Transcript Highlights:

• In 1997, there were only seven small school programs operating in six states.
• Three of them were individual small tax credit programs.
• The small percent... ...with 10% showing no impact and 6% showing negative impact.
• And so we have small businesses exploding across the spectrum.
• Indianapolis, not some small little town.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Several senators emphasized support for public education, teacher pay and safety, parental choice, and the combined K-16 jurisdiction of the committee. The chair also reviewed hearing procedures, including public testimony registration and time limits. The main item was Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, laid out by Chairman Creighton. He described the bill as an education savings account program intended to expand school choice, with a $200 million universal eligibility pool and an additional $800 million targeted to students with disabilities and lower-income families. He said the bill includes anti-fraud safeguards, criminal background checks for vendors, reporting requirements, data protections, and annual testing for participating students, while not imposing STAAR on private schools or homeschoolers. He also said the bill removes a prior hold-harmless provision for public schools and is separate from public school funding and teacher pay legislation. Members questioned the bill’s income threshold, lottery and priority structure, treatment of homeschoolers, microschools, charter schools, religious freedom protections, citizenship/lawful presence language, cybersecurity, open records, and disability-related issues, including whether 504 students and foster children should be included. Creighton said the bill is designed to prioritize former public school students with disabilities or lower incomes, while also allowing universal eligibility within the program’s first funding tier, and that the Comptroller would oversee vendor screening and cybersecurity rules. He said the bill does not direct curriculum or interfere with religious beliefs and that amendments may be offered later on citizenship and other issues. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, starting with EdChoice representative Robert Inlow, who testified in support of SB 2 and cited national growth in school choice programs and studies he said show positive effects for students and public schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• They would like to provide a small stipend to those folks, and this legislation would just help ensure
• that that small stipend doesn't jeopardize their access to other health care programs and things like
• I think there's a lot of small providers that aren't really plugged in. They're doing home care.
• <00:52:44.600> providers think there's a lot of small providers think there's a lot of small
• <01:02:28.360> program, and if you think of a a small program, and if you think of a a small

Bills: HF4207, HF4338

Keywords: housing aid, local housing trust, funding projects, income provisions, technical changes, human services, medical assistance, Medicaid, provider enrollment, provider revalidation, fraud prevention, program integrity, background study, background check, fingerprinting, licensing, license revocation, payment withholding, payment suspension, prepayment review

Transcript Highlights:

• people who have difficulty reading small people who have difficulty reading small text,<00:13:31.920
• We're so small now, we're not there.
• Section 13 is closing a small gap.
• <00:56:24.799> uh section 13 is closing a small gap. uh section 13 is closing a small gap.
• There is a small gap up to five reports.

Bills: HF3698, HF4243, HF4239, HF4241, HF4242, HF4240

Keywords: libraries, electronic books, digital audiobooks, licensing agreements, public access, campaign finance, elections, political contributions, disclosure, reporting thresholds, economic interest statements, financial disclosure, ethics, public officials, local officials, metropolitan governmental unit, metropolitan area, candidate filings, principal campaign committee, political committee

Transcript Highlights:

• , And I know the print's kind of small, And I know the print's kind of small, but<00:07:45.120>
• The important take-home here is that these dentists are small businesses.
• For the most part in Kentucky, dentistry is still a private small business, mom and pop.
• here is that these dentists are small here is that these dentists are small businesses.<00:08:48.800
• Uh, you know, and try to fix things while they're small rather than having to wait until they get huge

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board meeting began with a roll call and approval of the October 7 meeting minutes. The chair then reordered the agenda to hear the item on Medicaid reimbursement rates and network adequacy first because of scheduling issues. Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association was sworn in and testified at length about Kentucky’s dental Medicaid program, arguing that reimbursement rates are unsustainably low, have been largely flat for decades, and are often below the cost of providing care. He said Kentucky ranks near the bottom nationally in oral health, dental Medicaid rates are often 60% or less of commercial rates, and the program’s share of the Medicaid budget has effectively remained around 2% despite growth in enrollment and services. Dr. Robertson said the low rates are contributing to provider losses, rural access gaps, longer wait times, dental deserts, and greater use of emergency rooms for preventable dental problems. He cited examples of office costs exceeding reimbursement for basic procedures, noted that many dentists are small private businesses, and said the state is struggling to recruit and retain dentists because of low payment levels and high student debt. He also pointed to disparities with neighboring states and said recent increases in some oral surgery and cleaning codes were not enough to address the broader problem. His recommendations included completing the rebasing study, increasing dental reimbursement in the upcoming budget, tying future reviews to inflation and cost data, aligning benchmarks, and prioritizing preventive and restorative care to improve workforce stability and access. Board members asked about the size of the needed increase, the effect of private insurance on dental practice finances, and what a new dentist might expect to earn. Dr. Robertson said the association is working on an appropriations request and that private insurance pressures are part of the problem as well, since many plans are HMOs or PPOs with limited provider control over rates. He also said the association can no longer conduct reimbursement surveys because of FTC restrictions, but would try to obtain current ADA data. In response to questions about the future of the program, he warned that without significant changes it could become unsustainable and cited Ohio and Missouri as examples where higher reimbursement improved provider participation and access. The board then heard from Mr. Bowman of Baldwin Consulting, who discussed outpatient behavioral health providers, including ABA therapy and mental health/substance use disorder services. He said these providers face similar issues of rising costs, flat reimbursement, and access problems. He reviewed Kentucky’s network adequacy standards, including travel-time standards, 30-day appointment limits, and newer federal requirements that will require services within 10 business days by 2029. He said wait times for outpatient behavioral health, especially children’s services and ABA, have grown substantially, sometimes to more than a year, and emphasized that the Medicaid department must enforce these standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:30.079> adjustments of what we did with small adjustments of what we did with small
• We are a nurturing small school environment.
• We are a nurturing small school environment.
• We still have small. It has big effect.
• suburban, regional center, or small suburban, regional center, or small rural<01:40:42.320> school

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a small tribal property and they're just small tribal property and they're just small tribal property
• You know, the uh our schools are small. You know, the uh our schools are small.
• They're a small rural, very County. They're a small rural, very County.
• They're a small rural, very small elementary school in the north small elementary school in the north
• schools and small districts in our small schools and small districts in our small schools and small

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that we only get 37% of our general funds from the state; 63% we need to raise ourselves, like any small
• We have a 24/7 campus, 365 days a year, so we are like operating a hospital itself or a small city.
• Livestock producers in general, as well as small- and equine veterinarians, are facing a shortage of
• I grew up in a small farming community. I was a town kid, though; I wasn't a farm kid.
• sorry that I have no display of a small sorry that I have no display of a small bus<00:41:37.920

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We serve low- to moderate-income homeowners and small business owners.
• <00:38:05.640> business income homeowners and small business income homeowners and small business
• contractors where we try to really small contractors where we try to really uh<00:40:50.319> keep
• <01:29:03.520> one cut even though it's a very small one cut even though it's a very small
• everybody's life uh we have a very small everybody's life uh we have a very small amount<01:37:36.360

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c> of<00:01:53.320> of RPM, um, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association that represents small
• We are a nonprofit trade association that represents small residential providers in Minnesota, and RPM
• <00:04:47.680> residential that represents small residential that represents small residential
• <00:05:08.479> providers the ongoing issues that small providers the ongoing issues that small
• Um, I know there's a small number of DHS people there. Is one of them back there?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Higher costs are crushing families across our communities, but they are also crushing small businesses
• action to make sure we're doing everything we can to reduce costs for individuals, but also these small
• Right now, because of those higher costs and higher premiums on health insurance, small businesses are
• With Senate Bill 1011 today, we can take action to reduce premiums for small business owners all across
• something simple that we can take action on today that will have meaningful impacts, not only for the small

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, and attendance showing a quorum. Several senators were excused, and the chamber received communications including House Concurrent Resolution 8, which was referred to the Committee on Government Operations. The Senate also took up introductions and referrals of several bills, including Senate Bills 1078-1082 and House Bills 4727, 4728, 4729, 4959, 1545, 5254, 5255, 6071, 6072, and 6073, with most being referred to committees or, for some medical-debt and consumer-protection bills, sent to the Committee of the Whole by suspension of the rules. In Committee of the Whole, the Senate considered Senate Bills 535, 536, 1011, 1041, 1042, and 1043. SB 535, 1041, 1042, and 1043 were amended, while SB 536 and 1011 were reported without amendment; all were recommended for passage. The Senate then concurred in the amendments and advanced the bills to third reading. On final passage, SB 433 passed 35-0; SB 535, 536, and 1011 each passed 35-0; and SB 1041, 1042, and 1043 each passed 20-15. Floor remarks focused on SB 1011 as a way to lower small-business health insurance premiums, and SBs 1041-1043 as anti-price-gouging measures during emergencies. Later, the Senate discharged Senate Bill 913 from the Appropriations Committee, suspended the rules, and moved it through Committee of the Whole and to final passage the same day. SB 913, which amends the Michigan Trust Fund Act, passed 20-12 with 6 excused after Senator Albert argued in opposition that it would continue $75 million annual funding to the MEDC and amount to corporate welfare. The Senate then adjourned until Tuesday, June 30 at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law in relation to creating the neighborhood small business
• This is an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law in relation to creating the neighborhood small business
• participation in city government, reducing the equal vote on the Board of Estimate to a relatively small
• participation in city government, reducing the equal vote on the board of estimate to a relatively small
• And again, I'm a small government.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Cities 1 met on May 14, 2026, with a quorum present and Chair Erik Bottcher presiding. The committee considered a series of bills affecting New York City and related tax, housing, and municipal issues. Early measures included a neighborhood small business rent increase exemption (S.1451A), notice to community boards before locating transitional housing (S.3884), a solar and energy storage tax abatement credit (S.4272A), towing protection enforcement (S.4793), safety policies and training for correction and health workers (S.543?), and a proposal to create the city of Staten Island (S.8578). Most of these bills were advanced to other committees after brief discussion and voice votes. The most extensive debate centered on S.8578, which would incorporate Staten Island as a separate city. Senator Lanza argued that Staten Island has long been neglected by New York City, cited past referendums and historical grievances, and urged the committee to let the bill continue through the process. Chair Bottcher and other members responded that Staten Island is an important part of New York City and discussed housing, transit, environmental preservation, and the City of Yes zoning changes; several members said they did not support secession but were open to continued conversation about Staten Island’s needs. After debate, the bill was defeated in committee. The committee also considered an artist housing preferences bill (S.9652), a facade-work tax abatement bill (S.9559), a parkland discontinuance measure (S.9987), and a credit/debit card surcharge prohibition bill (S.1005). S.9652, S.9559, S.9987, and S.1005 were reported out after voice votes. One homeless shelter placement bill (S.5554) failed. The meeting concluded after the final votes and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• breweries in Minnesota that otherwise would have gone out of business, which of course is good for small
• breweries in Minnesota that otherwise would have gone out of business, which of course is good for small
• is<00:09:29.680> good<00:09:30.640> um<00:09:30.959> for<00:09:31.360> small
• <00:09:31.680> businesses course is good um for small businesses course is good um for small

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House considered a Senate message announcing that the Senate had concurred in and adopted the conference committee report on Senate File 2370, the cannabis bill. Representative Stevenson moved adoption of the report and explained that the conference committee had largely retained House provisions while making additional changes, including directing the Office of Cannabis Management to return with a medical-market streamlining proposal, expanding testing capacity, and adding an expungement provision. Representative West also urged adoption, saying the bill improved the measure and moved Minnesota closer to a safe, tested, legal cannabis market. During debate on the bill, West argued that the legislation was still too restrictive but would help create a functioning market, support hemp businesses, ease burdens on medical cannabis operators, and improve public safety and expungement outcomes. Stevenson emphasized the bill’s low-potency hemp beverage wholesaler licensing provisions, saying they would support Minnesota breweries and create a needed wholesaling segment in the cannabis supply chain. He also noted that the bill would generate some licensing revenue and help the state’s cannabis market develop more efficiently. Members also discussed the importance of preserving the medical cannabis program for patients, including children with seizure disorders, and the need for clearer local control as cities and counties work with preliminary licensees before market launch. Hansen said local governments have key responsibilities under the legalization framework and warned that delays could affect the expected early 2025 launch. After debate, the House adopted the conference report, and the bill passed as amended by conference on an 80-50 vote, with its title agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• have $400,000 on line 212 for early childhood education... line 212 for early childhood education for Small
• You can see a few small changes there.
• And the federal government changed the definition so that rather than a small number of these hard-to-staff
• Moving on down, just some small line item adjustments. Then on… ...small line item adjustments.

Bills: SB113, SB114, SB305, SB111, HB600, SB112, SB150, SB109, SB122

Keywords: education funding, appropriations, local education boards, school safety, workforce development, Alabama, technology, higher education, career technology centers, public institutions, grants, local education agencies, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students

Transcript Highlights:

• The small driveway that comes out of the Pearl City Post Office is very narrow, and we really think with
• The small driveway that comes out of the Pearl City Post Office is very narrow, and we really think with
• The small driveway that comes out of the Pearl City Post Office is very narrow, and we really think with
• Welcome. safety. the uh small driveway that comes safety. the uh small driveway that comes out<00:01:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs heard two concurrent resolutions. HCR 33 proposed asking the U.S. Postmaster General to relocate the Pearl City Post Office from Kamehameha Highway and Acacia Road to Navy property on the Pearl City Peninsula. Testifiers, including Pearl City Neighborhood Board chair Larry Verrett and resident Lena Ala Baiton, supported the move, citing severe congestion, narrow access, safety concerns, and the potential to improve traffic flow and support transit-oriented development. Members noted a similar Senate measure had already passed, and HCR 33 was recommended to pass unamended. The committee then considered HCR 157, which would establish a task force to simplify permitting for enhanced economic development and coordinate state and intergovernmental permitting processes. Testimony in support was submitted by representatives connected to DBED/HHFDC and others. In discussion, members questioned whether such a task force was necessary, what projects it would address, how often it would meet, whether it could include housing and local-level projects, and what the cost might be; the response was that the resolution would provide more structure, no similar project had been executed before, and costs were not yet known but could be addressed later. The committee ultimately recommended HCR 157 pass unamended, and the recommendation was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Treasury to support broadband in small communities.
• I know that in my area and district... 37, we have very small libraries, and you were so gracious to
• to to support and retain our human resources to the highest levels of competency, while we have a small
• Obviously, your work is and go unnoticed and we know you're small but mighty.
• the survivors in those communities, they have their own unique challenges that come with living in small

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I would say that the Board of Regents is not a small task.
• Board of Regents is not a small task. Board of Regents is not a small task.
• And they are creating a shared data and grant system to help small communities compete for funding.
• small communities compete for funding. small communities compete for funding.
• And we've also just you know a a small And we've also just you know a a small thing<01:32:29.680

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up House File 4252, the higher education finance and policy bill, which the author described as a bipartisan agreement. Representative Wolgamott highlighted a $1.5 million appropriation to Minnesota State to create an identification verification system to combat “ghost students,” a one-time $5,000 appropriation for trees at Bemidji State University, and other noncontroversial recommendations from the Office of Higher Education. He urged support for the bill and noted that amendments would be considered. The main debate centered on an amendment by Representative Rarick to change how University of Minnesota regents are selected if the legislature fails to elect them. Rarick argued the amendment would keep the governor from appointing regents outside the legislative vetting process and prevent “pay-to-play” or donor influence, citing recent gubernatorial appointments and campaign contributions. Representative Kotter offered a secondary amendment to require that any fallback appointees meet RCAC eligibility criteria and to bar candidates who had recently contributed to legislative caucuses or leadership; supporters said it would reduce the appearance of pay-to-play while preserving the RCAC process. Opponents of the secondary amendment, including Representatives Robbins and others, argued it did not address the real concern because it did not restrict contributions to the governor and would weaken the legislature’s role in regent selection. Supporters of the secondary amendment said it was a more objective, statute-based approach and raised separation-of-powers concerns with the underlying amendment. After debate, the secondary amendment failed on a 67-67 tie and was not adopted. The House then continued discussion on the underlying Rarick amendment, with members divided over legislative authority, gubernatorial appointment power, and the influence of campaign donations.

Transcript Highlights:

• small communities that are basically all volunteer, we don't have the resources to follow up on that
• <00:55:19.440> community<00:55:20.000> would don't know why a small community would
• don't know why a small community would have<00:55:20.480> said<00:55:20.720> no<00:55:
• Thank you." a small community or a large unnamed a small community or a large unnamed university<01:17
• many of these situations large or small many of these situations large or small in<01:17:40.080>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting opened with brief remarks honoring Harry Bean after his death on February 14, with members describing him as a larger-than-life figure, a valued colleague, and a friend whose conversations and presence will be missed. The committee then moved to vehicle title bills, beginning with HB 1421, which would change title exemptions for older motor vehicles. DMV witnesses explained the fiscal note was based on 2024 new title applications for vehicles in the affected age range and represented a high-end estimate; members discussed whether the bill would actually be revenue-neutral because reduced title revenue would be offset by reduced staffing work. There was also clarification that the bill applies to cars and regular trucks, not heavy trucks or tractor trailers, and that owners could still obtain titles if they met proof-of-ownership requirements. Members noted antique cars would largely be unaffected because they are already exempt. HB 1421 was moved on an OTP motion and passed 9-8. The committee next considered HB 1466, a related title bill narrowed to boat trailers. Members again raised concerns about lost revenue, but the sponsor and DMV witness said the fiscal note was a high-water estimate and that the bill would likely be close to a wash because the department would save on title-processing costs. The witness also explained that VIN verification, when needed, can be done by local police or a dealership, but not for every trailer title. Members discussed the low value and infrequent resale of older boat trailers, and the bill was described as a practical policy change. HB 1466 was moved OTP and passed 8-0. Finally, the committee discussed HB 1483, which would create a special ham radio operator plate with a lightning bolt symbol and call sign. The sponsor explained an amendment was needed because the bill had mistakenly referred to a House and Senate Ways and Means Committee; the fix would treat the plate under existing vanity plate law. DMV witnesses said the plate would be optional, would require legislative approval, and would function like other special decal plates, which are generally limited to nonprofit-related or legislatively authorized uses. Members asked whether the plate would generate revenue, and DMV confirmed vanity plates carry an added fee that does produce revenue. Discussion focused on the plate’s practical purpose for identifying ham operators, especially in emergencies, and on whether it might set a precedent for other special-interest plates.

Transcript Highlights:

• And basically, like I said, you know, in a small district, maybe they'll say, 'Hey, elementary, middle
• <00:04:24.960> district,<00:04:25.360> maybe<00:04:25.520> they'll know, in a small
• district, maybe they'll know, in a small district, maybe they'll say,<00:04:25.919> "Hey,<00:
• We provided a district minimum of 17 teachers to address some concerns from small school districts.
• adjust small school district adjust adjustments.<00:50:11.920> You<00:50:12.160> also<

Bills: HB0159

Keywords: student rights, free expression, K-12 education, speech protection, religious views, political speech, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And in small-town America, a lot of times these things go unnoticed.
• And<00:05:02.320> in<00:05:02.479> in<00:05:02.880> small<00:05:03.199> town,
• 00:05:05.919> lot<00:05:06.000> of know, in small town America, a lot of know, in small
• They said, "Well, the font is as small as we can get it.
• They said, "Well, the font is as small They said, "Well, the font is as small as<00:15:52.560>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then spent much of the meeting recognizing members of the Falmouth Police Department and related support personnel. Representatives and senators described the department’s response to a May 17, 2025 shooting between two vehicles, saying officers secured the area, apprehended suspects, and prevented further harm within about 30 minutes. They also recognized Officer Jonathan Bis for helping rescue a person from a burning storage facility on May 3, and honored Chaplain Abram Croer and police administrator Marilyn Belure for their support roles. Members praised the officers’ service and presented citations; one member also noted the recent flooding in Falmouth and the strain on local responders. The committee also observed a moment of silence for a firefighter who died after a vehicle crash while responding to a call. The committee then recognized Sergeant Major Jimmy Thorne, USMC (Ret.), with a lengthy citation for his military service and community involvement. The citation highlighted more than three decades of service, including Vietnam, Lebanon, Somalia, multiple injuries, exposure to Agent Orange, and numerous decorations such as the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal. Speakers also noted his continued civic work in Williamstown and Grant County. Thorne thanked the committee, said enlisting in the Marine Corps and moving to Kentucky were two of his proudest decisions, and received a committee coin. Members and guests offered additional remarks about his character and service. Finally, Brigadier General Charles Jones and Kentucky Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson gave an update on spring storm response and recovery. They said Kentucky has had three declared disasters and one undeclared event this year, with 113 of 120 counties affected in the last 12 months, including February flooding, April flooding, and May tornadoes; a January ice storm appeal was denied. Gibson emphasized the rising frequency and cost of disasters, citing about $350 million in public assistance over the first 10 years of the period reviewed versus about $2 billion in the last five years. He reported on sheltering, disaster recovery centers, FEMA and SBA assistance, and said about $57 million in individual assistance had been paid and nearly $69 million obligated, while public assistance projects were still moving through review and payment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, a a small one is what size it is.
• But I mean, there is a small percentage.
• <01:11:03.840> small it.
• But I mean, there is a small small it.
• But I mean, there is a small small percentage.<01:11:05.040> And<01:11:05.199> the<01:11

Keywords: 1191, senate, all