional protections at risk. Several speakers also cited a recent federal lawsuit and said the safest course was to remove outdated applications from the books. A large opposing panel testified in support of H. 3888, a resolution calling for a Convention of States to propose amendments limiting federal power, imposing fiscal restraints, and establishing term limits. Supporters argued that Article 5 provides a lawful way to address federal overreach, debt, and congressional stagnation, and said the process would be limited by state applications and ratification by 38 states. Some committee members and witnesses raised concerns about a runaway convention, broad language in the resolution, and whether Congress could or should set rules for such a convention. Representative Gentile also testified in support of several related resolutions on overturning Citizens United, D.C. statehood, and the child labor amendment, while Representative Howard and Representative Tongue supported a Cambodia resolution condemning political oppression and urging free and fair elections. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we'll have some right before we go into public hearings.
• So thank you for letting me take care of my administrative duties as well.
• We conducted a robust public process over the summer and fall to update our rules.
• Before I gavel us into our first public hearing, I just want to remind testifiers...
• That'd be sure. of our public institutions and the impact of our environment.

Bills: HB2330 , HB2338

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: energy systems, capital funding, state campus, school infrastructure, sustainability, weatherization, energy efficiency, community projects, environment

Transcript Highlights:

• A turbulent public funding environment is challenging.
• And then we'll have some right before we go into public hearings.
• So thank you for letting me take care of my administrative duties as well.
• Before I gavel us into our first public hearing, I just want to remind testifiers... ...first public
• That'd be sure. ...of our public institutions and the impact of our environment.

Summary: The committee first received a Commerce overview of capital budget grant programs, including behavioral health facilities, Building for the Arts, Building Communities Fund, early learning facilities, library capital improvements, and youth recreational facilities. Commerce described program eligibility, match requirements, funding cycles, and project examples such as an early learning center in Spokane, a rural library in Stevens County, and a youth clubhouse in Prosser. Members asked about behavioral health capital projects, including how many facilities have been opened and how capital planning aligns with operating funding; Commerce said it could provide more data later and noted it focuses on capital while HCA, DSHS, and DOH handle operating requests. Members also raised concerns about nonprofit financial stability, project licensure, siting, and the burden of non-state match, while Commerce emphasized shovel-ready projects, community match, and efforts to reduce application burden. The committee then heard an update on the Clean Buildings Performance Standard from Commerce. Staff reviewed Washington’s building emissions laws, compliance tiers, exemptions, incentives, and district energy system decarbonization planning under House Bills 1543, 1976, and 1390. Commerce reported nearly 5,000 inquiries in 2025, a fellowship program that has helped more than 250 buildings in 16 counties, and review of nearly 30 district energy plans. The presentation highlighted that over half of Tier 1 buildings are already meeting targets, that Tier 2 incentive applications suggest the 30-cent-per-square-foot incentive often covers compliance costs, and that district decarbonization plans face common challenges such as aging infrastructure, grid readiness, workforce, and inconsistent cost reporting. Members asked what additional legislative action might help, and Commerce said it was still learning from the new rulemaking and implementation changes. Western Washington University and Corex then presented on WWU’s campus heating conversion project and a possible off-campus thermal energy partnership with the Port of Bellingham. WWU described its aging steam system, high emissions, maintenance costs, and the $51 million in Climate Commitment Account funding it has received to transition toward an electric hot-water system using technologies such as geo-exchange, heat recovery chillers, and air-source heat pumps. Corex explained its existing district energy system at the Port of Bellingham, which uses industrial waste heat and is operating at very high efficiency, and said it is exploring a heat transmission line to WWU and possibly sewer-heat recovery. Testimony from WSU and UW supported the broader decarbonization effort but raised concerns about the scale of costs, deferred maintenance, and the need for predictable state funding. A contractor witness urged the state to think bigger about public-private partnerships and other financing tools rather than forcing campuses to compete for limited funds. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2330, which would create a prioritization process for capital funding for state campus district energy system decarbonization projects. Staff said the bill would establish a Commerce committee to score and rank projects, issue a preliminary framework report by December 30 of this year, and provide biennial recommended project lists beginning in 2028, while also studying barriers to energy-as-a-service contracts and public-private partnerships. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to create a thoughtful, predictable process for deciding which projects to fund, emphasizing energy savings, emissions reductions, operating cost reductions, shovel-readiness, and the value of public-private partnerships. Testimony was mixed but generally supportive: WSU and UW backed the bill as a way to advance compliance and predictability, though WSU warned that compliance costs could be very large and that the university would likely seek state help if fines were imposed. A contractor witness supported the concept but argued the bill should help build a larger funding “pie” through partnerships and financing tools rather than simply dividing scarce resources. The committee then opened and heard testimony on House Bill 2338, which would authorize community-scaled weatherization projects. Commerce staff said the bill would allow weatherization funds and matching funds to be used for neighborhood-scale projects affecting multiple dwelling units, while still prioritizing low-income households; the fiscal note estimated about $273,000 in FY 2027 and about $237,000 per biennium ongoing for administration. Supporters from community action agencies and Spark Northwest said the bill would improve health, safety, affordability, and contractor participation by allowing weatherization to be done at a community scale, especially in mobile home parks and low-income neighborhoods. No votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> will close the public hearing on 455. will close the public hearing on 455.
• fiduciary duty.
• fiduciary duty.
• fiduciary duty.
• </c> be executing their contractual duties. be executing their contractual duties.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• He said they are a nonprofit resort focusing on providing disabled veterans, the disabled public, and
• Increasing our disabled veteran capacity at the resort and disabled public capacity at the resort.
• </c><01:03:34.880><c> uh</c> months that we try and get public uh months that we try and get public uh
• and</c><01:03:37.000><c> public</c><01:03:37.240><c> rentals</c> public in there and and public rentals
• public in there and and public rentals because<01:03:38.400><c> we</c><01:03:38.640><c> have</c><01:

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of it, at least in the public view, doesn't sound very helpful, doesn't sound very like it was the
• Arkansas Governmental Bonding Board of audit reports reflecting improper transactions for which a public
• with you being here today, what can we do to make your jobs easier or better or help you fulfill the duties
• with you being here today, what can we do to make your jobs easier or better or help you fulfill the duties
• victim from the beginning of the process through the end, and they have state statutory mandated duties

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Summary: The committee first adopted prior minutes and then heard several standing committee audit reports. The executive committee report noted audit and special reports scheduled for the month, one outstanding committee-requested report, and a request to gather information on a possible special report for February. The city/county/local report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, including reinstatement of turn-back funds for 17 entities, 59 of 64 delinquent 2023 entities filing reports, and action on the town of Daisy requiring repayment of misused street funds. The education report filed three higher education audit reports and deferred one Northwest Arkansas Community College report. The state agencies report filed four reports and deferred audits of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism for more information on corrective actions. The committee then received a special audit review of the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UA Little Rock. Auditors said the program received $10 million in desegregation funding and a $50,000 grant, awarded $1.87 million in scholarships to 379 students, and saw 116 students graduate. The review found many scholarship eligibility exceptions, including awards above the maximum and to students who did not meet GPA, enrollment-hour, or full-time requirements, and numerous disbursement documentation and authorization problems. Committee members sharply questioned the program’s oversight, the role of former staff, the use of funds for travel and cultural activities, and whether any improper spending should be referred for criminal review. UALR representatives said the program was overseen as a sponsored program, that some controls were later strengthened, and that Philander Smith only verified enrollment rather than eligibility. The committee voted to table the report until the next meeting and asked staff to gather the federal court order and additional information. Finally, the committee reviewed the annual report on matters referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General for 2024. Staff said 164 matters were referred, with 28 criminal charges filed, 39 still under review, 3 dismissed, 5 pending in court, and 96 not charged; convictions in 20 cases led to fines, restitution, audit costs, and some bond trust fund payments. Prosecutor representatives explained that many referrals do not become criminal cases because of intent, timing, or other legal limits, and said they generally seek restitution even when charges are not filed. Members asked for more standardized reporting, including whether restitution was recovered and why cases were not prosecuted, and discussed possible training and a checklist for future reports. The committee then voted to file the report and adjourned, with the next meeting set for February 12-13.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're moving into public testimony on the amendment.
• We are now in public testimony on the amendment.
• We will now move into public testimony.
• We will now move into public testimony.
• We'll now move into public testimony.

Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up four bills. The first, HB 875 on educator preparation, would align teacher-prep programs under a uniform core curriculum, create a competency-based coaching program (CERT), standardize mentor and clinical educator requirements, allow certain certification waivers, and establish a Florida Institute of Teaching Excellence at Miami-Dade College subject to appropriation. Debate focused heavily on language in the bill related to systemic racism, identity politics, privilege, and historical distortion, with supporters saying the bill is about pedagogy and opponents warning it could limit discussion of important historical and social topics. The committee adopted a strike-all amendment and then reported the bill favorably, 12-4. The committee then considered PCS for HB 541 on minimum wage requirements, which would allow employees to knowingly and voluntarily waive the state minimum wage for up to 12 months in certain structured work-based training settings. Supporters argued it would expand access to training and career pathways for inexperienced workers and help address labor shortages, while opponents said it could depress wages, invite coercion, and conflict with the state constitution’s minimum wage provisions. Public testimony included opposition from workers and labor groups and support from NFIB. The bill was reported favorably, 12-4. Next, PCS for HB 681 on apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship program funding was presented as a transparency and accountability measure to improve funding reporting and address bargaining issues between education agencies and program providers. Support came from industry groups and the ranking member, and the bill was reported favorably without opposition, 16-0. Finally, PCS for HB 1105 on education and Bright Futures would broaden Gold Seal Vocational eligibility, align CTE diploma requirements with Bright Futures, add AP Capstone as an automatic qualifier, and remove barriers for certain military and public service families. The committee supported the bill, which was reported favorably, 15-0. The meeting ended after a correction to the record on one public comment card and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The third section enumerates the duties of the ADA coordinator.
• The third section enumerates the duties of the ADA coordinator.
• Section D outlines the duties of the coordinator.
• </c> outlines the duties of the coordinator. outlines the duties of the coordinator.
• public public education<01:14:55.480><c> financing</c><01:14:56.160><c> systems</c><01:14:56.720><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• specifies that the provider has to designate someone to be the compliance officer and specifies what duties
• specifies that the provider has to designate someone to be the compliance officer and specifies what duties
• specifies that the provider has to designate someone to be the compliance officer and specifies what duties
• But if the data being publicized is inaccurate or lacks context, we cannot clearly define the problem
• away for a one- or two-week lag in payment, we realize that was a vulnerability, and we do have a duty